17. Roxanne

Chapter 17

Roxanne

Prospect

I slowly regain consciousness. A throbbing pain resonates through my skull, intensifying with each passing moment. The harrowing memories of the events that unfolded before my eyes flood my mind. The sensation of being cornered by the grotesque, insectoid invaders, relentlessly breaching the walls of the ship, and the frenzied efforts of the brave Klendathian defenders to repel them, all come rushing back. Did the bastards touch me? I frantically scan my body with my hands. I'm relieved when I realize I remain unmolested.

I'm filled with dismay as I recall the tragic fate of poor Astraxius, cut down by the strange Golden Warrior as he tried to save me. I pray he is still alive, perhaps resting in one of the healing pods. If there's any kindness in this universe, he will survive. Those horrible aliens probably killed Krogoth too. I have a sinking feeling in my stomach, thinking about it. They said he had sent them, so they must have had a meeting of some sort, but why did he not show up? I'm stuck here! Wherever ‘here' is?

I spring up from my vulnerable position as the haunting memory of the golden-armored assailant shooting me floods my consciousness. The sheer terror I experienced in that moment, uncertain if it was to be my final breath, still lingers. If I'm dead, I doubt there would be such a ghastly, tasteless décor in the afterlife. No, I am likely being held captive by these ruthless, otherworldly aliens. The lack of restraints on my body gnaws at my mind as to their intentions.

As I clamber down from the bed, I am struck by how absurdly small it is compared to the giant bed Krogoth and I share in his bedroom, which I have now become accustomed to. Will I ever see it… or Krogoth again? The room's gaudy décor assaults my senses with its overpowering combination of red and green hues, interwoven with intricate gold patterns that seem to defy comprehension.

A small window is placed across the bed along the wall, with the same stunning spectacle of shimmering lights and stars whizzing past at incredible speed. Seems I'm on a ship again, off the station. If Krogoth is alive, he'll never find me now. I resist the urge to bite my nails.

Despite its small size, the room is outfitted with an assortment of strange furnishings, including desks, drawers, and wardrobes, all crafted from a mysterious material that glints with a radiant golden sheen. It's as though I have stumbled into the chambers of some mythical king obsessed with the ostentatious display of wealth and power. A king I have no intention of meeting.

With a sense of urgency, I dart towards the glimmering golden door, only to find that it remains stubbornly sealed, with no handle or controls in sight. Panic sets in as I frantically scour the room for anything that might aid me in my escape. Drawers and wardrobes fly open in chaotic frenzy, no contents found. I continue in a desperate search for anything that might help. My heart races as each passing moment brings me no closer to freedom.

Desperation drives me to move desks and drawers, in search of a hidden vent or a crack in the walls. Yet, even as I tear the room apart, I find no hope of escape.

Exhausted and exasperated, I slump against the wall, wracking my brain for any conceivable way out. The oppressive silence of the room weighs heavily upon me, and the thought of being trapped in this gaudy prison forever fills me with a sense of suffocating dread.

A desperate plan begins to take shape. I set about meticulously restoring the room to its original state, every desk, drawer, and wardrobe returned to its rightful place.

With a newfound sense of purpose, I turn my attention to the extensive wardrobe, its golden doors gleaming in the light. If I can slip inside unnoticed, I might have a chance to escape this gilded cage. It is a long shot, but I will not sit here and await whatever fate I'm dealt.

I approach the wardrobe with a sense of trepidation, carefully climbing inside its spacious opening. The golden doors swing ajar behind me with a soft creak, and I take a deep breath, trying to slow my racing heart.

Peeking out from the small slit I have left open, I see the room exit door tantalizingly close. The wardrobe seems like my best chance to evade detection, its proximity to the door giving me a small glimmer of hope.

I huddle inside the cramped wardrobe, the minutes ticking by like hours as the silence weighs heavily upon me. My breath comes in ragged gasps, the sound echoing loudly against the walls of the wardrobe.

The oppressive darkness and the claustrophobic walls press in on me, threatening to suffocate me with their weight. My heart pounds in my chest.

With a sudden, jarring whizzing sound, the golden door springs open, and a woman's soft voice echoes through the room. "Girl?" she calls out, her tone laced with confusion. I can barely see her through the small slit in the wardrobe door, a petite, scantily clad alien woman.

As she searches the room, her tone becomes increasingly urgent. "The Master would see you now," she calls out, her voice growing more insistent and desperate by the second.

Adrenaline floods through my veins. I burst out of the wardrobe like a crazed banshee, throwing myself at the scantily clad alien woman with reckless abandon. My hands shoot out, grasping for her neck, and I expertly apply a rear naked choke I had learned in my Judo classes. Finally, an opponent I can take down!

