Chapter 39
"Why do you want to meet Jumba?" Trilby floated beside Negid's head. They were on the move again. Though the confusion was mitigated, and to a lesser extent the tension. Yet it lingered, the notes of suspicion and confusion playing the discordant harmony.
"He was an old friend of mine and Janqe. It's actually how we met… Ik ji," The group turned right. Lilo appreciated the light. Sparky floated at her head level, illuminating the darkness. Every tip of his hair glowed, cleaving the darkness before them. The ship's ghostly visage, the labyrinth broken. Sparky didn't speak English. But it was clear to all. He was the bodyguard now, he would do the fighting. Thus as long as Lilo and Trilby weren't in danger, he was fine with being led wherever they pleased. The same blissful blind trust could not be said for Trilby. Ever suspicious he was ruthlessly interrogating Negid the 'Yiggik'- Trilby had called him. Lilo witnessed the two extremes, they were very different, yet very close. She herself was bouncing between the two sides. On the one hand, she needed these aliens to help take back her friends. Even with the two yellow twins, Trilby and Sparky, at her side, there was no telling what Hamsterviel had up his sleeve. Yet she knew Trilby was right to be sceptical. Why did they want to meet Jumba? She knew Jumba had a knack for making dangerous enemies. Could these people become the next Hamsterviel when this was over. Her friend's safety versus her friend's safety.
Trilby stopped interrogating Negid, he flew back to where Lilo and Sparky were walking. He grinned at them both.
"I think I've pried enough," He laughed.
"I thought you had left us. Trilby," Lilo looked up at him with genuine gratitude. Trilby winked.
"I've got mistakes to fix,"
"Trilby? That's a hat?" Negid looked over his shoulder, head shrouded under the goggles.
"It's my name, Lilo gave it to me actually. It was supposed to be temporary, but I think I'll keep it now." Lilo took the compliment, and suddenly everyone was satisfied. In that instant. The group, moved faster- the purpose imbuing there mixed minds, and vulnerable spirits. Trilby rose to float beside Sparky.
"Can we trust him brother," Sparky asked with mild interest.
"He's a scientist all right. But he won't tell me why he wants to meet your creator."
"Jumba? They want to meet Jumba?"
"Yeah, but why?"
"Maybe they're friends, that's probably why he's helping us."
"Maybe," But surely it's not that simple, he thought. But maybe he really was just that- a friend.
"He doesn't like Hamsterviel."
"No surprises there." Sparky shrugged.
Trilby looked down, the energy seeming to seep out of him.
"Regardless, Hamsterviel… Well… He knows who created me…"
"And you want to find out?"
"I do," Suddenly the corridors seemed to get colder. The encroaching darkness eating at the edges of the light.
"Why does it matter, we're you're family now, right?" Sparky sounded slightly concerned. Only slightly, he was confident.
"It's just something I want to know. Piece of mind and all that,"
"Hmm, so we find Hamsterviel, and make him tell you,"
Trilby responded with a nod, then smiled appreciatively. To Sparky everything was so simple, and that encouraged him. He had a tendency to over think things, and he knew it. Perhaps instead of standing back, he should step forward.
Once Negid was happy they were close enough he stopped the group, they huddled like the sceptical, mismatch that they were.
"Lilo, my dear, you want to save all the experiments and get them back to Earth, yes?"
"I do," She grinned.
"But your experiment friends are useless while the sonic wave is active. That's why you need us. So I say, we can commandeer this vessel. The captain's command room, gives complete control over many ship functions including speakers."
"But this ship's on high alert, that room will be locked down, its impenetrable." Trilby perked up, he sat on the floor, deep in contemplation.
"Not if you know how to get passed it, little hat." Trilby smirked back. "Undoubtedly it will be defended, heavily." He pointed at Sparky and Trilby- stood together identical save for the ovals." We need you two to take down as many guards as you can, I will be opening the room itself. Lilo, you might want to stay out of any fights." Negid promptly turned round and explained the situation to his bodyguards. Trilby was still thinking when Sparky jabbed him painfully in the back. Trilby turned, catapulted out of his silent mantra.
"Hello? Trilby anyone there?"
"What is it?"
"I got most of what he said but… Could you?" Trilby rolled his eyes, then proceeded to translate what Negid had said. Sidelining his thoughts, his suspicions.
"Right, are we all ready," Negid looked excited, like a child before a rollercoaster ride. "My, the tension it's so terribly infectious." He muttered the last statement, almost shaking with ecstasy. His stalwart guards at his side, face smothered by embellished goggles and a grey maw of a coat, laden with pockets. Pockets with bulges- the telltale sign of occupation. Whatever he had in them had yet to be seen.
The group neared the door which led into the huge cylindrical room. The glow from the two experiments lighting its full height. They felt a gentle shudder, as the ship adjusted but in the dim glow it felt more like the animal about to wake. Negid and his portable screen appeared just in front of the door the green tinged square of no substance, overriding the security lockdown system. The silence, whether from awe, or anticipation. Fed the fires that burned, the fiery resolve they bore. Reasoning and motivation aside, the fever of the inevitable. With each wave of the hand before the screen. Every flash a mark of fate on the timeline, the time drawing nearer.
"Sparky spark this door, would you," His voice breaking in hysteria. Sparky complied. Sparking the door, the resounding groan reverberating. It was loud, obvious.
The door opened, the darkness that met them unsettled them. No plasma, no explosion or voice. Trilby held up the group, with a yellow paw.
"Could be an ambush, stay here." He landed, cutting his glow. He scampered with inherent stealth, into the dark. Night vision clearing the darkness before him, enlightening the emptiness of the room. Disabled drones littered the floor like rats and the once cleanly santitised room had gained a smell of metal, melting metal. It was almost exactly the same as before: Cubicle upon cubicle; stack upon stack. Empty and lifeless cubicles. That was to be expected. Evacuation, command centre was always the first target, so moving your Techy's out of the room was a popular drill. It was devoid of soldiers; that unsettled him. Did they all rebel? Surely some still believed he would pay up? He crawled back to the group shaking his head.
"No one here." Something was wrong, he read it on Negid's face as well. He frowned, lifting his goggles. They moved forward, the seeds of suspicion and confusion sowed in secret.
They moved through the room, cleaving the dark before them. Negid prepared his screen as they reached the metal and plexi- exterior of the room. However, the security plating had disappeared and the door was open. Moving into the circular room, embellished with cushions and shiny objects- speaking volumes about its previous occupant. The room was empty. Not only that, the bank of options, buttons and screens had been melted. Almost entirely disintegrated, down to the base wiring. Save for one screen- a security camera.
"Unbelievable." Lilo watched the screen with intent, followed by the gazes of the others.
"Hamsterviel!" Trilby watched with anger.
The camera screen showed Hamsterviel pointing and shouting, and though there was no audio it was clear what he was saying. He stood in a launch bay, red faced as soldiers loaded a ship with a throne. Gantu and Reuben were sitting idly in the background. He was running away.