Robert woke up with a jolt. His arms shooting out slamming against the walls. He was leaning against the left corner of the small wooden cell. His neck was bent and sore. Everything from his head to his toes was in a middle warmth.

Oh! My neck. Robert thought, as he set up and rubbed it. Why did I sleep like that?

He glanced around the cell and the realization dawned on him.

Oh, really? All that was the dream and not this? Well crap. Robert thought as dryness and a feeling of pain from his throat came to his awareness. I really need some water soon.

"Hey! Anyone out there?" Robert shouted as he leaned through the bars. The ship was oddly quiet. "Hello? I need some water in here! Hey! I'm going to die of thirst in here!"

After five minutes of yelling, Robert had to sit down. As he did so, he noted a change in the hallway's air. It was moving past his cell at an ever-increasing speed.

What's this? Is someone using wind magic in here Robert thought, as he stood. Or did someone just open a window?

The howling wind inside soon became a roar, as the winds outside the ship faintly got louder. The floor lurched upward knocking Robert off his feet and onto the bench. Robert in a panic, braced himself against the walls, as the ship started rocking up and down. The ship lurched to the right then back.

"What the crap is going on..!" Robert screamed. People shouting and running footsteps came over the roaring wind. Robert moved over and gripped the bars for support.

“Hey, anybody!” Robert yelled. “What's happening out there?! Somebody answer me?!”

No one appeared or shouted back an answer. For all he knew, Robert was the only person on the whole floor. The ship leaned right again. A creaking sound came from above. His stomach jumped to his throat, as the ship descended or fell. Robert couldn't tell either way. In seconds Robert felt a sudden jerk and heard something hit the ground, the ship became motionless.

Did we just land or crash? Robert thought as he tried to stand up. the shaking had made his legs numb. Eventually, he got up and look up the hallway. He couldn't see anyone.

“Hey, can anyone hear me?! Did we just crash?” Robert Yelled. “Is anyone out there?! Hey!!!” The wind surged outside and the ship rocked.

Hell, where have all the soldiers gone? Robert thought as he shook the door. It won't move. It felt like we crash. Did everyone abandon ship? If so, then I need to get out of here, and get back my stuff?

Robert checked his pockets, but they had taken everything from him. Luckily he found a safety pin and a button that he could rip off of his suit.

They must have missed these? Robert thought as he decided against ripping off the button. He might need it later. He was sure that suit repair shops didn't exist here. Now, what can I do with this?

Robert reached his hand through the bars and felt the lock. It was massive compared to the locks back on Earth. Robert slipped a finger into the lock. He never needed the safety pin. So he sliped it into his pocket.

Unlike the metal manacles with the screw-like key from before. Robert felt that this lock would have a key that look more like a cross with a circle in the center. Because his fingers there thin. He could push the cookie cutter-like wheel that was inside the lock and make it shift a little. With a little more force the lock slowly opened.

Yes, I got it. Robert thought as he pushed the bars open. I'm out? Ok, which way did that Victor guy go?

Robert sneaked down the hall back the way he came and stepped out into the main hallway. It was also empty. Robert heard speedy footsteps overhead. They were heading somewhere. Robert didn't like it.

Oh, Crap I got to get out of here. Robert thought, as he turned and headed towards the ladder that lead downwards. I'm going to die. They're going to cut me into pieces and toss me overboard. Please lady luck smile upon me.

Robert reached the ladder and started down. Lady luck must have heard him because luckily no one was down there. This lower floor was darker than the rest of the ship, it was even darker than the whole wrecked ship from yesterday. The ceiling here didn't glow like the other rooms and the hatch door that he was pulled up through was closed. Robert felt around in the darkness for the table that had the box with his stuff in it.

“Ow! ” Robert muttered, as he pulled his hand back. “Ok here's something? Yes, it's the table. Aha, the box.”

He reached inside and felt the familiar metal shell of his cellphone. He pulled the phone out and reached in again. But found nothing more, the box was empty. His pen wasn't there or the cape. After checking every last inch of the box. He found the glass tube in the corner. He ignore the tube and removed his hand.

“Where's my pen and the cape? Did someone take them from the box?” Robert muttered as he groped the table. “Did they take it because of that I said? Oh Hell, that must be it. Why did I have to explain what the pen was? Of course, it would be stolen. I'm so stupid.”

The room got darker as a body blocked the ceiling hole, and footsteps started down the ladder. Robert panicked and hid under the table.

“This place is perfect." A woman's voice muttered as she reached the bottom of the ladder. “What there's Cinta down here?”

