Episode 9: I Need You

Crystal burst into the galley panting. The other girls just kept eating. They were used to Crystal’s dramatic late entrances to meals.

Grav, she whispered desperately, Come outside with me! Gravity rolled her eyes at the invitation, and gruffly announced Hello! I’m eating.

Crystal had no time to explain. She pushed Gravity’s dinner tray away from her and said Grav, I need you NOW” motioning toward the exit door.

Since you’re not going to let me eat, I might as well cooperate…

MEANWHILE…

Back on Mars, Sly Wormhole and Ash Lander dueled while Krate Azimuth punched codes into the radio. What good will it do? he wondered. They won’t be able to help us anyway.

Then he remembered he had his own saber in his duffle.

Wormhole and Lander were evenly matched. Both men fought deftly and employed sophisticated maneuvers, each surprising the other. Both men began to doubt their own abilities. Ash looked worried.

Wormhole stumbled. Krate saw his opportunity, grabbed up his saber and took Ash Lander’s place in the conflict. Wormhole was strong, driven by his rage. He fought like a madman, but Krate held his own against the monster.

MEANWHILE…

Flash Meridian passed through Saturn’s vacant orbital path, heading toward the sun – more or less. Over the past months of warp travel, he had spent the majority of his time sleeping in a cryo-tube. Because of this, he was well rested to navigate the asteriod field which would be his next expected event in space. Besides making his progress calculations on the computer, he was now in sporadic contact with Earth… At least he was receiving messages. As far as he could tell, his messages were not being received on the other end. Two way communication with Alpha Control is what he needed. His ship was slightly off-course, and he needed to rectify this situation. Firing his right booster rockets might correct his path, or it might send him hurtling uncontrolled in a different direction at this speed. So he continued to send radio signals, video feeds and computer messages, hoping they would be received.

Come in, Alpha Control…

At least it gave him something to do. But when Flash was in the tube, his dreams became more and more vivid until he began to feel that his space journey was the dream, and his experiences while sleeping were his true and real life.

MEANWHILE…

Crystal told Gravity that the Nebula X was in her chamber. Her body trembled as she explained to her sister. Gravity was concerned, but being level-headed and practical, she quickly devised a plan… Call an exterminator.

How? Crystal begged, almost sobbing by this time. The communication lines are all tapped. I’ll be found out for sure. Everyone would hear if I sent out a blanket request by radio!

An idea flashed across Gravity’s mind so that Crystal could see it in her face. What? Grav!

This is so insane, it might just work!

Tell me! What?

Gravity was already hurrying down the corridor, Crystal in tow. We’re going to your Chamber.