The NCEXU RPG

[Rink]

The roar of the little kid surprised Rink to the degree he fell over. He felt he must have hit his head because he felt like he was dreaming...


"Doctor, subject's capacity is at maximum! If we push it even further..."

"Silence! This is MY project, and I will not some minor setbacks stop me now. Attach a CORE unit if you have to, but we're not stopping now! Not when we're this close..."

"But doctor, that could seriously affect--"

"I know! Now if no one else feels like interrupting, we continue to phase 3."

<WARNING! INTRUDER ALERT! ENEMY FORCES ARE WITHIN THE COMPOUND! REPEAT! INTRUDER ALERT!>

"Damn it! That's it, we're starting NOW!"

"But doctor!"

"Silence! We need to hurry or else we'll lose everything! Initializing start-up sequence. On my mark, start the second sequence. One, two, three, mark!"


Rink suddenly shot up. What the hell? What was that I just saw? It felt like a dream, only more real. But I'm sure I didn't recognize any of those people or that place. I can't remember the last time I had a decent meal and sound sleep. I'll bet that's what it is.

The little boy was standing over him, staring. Whether he was frightened or curious, Rink couldn't tell.

"Sorry, I'm ok. You scared me screaming that loud all of a sudden! You should be more careful next time."

The boy looked a little sad.

"Hey I almost forgot. I'm supposed to tell you what parents are, right?"

A smile spread across the boy's face.

[Kaikoura]

Kaikoura watched as Aye engaged the newcomers. She was inclined to stand and see if Aye needed her, but decided to wait until she was called for. This was one of those situations she wasn't used to yet -if she had been with Gartik, she wouldn't have been hiding in the first place, but at the same time, she would have been at his side trying to safeguard him against surprise attack.

I'd barely be any good even at that now. Stupid helmet.

Kai shifted in her uncomfortable position when she heard someone yelling nearby. Her eyes darted towards the source of the sound, a nearby window, and then back to the others. They hadn't seemed to notice.

Kai wanted to stay hidden, but Aye seemed to have the situation in hand, and she could at least be a little useful to make sure they weren't attacked from behind while Aye was distracted. So she slid carefully out from behind the drum, still wrapped in her cloak.

Even with the great care she took to avoid being seen, she was at the window in less than a minute. She took a quick glance back to where the others were, and felt a great sense of relief to find that this place was completely obscured from them by a huge round tank of some sort.

She peeked out the window and was stunned to see two creatures outside. One looked like the man in the painting upstairs, except older and more haggard, some sort of humanoid wearing a thick coat and carrying a heavy looking bag. The other one was small similar looking creature, except it's skin was darker and it only had three fingers.

Kai was standing on her tiptoes to see them through the slats of wood which covered most of the window, and they were just far enough away that their conversation couldn't be made out, however, their thoughts were coming in clearly.

I can't get that image out of my head. Something about it seemed too damn real. Gotta stay focused, one thing at a time, Rink old boy.

Something the taller one, Rink said make the shorter one excited. It jumped up and down and clapped.

This is the best box tumbler I've ever met! He and I can have great fun together I bet!

That's weird. It's thoughts are so...clear. Kai thought out loud. Rink suddenly turned his attention away from the child and looked around as if he'd heard a voice. Kai ducked a bit, but Rink hadn't noticed her. She could still hear him quite clearly.

Guess it was nothin. For a second there, I could swear...nah. I'm just tired.

Kai lost their thoughts for a moment as her helmet resumed it's functioning, so she peeked out the window at them again. Suddenly, she could hear Rink again.

...wonder if this kid knows someone who might have seen em? What would be the best way to ask without sounding threatening? Hell, why bother? The trails getting colder by the second, who woulda thought it would be so hard to find one hairy blue alien and a Rai'ku around here?

Kai's thoughts were worse than a scream, because it couldn't be muffled by the walls or the distance between them. Still, Rink might not have known where it had come from if Kai's legs, still weak from her earlier beating, hadn't given out at the same time, causing her to cry out vocally. Before Kai even hit the ground, she could feel that Rink had seen her, and at least guessed who she was. He was coming closer, and fast.

[Taeg]

*Taeg stared at the two people in front of him, and decided to sit down and examine them. Just then a thought flickered across his mind, and he tried to grasp on to it. he was sure it was pretty important. Something to do with the two in front of him.*

They are probably here to hurt you.

Shut up! Let me just think, I had something there...

Ye alright Taeg? You seem a little odd, even for ye

As well as a tooth spit on Thursday my good Sarthog! that was it! you know him. Sarthog.

Look at the way they are looking at you. They want to strand you on the planet with Grangok again.

Anything but that! That's worse then a fryer at Purbuskys

I'm sure they just want to be your friend. you can trust them.

Haha, right you are Ned, they do look to be the type.

Aye confused. Always him like this?

Pretty much. just ignore him for now.

Вы слышали это?

There was nothing for it. You're hearing things Charley, and stop speaking Russian, you know I can't understand you.

I heard it too.

Well if you heard it Ned, maybe there is something to this Confounded noise.

Oh wait! I heard it too!

*Taeg got up off of the floor, and walked over to where the scream had come from. Sarthog and Aye, taking Sarthog's advice, just ignored him and continued to converse. After squeezing between machines, that he could have easily gone around but didn't want anyone to be able to follow him, Taeg stumbled on a young girl lying on her backside, and shivering slightly from a fright.*

What do we have here then?

Dinner!

