Another day had passed when Dwayne Diggory asked, "Has anyone noticed that they don't stink?"

"Now that you mention it yes. This room should smell like a monkey enclosure by now." Alexander said in surprise.

"I think it has to do with the green energy field that comes through here every day right about….nnnnnooowww" Andrew said dragging out the last word until a thin and very translucent floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall green energy field swept out from the right side of the room and meandered through the room until it passed into the opposite wall. Andrew had a finger follow it as it went along its journey through the room. "Ohhhh that green energy field that only you can see Lather? Magical bathing as well huh?" Alexander responded to Andrew though it didn't come off as confident as it had just yesterday when they had discovered the toilet and Alexander had discovered what would be their food source for quite some time.

"It would seem so, but I'm done trying to convince you Alex. You'll come to realize I'm not attention-seeking at some point. Sadly, that moment probably won't come until you're being subjected to some of their more intense magic or force you to eat something else without thinking about it."Alexander shrugged and both men went back to staring at the floor.

With the barrier sealed, they couldn't see how their female team members were holding up, so they couldn’t tell if they were being affected by this incarceration the same; but the largest danger to the men was their mental state. With each passing day, the men became more and more contentious with each other. The captain’s calming presence seemed to be the only thing keeping that thread from breaking. That thread was fraying as the men had broken into two factions, those who believed Andrew and those who couldn’t believe magic could be real. Culminating in Vladimir Nesterov grabbing Alexander Mendel by the collar. “You are arse. We get you don’t believe, but shut your arrogant mouth!” Nesterov yelled, spittle coating Alexander’s thin wire-rimmed glasses.

“You gullible like caveman.” Alexander mocked back before shoving Nesterov, hoping to extract himself from the big man’s grip. All he accomplished though was tearing his collar slightly and making the burly pilot laugh. “Enough from both of you. Emotions are running high, but it's not the time to lash out at each other. We need to stand together now more than ever.” Captain Rostron interjected, but it fell on deaf ears as the two men started to shove each other.The combatants were interrupted when the wall where the energy barrier had been started to quickly retract like an orifice opening back up. The energy barrier grew with it to fill the opening as it grew in size. The two men distractedly separated from each other as they took in what happened.

One of the Golems was standing just outside their room looking in, "Sorry for our abrupt ending earlier, we were needed for repairs. We didn't want to seem rude, but we live to serve. You had previously asked who our ancient enemies are correct?"

Captain Rostron replied "That would be correct sir. May I know about them?"

Before the Golem could answer a greenish complexion elf spoke as it entered the area. "No, you may not. It seems these simpletons have already spoken too much, based on the recordings I’ve seen. I am curious about how this Marx, was it? Learned of our Getls teachings." said the Elf in a voice that like it’s form gave no hints as to what its gender might be.

"Do elves like color coordinate with their ships or something?" Andrew, having more than a little pent-up energy, interjected.

"Ah, it's you. I was warned about you. Don't worry we'll be at Ekkomera soon enough and there you will lose this humor and be taught proper manners. If I should fail to do so first." The elf chided Andrew.

The elf's hands briefly glowed red before Andrew is brought to his knees by a bolt of lightening.

[Electrical damage detected]

[Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]

Numerous new little red dots appeared on the chest section of his implant's body silhouette. Each labeled full-thickness burn. Andrew looked down to see the additional holes in his shirt and the injuries he'd sustained. Painful, but from what he could see it was mostly cosmetic, as cosmetic as 3rd-degree burns could be that is.

"Alex, see, Lightening from their hands. As for you,” Andrew gestured to the elf, “Not the best Palpatine impression. I mean for one, not to be insensitive, but he was clearly a he. I’m all for being yourself, but it feels wrong to think of you as an it." Andrew said as he got back to his feet, trying his best to hide that it had hurt at all.

"Why does it matter which gender I am? Are you hoping to try to mate with me?" again talking with mocking disgust.

"I guess it doesn't matter. As for the breeding thing no chance of that, I'm married and even if I wasn’t you’re not my type." Andrew said in an amused tone.

"Ah I had heard of your primitive mating rituals, but I never guessed the stories were true. It seems the vile Dwarves and you do share many primitive traits." it sneered.

"WAIT, your “Ancient Enemies” are Dwarves? Like short and have big beards? Make cool tech, and look for treasure a lot? Why would anyone have them as an enemy? They’re awesome. Not that you guys aren’……… " laughed Andrew. Right before more lightning hit him, dropping him flat to the floor this time.

[Electrical damage detected, please move away from the source of the electricity to avoid further damage]

[Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]

Again, numerous new little red dots appeared on the chest section of his body silhouette. Each labeled full-thickness burn, Andrew knew to mean 3rd-degree burns.

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"Is it true that your species still grows children in women like wild animals?" the elf asked in the tone of a person who has been curious about this for years.

"Wait you don't? What are y'all Pod people or something?" Andrew questioned as he got to his knees, still touching the scorched flesh on his chest.

"I don't know what you mean by 'Pod people'." The elf said curiosity took over its tone even though its face was still a mask of disgust.

"You know where a race makes more of themselves by converting members of another race, normally in pods?" Andrew replied with a smile.

The elf's hands briefly glow red, this time Andrew tried to use it as a signal and tried to jump out of the way only to be hit while his legs were still bent. The electricity caused him to jump awkwardly and further than he intended. He landed without grace in the middle of the room only inches from the barrier.

[Electrical damage detected; I must insist that you move away from the source of the electricity to avoid further damage]

[Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]

Now the chest section of his silhouette looked as if he was at the end of a round of chicken pox.

