It was all Z'shi could do to keep from telling Ka'ya to go faster. One, they didn't know if any of the crew had managed to escape the initial sweep and they couldn't risk an attack when they had a vulnerable kit with them. Two, although her injuries hadn't seemed to bother her moving around in the cell, who knew if actively moving for longer distances could make her go into distress?

He knew that Sho'ta was watching the kit as they moved through the corridors, but he found himself desperately listening to her breathing and footsteps. Although they didn't seem labored, he didn't know Terrans well enough to even know what the signs of distress were. They'd had the chick for less than a handful of days and they were already the galaxy's worst parents. What sort of parent didn't know if their chick was in distress or not?

He shook his head hard, once, in order to clear his thoughts. Yes, he and Sho'ta had imprinted hard on the chick but that didn't mean that they were her parents. Not yet, anyway. It would take a whole lot of sorting out, but he was putting in his claim as soon as possible because this chick needed all the love and care they could get. But, health first.

He whistled quietly to get Ka'ya's attention, a sharp edge to his voice. "How much further?!"

Her voice was soft but he could hear the answering strain in her voice. "Just around the corner here. We're almost there. Your flower bud is gonna be okay, I promise."

He appreciated her attempt at reassurance, but he'd been a Peacekeeper for long enough to know that things didn't always turn out the way one hoped for. Still, he had to hold onto hope because he would drive himself mad otherwise. They hadn't coaxed and cared for the kit, only to lose her now when safety and help were right around the literal corner. He glanced over his shoulder and caught Sho'ta's eye before holding up a single finger. One more corridor.

Sho'ta's ears were flicking rapidly as he was undoubtedly keeping alert for even the slightest of sounds that would indicate an ambush. But he blinked once to indicate his understanding. A simple system, perhaps, but one that had worked for them since they were little more than chicks themselves.

He glanced at their chick, just long enough to see that she didn't seem to be struggling, although the way her brow was furrowed indicated a certain level of discomfort. How he wished that he could speak directly with her, to find out what she was feeling and thinking. Still, regrets would only hinder them right now, he needed to remember that they could learn all about each other as they moved forward.

He turned his gaze back forward right as they rounded the corner, relief filling him at the sight of the bustling corridor. Ka'ya had been correct and even though the corridor was full, it was a controlled chaos. At the far end of the hall, well away from the victims, the slavers were being processed and slowly loaded onto the waiting ship, where they would be taken to the nearest Peacekeeper station and fully interrogated and sent to the proper facilities to deal with their crimes.

In the middle of the corridor were small groups of people clumped together, each group containing a single Peacekeeper. They were doing victim statements and then after those were taken, they would be taken to a central shelter where they had staff set up to help get them back to their home galaxies and families.

This meant that the end of the corridor nearest to them was where the healing stations were set up. To Z'shi's relief, it looked like they had commandeered a couple of the rooms off to the side, maybe storage rooms, for the treatment. There were half a dozen medics and Peacekeepers doing triage in the hall before sending them into one of the two rooms. One seemed to be for injuries that would hamper them from boarding the ship to safety while the other was for serious and/or life-threatening injuries, ones that might not survive to board the rescue ship if they weren't treated.

He winced as he saw a sentient being carried into that room, their arm hanging limply over the side of the stretcher. Please, by all the stars above, don't let the chick have to be taken in there.

Tamping down the urge to grab the chick and flee to some safe corner far away from all the bustle, he followed right behind Ka'ya who went up to the nearest Peacekeeper, one that Z'shi recognized. "T'hir, we've located Z'shi and Sho'ta. They were confined in a cell along with a Terran sapling in urgent need of medical care, so we went ahead and left the other prisoners in their cells where they would be safe while we came ahead."

T'hir pointed at three of the Peacekeepers waiting on standby, motioning for them to join Ka'ya to retrieve the ones they'd left behind. Ka'ya turned and gave his arm a light squeeze and a sympathetic grimace. "I'll be back as soon as I can, to help you with the sapling. Have the feeling that that one is going to be a royal pain though."

Z'shi would almost guarantee it, the sentient had not garnered a drop of sympathy from him, especially after attacking their nestling even after they'd been rescued and there was clearly no threat. Instead of saying what he really thought, he muttered, "Watch your back, take Ryou. We'll be fine here."

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She glanced over at Sho'ta who must've confirmed Z'shi's words, cause with one last glance, she released him and disappeared back the way that they'd come, Ryou falling in behind her as she passed him.

T'hir moved over in front of them, the white robes that covered their entire form swishing lightly from the movement. They appeared to be studying Z'shi's group, although it was hard to tell with their face covered. They ran a scanner over him as they spoke, their voice light and melodious, "Z'shi, I am glad that the stars have shone kindly upon you in our time apart."