That is about as reasonable as a bearhog fighting Grangok. It's just unheard of.

*The girl glanced up at Taeg, and let out another scream.*

Perhaps this is a special greeting, no need to be rude.

My most humblest of Apologies ma'am.

*And not to be rude, Taeg began to scream with the young girl.*

[TKC]

TKC was having a great time with the box tumbler, even if he did talk about funny things like parents. Did others have parents like the box tumbler? TKC certainly couldn't remember anything like parents.

Before TKC could ask more about the parents, the box tumbler got a funny look on his face. Well, another funny look on his face, he'd had a few recently. TKC didn't giggle at them though, as most people didn't like it when you giggled at their funny faces.

"Stay here kid, I need to check on something." the man said as he walked toward the building that TKC slept near.

For a moment TKC stayed in place, like it had been told, but it was curious. Well, if the box tumbler didn't want TKC to follow him as a kid, then something else would be fine, right? With a grin TKC's form shifted and grew upwards and outwards, and soon it looked just like the box tumbler, but with bright purple hair.

"I should go check on something too," TKC said to no one in particular, as the man was in the building now, and then turned to the boxes, "Boxes, you stay here."

With a firm nod at the boxes TKC turned and walked after the man, though the first couple steps were more like skips.

[Aye]

Kaikoura's yelp definitely had Aye on-edge, but Sarthog didn't appear to have heard it. Taking his advice, Aye had been ignoring Taeg as he wandered off.

"So... ye lived here long?" Sarthog asked, looking around at the place. While the main room was quite large and old, it looked like the floors had been recently swept.

"Aye here two."

"Two years ye say?"

"Days. Travel Aye much."

"Ye must. Yer English is terrible. Where are ye from anyway?"

Aye thought for a moment and looked around quizzically. He was trying to get his bearings on exactly where he was in space. Then he lifted his hand and pointed up into the sky, making small adjustments and squinting. He was fairly certain that, according to the last star-chart he had seen, it was somewhere around there. Sarthog just looked at him with a blank expression. Then there was another scream, louder than the last. It was Kaikoura! Aye sprung into action, bounding towards Kaikoura's scream which was shortly joined by Taeg's. Aye jumped over Taeg and landed on the ground between him and Kaikoura. He let out a loud snarl, with his teeth barred and the fur on his back on-end. His head was lowered down and his claws extended threateningly. He looked less like a man and more like an enraged lion.

[Rink]

Rink was mentally detached for the moment. His thoughts were clear, but his actions did not seem to match. He heard himself tell the shapeshifter to stay where it was, but it didn't feel like him saying it. His head was swimming in a sea of confusion from the alarming vision he saw. His body began to move on its own along the warehouse wall until he reached an open doorway.

And just where am I going, exactly? This out of body experience is seriously freaking me out now.

He had just stepped beyond the threshold, when he collapsed...

"Heya there, I'm --------. What's your name?"

"..."

"Awww don't be shy. After all, we're gonna be friends from now on. Guess I'll just peek at--aha! So your name is...Rin...kou...shen? I don't know how to say it! I know, how about I just call ya Rink! Nice nickname, don't ya think? Heehee!"

Rink must have been out only for a minute, but he felt like crap. Again? That one wasn't as bad though. I feel like I've seen that person before, but that's not how I remember getting my nickname. He slowly opened his eyes, but his sight was blocked by a big and orange furry face, staring at him curiously.

"Boy, I sure know how ye feel. I think I got the perfect antidote to what ails ye."

The orange dog helped Rink sit up, and seemingly from nowhere produced a bottle of whiskey and three glasses.

Three glasses? I don't...

Rink saw that another person was sitting there with them. It was a man that looked like himself, but with purple hair. "Box tumbler woke up! Now he'll drink from a cup!" Heh. Nice work kid.

After pouring into each glass, they each drank. Rink felt his throat burn, but more importantly began to feel normal again. The orange dog downed his drink like an old pro, and Rink's new twin was playing with the glass, humming, and staring curiously at the orange dog.

"So, ye fainted. Saw it happen. So did this guy, yer twin? Seemed really upset when ye were laying there."

"Not quite. Shapeshifter I just found. Thank you for the drink, it helped."

"Don't mention it. Shapeshifter ye say? Interesting."

"The name's Rink."

"Sarthog. And him?"

"Er...actually, I don't know."

They both looked at the purple-haired Rink, who smiled back.

"So, my name is Rink. What's your name?"

The shapeshifter seemed to struggle a bit, as if not entirely sure what a "name" was. But before there was a chance to answer, there was a thunderous roar nearby.

[Kaikoura]

*this is based on a joint-post between Aye, Taeg, and Kaikoura*

Aye looked suddenly to be a hundred feet tall, and even from the back, Kaikoura was afraid. The small creature before him didn’t seem as fazed. As small as he’d seemed before, he now looked like a child’s plaything standing there.

Right you are, Ned! Though I’m sure that was never tested.

The creatures words –or perhaps Kaikoura’s own senses- betrayed a little bit of the fear he was masking, but they were calm enough to bring her back to her own senses. She and Aye needed to be moving again, now!

Master! Kai said, leaping to her feet and clutching Aye’s arm There’s two creatures outside, and one of them is looking for us! He’s coming this way! We have to hide!

Aye relaxed a little at Kai’s words, but didn’t take his eyes off the small creature before him who was now hopping around with his fists in the air.

