He watched the pole in the middle of the room and prayed for it to be still. He knew he only had one chance at this. He stood up on unsteady feet, unable to balance himself with his bound hands. He leaned in the corner of the room and watched the pole once more.

He had to do this. Something , deep down inside was ready to tell Merla what she wanted. He would not let that side win. He had to get out, or die. He could not take the pain any longer.

He took a deep breath and slowly stumbled towards it, each step was torment. He had to hurry. The guards would be here any moment to give him food or the injection they had missed earlier.

Without a second thought he hurled his left shoulder into the pole. He screamed in agony as his left shoulder detached from the rest of his body, the first time he had opened his mouth in days. He waited once more as he leaned against the wall. It had worked. There was just enough room for him to slip his other arm out of the brace. The steel made a heavy clanking noise as it fell to the hard floor. He caught his breath and walked back towards the pole. With his good arm he held the shoulder in its proper place and slammed it painfully against the pole one last time.

He fell to the floor, dizzy, the room was spinning again. Screaming aloud. He reached out for the brace and held it in his hands behind his back. Merla had decided to put it on him last night when he struck out at her. They’ll be here any minute. Stay awake, Keith. He wanted nothing more than to fall back into unconsciousness.

He thought he saw things (what were they?) running across the room. Things were crawling on him, but when he slapped them away nothing was there. The ache in his chest began to get worse. He needed more of the narcotic Merla had given him. Just one more and he would get himself out of here. Every fiber in his body screamed for it. Where were those damn guards? He was sure he heard Merla tell them to bring Keith to her as soon as he opened his mouth for any reason. Or was that his mother who said that yesterday? He could not remember. It did not matter. He neurotically rocked himself back and forth awaiting the grand entrance of the guards.

Did mom say she would pick him up at the bus stop?

Foot steps. Someone was coming. He hoped it was Merla instead of her guards. He could do some damage to her for hurting Allura. He remembered that. The poor little blonde girl screaming in pain.

The door opened. It was her. Keith lingered in the niche of the cell, hands behind him facing the wall, knees curled up to his chest. He looked straight ahead as he tried his best to gather his thoughts. He began rocking back and forth, breathing heavily in anticipation.

“Good Morning, Captain..” she said.

No response.

She kneeled down beside him and ran her hand over his sculptured arm, as the cell guard entered behind her.

“He was yelling minutes ago, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, thank you. Wait here. My dear, Keith. Are you ready to come with me yet? Don’t you want this pain to stop.”

He began grunting as he threw his head on his knees. He caught him self before he used his hands.

“Your little Princess is dying. They say she will not make it through the end of the week. Don’t you want to see her one last time before she goes?”

He glared at the green cloth crumpled in the opposite corner. He had not been able to hold it since they bound his arms. She could not be dying. So far she had been the only thing inside him that was still alive.

“Allura.” he whimpered looking pleadingly into Merla’s eyes. “I think we’re about ready,” she said proudly. Her guard opened a small box and handed Merla the needle. Slowly, she injected him. Glad he did not put up a fight this time. She with drew the needle and handed it to the guard. The cool liquid floated through Keith’s body giving him a sudden rush of power.

Before she could react, Keith grabbed her by the head and slammed her against the wall. She cried out as her skull impacted with the hard steel. The guard reached for his weapon as her limp body fell to the cell floor. Using all his energy , Keith swung his leg out and wiped the guards feet out from underneath him. He grabbed the other gun at his hip and shot him in the face, careful not to stain the uniform. He knew he would need it.

Keith pulled the guards body into the cell with him and Merla. Keith glanced at her crumpled body lying still on the floor. “That was for my Princess,” he mumbled aiming the guards blaster at her face. “And this is for me.” He pulled the trigger not able to tell if he hit his mark. It did not matter.

Keith carefully undressed the dead soldier. The drug was beginning to wear off as he clothed himself in the gray uniform, he could feel his muscles tightening and chest aching all over again. He needed more. He held the gun in his hand, it felt like an extension of himself. He often felt bare without one. Carefully he looked down the corridor to see if anyone had heard their commotion.

