This small clearing is quiet, the only sounds that break the night air are the popping of burning wood and the wet burble of the nearby stream. Nothing remains of the recent chaos but for the three sleeping furs stretched around the fire. The night air is still, and even the predators of the dark seem to have gone to slumber.
Ben_Mouse rests soundly after having moved under the shelter of some roots. he had felt too exposed, out in the open. The mouse had been snoring, but now sleeps soundlessly.
Kibra sleeps curled up into a ball, arms around her knees.
A glint of metal reflects the light of the moon an instant before the sound of rushing air heralds the arrival of a small cargo platform. A construction of technology not seen on this planet for many, many years.
Zilvar's fur ruffles slightly in the breeze of the lifter's arrival, but he doesn't even stir.
Ben_Mouse continues to sleep, rolling slightly in his sleep, his mouth open...
Kibra too, doesn't stir, her only reaction a flicking of one ear.
Arielle looks down at the sleepers and points to Kibra. He leans over and whispers, "Looks like we found 'em Cap'n."
Thorian nods, eyes satisfied.."So we do. So we do."
Arielle leans back to the platform controls and backs it a little way from the clearing so he can speak normally. "Want to scan 'em? Make sure she's the right one?"
Ben_Mouse snorks as something bothers him in his sleep. The mouse drifts into half-slumber...
Thorian says softly.."She's the right one."
Arielle looks at Thorian, "You're sure."
Arielle starts to run a scan over the clearing anyway.
Thorian nods, scritching his ear. "I'm sure. I'm her clan, remember?"
Arielle hmphs, examining the scan results. "Oh yeah..that's what got us into this mess."
Ben_Mouse comes to awareness, his slumber hanging on just at the edges. Nothing seems wrong... except he is on an alien world. That, and a friend of his was poisoned by a giant spider. The mouse shivers and tries to get back to sleep.
Thorian frowns a bit, then says.."Well?"
Arielle hmms and leans back. "OK. Looks like there was some sort of fight. I'm showing blood traces on the ground. She looks like she has some light bruises and half-healed wounds. The big one...I dunno...he's dangerous."
Thorian chuckles.."You needed the scanner to tell you that?" He chides Arielle softly. "He just looks dangerous."
Arielle looks at the other, "Cap'n...I can't say for sure, but I doubt that all of us could hold him down if he decided to get away."
Thorian says, "Can we drop a stasis field over him?"
Ben_Mouse sits up, under his root shelter, giving up on sleep for the moment. The mouse looks across to Kibra, and beyond to Zilvar, who seems to be resting quietly.
Ben_Mouse rubs the sleep from his face.
Arielle nods. "Yeah. I think so. As long as we can get close enough for the projector."
Thorian nods.."It's a chance we'll have to take..with a bit of luck, it will work."
Arielle nods. "OK. Get the projector set up. I'll flit back over to the clearing."
Ben_Mouse leans back, watching Kibra sleep. o O { Good to see her, after all these years... }
Thorian nods, flipping open a casing and beginning to set up the projector.
Kibra shifts a little in her sleep, curling up tighter.
Ben_Mouse takes a quiet moment to think of Kibra and Kamots. He wonders where Kamots is now..."
Arielle eases the lifter forward. The powered flight units kick up a breeze, stirring the treetops to the south of the clearing.
Ben_Mouse hmmms. o O { Wind coming up... }
Thorian finishes with the projector, aiming it downward.
Ben_Mouse snugs back further into his shelter under the root, way from the night wind.
The lifter floats over the clearing, blocking the moonlight from above. The faint light from the fire glints off the edge of the floating machine as it moves over Zilvar.
Thorian takes careful aim, and looks to Arielle for confirmation of the target..
Arielle nods. Softly, "That's him."
Ben_Mouse decides to walk and sit close to the fire's embers. He stands and stretches, and then looks out from his nook, carefully looking for spiders before proceeding.
Thorian softly presses a button. There is a soft *FOOMP* and a flash of light settles around Zilvar.
There are no spiders..giant or otherwise..around Ben's resting place.
Ben_Mouse gasps, blinking as the light surrounds Zilvar. Instinctively, the mouse hides, watching...
