Friend or Foe?
I don't own vandread or anything else for that matter.
Dita and the rest had returned to the Nirvana after waiting for some time to see if the enemy was going to continue their assault. Most were nervous, except the ever exuberant Hibiki. He seemed to love battle more than anyone the women had ever met. It was as if it flowed in his very veins. He had protested the loudest about returning when the enemy flagship was there but had relented under Meia's calm explanations.
"Damn why didn't we just bow them up!" Hibiki stormed down the hall Dita trailing her red hair flapping behind her.
"Because Mr. Alien if we attacked after they pulled back we wouldn't be any better than the people of earth, just killing because we can," Dita pleaded with him hoping he would understand. Mr. Alien really was dense sometimes even by her own standards.
"Ah hell with it all! They attacked first didn't they? That means they would deserve whatever we did to'em," he yelled slamming his hand against the wall.
"Mr. Alien," Dita then trailed off as he turned to look at her.
"Guess I am still just a reckless fool aren't I, Dita," he said softly.
Her cheeks flushed as he said her name as she turned her face from his heated stare slightly. Hearing him say her name always made her happy. He didn't say it very often but every now and then he let it slip. She stood there for a moment letting that warm feeling engulf her. It was like when her mother had praised her for doing something good, yet it was different to.
Over the last year or two they had become even closer than the others knew but not so close as some thought. It was complicated but ever so slowly the two of them were learning what it was to be a couple. They were breaking the rules of their planets and yet neither cared. Being near each other was what they wanted and what they needed though they didn't even truly know it. Even though Hibiki had yet to admit it he was in love with her. He honestly didn't even know it, the feeling of love but it was there and he was starting to understand it.
He couldn't envision a day without her near him. She was everything to him, and she was there for him no matter what he did wrong. She didn't judge him and she just wanted to be near him. She was like a rock in his life that he could cling to no matter what happened. He hated to admit it but he cared for her greatly and he didn't know what he would do if she weren't there every day with her exuberance and glowing outlook.
"It's okay Hibiki," she whispered as they walked hand in hand back to her room. He had kept his promise to her and had found much to his surprise that they had much to talk about especially since she did enough talking for the both of them.
"That was not like any battle I have ever been in," Meia commented as she walked with Jura, and Barnette. They were going to Duero and Paiway to get looked at especially since Meia was bleeding from a slight cut in her side. Had she been paying more attention she wouldn't have been caught unawares but she had let her mind wander. A lesson learned and one that she knew better than to make.
They entered the medical room and saw that Duero was tending to many patients already. Meia looked at some of them, women she commanded and her heart sank. They had gotten hurt because she had underestimated her enemy. These many women were now injured and in pain.
Meia turned to leave when she felt Jura's hand on her arm. It was a grip that was light but held warmth from her friend. "What do you think you are doing? You can at least get looked at Meia."
"Jura my wound is just superficial, these women need his help more than I," Meia explained.
"I don' think so. You are staying right here until he gets the chance to look at you," Jura said in a tone that normally she didn't use. It was the very tone that brooked no argument, not even from a good friend.
Meia smiled slightly at Jura. "Fine," she relented and the door closed behind her shutting off her view to the hallway.
The Slythik's stealthily moved through the halls of the Nirvana ever vigilant. They were good at what they did, and they were also a very special breed of Slythik. They blended in with their surroundings much like a chameleon. As they walked their skin changed from brown to silver to red to whatever was in the background. The only thing that could be detected was the slight murmur of movement, or the slight clicking sound of their claws as their feet touched the steel of the ship.
The leader Crasthil was a vicious leader. He didn't really care about bringing anyone back alive and so far they had only come across one woman. She had been short and quite ugly by the standards he had been given and so he had ripped her throat out with his claws. The blood had only just dried on those claws as he licked them hoping that he got the chance to use them again. He licked his lips as the scent of human came to him. Perhaps they would resist and he just couldn't possibly help killing a few in the process of defending his men.
Yes a smile of bloodlust came to his scaled face if one could call it a smile. Many sharp teeth shined in the light as the salvia dripped from his teeth to the floor. Anticipation was the best part of the hunt, that feeling of things changing and the scent of fear and hate, along with the sight of running. Yes he was getting quite the grin on his face as he motioned for his soldiers to come close.