Come now, if you want a fight! I can distribute great quantities of what-for, and Charlie here knows Russian! You know what they’re like when they drink!

Kaikoura tugged on Aye’s arm again, pulling him towards the stairs.
Please master! We have to hide you!
Aye finally retracted his claws and turned to face Kaikoura. He seemed to be regarding her for a moment, and then finally began to follow her.

Where hide?

Kaikoura motioned up the stairs.
Up there, there’s a hallway behind a huge stack of
boxes, and a window that leads to the roof, we can get back outside without him seeing you!

Splendid. Quick as a Graboid, that one. said the small creature, suddenly at their side again. Ha! Once a lifetime is all you need. The smell is terrible!

Kaikoura stared, dumbfounded at the creature.
Who is this, master?

Later. Aye said, simply, Hide now. Come.

With that, Aye scooped up Kaikoura and Taeg and dashed towards
the stairs. As he bounded up, there came some sort of commotion behind them. Aye didn’t even slow down, but was up the stairs and out of sight in a flash.

When they reached the top and were concealed from view, Aye set down his two burdens. Kaikoura was shaken to say the least by Aye’s sudden display of strength but was also feeling –something- almost like excitement, but very faint. Almost the exact opposite of what she’d felt when she escaped Gartik. That was pure fear, and though she was still afraid…

Right again, Ned! Dreadful! the small creature said, his voice booming in this small room. Taeg, of course! How long have you been asleep?

Aye hissed, pursing a finger to his lips. He looked over to Kaikoura and said, Where go?

Kaikoura tiptoed over to the crates and showed them the space she’d gone through the night before. The small creature came through behind her, followed by Aye who had a little trouble getting through. But after a few tense moments, they were all inside and totally concealed from the room beyond.

The three of them walked as quietly as possible down the hallway, finally arriving at the last window which, Kaikoura now realized was probably too far from the roof to reach. Aye didn’t seem to share the same opinion, at least, he didn’t say anything but set to work trying to get the window open enough to climb out.

Kaikoura wandered over to the painting on the wall and sat down underneath it.
Now I’ve done it. If they saw us come up here, there’s nowhere to run to. Great job, Kai.

Nonsense! Why, all we need are jet-powered envelopes! Quick Ned! To the government!

The small creature spun around, watching the hallway they’d just come down.
Faster than a Taloorah, that one, hope he remembers my pineapple!

Quiet Taeg be! Hiding.

The small creature, Taeg, saluted Aye and started pacing the floor. Kaikoura got to her feet, and began to approach Aye to make her apologies when there was a thunderous crash from the end of the hall. Kaikoura was so startled, she stumbled backwards and crashed her head into the golden placard under the painting. The wall instantly swung inward and she tumbled the rest of the way into the darkness beyond.

The next few moments seemed to drag on forever. There were voices behind her, shouting, but she couldn’t make out what was being said. She was lying face down on a rough metal grate, her head was hanging out into an open space, and she could see she was at the top of a stairwell. The walls (as far as she could see) were uninteresting –concrete, stained dark with moisture and age punctuated here and there with dim safety lights. The stairs seemed to descend forever below her into blackness.

She was beginning to hear the voices more clearly, Aye and Taeg probably, but Kaikoura’s survival instincts kicked back in the quickest and she was on her feet and down the first flight of stairs before she was thinking clearly again. Fortunately for her, Aye and Taeg seemed to find the dark stairwell more to their liking than whatever was happening back in the hallway, because they were hot on her heels.

The darkness grew as they made their way further down the steps. Kai was still running on panic, and was as yet unconcerned about what they’d find at the bottom. Had she been, she probably would have been more cautious. It really hadn’t even occurred to her that the stairs had been hidden fairly cleverly in a building that was supposed to be abandoned and in a part of the station that wasn’t exactly safe. A less panicked Kai would have probably noted this as a smugglers hideout or den for Xanta dealers.

Finally, the trio reached the last stair, and found themselves on a concrete floor again. The lights in this room were off, and the darkness was nearly complete. In the dim light from the stairwell, they could see a concrete pillar a few feet ahead of them, but nothing more. However, they could feel a slight breeze from somewhere off to the right.

What are we going to do, master? Kai whispered, stepping backwards until she could feel Aye’s warm fur on the back of her Anai.

Nearby, there was a loud clack* sound and suddenly the platform’s emergency lights flickered to life. Kai and Aye turned to see Taeg standing near a power box on the wall just inside the stairs.
Ah! So the debutants have arrived at last. Won’t you join me in a brandy?

The room looked like a boarding station for some sort of train. The
platform they stood on was separated from the other side of the room by a long pit with two sets of tracks. There were all the standard safety warnings, some signs with arrows pointing this way and that, a few benches and some food dispensers, but otherwise the room was bare and fairly boring.

Before they could catch their breath, a trio of voices came faintly from above them.
That sounds like our old friend Sarthog! Why, I haven’t seen them in years!

Aye grabbed Taeg’s arm and pulled him towards the tracks with Kaikoura in hot pursuit.
And the blue fellow! It’s a family reunion!

The three of them jumped off the platform and onto the first set of tracks. Ahead of them was a vast expanse of darkness that served as a tunnel for whatever trains used to run here. At first, Aye seemed to hesitate at the idea of heading into the tunnel, but Kaikoura stepped forward and put her hand on his arm.

Master, it’s safe. I feel calmness, and great excitement and anticipation down this way. No fear.

