"Where am I?" A bubble escaped her lips as she questioned her surroundings. In the midst of trembling and darkness, she felt the jolt of consciousness returning.
Confusion swirled within her as her eyes struggled to adjust to the dim surroundings. The incubator she was confined in shook violently from an external shock, awakening her from her unconscious state.
Panic surged within her, a rush of fear gripping her heart as she found herself in this confined space. Memories started to knit together in her mind, a realization slowly dawning upon her.
It was the unmistakable enclosure used by her own race to contain prisoners. Yet, the irony was overwhelming; she found herself trapped within the very prison her people had used to confine others.
She felt the tremors from the outside getting closer, rattling the glass walls of the incubator that held her captive. She could hear muffled voices from outside, speaking a language she had learned to understand, a language that belonged to the planet her race was supposed to invade.
She wondered what was happening, what had caused the chaos and the trembling outside.
Suddenly, a loud blast shattered one of the walls, sending debris flying everywhere. Inside her incubator, she looked up however her limited sight only saw a mirage group of humanoid figures, arguing with each other.
"I told you to take right, where the hell are we now?" one of them shouted, leaning his hammer back over his shoulder.
"I don't know, man, ask Elodie. She's the one who suggest we come here" another one snapped, looking around.
"I'm sorry. I thought there was a human prisoner in here," a third person said, her voice heavy with embarrassment for causing their unexpected detour.
"Hey, don't put all the blame on her okay," the fourth one interjected, jerking her tongue toward the two men.
"Now, now. Look there's someone inside the incubator, isn't there," the fifth one attempted to calm the situation.
The group huddled around the incubator, peering through the thick glass. They looked worriedly at the individual inside, trying to figure out who or what it could be.
From inside the incubator, she felt a surge of confusion and fear, mixed with curiosity. Who were these humans? Why were they here? What did they want from her? She stared back at them, trying to look defiant, but feeling vulnerable in her incubator.
She wondered if they would kill her, take her away, or leave her to die. She wishes she could communicate with them, but she doesn't know how, she can't speak from inside the incubator.
As she peered through the glass, a figure approached the control panel with hurried movements, her breaths rapid.
The hum of the machines filled the room as the liquid drained from the incubator with a hiss, and the locking mechanism disengaged.
The figure inside the incubator stumbled out, collapsing onto the ground, weak and disoriented.
The individuals around the incubator exchanged tense glances. The man holding the hammer, his face marked with concern, "Are you absolutely certain about this, Lumi?"
Lumi gazed at her companions, a reassuring look in her eyes. "Don't worry," she assured them, striding purposefully towards the fallen figure.
With practiced efficiency, Lumi draped the figure with an extra piece of cloth she had brought along for such unforeseen circumstances.
As the cloth settled around the figure, their eyes met. A momentary recognition flashed across the figure's face, her gaze locking with Lumi's cerulean eyes. "Wait, you are..." The figure hesitated, a flicker of familiarity shining through.
Then, with a subtle shake of her head, she reconsidered. "Never mind, it doesn't matter..." her voice trailed off, uncertainty lingering in the air.
"Who are you, huh?!" one of the men suddenly stepped closer, his tone a mix of frustration and anger directed towards the figure.
"Hex, calm down," another man intervened, placing a hand on Hex's shoulder. He gestured for his friend to step back, attempting to diffuse the tension.
Hex halted his advances, though his frustration was palpable. He paced backward, a blend of confusion and anger etched on his face. "This is ridiculous," he muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on the figure with suspicion and irritation.
"I am the.." The figure began to introduce herself, but Lumi intervened, her eyes fixed on the man with the hammer. "Az, I want you to stay calm no matter what she says," she urged, her voice firm and reassuring.
Az hesitated, glancing between Lumi and the figure, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. After a moment's pause, he finally nodded, albeit reluctantly, signaling his agreement with Lumi's request.
"Beatrice, can you leave us here? We'll explain to you guys later," Lumi asked her friend, gesturing for Hex and Elodie to step outside.
