Taken

Z spends the next few weeks rehabilitating her leg. Her recovery time has been quite impressive. What would take a human months to recover, Z managed to do in a few short weeks. Everyday she was working out determined to get back to her normal self. When the twins informed Z about the threat and bounty placed on me, it seemed to have motivated her even more as well as piss her off. 

While Z focused on recovering the others and myself had kept up with the research working hours on end trying to find the cure we needed. After all specimen X was slowly still spreading throughout my body. Daily blood tests show that my blood cell count drops by 5 percent everyday. It's the special regeneration injections Roland gives me that helps regenerate half of the cells I lose. Test after test is run and every result is the same, specimen X wins everytime. The more negative results we get the frustrated I begin to grow. 

Needing a break and to refuel the ship, Neese directs us to a planet called Nuxus. At first approach Nuxus is a green color with clouds encasing the outer layer of the planet, and ranging about the size of Venus. After sending in docking registration papers , the ship landed at a loading bay, a small port for ships. 

"Everyone, stay close, when we finish refueling we are leaving"  Neese said looking at us. Nodding in agreement they unboard. I stay behind for a minute, hoping maybe Z would want to get off of the ship as well, when she doesn't come down,I take my leave and follow along Nicole and Natasha. 

The outerlands of Nuxus are bare, almost desert-like. No houses, tall buildings to make me feel like a tiny spec, no other living 'thing'. Just a barren wasteland that seems to go on for days. Ground as black as night, and sharp rocks and boulders feel some of the spaces.  We stay on track though following along the small dirt path leading us to a huge metal bridge it sort of reminds me of the great bridges back in New York you would see on tv only this was larger than those. 

Finally arriving in civilization, Nuxus is huge and vibrant with life. Holo signs for various ads play across them. Neon signs light up the streets, and the ground is crammed with different types of species. Skin color ranges from orange, blue, green, purple and some are even pink. "Stay close Emily," Nicole grabs my hand so I  don't get lost in the thick crowd.  Voices fill the air as everyone goes about their business. In their natural tongues I am unsure of what they're saying. So I don't even bother trying to piece it all together. 

Pushing past the huge crowds we finally manage to find a shop. There are different clothes from tight fit space suits, to lovely rose red with gold trim blouses, long beautiful pedal white dresses, blue silk dresses. All long enough to reach below knee level. Their low cut in a V each one as beautiful and elegant as the next. 

"Wow, just such beauty," I murmur to myself. Still as low as I had spoken, Natasha hears me and smiles gently. 

"Every shop has different designs, some elegant, with beauty. Some harsh and sexy" She then points to a lingerie gown completely mesh see through. That would reveal everything a woman hides with actual clothing. My face turns red, a trait I have alway hated even as a kid, I was always easily embarrassed. Easy target for people who loved to tease me. 

"Stop it!" I giggle as I place my hands over my rosy cheeks trying to hide my embarrassment. Natasha takes notice and I know she wasn't going to let this go. 

"You know who I think would like to see you wear that now that I think of it?" Sarcastically she taps her index finger to her bottom lip, eying me from the side. 'Don't you dare say it, please to high heaven,' as I think and hope that she won't speak the name, my heart races. "Oh no  guesses? okay then I'll tell you, Z"  I should just melt into a puddle right then and there, I playfully slap her arm " okay stop it now," my smile is wide and she knows that she got me. 

Stepping away I leave Natasha to her laughter, ever satisfied that she embarrassed me. 'Way to go, now she knows you have a major crush on Z' shaking my head something catches my attention from my peripherals, ducking on instinct the object sticks straight out into the wall behind me. The black handle has a snake design on it and the blade is a long silver with foreign writing on it.  "Natasha, Nicole!" I shout  as loud as I can over the panicked patrons. 

I cannot see the would be attacker and my friends are hidden from me as well. I am on my own. Shaking I stay on my hands and knees baby crawling on the hard ground. Taking place in a clothing rack, I hold my legs  desperately making myself as small as possible to blend.  

Z P.O.V.

