Prysus Zier

Part Three: Exchange

Prysus looks at the readings from the ship ahead. "I.D. has been confirmed, it's the Perseus. Prepare to dock."

Yara brings the ship into position. "Hmm ... that's odd, their navigation computer seems to be the performing the docking procedure."

He replies, "Well, their manifest says there are only two crew members onboard. They're probably preparing the prisoner for exchange."

The ship shakes for a moment as the two vessels dock together. Yara checks over systems, "Locking clamps in place. Pressurization complete. All right, let's go greet our guest." She takes off her safety harness and makes her way to the back of the ship. Prysus looks at her and smiles, then does the same.

The two reach the air dock at the back of the ship. With the push of a couple of buttons, Prysus releases the lock on the air hatch causing the door to start to open. As the door lifts up, a wisp of smoke blows in from the other vessel. When the door fully opens there is a hulking figure standing there in a strange environmental suit. There is no doubt that this is not the crew of the Perseus, but an intruder.

Before either of them can react, the figure slams its forearm across the chest of Prysus. The hit lifts him off the ground and slams him hard into the wall. Giving him not an instant to recover, the figure grabs him by the head before he can even land and pounds it once against the wall. It then quickly spins half its body and grabs one of the arms of Yara. She had drawn her sidearm and tried to fire at it, but when it grabbed her it knocked her aim off and the shot hit the wall instead. The wall sizzles from where the missed blast hit.

The grip of the figure tightens harder around her wrist almost shattering the bone. Due to the pain she is forced to drop her weapon. A groan can be heard coming from Prysus as he begins to stir again. It then flings him across the deck and knocks him into the other wall. There are traces of blood from where his head was slammed into the wall by the enemy.

Prysus lifts his head off the ground. With his blurred vision, he can see the other hand of the figure move over the face of Yara. There is a strange glow filling the gap between her and the figure. His hand rises off the ground as he tries to move to help. Then everything goes black. He falls unconscious on the floor helpless against whatever this individual intends to do to him. Even more heartbreaking for him is the fact that he is powerless to help the woman he loves.

*****

Hours later, Prysus wakes up still sprawled out on the floor of the deck. His head is aching from the assault. It's hard for him to move and the back of his head is still bleeding. He looks over to where he last saw Yara and the figure. The door to the air hatch is closed now, but Yara is still there. She is on the ground motionless. His body is shaking from the strain of trying to lift his body off the ground. Due to injury to his head, he is having trouble getting his balance.

As he stares at her motionless body he says, "No, not again. Please, don't take another one from me." He abandons his efforts to get up off the ground and drags himself along the floor over to her. More than anything, he prays only that she is still alive. The first thing he does when he reaches her is check for a pulse. For a moment there is nothing. Then he finally feels the faint signs that she is still alive. He closes his eyes and tries to fight back the tears of joy.

Gently he brushes his hand through the fur on her head. "You'll be okay, just stay with me now. You can't die yet." Then he pushes a button on the metal bracer he wears on his left forearm. A red light on it starts to flash as it sends out a distress signal to all nearby vessels. With any luck, someone would find them soon. Prysus stays there by her side, refusing to leave her until help can arrive. He spends the time talking to her softly, not letting her give up on life.