Traveling Companions

Chapter Six: The Escape

Having escaped the cellblock, and reached a friendly understanding, Rambler and the hat are making their way through General Gragnar's ship along with their friends. Let's see if they can manage to escape…

Sorry I haven't updated this story in a while. It took some time for inspiration to strike me and I was finding it easier to work on my other stories.

This is going to be the end for now. If I get inspired to write some more adventures with Rambler and the hat, I will continue the story by starting a sequel. Hope you all liked this one!

Enjoy!

Once through the door and into the inner hallways of the great ship, it became apparent why Gragnar had not yet found the time to deal with his prisoners.

Alarms blared through the corridors, and running feet and shouting voices could be distantly heard. Apparently Slarina was really not a fan of Gragnar leaving. Maybe all she really wanted was a chance to talk it out. Rambler really would have liked to help with that, but he needed to get his friends out right now. Maybe another time.

The nomad peered around a corner into what was probably the mess hall. It was pretty empty at the moment, some of the stark, wooden benches overturned as though the soldiers had run out in haste when the alarms began.

"Anyone remember the way to the hanger bay?" Brenda asked from behind him. There was a chorus of shaking heads. Rambler wasn't too sure himself. This hadn't been the way they'd been escorted, and the ship was very large.

"Maybe we should ask for directions," he suggested.

"…Maybe." Rambler caught Bri's eye and saw the braxior looked uncomfortable at the suggestion. He understood. The antagonists hadn't exactly given the best first impression. Poor guys probably didn't get to meet many new people in a social situation. Gragnar seemed like the kind of boss to discourage that sort of thing. Rambler could already tell the general wasn't the best at supporting his soldiers' needs.

"What about findin' a map? I haven't been on this ship before, but there's bound to be one around here somewheres."

The ship shook and Rambler had to grab onto a table to stay on his feet. Having lower centers of gravity and generally being built more solidly, the braxiors were able to maintain their balance better.

Rambler straitened up, glancing across the mess hall, then froze at the sea of waving antennae that filled the doorway.

Apparently not all the soldiers were helping to repel the attack.

His companions saw them at the same moment, though the soldiers didn't seem to have noticed them yet. Rambler leaned into Brenda's side, one hand sheltering his mouth.

"You guys go find the ship. I'll catch up," he whispered.

Brenda opened her mouth to object, but Rambler didn't give her a chance to argue. He sauntered forward into the mess hall, headed directly for the crowd of soldiers.

"Howdy, fellas! Don't s'pose I could trouble you for some directions?" He sensed the braxiors moving back behind him, and hoped they were heading out the door.

The response from the antagonists was immediate. As soon as Rambler started forward, dozens of black, angular heads swiveled in his direction, antennae perking up and hands tightening on their weapons.

"You there! halt!" A soldier in the front demanded. Rambler stopped walking obligingly, smiling at the antagonists as they surrounded him on all sides. His hat was stiff on his head and he couldn't blame it. This certainly was a troubling situation.

"How're things going?" He asked, directing his question at the antagonist who had spoken. "Sounded like a bit of a ruckus out there."

"Well, yeah." The soldier tugged one antennae self consciously. "Queen Slarina's attacking and we're all supposed to scramble. We were just going to…hey!" He snapped to attention suddenly. Pointing his weapon in Rambler's face. "That's none of your business! Weren't you a prisoner?"

"Pretty sure Mr. Gragnar did wanna talk to me," Rambler admitted. He was eyeing the ring of soldiers for a way out. Not that he wanted to leave, but he was pretty sure getting taken back to his cell right now wouldn't be helpful. Besides, his new friends would be waiting for him at the ship, and he didn't want them to worry.

The soldier seized Rambler's arm, still levelling his blaster at the nomad's head.

"I don't know how you got out of there, but you're going back…"

Noticing something, Rambler slipped his arm out of the clawed hand, darting around to one of the other antagonists in the ring and cocking his head to examine the black exoskeleton, which looked to be badly singed.