He began down the hall when he saw it was clear. He still had to make it past the detention block guards. He prayed that his face did not look so horrible that they would recognize him. His vision was still blurred and the walls kept dancing in his path. He walked with his right shoulder leaning against the cold wall in order to keep his balance. He began trembling again. He pulled the skullcap down far over his face as he approached the post.

“Lieutenant. Where’s the Queen.” barked a man at the cell post. “She stayed behind. With the prisoner. She’s with the prisoner. She’s with him. She’ll be with him. For a while.” he stammered nervously. He wasn’t sure he could take another struggle at the moment.

“Fine. Get your damn hair out of your eyes, lieutenant.” “Y-yes sir.” he said timidly walking out of the post. Lost. He felt ill again. Keeping close to the wall he followed it. It had to lead somewhere. Soon he encountered a storage room of sorts. Discreetly he stumbled in to the room to rest. Each moment the pain had become worse. He found a corner and gently placed himself on the floor. Yesterdays meal was going to come up soon.

Trembling, he wrapped his arms around his knees and closed his eyes.

Allura's fingers were indisputably ladylike. She held her hand as high above her head as she could manage. She studied the veins, which were now horribly visible , and wrinkles of her knuckles. She slightly pulled her delicate fingers apart to watch the thin cords of tendons glide across her hand. But, something else caught her attention. When she parted her fingers she could now see the stars in-between them. The Arusian moon of Strot hung high in the clear dark sky. She turned her hand over and let the moon rest in her palm.

Exhausted from the effort, her trembling arm fell back to her body.

Lance slowly unzipped his jacket and wrapped the front of it around her shoulders, allowing her to share its' warmth. A lump rose in his throat as he wrapped his arms about her shoulders. When he had gone to see her early in the morning with Pidge she had not even recognized them. Pidge left in tears. The way she turned to her nurse and asked who the two of them were was heart breaking.

Lance had decided to go and see her once more before he went to bed. The doctor even said she needed all the friends she could get now. Which meant that there was nothing more he could do. He entered her room to find a few people in there, singing. They were singing to Allura. He knew she’d like that.

They quietly left and allowed the two of them to be alone. They sat in silence for a long time. Lance held her hand as he watched the soft light from the half burnt candles dance across her face. She had become so pale and skinny. She stared at the roof of her canapé, not once looking at him. But, she held his hand tightly, sometimes squeezed it with all her might. He knew she recognized him, this time.

"L-Lance. You're my friend. P-please tell me." she whispered. "How, how - I'm dying aren't I."

His eyes began to fill with tears. He could not answer her. He wouldn't believe that she could be dying. Keith, and now Allura. She was the one of the best friends he had ever had. He had loved her since the moment he first laid eyes on her, but it was painfully obvious that she only thought of him as her friend.

They were partners in crime. How often had they escaped the confines of the castle for a care free night in the nearest town. When he thought of her in her various disguises he had to laugh. Everyone knew who she was. She was the only blue eyed, blonde on the planet! Even though she had even tried temporarily dying her hair, it was still quiet comical.

He thought he would be crucified one night when he and Allura returned to the castle a bit to late. Keith had been waiting for the two of them at her door to warn them that Nanny was inside her room, waiting. All the color must have drained from both of their faces because Keith was smiling to big. “Go on, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” he said. Keith’s wraith was easy, but Nany! That woman put the fear of God into him. He didn't mind being on Zarcon's bad side, but to get on Nanny's.

"Please. Y-you have to tell me." her voice trembled. Each word felt like knives tearing at her throat.

He could not answer her, he only lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed each finger.

"How-how much longer." she asked, eyes closed letting a single tear escape.

"The end of the week. Maybe the next." he said with a trembling lip. "They haven't given up, though." He prayed she would not begin crying, he knew he would not be able to hold it in for her.

She closed her eyes and seemed to accept this. “Pl-please take me out of here. Take me to my garden.” she whispered with closed eyes.

