Reunification by Timothy L. Cerepaka Page B

Energy Center, where
HQ's power is generated. We thought it was an accident at first,
but then some of the other Foundation members reported seeing
strange, lizard-like creatures crawling out from the wreckage,
killing anything that got too close. Including, unfortunately,
several of my fellow Federation members.”
    “ How odd,” I remarked. I
gestured with mine energy knife at the jammed, partially-open
sliding door. “Did the explosion cause all of this
damage?”
    “ I think so,” said the
Checrom. “When the Energy Center blew up, it sent powerful
electrical charges through HQ's wiring system. That's probably what
caused the power to become as erratic and unstable as it is
now.”
    “ How many people
survived?” I asked. “Do ye know?”
    “ I don't,” said the
Checrom, shaking his head. “I hid in here because I wanted to avoid
those lizard-like creatures, which I saw kill one of my friends.
There might be more, or we might be the only people in this place
who are still alive.”
    “ There may be some grim
truth to your words, I fear,” I said. I nodded at the hallway.
“Outside, I saw several corpses, perhaps your fellow Foundation
members. They appeared to have been killed by the explosion, as
though they had been burned by a dragon's fire.”
    “ Burned by a dragon's
fire?” the Checrom said. He sounded curious. “Odd. I didn't think
the explosion caused that much damage. Are you sure it was
the explosion?”
    “ What else could it have
been?” I asked. “Unless, of course, ye are suggesting that these
lizard creatures can breathe fire.”
    “ Who knows?” said the
Checrom with a shrug. “Anyway, did you see any of those creatures
or at least hear them? It's been so quiet out there that I thought
they might have gone, but I didn't look because I was afraid they
were waiting for me to come out.”
    “ No, I did not,” I said,
shaking mine head. “I did not even know they existed until ye told
me about them. If they are as bad as ye say they are, then I am
thankful to have avoided them.”
    The Checrom put his claws on his face like
he was afraid. “You're lucky, but now I'm worried for the rest of
my Foundation members. Those creatures were strong, much stronger
than us, and I haven't heard from anyone else except for you.”
    “ Then what are we
waiting for?” I said. I jerked mine thumb over my shoulder. “Grab
whatever weapons ye want. We will find a way out of here and, if we
find any of those lizards, we will kill them in cold blood, as they
deserve for their crimes.”
    “ I would rather stay
here, where they haven't been able to find me,” said the Checrom,
crouching low to the floor and putting his claws over his head.
“Right now, this has worked out pretty well for me.”
    “ Coward,” I said. “Do ye
not want to avenge the deaths of your comrades and allies? Or are
ye going to allow these fiends to escape without retribution or
harm? Indeed, I ask, is this what ye Foundation members do, simply
run and hide whenever there is trouble?”
    “ I-I'm not a fighter,”
the Checrom said, looking down at the floor, away from my face.
“I'm supposed to be the janitor of the Foundation's HQ. That's why
I didn't fight, because I'm not a fighter and I don't know how to
fight.”
    The cowardly bird seemed to be telling the
truth, but I said nonetheless, “Well, now ye have me. I shall help
ye fight these monsters, if they are still lurking in the shadows
like thieves. Still, grab ye a weapon; 'twould make me feel safer,
knowing that ye can defend yourself if necessary.”
    The Checrom gulped, but then he stood up
and snatched a laser gun off the wall. “All right. I don't want to
hide in here forever, anyway. I want to find out if anyone survived
the attack and just what happened here.”
    “ As do I,” I said. “By
the way, do ye know what happened to the she-elf named Lanresia?
She was the one who spoke to me earlier. Is she still alive? I did
not see her corpse in the