Emily and the crew leave out for a well needed break. Finally some quiet time. The only other person is Neese, which he normally stays to himself. Pacing myself I lift up the bar bringing the dumbbell to my chest. Looking out the window of the gym. Emily is still standing around waiting. ' just go' I think. "That girl, why is she so annoying.. can't she take the hint? "  As I sat the dumbbells down, Emily finally left to go with the others. 

'You can't deny the bond that you feel. And despite your denial, the girl feels it too.'  

Groaning I pause. Ever since she bumped into me when she first awakened and I gazed into her eyes , there was a line connected between us and I have fought that line so hard. ' I will deny it no matter what, that girl is nothing more than a job for me. I need to stay focused. There is only one thing that matters and that is the mission' 

Leona growls with disapproval.  You're as cold as ever Z, when will you  let someone in?  I wince at Leonas comment.  'Trust me, leave things how they are, it will be better for everyone.' 

Still unconvinced Leona grumbles. Better for everyone or better for you. So selfish you are Z.  

Having enough of Leona's nonsense, I will her back out of my mind. Arguing with her is useless. No one will understand, so why bother?  

Limping across the mats of the gym, I sat the dumbbells back on to the rack. My body has recovered a great deal, having Leona's spirit inside me grants me her powers including healing abilities.  Flicking off the lights and opening the door. I nearly bump into Neese, taking a few steps back he looks at me apologetically.  " Hey, Neese what's going on?"  

Clearing his throat "might I have a word?"  Sighing heavily I step out into the hallway. Still to quiet, no footsteps or other people talking amongst themselves. You would think the whole ship was abandoned. Running my fingers through my hair attempting to comb through the tangles, I look at him. " Okay what's so important that we need to talk?"  

" It's about what happened on Earth, I must say I Feel guilty about leaving you behind or rather attempting to." He pauses and starts walking, gesturing with his hand to follow him. " When Emily came without you I was sure as the color of my eyes that you were going to die or already had"  At the time I am ashamed to say I was afraid for all our lives and selfishly cared about my safety over yours and the others" 

I stop him, placing my hand on his shoulder. " Don't apologize, getting you and Emily out was more important than worrying about me. Selfish or not you made the right choice." Continuing on our way again, Neese still wears the look of shame. His aura gives off pain and guilt that consumes him. "Neese, let it go will you, I can't do with the self loathing pity.  Focus on finding a cure and stopping the reptilian bastards before they get their hands on-" 

A strange sensation comes to me in waves, and I am taken from the hall and Neese and see that I am in some kind of shop, hiding in a clothing rack. Others run in panic, chaos fills the air. Bkack boots walk past me and I hope that they dont catch me. 'Z are you alright? Z can you hear me' Neese calls out to me , the loudness of his voice seems like a distant tunnel echo.  Breathing heavily I am returned back to my body. Scared with wide eyes I look at Neese, " its Emily I have to go" not waiting for any further response. I attempt to sprint down the hall. A sharp pain surges through my leg making me wince. ' Leona I need you, Emily needs you'  

I am here Z let me take over. With intensity Leona comes to the forefront of my mind and soon all her strength and power takes over my normal form. The pain I felt is gone and my speed increases way pass any meta being alive. 

Emily P.O.V.

As I keep my grip tight around my legs I suddenly feel as if I am taken from my body. I can still hear all the screams and cries as the others disperse in troves out  of the store. Black boots march by and my heart rate quickens. I am an outsider looking through a window of myself.  How in the hell is this even possible. 

"Come out human!" A voice hisses walking past my hiding place. "We know you're in here somewhere, the scent of fear fills the air" another adds. 

Based on their hiss like voices they must be reptilian or a sub species of them. "Keep looking, check everything. The girl must be found"  items and racks begin flying across the shop. In a hurry the reptilians overturn any and everything they can til finally they get to the spot I am hiding. Seeing the rack tilt my heart stops. 'Shit' I think to myself. There is nowhere for me to run and I cannot escape them. Hurling it aside three of them circle me. All with devious glares. "Why, hello.. you are a hard human to find" one of them bends down to my eye level and his tongue slithers out just as a python would. His eyes are a fiery orange and his stare makes him even more creepy. 