Arielle points to another crate, and the rope atop it. "Secure her and lead them both up. We can't really risk her not recognizing you."
Thorian nods, slipping off the platform and moving toward Kibra.
Arielle quietly amends, "Cap'n."
Ben_Mouse erghs . o O { Can't let them leave me here... and i can't just let them take my friends... }
Arielle settles the lifter to the ground and moves over to the stasis field surrounding Zilvar. "Ooh. He's going to be hard to move."
Thorian chuckles under his breath as he slips toward the sleeping Kibra.
Ben_Mouse watches Thorian approach Kibra, and steals closer, using the ground cover and brush...
Ben_Mouse frowns. o O { Would use my foil, but for the other one on the platform. Seem advanced... could have e-weapons. }
Thorian puts a small tube to his mouth, taking aim. Another *FOOMP*, softer, and a small dart is expelled.
Ben_Mouse. o O { Eeek! }
Kibra's body jerks slightly as the dart hits her. Her eyes flutter a bit, but the drug is too fast acting.
Arielle lends over and lifts the stasis field from ground. "Eesh..these things are so bulky."
Ben_Mouse reaches Kibra's foot, and snugs under the cuff of the felines' slacks. o O { Maybe I can do something when we are on board. They don't seem to mean immediate harm. They could have just shot us in our sleep...}
Thorian doesn't notice Ben as he busies himself with ropes, tying Kibra's hands and feet.."The drug will keep her out for at least 15 time units."
Ben_Mouse barely avoids being tied against Kibra's legs.
Arielle waddles back to the lift platform and drops the stasis field on the back. "Good. Last thing we need is someone in hysterics on a lifter. Tip us over and we'd all be mud puddles."
Ben_Mouse wonders . o O { Who are they, and what do they want? }
Thorian nods, finishing the knots and lifting Kibra carefully. He moves with her toward the platform. "She not the hysterical type, Ari."
Ben_Mouse! . o O { Arii? They're L'enle? }
Thorian slides Kibra onto the platform.."Good work, Arielle."
Arielle grins and walks over to the controls. "Cap'n...they're all hysterical types. Just sneak up on one in the middle of the woods some time and you'll see what I mean."
Thorian raises an eyebrow. "Whatever, Arielle. Just don't underestimate this one."
Ben_Mouse thinks . o O { I'll wait until Kibra is awake and lucid before doing something about those ropes.... so an unconscious move on her part doesn't give me away... }
Arielle chuckles. "I won't, Cap'n."
Thorian nods, checking the ropes once more. "Good. Ready?"
Ben_Mouse thinks . o O { And I hope she doesn't struggle too much before she comes to completely. She could squash me... }
Thorian settles himself on the platform.."That was easier than I expected."
Ben_Mouse peeks out at the captors and the surroundings, getting bearings.
Arielle grins, "Hey..I like easy."
Thorian chuckles.."It doesn't get much easier than this."
Arielle lifts the platform above the trees. "Well, Cap. Get yourself comfortable. It's a long trip back to the ship."
Thorian nods, settling down with one eye on Kibra.
Ben_Mouse half grins, and starts nibbling on Kibra's ropes, chiding himself for not carrying a weapon with an -edge-.
Arielle leans back, "Look at the big one...Isn't that emblem on his shirt from the other ship?"
Thorian leans close.."Yes..it is..interesting..I was under the impression it was an all feline crew. Obviously not."
Thorian shakes his head.."He's too dangerous to remove from stasis an question..we will have to be content with not knowing for a time."
Arielle shrugs. "I don't know that I really care enough to know the answers to let him out."
Thorian nods.."I'm interested..as will be those who are paying us for this."
Ben_Mouse listens to the conversation, ears perked. These people know Kibra?
Arielle nods, "Well...yeah. Far as I'm concerned THEY can let him out."
The captain chuckles.."Sooner us than them." He regards Kibra in puzzlement.."Still..she wouldn't be likely to stay with one of them unfettered..strange, that she wasn't tied."
Arielle nods, "No kidding. Unless she wasn't really caught? Seriously...that one isn't a native. There isn't enough native tech to fill a thimble. He had to come from off-planet, and the logical place would be from the ship."