"They are near yesssss. Ordersssss are ssssimple. Kill if you mussst," he stated as he licked the blood from another claw. They turned into the room and saw only 4 women eating, one clutching a tiny human girl no older than four. A child he thought to himself. Those tasted quite nicely and his commander didn't need to know that there had been a child. They brought one of the highest prices for they could be trained in whatever the owner wanted from such a young age to become masters at that profession. Crasthil though was quite hungry, and a child was quite tender and after all they tasted rather like poultry.
Ezra was sitting with a couple other girls of the wredge crew eating when the lights in the room dimmed slightly. "Mommy what's wrong with the lights,' Kahlua asked her wide innocent eyes gazing at Ezra waiting for the answer. Her mommy knew almost everything and if her mommy didn't then someone on the ship did, even that shaggy Hibiki guy. She giggled at the thought of him; he was so funny when he lost his temper which seemed to happen a lot.
"Oh it's nothing Kahlua," Ezra replied softly. She hoped it was nothing anyway. She had been dismissed from the bridge when the enemy hadn't made any advancement towards them. Magno had told her she needed to eat and to spend some time with her daughter.
"Okay."
"Why don't you go and get yourself some dessert?"
"Okay mommy," Kahlua agreed and bounded away with her youthful exuberance which brought a smile to Ezra's face.
Kahlua ran over to the table where a lady, Carrie, Kahlua thought, she was always forgetting names of people that weren't too important. This lady though she needed to make a point of remembering. She was always giving Kahlua the best parts of any of the desserts and she always had a ready smile for her. "Hello," Kahlua yelled happily as she ran up to her, her brown hair bouncing.
"What will it be Kahlua," Carrie asked with a twinkle in her eye, and that always ready smile.
"Ummm," she started her eyes scanning the many desserts as she put the tip of her finger in her mouth to help her think.
While she was thinking it happened, something that was unthinkable. Carrie's eyes widened in fear and Kahlua turned to see what Carrie was so scared of. Her mommy had said everything was fine and here Carrie was scared of something. Grownups she thought to herself were sometimes more foolish and jittery than me a child.
Her gaze fell on a group of creatures straight out of a nightmare. They were all different, and yet they were all lizards or at least she thought they were. Kahlua having never seen a lizard wasn't sure. She made a face, "Ewww disgusting."
The creatures were scaly except for a couple that looked like they were slimy instead, with just one hunk of slimy skin covering them. Most had small bits of bone protruding form above their eyes like eyebrows, or bones coming from their elongated mouths along the side. Others had horns while still others were different yet. She shuddered while she gazed at them. She was scared and yet quite curious. Dita would be jumping around like a kid herself if she saw them.
"Alright," the biggest and ugliest one started. "Assss long assss none of you move you don't get hurt. We are going to take you prissssoner."
Kahlua looked to her mother and saw that her mother was quite scared as the creatures leveled their weapons at everyone, even herself. For the first time in her life Kahlua knew real fear. Her heart was racing so fast that she thought it might run away without her. She wanted to run but her feet were rooted to the spot or so it seemed to her. She was unable to move them no matter how hard she tried, and then she became even more scared as the large ugly one turned to gaze at her.
"Ahhh my dessssssert," he licked what she guessed to be his lips though his tongue seemed to enter his nose which normally would have brought a giggle from her brought not now. "You will tasssste very nicely with a few herbs."
Ezra and the others all panicked at his statement as it dawned on them what he was talking about. He was going to eat Kahlua! Kahlua was her baby, her daughter! Ezra for the first time in her life felt the beginnings of anger. At the mention of hurting her baby, she felt the first stirrings of hate. She wouldn't let them harm her baby! "Kahlua run, find the captain and warn her," Ezra yelled as she stood up and hit the closest Slythik in the face with her plate. He crashed to the floor stunned by the pathetic human's outburst.
Kahlua was still rooted in spot though her feet feeling as though they were made of lead instead of flesh and blood. Carrie stepped in front of Kahlua then as the creature continued its advance on Kahlua. "Sssshe'ssss mine."
"I don't think so creature," Carrie spat. She reached behind her and shoved Kahlua toward the door. "Listen to your mother, go Kahlua!" Carrie's voice was frantic.
Carrie threw herself forward then and the beast caught her with a hand to the shoulder his claws digging into her flesh. Carrie screamed loudly. Kahlua had tears running down her cheeks as she watched what was happening. She then saw her mother being kicked by three of the other creatures. Her mother's face was cut and bruised, blood covering her face. "Go Kahlua," Ezra whimpered as she took another kick.
Kahlua was crying but finally the chains that seemed to have bound her were freed and she turned and sprinted for the door. She ran as fast as her little legs would carry her and she didn't even notice where she was going she just wanted to get away and find someone to help.
