<span style="font-style: italic">"Paladin, you are clear to disembark."</span><br/><br/>The announcement came much to the relief of Yuri, but Dren hadn't moved an inch. With his helmet still on, Yuri couldn't tell if he had fallen asleep, or just stared at the ceiling of the cockpit.<br/><br/>"<Dren, you can leave now.>" Yuri said, but still he hadn't moved. Quickly accessing his vitals, she saw that he had fallen asleep, but the first signs of malnutrition had begun to set in, "<Dren!>" she yelled.<br/><br/>Dren woke with a start, then lazily pressed the button on his helmet, making the reactive metal retreat down his neck and into his breastplate. He laid the helmet on the console in front of him and sighed.<br/><br/>"<What?>" he muttered.<br/><br/>"<They gave clearance. You can get out.>" she said, "You can finally meet an Alien race face to face. Aren't you excited?>" she asked. Dren didn't feel it. He wanted to sleep more than anything. He felt drained and even the growling in his stomach had stopped.<br/><br/>"<Open it.>" he muttered.<br/><br/>The belly of his mech suddenly opened with a hiss and the cockpit section began to lower to the deck and tilt forward. A dozen of them stood around his mech and stared, some gasped at the sight of him and others slowly advanced with caution.<br/><br/>"<Downloading Interface to Translator Orb.>" Yuri's voice said from her perch on the holo- orb, "<Get some rest and I'll see you soon.>" With that, she vanished with a wave, leaving Dren to turn his hindered attention to the Alien's before him. His console's powered down and moved upwards, allowing him to pull himself forward and step foot on the deck, small step for one, great step for all, he thought.<br/><br/>One step was all he needed to fell the effects of prolonged exposure to zero gravity. In his weakened state, he felt himself sway and he fell forward, passing out before he even hit the desk. The resonating clang of his armor hitting the deck.<br/><br/>He dreamed of Neka, his friends, comrades, and acquaintances. He had no idea if he did the right thing in coming here, but that couldn't be changed now. He couldn't go back maybe ever....<br/><br/>He found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. His sensitive ears picking up odd sounds, clicking and beeps, mixed with chatter spoken in the Alien's language. The translator orb around his neck was working, but he wasn't coherent enough to understand. His head swam, but slowly, it began to clear as he looked down at himself. The reactive metal of his armor had been lowered, exactly what it was supposed to do after it was disconnected from the Paladin and in the presence of a breathable atmosphere. But because his arms and stomach had been exposed, the Aliens had taken the opportunity to attach several tubes that were feeding something into his body...<br/><br/>Panic began to rise in his throat as his eyes snapped open. It was then he finally noticed all the Aliens standing around him, all staring at him with different expressions, some of curiosity, but mostly smiles that made him ease, but only a little. He felt helpless as his arms wouldn't move from their place at his sides and his wrist mounted blasters would do no good if they couldn't be aimed. Restrained, weakened and scared, he had no other choice than to negotiate.<br/><br/>"Who are you people and what have you done to me?!" he asked, trying to sound demanding, but the fatigue in his voice showed.