Ben_Mouse blinks, already about a quarter of the way through the rope about Kibra's ankle. The mouse's jaws ache, and he pauses, rubbing his cheeks.
Thorian frowns, considering.."Her injuries belie otherwise..she was caught, and tortured, from the look of it." He rumbles, a dangerous sound. "Animals."
Ben_Mouse frowns. o O { These people do not mean well. C'mon, Kibra. What did they give you? } The mouse softly pokes the feline's ankle, staying out of sight.
Kibra's ankle twitches a bit, just barely noticeable to the mouse.
Arielle nods, "Yeah..I know. There's evidence that she's been healed recently. I wish we had some cell scans. We could get an idea of how long she'd been in stasis."
Ben_Mouse frowns and peeks at the captors again.
Thorian frowns, shaking his head. "They wanted her pretty badly. I knew her, you know, a little, when we were children. It's one reason I was chosen to find her. She won't know me, though."
Arielle checks the autopilot. "No? Shame. That could have been a good way to calm her down."
Thorian shrugs.."She might recognize a clanfellow. I don't know. We'll see, I suppose."
Kibra stirs a little, again, just enough so Ben notices.
Ben_Mouse blinks and is hopeful at Kibra's movements. He returns to working on the rope....
Arielle nods. "She may. If she keeps a level enough head."
Thorian hmms.."She might. Then again.."
Kibra awakens, but gives no sign other than a slight tensing of her legs.
Arielle gestures toward the ropes, oblivious to the action going on there, "How would you react if you were tied up and flying, and the last thing you remember was being someone's prisoner?"
Ben_Mouse blinks, and pats Kibra's leg three times. o O { I'm here, Kibra, and they don't know it... }
The captain chuckles.."Rather poorly, I think..but she wasn't tied..or drugged..so she might react more calmly."
Kibra lies still, but the muscles of her leg twitch in response to Ben.
Arielle mms, "True. And that's still a puzzle. I'd almost say she was traveling with the wolf..except for his shirt."
Ben_Mouse redoubles his efforts, and shortly, the rope about Kibra's legs goes only slightly slack.
Thorian nods, a puzzled look on his face. "I agree. It is strange indeed."
Ben_Mouse acks, his mouth dry, jaws sore. o O { Need to do her arms, but how do I get there? }
Arielle looks back at the autopilot. "Good grief Cap'n. That ship must have come down practically half a world away."
Kibra lies completely still, trying to figure out what is going on. o O {My arms..Ben..if you crawl along my legs to my arms..}
Thorian chuckles.."Nearly so, I think."
Arielle brings up a small holographic globe. "The wreckage was pretty high in the polar region. We came down near the equator, so I guess it qualifies."
Ben_Mouse peeks up to see how Kibra is laid out, and decides he can sneak along her leg to where her arms are tied... but only if he is careful! The mouse squeezes under her ankle and starts along...
Kibra tries not to let Ben tickle, remaining very still.
Thorian peers at the globe.."Yes, I guess that does qualify..what a distance."
Ben_Mouse reaches Kibra's hands finally, and begins chewing on her ropes. he listens to the conversation, ducking down whenever there is a pause.
Arielle grins and overlays the search patterns. "And we covered this much. Good thing that the lifter's scanners weren't damaged in the fight."
Thorian chuckles.."We did have some luck, Arielle. Not a lot, but some."
Ben_Mouse is half-way through. He doesn't pause this time...
Arielle hmphs. "Hey..hey...Luck has no part in my planning. I just make sure to cover the most area in the least time."
Thorian laughs.."Uh huh..sure.."
Kibra works her legs a little, testing the bonds.
Ben_Mouse bites one last time, and the rope about Kibra's wrists is loose.
Arielle looks up at Thorian and grins, "Now, Cap'n..you know I don't believe in luck...except when I'm playing you in cards."
Thorian laughs! "You still owe me from the last time!"
Kibra feels the ropes go slack and she tests her wrists too, careful not to betray that she is awake.
Ben_Mouse patpats Kibra's wrist. . o O { You are free. Let me get clear... }
Ben_Mouse looks about for a place to sneak too, with the plan of attacking whichever one Kibra does not, from that hidden place.
