So there we stand, on the bridge of a vessel with no helm, headed towards an unknown port, at an unknown speed. Or so the imp claims.

Suddenly the imp speaks up. "Looks like we are entering real space in a few seconds. Brace yourselves." It says and grabs ahold of one of the chairs. I do the same, my father grabbing Leeda and the doorframe.

There's a jolt as the lights flicker and the floor rattles before the window in front of me suddenly fills with stars, stars that I don't recognize, and a world looms below us before a warning makes itself known. "Alert. Uncontrollable descent detected. Pull up. Pull up. Pull up." It repeats in a monotone voice.

I look to the imp. "I take it this vessel is crashing?"

"Yes." Comes the resigned voice. "And there are no escape pods left."

My father then speaks up in a calm voice. "Then we wait to leave until we are closer to the ground."

"What?" The imp asks. "Are you mad? Just because you have wings doesn't mean physics doesn't work!" It yells in an agitated tone.

I look at it with narrowing eyes. "And you have a better idea? No? Then that's what we do. You're free to stay here if you want." And so I watch the ground get closer and closer. It takes several minutes before we decide its safe enough to jump and walk up to one of the side doors to the bridge.

"Wait! Don't leave me!" The imp yells as it chases after us.

I look down to it. "Can you fly or are those wings a mating display?"

"Best I can do is glide" it says, looking down at the floor and scratching with one of its talons.

I sigh before picking up Leeda. "Dad can you carry the imp?" I ask, knowing what this is gonna entail.

"Yeah but I won't be able to go far." He says, grabbing the imp before we open the door and jump out, free falling a few seconds before flairing our wings out and pulling into a level glide away from the vessel. I look back just in time to see it plow into the ground, digging a massive trench in the middle of a forest.

I look ahead and we fly ahead for a couple hours as the sun rises behind us before we notice unnatural structures ahead. It takes another half hour before we set down outside the city as the imp, or the Faison, calls it.

We walk into the city along an unnaturally smooth stone path surrounded by towers made of glass and stone that reach into the sky. As we walk we find ourselves in a crowd of individuals who resemble various types of beetle or other similarly hard carapace bug. However instead of being squat, short things they are rather tall and lanky.

Suddenly from behind me our tag along speaks up. "Well this is where we part ways. But please do enjoy talking to the Nuktu law enforcement. Because they don't allow weapons to be owned." And before I can respond he vanishes into the crowd.

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I then pick Leeda up and look at my father. "Looks like our break is over. Let's try to find an embassy or something." And with that we're flying again. Luckily it doesn't take long for us to find a walled off compound with guards at the gate so we land there. These beings at the gate are covered head to toe in green uniforms with helmets that cover their face and head, as well as a chestplate and pauldrons.

The guard stops us and asks a single question in a formal, if very board tone "What's your business at the Terran embassy today?"

At this one simple question I look down as the events of the past day or so finally wash over me. I take the strange device I had taken from my captures off my belt before sighing. And in a shaking voice I barely let out "We were taken from our village by strange beings from the stars... we don't know where we are and I don't understand what's happening!" At this I finally let my emotions wash over me and break down sobbing, followed by young Leeda.

I thought today was gonna be another boring day as gate guard before three bird people landed in front of me and told me what happened. They say birds don't have tearducts, so when they are sad they sing. And right now I couldn't imagine a more heart wrenching sound. I look at the grey one, he stands a head taller then myself, and he's remaining stoic. I kneel next to the blue one who dropped to her knees sobbing with the little one. I place my hand on her shoulders and she looks at me. I can't bear to lie but I don't have to. "I don't know if we can get you home, but if you'll let me I can help you get somewhere where you can start living again."

I lead them inside leaving Private Jones at the gate. I look at them and gesture to a table with trays on it. "I'm sorry but you'll have to leave your weapons here for now. We'll give them back before you leave." They seem reluctant but eventually do. I then lead them to my commanders office and explain the situation. I knock once and hear from within. "Enter." And I lead them in. I salute the commander and she returns it. "As you were sergeant. What's this?"

"Ma'am. These people were taken from their homeworld by slavers, and before you ask, no they can't find it. They are a steel age society." I say in a formal tone.

She leans forward. "I see." She then looks at the birds. "What can you tell me about your people?"

I look at this commander as she asks us about our people and answer. "We call ourselves Phoenix. As you can see we are covered in feathers and are capable of flight." I decide to respond with obvious answers. Not out of rudeness or anything but just so there's a clear understanding. She seems to appreciate this.

We go back and forth like this for a while before she leans back and speaks once more. "So, I can't take you to a human colony and odds are we won't be able to get you home anytime soon. What we can do is get you a ship to another place. This world isn't somewhere that tolerates strangers. I'll make sure your things are brought to you but please keep them in the cases we deliver them in. For now you'll stay here with us. Welcome to the embassy." She says with a warm smile.

We are soon shown to our rooms and are things are returned to us. The next couple days pass in a blur as doctors check us over and we get taught the most basic facts of our new existence. We're even given identification and small cards that they say is used as currency here. Seems odd but if it works...

On the third day we are told our ride has arrived. More human soldiers are traveling with us but we'll get dropped off on the way to wherever they are going. The flight is long but the humans keep us in good spirits until we land and disembark. We are met by a greeter with a wolflike appearance. They stand upright like us and the humans, however they are covered in grey fur, and have tails. I believe one soldier called them furry bait. They wear clothes similar to my robes.

"HI, welcome to Geshan city. I'm Anika and I'll be your guide. If you'll please follow me."

Well at least these Lyka seem friendly.