Without a thought he gently picked her frail form up out of her bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. “Let’s not get caught,” she whispered attempting to make a smile. Trying his best not to cry he carried her out of her room and into her garden. Everyone who saw them just stopped and watched. No one made a move to halt them.

"The sun has died tonight... but in the morning will be reborn." she said softly as he held her tightly against him. She rested her back against him, his cheek pressing slightly against her temple. "Twilight has always been my favorite. Mysterious."

"Actually, the dark has always frightened me. Ever since I was a child."

"Venture near the darkness and see it for what it is worth." she said seemingly to her self, wondering where she had heard that before. She placed her hand on Lance’s arm and allowed her head to fall back onto his shoulder. I hope heaven is as beautiful as my night sky. She could feel Lance’s heart beat against her back. “Promise me you will find Keith. He’s alive. But, he’s in pain. Crying.”

“Princess, you know I’ll do my best.” They sat there all night. After watching sunset he carried her back to her room and placed her gently on her bed.

The castle had taken on a melancholy feel. It was terribly quiet without Allura, or Nanny. Lance sat in the Control Room watching over things to keep his mind off Allura. Keith had to get through to them soon. They were beginning to give up hope on him.

He turned and watched as Coran took his place in ‘Rambert’s Throne’. He looked as if he had aged ten years this week. The man took a deep breath and turned on the long distance communications unit. The pain in his chest and lump in his throat came back again as he heard Coran request a permanent replacement pilot for Allura. When he was done, he stood, with fresh tears in his eyes, and silently left the room.

Keith slowly opened his eyes and looked around the diminutive room. There were voices out side. Where was he? He couldn't remember. He grasped his chest as a sharp pain coursed through his torso. He then gradually became aware of the twitching of his muscles, the sick feeling in his stomach and the blood that covered the once clean uniform he was wearing.

He stood quickly, a little too quickly, for the room blacked out and he felt as if he might pass out again. He turned and steadied himself against the wall as he vomited in the corner. That laughing. That hideous laughing was still ringing through his head. He clutched his ears as he thrashed his skull against the wall.

There was no time for this. Surely, during his slumber they had discovered Merla and his absence. He had to make it out of here quickly. He stumbled towards the door and opened it cautiously. The hall contained only a handful of people, none of which seemed to be military. The walls swayed and the people grew, but he finally ventured out into the hall.

He kept him self close to the wall in order to balance him. He avoided the eyes of passing people, for their heads would grow and faces contort, leaving him bewildered. Often, he sunk into the shadows or a small room when a military unit passed or he felt the need to vomit again. Soon, he realized that he was following a bantam group of aliens. They were small, with white fur, a stark contrast to the onyx walls. He had no idea where he was, but he knew he was hurt and possibly dying if he did not get help soon.

There were stairs. He wasn't sure how far down he had gone before he stopped. The pain in his chest worsened and his arm began to flinch involuntarily. He could hear many voices far off. The furry creatures went in one direction, but Keith decided to follow the voices.

It was a large meeting room that only contained about a handful of people from many different races. Blue, furry, four legged, people made this room and exotic sight. He scanned the room and someone caught his eye. A woman. She was human! Her features were blurry, but Keith could hear her laugh and see her pink skin, for she wasn't standing to far away.

Keith took refuge behind the thick door which opened into the room, thankful for the chance to rest. He watched her, the human woman. She had to leave sometime. Hopefully alone, but if not, then that would not be a problem. He placed his hand against the thick steel door and watched it tremble violently. He couldn't remember, anything. He remembered Merla. Had he told her the secrets that were given to him? Was that why he was free?

He waited. Soon, the woman said her good byes and made her way towards the door Keith was hiding behind. He slipped out from behind it and followed her down the hall. It was a struggle to keep up with her. He gritted his teeth as he forced himself to a fast walk. When she began to slow down, he noticed that they were at some sort of exit to the castle.

He quickly walked up behind her and pressed his gun in her back. She stiffened as he said, "Get me out of here." in English.

