Rebellion and New Life

Chapter 7

As more and more Gelfling seemed to be disappearing, and no one could tell the others where they were going, there was one Gelfling who was determined to find out why they were disappearing and where they had gone to.

This one, named Rian, was keeping an eye on the other Gelfling soldiers. When the Skeksis came to ask for some other soldiers' help, it made him suspicious. He dared to follow the Lords to see what they were doing. He kept to a higher floor, and watched from a safe distance.

One of the soldiers was Rian's girlfriend, Mira. He spied through a hole in the floor of the laboratory.

Mira, along with some other Gelfling soldiers, were forced into some chairs in the lab. The Crystal was pulled downward and a blinding, bright power electrified it, bringing it to life. It sputtered energy and sparks, and then, needles were jammed into Mira's shoulders, along with the others as well. A blue liquid began to collect in the tubes.

"Ah, the essence." the Scientist beamed proudly.

"No! Mira!" Rian was shocked and sad that this was happening to his love. He had muttered her name quietly.

"Help, my Lords!" Mira cried out. Then, she was gone, the tubes dropping to the ground as if there had been nothing there to begin with.

Rian couldn't believe this. She was gone! And so were the others.

Only the Emperor was in here for this draining. He wanted that essence so badly! SkekSo eagerly drank some of it.

Rian couldn't help but cry for Mira. He had loved her so much. One of his tears slipped off his face and fell down, plopping right onto Tek's face.

"Gelfling!" Tek screamed in terror, understanding that the one above had witnessed everything.

"We can't let him get away. After him!" the Emperor ordered.

The two of them flew out of the lab and tried to find Rian.

Rian was fast enough to evade them and bumped into Gurjin, then the two of them ran. He explained to his friend what he had seen, although, at first, he didn't believe him. Rian pulled him along, there was no time to argue.

"We have to get out of here, Gurjin. The Skeksis drained Mira's essence and drank it. We have to warn other Gelfling of this plight, so they don't do this to anymore Gelfling. We have to tell as many as we can." Rian explained.

"How do you know this is a threat to us?" Gurjin asked.

"Because I saw it. Dreamfast with me." Rian said after they had arrived at a safe spot.

The two Gelflings dreamfasted together, and Gurjin saw the truth for himself. He knew Rian was right. He agreed to help him.

The Emperor and Scientist went back to the throne room to warn the other Skeksis that there was a Gelfling on the loose that had seen what they had done to one of his kind, and that everyone should be on the lookout for him. They had tried to find him, but couldn't.

"Do you know which one it was?" the General asked.

"No. A young one." Tek said. "With long, dark hair. One known to get into trouble."

"Sounds like the captain's son, Rian." the General replied.

"Make sure he doesn't escape. Seal off the exits." the Emperor ordered.

Other Gelflings were to seal off all other exits, and the Skeksis were to keep an eye out for him too.

Chamberlain couldn't help but feel like he wanted some of that essence too. His energy felt like it was going down again. He would plan to go get some of that essence later on, when he would be sure Tek was out of the lab. He knew he could convince many of his fellow Skeksis with his words to escape confrontations. He wasn't much of a fighter.