<USS Avalon> Log: Andronis Ad Paradiso (Corridor to Paradise)

Day One: Andronis Ad Paradiso

Corridor to Paradise 

-Dodge Thomas

 

Dark shapes swirled around his multi-faceted independent box of caramel filled 
chocolates. Chickens mooed angrily at the setting slice of fractal pie and a 
pair of tennis shoes bounce around in his mind. Goose pimples prickled his body 
and goblets of sweat began to pour out over his entire body?

And Dodge awoke from possibly the strangest dream he had ever had. His body was 
indeed drenched in sweat and goose bumps covered his arms and legs. His teeth 
chattered violently. Suddenly, the worried face of Leila Criswell filled his 
vision. He gasped, startled by her unannounced presence.

?What--??

She smiled at him. ?They gave us something to keep us warm.?

?Yea! What a rush!? Dodge heard Carson say from somewhere out of sight.

?You will neet to dry him.? A curt and precise voice announced. ?Else he shalt 
friss.?

?What--?? Dodge asked again.

Leila shrugged. ?I think we need to get you dry so you don?t freeze. It makes 
sense. Come here.? She propped him up and began to dab the sweat away from his 
face. 

?Where are we??

?Somewhere below the surface. These--people, they rescued us.?

?Who are they?? Dodge?s vision was still a bit blurry, and that combined with 
the low light of the chamber made optical analysis impossible.

?A hunting party from what I can tell. Humanoid in appearance.?

?Hunting what?? 

?That creature, or something like it. They found it?s body, and now their hunt 
is over.? She glanced over into the darkness. ?Apparently, since we eliminated 
the thing, we are now a part of their social group. Don?t ask how it works. 
They belong to a feudal system of government, with scattered city-states all 
over the planet.?

?Or under it.? Carson added. 

Dodge?s eyes were beginning to focus. ?Just how did you figure this out??

?They?re smart. They learned the basic elements of our language in just a few 
hours. You?ve been asleep for about a day now. They are very adept at 
linguistics, but whenever we mention higher math or such, they simple blank 
out. They can?t comprehend it.?

?Beyond basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, they can?t 
do anything.?

?You has become well? Goot. It is time to go.? A tall humanoid, resembling more 
a misshapen bear than anything else, said gruffly. Large yellow eyes peered at 
him from moderately set sockets. ?You are Dog??

?Dodge.?

?Dog. You are this leader?? He pointed at the two other people.

?Yea, I suppose so.?

?Sup-oze??

Dodge screwed up his face. ?Yes, I am. We need to teach you more words.?

?Yes. The words you say are goot. We wish to know many. We shalt go now??


?Why not??

?Why not?? The Ursanoid cocked it?s head to the side.

?He means for you to lead us.? Leila explained.

?I will go then. Come after me.?

?Lead on.? Dodge mumbled.

?You will come too, Dog??

?Sure. I will come too.?

Light filled the chamber, which was substantially bigger than Dodge had assumed 
initially. Several dozen of the bear-like Ursanoids stood huddled around, 
garbed in a variety of furs and cloth. Bits of bone jewelry and something that 
may have been gems adorned several of them. Many held spears in their massive 
paws and all were thickly furred and muscled. Dodge noticed large canine teeth 
protruding from the mouth of the one who spoke.

?What is your name?? He asked.

The creature stared back at him.

?What do you call yourself??

?Oh. I am I am the one called Rhonth. I am the leader of this group.? He 
pointed. ?That is the Path to Paradise.? 

Several large holes in the wall loomed above them. 

?Follow us to the warm lands of Paradise.? The leader called Rhonth said 
loudly. ?May our people rejoice in the vanquishing of another ghrota!? The rest 
of the rallying speech was delivered in an unintelligible, guttural language 
filled with many growls and roars that would have sent a full grown Klingon 
running for his mother.

The large procession of hunters cheered, then began to march down one of the 
many gaping holes in the wall. Finally, only Carson, Leila, Rhonth and Dodge 
were left.

?Will you come now, Dog??

Dodge shrugged. ?Well and why not??



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