"Y'all right there, friend?" he enquired. "Looks like ya took a nasty hit."

"Oh, um, I'm okay." The soldier kicked his foot as though embarrassed. "Our armor's pretty thick so…"

"Hey!" The antagonist Rambler had been talking with before snapped again, turning with a glare. "Get him!"

Rambler ducked behind his new friend, finding himself outside the ring of weapons.

"Sorry fellas," he offered sincerely. "I'd love ta stay an' chat some more, but I don't have much time at the moment. I promise I'll see y'all soon!"

Then he was off, the antagonists hard on his heals. It really was a shame he wasn't able to hang out longer. He'd have to remember to visit again soon, which probably wouldn't be a problem with both rulers after him.

Rambler skidded around corners and darted down hallways, stopping occasionally to straiten a sign on the wall or tidy something that had been left on the floor. He had no clear destination in mind, but he thought he recognized some of the hallways they'd been taken down, and tried to head in that direction. Occasionally he bumped into a new group of antagonists, and he had quite a crowd after him by the time he ducked into a different type of room and froze, eyes traveling down the long hall to the figure on the throne at the far end. The soldiers crowded in behind him, but his mind wasn't on them for the moment.

He must have taken a wrong turn somewhere.

General Gragnar started up from his throne, segmented eyes bulging with surprise. Commander Cutter at his side looked equally shocked, the papers he was holding slipping from his clawed hand.

Rambler chuckled softly, raising a hand in a sheepish wave.

Gragnar seemed to recover quickly, leaning forward and steepling his long fingers.

"Well, well, it seems the thief shows his face once again." He shot a glare in Cutter's direction. "Didn't I order that he be locked up."

"I – we – did lock him up, sir!" Cutter still seemed a little flustered. "How did he escape? You there!" he barked at the soldiers. "Seize him!"

Rambler had recovered by this time as well. He strode smartly forward, noticing absently as some of the soldiers behind him bumped into each other trying to grab at him.

"Now, there's no call for that sorta behavior," he admonished cheerfully. He wagged a finger in Gragnar's direction, taking another step forward as his new friends clustered closer behind him. "I know you've got a lot goin' on at the moment, an' I don't wanna get in the way. I was jes' about ta ask these nice fellers for directions when…"

"Silence!" Gragnar stood from his throne, the spines on his back bristling in his anger. He gave Rambler a piercing look. "There is no need to ask how you escaped. I know it very well. Instead, I would like to know why I shouldn't have my soldiers strike your head clean from your shoulders right now as punishment for stealing my property?"

Rambler had listened politely, all while working his way up the throne room. Now he sidestepped one final time, then bounced up the steps to stand on the raised dais. He leant against the chiseled rock throne, gesturing with one hand while he talked.

"'S a matter of opinion, I s'pose," he offered casually. "I can see how ya might've been upset about it, an' I don't blame ya fer feelin' that, but I think ya could try lookin' at it from another perspective. I think you'n Miss Slarina could'a been a li'l more understandin'. That was no way ta treat a friend!"

"You -" Gragnar cut himself off. He seemed to be trying to stay calm."You little orange rat! How dare you seek to lecture to me. That hat belongs to me and I will have it back, and then I shall decide your gruesome fate!"

Rambler didn't pay too much attention to the words. He was more focused on the harsh tone they were delivered in and the way Gragnar's eye twitched. He definitely needed to calm down. The nomad took a step that brought him behind the general slightly, Gragnar's reaching claw just missing him as he did so. The antagonist was tall, significantly taller than his soldiers, and Rambler gave a little hop onto one arm of the throne so he could get the height he needed. He tisked through his teeth.

"You haven't been gettin' enough sleep either, have you Mr. Gragnar?" He admonished gently. An' these shoulders just look all knotted up with tension!"

Gragnar turned sharply, though somewhat stiffly, Rambler noticed with concern.

"Get off of that!" He snarled.

