Star Raiders and the Lost Expidition (6 page)

Skyla, a female Falconia Avian, spoke, “I wouldn’t be surprised if the Xatu are involved. They have been trying to abduct our scientists since the beginning of this war and frankly it’s getting out of hand.”

“
I agree,” Shaka the zebra-like Stalian concurred. “But our militant despot is very low to assemble an investigation team to find him.” She turned to Skyla, “I am truly sorry.”

Skyla frowned and replied “It’s is not your fault, but I suggest we put together a Secret Security Agency for the Colonials to handle these types of situations.”

“
That is a good idea Skyla,” Naku said, “All in favor?”

The vote was unanimous and the meeting ended. The council departed as Naku left to his chambers, a young blond male human met him there.

Naku turned to him, “I am going to put General Smithson in charge of the Secret Security Agency.”

The man nodded and said, “King Rymu has called and said that his son may have been abducted by the renegade humanoid Lord Drax.”

Naku frowned as he sat in his chair thinking of that name, “Drax.” He sighed and said worriedly, “I really wish I could help my old friend, Maas, but Shaka was right, the Xatu has cut us down to a stump. We must somehow find a way to penetrate their defense shields.” He looked up to his assistant Maas and asked, “I don’t suppose you have any ideas?”

“
Sorry sir,” Maas said, “But it seems that we have more of a recruitment problem instead.”

Naku agreed, “I know, it wasn’t like this twenty years ago. It seems like the rest of the free galaxy has lost faith in us. Most of them are either privateers or bounty hunters.”

On the other side of the galaxy, sits a half desert half-watery planet called Sadr in the Cigni system. The planet surface is sometimes ninety percent humid and hot as today was one of those days. Like Cian, Xatu empire has not conquered yet it. The Xatu thought Sadr was a waste of their time, so it was perfect sanctuary for those who were hiding.

Furttle, a city near the hot steamy calm ocean contains the most hideous scum, wickedness, and revolting smugglers this side of the galaxy. Mike and Justin entered an air-conditioned tavern called the Seball. One of their good friends Digan, who unfortunately was not there at the time, owned the Saball. The Earthian rocking-tuned music filled the air from a holo band near the back of the tavern, as they passed the Animun and alien type patrons. They sat at their regular table on the far side of the bar and ordered their drinks from a cute Faunis server.

“
Well I hope this baby is worth what we went through,” said Mike holding up the blue and red swirled crystal jewel. Justin did not like Mike holding it up in public, especially in a bar like this.

Justin replied, “I just hope it’ll be enough to pay off Mama’Halb.”

“
Well we’ll find out when our dealer get here,” Mike said.

Just then, a full size goblin-like alien entered the bar. Its gray-green skin and two long sharp lower-jawed tusks were fierce. It almost made you think it was a bounty hunter looking to kill Mike and Justin, but it wasn’t, it was an alien Giber, he strolled around and went to the human bar keep. The bar keeper then pointed towards Mike and Justin and the Giber nodded.

“
Looks like he’s here,” commented Justin as he looked up. The Giber walked towards them and stood above as Mike smiled friendly.

“
Want to sit down?” Mike asked gesturing a seat to the alien.

The Giber replied, “No, thanks. Where’s the jewel?”

“
Where’s the money?” Justin asked.

The Giber replied, “You’ll get the money. I want to see the jewel?”

He asked again. This time more aggressively.

“
It's right here,” replied Mike as he put the blue shiny jewel on the table.

The Giber’s eyes widened and said, “Ah, the Na’Tuka Jewel.” he picked it up to examine it and continued, “I don’t know how you did it but, I’ll pay you the five thousand.”

“
Five thousand!” Exclaimed Mike, “Come on, do you know what we had to go through for that thing? I’m sure it’s worth more.”

The Giber snorted laughing and said, “You two are good bargainers. Alright, I’ll give you eight thousand and no more.”

“
Fine,” Mike said in defeat, “The money?”

“
Of course, here, eight thousand in cash,” the Giber replied as he handed a wad of translucent like money, “You humans are truly scum,” Mike handed the jewel to him as he held it up admiring the Bimend. He laughed as put it in his pocket and walked away.

“
Well, here’s your share,” said Mike handing his friend his divided the money.

Justin replied anxiously, “Good let’s get hell out of here.”

“
Relax. Can I finish my drink first?” Mike said as he took a sip of his drink and looked at him.

Justin was nervous. He knew that Mama’Halb would send another of her goons after them and she knew where to find them.

“
Well, I just don’t like staying in here when Mama’Halb is a bit pissed at us.” Justin said to him “And she knows where we hang out Mike.”

Justin made good point, “Fine,” Mike replied as he placed a tip on the table.

They both got up and headed for the entrance until a real bounty hunter named Tuskin, a walrus-like Animun Warlian, cut their path with a blaster aimed at Mike's stomach. Mike looked at him and did not realize who it was until he looked up at his ugly face.

“
Where do you think you’re going Tippin?” He asked icily as he snarled.

Mike replied slyly, “Ah, Tuskin, what a surprise. We were about to see Mamma’Halb. Weren’t we Justin?”

“
Yeah,” his friend replied nervously.

“
Yeah, sure,” Tuskin said backing them up a little, “She wants the money now. Fifty thousand. Pay up.”

“
Well, you tell her we only got twenty five hundred and will get rest later,” replied Mike.

