22 Chapter 22 The Crystal Prince (1/2)
”Where are we going?” Olivia asked, as he nodded thoughtfully and turned around.
”I have an acquaintance to ask a question of.”He held up one of the PED devices that hadn't been damaged from the jumbled mess of them.
”Is that one still working?”she asked, taking it curiously.
”Only one way to find out.”
They made their way back to the big cave, and then started climbing up to the hole.
”Hey! Wait!How am I supposed to follow you up there?”
”Learn to climb,” said Dustin, not really caring.
”I can help you figure out how to get past the sonic attack!”
”I've got a pretty good idea.”
”I know what other defenses they have!”
Dustin paused.He was almost to the hole, but turned to look at him.
”And just how do you know that?”
He squirmed for a moment.”I used to be Josagn.”
”What?”
Dustin and Olivia both began climbing back down.
”How is that possible?” demanded Dustin.
”I was young and stupid.”
”More,” demanded Olivia.
”The Josagn are the best hunters in the galaxy, but only because of our weapons.”
”I'd always thought they died really easy.”
”Wait, you stole a PED from one of the prisoners, didn't you?” asked Olivia.
”It was my first hunt here, I was sick of watching my people die just because we had to stay pure.If we were willing to change, to evolve, like other races, we could grow stronger.I wanted to prove it, but the device malfunctioned.Once I changed, it wouldn't let me go back.” His voice sounded bleak.
”Spill everything.”Dustin crossed his arms.
”When I came across the human, he was dead.He never made it out of his pod alive.I took his PED and upgraded my own.I spent the next couple of hours, evolving and goofing off.None of it was serious to me.When I was attacked by one of the aquatic creatures, I got a sample of it, then decided I wanted to explore the oceans.There was so much to explore, I lost track of time.My father came in search of me, but obviously couldn't find me.When I saw the shiny crustacean on the floor of the ocean, I of course acquired a sample and became what you see now.
”When I surfaced, to see the sun's reflection on my new skin, I was captured by other prisoners.I watched them kill some of my father's men, who were obviously looking for me still.They brought me here, where I have been ever since.”