Once they left, the figure began to introduce herself, revealing her identity as Princess Freyn; the princess of the Tréverndari race.
The revelation prompted Az to instinctively reach for the javelin strapped to his back, but before he could act, he locked eyes with Lumi.
In that intense moment, Lumi's eyes conveyed a silent plea for him to remain composed and to trust her judgment. Az hesitated, his hand frozen mid-reach for the weapon, as he grappled with the conflicting emotions surging within him.
He decided to hold back, giving Lumi the benefit of the doubt, although his guard remained up.
Princess Freyn observed Az retracting the javelin and inquired, "That's Allveigandi, how did you come to possess that weapon?"
Az dismissively responded, "You're not in a position to interrogate anyone at the moment."
Before they could delve deeper into the conversation, Hex's urgent voice interrupted from outside, "Az, we've got a problem here!" The sound of blaster fire reverberated in the vicinity near Hex.
Startled, Beatrice exclaimed, "They don't usually send backup this quickly," taking cover behind Hex as the situation intensified.
Az, sensing the escalating turmoil, urged Lumi to leave the alien princess and evacuate the base. However, Lumi remained determined to assist the princess.
Noticing Lumi's unwavering resolve, Princess Freyn, in an attempt to leverage the situation, implored Az, "Please, save me from here. I will be indebted to you if you help me escape."
In the tense moments amidst the blaster fire, Az's resolve wavered, conflicting emotions stirring within him.
Elodie's distressed cries outside resonated through the chaos, punctuating Az's internal struggle. "Fine," he sighed reluctantly, acknowledging the urgency of the situation.
Witnessing Az's change of heart, Lumi's relief was palpable. Hastily, she began assisting the weakened princess to stand, with Az approaching her cautiously.
His voice was a low whisper, laced with a warning, "If you try anything suspicious, don't expect leniency from me." The princess, weakened by her confinement, nodded meekly in response to Az's caution.
Together with Lumi, Az guided the princess toward the exit, maintaining a watchful eye as his distrust lingered.
"So, we are helping the alien now...?" Hex's sarcastic remark didn't escape Az's attention, provoking a brief irritated glare, but amidst the urgency, Az chose to disregard it, focusing on their precarious situation.
Beatrice took over Az, shouldering the burden of the princess's weakened form, while Elodie, guided by Az's command, pointed the way to safety amid the blaster assaults.
Surrounded by the chaos of the blaster fire, the group hurriedly navigated through the labyrinthine corridors of the alien base.
Beatrice and Lumi, supporting the weakened princess, hurriedly followed Elodie's guidance towards safety. The princess struggled to keep pace, her weakened state hindering their progress.
Meanwhile, Az and Hex formed a defensive rear, their mission clear—defend their group at all costs. A stray blaster shot whizzed past, narrowly missing the group, prompting Az and Hex to spring into action. With precision and rapidity, they aimed to create obstacles, buying precious moments for their escape.
Az and Hex's combined force cracked the walls, debris scattering wildly, obstructing the path behind them. Each explosion made it increasingly difficult for the pursuing adversaries to follow, providing much-needed cover from the relentless barrage of blaster fire.
As they advanced, Az and Hex destroyed consoles and panels along the corridor, triggering small explosions that created smoke screens and obstructed visibility.
Their strategic destruction aimed to confuse and delay the enemy, buying the group some critical time.
While Az and Hex continued their defensive onslaught, the group forged ahead, Beatrice and Lumi ensuring the princess's safety, Elodie guiding them through the winding passages toward the presumed exit.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, every step fraught with urgency and danger.
The relentless pursuit intensified, blaster shots peppering the surroundings. Az and Hex, determined to shield their companions, blasted another section of the base, causing a section of the ceiling to collapse behind them, temporarily halting their pursuers.
As the group neared the exit, the brightness of freedom seemed just beyond their reach.
However, looming ahead was an enormous spaceship, blocking their path. Princess Freyn's heart sank; it seemed their escape was about to be thwarted. The grim realization settled over her, and she braced herself for what she thought was an inevitable capture.