Captive

"Congratulations on keeping the aircraft attached together. You've arrived at your destination, captain," Luisa announced calmly as soon as he had gone through the last piece of rock, and the surroundings became brighter again instead of the brown dust that made him blinded.

Davy squinted his eyes and looked at the left side. There was this green transparent shield that covered the relatively big planet, which was what Luisa was talking about, that stopped her from sensing what was happening inside. He went through it since it was just a mere passable shield and was immediately welcomed by the green atmosphere of the planet Xinus N.

However, he wasn't even completely in their zone when he was almost bumped by multiple aircraft, seemingly rushing out of the planet as well. They were ginormous aircraft that he knew every planet had and were only used when they were in an emergency containing most of the planet's residents. 

"Something is wrong," Luisa said again, repeating the same claim as earlier, but the difference was she was sure now. 

Davy tilted his head. There was nothing in sight that was wrong but another peaceful planet. The terrestrial planet even looked beautiful from the side. But before he could even ask what was going on, a disembodied voice spoke through his speakers.

"Luminus 415 approaching the airfield of Xinus N. Captain name, please."

It was probably an alien language, but his father was just good in a way that he made an instant translator of any language, which made it possible for him to understand wherever he went. The same goes when he replies. It would come out like he spoke their language. 

"Davy Avenson from Earth."

"Davy Avenson, verified. State your purpose of visit."

"Uhh… Just a short stop by, uh… refiling of necessities," he replied unsurely. Other planets didn't have this, they usually asked the name, and it was it. 

"Good luck with that. The planet is in the middle of a major crisis. We suggest you stop by on other planets."

He tilted his head in confusion. What major crisis were they facing that they were pushing visitors away? He looked around and considered the thought. There were a lot of aircraft going out of the planet's zone, and most of them were visitors like him. Also he also saw that there were aircraft like him who were just about to visit but were already turning away. That couldn't be worse, right?

"I have something to see, so if you granted me access to visit for necessities, I would appreciate it," he insisted, ignoring the warning in his mind. He really needed a portion of food. He would take even a single piece of a loaf or a bottle of water, anything that was consumable, really. 

"If you insist. Come in at your own risk. Land anywhere. Just don't hinder the other aircraft."

"You shouldn't have entered, captain. That's a wrong call," Luisa said, finally speaking when he had already landed. He chose the space at the very side since there were really a lot of Xinus N's residents who were flooding the port for aircraft that it was near to having a stampede. 

The residents of the planet had orange, thick skins. Their clothes were made of thick materials because even when their skins were thick, the planet was blazing hot, and the visitors had to wear protective clothing. 

"What do we have here? Why are they all in a hurry?" he asked. He didn't know if he should go out as well after seeing the situation or if he should just wait before everything calmed down. Apparently, it wouldn't calm down.

"Planet Xinus N is five hours away from vanishing. The rocks and clouds of dust that we encountered were coming from this exploding planet. It was caused by an asteroid as big as Loi, their moon, which caused this impact. Half of the Xinusian population has already died, and the end of the other half of the planet is nearing. If you do not want to become like them, then better get out of this planet as well."

"But…" He frowned as he looked outside through the small window. The desperate look on their faces gave goosebumps to him, and it made him want to save them as well. But he didn't know them and was trying to be as unknown as possible.

"I need food, Luisa. It's still five hours, and I can still find food that is probably left at their stores or something."

Davy wore the suit that would protect him from the scorching temperature and went out of the aircraft even with Luisa's warning. His pantry was empty, and he couldn't let his hunger last another day.

He had already spent a whole week of forced fasting because he had no other choice. Luisa, of course, wouldn't understand and was just thinking of his safety, but he would die of hunger if not on this exploding planet. 

Even when he was wearing the thick suit, he immediately broke into a sweat because of the immense heat that had probably tripled because the planet was already exploding. He ran opposite their way and bumped their shoulders. He knew he was adding to the haze, but he couldn't let the opportunity pass to fill his supply. 

He found a store where he also saw a few Xinus residents sweeping every rack and putting all the things that could be put in their bags. It was a city store, it was huge, and there was a lot of food left, maybe because of the rush they prioritized their lives. But this occurrence really happened, though rare, and to one of the millions of planets. Unfortunately, it was them this time.

He took his bag and joined in the panic. Everyone was minding their own business and were in a rush, so he could freely put everything until his bag was full. Then, right after he was done, he immediately went out and ran to his aircraft. But the streets had become more packed, and the cries for help had become louder that it was piercing through his suit. 

"Damn," he uttered through gritted teeth as he tried to push through the compacted way.

Everyone was already panic-stricken, mad, shouting at each other, some were even pushing those who were in front of them, and some were climbing the buildings just so they could go first. It was not a sight to see. It was terrifying. 

