Lost In Stardust

Chapter Nine

The house was a labyrinth of stairs and slides and tunnels. Dax had followed Alpha out of the grand hall, and in to a dimly lit hall way. This was a stark contrast to the center of the house.

Alpha walked with long, determined strides. Dax had to run to keep up with him. The boy felt extremely awkward walking next to Alpha. They walked on silently. Suddenly, Alpha stopped abruptly. Dax nearly walked in to him.

Alpha had his hand on a door handle. He turned to look at Dax.

"We can watch everyone from here", he winked mischievously at Dax.

Dax grinned back, finally understanding what Alpha meant.

He opened the door and stepped in.

The room was dark. Two chairs were aligned in front of a control desk. The buttons beeped and glowed red and green simultaneously. The only light in the room was provided by the many screens set up on the walls above the controls. Dax moved closer to the nearest screen and squinted. He gasped. He could see Delta and Taya in the kitchen packing and eating most of the food supplies. Taya looked comfortable with Delta. She laughed then scrunched her nose as Delta held up a frozen fish. Delta laughed at Taya's reaction then tossed the fish aside and went back to munching on her sandwich.

Alpha plopped in to the chair next to Dax. He put both his feet on the desk then reached for a tiny refrigerator next to his seat. He opened it and took out two bottles of colored liquid. He tossed one to Dax. "Drink up", he ordered before taking three long gulps of the pink liquid. Dax twisted the cap of his bottle and took a tiny sip. Instantly his senses were assaulted with a tangy taste that bursted in his mouth and sent a pleasantly burning sensation down his throat.

"What is that?", he choked.

Alpha laughed. "Its soda.......I guess you kind of have to get used to it", he gave Dax an apologetic look.

Dax carefully took another sip of the liquid, this time, it felt and tasted better.

"I like it", he exclaimed.

Alpha's face grew serious and he looked at Dax.

"When did you say your planet was attacked?", he asked him.

"About five days ago", Dax replied.

"Did he take anyone?"

"Just my grandmother"

"Why?"

"I'm not sure, but I think its because he heard the rumors".

"What rumors?", Alpha pressed on.

Dax knotted his fingers together. He was uncomfortable telling Alpha about his suspicions.

"There were rumors that my grandma knew you personally", he hesitated.

Alpha stroked his chin before looking at Dax. He wore a grave expression on his face.

"Dax...he attacked the planet Oberon a few days ago. He took some..."samples"...with him", Alpha clenched his fists.

"What do you think he's doing?", Dax asked.

"I think he's trying to create clones...of us. And if what you said is true. Then your grandmother is being used as bait..to lure us in..and we're going to walk right in to it....guns ablaze", he grinned.

He was back to his jovial mood. Despite what the police records and news bulletins said, Alpha was not as intimidating as they thought. Of course, that didn't mean that he was any less scary. They had been known to carry out organized crime. And they had been wanted for years. Bounty hunters would search for them far and wide. Only to turn up dead in a shallow ditch the next day.

Alpha finished the rest of his drink and set it on the desk.

"I guess they're all finished, we should go".

He stood up and motioned for Dax to follow.

This was it. There was no turning back.