To Protect and To Serve

Carlisle carried Schuyler’s bags as the made their way to the ship. His gaze locked on a small, red-haired man standing at the base of the ramp that led onto the ship. There was something dangerous about the man. Carlisle tensed.

“That’s the Chief of Security,” Schuyler murmured. He stepped forward, extending his hand towards the stranger. “Master Kenneth, I presume.”

“Yes,” Ken said, taking the offered hand. He looked at Carlisle briefly. “You’re on my security team. Who’s your companion?”

Schuyler gave Carlisle a sidelong glance. “He attends to my needs and protects me.”

Carlisle smiled and nodded. “Indeed.”

Uncertainty

Schuyler frowned as he stared out the porthole at the Lady Sarah. “She’s a beautiful ship,” he said. His single eye flicked to Carlisle. He was as silent and unreadable as always. He sighed.

“What’s wrong, Master?” Carlisle asked, his voice low.

Shaking his head, Schuyler said, “I’m just not sure I’m doing the right thing. My parents won’t approve, I know that.”

Carlisle made a curious sound. “It’s unlike you to express self-doubt,” he said. “Do you want my opinion?”

Nodding, Schuyler said, “What do you think?”

“That you want to help people,” Carlisle said, “and, now, you will.”

Every time you go away you take a piece of meat with you

Ryan frowned. Schuyler didn’t look like the type to eat so much. “Who’s all that for?” he said, shaking his head and pointing at the plate of food.

Schuyler looked around, seeming a bit uncomfortable. “What makes you ask that?” he asked, adopting the aire of an offended noble.

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Ryan said, “You’ve been up to the buffet four times and you don’t look like you can pack the food away like that.”

“It’s also quite a bit of meat,” Alexander pointed out, nodding. His eyes seemed to twinkle with mischief as he asked, “Got a wooden leg?”

“It’s… for Carlisle,” he said, nodding at the bird that was perched on the back of his chair. It’s dark eyes flashed like glass beads at the mention of its name. “He’s rather hungry.”

“He doesn’t look like he can put that much meat away either,” Ryan said. Was there more to Carlisle than met the eye? He might have asked. However, Schuyler chose that moment to hurry away, back to his own table.

“What a weird guy,” Ryan murmured.

the ants are my friends

“We’re so high up,” Schuyler said, frowning slightly.

Carlisle made a noise of agreement. “I wanted you to be safe, young master,” he said, his voice faint. He banked to one side and started circling two small forms.

Schuyler blinked. “They look like ants, we’re so high up,” he marveled.

“They are members of the away team, young master,” Carlisle said, as he descended.

it only takes a few seconds to die

Schuyler knew, with absolute certainty, what had become of the colonists. All it took was one look at the creature standing before him and it was crystal clear. These aliens – the unknown natives of the world – had killed them. It was only a question of why, now.

Well, others would search for the reason behind the attack. Schuyler would just be glad if he survived. He gave ground as the creature advanced on him. It looked like something out of a nightmare – like a demon from the lowest hell. It was horrifying and Schuyler could see no escape.

His back met with a wall and he gasped. He didn’t dare take his eyes off the advancing beast. All it would take was a single swipe from it’s clawed hand and his life would be over. Some part of him thought that it wouldn’t kill him while he was looking at it. It would wait until he hid his face or looked away.

He startled when his communicator crackled to life. “All members of the away mission: finish what you are doing and prepare to leave,” the captain said. “There may be hostile aliens here.”

“You think?” Schuyler breathed. The captain’s sudden call had served a purpose, however. The creature was looking around, seeking the speaker. That delay was all Schuyler would need.

“Carlisle,” he cried. “Protect me!”

In a flurry of feathers, Carlisle appeared. His blade caught the beast in its throat. It slumped to the ground, greenish blood spilling from its wound. Carlisle didn’t hesitate. He caught Schuyler around the middle and took to the air. The creature, however, was already dead when Schuyler looked back down at it.

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