Aye looked down at Kaikoura and nodded his head.
Kaikoura, Taeg follow. Quiet. Hide place now.

To Kaikoura, it didn’t seem like a long time that they’d been walking until they came to a place where the ground simply ended. There were two softly glowing hazard markers marking what seemed down here to be the end of the world itself. Aye and Kaikoura stood close to the edge with Taeg hanging back a few feet still talking to
his arm.

Even here, Kaikoura didn’t feel fear. To the contrary, this place fairly reeked of excitement, which was odd given that it was seemingly just a vast hole.

Maybe we’ve found one of the old mines…that would explain the tracks and the hole. But why hide the entrance?

Suddenly, she put two and two together. All the criminals that Gartik ever dealt with suddenly flashed in her mind, and she almost screamed on the spot.
Aye! Kaikoura hissed in the darkness, Aye! I was wrong! This place is dangerous! We have to leave right now!

Even though he was no more than a silhouette in the darkness, Kaikoura could feel his anxiety grow suddenly.
Kaikoura? Danger where? Aye whispered.

This could be a smugglers hideout! Kaikoura whispered back.

Aye sniffed the air, for a few moments.
Empty here. Here no one long time.

That’s my cue like a billiard cannon ball! Taeg suddenly cried from behind, dashing towards the edge, Gadzooks you’re right. What a situation that would be! Taeg suddenly stopped, but not in time. He toppled over the edge and into the darkness.

Kaikoura gasped and turned away, hiding her face. OH-

But before even a moment had passed, there was the sound of impact on metal.
Well I’ll be the son of a Skorr. Either that, or the Gypsies are in power again.

Kaikoura and Aye looked over the edge, and could barely make out Taeg just a few feet below them. With him standing there, they began to recognize dim shapes around him that before had looked like jagged rocks. Crates slowly came into focus, as well as some heavy machinery and the platform Taeg was standing on.

Are you okay? she cried, overcome with relief. She hadn’t known the small creature for very long, but she certainly didn’t want him to fall to his doom at the bottom of this asteroid either.

We’re fine, but Charlie landed on his head. Could be out for hours!

Do you see anything to turn on the lights?

And a fine notion, but what bearing does that have?

You know, like before! You turned on the lights back on the platform! Kaikoura didn’t know what Taeg was playing at. Even though she was still sensing him, she couldn’t make out any of his thoughts. His head was like a broken vid-screen displaying mostly static and occasionally some garbled pictures.

Well we’ll show her! Even without the help of styrofoam, always vanishing at a time like this. Drunk! That’s what they’ll say when his tour is done.

Kaikoura still didn’t understand him, but a moment later the running lights for the platform blinked to life. Then, there was a hiss of steam and a heavy mechanical groan as the hydraulics awoke from their long slumber. They protested at first, and Kai thought the platform might not move, but after a few final creaks of protest, the whole thing began a smooth ascent back to the lip of the tunnel.

[Taeg]

*Taeg watched as the platform with his new friends sped away from him, leaving him alone, and trapped on the service catwalk.*

Hey now, you forgot your friend Taeg! Bullocks, they gone and left us Charley, now what?

...

Oh right you are Ned, totally unconscious. Just like back on... Never mind then. Any suggestions from you Ned?

The stairs! right you are, but do they come in blue?

*Taeg followed the cat walk, in the opposite direction then the platform had headed. When he reached the stairs he began to descend them.*

What do you mean, look at that? look at what? speak up you son of Torgith!

*After a few minutes of inner battle, Taeg finally looked out over the vast warehouse, and saw hundreds of rockets and space ships spread about, all in different stages of completion.*

Well look at that! A rocket nursery! let's go find the proud mothers and congratulate them Charley!

*Taeg then took off at full speed and was soon lost in the forest of incomplete rockets.*

[Aye]

(Only moments earlier...)

The service platform slowly creaked back up with a load groan until it was level with the ground Aye and Kaikoura stood on. Taeg stood proudly on the platform looking back at them.

And you said I couldn't slay the Gorthagmon, but look who's eating their way through temptation now! Carry on before they remember our names, chaps.

Taeg crossed the platform to a service catwalk while Aye and Kaikoura followed him. Kai was still very nervous, bad feelings looming all throughout this place but Aye seemed confident that it was empty so she didn't protest. They were on the center of the platform when Taeg stopped at what appeared to be a small control panel welded to the railing on the catwalk.

You're right, Ned. Charly needs a cool refreshment. Now then, which one of these gets me a fresh Barleyaid?

Taeg pressed a bright red button on the control panel and the platform that Aye and Kaikoura now stood on sprang to life. Unlike the slow and uniform movement of before, the platform quickly dropped twenty feet and landed on a rail that extended into the darkness. Like a flash, the platform suddenly sped off into the distance, leaving Taeg behind.*

(Back to the present...)

The wind was rushing past Kaikoura and Aye as the platform rocketed through the darkness. Aye's vision was becoming more accustomed to the darkness and even at that speed, he could begin to make out the shapes of what appeared to be space ships whizzing past them on either side. Each one was at various stages of construction, some merely frames with assorted wires while others looked practically completed. Aye could see Kaikoura trying to say something as she struggled to hold on to her shawl but the sound of rushing wind drowned it out. He could only give her a re-assuring look in response. Deep down, Aye was unsure of what was going to happen, but he could only wish the best for them and to Taeg.