She walked over to the table and bumped into it.

“Ow! Tainted thing! Why am I walking around in the dark? No one's here. Everyone's up on deck celebrating.” The women said. The room was suddenly full of orange light like from a candle. Robert shifted closer to the wall to hide in the shadows. The woman slides the box over to herself. “Hum? This is a Liba-made? Huh? The Cinta has been mixed with sand? Did someone mess it up on purpose? Rushing thunder chargers. It's useless to me this way. What a waste of time.”

She moved away from the table and the orange light vanished replaced with a blue light like from a cellphone.

There was silence for a few minutes. Robert felt trapped. Eventually, the woman spoke again. But each word was drawn out like she was talking to a baby.

“What...? The.. council.. wants... me.. to.. take.... the... Liba... princess... hostage? But...Sir... I... thought... this.. was.... only... a... recon... mission... It... took... me... weeks... to... infiltrate... this... crew. Why.... drop... this... on... me... now?” she stopped and huffed in anger. After another minute of silence, her tone changed.

“Yes... sir... I'll... find... a...way... to... kidnap... the... target. Do... I... have... permission.. to.. kill... if... she... resists?” After a few moments of more silence, the blue light vanished. Leaving the room in darkness again.

“Taint me and toss me to the deeps.” the woman spat. “If I don't survive this mess. I hope the night bird eat their eyes the lot of them.”

She headed for the ladder. Once there she climbed to the top and disappeared. Robert eventually crawled out from under the table.

Holy Crap. She's a spy!? A real spy? Robert thought, as he carefully headed for the ladder. She was talking about kidnapping a Liba princess? The only princess I that's around here is Princess Samantha? Oh hell, what have I gotten myself into?

Robert started climbing up and hopeing the lady was gone. The hallway above was still empty. But the sounds from above were even louder now. The footsteps were all over the place.

Oh crap, a lot of people are coming. Robert thought, as he quickly came up with a plan. Hey, that's perfect. I'll hide back in my cell.

Robert harried back the way he came and found the prison hallway again. His cell was still open. Robert entered and closed the door behind him. No sooner than he did that. Voices came up the hallway.

“Let go of me you barbarians! You can't treat Me like this!” A familiar voice said. A flood of people appeared at the doorway. “You Podor scum! I hope you all get tainted in your old age.”

The crowd parted and princess Samantha was pushed forward down the hallway. Someone opened a cell door on the opposite wall, and she was pushed inside it.

“You can't be serious! Is this too small!” Samantha barked, as she looked over the cell. “This can hardly be called a closet, let alone a room.”

“Sorry, your highness. But we haven't prepared any other rooms.” An overly happy and colorful uniformed soldier said. “So for the time being. You'll have to be in here.”

The inspector appeared from the crowd and closed the door. He locked it with a flick of the hand.

“I want to talk to your captain!" The princess said as the colorful man smiled. "Bring him here.”

“Look no farther. I am him.” The colorful man said. “What do you want to ask me?”

“You're the captain?! You're the one who leaded the flanking attack? You tainted bastard, you night bird spawn of a she monster! You should be hanged for what you did! I saw the bodies. Oh, mother the bodies. ”

“Whoa! I didn't know princesses were taught such language? You've earned my respect.”

“I don't want your respect. Scum! I want to be... “ the princess started. The ship suddenly shook and started to rise. “Wait, what happening?”

The ship has left the ground again. Robert thought as he watched the crowd. The soldiers didn't seem surprised by the ship's take-off. Robert knew because take-offs always made his stomach lurch. There goes my chance to escape.

“Oh, that's just the ship taking off. We'll be back in Podor in a matter of days. In fact, we'll be passing Liba on the way there. I'll let you out, so you can wave as we pass.” The captain stated as he turned to leave. “So get comfortable.”

“Wait captain!” the princess said, more respectfully. “What are you going to do with me? My father will not surrender just because you have me. I'm not a very good hostage.”

“Well that true?” the captain said glancing back. “But why should I tell you that?”

“Because... you should... yes.” the princess started, She was at a loss for words.

“No, not going to happen.” the captain said turning to the crowd. “Inspector place some guards here. And get a Female staff member to tend to her daily needs.”

“Yes Captain.” the Inspector said, turning to the crowd. “This isn't a stage play, back to your posts.”

The crowd slowly filed out of the hallway. Only a part of Podor guards stayed behind. The princess set down on her bench, in clear distress. She looked up and spotted Robert across the hallway.