Page 30 of Kidnapped By the Alien Chieftain

Xandor, always eager, immediately asks, “Any luck, Chieftain?”

“The good news is I found the Argorian, and he gave up the location without much of a struggle,” I respond, shaking my head. “The bad news is it’s being held in a building deep within the old labyrinthine mining tunnels.”

Xandor curses under his breath. “Brilliant. Those tunnels sprawl out like the twisted roots of a cursed tree.”

“The Argorian told me the route,” I say, nodding to reassure them.

With a determined look on my face, I lead our group once more through the decaying alleyways of Terminus Exile Station, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Finally, we reach one of the many access points for the old mining tunnels, marked by broken and rusted signs warning of the perilous depths ahead. As we approach the platform controls, I press the elevator button, but there is no response. I notice numerous chains and ropes dangling down the openshaft, disappearing into the darkness below. I turn to the group, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. “Looks like we’re climbing,” I say, my hand already reaching for the nearest rope.

Our descent down the ropes is swift, our bodies moving with a fluidity that only comes from years of rigorous training. But as we go deeper, the sheer magnitude of the abyss becomes apparent. The darkness is all-encompassing, and the only sound is the haunting echo of our grunts. I can’t help but wonder if we’ll ever reach the bottom, or if we’ll be swallowed by the never-ending depths of this forsaken station, lost forever in its bowels.

Eventually, with a thud, my feet touch the ground, and I let out a sigh of relief. As I survey our surroundings, I feel a sense of dread. The darkness here is suffocating, the air thin and damp, carrying the stench of rot and decay. The primary arteries of the tunnels are massive, once used to haul precious minerals from the asteroid. But the smaller offshoot tunnels are tight and claustrophobic, built to access new veins of resources. The metallic sheen they once boasted has been replaced by a sickly black and green grime, littered with waste and debris. It’s as if we’ve stepped into the intestines of some astronomical alien beast, waiting to consume us whole.

With each step, my feet trample over the remnants of long-dead station inhabitants, their bones cracking under my weight and their rusted armor and decayed garments clinging to their remains like tattered flags of defeat. It is a grim sight, but there is no better place to dispose of bodies than this cesspit.

Despite the eerie atmosphere, we press on, determined to follow the intricate directions provided to me by the Argorian snitch.

Xandor’s voice breaks the haunting silence. “So, Chieftain, we could see you looking through the windows at the Lunar Dreams. See anything…stimulating?”

I shudder involuntarily at the memory. “More a nightmare than a dream. I never want to see anything like that again.”

Xandor chuckles. “Some would pay good money to see that kind of nightmare.”

“I’d pay to never see it again,” I retort, laughing.

Suddenly, Xandor’s hand shoots out, halting me in my tracks. I follow his gaze, and there, in the distance, amidst a pile of rubble, a horde of squeaking creatures feast upon their latest kill.

As if sensing our presence, the beasts turn their beady red eyes upon us, their hissing growing louder with each passing second. With a fierce roar, I extend my claws and prepare for battle.

The numerous creatures are small, barely reaching a foot, but their ferocity is unmatched. With razor-sharp teeth and murder in their eyes, they lunge at us with a fury, hungering for a fresh kill.

However, it is we who are the killers. With practiced ease, we dispatch the beasts one by one, their lifeless bodies piling up around us. It is a gruesome sight, adding to the colorful tapestry of decay, but they are little contest.

We continue to trudge through the muck and filth of the twisting tunnels, our eyes straining to pierce the darkness. Every sound, every rustle, sends shivers down my spine as I wonder what other strange creatures lie in wait for us.

Time has no meaning in the bleak, dripping tunnels as we press on through the grime, keeping a wary eye out for any signs of danger. But finally, we arrive at our destination.

My heart pounds with anticipation and anxiety as I scan the area for any signs of the entrance, when Traxios speaks up, his voice steady and unemotional.

“Chieftain, here,” he says, pointing to a metal hatch that is deliberately obscured by debris. It looks suspiciously clean, like it has seen recent use.

At last!

Chapter 15

Roxanne

Wounds

As I sit inthe familiar lab aboard the ship alongside Astraxius, my senses are on high alert. The incessant ring of repairs being carried out on the damaged hull echoes throughout the ship, causing it to vibrate with each strike.

“Seems like those little buggers are keeping up their end of the bargain,” Astraxius remarks, analyzing the console on his desk, which projects a holographic view of the corridor. As I glance over, I see hordes of Glaseroids scurrying around frantically, their spindly legs moving like clockwork as they haul and maneuver plates of arcweave to mend the breaches in the hull.

Their speed is nothing short of amazing. Despite Astraxius’ reassurances, an uneasy feeling grips me, one that I can’t shake off. The same spine-tingling sensation I experienced whenYaksai first noticed me resurface, and it makes the hairs on my neck stand on end. Yaksai’s bug-like eyes had roamed over me and the ship, filled with an insatiable hunger like a child on Christmas morning eager to open their presents.

Astraxius’ concerned tone snaps me out of my thoughts. “They will finish soon at this rate. Gods know what Krogoth promised them,” he says, worry etched on his face.

My eyes remain fixed on the holographic view, scanning for any hint of hostility. “I just hope he returns soon. They make me nervous,” I confess, biting my nails.

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