"This landing is going to be rough, no matter what," Skreeta warned as she consulted her panels. "That time warp took a lot out of us. It seems to have destroyed old circuits ... and created new ones."
Ryan could only marvel at how the Azurites had mined from his memories the infamous "circuits" line from the utterly forgettable movie Journey to the Center of Time. Still, he began to fear for everyone's personal safety.
"Rough or not, security protocol is clear," said Commander Sfeerza. "A dangerous prisoner must be kept under watch even during an emergency landing. Subcommander Thorakka, I have every confidence that you will handle this situation while I confine this creature to my personal quarters."
"You've certainly changed your tune," Ryan grumbled as Sfeerza led him briskly through vaulted corridors. "Now I'm dangerous all over again?"
"You are the most likely among us to ignorantly and accidentally alter the history of our civilization," Sfeerza replied evenly.
"Sapphire ... come on. This whole story played out nicely. What could you possibly be up to now?"
Sfeerza regarded him strangely as they walked on. "It is archaically sweet of you to refer to me as a precious stone ... but you really need to embrace the Ogazmazon spirit, which is capable of mastering any destiny whatsoever that may befall it." They arrived at her quarters; the door slid back and she waved a hand. "Men first."
"How chivalrous of YOUUU!"
Ryan was startled. The treacherous Sfeerza had led him directly to a trap door. He instantly feel down a chute and found himself enmeshed in some large black leathery sort of harness.
"Don't be such a baby," Sfeerza counseled as he reflexively struggled. "It will help cusion your fall. I'm coming right down with you, although because of your ... size ... " She chuckled dark. " ... it's going to be a ... tight squeeze for both of us!"
Ryan gazed up at her as she looked ready to descend -- when suddenly the entire starship lurched and keeled Sfeerza over somewhere out of sight.
"Sfeerza?" worried Ryan. "Sfeerza?"
The ship bucked and lurched some more, sending Ryan bouncing with wild elasticity but luckily never hitting anything. He could hear the starship's metal twist and screech like some gigantic dying animal.
The corridor erupted in flame, leaving Ryan shocked. Azurites seemed determinedly placid, yet they were surprising him by their willingness to use the same violence and melodrama exploited in some of his favorite movies. Was the whole ship ablaze? Was anyone dead, at least as a cast character this time around?
There was a thunderous crunching crash. Everything went black, and then a vast jagged breach was carved into one of the metal walls of Sfeerza's quarters.
When things seemed still and quiet enough, Ryan extracted himself from the harness and negotiated walking across a steeply crooked floor to the breach.
There was faintly glowing green fog beyond the breach, and a gentle warm wind -- the atmosphere of the planet Kuuz.
Wed Aug 18 10:08:31 2004