"Excuse me." she returned also in English, trying not to sound the least bit afraid. He pressed up close to her in order to hide the blood stains on his uniform. She was slightly taller than he, dark brown hair piled up on to her head, and a soft voice. She seemed to be in her middle 40's.

"I said get me out of here.," he repeated pushing the gun deeper into her back. "Right now I don't care much for my life, or yours, so I will not think twice in blowing a hole through you." He knew he could never do such a thing, but it was his only chance.

"OK," she replied somewhat bewildered. "Th-this way" She began walking with Keith close behind , still pressing the gun to her back side. "He's with me," she said to the guard at the door. Keith waited as the guard looked him over.

"Why are you still in your uniform, lieutenant?" he asked.

"It was a mix up, sir" he replied.

Reluctantly, after giving Keith the once over, he allowed them to pass.

"Where are we going?" she asked once they had exited the castle. Keith glanced up behind them and realized he was on Planet Doom. The sky was a dark purple and everything else had seem to adopt that color. The castle was a grand eerie building. It stood as high as the Castle of Lions, but was onyx.

"Where are we going now?" she repeated trying to get a look at her captor.

"Do you live close by?"

"What? No, we aren’t' going to - "

He rammed the gun into her cheek. "You'll take me to your home."

"Fine," she said feeling somewhat defeated by a glowing laser pistol in her face. "The cart pick up is over there," she said leading him towards another small building.

"What's in there,," he asked cautiously. It did not look like anything important, it was only a small cube of a building averaging 5 feet wide on any wall.

"That's where - Have you ever been here before?" she finally asked.

"No, you talk to much. Just go." he prodded feeling as if he might pass out again. She led him up to the smaller building which held an escalator which led them far down into the Doom earth. The motion of the escalator made him grasp her arm tightly. Soon, the hustle and bustle of many people filled his ears. The small corridor which they had been traveling opened up into a huge hemispherical chamber. It was as big as any city square on any given planet. Right then Keith realized something he had never really thought of before. The inhabitants of Doom lived underground. Of course, who would want to live on the dark planet, people had to live in it with synthesized sunlight.

She walked them over to a nearby office which reminded Keith of the subway stations of his own planet Earth. The woman gave the guard a permit and they entered a train. Putting the gun back in his belt, Keith leaned his aching head against the glass watching the commotion outside. There were guards, with strangely familiar faces, posted every ten feet or so to keep some semblance of peace on this God forsaken planet.

The train lurched to a start and Keith felt the nausea rise again in his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut. His mind and body told him he needed more of the drug Merla had given him.

He felt the woman sitting next to him jump up. Quickly he grabbed her by the wrist and forcefully placed her back into her seat. “Don’t try anything.” he threatened.

She looked him fearfully in the eye. Now, she was finally able to get a close look at him. He had taken off the skullcap and she could see he had long curly dark hair. His color was unhealthy, pure white with an assortment of bruises. She noticed the blood seeping through the arm of his uniform and could see that the front of his uniform was also stained.

Her intuition told her that he was not actually one of Zarcon't men. Her intuition was usually right.

"What's wrong little buddy," asked Hunk when he found young Pidge in tears out side of the Princess' chamber. Pidge took off his glasses and wiped his cheeks with the sleeve of his green shirt.

"It's Princess." he cried. "She's gotten worse."

Hunk cautiously entered the room. Dr.Gorma was present, along with a few of Allura's maids and Lance. Coran was sitting next to Allura's bed with his face buried in her sheets, sobbing. The Princess was covered in tubes and machines. She had been placed on life support.

"She stopped breathing about ten minutes ago," Pidge mumbled to Hunk.

"Two days, Coran. I'm sorry, but you know it's the law. In two days we will take her off of life support. All we can do now is make her comfortable." said Dr. Gorma to the devastated Coran.

The words ' all we can do now is make her comfortable' rung in Hunks ears. She was really going to die this time.

