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[b][color=#87ceeb]|[/color] L U N A[/b]
[sub][b][color=#87ceeb]|[/color][/b] Dark Side of the Moon[/sub]

[indent][color=silver]The cylindrical ship had a roughly beetle or insectoid look to it. Hull armor shaped like a carapace, as jagged weapons emplacements jutted out as intimidating protrusions. 

Concealed behind the moon’s shadow, the cosmic cockroach crept through the endless void of night. Within the interior of the spaceship, bulky and powerful looking aliens mulled about. Their reptilian forms were an odd mix of both alligator and lizard characteristics. Beastial and ferocious, cold and foreboding.

A gutteral language snapped back and forth, punctuated by clicks and whistles, as a series of alarms began to sound through the interior of the ship.

A series of sparks bounced off the walls in an arc of electricity, as the roughly humanoid shape seemed to form out of light. As the arc lightning faded, Billy Batson emerged, clothed in the crimson suit and white cape that were emblazoned with lighting. 

As he outstretched his arms, a casserole dish materialized between them, holding the time honored Midwestern housewarming gift of the tater tot hot dish. [color=#87ceeb]“Hey there!”[/color] the boy chimed cheerily, even as a column of light materialized and vanished beside him. When the second light had faded, a young Kymellian stood beside the costumed human youth.

In short order, both Billy and Kofi were surrounded by the towering form of the crocodilian giants, armed with what Billy assumed was whatever passed as rifles, halberds, or some science fiction combination of the two. 

Not to be dismayed or discouraged, the young Batson strolled over toward the nearest Jurassic Park looking dude and pressed the casserole into it’s hands. Or claws. Or, were they talons?

[i]No judgement, my dude.[/i]

[color=#87ceeb]“Here, we brought you this,”[/color] the dark haired youth stated, flashing a Minnestora nice smile and then craning his head to look around at the interior of the brutal and severe architecture. Giving a low whistle, [color=#87ceeb]“So this is a space ship?”[/color]

[color=#00ffff]“Of a sort,”[/color] Kofi murmured.

[color=#87ceeb]“Well, there’s no accounting for taste,”[/color] Billy offered lightly, giving a slight nod of his head in the Kymellian’s direction.

“What is the meaning of this trespass?”

Turning, the caped Batson stepped back as he pivoted to look over at where a rather imposing creature was standing. 

That would be the dude in charge.

Or was that a chick? What would a woman of a crocodile-dinosaur lovechild alien race even look like?

On second thought, Billy didn’t want to know. So, sticking with dude.

[color=#87ceeb]“You speak English?”[/color] Billy chirped, almost wistfully. Then, breaking into a large smile, held his arms out as he beamed, [color=#87ceeb]“[b]Excellent![/b] My alien is... [i]eehh[/i].”[/color]

[color=#00ffff]“Very [i]eehh[/i],”[/color] Kofi affirmed.

Nothing like a good support system. Without breaking his stride, Billy kept his attention on the massive alien-crocodile-dude-fellow-whatever. [color=#87ceeb]“Anyway, we certainly don’t want to trespass. We just saw your ship up here and figured it’d be wrong not to come greet you as neighbors.”[/color]

The word seemed to send a wave of confusion through the assembled crowd. The long snout tilted to one side, rows upon rows of sharp teeth reflecting in the light before the imposing figure echoed back. “Neighbors?”

Placing both hands on his chest, as though to indicate himself, the boy continued. [color=#87ceeb]“Yeah, see, I’m Billy. I’m from Earth. Which is the planet that you’re currently orbiting...”[/color]

[color=#00ffff]“Technically, they are orbiting a satellite which is orbiting your planet,”[/color] a snide, [i]somewhat snobbishly certain that he was always correct[/i], Kymellian voice interjected.

[color=#87ceeb]“See, this is why I bring Kofi along,”[/color] Billy remarked, without missing a beat. Then, using one hand to indicate the horse-faced alien youth, continued, [color=#87ceeb]“So this is Kofi. He’s not from Earth originally. But he kind of hangs out here now, and, uh... [b]yeah[/b], we’re just kinda wondering what it is that you’re doing up here.”[/color]

“Salutations to you, Billy of Earth,” the leader-looking-toothy-dude remarked. A gesture from his claw-talon-hand-things prompted the assembly to lower whatever those weapons were supposed to be. 

“I am called Skratt,” the Zn’rx stated, eliciting a nod of acknowledgement from Billy even as the alien continued. “Be at ease, human. We are merely scientists on an archaeological survey of your world. We mean you no harm.”

[color=#00ffff]“I was not aware that your people valued the anthropological sciences,”[/color] Kofi deadpanned dryly.

“The [i]racism[/i] and abject [b]bigotry[/b] of the Kymellians is known throughout the universe.”