"Mama! Mama!" 

A child xinusian was crying in the middle of the chaos. He was obviously looking for his mother, and because of the crowded place, he was pushed and shoved to all places until he fell down. Davy stopped and gasped. The boy was now crying as these busy heartless people mindlessly continued their way to the end. They even kicked him and never apologized. 

"You have to go back. The explosion is quickening," Luisa's voice through the connected built-in communicator came clear to his ears. "Look behind you. It's getting near."

He looked behind and saw that the orange atmosphere earlier had become redder, and it had become hotter and noisier. It was like he was in a literal hell and had to escape now while he still had time because he wasn't supposed to be in hell. But… he couldn't just simply leave the kid there. 

"I'll be there in a minute," he replied and ran to the middle where the kid was.

The kid was crying loudly and kept calling his mother, which apparently had left a toddler in the middle of a life-and-death situation. He pulled his small arm until he was standing back again and held him as he guided him forward, blending along with the others.

"Hey, keep moving forward. Your mother is on that ship. Go get her there."

"Mama…" he just uttered and continued walking without knowing he had already let go of him. That was all that he wanted to do. He couldn't leave this kid dying, knowing that he could do something. Who knows, he could survive.

Nonetheless, after that heroic act of his, he immediately went out of the way and walked to the side where there would be no sentinels. The sight was scary, and the sound of bombing, screaming, fighting, chaos, and death was clear. This was his first time landing on this planet, so he didn't know how they were before, but he was sure that this planet was once filled with life. 

He ran as fast as he could but still clutched his bag tightly because what was the sense of going out of the aircraft if he wouldn't bring the food in his pantry? Nonetheless, he saw his aircraft waiting for him.

The situation was not getting any better, so he had to hurry. He felt kind of sorry for these people. If he could just accommodate all of them in his aircraft, he would have done so, but he couldn't. He didn't like sharing his aircraft with people he didn't know. 

"I'm here, Luisa. Open the door-"

He was already at the stairs of his aircraft when he felt a bulky arm around his neck and a sharp, probably a knife, was threatening to break through his suit. He tried to look behind to see who it was, but he was immediately corrected and stopped. From what he was wearing, he was also a visitor. He just didn't know what planet. 

"Who are you? Let me go. You wouldn't get anything from me." He said, kind of panicking. He was one blink inside; what were the odds for this to happen? And out of many people, why him?

"Piotr! Sentinels!"

A manly scream came out of his mouth when a series of green lasers hit his airliner. No, my precious Luminus! Though that kind of laser didn't do much to harm his aircraft, still, he was dead worried. He didn't know yet what its weaknesses were. It only showed strengths from all the more or less six years that he had spent with it.

"Get in," the man, whose probably the name was Piotr, the girl called earlier, commanded quickly, pushing him to his aircraft. His voice was low and fruity. Davy could feel the rocky chest on his back that screamed for someone not to mess with him. "Don't even do something stupid, or we'll leave you here without your aircraft."

He guided him inside. Davy was basically disabled. His hands were held behind, and the beefy man could immediately punch him down. They stopped right at the opening of the door and faced the outside. There he saw three more people running toward his aircraft—two girls and one guy—with five xinusian sentinels showering them with lasers. 

"Come on, hurry up, you slowpokes!" Piotr shouted right at Davy's ears which made him wince.

"Captain, are we waiting for something?" Luisa asked, which was heard by Piotr as he looked up, rather a little surprised by the sudden voice that echoed throughout the whole aircraft. "I will close the door in a minute since you're inside already. The heat of the planet's temperature isn't good for Luminus 415."

"No, make it stop!" Piotr frantically told him while looking at the screen. The huge screen showed a one-minute countdown as the door moved and the stairs slowly lifted up. He saw the horror on the face of those other three running toward them. "Make it stop, or I'll break your suit and let your skin burn!"

"Luisa, stop the countdown," he ordered. 

"Order denied. The threat of heat and laser beams is not good for the aircraft. Please get in," the AI replied. Piotr cursed upon hearing that. Davy had no control over the self-automated decision of the AI. Maybe his father built that for self-prevention when he couldn't make the decision himself. It was actually helpful, especially in times like this.

"You three, hurry up and jump!" Piotr screamed. The three were already near, but the countdown was already halfway. They were cornered between the closing door and the xinusian sentinels behind them. 

Davy thought they wouldn't make it. But they seemed to be so used to this thrill that they threw what seemed to be a rope with metal at the end, which was immediately attached to the door. One by one, they used it to jump high and dove right inside the aircraft before it could even close completely in five seconds.

Woah.

"Tie him up."