Rambler obliged, jumping off the other side of the big stone chair so that it was between him and the antagonists.

"Okay," he shrugged, "but I'm not a bad masseuse m'self, an I'd be happy ta help ya relax those muscles…"

Gragnar's eye twitched again. The soldiers were closing in around the dais and Cutter had moved in front of his leader, pushing a button on his baton that seemed to charge it with electricity.

"Take off the hat." Gragnar's voice was a low growl.

Rambler frowned. He'd love to oblige, but that wasn't something he was willing to do. He could feel how stiff the fabric was on his head and knew he needed to get his friend out of here. It was clearly not enjoying this.

He took another step around the throne, though he was uncomfortably aware that he was running out of space to manoeuvre with antagonists closing in on all sides.

A sudden touch on his head startled him for an instant until he remembered where it had probably come from.

He reached a hand up inside the hat, hearing Gragnar utter a furious oath as he did so.

"Don't you dare!" The general snarled. He took another menacing step towards Rambler, then froze as the nomad's hand came back into view, clutching something from the depths of the headpiece.

"Now, what've we got here?" Rambler mused. Distantly, he noticed the frightened reactions of those surrounding him. Perhaps they thought the hat had given him a weapon of some kind like those he'd seen in Slarina's palace.

The object was small, and it took him a moment to recognize it himself. When he did, he straitened, holding it above his head with both hands.

"I'd sure appreciate it if y'all could hold on a second," he requested. The antagonists, who had started to edge closer froze once again. Their attention was intensely focused on the object he was holding, and Rambler figured they were trying to get a good look at it. Before they could, he swung it around himself to point right at Gragnar, then pulled the tag.

The general floundered backwards along with his soldiers as a shower of confetti rained around his dumbfounded face. Rambler didn't give them a chance to recover from the party popper. He took his opportunity and ran.

He ducked around the throne again and back toward the door, ignoring the sudden yelling from behind him, the furious scramble as the antagonists pounded after him.

Just as he was about to dart through, his forward momentum was arrested abruptly. Gragnar had given a flying leap and caught his backpack with one curved black claw.

Rambler didn't have time to think about it. He slipped his arms out of the straps and was through the door, his back suddenly uncomfortably light. He felt a sharp pang as he heard the bag hit the metal floor behind him, his old banjo giving a reproachful jangle as it struck, but he hadn't exactly had a choice. Another moment and he could have been caught, and keeping the hat safe was more important. He felt it heavy on his head at every angry yell from behind him.

He didn't look back as he ran down the hallway.

The braxiors were waiting at the ship, and Rambler was incredibly grateful that they were. He was feeling uncommonly tired, and the amount of time he'd gone without eating was starting to catch up with him.

A group of antagonists must have taken a break from repelling Slarina's attack to try and recapture the vessel, and when Rambler arrived in the hanger bay, it was to find the soldiers slumped every which way on the floor, and the braxiors laying the last few out cold. It was a shame they hadn't been able to talk it out, but Rambler supposed it was a bit early for that.

He flashed his friends a smile, waving as he ran across the littered floor. They looked happy when they saw him, despite the trouble they'd gotten into because of him, and the whole group of them piled into the ship, pulling the door closed before more antagonists could arrive.

Rambler didn't know anything about engineering, but gathered that Bri had managed to disable the tractor beam that had been holding them. The hanger bay doors opened and the bright blue ship shot through them.

The firefight outside was still going; thin, needle nosed one-seated ships darting every which way, and the area around the ship was thick with laser fire.

Rambler backed to one wall that wasn't covered in instrumentation and let himself sink to the ground. Brenda was barking orders and the other braxiors were hurrying to follow them as they evaded the wide shots and made for open space. They seemed to have everything in hand for the moment.

Rambler brought a hand up to stroke the brim of the hat, just to make sure it was still there. It seemed just as droopy as he felt.

He smiled when Bethany came over to plop down beside him, looking as exhausted as both of them. It must have been a long day for the little tyke. He gave her a reassuring half hug, then they sat together and watched as the ship got further and further from the battle.

