"Run! Don't just stand there! Save yourselves!"

Smith lowered down out of the flying creature's way then attempted to run on falling to his knees on the grass, abruptly. S'Tiif was yanked up by one of the space bats. The convict fell to his side then rolled on to his back. La Forge fired at the animals as Smith turned on to his side then placed a hand on his knee helping himself up and speed shuffled toward the forest rather successfully blending into the dark where he hid behind a tree. Harvey is yanked out of the group by one of the massive furry creatures. S'teef leaped out landing onto the creature's bag that chirped and squabble and thrashed at him as Harvey untangled herself from the alien's talons bolting toward the forest.

"Everyone, into the forest!" La Forge shouted. "NOW, NOW!"

S'tiif retreated into the forest covering for La Forge.

"S'Teef!" La Forge shouted.

S'teef leaped off the creature making a run for the forest.

"S'Teef!" S'tiif replied.

The bat creature reached out grabbing onto S'teef's torso with one talon that tore through the man's chest.

"S'Teef!" Harvey screamed, as neon green blood poured out of the corners of Vulcan's mouth then lowered his head. "S'TEEF!"

The bat creature flew off into the blue sky as the team fired at it and each one of them missed.

"Stop," Smith said. "Stop!"

One by one they lowered their P-90's.

"He is gone," Harvey said. "He is gone."

"That's going to be a problem getting his body," La Forge replied.

"That will not be necessary," S'Tiif replied. "That is a shell. A vessel. It is not logical to retrieve a empty object."

"Have you no sympathy for the dead?" La Forge said. "We have to get that body back and bury it properly."

"I do not understand your instance on retrieving what is going to prove a undeniable obstacle to this mission," S'Tiif said. "We have a mission."

"This mission can stand aside for the time being!" La Forge replied. "For all I care, he can wait another day."

"I don't suppose you know where to find the nest," Smith said.

"Concentrated in the mountains," La Forge replied. "It's just a over hour away from the gate. Harvey, S'Tiif and I will go get the body back while you get our rescue operation smoothly done."

"Yes, sir," Harvey said, with a nod.

"Wasting ammunition is not logical, Colonel La Forge," S'Tiif said. "I will decline this side quest."

"You're under my command," La Forge said. "Don't have to like it. . . Or would you like to lose another superior officer on this mission?"

"Negative," S'Tiif replied.

"Just what I thought," La Forge said. "Split up. We'll meet you at the gate in the morning."

The two separated from the small group and a bad feeling sunk into Smith's stomach ready to turn his stomach over and shoot out the contents of his morning meal.

Harvey turned toward Smith then took him by the forearm and guided him through the forest whispering, "Not another word" earning a baffled look from Smith.

What did she expect from him? What did everyone expect from him? To turn back into his old ways and manipulate everyone around him? No one believed him when it came to the truth. Stranded on a planet with restraints and no key to unlock him, he couldn't exactly manipulate himself out of cuffs. It was a ideally terribly situation no matter how it was written. The scenery grew dark around him so Harvey took out a flashlight. There was the sound of birds from around them that seemed very odd. Smith looked around noticing white whips of light floating from above that seemed to be glowing in colors of the rainbow. It was a lovely sight that could remind a average person of a elegant, well done painting made at night. He kept his attention set upwards in to the night enjoying the scenery. He could look up into the night sky to see the bright rings that acted as a natural made light.

Harvey turned the light off coming to a stop then signed, "Stay here."

Smith remained propped against the wooden tree trunk looking on watching the woman go toward a lone heavily armored being. The individual slid their helmet up then leaned forward to listen in carefully. A fist knocked the alien being onto the grass then she dragged the being into the forest. Smith looked on to see what was making the golden glow---and his eyes grew large, his mouth fell, and horror spread on his face. It was a spaceship that resembled a Chinese dragon on a stool. Flames jetted out of the dragon's golden mouth. The flames drifting into the wind brought back the very recent memory into his mind and he shuffled backwards shaking his head, muttering "No" over and over.

A heavily armored figure came toward Smith's side then forcibly grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Complete silence, traitor," came the demeaning reply. "Or you will die on this planet."

Smith looked over in horror and dismay that seemed at home to him while unable to speak a word.