Chapter 80: Norwell's dying.The dream was relaxing, and Chasm held on to sleep. He floated in warm water, and nothing hurt. His stumps didn't throb, and every ache was gone from his bones. For the first time since he was a child, there was no burning sting from whip marks. Even the peela wasn't harassing him.That was how he knew he was dead. Only in death would he feel this good.Sleep wouldn't stick, and gradually he opened his eyes. The warm water wasn't a dream. Chasm was floating. He was dead, and this was his next life. Maybe? He inhaled and got a lung full of water. When he tried to cough, he ended up breathing more water. This wasn't the afterlife, unfortunately. His new owner placed him in a water-filled tank. He started to recall JP's lab and being placed in the cylinder. Chasm guessed that this must be the first experiment they were performing on him. It wasn't like alien experimentation shocked him, but for a fleeting second there, he almost trusted Rhylent wouldn't be lik
Chapter 81: This keeps getting worse.The nitch was now after Chasm. The alien liquid moved slowly like thick blood, and the creature wiggled toward him as if knowing exactly where Chasm stood. He stumbled further back into the strange healing tube, but his movement seemed to catch more of the attention of the black liquid. As if part of the blob was a kind of head and neck, the nitch lifted slightly and turned to Chasm. He could almost feel eyes on him."Get to high ground," Rhylent called as he broke a glass plate in half. The alien then threw the jagged pieces at the new puddle heading to Chasm's spot. The sharp glass severed the liquid in half. When the nitch split, gray Nebos slipped over the black goo. The silken fabric then turned a disgusting shade of brown. While the Nebos helped him, Chasm looked for a place that wasn't close to the floor. He needed to stay as far away from the evil creature as possible."We need help." JP shot at the muck, and drops splattered before re-form
Chapter 82: One problem at a time."Everyone off the floor, and nobody move." From the doorway, Keltrix emerged with his black tubes bouncing. He eyed the lab and the nitch that was trying to kill them. "Humans, cover your mouth and nose." The alien shoved his curls over his shoulder as a flood of Nebos poured in from the doorway."How did this happen, JP?" Behind Keltrix appeared Octnavin, the great ruler. "We have not had a nitch in the palace since our creator's creator was a young Dagerstanteen."The two aliens held weapons that started to shoot fire from the barrels. The black fire lit the goo causing giant puffs of yellow smoke. All around the room, the Nebos rose to eat the smoke like big mouths consuming at a rapid rate. Chasm covered his mouth and nose as instructed."After I removed the peela from Norwell, she ripped the nitch from her neck. She still has four more." JP nodded toward the black bands around her wrists and ankles.Chasm stayed on the counter as the Nebos flippe
Chapter 83: Still in an alien lab.As consciousness returned to Chasm, a few things hit him all at once. The first thing he noticed was that his cheek was pressed to a warm chest with smooth skin. He thought he caught the scent of fresh apple blossoms. Once again, not a single ache or pain bothered him. That wasn't normal.As his eyes fluttered open, he inhaled. He discovered that he was still in JP's lab but not in the water tank. If he recalled correctly, he died, or maybe he'd hoped that he had died. Another beating didn't sound fun, and if he was still in an alien laboratory, his life hadn't improved.Tentacles slipped up and down his spine in a soft rhythmic pattern. The gentle petting had Chasm glancing up to dark stormy blue eyes. Rhylent held him on the exam table. The alien's warm blue skin smelled like apples. A tiny memory of eating an apple on Earth was one that Chasm had cherished his whole life. Now he could smell the apples as if he held a fresh piece of fruit in his han
Chapter 84: That's a bribe. The leader of the Dagerstanteens twisted his tentacles behind his back. He looked lost in thought, and then suddenly, he pinned Chasm with a look of I-might-kill-you. "I would be most thankful if you were the one that saved my offspring." Octnavin's eyes flashed like a laser.Chasm leaned forward in his seat as his eyes narrowed. "I did save him.""Perhaps we could make a deal as you made with JP. You like deals?""What deal?" Chasm could think of a few things he wanted. Food and water would be a good start. Even now, his stomach ached. That was the problem with being younger. His now young, healthy body craved nourishment on a different level than his old body."I would give you a present or a gift of thanks for saving Daris if you could explain how you knew so much about the poison and the cure. It is the information I want for something you might want.""Better." Keltrix nodded. "If you do not wish to give the information to me, I will have Rhylent kil
Chapter 85: Dagerstanteens lie.The room stilled like someone had sucked the air out of it. The silence was like space. Chasm could only hear his heart beating.Nothing. Suddenly everyone moved and spoke at the same time. Chasm leaned back in his chair. Once again, the Dagerstanteens were upset, and once again, he had no idea why. Norwell sat when everyone started talking at the same time. She shared a look with Chasm. Her eyes said she had no idea what the problem was either."Do you think we are still getting food?" Chasm whispered to Norwell."Not for a while," she whispered back."No." JP sat back at his desk. "No," he repeated. "No.""This means Fenton is alive." Rhylent looked to Octnavin. "Right?""I feel ill." Keltrix dropped to his knees and wrapped his tentacles around his body as if hugging himself. "This is my fault. I was with Murry, and I did not find Fenton as I should have. I am to blame.""No one is to blame. We need more information." Octnavin began to pace. "Maybe
Chapter 86: So... these are your slaves.Rhylent slipped off the table and came to Chasm's side. The entire room seemed shocked at his announcement, but Chasm didn't know why exactly."Really?" JP asked. "You will do this?""So these are your slaves after all?" Keltrix asked as his pale-blue eyes sparkled with amusement. He looked like he was secretly laughing at his sibling."I have flown more than all of you. I have traveled, and I have seen much. It would make sense that I do this for Fentontailia. If I see a planet or a station in their thoughts that connect to Fenton, I will be able to identify where it is better than all of you. It makes sense that I will be the one to do this action.""This is quite the sacrifice, Rhylent." Octnavin frowned. "Are you positive?""Yes." Rhylent lifted his chin."Rhylent is a sounder choice," JP agreed. "He has more flight time than all of us put together."In Rhylent's explanation, Chasm now understood why Norwell selected Rhylent. This alien knew
Chapter 87: Rhylent's room.As they left the lab, Rhylent led them through passages that twisted and turned in gray Nebos. When their feet treaded on white and cream Nebos, Chasm had the notion that they were in Rhylent's home. The hall reminded him of the spaceship. The color was the exact shade of the pants he wore."This wing of the palace is mine. Where my Nebos goes, you may go. You cannot leave this area unless you are with one of my siblings. Only travel with me, or my family or their humans. Do you understand? Go with no other Dagerstanteens.""What happens if we disobey?" Chasm asked. "Not that I am planning on disobeying you," Chasm added quickly."I am not concerned about you breaking my rules, Chasm. I will know where you are at all times. Once you drink from me, I will know if you defy my order. Your mind is not strong enough to hide things from me.""You might be surprised at Chasm's capabilities. It is not an accident that he survived all the slave owners we have had." N