"She was such a sickly child. I should have known better." Coran sobbed as Lance moved to place a hand on his shoulder.

"Are we alone, where's your family,” asked Keith walking through her small apartment aiming the blaster at anything that threatened to move.

"We're alone, I live by myself," she answered still studying the young mans features. A powerful blue light surrounded him and she knew he wasn't as cruel as he wanted her to believe.

"Get a chair," he demanded, leaning himself against the back of a long couch. She carefully walked into her kitchen and brought him a chair from her round table. He then motioned for her to follow him into her room. Again, she carefully followed keeping a cautious eye on him. " A scarf, rope, socks, get me something."

Realizing what he had in mind she started," You can't do this - "

"Just do it," he yelled aiming the gun at her head once more. Almost mechanically she reached into her drawer and produced two long black scarves. Hesitantly, she handed them over to him.

"I hope you know what you're doing," she said, somewhat offended, as they made their way back into the room with the chair. "My husband was a member of the King's court!"

"Sit” he demanded. She reluctantly sat for him and waited as he tied her hands and feet. After making sure he did not tie her binds to tight, he walked to a small table in the room and sat down. He tried to gather his thoughts, but the pain in his head and body was becoming unbearable. With is left hand he pulled at the damp shirt which now stuck to him like a bloody glove. Painfully, he was able to remove soiled garment.

He glanced down at his left arm resting on the metal table. He studied the slash running down his fore arm. It was deep and had become infected. He ran his hand across his bare chest to asses the damages done there. A laser burn on his upper chest near his shoulder, and burn marks across his abdomen. He couldn't remember how they had gotten there.

He reached for the blaster he had rested on the other end of the table and released its power unit. It fell heavily to the table.

"What are you doing over there?" she asked unable to see him behind her. There was no answer.

He walked to the kitchen sink and held his arm under a stream of green water. After searching a few draws, he took a knife and matches and returned to the small table. Remembering his first aid training, carefully, he struck the power unit of the blaster until it oozed a red liquid out onto the table. He let the liquid drip across his arm and into his wound. Without hesitation he took a match and struck it. He took a few deep breaths before touching the orange fire to the fluid. At once, his arm burst into a heated flame which exhausted itself as quick as it was borne. He clenched his teeth and laid his head on the table, slamming his other fist in pain.

He closed his eyes and when he opened his eyes once more he was not sure how long they had been closed. He stood and clumsily walked toward the couch he had once used for support. His hostage looked him over once with horror in her eyes.

"What have they done to you?" she asked in alarm. He did not respond, only laid him self out across the couch and closed his eyes again.

They called me Gahanima. A spoil of war! Can you believe that! I don’t know whose sick joke that was! I actually thought the name was pretty, but I wouldn’t let them know that...

"Will you please unite me?" asked a voice. He blinked his eyes trying to focus. "Please, you've been asleep for an entire day and I was afraid you wouldn't wake up. I don't want to be left here tied to my chair while you die!"

Keith closed his aching eyes and tried once more to clear his vision. He looked around the room to see he was in a nicely decorated apartment. Tokens from Earth hung on the wall, even the furniture was made out of Earth Wood. "What?" he asked trying to remember.

"Please," she started calmly," just untie me. You've been lying there for a long time and I feared you might have died. I don't want to be left here to die as well. I promise I won't try anything, I’ll help you. "

He looked at her, his face void of expression, and contemplated what she offered. Slowly, he moved to her and untied her hands and feet.

"Tell me, who's Allura?"

Keith raised his head in alarm. "How did you hear that name?" he growled, beginning to retie the scarves around her wrists.

"No wait," she exclaimed. "You said that name a few times in your sleep. Is she your wife?"

"Yes," he said relaxing somewhat. "She's my wife and she's real sick. I have to go home to her. She needs me."

Quickly she jumped up and ran to the opposite side of the room. Keith sat on the floor and watched her. She stared at a phone unit on the wall and then glanced back at him.

"Please don't." he mumbled, rising to his feet.. "I just need your help one more time."

"Why me?," she asked with fear.

