Tajlon and Widhbo watched from the pod as the cloud continued to shrink and coalesce into a dense, cold mass. Scanning revealed strong metallic elements and it now produced a distinct echo on radar.

“If we didn’t know this thing was alive, it would read as an asteroid,” Tajlon said.

“Time to call ‘bad daddy’.”

Tajlon gave Widhbo a hard jab in the shoulder before he opened the guardchev.

“What was that for?”

“To remind you to never say that again.”

Widhbo rubbed his arm while studying his screen. “Look at this, he’s definitely moving."

The mass was in fact moving toward them. Tajlon closed his guardchev again.

“What sort of creature can do this, Widhbo?" Tajlon asked. "It’s like a rock with a brain. What form of propulsion does it use?”

“Beats me. We don’t have these where I come from.”

“No? I think it came here from your dimension on the Sora.”

“I’m not so sure. Our demons are nothing like this," Widhbo said. "Cranky, mischievous. You’ll soon learn to leave their stuff alone. I suppose there are some similarities. Feed them and they'll become real pests. Greedy bastards."

“I won't argue the point. Let’s try the first warp," Tajlon said. "We should randomize it. Guardchev open or closed?”

Widhbo took a shiny coin out of his pocket and prepared to flip it.

“Heads open, tails with it closed.”

“Let me guess. You got that from Cratus?” Tajlon asked.

“Yes. I could just use a random number generator, but this is much more fun." Widhbo said. "When I borrowed this jacket from the lieutenant, I found a good luck coin in the pocket."

“You know he’ll want it back. You should have asked before taking it.”

Widhbo flipped the coin. "Tails it is. Closed."

Tajlon closed the guardchev before they warped out and relocated the pod about a light year away.

“Now to find out if he can detect me this far away.”

He opened the guardchev again and waited.

* * *

"I don't know how long I can stay in this little pod," Widhbo said. "I despise small spaces, Tajlon."

"Let's play a guessing game. Five questions or guess.," Tajlon offered. "You go first, Widhbo."

Widhbo settled back and put his feet up on his console. "Okay, what am I thinking?"

"That you don't want to be here," Tajlon said.

"Of course I don't want to be here. Silly guess, but it still counts as one. What else?"

"Does it have two legs?"

"Maybe not."

"Is it right in this pod?"

"Not exactly."

"I guess Nova."

"Oh bother, you're good at this."

"My turn." Tajlon said and yawned. The waiting was going to drive them both insane.

"How many legs?"

"None."

"The demon."

"No, I'm trying not to think about him."

"Hmm. No legs at all. Is it alive?"

"Sort of."

"Does it talk?" Widhbo asked.

"It hasn't yet."

"I give up," Widhbo said.

“You can’t yet. One more question or guess.”

“A BakoNaat watching a garwolven get his ass kicked by a leopard.”

Tajlon laughed and pointed at his guardchev. "I won this round."

"My answer was better. Let's play something else."

An alarm bell interrupted them with a collision warning lighting up the console. The viewing screen showed a giant gravity wave sweeping toward them.

“He’s coming through already!” Tajlon fired the rockets at full power and the pod slammed into motion. There was no time to pick a destination or a direction.

“He’ll be right on top of us. Hurry, Tajlon. Get us out of here,” Widhbo shouted.

“I’m on it.”

The pod lurched wildly and was tossed about by the gravity wave as it pulsed around them. Tajlon started a warp countdown, picking random coordinates.

A huge asteroid sized body came into view and dominated the air space where they had been only seconds earlier. The pod rocked wildly and rotated on its axis as the stabilizers struggled to keep it on course.

“That was close,” Widhbo said. “Caught me napping.”

“Warping now.”

Tajlon closed the guardchev mid warp. When they came out of hyperspace, he took a moment to set coordinates for the closest fuel station. He flew the pod at full thrust during the next count down. "We have to keep moving and stay ahead of this monster."

“I’m calculating the best fuel to warp ratio for all our fuel stops.," Widhbo said. "I'll warn the garwolvens and BakoNaat. The demon will be at their door a lot sooner than expected.”

“At least you’re not bored anymore,” Tajlon said.

“Not at all. I think he will prove a worthy opponent," Widhbo said. He pulled out his coin and flipped it. “This toss is to see if we make it.”

Tajlon tried to grab the coin from him, but Widhbo was faster.

“Tails he loses.”

“That’s not funny Widhbo.”

“You didn’t let me finish. Heads we win. My secret cheat flip.," Widhbo replied.

“We can’t keep up this speed for long," Tajlon said preparing to warp. "Tell the BakoNaat we’ll need a lot more fuel.”

“May I suggest keeping your guardchev closed for a spell.”

“I don’t think a flea off a garwolven’s back could get through it right now.”

Tajlon set the pod on the highest warp speed he dared without cutting the fuel too close.

“I got through to Hal," Widhbo said. "They’re calling in reserve resources on order of Queen Etaine.”

“She’s proving to be a valuable asset," Tajlon said. "Engaging warp now.”

Tajlon brought them to the refueling station, emerging exactly on target. The garwolvens had joined the BakoNaat ship and were there to assist. Yoeke came aboard their pod.

“You fellows can’t stay here,” Tajlon warned. “He’ll destroy this station if he comes through. You will be assimilated just like the pirate ship.”

“They don't plan to dock here. You can't have too much fuel," Yoeke said. “I’ve asked them to find a way to add a reserve fuel supply to your pod. They're working on it now and It will be ready to install down line at your next fuel stop.”

“Sounds good. We need to out of here as fast as possible,” Widhbo said.

The Bakonaat crew fell upon the task of refueling with amazing proficiency. "Our ship is on standby to warp out on a moment’s notice," Yoeke said. "The BakoNaat supercharge their rocket engines with some esoteric substance from their home planet, Erizza. We’re learning a few tricks from them.”

