บท 6: Six: Present

The world of the Ohuos was a very pristine place, a very hard place full of rocks and gems and metals. Lofgun and the Wolves scanned their surroundings with café. Greens, golds, reds, yellows, and more colors glared bright at them. All shades of colors from the lightest to the darkest, from the most common to the most rare. Of course, this meant every step had to be taken with care as to not cut themselves.

In this world, as in almost every other world, Lofgun and his crew were in their true forms: each of them different from the rest. Only in the Earth world where Humans ruled did they appear simple. Lofgun himself was a tall, hairless, six-armed creature with two legs, three eyes, and a curved horn on his back that made a great weapon. He wore no clothing for there was nothing to see. He had no genitals. He had no penis or vagina. Only a small hole where piss could be released.

Lofgun never cared before. His species had a different kind of coupling than others. He knew about pleasure and the Human version of sex, but it did not apply to him, or to the one he wanted to have younglings with. However, he knew that for any female of any world, her parents or family would have to be comfortable with him and his customs. His female, whoever she may be, would have to be comfortable with him.

"Sir, are you sure we can do this?" Dalgoring asked, his six eyes looking everywhere all at once. It made some creatures run, but it made Lofgun feel better having eyes watching and seeing what he could not.

"They are important to her," he said.

"As are the stones, yet she is in captivity."

"You know she has her own mind, Dalgoring. You know she has her reasons."

"But she swore to all of us that she would let us help."

"And she has." Lofgun held up a long fingered hand to silence his friend, as they had come up to a large, gleaming fortress made of the same gemstones that made up this world. The walls were smooth. The place reflecting light from the ten suns that shone in the sky, nearly blinding Lofgun as he looked for a way to enter.

Luckily, he didn't have to search long. "Lofgun!"

Lofgun turned to see Coomarrah peeking into the building through a thinner piece of stone that was see through. Going over, Lofgun saw a crystalline handle, just waiting for him to turn. "Be ready for anything," he advised. "Go in teams of two or three. Meet back out here when the suns are near the horizon. Don't get caught."

They all murmured their agreements, made up their teams, then began inside.

The first thing Lofgun noticed was that it was cold. Not freezing, but chilly as if a draft were in the air.

The second thing was that everyone inside were wearing white aprons; nothing more. Boom didn't seem to care of his state of oddity in the awkward room, but stride forward with a bright smile and an energetic aura coming off him. Lofgun knew that aura. Boom was ready for a fight, but it showed as a friendly tone to those who didn't know him. It was his best weapon.

He and his crew split up: Dalgoring, Rinnowra, and Keayo with him. They tried not to notice the stares coming from the Ohuos, but it made Rinnowra's spikes creep out from her body. Keayo did not have any spikes or claws. He was a hairy ball with a set of arms and legs that gave anyone who didn't know him, the need to cuddle. Keayo was not fond of hugging. When he got the feeling of being trapped, he shrank. And shrank. And shrank. Until all you could see was nothing. It made him best for scouting, but as Lofgun was unsure of this place, he didn't want Keayo alone.

"Why is everything so bright?" Keayo asked now.

Lofgun was going to make up some stupid reason, but one Ohuo heard the question and was glad to provide the answer. "That is a very good question! See, the stones that make up this place attracts heat which is then diverted to our labs where we need that heat to do experiments. Heat can help or harm living things on any world, and also help bind many materials together to make something new…"

The Ohuo went on and on, but Lofgun had begun to tune it out when he saw a door marked with 'ERPRISON' or Prisoner. Rinnowra saw as well and the four of them thanked the Ohuo for the lecture and they moved away. "Do you really think her parents are in there?" Dalgoring questioned.

"I don't know, but it's a good place to start."

Before they could enter though, Rinnowra caught sight of Jin who was waving them over. Lofgun hesitated, but went over. "Goomal thinks he's found them."

"Where?" Dalgoring asked.

Jin went pale. "Somewhere not very good."

Not very good was an understatement.

A vast understatement…

Each world has their own prisons. Each prison is created to hold low security and high security. Each prison is equipped with that world's own method of torture, restraint tools, and death.

Here, the method for restraining was very proficient.

Also in all worlds, there is a type of force that keeps everything grounded. It's different in all worlds. And in this world, the Ohuos can manipulate it enough so that they can stand, fly, or just be suspended in the air.

Coolyala's parents were inside a ball of gemstone, transfixed in the middle. Not floating. Not hovering. They just were stuck in the air, unable to move except for their eyes.

Lofgun now wondered if something similar happened to Coolyala the time she didn't move for days…

"How do we get them out?" Rinnowra asked, a hand to her mouth in shock and horror.

Lofgun shook his head.

Before long, his whole crew was gathered to stare at the two beings in the ball. It was Jin who began to start looking around for a way to free them.

"Goomal, Keayo, keep watch. The rest of you, find something to put them down," he ordered. Lofgun didn't care that Jin had begun to order everyone, just stared at Coolyala's parents.

The only way he knew one was her mother was by the brown locks that were tangled down her back, patches of blood here and there. He could not tell their eye color, their regular shape and build because they were so bloody and broken. They had to be in pure agony…

He forced himself to drag his eyes away from them and look around. A folder caught his eye, making him get closer. 'Stardust Project'. He opened it to see ten names. None of which he recognized.

Riebcopyrite

Matrmontite

Asixferroite

Zultgmannite

Skupeite

Yttninite

Augiiclase

Kainmargyrite

Emenophane

Sephire

A few of them had descriptions.

Riebcopyrite – red and loves fire.

Matrmontite – Blue and has an affinity for water.

Emenophane – green and combined with Earth.

None of the others had anything with them. Lofgun was confused but had an idea of what this was.

"We have company!" Keayo hissed from the door.

Jin cursed. Lofgun grabbed a satchel and shoved the folder inside, then ran to his friends. There were levers and pulleys and ropes and buttons. Above, they all crisscrossed so there was no telling what goes to where. It would take several hours to sort them out to see if any went to the ball where Coolyala's parents were entrapped.

"There's no way to get them out," Jin hissed. "No way to know without taking out time."

"Forget taking time!" Lofgun hissed. "Why not break it?"

Boom gaped at Lofgun. "We don't know what that could do to all of us. We could become just like them. It is a dangerous plan."

"We need to hurry if we are to escape!" Goomal growled.

"We can't stand here and keep pulling and pushing all day!"

"We can't break it either!"

"Why in all the worlds are we arguing!"

"We're not arguing!"

"Now!" Goomal yelled and he and Keayo jumped back as several Ohuos barged into the room, claws sharp, teeth bared, and stones glowing in their chests.

Lofgun blinked, staring at the stones in part fascination, part horror. They had been implanted. He wondered what they did. What power they provided, if any. Each Ohuo had a different color. Though, none as magnificent as the ones Coolyala had.

The Ohuos parted to let one through. Coolyala had mentioned this one, had said his name was Milbaral. "I see the youngling has you wrapped around her finger, Niatpac."