Tuskin then said, “Don't insult me with your pitiful worthless coins. She wants the whole amount. If you don’t pay, she authorized me to kill you both. Here and now!” He then smiled at that thought.

“
Why don’t we all go outside so we don’t kill anybody in here, huh?” Justin suggested. “That and I don’t like the thought that all of us could be spending eternally in the Neptune Correctional Facility.”

Tuskin thought then replied, “Good point, why don’t we? But no tricks!”

They all started to head outdoors. Justin, hoping he could get a quick and unnoticeable shot at Tuskin, he quietly took out his blaster, turned then said to him, “Aw wait a minute, it’s too hot out there to play. Besides,” he then shot Tuskin in the leg, “I hate playing with a cheat like you.”

Tuskin cried in pain as he fell to the ground. The two ran outside like scared rabbits into the busy dust like street. Mike did not know that Justin was going to do that to him, but Mike smiled, as he never thought of a better friend then Justin.

“
Head for the ship!” Mike ordered to his companion as he took out his own blaster.

The Warlin limped out of the tavern. They both ran down the street as laser blasts were shooting at them from Tuskin. Merchants and buyers screamed and took cover as their laser blasts illuminated the scene. Mike and Justin took a quick left turn into a rustic open-roofed garage, as he quickly shot back at Tuskin missing him. Justin pushed a button as the door slid closed. He then ran towards the ship’s ramp following Mike. Once they gotten to the cockpit, they quickly started her up and took off as the garage door slid open. Tuskin started to shoot at the ship, but it was all ready too late. The ship blasted into the blue sky.

“
I will find you,” Tuskin said to himself, “Then you will be dead!”

“
Man,” commented Justin trying to catch his breath, “That was close.”

“
Yeah, too close,” replied Mike calming down.

Justin then asked, “What now desert fox?”

“
Well, we need to find another safe hidden port,” Mike replied as he checked the map quadrants. “Somewhere that Mama’Halb does not know about.”

Justin asked, “Where? The Empire conquered most of the galaxy. It’s not like we can waltz in and say ‘hey can we crash here for a while?’ And besides we still don’t have enough money.”

“
I know. Hold on,” Mike replied pointing at his screen, “Well, we can always got back to Cian.”

“
Cian?” Justin replied, “The last time we were there, they turned the planet to a colonial military base.”

“
That’s right,” said Mike as he explained, “And Mama’Halb is not that stupid to send any of her bounty hunting friends there to shoot up the place.”

Justin said uncertainly, “Mike, they’re not gonna set us up with anything except military positions, you know that. And even if they did, do you think we’ll be interested?”

“
Don't worry, I think Digan is stationed there,” replied Mike.

Justin said, “How do you know? He hasn’t contacted you in months.”

“
Well, the last transmission he sent was from Cian. I just hope he’s still there.”

Justin looked at his friend wondering if he was right. He hoped that his idea would pay off. Mike then set the coordinates and the
Golden Condor
rocketed into space towards their home world, Cian.

At end of the Deneb System sat the monumental star ship
Hades
. Like most star ships,
Hades
was different. Xatu wanted a starship that the colonials would fear. The outer hull had a skeletal look to it with probe spikes shooting out everywhere. The first time that Naku saw this ship, he knew that they were doomed. Inside, the commander Lord Drax sat in his little throne room planning.

“
Captain,” he said into his visual transmitter, “Bring in the Felinis prisoner.”

Alexander Drax was once human. He was once a slave to the Xatu Empire until one day they were looking for a human that knows secrets of the Earthian race. They offered money, power, and freedom and as greedy as Drax was, he did not hesitate join them. He began to serve as a solder in their army, until a couple of years ago when he was in a terrible accident that left his skin turn into a bluish color, but the accident also left him a strange gift, an ability to morph his body to anything he wanted. The Emperor heard this and instantly promoted him to a powerful lord in his army.

The captain nodded to Drax, a few moments later the door slid opened, and guards dressed in red armor pushed in the Felinis Prince. Xman was hand cuffed and chained to the guard like some slave. He looked up to him and instantly recognized the commander. Drax’s blue skin, white hair, and evil red eyes have some of the men in his ship tremble when they are near him, but Xman was not trembling. He knew him all too well. His face grew angry and growled like a hungry wolf.

“
Ah, Xman,” Drax said icily, “Long time no see.”

“
Drax,” Xman replied unhappily, “How long has it been?”

“
Too long I’m afraid,” he replied as he looked to his two-crew members, “Guards, leave us.”

They chained Xman onto the floor as a grapple forced him to kneel down and the guards left them. Xman did not know why this was happening to him. All he did know that he wanted to rip Drax’s heart out of his blue skinned body.

“
Do you know why my fleet didn’t destroy you and I dragged you in like a cod fish, so you could live?” Drax asked.

Xman looked up at Drax in despite of him and finally replied sarcastically, “Not really. Why don’t you tell me?”

“
I spared your planet because my master wanted to enslave your people. You Felinis are strong good workers. Perhaps your father is willing to trade his people’s freedom for his loving son.”

Xman looked at him in disgust and said, “My father is not that stupid Drax. I rather die for my planet than have it turn to a slave pit.”

Drax frowned at that little remark and said, “What a pity, but then again, if you want to die, it won’t matter to me.” Drax then smiled at that thought and had an evil idea. He then pressed a button on his visual communicator once again. “Guards, take him to the Security Cells.”