Looking forward, Aye was beginning to make out a new figure but this he could not identify. It's outline was growing slowly, which at this speed meant it must have been of impossible size. Aye began to suspect that a cave-in had occurred in the tunnel ahead, but it's shape was too smooth, too uniform to be collapsed rock. Whatever it was, Aye crouched down beside Kaikoura ready to protect her from whatever was ahead.

[Taeg]

*Taeg wandered the "Rocket Nursery" to congratulate the "expecting mothers" He did how ever run in to one small problem. He couldn't tell the difference between the two.*

Are you a mother or a baby? *He asked of one rocket, but getting no reply he grunted in displeasure, and moved on.*

If they are babies, they are unexpectedly quite, or very rude mothers. Right Charley.

Still unconscious I see.. Well better that then a fruit bat, as Mum always said.

*Taeg wandered the shuttle yard for a good fifteen minutes before he was stopped in his tracks by the most beautiful ship he had ever seen. It was so beautiful in fact, in knocked some sane back into him.*

Holy cripes Ned, do you think it runs still?

Well of course, we're going to steal it.

*Just then the platform bearing Aye and Kai whizzed out of the dark and settled next to the beautiful ship in question.*

Hey it's those giants from earlier! Hello giants!

*Aye and Kai looked around in confusion. the journey on the fast platform had slightly dazed them. Finally noticing Taeg, they slowly began working there way off the platform to him.*

*Taeg smiled and waited for them to come, listening to the voices in his head make comments about how none of this made sense, and he should probably just leave. But it was only Ted, an seeing how Taeg didn't much care for Ted, he usually ignored him.*

*Just as Aye and Kai were approaching Taeg, he heard a sound in the distance. Turning to see what it was, he saw Sarthog, and a few other giants with him.*

Well this is looking to be a right old party aint it Ned.

CHARLIE! You're awake! bout time, had a bit of a fright I did.. what's that? Pelron Tuntles! Stop with the Russian already! Where did you even learn that crazy dialect anyway...

There we go, was that so hard? No, you're quite right, This ship is are density, I can feel it in your bones even.

*Everyone gathered around Taeg, staring at the ship in wonder.*

That's quite the ship...

I shall name her Kydon! Come everyone! let's do some exploring!

*At which point Taeg began to walk the other way, but was stopped by Sarthog, who spun him around back towards the ship.*

Wow! that's quite the beautiful ship! It yours Sarthog?

Oops! Sorry there ma'am, didn't mean to offend. Of course you're your own person.*To Sarthog*Touchy! Still though, what a woman.

*It was at that moment, that everyone's focus left the ship, and they realized that there was now more people standing around then had previously been there.*

Times like these i really wish I had a chimera.

[Aye]

Indeed, they were no longer alone. They were definitely professionals, at least a dozen of them in dark cloaks and filter-masks protecting their faces equipped with bright flashlights which beamed down on the weary group. The cloaks concealed most of their features, but their silhouettes implied a number of different alien species. Each one was wearing light body-armor and wielding a short club tipped with a crackling spark of electricity. They surrounded them quickly in a semi-circle against the ship with no way out, blinding them with light. Kaikoura squeaked quietly and hid behind Aye who lowered his ears and hissed loudly. A woman began to approach from behind the men and spoke in a seductively commanding voice, her heels clacking on the hard floor.

"With all the resources in the Universe, I always said you can't rely enough on the local talent."

She stepped into the light and poised herself confidently before them, her human female form clear to Rink. Her hair was large and jet black, matching the bold lipstick which she flaunted with pouty lips. She was carrying no weapons, or at least did an incredibly good job at hiding them on her skin-tight leather catsuit. Her bodice was wrapped up tightly in a matching corset and her thigh-high, heeled boots creaked as she moved. Her eyes went immediately to Rink.

"I wasn't too confident when I heard Aku was on the hunt, but then rumor began to spread that the had somehow managed to get ex-agent Rink looking for it."

Rink gazed at the woman, trying to place her but he had never seen the woman before in his life.

"Don't be surprised, Rink. Your reputation proceeds you. We knew that you would be able to find him for us, even if you didn't know who was actually looking for him."

Rink furrowed his brow angrily, "So this wasn't about Aku at all, was it?"

The woman laughed loudly, "Oh, don't get Aku's intentions wrong. He truly did want this creature for his collection and he's still set on disgracing you as much as he can but he doesn't know what your friend here is truly worth."

Just then, Taeg seemed to lose interest and turned back to the ship and presented it with a most formal gesture.

"No offense to the lady in black, but a larger woman is always worth two sacks in the cave instead of a bucket in the your pastry."

Taeg reached up his hand a pressed a finger to the side of the ship. That small portion of metal suddenly lit up with a holographic keypad. Taeg tapped a number sequence into the pad and from what appeared to be solid metal, a door opened up.

"There we go, just like Christmas!"

Sarthog knew the kind of trouble they were in and didn't waste any time herding Kaikoura, Taeg and TKC into the ship. The woman shrieked loudly, "Don't let them get away!"

Aye and Rink backed towards the doorway as the men rushed forward with their clubs. It was times like this Rink really wished he had his gun. Before they could converge, Aye suddenly darted out catching the two men rushing him unaware. The first man, Aye swiped the mask off his face with his left paw and followed up with the sharp claws on his right, slashing across the Gruthahn's eyes. As the Gruthahn grasped his face in a blood-curdling yell, Aye had already snatched the stun-club from his hand and jabbed it into the torso of the next man who convulsed and collapsed to the floor.