“Just like a pit stop,” Widhbo said patting his silver jacket affectionately. “Pirating develops mad skills, doesn’t it?”

“Time’s up. Here he comes,” Tajlon shouted to the BakoNaat through his communicator channel. “Everyone get out of here now! Yoeke, no time. You ride with us.”

The BakoNaat sealed the fuel port, disappeared into their ship, and warped out before the pod could depart.

“How did they even do that?” Tajlon asked as the ship vanished into hyperspace. He engaged his own warp drive, and they were back in hyperspace.

“They use special attractors that pull them inside their ship,” Yoeke explained. “I asked them to adapt it to fit our garwolven vessels.”

“Shouldn't be difficult. Just change the setting from slick to furry,” Widhbo said and snickered.

Yoeke bristled. “You know, Tajlon, I was feeling sorry for you being jammed in such close quarters with that leopard, but I see he’s least of your problems.

“You have no idea.”

* * *

"Okay, bad news. I never opened my guardchev during the refueling. He’s able to track us without it."

"He’s able to follow the pod then. How interesting,” Widhbo mused.

“Which means he can track our ships or anything else he chooses to focus on,” Yoeke said.

“Demons do have a nose for their prey,” Widhbo said. “You’re a predator, Yoeke. Can you smell the demon?”

“No, I can’t, and certainly not from a light year away. He must have a supernatural sense of some kind.”

“I know. I thought garwolvens might have some unnatural sense too.”

"We don't have any sense like that and the most unnatural creature I've seen is sitting right here in this pod.” Yoeke retorted. “What are you anyway? The first time I saw you, you were a bird, now you’re human. And you look just like Cratus. It’s unsettling.”

“It was a hasty decision and I'm living with it.”

“How long to the next fuel station, Tajlon? This is painful,” Yoeke said.

“I’m warping at full speed, but it will take a quarter rest period,” Tajlon said. “Maybe you should take a nap Widhbo.”

“I’m not sleepy. What do I smell like, Yoeke? Bird or human?”

“Neither, but the jacket you’re wearing has Cratus all over it. You stole it from him, didn’t you?”

“I’m just borrowing it. Don’t remind him," Widhbo said, clutching the jacket closer to him. "That way he won’t miss it.”

“That’s what I thought. You did steal it,” Yoeke said.

“He loaned it to me." Widhbo protested. "How would you know? You just admitted you don't have any sense,”

“I could help you change skins again," Yoeke offered. "Garwolvens are proficient at taking the hide off a human.”

“Careful, Yoeke," Widhbo said. "I could be a garwolven the next time you see me.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Guys, please," Tajlon said. "I know you don’t like each other, but we have much bigger problems.”

"We're just passing the time, Tajlon," Widhbo said. "Please don't interrupt our fun unless you have something important to say."

“I think he’s catching up to us, even in warp mode."

"Feel free to shout out conditions of impending doom, however."

Tajlon searched for a solution, but the demon was closing in too fast. It would be on top of them in minutes. "I could try taking evasive action, but that's really dangerous at warp speed."

"He can still follow our pod signature" Yoeke said. "How far are we from the next fuel station?"

"Not much further, but it's no better when we get there," Tajlon said.

"There is a battleship stationed near each of them," Yoeke informed them.

"Did you hear what happened to the pirate ship, Yoeke?" Widhbo asked. "He ate it. Poof! It was gone. What's to keep the demon from eating the battleship? I'm relaying our predicament to the Moz Lidule."

"We'll have to to use the magiton body, Widhbo," Tajlon said. "Jump in and pull us in after you. You can use its emergency system and teleport to the battleship. Sacrifice this pod and the fuel station. It's the only chance we have."

Widhbo pulled the magiton body out of his jacket pocket. "You really think we'll all fit in here?"

"I've been told there's plenty of room," Tajlon said.

"Heavenly ancients, what have I done to deserve this?" Yoeke moaned.

Tajlon said. "Hush, Yoeke. You're only making it worse."

"I don't want to," Widhbo said. "It's not what you think. It's not Yoeke."

"What then? We're running out of time." Tajlon pointed to the wave disturbance on his viewing screen that was closing the gap between the demon and their pod, hurtling through hyperspace.

"I'm claustrophobic. I can't do it."

"You can and you will," Tajlon demanded.

"You don't understand Tajlon, I'm scared to go in there."

"Widhbo! You're going to get us all killed." Yoeke howled pitifully

"It's worse than dying to me."

"Demon's coming, Widhbo. Get in there now. That's an order!"

"I can't do it."

Tajlon felt around in Widhbo’s pocket, got the coin and flipped it. "Call it."

"Tails."

Tajlon opened his hand and revealed the coin. A head looked back at them.

"I win. Get in!"

Widhbo's body pixelated and disappeared into the small vessel. The magiton body glowed as it was activated.

Tajlon felt a rush of energy flow through his body as he was re-digitalized and pulled through a pore of the small vessel.

The next thing he knew, Nova, who had woken up, materialized beside him. They were in a dimly lit circular chamber. Yoeke came tumbling through, his fur rumpled and standing on end. Widhbo was not in sight.

"Widhbo, are you okay?" Tajlon called out.

"I think so. It is a bit roomier than I expected."

"Teleport to the battleship."

"Just let me get my bearings."

A disturbance shook the chamber as the gravity wave approached. Tajlon knew time was about up and the demon was about to catch the pod.

Yoeke's trembling furry body pressed against him and Nova piled on top of them both. Tajlon held to them both tightly. "We're going to make it guys. We have to."

The chamber went dark and Tajlon felt a violent jolt throughout his body.