On the planet's surface

  Shuttle 2

  Nyraxi readjusts her injured companion's bleeding head on her lap. She glances up at Security Chief Keltikin Jinn, who levitates several feet away.

  "What are we going to do, Chief Keltikin? We can't stay here. They'll eventually find us. What the heck are those things anyway?"

  "How should any of us know, Nyraxi?!" Jemblevre growls in his usual angry voice. "We are just as surprised about this situation as you are. More even. I believed we would be facing beasts worthy of a fight. Instead, we face robots with no mind and overly superior firepower. What was Captain Hilyard thinking?"

  "She was thinking with her heart, Jemblevre," Keltikin Jinn says, floating down to the ground. "Many of the beings who I have...Well, absorbed...Cared more about others than themselves. My targets often went to enormous lengths to try and save everyone. As a result, they left themselves vulnerable to my spells. I'm not proud of it. I was...Impulsive in my youth. However, those are the facts of life. Love is a very powerful mover and shaker. You might know a little about that, Jemblevre...If you did anything besides look for things to pulverize and destroy. It's no wonder that your world almost fell to ruin. The universe has no more use for beings without--,"

  "What did you just say to me?" Jemblevre roars, taking a menacing step in Keltikin Jinn's direction. "You soul-sucking energy vampire...I oughta break your neck!"

  Keltikin rolls his eyes, crossing both arms over his chest. He offers Jemblevre a sly wink and smile.

  "I'd like to see you try," Keltikin rasps. "It'll be the last thing you ever do."

  Nyraxi nudges a nearby companion, motioning him to take their injured crewman's head from her lap. She is anticipating a fearsome brawl. Her assumption is entirely correct. Not even ten seconds after Keltikin makes his bold proclamation, Jemblevre growls and launches himself in Keltikin Jinn's direction. The djinn simply dematerializes, reappearing behind the furious Devvir Cat. He obnoxiously taps Jemblevre on his left shoulder.

  "Looking for me, Jemblevre?" Keltikin quips, a cruel sneer curling his lips.

  "Errrrrr!" Jemblevre growls, spinning to face Keltikin Jinn.

  The muscle-bound Devvir Cat raises his left fist to strike a blow. He never gets the chance. Nyraxi, summoning all of her courage, kicks Jemblevre as hard as she can with her hind legs. The Devvir Cat sails off of his feet, his wide back slamming into a metal console.

  The Devvir Cat is not injured, only surprised. He stares at Nyraxi with wide appreciative eyes. Did she just hit him? She hits hard for a female.

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  Nyraxi looks from Keltikin Jinn to Jemblevre, embarrassment evident on her youthful equine face. She stammers as she seeks the right words to explain why she struck a superior.

  "I...I...The Captain wouldn't wish you two to fight. Those were her instructions. Besides...Standing here fighting isn't going to do us a bit of good. We need to be figuring out a way to help Captain Hilyard. If she's even alive."

  "I agree," Keltikin says, levitating towards where Jemblevre is still seated against the console.

  The djinn puts out his hand to Jemblevre as a peace offering. Jemblevre looks down at the energy being's extended hand, before grasping it in his own big hand. He allows Keltikin to help him stand.

  "Thanks," Jemblevre gruffly mutters.

  "Fine," Keltikin says.

  Releasing Jemblevre's hand, Keltikin turns to face Nyraxi. The centaur is once again kneeling on the floor beside their injured shipmate. She shakes her head with worry.

  "It doesn't look good, Chief Keltikin. His breathing is weird. He needs medical attention. More than any of us can provide. Whatever that spider robot thing shot him with...It's bad. Some kind of poison. A neurotoxin maybe. If we don't get Xol out of here...And fast...He's going to die. There's no two ways around it."

  "So what do you suggest we do, Chief Keltikin?" Jemblevre angrily interjects. "Do we abandon the captain to save our crewman? Or do we abandon the crewman to save the Captain? Please tell us, Sage One. We await your answer with bated breath."

  "Enough. Please," another crewman says. "Xol is my twin flame. I cannot lose him. Please, Chief Keltikin. Let us take one of the shuttles back up to the Nebulus. The other shuttles can stay behind and search for the captain. Please. I beg of you. We have to save Xol."

  Keltikin walks to where Nyraxi and Xol's lover, Koda, are kneeling at the injured crewman's side. The temporary commandant drops down on one knee and places a hand on Xol's mouth and nose. Koda immediately grows alarmed, reaching to remove Keltikin's hand.

  "Don't touch him! You're trying to kill him!" Koda shrieks.

  "No," Keltikin whispers, closing his eyes. "I am giving him enough of my energy to survive for at least another few hours. We cannot risk sending a shuttle back to the Nebulus. That might give away her position. The Nebulus is our best chance...Our only chance of getting off this rock. We need her intact."

  Releasing Xol's face, Keltikin rises to his feet. He whirls in Jemblevre's direction. The Devvir Cat is already staring at him, eyes narrowed.

  "We take a smaller team...And we go back out there. We search for the captain. We start at the sinkhole where she fell into the ground. The enemy is unlikely to be there anymore. I'll try to shield our energy as much as possible. But be ready to run...Or engage the enemy in battle. We won't have much time."

  "If we go...I want Nyraxi to accompany us," Jemblevre says with a smirk. "She's tough and we could use her."

  "Hey!" Nyraxi objects, pointing a finger at the smug Devvir Cat. "Volunteer yourself."

  "I'm already volunteered, Nyraxi. By virtue of my position aboard this crew. You go where we say you go. Haha. Perks of being in charge."

  "But you're not in charge, Jemblevre," Nyraxi calmly reminds him. "He is."

  Jemblevre's golden eyes shift to Keltikin Jinn and his smirk quickly melts away. It would be just like the energy thief to steal his fun.

  "You're coming, Nyraxi," Keltikin Jinn says. "End of discussion."

  "What?" Nyraxi yelps, shocked that her brilliant plan of friendly division ultimately failed.