[color=#00ffff]“Is it?”[/color] Kofi quipped in reply. [color=#00ffff]“Strange that sounds more like how I’ve heard the Zn’rx described.”[/color]

Billy raised an arm to silently quell the debate that had taken shape.[color=#87ceeb]“There is obviously some bad blood between your two races. It need not bring itself here,”[/color] the costumed youth noted flatly. Then, regarding Skratt again, said, [color=#87ceeb]“You mentioned that you were conducting a survey. If I can ask, what is it that you’re hoping to find.”[/color]

“Nothing of consequence to you or your people. Sacred artifacts of the Zn’rx long thought vanished into the void,” Skratt answered casually. “We believe that we found one of them on your world. No doubt brought here by a trophy hunter who hoped to hide it from discovery.”

[color=#87ceeb]“Recovering lost cultural icons,”[/color] Billy mused aloud. [color=#87ceeb]“I can respect that,”[/color] the youth added, with a note of sincere admiration. [color=#87ceeb]“We would be happy to assist you in recovering this artifact.”[/color]

“That will not be necessary.” 

The look of disappointment was apparent on the boy’s face. [color=#87ceeb]“Oh,”[/color] Billy noted, as though trying to mask the rejection.

“We have recently re-acquired the object we believe is our missing artifact,” Skratt stated, before explaining, “In fact, we were preparing to depart, so that the artifact’s authenticity can be verified, when you arrived.”

[color=#87ceeb]“I’m sorry that this is both hail and farewell, then,”[/color] Billy said, arms by his side as he gave a shrug. So much for missed opportunities. [color=#87ceeb]“We take our leave and wish you good journey,”[/color] the caped youth offered, as he turned back toward Kofi.

Then, the sound of a hand giving a [i]snap[/i] echoed inside the ship. Spinning back around, the white cape whipped around the boy’s slender red form as he chimed, [color=#87ceeb]“Oh, being that this is our first meeting, I wonder if I could see it.”[/color]

“See what, human?”

[color=#87ceeb]“The sacred artifact,”[/color] Billy replied innocently.[color=#87ceeb] “Call it curiosity. I don’t imagine many humans get the opportunity to learn more of Snark culture up close.”[/color]

“Snark?”

Pausing, Billy realized that he’d fumbled trying to say the name of the race.[color=#87ceeb] “Schtixs?”[/color] he uttered, trying a second time to replicate the way that Kofi said it.

[color=#00ffff]“Zn’rx,[/color]” Kofi uttered, correcting him in typical Kofi fashion.

[color=#87ceeb]“That’s what I said,”[/color] Billy offered. Then paused and added, [color=#87ceeb]“I think.”[/color]

The horse-faced boy was just shaking his head at the attempt.[color=#00ffff] “The shape of your tongue and the anatomical limitations of your nasal structure make it unlikely that your species is capable of producing the correct labial consonant.”[/color]

[color=#87ceeb]“That’s what I like about you, Kofi,[/color]” Billy stated with a nod toward the alien youth. [color=#87ceeb]“You’re nothing if not an optimist.”[/color]

“This is one of our sacred cultural icons. Not a trinket in a museum to be gawked at, human!” Skratt barked at the pair, dismissing them with a wave of his talons. “I will thank you to take your leave.”

[color=#87ceeb]“A moment, friend.”[/color]

“I’ve already asked you to leave, human.”

[color=#87ceeb]“I’m not trying to be disrespectful, after all we just met and I don’t know you, you don’t know me, and so I don’t want appear to suggest that [b]you’re full of[/b] [b]shit[/b], but you’re awfully well armed for a bunch of scientists on a peaceful archaeology mission,”[/color] Billy noted, throwing his arms up as he gave a shrug. [color=#87ceeb]“Plus, I need to finish distracting you while Kofi completes his scan of your ship.”[/color]

[b][i]“DECEIVER!”[/i][/b]

[color=#87ceeb]“Stick and stones, my friend,”[/color] Billy murmured, before inclining his head to gaze back over at the Kymellian who was just one step behind him.

Kofi side-eyed the human boy. When he did, Billy tightened his jaw. It was not going to be good news.

[color=#00ffff]“There are [b]human life signs[/b] on this ship.”[/color]

[color=#87ceeb]“Well, that’s certainly interesting,”[/color] Billy remarked flatly, his eyes glaring up at the crocodile-faced Skratt. The whites of the boy’s eyes seemed to pulse with an ethereal energy that was not of this world. In the dead of space, a roll of thunder reverberated through the alien ship as Billy Batson took a step toward the towering alien and asked, [color=#87ceeb]“What kind of artifacts did you say that you were taking, again?”[/color]

[b]“Kill them.”[/b]

Billy just crossed his arms as the halbred-rifles were raised again. The assembled aliens started to take a step forward when Skratt called to them again.

“[b]No[/b], [i]wait[/i]. Kill the human. I want to take my time with the Kymellian.”

Casually turning his head over toward the other boy, Billy noted, [color=#87ceeb]“Kymellians are kinda the alien kids who get beat up on the cosmic playground, huh?”[/color]

[color=#00ffff]“I don’t want to talk about it.”[/color][/color][/indent]