Arielle frowns, "No..no..I paid that. I think."
Thorian grins.."Uh huh..sure.."
Ben_Mouse scurries at just the right moment, and hides on the other side of a control console.
Arielle turns to face Thorian, "No...I did..don't you remember. Back on the ship, three jumps ago?"
Kibra listens a few more moments, trying to sort out in her mind where the voices are coming from.
Thorian hrms, leaning back in his seat and putting his feet up. "No.."
Ben_Mouse, in hiding, draws his foil. The blade shimmers greenish in the light.
Ben_Mouse swallows. o O { Hope Kibra can fly this thing. }
Arielle frowns, "We were playing again...Remember? I paid you back after the game!"
Thorian laughs, relenting finally.."All right, I do remember."
Ben_Mouse sneaks closer to the one furthest away from Kibra...
Arielle whews, "Good...Hate to think I still owed you."
Kibra's muscles tense, and suddenly she springs to life, heading right for the Captain's upturned feet, pushing him toward the edge of the platform.
Thorian.."Naw, I was just..errf!"
Arielle blinks and makes a grab for Thorian's legs. "Cap!"
Ben_Mouse lunges at Arielle's ankle, stabbing with his foil!
Kibra's momentum pushes her toward Thorian, and him over the edge of the platform.
Arielle lays still, stretched over the edge of Thorian's chair. A moment passes, then another, and finally he slumps to the deck bonelessly.
Crashes and curses can be heard as Thorian tries desperately to break his fall.
Ben_Mouse pulls his foil from Arielle's ankle, looking grimly pleased.
The lifter tilts to the side, unable to compensate for the sudden change of weight that threw Thorian off.
Ben_Mouse erghs! "Kibra! The controls!"
Kibra scrambles for the controls, trying to right the platform.."Hang on."
With the weight moving toward center, and Kibra at the controls, the platform levels out fairly quickly.
Ben_Mouse gets up from where he was sprawled from the platform's movements. "Kibra... do you know these people?"
Kibra works the controls..she nods.."In a way."
Ben_Mouse looks to Arielle. "We should tie that one up. Unless you want to stop and drop him off? He'll be out for hours.
Kibra says, "Let's stop and let him off. It'll be easier in the long run, I think. Good work, by the way.."
Ben_Mouse blushes and grins. "Next time, I hope they tie you up with something more flavorful. Um... is there any water on board?"
Kibra lowers the platform carefully.."There should be some..let's get him offloaded and I'll look."
Ben_Mouse winks and nods. "You take the heavy end..."
Ben_Mouse covers a grin. "I'll keep a watch on the surrounding territory while you give our friend the heave."
Kibra chuckles.."I think I can manage..Ooofff..Maybe.." She pulls Arielle slowly off the platform, nodding to Ben.."Thanks."
Arielle stirs not a whit through Kibra's handling. Ben's sedative must be as good as he claims.
Kibra groans.."He's a big one." She dumps him near a tree, propping him up a bit. "There."
Ben_Mouse watches the surroundings, and finds himself hoping that the captain makes it. Death by spider on a world far from home... that is not a good death.
Arielle starts to snore.
Kibra chuckles, seeming to follow Ben's thoughts.."He'll make it..he had his gun..it was just sheer luck I pushed him off like that..he probably only broke a bone or two in the fall."
Kibra climbs back onto the platform.
Ben_Mouse grins up at Kibra. "Check Zilvar? Or i can, while you put distance between us and them?"
Ben_Mouse hops over to the wolf. "Turn off the stasis?"
Kibra puts the platform on autopilot, dampening the lift's signal. She goes over to Zilvar, turning off the projector. "There."
Zilvar doesn't react for several seconds after the projector is turned off. Moments later he opens on eye and looks over the treetops. "Why're we moving?"
Ben_Mouse checks the wolf's pulse through his ankle, and blinks up at Zilvar. "We found a lift-rental, and didn't want to wake you..."
Ben_Mouse's eyes sparkle.
Zilvar sits up and looks around. "Something is wrong."
Kibra chuckles, looking over to Zilvar.
Ben_Mouse tells the truth. "We were captured. Or rather you and Kibra were. I managed to free Kibra, and we in turn managed to loose our company."