The Slythiks had tied up all the women after they had beat on them for a while. They had found through the years that a woman that had been beaten was a bit more pliable and followed orders. These had been some of the more defiant that they had come across over the last decade or so. Even so they were compliant now that they were tied up and barely able to move.
Ezra smiled as she had watched Kahlua run away. At least Kahlua was safe and would find someone to help. Yes she would find the captain or the commander and then everything would be fine.
"All of you sssstay here, while I get the little one," Crastil hissed to his companions as he headed out the door.
The others chuckled, while a couple felt bad for the mother of the little one. They all knew their leaders habits. He was going to feed and it wasn't going to be a pretty sight. Saman one of the lowest ranking of them even thought about killing the mother just to ease her pain so she didn't have to hear the screams of her little one as Crastil consumed her. He knew better though and so he waited as a group of three went in search of others.
Duero was finally able to examine Meia. "It seems that you suffered no great damage to yourself. If you don't mind I will run a couple tests just to be safe."
"Alright but please make it fast. I want to get back out there and watch the enemy. I don't trust them. It just doesn't sit right with me how they drew back like that," Meia grumbled.
"Oh don't worry they retreated because they knew they were fighting a losing battle. Perhaps now they want to talk to the captain," Jura reasoned.
"I don't know," Barnette put in.
"Well no need to worry about it too much. If they attack I am sure the captain will let us know and then you can all go play your parts," Duero said smiling.
"Hey everyone is going to be okay ribbit," Paiway's puppet chimed in as it appeared in front of Meia's face.
"That is good to hear," Duero said as he put the bandage on Meia's side. "There that should do it."
"Does anyone know where Dita and Hibiki are, I haven't seen them since we arrived back," Barnette asked.
"I don't know. That little . . . she better not be trying to get a baby from him," Jura grumbled though gritted teeth. No matter how hard she had tried she couldn't get Hibiki to give her a baby. She knew she was going to have to find someone else but Jura was never one to give up on anything.
"Let's go, I need to check on things," Meia headed for the door. "I'll be back don't worry Duero."
"Alright then," he waved her away as he went to examine another girl who had started to complain about the pain.
Meia made it to the door just in time to hear something like a small explosion. "What?" She wondered.
She tired to open the door but it wouldn't budge. She hit it with her balled up hand and still it wouldn't budge. "What's wrong Meia," came Jura's voice from behind.
"The door won't open. I heard a small explosion or something and then the door wouldn't open."
"I heard that to," Jura agreed.
"As did I," Barnette nodded. Barnette and Jura moved up there with her and tried to open the door as well but it just wouldn't move. Paiway went to the window and looked out and gasped.
"What is it Pai," Barnette's voice held a hint of nervousness.
"I . . . I just saw . . . saw one of those things!"
"One of what things," Meia's calm voice sounded.
"One of the aliens," Paiway's voice was frantic.
"Oh no, they snuck on our ship somehow. That is why they pulled back! They were already on the ship and now we are sitting here unable to do anything. Contact the captain," Meia ordered.
"On it," Barnette called from the communications table near Duero who seemed a bit shaken himself. If the enemy was on the Nirvana then they might all be in a bit more trouble than they thought.
"Hey where did he go," Paiway yelled. "I was watching him and then he just disappeared!"
"No one just disappears Paiway," Jura reasoned.
"Well he did. He was ugly with scales and everything and then he just faded away ribbit!"
"That is interesting," Duero acknowledged from his chair even though he was nervous. Everyone was voicing their thoughts now though and many were scared. Some of them even began to cry thinking that after everything they might finally die.
"We are going to be fine everyone. Don't lose heart, remember Dita wouldn't want that," Meia's voice was strong as she turned to look at her comrades. "We'll be fine trust me."
Dita and Hibiki were getting hungry after watching some of the old tapes they had found. They had taken to watching them to see how men and women had used to live. It was quite interesting and it helped them along. Without even really realizing it they had become a true couple as Misty had said though Hibiki had denied it vehemently.
"Well let's get some food," Hibiki said as he stood up and stretched.
"Okay, I'll cook you something scrumptious," she giggled. Mr. Alien was always hungry it seemed and she was glad that she could cook him something that he liked.
"Alright sounds good," he called as he was already out the door and she jumped up and followed.
They ran down the halls he in the lead and Dita trying to catch him. If anyone saw them they would have sworn they were looking at two children not two grown people. Of course there really was more going on than what the others knew. Those movies they had found had shown some interesting things, things that the two of them had tried. They were things that Misty had often hinted at.