As the first man yelled out, Rink could see the hesitation in the man before him and took the chance to wind back and land a powerful punch to his face. The mask shattered under the blow, sending him to the ground instantly unconscious. The next alien tried to thrust the stun-club into Rink, but the alien was caught in the side of the face with a wide hay-maker. He stumbled, dazed and before he could get his wits about him, Rink came down with another heavy punch, dropping him to the ground. Rink wound up for the next one but before he could swing, he felt a sudden jerk on the collar of his shirt. Aye had grasped it and roughly pulled Rink back and into the open door of the ship. Before the rest of the men could converge on them, Aye whipped around and typed in a lightning-fast sequence on the door control panel and the opening slammed shut. Aye followed up with another fast sequence and the light at the control panel turned red.

Rink coughed from having his neck straddled so roughly and sat up. He sputtered through his breath, "What was that?"

Aye just turned around and said, "Lock door encrypted. Now leave must."

On the other side of the door, they could hear them men pounding at it and the distant sound of one of them shouting, "Find a cutting laser!" They didn't have much time. However, Taeg seemed to be one step ahead of them all once again as he marched into the darkness of the ship.

"Onward my frosty compatriots! This next bend won't know where to take us! I'm just glad Charlie is here to enjoy it."

[Kaikoura]

Kaikoura was on the floor, underneath the human with the purple hair who was humming to himself merrily. With as much politeness as she could muster given the circumstances, Kai freed herself and helped the human to his feet.

I'm terribly sorry, sir." Kaikoura said bowing toward the human before her.

Have you seen the box tumbler, I'd really like to know, tell me where he is please so I can quickly go!

It's voice was like a song, and it's aura was like a pleasant day in springtime. Just being around this creature made Kai's problems seem to drift away. The feeling was short lived however, as just then Rink and Aye came pelting up the corridor.

Box tumbler! I've found you! the thing hugged it's twin happily who reciprocated by looking incredibly uncomfortable. Kai giggled despite herself.

The lot of them weren't very far in the ship, but Aye ushered them down the corridor until they found the small orange creature and Taeg again. They had stopped in a small rotunda -a small circular room with many narrow sets of stairs leading upward and downward branching in all directions.

What ho! Left your sense by the kessel did you? Good thing I've got MY head.

Nonsense. It's the creepers you have to worry about.

It's a good brand! I will not have you maligning it!

Kai turned from the scene to face Aye.

Master! What are we going to do? Those Enforcers will be here any minute!

She's right. We need to find a back way out of this place, quick.

Kai's head was swimming -there were so many people around...she pulled away from Aye suddenly and stumbled over to the closest wall. She leaned against it, the cold metal feeling wonderful against the bruises on her face. Kai's vision blurred, she found herself again psychically connected to the human with the purple hair. Rink and Aye's anxiety, powerful though it was, barely even touched her as she just enjoyed the sensation.

Taeg said something, then Aye said something, and Kaikoura shifted her weight as she spun around and fell into darkness.

The trip down the stairs would've been much worse, had Kai been paying attention to it. As it happened, she barely noticed as she came to a stop in midair, levitating only a few feet from the floor of the lower level.

It took a small explosion behind her to bring her back to her senses, which of course, completed her trip to the floor in a much more painful fashion. Her thoughts were still foggy when a flashlight beam landed on her from behind. She spun around in time to see one of the armed men from before pointing his weapon at her.

"I've found one of them! They're down here!" he called over his shoulder, before beginning his slow descent down the stairs to her.

"Don't move, nanta", the man said, his voice garbled and menacing through his mask.

Of course, as many people know, when someone tells you not to move, it is almost always likely to have the opposite effect, and this time was no different. Kai was back on her feet and fleeing for her life before the second soldier even made it into the stairwell.

The hall before her was short and at the end of it was a heavy airtight hatch left standing open. The door itself was lined with yellow hazard stickers and small pictures of people falling, or being hit by lightning. Of course, Kai only regarded these for a moment before the first of the soldiers made it to the landing behind her and opened fire. The blast went wild, probably a warning shot, but Kai wasn't thinking about that.

Oh Goddess...I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. They're going to kill me.

The room she'd entered was clearly the engine room. She'd never been in one so large or advanced, but she subconsciously recognized the shapes of the feeder systems and the blast shields. She was on a catwalk above the room, and it shook violently with every step she took. Another shot whizzed by, followed by someone yelling.

Kai turned a sharp corner she'd barely noticed in the dim red light of the room when she found the edge of the catwalk. Before her was open space, and the floor too far below her. There was a small strand of construction tape stretched across the spot where the floor ended, and Kai guessed at one time there were going to be stairs here.

Your luck strikes again, Kai. Good job, you've gotten yourself killed.

"Get your hands up, nanta!" came the voice behind her. She didn't need to guess how close they were, the floor beneath her shuddered violently as they approached. She felt like she wanted to cry, but she couldn't, the only thing her body seemed willing to do was obey. She raised her arms slowly and turned on the spot.

Several lights were trained on her. The man in front barked at her, demanding that she come forward. For a moment, Kai thought she would obey him, but her feet seemed to decide against it, and she stayed put.

"I'm warning you, Rai'ku," the lead man said again, "you're worth just as much to us dead."

Kai felt it happen. She looked up just in time to see the bolts holding the catwalk into the ceiling explode, causing 5 of the soldiers and the floor they'd so recently been standing on to tumble into the darkness below. Only the lead man, who had been standing on the same part of the platform as Kai herself, remained. There was the sickening crunch of metal and bodies meeting the floor below them, and the soldier swore loudly.

