Crash Landing 2:

EXILES

ICE SHIP AURORA

Slowly, the Ice Ship Aurora made it's way though the darkness of space. The Beast planet was nowhere to be seen... but the alliance knew better. When it chose to, the Beast would make an appearance.

"I don't want to be stuck here again..." Jade said as she sat on the bridge. "Isn't this the same area where we crashed a few months ago?"

"I wouldn't know," King Cryos began, "I was in a coma at the time."

Jade turned to Graveheart. "Yes," he started, "it does look familiar..." Graveheart took a closer look at the planetoid on the view screen. He nodded his head. "It's the dead moon we crashed on..."

"I do not think it is entirely dead..." Zera spoke for the first time.

Cryos looked at her. "Zera? Explain?"

"When Pyrus and I were down there looking for the homing device, we could have sworn there was someone else down there..." she answered. "We just caught a quick glimpse, though..."

"Why didn't you tell us, child!!" Tekla asked.

"We... um... thought it would be best not to worry you," Zera began. .

"But if there was LIFE down there..." Jade started.

"We thought it would be better to leave them be," Pyrus began, coming to Zera's aid. "It was a race we had never encountered before... and .. well--"

"You were WRONG not to tell us!" Jade interrupted.

"Enough, Jade..." Cryos began calmly. "They made an error in judgement..."

"Whatever! It doesn't change the fact that this moon is in the way of the Beast!" Jade explained. "And now WE have to save it!"

"Zera and I will get some supplies and join you--" Pyrus began.

"You will NOT join me!! If you had told us before, we could have warned them by now!! You two stay here!" Jade snapped.

"NO!" Zera began, "I want to come with you!! Either you allow Pyrus and I to join you, or we will go on our OWN...!"

Tekla looked at her, surprised. "You are very adamant about going down there, child. Why?" she asked.

"It was what we saw down there..." Zera began, then turned to Pyrus.

Pyrus took the cue. "Zera saw an ice creature.... With fire powers."

Zera, Pyrus, and Jade carefully set foot on the moon. "So... where did you see this person?" Jade asked.

"Well, we didn't really SEE her. She was spying on us, I think. I saw an ice creature, then a flash of fire, and then she disappeared," Zera explained.

"Are you SURE it wasn't just a hallucination?" Jade asked.

"VERY sure!" Zera insisted.

Jade shook her head, and continued walking. After an hour, Pyrus spoke up. "FOOTPRINTS!!"

Jade quickly turned to him. "Where??"

Pyrus pointed off to the left. "There! I think I see footprints!"

"Let's go look then," Jade began, and headed off in the direction Pyrus was pointing.

The Fire/Ice child watched the visitors from a distance, "Why did they come back?! Why can't they just leave us alone?!" She asked herself. With a sigh, she turned to the small metal communication device in her hand. "Father, the fire and ice child are back... with a friend. They are heading towards Arnia...." She listened for a moment, and nodded her head. "Done!" With that, she stood up... and followed the strangers quietly.

Zera's antennae twitched slightly. "We're being watched again..." she said.

"Is it the same person??" Pyrus asked.

"Yes..." Zera replied.

"Come. It's getting dark..." Jade began. "Let's set up camp in one of these caves."

"But what about---" Pyrus started.

"I will set up sensors around the cave. She won't be able to get in here without us knowing," Jade explained.

Zera and Pyrus nodded. Then the group headed into the nearest cave and set up their supplies.

She snuck up to the cave and immediately saw the sensors. She quickly and quietly opened the device and cut a few wires. Her father had taught her well.

With that done, she stepped into the cave. The trio were sleeping. Rock, Fire, and Ice. She couldn't help but smile. Things HAD changed! The planets had finally made a truce! Why did her father refuse to believe that?

She thought about it, and could only come to one conclusion - her father was worried about HER. She was part Fire, part Ice. Could the three sleeping in front of her accept that? Was that what her father was worried about?

No. That would be silly! So WHAT if she was a product of two worlds? That was what made her so special! Why would anyone have a problem with that?!

She decided to stop thinking about it and continued on with her duty. Her father had told her to take the strangers' supplies and hide them. He hoped they would leave once they found their supplies gone.

She quickly set about her task.

Pyrus opened his eyes slowly. He hated waking up in the middle of the night. He was about to sit up when he noticed movement a few feet front of him. He closed his eyes, and opened them again, thinking he was still dreaming. But no. There was someone in the cave with him and his friends... and this person seemed to be going through their supplies!!

"HEY!! What are you doing??!" he shouted as he jumped out of his sleeping bag.

The creature in front of him spun around, startled. He finally had a good look at her, and his eyes went wide.

The girl had flaming red and blue eyes... like him. Her hair was like his as well. Yet her skin was like Zera's.

Pyrus was silent for a moment, then found his voice again. "Who ARE you?!" he asked.

The girl looked at him, eyes aflame. She looked lost, confused... and frightened.

"Pyrus?? What is going on??" Zera began as she slowly woke up. She noticed the intruder and quickly jumped to her feet. "Who are you?!" Zera demanded.

The girl looked at Zera. "The Ice girl!" she gasped. This wasn't good. Not good at all!

"Yes... I am lady Zera of Planet ICE!" Zera answered.

"And I am Prince Pyrus of Planet FIRE!" Pyrus answered.

Jade had finally woken up. "And I am Cobalt class Commander Jade, of planet ROCK!" she began as she picked up her gun. "Who are you and WHY were you going through our supplies?" She drew her gun on the girl. "Answer me, child!"

The girl looked at the three in front of her. "Rock! Fire! Ice! I'm so glad the planets have made a truce!" she said happily.

"You haven't answered our question! Who are you?!" Pyrus asked.

"I am Alana! From planets Fire and Ice!" the girl smiled.

"That's impossible!" Zera started.

Pyrus got straight to the point. "What are you doing with our supplies?!" he demanded.

The girl became serious. "Whatever lands on this planet is OURS..." she replied. "My father told me to take them!"

"ENOUGH!!" Jade shouted. She went up to the girl, and charged her gun. "You will return our supplies, or I will KILL you!"

"Wait, Jade! Hold on," Pyrus began. "I want to find out who her Father is first!" He turned to the girl. "Why did he tell you to steal from us?!"

"Because you're not supposed to BE here!!" Alana said. She looked at Jade. "Please.. put the gun down. I mean you no harm... really!"

"Put the gun down, Jade. I have a feeling she is telling the truth..." Zera spoke up.

Suddenly, the communicator buzzed to life on the girl's arm. "Yes, Father??" she asked, and waited for an answer. "I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. They... um... sort've woke up..." Once again she waited for a response. "Do WHAT?!? But WHY?!..." Pause. "They are NOT dangerous!" She looked at Jade and her gun. "Um.. I don't think they are at least..."

Jade rolled her eyes, and lowered her weapon.

The girl turned back to the communicator. "Don't make me do it, dad!" Another pause.. "But..." She sighed, "Ok.. ok!!" The strange girl looked at the trio in front of her. "Forgive me... but I have to do this..." She opened her mouth and released a string of nanonites.

Zera, Pyrus, and Jade didn't even have time to blink before they were frozen in place.