"What do you want!" I exclaim. Shaking shoulders and arms my legs begin to tremble. The three laugh amongst themselves. "Foolish little human, you are the key to bringing the galaxy to their knees. Ad solarious will take place as the ruler. So come quietly girl" they reach for me and I begin to kick and hit as hard as I can. All this does and is force more evil bloodlust laughs from them. "Such a weakling it is no wonder why your race didn't survive." 

Cuffing my hands together, one of them hoist me over their shoulder. Blasters aimed they make their way out of the shop. As I look around for my friends I see Roland is against one of the walls, his eyes closed and a few scrapes covering his bald head and forehead. Natasha lies unconscious on the ground in the corner I had left her after our bantering. Nicole is the only one unharmed standing in the crowd of onlookers. She begins to come toward them and I shake my head no. Mouthing to her ' I will be okay, stay put'  

Next thing they do is place a metal like visor that wraps around my head and covers my eyes blocking my view. "Relax girl we won't kill you yet"  " what do you need me for anyways if you're so smart?" I snap back. They don't answer me.  "Come one at least clue me in on something, if I am going to die I'd rather die educated instead of clueless."  Still no answer.  I do hear them whispering amongst themselves but it is too low for me to make out the words. 

A huge engine roar drowns out the rest of the noise, slowly we approach their ship and I feel the heat in waves the closer we get. Inside I swallow a lump developing in my throat and my heart aches. This is how I die, a lonely human whose disease will help annihilate others. Tears fall down my cheeks. Not of sadness or sorrow, ones of regret. Regretting not being tougher, for letting my guard down. Regret for ever thinking I belonged here. 

Dropping me off of their back and down to the ship floor, I lay to my side. My body stings from the cold unwelcome greeting. They unbind my hands and remove the visor from my eyes. " don't worry your pretty little self, when we are done your death will be quick and painless" he scoffs. Pushing a red button a red force field type wall separates us. It's transparent so I can still see the other side of the room. Not that it really matters. All that's there is just wall lamps and chairs. No decoration, no signs, just grey metal and white lights. Scooting myself to the far corner  I sit up against the wall. My tears have stopped and I stare blankly at the wall straight in front of me. 

Wiping my runny nose with the back of my hand, hopelessness chills my core. My Friends are back on Nuxus and there is no way for them to track where i've been taken. This time nonone is coming to save me. They couldn't find me even if they did want to rescue me.  'Im sorry everyone' I think putting my face in my hands, bringing my knees back to my chest I close my eyes. 

Z P.O.V.

 Breathing in I find Emily's scent and track her to the shop I had seen in whatever vision or link that was. The shop is in disarray and a crowd is still gathered around. Clearly still shaken they are talking amongst themselves. " they took that girl."  A woman tall with a cheetah like face is speaking to others of her likeness. Her robes are brown and she has a single piercing in both of her ears.  "Excuse me," I say, keeping my tone gentle. She eyes me briefly, " yes?" "You said they took her, might I inquire who 'they' are?" 

"Reptilian soldiers, those loyal to solarious. Three of them came in trashing the place looking for her."  

"Where did they go?" Looking around it is clear they must've been close by when they kidnapped her. The woman points to the west and I thank her. " Z" a familiar voice calls out to me. I turn around and see Nicole holding her sister in her arms. Natashas head lays on her lap. Walking to her I squat down. " what happened, is she alright?" Nicole shakes her head yes. " Natasha will be fine aside from a bad headache in the morning. Z they have Emily,-"  cutting her off I hold my hand up. "I know they have her, when medical arrives get yourselves back to Luxious. Tell Neese to track my communicator."  

Nicole doesn't say anything for a moment looking puzzled.  After a few minutes she looks from her sister then to me, "where are you going?" She already knows the answer, however for such a strange reason she feels that it must be confirmed by me. " I'm going to find her and bring her back. Those reptilian bastards will rue the very day they took her,"  I growl. Clenching my fists I run off full force. There is no more time to mince words. Emily is in grave danger. And those who have taken her wont wait around, they will kill her once they extract what they need from her.  That cannot happen, I won't let that happen. They wanted a fight, but they were not prepared for the beast that would follow.