Z'shi resisted the urge to shuffle impatiently. His small bruises were nothing to worry about, but who knew if the kit had ever seen a scanner before? Not only that but where she didn't speak Common, they wouldn't be able to explain what was happening. Still, he didn't have a doubt that the nestling was studying everything carefully and gathering as much data as she could.

"The same to you, T'hir. Sho'ta and I are fine. However, we have a Terran kit in desperate need of healing, extensive swelling and bruising on her face and throat. Also, she doesn't speak any Common."

T'hir clicked their tongue in disapproval. "What scum these were, to hurt kits. This is the ninth Terran kit that has been discovered, although all the rest seem to have the basic spacefarer implants and translators. Maybe they'll be able to speak with her once we have tended her wounds. They've already been processed and are resting on the transport ship. Now, let me see the youngling and assess the damage they have endured during this trying time."

With a soft whistle so Sho'ta would know what he was doing, he waited for half a heartbeat before shuffling aside so T'hir would have a clear view of the nestling.

Z'shi expected T'hir to call their traditional, soft greeting to patients but they stood stock still, as if they couldn't believe their eyes. After a long moment, they unfroze, fury filling their voice. "Who would dare injure another sentient in this way? It is a miracle they are even standing." They turned their head so they were clearly looking at Sho'ta. "May I approach?"

Sho'ta gave a quiet rumble, creeping closer to the kit. "Yes, but slowly. She doesn't do well with swift movements."

T'hir paused, seeming to think. After a moment they gestured to a chair that was sat in the corner, a screen on one side blocking the view of the hallway. "Please, guide her over to the chair and have her sit, if you can. Maybe, once there is less to see, her mind will be calmer."

Sho'ta blinked, his tail wrapping carefully around the nestling's wrist. She jumped a little, before settling again, keeping her eyes on the unknown person. Using his tail, Sho'ta carefully guided her where T'hir had directed, Z'shi trailing behind to keep her blocked from view as best as possible.

Finally, she was seated and T'hir was approaching slowly with a scanner.

This was it.

X

Kira allowed Shouta to nudge her into motion down the hall a heartbeat after Zashi had moved. Although she probably shouldn't be after all the care they had shown her, the fact that they were willing to take her with them was mind-boggling. If things weren't so dire right now, she'd probably be crying from the fact that they cared enough to at least take her out of this horrible cell. Well, that and if she weren't dehydrated.

However, as they made their way through the ship at a reasonable pace, she found herself torn. If this was an infiltration and rescue mission, they should've been moving faster so they could get off the ship before any more of the guards responded and cornered them. But on the other hand, she was starting to struggle as they walked.

Her throat ached as she tried to breathe deeply enough from the added exercise, the bruised muscles straining to have enough give. Not only that, but her ribs were sore from being battered back against the wall during the scuffle. Small movements hadn't hurt but the constant moving and trying to breathe deeply made the dull aches flare to life.

Not only that, but her stamina was at rock bottom. Although she had eaten and drank better in the past couple of days with the others' help, she was still weak from restricted rations and how she hadn't been able to get any of the skimpy rations down her bruised throat. She just prayed that they didn't end up having to fight at some point, because she wasn't sure if she'd even be strong enough to take down the least threatening alien right now, with how weak she was.

The corridors started to blur together, even as she tried to track the turns they made. If they had to retreat, she needed to know what way not to go. Tiny black spots started to dance across her vision and she ended up focusing on Zashi's wings ahead of her, their bright color an easy beacon to follow.

Finally, after what had seemed like no time at all and yet forever, she heard the quiet murmur of voices ahead. She expected the green lady to slow down and possibly scout ahead or take a different route. But instead, she sped up, the rest of them following suit, leaving Kira no choice but to do the same so the pair following her didn't collide with her.

Turning the corner, she couldn't believe the sight that met her eyes. The hallway was absolutely bustling with people of all shapes and sizes, voices rising and falling in a quiet hum of activity.

At the far end of the hall, she could see several guards that she knew by sight, all of them cuffed and surly looking as other aliens were leading them away one by one. In the middle of the hallway, she could see other prisoners, the drab gray garb they all wore a dead giveaway. There were also people in what appeared to be some sort of uniform amongst them, talking softly to them as they wrote things down.

Nearest to them appeared to be healers of some sort, although it was hard to be certain.

Watching Zashi and the green lady talking with one of the nearest aliens, one covered completely in flowing white fabric, it was all Kira could do not to gape at the scene in front of her.

This wasn't an infiltration.

This was a rescue operation.