"Let that be a lesson not to insinuate that my people are made by mutating animals like you. We procreate as any civilized culture would, in magical wombs and from pre-collected stock. Selecting only the best of that stock so we may reach greater genetic perfection for the contributions that will be needed when they reach adulthood. In this way, we are left untainted by base influences that drive animalistic cultures such as yours. We are not only undistracted by the constant desire to find, defend, and procreate with a mate. Nor do we risk our women or our health. Most importantly it keeps our interest for the good of the Elven race and not for ourselves or our families. " It said the last word as if even saying it put a foul taste in its mouth.

"Does this mean you all don't have sex even for entertainment either?" Dwayne added almost without thinking.

"Of course, not. Why would we waste time on a meaningless act? Would you add a major disease vector for physical pleasure? Why would we risk creating individual bonds and putting our racial unity in peril over a fleeting whim? Do you not see how primitive your questions are?" the elf joked with a geeky snorting-type laugh.

Andrew still touching his chest, without a moment’s thought added, "No wonder every one of your race I've met so far is such a touchy creeper, y'all have so much repressed sexual energy. Maybe you need to accept y'all are animals as well and" Andrew cut himself off when he noticed the red glow and looked up just in time to see more bolts of lightning strike him.

[Electrical damage detected. It is imperative you move away to avoid further damage. Electrical damage has been linked to a number of neurological issues. (Would you like to know more?)]

[Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]

Zoya smirked from the other cell "Saw that one coming. Andrew never does know when to shut his mouth. To be honest I'm a bit jealous I can't shoot electricity from my hands. It seems like one of the more effective ways to get him shut up…………..even for just a moment."

The Elf smiled with a thought and looked at the cell with the four women from the ship.

"Have any of you grown a baby in you?" the elf said in its sniveling voice excitedly while pointing at the women.

"Yes, 3 actually." replied the motherly voice of Barbara Hopper.

[Barbara Hopper, Primary Chemist, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]

The elf clapped its hands "Oh how grotesque. You must tell me how it was. It sounds so disturbing. Was it messy? I've seen it from our animals, but never with a nominally sentient being. Could you feel it leeching off you while it was inside you?"

Barbara looked more than a little offended, "There's nothing grotesque about it. It's one of the most wonderful things…"

She was brought up short when the elf in a subtly threatening voice said, "You will stop now and answer my questions."

Barbara paused and then continued "Yes at a certain point you can feel them in you, but you don't feel them feeding until you nurse them."

The Elf looked disgusted and intrigued, "It's true then they suckle off your blood? "

Barbara in a scientific voice "In a way yes. Our mammary glands do turn blood into milk.”

The Elf seemed to be contemplating and with a creepy steepling wave of his fingers asked, "If I put you in with a male how long would it take for you to start making a baby? That's how it's done correct?"

Barbara looked over at the men "It wouldn't happen. Though you’re right if you select the right couple that is how it would happen. "

With a few purple pulses of one of the lines going into the elf’s head, Andrew saw the wall across from them suck inwardly until the cavity it made turned into a small room, complete with its own energy barrier.

Excitedly the Elf exclaimed "I must see this. You and You into that pod, now."

The elf points to Barbara and Vlad.

"I no do this thing you want, is improper. " Vladimir exclaimed.

"I will not, I’m married," exclaimed Barbara at the same time as Vlad.

"Oh you will, unless you want to feel my wrath. Ask your silly friend there about it." threatened the elf.

"Maybe you don’t get this, as your culture has a serious consent issue, but we're not here to fulfill your sick fantasies and for most of us a little pain isn’t going to make us comply with your sick whims," vitriol clear in Andrew’s voice.

The elf gave Andrew a scathing look and the red glow started to build up around the elf's hand. This time it was going to really hurt and then suddenly it stopped coalescing. The red energy glow quickly dissipated. This is when he saw one of the purple lines going to the elf pulsing wildly.

The Elf looked annoyed "We're here, I guess my curiosity will not be slated today."

With that, more red energy appeared, and Andrew was hit again with lightning. Causing him to writhe around on the floor like a dying bug.

[Electrical Damage detected. You must move away from the source or permanent damage will soon occur.]

[Multiple Full-thickness burns detected]

Again, numerous new little red dots appeared on the chest section of his body silhouette. Which now resembled a corpse with multiple shotgun wounds and not someone alive.

"You're lucky I'm not armed man…. Woman……….it?” Andrew threatened while touching his chest.

Vladimir speaks up suddenly "Where is Captain? He just here, now gone."

"No way Vlad………………"Andrew cut off as he turned around to see that not only was the captain gone, but also Vladimir.

The elf was just grinning ear to ear.

"OMG Where's Zoya" yelled Barbara.

Andrew turned to see that Zoya too was missing. When he turned back, he saw that Dwayne Diggory was missing. When out of the corner of his eye he saw a magenta flash, he looked to the female cell only to find that it was empty. As he guessed would be the case, when he turned back, he was all alone.

The purple line pulsed going to the Elf who then spat "Fine, I guess I'm not allowed to have any fun.".

The elf turns to Andrew, "I won't forget your actions."

"Nor will I, one day I'll find you to settle the score." Andrew threatened, steel clear in his eyes.

"So, you may find me later, I am Akeoic Artaith Pyntingar. I do so hope you can find me; I look forward to the chance that I might get to torture you again in the future, maybe next time we won't get interrupted. For now, I am left only with the sadness that I will not be there to see you beg."

As he saw the elf's hands start to glow magenta, he tried to get in the last word.

"You never know what the future brings. One question, why did I have to be………" He was cut off as he too disappeared.