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"WHA HA HA! Your evil plan has been thwarted, Dr. Mean Lynx! Now come quietly before I. THE GREAT WHITE TIP!~ and faithful sidekick Wet Tail, beat you to a pulp." Dressed in form-fitting black spandex, standing atop a statue on a dark stormy night, Ankiah... Or, White Tip, looked down at the dastardly villain as he leaned over an open pipe holding onto his mysterious vial.

"Why do I have to be called wet tail?" Private Caithen complained while still hiding behind the statue.

"Because you're acting is about as fun as one. Now get up here and throw your restraining gadget at Dr. Mean Lynx! If he gets away, we won't find out who the real mastermind is behind this nefarious plot." Ankiah Demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

"NYOOOOO! My plans to poison the city's water supply have been ruined. BUT! You'll NYAVER catch mee~ White Tip! Next time It will be I! Who will emerge the victor! NYA HEHEHE!"

Ankiah watched as Dr. Mean Lynx activated his jet pack and flew away into the night, laughing all the while as he made his escape. "See, If you threw your paralyze dart, we could have caught him. Now we're going to have to uncover the location of his secret underwater lair."

Private Caithen looked at the heroine in amusement as she turned to walk towards their invisible car. "We'll get him next time. Let get back to base."

Ankiah jumped off the statue and walked towards her car, entering the passenger seat to gleefully opened her gadget belt. "Oh, I have the dart. Oh well. TAKE US TO HOME BASE WET TAIL!"

Caithen entered the car and looked over to Ankiah. "Isn't the hero supposed to drive?"

Fiddling with her belt, Ankiah looked up towards Caithen. "Well yeah. But only rich people could afford a steam auto, so I never learnt how to drive."

Caithen turned back in silence to start the car and began to take them back to their secret super base. "So what's the plan, White Tip?"

"Ahh, I am so very glad you asked Wet Tail. While Dr. Mean Lynx was making his daring escape, I was able to stealthily attached a tracking device onto the bottom of his shoe. Once we get back to our base, we'll be able to track him with our hero 'Computer.' "

"Sounds like a good plan White Tip. Let's... Is something wrong?" Caithen asked, noticing how Ankiah seemed distracted.

Ankiah flattened her ears against her head as the odd sound interrupted her thoughts, screaming to be heard over its volume. "CAN'T YOU HEAR THAT!"

Caithen fumbled a bit with the steering wheel in shock before regaining control and looking over to Ankiah. "Whoa there, calm down. No need to scream. I can't hear anything out of the ordinary if that's what you're asking."

Ankiah covered her ears with her hands while the screeching continued. "How CAN you nOt HEar thAT?"

Pulling the car over, Caithen pulled out her com and dialled the doctor. "We'll get you checked out right away. Just hold on for a bit."

"Oh, it's nice now... Weird, it's like somethings trying to talk to me." Perking her ears up, Ankiah began looking around in excitement in an attempt at pinpointing the source. Leaving the car, she stalked towards a secured building off in the distance. "What's in there?"

Chasing after Ankiah, Caithen studied the building. "Pretty sure that's the exit. Want to go check out that sound?"

"Exit door!" Watching as the gate appeared. Ankiah walked through and into the building's hallway, searching for the tune that tickled her ears. "It's coming from those two guards over there."

Caithen looked over to the two special forces officers and recoiled. "You don't want any part of what those guys are doing. They're likely... Hey, WAIT!

Ankiah walked up to the two super future soldiers and eyed them up. " Let me through!"

"No."

Poking the soldier in the chest while ignoring Caithens pleas. Ankiah puffed her tail and pointed her ears. "Something in that room is talking to me, and I want to kick its ass. It hurt my ears."

The two guards seemed shocked for a moment, and Caithen hoped they would leave her alone or simply taze her a bit. However, much to her confusion. They stood off to the side and waved them in.

Ankiah stalked through the door as if on a mission, Unaware of what was to come.

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"Well, we did tell you this is quite the conundrum. Its harmonics are almost seemingly random."

Koma stroked his chin as the being chimed another tune at him. "It sounds wonderful, though."

"Agreed. It always does a splendid job of putting my partner to sleep."

Playing with Michael's fingers as he slept, Srettia looked over to the two confused males. "You sure you two aren't missing something? I know you haven't found a pattern, but maybe its blinky lights are its language."

"I have not detected a pattern with its lightning. It may just be energy bleed off of some sort. But you are correct. I hypothesize that we are missing something."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Koma sat in his chair, listening to a playback of the noises it made when it returned to its hard light state. "If we had another recording of it waking up, we could compare these two sounds to see if they are similar to a good morning."

"Well, you should sing it a song then. Put it to sleep."

Koma flipped a few pages of his data and scowled at Jack. "Haa; I'm not sure how I should take that.

"With a gain of salt. This being seemed to enjoy singing."

"I'M TELLING YOU IT'S COMING FROM IN HERE!"

Sitting up straight, Srettia snapped her head in the direction of the familiar voice. "Oh, great."

Koma turned to look at the voice and stepped back in shock. "OHHH! Look at her. This must be a Voktlix! She has such a pretty tail."

"You would be correct. She also seems angry."

Ankiah trounced immediately past Koma and up to the hard light alien floating gently in the middle of the room. "WHAT DO YOU WANT!"

Turning to look at Ankiah, the being chimed a jaunty tune and grew a pair of ears atop its head.

"Ahh, I think it likes your ears, Ankiah."

Pointing her finger in the being's 'face,' Ankiah planted her feet and pointed her ears in anger. "Stop that. I can't understand you. Talk to that sleeping guy over there if you want to talk to someone. Not me."

Koma stepped forward and stood next to Ankiah excitedly. "Is the being talking to you? Is it psychic? If so, what does its words sound like?"