The man raised his weapon and fired at Kaikoura. The beam of energy came at her, then bounced away, hitting some control panel somewhere in the vastness of the room. Kai had never been so afraid, her body was tense, and she felt the energy of the room. Below her, massive machines came to life, the engines of the ship warming up, and then, the energy was focusing on the soldier. He kept firing, and his shots kept bouncing away damaging more and more of the equipment in the room. Then there was the sound of electricity in the air, small bolts of it bounced around the metal of the catwalk, jumping between the floor, railings, ceiling, and anything else they could find, like hyperactive children at a playground.

Kai watched as the bolts traveled toward the man, getting bigger and louder every time they arched. He stopped firing, his weapon lowered. A small bolt arched off the railing and hit his gun. He jumped in shock, and then another one arched off the ceiling and hit his elbow pad. He jerked away just in time to be hit again square in the chestplate. He stared at Kaikoura, through the dark lenses of his mask. Small bolts were jolting him this way and that, getting stronger each time until he bounced around helplessly, like a marionette. Finally, the bolts stopped. The mans whole body slumped, but he did not fall. His gun slipped from his hands, and he slowly raised his head to stare at Kaikoura again.

Her eyes were wild with horror at the sight before her. The man looked like a black smoldering ghoul, looming there before her. She wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go, and her feet, it seemed, were still not ready. Then the room went silent. Kai wasn't sure if the sudden realization of what was about to happen was her own or the soldiers, but before she had time to decide, a huge bolt of electricity arched up from somewhere below and blasted the man square in the back. The light and sound of the tremendous bolt thankfully drowned out everything else, as Kai covered her eyes and staggered backward into the guard rail before toppling to her knees. When she could finally see again, the man was gone. Only a small puddle of steaming black rubber clung to the spot he'd occupied.

Kai tried to stand up, but it didn't happen. Her whole body had turned against her, and she wasn't going to fight back. She found the strength to grab hold of her shawl. She pulled the fabric low over her head, letting the familiar smell of her mother flood in around her. She felt a lurch, the ship was moving. Then she felt something else, but what it was was unimportant to her.

(OoC: I would like to apologize for butchering TKC's lines, but I can't write poetry to save my life.)

[Aye]

Kai turned from the scene to face Aye.

"Master! What are we going to do? Those Enforcers will be here any minute!"

Aye's ears folded down and his face grew solemn. He had no idea how they were going to get out of this. He just knew that they had to keep moving.

"She's right," said Rink. "We need to find a back way out of this place, quick."

Aye turned to Rink and nodded. It sounded like the best plan so far.

"You always caught the attention of pebbles, Ned!" Teeg shouted, still seeming to be caught in his own private conversation. "But that doesn't mean brass shingles if- ... I was getting to that!"

Taeg seemed so sure of where he was going, but Aye was questioning the wisdom of a man who would talk to invisible things. Aye decided to trust his own judgment, analyzing the layout of the ship, the stretching corridors and compartments hoping for some kind of hint to an escape hatch or decompression chamber. Then, up ahead, Aye spotted a sign. The lettering was in a language he did not know (which could have been just about any language) but the graphic behind the text he recognized. It was a maintenance port, something that could be removed and used as an exit. Taeg and the canine were already halfway down another corridor when Aye whispered.

"Exit here. All follow me."

It was to no avail as Taeg continued onward. Aye turned around to plead with the two very-similar humans and Kaikoura when he noticed that Kaikoura was gone.

"Kaikoura? Kaikoura where!?

Rink was puzzled at first and then turned around to notice that Kaikoura was indeed missing.

"Oh shoot, she's gone! Where did she go?"

"Little blue has gone away while fuzzy blue is here to stay. Smiles are gone and this to boot: the tiny blue fell down the chute."

"The chute?"

Aye rushed back to follow their trail and sure enough, he found a series of six emergency engineering hatches, three on each side of the corridor. These slides led down to the lower levels of the Engineering bays and where used when mechanics needed to get into the bowls of the ship in a hurry. Aye turned to the purple-haired human urgently.

"Which?"

The purple haired creature shrugged and Aye knew the only thing to try now was random chance. Their eyes met and Rink seemed to catch on to the situation, positioning himself in front of a slide on the other side of the corridor. Exchanging nods, the two jumped down the chutes. TKC, having nothing else to do, joined shortly after, whizzing down with glee.

Aye shot out of his chute, making sure to grab the exit handle so he didn't plow into the flat wall in front of him. He quickly looked around but Kaikoura was nowhere to be found. He snarled to himself for picking the wrong one and began to dash down the hallway, heading in what he could only assume was the direction of where the next hatch over would have come out. He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a distant noise. It was a quiet beeping and faint as if it were coming from the other side of the wall. Aye recognized the noise in the very last instant and was barely able to leap aside as the blasting charge blew through the wall. Aye scurried up into the wiring above the corridor as half a dozen of the armed men burst in. As they did, one called out,

"I've found one of them! They're down here!"

From Aye's position, he knew they weren't talking about him. His mind could only come to one other solution: Kaikoura! But from here, their guns trained down the corridors, attacking them would be suicide.