Rambler stood on a hilltop, waving as the braxior's ship lifted off once more. His smile was wide, though inside he felt a twist of melancholy, as he always did when he had to say goodbye to good friends.

They had offered to let him travel with him, but he had declined. There was still a very large target on his back from both Slarina and Gragnar, and probably would be for a while. The braxiors were peaceful traders, and he didn't want to keep causing trouble for them. He hoped they'd see each other again sometime though, and he was going to miss their comfortable presence.

At least this time, when he said goodbye, he still had a friend with him.

When the ship was out of sight, he turned and started descending the hillside. It was strange not to have his backpack, and his shoulders felt very bare. The braxiors had given him some food to start him on his way, and he was carrying it in a pouch under his arm, but what he was really missing was his banjo. It had accompanied him through many adventures and been his only constant companion until he'd met the hat, and he wasn't even sure yet whether the hat wanted to stay with him long term or not. He didn't know when he'd be able to get another banjo, and until then, he guessed he was doing without.

It was certainly a beautiful day, a soft breeze rippling through the long grass and making his fur shift, and his fingers itched to play a song for him and his companion, something light and happy to start them on their travels once more.

"Sure is a nice day fer traveling," he offered with a smile up at the overhanging brim. "Walkin' down the road with a good buddy fer company. Would be a nice day fer some music too. Mebbe I can think of somethin' ta sing for us." He paused briefly, running through some songs that didn't need accompaniment.

The corners of the hat pulled up slightly, the way he'd seen before, and Rambler felt something strange and kind of heavy sitting suddenly on top of his head. "What'r you…" he reached a hand inside the hat, and then froze at what he felt.

Slowly, he took the hat off and pulled the object out. He stared at it for a moment, then sat heavily on the grass, though he was much gentler when he laid the present on the ground beside him. He stared at the smiling hat for a moment, then wrapped his arms around it, hugging the warn fabric close.

"I…thank you," he said softly. His eyes felt strangely wet above his smile. He settled the hat back on his head slowly, picking his gift back up to run his fingers gently over the strings. The banjo was a very similar style to his old one, with four strings and a rounded body. At the top, the handle rounded out and was stamped with two stars, similar to the one on the hatband. The thoughtfulness of the gift touched him deeply. Somehow, the hat had known just what he needed.

They really hadn't known each other that long, but Rambler had enjoyed their time together immensely, and he hoped they'd have a lot more of it, and as long as it wanted to travel with him, he knew he'd be grateful. And now, with the present it had so thoughtfully given him, maybe he could let it know how he felt a little bit.

He stood once again, and started walking, fingers going automatically to tune the instrument. He would miss his old banjo, and he still appreciated the years they'd spent together, but he knew he'd had to let it go to protect his friend, and maybe the hat knew that too.

A song was already winding its way around his mind, a tune forming around the words he wanted to share. He took a deep breath, then his fingers danced on the banjo's strings, his voice joining in a moment later; light and happy, but with a genuine promise underlying the words, a promise and an invitation.

Oh, Wander over Yonder
And check out this and that.

If you Wander over Yonder
Best be sure to wear your hat.

All the things that you will see
And you certainly will be free
If you Wander over Yonder,
Just you and me!

If the darkness comes a-creepin'
And you're feelin' down,
Just Wander over Yonder
And turn your life around!

Oh, Wander over Yonder
Be sure to lend a hand.

All your helpful, friendly good deeds,
Will spread across the land.

All your helpful, friendly good deeds
Will spread across the land!

Doodly doo doo doo doo, woo!

Hope you liked it!

Rambler and the hat made it out of their first few encounters alive, and have started to become pretty close friends. I felt I had to end it with that lovely song. I may have some more ideas and add to this section of Wander's backstory more, but for now, this will be our stopping point.

Hope you liked the two of them getting to know one another!

Learning To Swim will probably be updated next.

See you soon!