Ankiah poked Koma in the stomach with her cane, causing him to take a few steps back and eliciting a chuckle from Caithen as she stood guard. "No, it's not physic. Can't you people hear that with all your fancy future tech. It was screaming in my ears. The sound also depends on if it's angry or not. If its angry is sounds like glass scraping against the glass; otherwise, its bells and wind-chimes."

"It seems we have overlooked some sound spectrums. I will begin an analysis of the environment. I request you stay to help Ankiah. But please refrain from antagonizing the alien. We cannot understand it yet."

Ankiah looked at the odd speaking Terran and then to Koma, who was oddly studying her... Maybe a bit too much for her liking. "Sure, I guess. As long as the lady over there doesn't mind."

Srettia shrugged and laid her head back on Michael's lap. "I don't care one way or the other. You have already apologized to Michael and haven't hurt him since. Anything to get this going faster is welcome anyway. I want to get back to exploring the galaxy."

Ankiahs mouth dropped at Srettia's words and ran over to within an inch of Srettia. "YOU'RE A SPACE EXPLORER? TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT!"

Srettia recoiled for a moment before sitting back up, still holding Michael's hand as he slept. "I'll tell you all about it once your work with Jack and Koma is over. We need to understand this alien as soon as possible, okay? And please keep it down. Your screaming is going to wake Michael."

"It's a deal!" Excitedly running over to Jack but staying at arm's length of Koma. Ankiah stood straight and focused her attention on the alien in the room.

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Admiral Miles finished going over the fully collected and analyzed data from the recent engagement. The disgust was written plain on his face as he keyed a com to his second command, Nora. "I wish to speak with Michael, Srettia, Jack... Ankiah, the Voktlix, and the being they are attempting to translate immediately."

"Yes, Admiral!"

Putting on a fresh pot of coffee, Admiral Miles waited in frustration and anger as his officers gathered his requested guests.

Turning to his data screen while he waited and opening the location finder seemed to have them at a hard light entertainment facility. He found it odd, but it also somewhat made sense considering the alien they were working with.

Sipping on his fresh coffee and having waited no longer than thirty minutes, a chime at his door broke him from his thoughts. "Enter."

Deciding to remain silent as the four maybe five entered the room, Admiral Miles waved them into a chair.

"Ohh, this is a fancy room. You must be rich; you have a wife?!" Ankiah asked, taking the first seat.

Michael palmed his face while taking his seat. "Just... Never mind. I have a feeling you will just ignore my pleas anyway."

Waiting for the four to finish seating themselves. Admiral Miles looked over to Michael and nodded. "Is you're co-pilot here?"

"I am present, Admiral Miles."

Standing up, Admiral Miles walked over to his old-style coffee maker and poured himself a cup, ignoring the panicked Ankiah who only looked around. "Excellent, before we start. Would anyone like some coffee or tea? This may or may not take a while."

Ankiah shot her hand into the air with a smile. "I want to try that coffee stuff. I'm okay to eat everything Terran except for something called capsaicin."

Pouring a second cup of coffee and two cups of tea. Admiral miles passed the beverages around and took a seat. "I have a mission for the five of you. Or maybe it's more of a request."

Waiting for his words to sink in, Admiral Miles continued his talk. " This mission will take the five of you to Earth. I will give you all the resources you need for the trip. Though, you'll be pleased to know it will only take minutes."

Michael straightened his back while fighting to keep the smile off his face, "Explain, Admiral. Though I think I can guess how that's possible. Did Dr.Leyvie create a new fold drive?"

Taking a sip of his coffee, Admiral Miles let out a chuckle. "Not just Dr.Leyvie, Tanda as well. Though from my understanding, It is a fully complete engine core. That is, thanks to the Aasteran science councillor Viscia, it's working at full capacity with no drawbacks."

Srettia leaned forward in her chair, putting her tea off to the side while doing so. "Why? Why do you want to send us to Earth?"

The Admiral leaned back in his chair, turning his display on for all to see. "I want you three to tell your stories and take this data slate to the Fleet Admiral."

"You are not telling us something. Explain, or I will find out myself."

"You're right. I didn't tell you why." Switching to the data report he had just finished reading; Admiral Eric Miles began to point out their findings of the command ship. "Six. Six different alien species were confirmed from the DNA analysis of the captured command ship. The only survivors were the silicon diamond-type aliens and three Voktlix. I will spare you the pictures. What I want. Is a war. I want these scum put in their place and to free their captured."

"This explains the mishmash of inefficient technology. They must enslave various species and improperly integrate their technology into their ships. I am willing to reveal myself if it makes the star navy comply with your wishes."

Michael decided to keep quiet. Letting the other two make their decision, knowing that his part was set in stone either way.

Srettia took a moment, then looked over to Michael and smiled. "I would like to see your home planet. Walk with you in the sandy deserts you told me about. I want to slay our enemies." Turning to look at the Admiral, Srettia nodded like a Terran. "I will go. More people need to know what's happening in this area of the galaxy."

Ankiah sat silently for moments, letting the information sink in. The things she had seen, had been subjected to. The things she tried to forget, all of it flooding back into her mind. Hugging herself and shaking the memories out of her head, She looked directly at the Admiral. "I will go. I don't know if my people are still my people. Or if they are bound in chains. But I will fight to free them."

Admiral Miles nodded and looked to the hard light being. "Can't get his consent. But he seems happy following you. You have a week before they finish the fold core. Try to open some dialogue by then. I will send you all the information you need. Until then, my door will always be open to you. Once again. Your mission is to Go to Earth. Warn them. Tell your stories. And bring the entirety of Terran Star Navy to this sector of the galaxy."

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