"Don't move, nanta," the voice shouted again. This time, Aye heard the pattering of bare feet running down a corridor and the thumping of boots as the troops followed after her. Aye dropped down from the ceiling and began to follow the noise, praying that they did not catch her. Then he heard a noise that drew the blood from his face. The sound of a gun thundered through the halls. They were using live ammunition. Aye raced after the noise only to run into Rink as he rounded the corner. The two of them fell to the floor with TKC following close behind, falling on top of them like it was a game.

"I heard gunfire! Did they see you?"

Aye shook his head and said, solemnly, "Kaikoura."

The two of them scurried to their feet, hearing a second shot echoing through the halls. This time, Aye could pin-point it's location and led Rink to the large metal door leading to the engine room. Through a large window, Aye could see the men converging on Kaikoura at the end of a catwalk. Aye's fur was on-end as another shot was fired, whizzing just past Kaikoura's head and ricocheting out of view. Aye's hand raced to the latch to open the door but it was locked. He pulled desperately at the latch but it did not budge. Aye's mind raced, wondering why the latch would be locked because it only locked when the engine was....

It dawned on Aye too late. The mechanics began to hum to life as the engines initiated. Rink came up behind Aye and began to pound at the door, trying to open it but Aye held him back. To open the doors now would be suicide for every one of them. Aye could only watch and pray that Kaikoura's helmet wasn't conductive. Throughout the entire room, huge beams of powerful electricity arced through the air. The tumbled mass of flesh and metal which had fallen to the ground burnt up in a flash, leaving only the charred and melted remains of the catwalk. The final, remaining soldier was literally cooked from the inside out as minor arcs of electricity were attracted to his metal equipment. Then, as the engines sprang to life, the main transition beam bent up and caught him, disintegrating the man and his equipment in a brilliant flash.

As the current began to stabilize and the engines reached an idle condition, the locks released themselves and the door slid open. Aye could see Kaikoura still on the catwalk, down on her knees with her shawl pulled over her head. Aye darted across the remaining walkway, jumping over the fallen gap and approaching Kaikoura who seemed to be caught in a daze. There was a sudden lurch as Aye felt the ship lifting off the ground. He tried to lift her up but she appeared to be caught in shock.

[Taeg]

*There was a new person, Taeg couldn't be sure who it was yet, But they were for sure there. And she, for it was a girl, was telling him where to go. At first he had thought it was Ned, but she was more demanding, but also, very nice. Taeg felt compelled to do as she said. And at the moment, she was guiding him somewhere.*

Bright as joy, she is Sarthog. I really wish she would stop hiding, and show herself. You must meet her.

That's great Taeg, where are we going. It sounds like those armored men got in. Shouldn't we be running.

Be sensible, Ned agrees, this new one will show the way, as swiftly as a bat with grease.

Ye seem to be making a little more sense, more so then usual.

Is it love? Color me senseless then. Right up ahead she says. I'm going, I'm going.

*Taeg followed the seemingly pointless directions for a good minute or two, when they finally came to what appeared to be the bridge. Taeg sat down in the chair he was instructed to sit in, and began to press the buttons indicated to him.*

Are ye sure ye should be doing that?

It's not rocket science dear Sarthog...

Oh, apparently it is, she says. Who knew the silly wrench could turn?

*Taeg finished pushing in the sequence of data, he seemed to have pulled from thin air, and sat back. After a second there was a slight hum that could be heard. The distant hum grew louder and louder, then turned into a light roar. That soon stopped, then there was a slight force pushing Taeg and Sarthog back as the ship began to leave the ground.*

Ah, Excellent! The Kydon lives. Told you she was quite a woman Sarthog.

What did ye do?

nothing a resounding laugh wont cure. Oops, she says I am not done, Once we are clear of the asteroid, I must hit this button. 'Why wait?', is what I say.

*Taeg reached forward and pressed the bright neon blue button shining before him.*

And away we go!

*The following explosion was so big, it nearly destroyed the whole asteroid. As far as everyone was concerned, who was left alive on the asteroid, as to what caused the explosion, there was no sign. Though some people swear they saw the space time continuum ripped apart, then smashed back together. When asked, "what does that look like?" Everyone said "A giant hand, giving the universe the bird." except one bloke, who said "it looked like my mother".*

[Rink]

A lot had transpired in the past hour, and Rink was a little beside himself for taking it all in stride. He had met a shape-shifter, a talking (and drinking) dog, and just moments ago met up with the Rai'ku girl and blue alien he had been tracking. He didn't have time to capture, let alone talk to either of them, as he witnessed a new third party, with interests in the alien, intervene. And it had all culminated when they had boarded a massive space vessel unlike any he had ever seen, and blasted off into space.

It's all been like a strange dream. Not only did I find the Rai'ku and the blue fur alien, now we're teamed up? Speaking of which...

The Rai'ku girl still looked a little dazed, which wasn't surprising given what just happened. The blue alien had sprinted over to her as soon as the engines had finished discharging, and it took a moment for Rink to catch up.

"She looks like she's in shock. We'd better get her to the medical bay."

"Quickly yes."

They both helped her to her feet and supported her as they carried her out and down the hallway. She was muttering to herself, but Rink couldn't make out any of it, although it sounded like a lullaby.

Probably just trying to calm herself down. Good that she's well enough to...

There was another sudden lurch, however this one was more jarring unlike when they lifted off. It was followed by another one that was more powerful and knocked all three of them to the floor. For a second, Rink thought they might be under attack, but realized that conventional weapons don't cause this type of ship rattling. Floating objects in space, however...

We're slamming into asteroids. Just who the hell is flying this bucket of bolts?