At first, I panic, struggling to get a proper grip because of the strange collar she's wearing. But as I adjust my hold, I feel the woman's struggles weaken as I cut her oxygen supply off. Soon enough, she becomes limp and slumps to the floor, her eyes staring vacantly into the distance.

For a moment, I'm frozen, staring down at the woman's unconscious form, my chest heaving with exhaustion and fear. I've never had to use this move in earnest before, and the realization of what I just did hits me like a ton of bricks.

As I examine the petite, unconscious alien, I marvel at her strange and otherworldly features. Her skin is almost ethereal, like a ghostly apparition, and her three fingers are thick and alien. Her large jet-black eyes take up most of her face, leaving little room for a nose which is barely more than a pair of tiny slits, while her ears are pointed and unusually large. She is completely bald, not a hair to be seen. And her attire - or lack thereof - leaves nothing to the imagination: a blue one piece that barely covers her small breasts. A tight golden collar also adorns her slight neck.

I examine the collar, my fingers tracing the intricate patterns etched into the surface. And that's when I notice something else - a golden wrist control bracelet on her arm that looks very similar to the one I had on Krogoth's ship. With a quick flick of my wrist, I remove it from her and slip it onto myself. As I examine it, the wrist console comes to life, humming with power. It differs from the console I used before, the holographic display lacking access to the ship's systems, but I hope it will grant me access to other rooms in this strange place.

I struggle, breathing heavily, dragging the unconscious, pale alien towards the wardrobe I hid in, my hands locked over her chest, pulling with all my strength. Finally, I bundle her inside, closing the door. Now I need to find out where the hell I am and how to escape!

With bated breath, I stand before the golden door, the alien bracelet tightly clasped around my wrist. My pulse quickens with anticipation, hoping the bracelet will work. As the door whizzes open, I let out a sigh of relief and cautiously peek around the opening, scanning the corridor for any sign of danger.

Thankfully, there's no one in sight, and I slip out of the room, my eyes darting left and right as I make my way down the narrow corridor, which is in the same green, red and gold style as the bedroom.

If this ship is like Krogoth's, there should be a control console in the engine room which I can use to access the ship's functions. My ears strain. Picking up the low hum of the engines, I head towards its origin.

With renewed purpose, I quicken my pace, ignoring the suggestive noises emanating from the various rooms I pass. The sounds of pleasure mix with those of pain and despair, fueling my determination to escape this strange nightmarish place.

I approach the bend in the corridor, my senses remaining on high alert. Suddenly, I freeze in place as I spot a Glaseroid alien dragging a collared, naked captive towards a nearby room. Oh crap! I quickly duck behind the corner to avoid being seen. I hold my breath and listen intently until I hear the door close shut. Waiting a few more seconds for good measure, I finally peek my head out again to make sure the coast is clear. With my nerves still on edge, I emerge from my hiding spot and move forward stealthily, taking care to make as little noise as possible.

As I approach the large double-sided door, I feel the rumbling and vibration from beyond. The sound must be coming from the engine room. I cautiously approach, hoping that the alien bracelet will give me access. To my relief, the door whirls open as I approach, revealing a sight that leaves me awe-struck.

Inside, a massive spherical object hovers in the air, spinning at an unfathomable speed. Its metal exterior reflects the orange light that it emits, and the constant thrumming creates a mesmerizing rhythm. I feel drawn to it, like a bee to pollen.

I tear my gaze away from the hypnotic spinning sphere, my eyes scanning the engine room for a control console. Finally, I spot it and rush over, my heart pounding with anticipation. Finally, I had made it this far.

With trembling hands, I access the console and a red holographic display of the ship materializes before me. It's sleek and smaller than Krogoth's vessel, and I can't help but feel a glimmer of hope. I manipulate the controls, accessing the ship's functions like I remembered from Carndor's teaching.

My first order of business is to reverse the ship's course, sending it back to where it came from. The whole ship trembles and groans as it changes direction, but I don't stop there. I access the weapon systems and start firing as many weapons as I can. Krogoth, if you're still out there, I hope you can see the fireworks.

The ship rocks and vibrates with each blast, and I can only imagine the chaos I'm causing. I keep going until I have depleted every weapon. Next, I frantically search for any means of escape, my eyes scanning the ship's layout for any sign of escape pods. Suddenly, a violent force pulls me roughly to the ground, my heart leaping into my throat. I look up to see the warrior dressed in shimmering gold armor, his eyes blazing with anger and contempt.