Chapter 3

New Allies

After being welcomed onto the alien pirate ship it was apparent just how much damage the older model ship they had been flying had actually taken. Corsair poured a few drinks as they were introduced to his crew mates, which had taken .02 seconds for discussions and minor friendly arguments to emerge. Lance rolled his eyes and noticed Mika had face palmed over in the far corner. Leave it to the Brotherhood, and apparently Nature, to decide to trust alien space pirates in a split second. Lance was convinced more than ever he should have risked Kitty worrying about his mental health and told her he was going on an alien space rescue.

"Corsair, is awesome," beamed Todd walking over to Lance, "He just told us about breaking into some Kree ship and kicking his own ass."

"…. What?" asked Lance, zoning in on the conversation.

"They're like shapeshifter aliens, really violent I guess," said Todd as if this was a typical daily conversation.

"So you're on a rescue mission, you know getting back to business," said the largest member of the team, Ch'od, from where he and Fred had been talking animatedly about something.

"Shi'ar and Tricidia are in affair," said Raza who the Brotherhood had found didn't always use the right words, which Corsair had informed them tended to happen.

"Actually we were headed there right before we ran into you lot," said Corsair polishing his sword, "We thought you were a part of the Shi'ar based on your ship, we don't see many Animite ships now a days and it's a very similar design."

"So you just randomly start fights with ships?" asked Mika, Nature waved him off.

"It's a war zone around here, remember… That's why your family didn't want you even coming out here," said Nature, "So why were you headed that way."

"Since we destroyed the last Shi'ar slave camp," beamed Ch'od proudly, as if having a small flashback before his face became serious again, "They've started making another one on Tricidia and their holding their prisoners there, the high risk ones, as a means to separate possible rebels."

"They have our comrade," said Raza bitterly.

"She was on a private mission when she was taken into custody, so we're going to go knock on the doors of the Tricids- and ask them nicely," laughed Ch'od, Raza and Corsair joining in.

"Their joking right?" asked Nature in concern.

"Sure, pirates knock, there known for it," said Wanda calmly.

"Have to take my sister to space for humor I guess," said Pietro shaking his head.

"So do you defensive plan?" asked Raza looking at them, "Or were you just going walk in?"

"….. Mika?" asked Lance looking at their pilot.

"… I thought you… guys had the plan…" said Mika, there was a moment of silence.

"Well that's a good plan," said Corsair calmly, "Want to hear ours?"

"Why not, I'm sure it's nowhere near as good as ours," said Lance with an eye roll.

"You don't know that," said Todd, who after a moment, the smile faded recalling the conversation he hadn't been paying much attention too, "Shoot."

"It'll probably work better with two ships….. but we'll have to get you a better one," said Corsair, "I know a guy."

Nature sat in silence as she looked outside the ships windows; her head was a mess of chaos. It was swirled with guilt, anger, and fear. All surrounding Zodiac, her best friend, whom she'd betrayed her trust. It had all sounded like a good idea at first, it really had. Zodiac's parents were always so worried about her abilities that they all but kept her locked away from the world and it had been Nature's idea for her to join her on the road, which lead to Zodiac's solo career, but it hadn't started that way. She'd wanted to give Zodiac her own life and even on a few times Nature had almost slipped and told her about her heritage but she'd promised to keep it secret. She hadn't wanted Zodiac to be yanked away back to living with her parents, even though she was an adult, they'd find away. Now this, all because she hadn't broken her promise sooner. She was traveling up in space with her best friend's cousin, her little sister's boyfriend, and his friends…. And now pirates.

"Hey Nature, you okay?" asked Todd as he sat next to her, "Corsair and his crew have a plan."

"No I'm not okay…. What if we're too late, we don't know what's going on… it's been five days since we left," Nature sighed, she felt her eyes burn but now was not the time, "It was my job to keep her safe."

"No it wasn't, yo," said Todd, Nature thought about correcting him, but her gave her a very strange unknowing look, perhaps he knew more than her let on, "Sure, it probably was at first but…. Things change. The biggest thing is listening to this plan and kicking some alien ass… and not dying."

"Well that started off positive, thanks," smiled Nature, she leaned against the glass as Todd hopped off to listen to the plan.

Nature would join them soon and discuss the multiple planets that were involved in the war in that part of the galaxy and how the Starjammer's teammate, Hephzibah, had gotten captured. Apparently she had been on a job, which the pirates tended to take when people wanted things under the radar. As they heard comparisons of all their battles and break in to form a plan, it was clear that regardless of any help the Brotherhood was in over their head.

Somewhere, a great distance from the ships, a large and dark planet loomed. It appeared that over hald the plant was a dark and intricately built monument. It was in this place, deep under its dark ground, a series of cells were filled with tortured cries, screams, and noises not of earthly origins. In one of the dark cells a young lady sat huddled in the far corner. Her clothing was a teal mesh of colors and sequins that her cousin had made for her stage performance. Her multi-highlighted hair covered her red eyes face. She was scared, cold, and completely alone save for the screams around her. She'd been trying to keep calm the best she could, hoping that her family would save her, but she had her doubts. Not that her family didn't love her, but at the time she didn't know their strategies and capabilities. She was putting blind faith in them.