Ben_Mouse says, "They had you in stasis."
Zilvar blinks a few times and looks up at the stars. "Stasis..."
Kibra finds some water and brings it over to you both. "Here is some water."
Zilvar looks at Kibra. "I can see why you were so upset."
Ben_Mouse takes a long cool drink, washing the rope taste from his mouth.
Kibra smiles, kneeling next to Zilvar.."Are you all right?"
Zilvar takes a drink of the water. "Yeah...fine. Just disoriented. I don't like the feeling of having lost time. There's only so much to go around to begin with.
Ben_Mouse curls up next to the wolf. The next thing anyone knows, the mouse is snoring.
Kibra nods, holding the cup and looking down at Zilvar. She looks to Ben, and chuckles. "Poor guy..he saved us and nows he's out like a light."
Zilvar looks down at Ben and chuckles. "Being a hero is hard work.
Kibra smiles, putting a hand on Zilvar's shoulder.."You sure you are all right?"
Zilvar frowns, "Yeah...but .. Do you know how long I was out?
Kibra says, "Not too long..not more than two hours, I think. They knocked me out too."
Kibra curls her feet underneath her, sitting near Zilvar.
Zilvar rubs his forehead and sighs, "Uh...well, that gives me something to work from. Try and figure out what time it really is."
Kibra puts out a hand and gently rubs Zilvar's shoulder.
Zilvar looks up and smiles, cupping his hand over yours. "How are you? You said they knocked you out?"
Kibra smiles, looking at you. "I'm fine, yes..it was just a stun drug."
Zilvar looks around, "Ok. Next question, I suppose. What happened to the kidnappers?
Kibra gets up to check the autopilot, glancing at the scanners..something catches her eye and she stares at it for a while..""Hmm? Oh..we threw them overboard."
Zilvar looks over the side. "Ouch...though, somehow I can't see Ben levering anyone overboard."
Kibra stares at the readout for a bit longer, then returns to Zilvar's side, curling up again.."He didn't. I caught one by surprise and knocked him over. Ben stabbed on with his foil..it must have been poisoned, because it knocked him right out."
Zilvar blinks. "Mmm, I see. Yeah. Seems like Ben kept some sort of poison on his foil. Too small to be useful otherwise."
Kibra nods and chuckles.."We pulled over and let him off, so to speak." She offers the water again.
Zilvar chuckles and takes the water. "Thanks. I guess they didn't have you in stasis. Wanted to question you some, maybe?"
Kibra shakes her head, eyes darkening.."One of them was a clan fellow..they may have been trying to rescue me..you are wearing a shirt from the other ship's crew.."
Kibra shakes her head.."Am I making any sense?"
Zilvar thinks. "These are from the other ship. They thought I was from the first ship...the one I found you near. They thought they were helping you, by catching me and dragging you off.
Zilvar blinks. "So where are we headed? To their ship!?
Kibra laughs, patting your shoulder.."Give me a little credit, Zilvar..I did change course after we dumped them off."
Zilvar relaxes. "Good...
Zilvar tenses up again. "What about a tracking system?
Kibra's eyes are amused.."Dampening field on."
Zilvar relaxes again.
Zilvar looks up and grins, "You're just too smart for me."
Kibra smiles, looking at you, her eyes twinkling. "Why thank you, sir."
Zilvar wags a finger, "Ah..ah..don't thank me. I'm just telling the truth!"
Kibra chuckles and nods.."Uh huh."
Kibra says, "Shall I pull the platform over so we can get some sleep?"
Zilvar stretches out and watches the stars overhead. "Mm..that sounds like a winning idea. I think Ben is on to something."
Kibra changes the pilot, pulling the platform over and anchoring it to a large tree. "I could use some sleep too."
Zilvar turns his head and watches. "Natural sleep?
Kibra nods, finishing and moving back to you.."Yes."
Zilvar nods, "I can agree with that.
Kibra curls up a little distance from you. "Been a long day."
Zilvar turns up on his side so he can keep watching you. "Sleep well...maybe a long night will help.
Kibra nods, eyelids fluttering shut.."Sleep well too, Zilvar.." She drifts off to sleep.
Zilvar falls asleep moments later.