"Because you're human," he replied as the muscles in his arms and legs began to twist. He hoped that common bond was enough to convince her. He saw her tense at the comment.

"What do you want? I don't have a ship anymore. I can't get you off of Doom.”

"No. I need to find a pub," he said falling back into the comfort of the couch, still fearing she might call on him. "Um, ah, Hemenway's pub. Do you know where?"

"No, but I suppose it won't be to hard to find," she said keeping an eye on him as she moved to pick up a large book. She placed it on the table and sat down as Keith joined her. "Why a pub?" "Just find it for me. Fast."

"What's wrong with your wife?" she asked as she thumbed through the large book.

"I- I don't know. No one has figured it out yet."

"You're kind of young to be married, don't you think?"

"Just look for the pub."

"Here, in the west quadrant. 43 and Alkema. I suppose you also want me to show you the way."

He nodded his head. "And clothes. I need clean clothes to get there."

"I believe I may have something for you," she said raising from the table, walking towards her room. "I guess I should ask the name of the person I'm putting my neck on the line for. I do suppose that is what I'm doing."

Never give your real name. "Alex."

"Alex, my name is Mara. Where on Earth are you from?" she yelled from the small room.

"T-Texas. You ask to many questions."

"Excuse me?"

He turned away and scanned the kitchen for anything useful. Nothing there.

"Here, these were my husbands. I suppose they may be a bit large, but it will do." she said holding up a white shirt and black pants. She looked to Keith and said," Why don't you let me bandage those wounds for you, first? I've had some training in medicine."

Keith looked down across his bare chest. "No. I will need some sort of cloak." he replied flatly.

“Well you're bleeding and you've already ruined my couch. You'll bleed through this in minutes. Let me bandage you. I insist." she said throwing down the clothes and retrieving a first aid kit from a shelf. She sat down beside him and examined his wounds.

"Please, we need to go." he said once more.

"This will only take a minute," she said as she began to clean the wounds on his arms and chest. "They got you good. Do you know who did this to you?"

He remained silent. She looked up at him. She took his head within her hands and tilted it back. "You're eye's are extremely dilated. You've been drugged?"

His imprisonment came back to him in a flash. "Yes," he murmured.

"That would explain your shaking. Your muscles aren't taking it to well. This will sting." she said applying an ointment to the laser burn. "That's going to need stitches," she said referring to the cut across his left arm. After she wrapped most of the wounds and cleaned his face she left the room for him to dress, allowing her self to change also.

"Let's go ," she told him upon returning, surprised at her eagerness to do this. Somehow, this felt exciting. Since her husband died, she had done nothing but attend parties at the castle and sit alone in her small apartment, which she moved into after her husbands death.

"Wait, I need a weapon." he said as beads of sweat ran down his face.

"What for!"

"Do you have anything? Anything." he asked. He always felt better when he was armed, even with the smallest of arms.

"Well," she said furrowing her brow," I've got one of my husbands smaller swords." She walked to a cabinet and produced a sword attached to a belt. Reluctantly, she handed it to him. “Please be careful with that.”

He shook his head as he placed it around his waist.

They made their way in silence to the transport station. Keith feeling relief due to her loss of questions. They stood in a long line waiting to board the train.

"There's something going on up there," said Mara stepping out of line to see what the hold up was. "There are some guards up there doing something."

Keith looked in the direction she was and his heart skipped a beat. The guards were checking out every person who entered the train. One of the guards had a picture in his hand, and Keith was almost sure he knew what the picture was of. He grabbed Mara by the arm and turned to leave. Quickly, they walked back into the streets.

"They were looking for you, weren't they?"

No answer. “We’ll have to walk.”

They carefully walked through the city. Keith kept close to the buildings. More than once he ducked into an alley or the shadows to keep him self from being spotted. There were pictures of him everywhere and even in his hooded cloak he felt horribly visible. His head still rang with horrible noises and images. Mara grasped his arm more than once when she thought he might fall over.

