With a bright flash of light and a harsh crackling sound, Saleek’s vessel ripped a temporary hole in the fabric of the universe and flew back into normal space. The energy surrounding the craft hissed and popped as it dissipated, forming long lines and arcs of white which clawed and danced their way across the blackness of space till they were no more.
In the pilot’s chair at the front of the ship’s cockpit, Saleek said, ‘Report, Zeeree.’
‘All systems functioning normally. I am calculating our current position based on local star constellations,’ announced Zeeree, her face looming large on the main view screen.
‘Well, I’m glad that’s over,’ muttered Kracht from his chair.
Ellu glanced across at him from her station, which was several metres behind Saleek and a metre or so to the left of where Kracht was sitting.
‘Something wrong, Kracht?’ she asked playfully.
The big alien scowled as he looked back at her.
‘You know damn well what’s wrong. You know I hate flyin’ through super-space,’ he replied as he crossed his massive arms defensively.
‘I don’t believe you sometimes,’ said Ellu with a smile on her lips. ‘You make out that you’re the toughest, nastiest guy around who would just as soon kill someone as look at them and when it comes right down to it, you’re afraid of a little thing like flying.’
‘I ain’t afraid of nothing. And it ain’t flyin’ that bothers me, it’s when we temporarily pop into another part of the universe when we fly through super-space. It weirds me out,’ insisted Kracht.
That particular conversation was interrupted by Zeeree announcing, ‘Position check complete. We are right where we’re supposed to be. Coming up on the third planet in the local solar system...now.’
The AI’s blue face faded away and the view screen turned to black with an orange blob in the centre, getting bigger by the second.
‘That’s our planet,’ said Saleek determinedly.
‘That little hunk of rock? Hardly call that a planet,’ commented Kracht as he leaned back in his chair.
The chair responded by creaking and whining as it struggled to support the large alien’s massive frame and weight.
‘That’s where Patrick is being held. OK Zeeree, scan for human life-signs,’ instructed the lyan.
Ellu looked at Saleek with wide eyes.
‘You mean you aren’t even sure where he is being kept prisoner? What kind of rescue attempt is this?’ she asked in disbelief.
‘The kind that will work,’ insisted Saleek as he typed instructions into the pilot’s console. ‘Humans are rare in every part of the galaxy ‘cept the outer colonies. They’re pretty much unheard of in the Barren Lands so I’m willing to bet that right now Patrick is the only human down there on that planet.’
The spiky alien turned his head to look back at Ellu. ‘Happy now?’
‘Not exactly,’ answered the blue-haired girl a little uneasily. ‘But you’re the boss. This rescue mission is your idea so we’ll just follow your lead.’
‘I just hope it doesn’t take too long. I’m dyin’ for some action,’ said Kracht, cracking his knuckles in anticipation of a good fight.
‘You’ll get your chance soon enough,’ said Saleek. ‘Zeeree? Any luck locating Patrick?’
‘I have located a human life-sign. Actually, I have located three,’ said Zeeree.
‘What?’ asked Saleek in confusion.
‘Now I make it four. No, five. Definitely five.’
‘What’s going on?’ inquired Ellu.
‘I am picking up several faint human life-signs in a region of the planet approximately one Drekkma in diameter but they are very erratic. I can think of two explanations for this. The first is that somebody down there has a penchant for kidnapping humans and Patrick is the latest addition to their collection. The alternative is that Patrick is being kept underground and the rock is interfering with my scans,’ said Zeeree.
‘If you’re going to keep someone prisoner on a barren desert planet, it would make sense to keep them underground. It would be cooler and safer there than on the surface. It will also make our job harder,’ said Ellu as she studied various read-outs on her station monitor.
‘Zeeree, prepare to descend into the planet’s atmosphere and take us to within twenty Drekkmas of the human life-signs. That’ll be close enough to run some more detailed scans and far away enough that we shouldn’t attract any attention,’ said Saleek hopefully.
‘Understood. Preparing for descent,’ responded Zeeree as she took control of the craft’s navigational systems.
‘Kracht, you’d better get suited up and ready for action,’ said Saleek. ‘I’ll join you as soon as Zeeree has completed her more detailed scan so that we know what we’re up against.’
‘Finally!’ exclaimed Kracht as he got up and clapped his hands together in excitement.
He turned on his heels and marched quickly towards the exit from the cockpit.
‘All my gear is in Cargo Hold One. Meet me down there and then we’ll get this show on the road,’ called Kracht over his shoulder as he walked through the exit.
‘When we do this I’m leaving the ship, and Zeeree, in your hands, Ellu,’ said Saleek. ‘Take good care of ‘em.’
‘Do I need to remind you that I am perfectly capable of looking after both myself and the ship without any babysitters?’ said Zeeree in a slightly hurt voice. She turned her head, which had popped up on the main view screen, to look at Ellu. ‘No offence, Ellu,’ she added.
‘None taken, Zeeree,’ replied Ellu with a small smile. ‘But do I need to remind you that as an AI you are incapable of using any of this ship’s weapon systems? If things get ugly as we get near the surface, we need to be able to defend ourselves. That means I’m staying right here with you.’
‘I can’t wait,’ said Zeeree sarcastically.
‘Now, now, Zeeree,’ intervened Saleek. ‘I know you two aren’t the best of friends but you gotta get along till this rescue mission is wrapped up and we’re all safely back aboard, OK?’
‘Not a problem for me,’ said Ellu.
Saleek looked hard at Zeeree.
The AI seemed to sigh before reluctantly saying, ‘Fine. I apologise. We’ll work together. I’ll be in charge of sensors, navigation, flying, monitoring and everything else. Ellu, you can be in charge of pressing the trigger.’
‘Oh, you’re so kind. How about I dump your memory files into the engine room computer and then you won’t be able to bother me while I’m up here in the cockpit, saving the day?’ retorted Ellu in a voice that hovered between sarcasm and seriousness.
‘You wouldn’t dare,’ said Zeeree, her blue eyes turning darker than usual and narrowing as they looked hard at Ellu.
Saleek looked at Zeeree, then at Ellu, then back at Zeeree again, before sighing in exasperation.
‘Great. Just great. If the thugs down there don’t kill us, you two’ll probably wind up crashing the ship or something over one of your stupid arguments.’
‘Sorry, Saleek. If she’ll stop provoking me, I promise I’ll keep it together and provide covering fire for you while you’re planetside,’ said Ellu.
Zeeree simply said ‘Hmph!’ and rolled her eyes which was the AI’s equivalent of folding her arms and turning away.
‘If you two can stop trying to kill each other for five minutes, maybe we can actually pull this one off. Work it out, will ya?’ said Saleek.