Dita finally caught him and they tumbled to the ground rolling in a heap. Hibiki hit his head against a wall. "Ouch damn it all," he grumbled as he rubbed his head.
"Oh you want me to kiss it and make it better," Dita cooed.
"What the hell are you talking about," he demanded.
"Oh come on, my mom always did it."
"What, damn you women are weird," he informed her for about the thousandth time.
Just then a blast caught the wall right above their heads. They turned their heads to see what was going on and what they saw made them both freeze. They saw four creatures similar to the one that they had seen on that planet. They had their weapons trained on them and one stepped forward. "Come with ussss. If you do you live."
"I think that maybe we should, we can escape later," Hibiki whispered in Dita's ear. He felt her stiffen in his arms. She was scared and he knew it.
"Okay, I would rather fight but we don't have a weapon," she dropped her head. "Can we get away?"
"We will don't worry," he assured her as they were led into the cafeteria. They saw the others and they saw the shape they were in.
"Ezra," Dita cried as she flew across the room and took Ezra in her arms. "Ezra are you alright?"
"I'm okay I think. I think we are all okay," she whispered through swollen lips. She also had a black eye and the other was swollen shut already.
"Oh Ezra, we're gonna be fine I promise," Dita assured her.
"As long as Kahlua is safe I'll be fine."
"What do you mean?"
"One of them is chasing her. I hope she finds the captain soon."
"Don't worry. She will find the captain or Meia or someone. She's a smart girl," Dita said though her heart had fallen into her stomach at hearing the news. Kahlua was so much a bright spot in all their lives and now of these aliens was chasing her. They were obviously bad aliens that much was for sure.
"Oh Dita I'm so scared," Ezra cried into Dita's shoulder. Her tears were flowing freely and her shoulders shook with her sobs. Dita couldn't help it and soon she was crying as well. It was just too much. No enemy had ever gotten on board like this. No enemy had ever caught them this unprepared with no weapons. Her tears flowed freely as well as she held Ezra and the rest sat scared.
"Damn beasts just you wait. I'm gonna get outta here and then you'll pay," Hibiki hissed as he clenched his hand.
"Be safe Kahlua," Dita whispered to herself while the tears still flowed.
The stranger sat on the bed his breathing even. He wondered just how long it would be until they were defeated. He knew that they had no idea that the enemy was on their ship. He also knew that they would be taken by surprise and most likely there would be no resistance. He knew these things and yet he couldn't remember why he knew them.
He slammed his head back into the wall hoping to jog his memory but it didn't work. It just made his head hurt. "Why can't I remember?" he asked himself yet again. It was frustrating. He knew bits and pieces but he couldn't remember his past or anything else.
He knew that he was an enemy of the Slythiks and yet he didn't know why. He knew that they could teleport inside this ship and yet he didn't know why. He also knew that he was different from normal people and once again he didn't know why. What was he? What was his past? Where did he come from? He wished he had the answer but he didn't and so he sat and waited.
As he lay there, the smell of fear wafted to him through the ventilation shafts. "It seems that they enemy has been spotted but too late." He shook his head. Now it was only a matter of time until they found him.
"What you can't be serious," Magno yelled into the communications window which pictured a very calm Meia.
"I am sure Captain. That lizardman we found, apparently that is who our current enemy is. Somehow they have managed to get on the Nirvana without us detecting them. They also seem to have a cloaking device."
"Great as if things weren't bad enough with the injured," Magno groaned.
"Captain I will go and see if I can find any of the enemy," BC volunteered.
"Alright BC but you be careful. Don't do anything foolish."
"Of course not," BC said inclining her head.
BC left the bridge then her whip in hand. She didn't know what she would find but she hoped she found a few of the others, so she could have a little hunting party. Despite herself a slight smile came to her lips. It had been awhile since she had been in battle.
She walked down the halls ready but finding nothing. That was when she heard Magno's voice ring out for all to hear over the intercom system. "Crew we have invaders on the ship. Don't be alarmed but be prepared. Get your weapons and start looking for them. They should be easy to spot as they look like bipedal lizards." BC sighed hoping that there were many who were able to fight back. She didn't know but she knew many were locked in the infirmary. Who knew what else those lizards had done in the time they had been on board. "One more thing," Magno's voice came back. "There will be no dying."