This was easily the worst week of her life… which she wasn't even sure of, how many things from her childhood had been a lie from her family to 'protect' her…. Was the isolation from her siblings another one of their bullshit safety ideas. She found herself thinking of Nature, her best friend…. Or who she thought had been her best friend. She had seemed like a godsend when Zodiac was fifteen, whisking her away to adventures and travels…. Encouraging her to pursue dreams and a life outside the solitude her parents had wanted…. Had that all been lies as well, she looked up at the dark dripping ceiling. She noticed a small bared hole on either side of the small cell. She could hear people talking along with the screams, but she didn't know if it was her minds attempt at using her powers…. Which she still had no control over.

"Maybe I would have if my mother had actually thought to teach me them," Zodiac scoffed, but she knew it was only half-hearted.

She walked over to the nearest hole and did her best to stand on the small rock that acted as a chair of some sort. She looked into the hole, she could see something white pacing, but couldn't see the full figure. Zodiac thought hard, what if they didn't speak English… what if that wasn't even a language out her… she had French but who the hell in space knew that either. She also didn't know if they were hostile or just a prisoner like her.

"Hello?" she asked quietly, the figure vanished and silver white cat eyes appeared, "Ahk!"

"Are you okay?" came a female voice as Zodiac hit the ground, "I didn't mean to frighten you child."

"I'm fine… you… you speak English?" asked Zodiac quickly as she hurried to climb back up the wall.

"I know many languages…. Where do you come from?" she asked, her eyes seemed questioning and Zodiac felt like she was reading her.

"I'm from Earth… I guess, depends, the last few days have been a wave of confusion to me," said Zodiac, "My names Zodiac."

"I am Hephzibah of the Starjammers, perhaps you have heard of us if you're not always from Earth, Zodiac?" came the reply, her eyes seemed to be less defensive.

"No, I'm sorry… I'm from Earth, but I guess my families from space… Anim…. Something Animal," sighed Zodiac, "How long have you been here?"

"A few weeks, I'm not worried I've been through worse and my comrades will come for me, my love never fails me," said Hephzibah, "Animal… you mean Animite? Usually they kill low-level prisoners, you must mean something."

"They kill them…"

"Oh yes, anyone who faces them… unless they are of some interest… they didn't kill me yet… but it's a matter of time… but as I said, I'm not worried… I have persuasion," she backed away and tapped her head, "Too many secrets. So why did they spare you, dear… special relations?"

"My mother's Tigeria… I guess she would be Queen… I guess as of now," said Zodiac.

"Ah, a linchpin as Corsair says, they need you to sway the planet. As if Luna, she is from Calidonia…. They want her to help stop Animite's power backing…. There are many planets in the war… bust there are strong holds… its getting desperate…. That's why the Shi'ar and the Tricidians have teamed with Broods… most likely in exchange for people to breed with…. I'd pray for death rather than that fate. Luna is on my other side, she sleeps now," Hephzibah as indeed filled with knowledge as she went on before the other side of Zodiac's cell had a voice or was it in her head, it was words she didn't know.

"Hello?" asked Zodiac, listening to the strange language, a few words broke through.

"They have joined?" it was female and seemed to come from the other side, the other hole.

"That's a Shi'ar," came Hephzibah, her eyes narrowed at the hole, "Untrustworthy people."

"Ca you understand her?" asked Zodiac, she tapped her head, "I think she was trying to send me messages in English."

"You can read minds?" asked Hephzibah.

"I don't know… I don't know a lot of things… my powers… abilities seemed to be animal related… I think it's one of those things, you know how animals communicate with the mind," said Zodiac, she moved closer to the other wall.

"Be cautious child, deceit follows many here," said Hephzibah, Zodiac nodded, images flashed in her head.

"Are you trying to show me?" asked Zodiac, she stood over the carved hole, its smell was vile but it was her only way up.

Images flashed of planets in despair, chaos, a women being imprisoned for turning on a ruler of some sort. Zodiac got a few words here and there but the women on the other side of the wall only had minor words and Zodiac was sure they weren't the right ones she was searching for. Zodiac wasn't sure she was the one doing the connection. However silence fell after a brief second and she heard Hephzibah give a grunt or growl, something was approaching, Zodiac could smell something metallic almost, but a stench she wasn't familiar with. Her cell door opened and three large figures stood, the one in the middle was taller, his skin of flanked gray and green scales, its eyes were red pits with blue rings around them, there was something familiar about them, but the rest of him was an armored mass. He was the one to speak, his voice had an echo to it almost like several people spoke at once.

"The king demands council."

TO BE CONTINUED