Chapter Seven

"Sure am glad to see you guys," Tee told Borlan, the shuttle pilot flying the rescue mission. "I was afraid we'd be stuck here."

"Captain wouldn't let that happen. Who's your friend? Or maybe I should say what?"

"Not sure. We're hoping to find out back on The Explorer. It definitely didn't want us to leave him here."

"Can't say I blame it for that. Nothing welcoming on this rock except the thought of leaving." Borlan took his seat and contacted The Explorer to confirm the rescue of the flyer crew.

Teelak spoke briefly with Captain Winslow to report Adria's injury and what happened to the flyer "We also picked up a passenger, Captain. We're bringing it back with us."

Everyone on the shuttle heard the Captain demand, "What the blazes have you found now, Teelak? This is a research vessel, not a zoo. See that it doesn't make a mess like that gerbil-looking thing you brought back off P39S."

"Yes, Captain. I assure you this is not like that at all."

The medic laughed as he examined and treated Adria's head wound. "It looks pretty harmless to me."

The creature remained in the exact same spot wrapped in his cloak and hood as if trying to become invisible. It blended almost perfectly into the colors of the shuttle's interior hull and circuitry.

"Do we need to secure your new friend in the cargo hold?" The shuttle pilot asked as he prepared for take-off.

"I think we should just let him stay where he is. He seems harmless enough. Don't show your teeth to him, though, and stay away from that tail," Tee quietly warned and showed Borlan the wound in his right hand. Tee dropped into the co-pilot's chair for the hopefully uneventful trip back to The Explorer.

* * * * *

Tee let out a deep sigh of relief at seeing the last of that planetoid as they broke out of its gravitational field. He thought it sure would feel good to get back to a sonic shower and a soft bunk. But deep down he enjoyed getting his juices flowing in the crash and when the creature attacked. Too many routine flights and not enough action to keep him sharp were taking a toll.

"How do you feel Adria? The head any better?"

"Much better since the neural repair. I feel pretty wiped out, though. Going to be bed for me as soon as we've debriefed." She stretched her legs out, leaned her head back against the seat, and closed her eyes to relax. What a day. They lived through a crash landing, an alien attack, and were rescued. Tee definitely got some of the excitement he craved on this one.

Teelak and Borlan were trading insults when he heard a strangled curse behind him. The pilot turned to see the medic and Adria grab for their necks. A needle-like spine protruded from both their jugulars, blood spurting.

The creature stood a few feet from the containment dome, tail spiked above his head. Tee saw him flex his deadly tail and knew it was already too late. Oh, CRAP! He grabbed for his pistol even as he felt a piercing pain in his own neck. He saw the creature zip past as he tumbled from his seat. Borlan fell near him as he lay on the cockpit floor. Then he knew no more.