The strange man lifted his head and smiled sadly at the words. "Probably too late for that lady," he thought at Magno's words. He took a deep breath and pondered how things turned out. Here he was a prisoner yet again just as he was the last time these creatures attacked. He had lived but only because of the defense mechanism of the place freezing him. The other lizards didn't want to take the chance of freezing as well and so had left him and his kill.
He heard panting and then and the sound of little footfalls. He turned his head and saw a little girl no older than four years come running into the room. Her brown hair was matted with sweat, and sticking to her face. She had blue eyes that were sweet and innocent, and filled with terror at the moment. Her breathing was ragged from running and she had her hands on her little knees sucking air in trying to get ready to run again. Her eyes were darting back and forth frantically and the man felt bad for her.
"Well tiny one there isssss no where elsssse to go, issss there. Jussssst give up," Crastil hissed as he walked into the room behind her. He tossed his blaster rifle aside as he started to close the distance between him and Kahlua.
She screamed in terror and turned to run not even looking where she was going and she ran directly into the energy bars of the strangers' cell. "Damn," he began as he reached through the bars and felt for a pulse finding one. Amazingly Kahlua started to stir and she sat up slowly.
Crastil was laughing harshly, a laugh that sounded like dry leaves being crushed between someone's fingers. "Fool. You will be my feasssst now."
At those words the stranger grew angry. How could any creature want to eat another like that? They were both sentient beings. What was worse was she was just a little girl one who had her whole life ahead of her. His stomach tightened though in pain from lack of food even though he had ate. God he wished he knew what was wrong with him. The food should have been more than sufficient to fill him and yet he was still hungry, still thirsty.
The girl stood up and tried to dodge to the side but Crastil's claws closed on her shoulder biting deeply. At the sight of the blood it snapped the stranger back to the present.
"Ssssscream for me yessss," Crastil whispered as he licked her face and Kahlua obliged him screaming as loud as she could.
"Help me, please somebody," she screamed. Tears were falling fast down her flushed cheeks, and the stranger knew he had to do something.
The stranger yanked his hands apart and the handcuffs snapped. He growled at the Slythik. "Let her go creature. Once you do that take your companions and leave this ship. If you do that then I won't kill all of you." The stranger's voice was dead, his gaze hard and cold.
Crastil laughed loudly. "You are going to kill me. You are the one in a cell foolisssssh human."
Kahlua was whimpering as she turned her gaze to the man in the cell. "Please help me," she pleaded her eyes terror filled her little body limp from exhaustion. The smell of her blood made it to the stranger and he felt breathed deeply. He liked that smell, and that horrified him for some reason.
Her voice was so soft and frail. It reminded him of another girl in a similar circumstance. She was slightly older with blonde hair and green eyes. She was being held prisoner by a Slythik and she was terrified. She had pleaded with the stranger for his help and he obliged. He shot his gun but his aim had been off. The bullet had torn through her chest as well as the Slythik. That girl had died in his arms . . . "No," the stranger yelled suddenly as his eyes grew wide with the memory.
The Slythik laughed as he licked the blood from the girl's shoulder. "Sssshe tassstessss good."
"No, no, no," he yelled as he punched the wall where he knew the control circuit to his cell was. With each punch the metal bent. In only three hits the metal wall had already started to cave in.
"What are you," Castil asked curiously watching this foolish human hurt his body. He had never met one like this man before. Maybe it would be a good show to watch him nearly kill himself trying to get out of the cell that his own kind had put him in. His own people would never do that. There was no crime in their society. They all followed the brood mother's orders absolutely.
"Noooo!" The stranger's hand was cut and bloodied but there was a small hole starting in the wall. With that final yell he threw everything he had into the punch. His hand went through the metal wall with ease and punched through the other side. He was clutching with that hand many wires that were sparking and then the cell bars blinked and went down.
Crastil dropped Kahlua in fright as he stepped back away from the strange looking human. "What wassss that? How issss that possssible?" Crastil truly knew fright in that moment for the first time in twelve cycles of his life.
The stranger stepped out of the cell and walked to stand in front of Kahlua. He smiled down at her to reassure her, a smile full of warmth. "You'll be fine young one," he assured her. His gaze then traveled to Crastil. "You have awoken an anger in me that was best left asleep. Now I hunt," he said easily as he brought his hand up and licked the blood off it and a smile came to his face. He started towards Crastil who was frozen in fear much like Kahlua was before hand. The strange man advanced though strangely there was no hate in his eyes, no coldness, no anything. Crastil wondered if perhaps he was looking at the human that was going to kill him, as he finally regained his senses and prepared for the fight.