He watched the guards walking through town in their units and noticed why they had all looked so familiar before. The city guards were clones. Each with the same face and body. The thought sent chills through Keith. Earth had long ago outlawed cloning, it did not surprise him other planets had taken advantage of it.

"Captain Keith Dewar," she read, viewing a sign posted with his picture and the words 'Wanted Dead or Alive, by the Royal House'. "So, 'Alex', what have you done to be such a wanted man." This time she knew better than to expect a reply.

"Here we are, Hemenway's. Not exactly a classy place. Will you tell me why we're here?"

"No. You are free to go now. Thank you for your help. Expect a reward." he said walking to leave her outside the pub.

A sudden loneliness over came her and for a moment she did not want to see him go. Curiosity got the best of her and she followed him in.

"I told you that you could leave," he said when she appeared at his side once more.

"You're in no position to be alone now. Look at you, you look like you've been run over by a Banthra. I'm going to stay a while." she said.

He glanced at her, not feeling like arguing, and proceedded to enter the pub. It was close to the prime hour of business and the place was packed. All the better Keith thought. He noticed a small group of guards on one side of the bar. Carefully he led Mara to the opposite side.

"Are you sure you want to do this."

"Yes. Do you realize that you're the only interesting thing that has happened to me in 5 years. I want to help you get back to your wife, 'Alex'."

He turned to the bar as a tender came up to him. He was at least seven feet tall and covered with green fur. "What will it be?" he asked in basic.

"Kaameeleah." replied Keith.

"Kaameeleah?" repeated the man looking Keith up and down with a suspicious eye. "Wait here." The furry man walked to the end of the bar and consulted with another furry being. The second Ho' Diyle turned and studied Keith and Mara, who was studying all the various aliens present in the room. The first Ho' Diyle returned to Keith and asked, "Who's she?"

"She's with me.” he returned grasping his chest which had begun to tighten. Pain coursed through his left shoulder. The man looked him over once more and returned to his partner. They spoke briefly before both returning to Keith.

"Go have a seat, she'll be with you in a moment.” said the second with a heavy inflection. Keith bowed his head in thanks and walked with Mara to the seat the Ho' Diyle motioned too. It was a booth set deep into a cubby, darker than the rest of the room. Hard to see into but easy to see out of. He looked around the bar. Not a nice place at all, but perfect for an underground operation. He clenched his teeth and shuttered and the pain in his chest worsened.

"Are you going to be o.k." asked Mara with a worried expression, placing an hand on his arm. She noticed how his color had faded during their trip.

"I will be." They sat in silence, avoiding the eyes of the other patrons of the bar. Keith had never seen such an assortment of people. Of course they would be here on Doom. He was sure they belonged to the many planets within the Drule Empire. These people somehow escaped imprisonment and slavery.

Soon, a large woman with deep blue skin and a large bald head came up to their table and took a seat. She eyed Keith and Mara carefully. "Kaameeleah's been expecting you. Kaameeleah was not quite sure you'd make it out of 'hell' though." she sang with a heavy accent.

"Kaameeleah?" he asked.

"Kaameeleah asks what they did to you. Kaameeleah thinks pretty captain look like shit."

"Can you help me?" he asked.

She looked at Mara with her huge blue eyes. "Kaameeleah asks who pink woman is? Why she here? Pretty captain come alone, no?"

"She's been helping me. Are you able to help?"

"Kaameeleah think pretty captain in hurry. But, Kaameeleah already put call for help. We wait for instructions. Captain need drink. Make feel better." She turned and motioned for a bar maid. She spoke to her in a foreign language and before he knew it there was a bubbling drink placed in front of Keith’s' face.

Keith glanced up at Mara and Kaameeleah, not wanting to offend the latter. "I think you should," whispered Mara.

Keith picked up the glass with a trembling hand and lifted it to his dry lips. The warm liquid went down quickly and smoothly, not tasting half as bad as it looked. He wondered what he was suppose to do next. How long would they wait.

"Ahhh, doesn't pretty captain feel better, now!"

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