Lost

Last Stand

Okay, everybody, we're reaching the end of this story in two more chapters. So far, I can say this is the longest one written. I had to make different drafts because I thought the first version was a bit too anticlimactic until it resulted in this one. I hope you enjoy it because it took me about five drafts. XD.

XOXOXO

Despite the thick cloud layers blocking out the sun and making it difficult to tell the time of the day, the Hothians could tell when it was night or day with whatever little sunlight came through. They had years to get used to this, after all. So at the Hothian equivalent of dawn, Iraa and his men stood just outside their base, waiting for escaped captives to arrive. They'd come for their friends' aid without a doubt, not to mention the only way off the planet was in their power.

"Anything yet?" He asked one of the scouts looking out for any signs of life.

"Nothing, sir," was the reply. "Are you sure you don't want to go looking for them?"

"They will come to us. Besides, we can't afford to have more losses." There were less than a hundred of them left, and not many of them were women. If they wanted to eventually rebuild their civilization somewhere else they needed to repopulate. Those intruders had already cost him a team of 30 men.

"Wait, sir, there's something moving through the trees!"

XOXOXO

"This is a bad idea."

"It's the best shot we got, so it's worth the risk."

"You do realize we're putting all our cards on a strategy made by a malfunctioning SIR unit?"

"He was on the famous 'duty mode' when it happened. Besides, hitorken Zim and Fury are with him."

"That's the problem."

"Be quiet, you two! We're almost there...!"

Blue was the first to emerge from the tree line, followed by Captain, Red, Lena and finally Ilk. Blue was waving a small piece of furry blanket tied to a long stick as a 'peace flag' of some sort. "Don't shoot, it's supposed to be a surrender!" He called out just in case the Hothians didn't get it. They didn't have any white fabric to make a proper one, after all.

The Hothians surrounded them, still pointing at them with their spears and guns. Red contained the urge to pull Ilk behind him, but she stepped close to him on her own accord. Lena, on the other hand, stood her ground with a serious expression.

One of the soldiers pointed out they were completely weaponless. When asked, they claimed they had lost them when crossing a lake.

"Okay, we are here, where are our friends?" Ilk asked as Iraa came closer.

"All in due time, Miss," He said absentmindedly. He looked at the party of five. "There were seven of you, I believe. Where are the black monster, the robot, and that other Irken?"

"They were killed by a mendigo."

Iraa exchanged a confused look with another soldier. "A what?"

Red groaned. "Don't start."

"The big furry beast with the large horns." Captain resumed.

"Ah, yes. The gwat. Cannibalistic tendencies," Iraa offered a small, polite grin. "You must be freezing to the bone. Please come inside."

It wasn't like they had any choice. As they were escorted inside, Red and Captain took a quick glance at the structure. It had signs of the Hothians stone building but mixed with debris pieces of all the ships that previously fell here. Perhaps it wouldn't be that hard to tear them down, all they'd need was a good amount of brute force...