//------------------------------// // (Chapter 3) Journey Through the Stars // Story: Galaxy Express 999: Pegasus Line // by Metro A-5 //------------------------------// "That's what we do." Flash said. "We explore the unknown in hopes of better understanding the world-no excuse me, the universe." From: SE-Atlantis The car shook violently, throwing Star-Crosser around in his seat nearly knocking him off, but Luna grabbed him again and held him back. She had her feet against the seat in front her; pinning herself in the bench. The rattling continued for minutes on end. Star-Crosser's breathing started to hurt as Luna kept her arm across his chest. When the car began to decelerate to a slow shake Luna loosened her grip on Star-Crosser. "I think the worst is gone." said the princess with a deep exhale. "Let's just try to figure what's going on here." Star-Crosser let his head fall back on his seat and let out a deep sigh. "What's there to talk about? We've been kidnapped by a train, and an old train at that!" He walked over to the window-shade and tried to open it, but it was still shut. "Well if people wanted to trap us they certainly accomplished that!" He slammed his hand on the wall as he finished his sentence. The car reacted and jerked; knocking Stacey to the end of the train car and forcing Luna to hit the seat in front of her. "I'm getting real sick of this train, and I will be covered in bruises by the end of the day!" Luna called out from her seat. Crreeeeeeeak!!!! The air in the room began to get colder and Stacey tasted iron in his mouth. Luna whispered to Star-Crosser. "Sit. Down. Now." Stacey turned around. Luna slowed her breathing and gave a stern look to Star-Crosser. A look that only he ever saw a few times when Luna caught him doing something stupid in her castle. She waved him over again and motioned for him to be quiet. The lights in the car dimmed and flickered. And soon the light in the cabinet zapped off. Luna's voice whispered again. "Star-Crosser can you hear me?" "What do you think?" "I'm just trying to keep us together. The least you could do is work with me!" The car jerked around again. The lights turned back on. "I'm only asking that you would quit arguing and get back here." Star-Crosser complied and returned to Luna's seat. "I fail to see what your deal is! We're obviously stuck in this compartment and aren't leaving anytime soon." "Because..." said Luna as she tried lifting the window shade up herself. "Even though you have seem to forgotten , I am still princess of the night and you're still on of my subjects and therefore it is my responsibility to keep an eye on you!" Gzzzzap!!! The lights shut off again. "I'm getting real tired of this train." said Star-Crosser with a huge amount of detest in his voice. AHWOOOOOOOO!!!.................Thump* Thump* Thump* Thump* "Someones coming!" said Luna who was still trying to keep her voice down. A door clicked somewhere and a figure walked into the dark room. Stacey poked his head from behind the seat. A light from behind shown his long blue uniform and cap but his face was nearly invisible. The only other thing that was showing were his two glowing white eyes. He began to walk down the other end of the hallway with his boots clunking on the ground. Thump* Thump* Thump* Thump* "He knows that we're here! I know it!" thought Stacey as he tried to keep himself from panicking. "He's just waiting for us to let our guard down! Thump* Thump* Thump* Thump* The blue coated man reached the other end of the car. The man took in a deep breath. ".....H-H-Hello!? Is s-s-s-someone in here?" Stacey heard him open something. "We know someone's here! M-M-M-Make th-this easier for yourself and come out!" "Goodness! This poor sap is more scared than me!" he turned back to Luna with a quizzical look on what to do next. But she shrugged her shoulders. Thump* Thump* Thump* Thump* Star-Crosser sucked in his breath and stood out from the seat. "Look I'm right here. Now could you please explain what-" CLANG!!! "OW! What the- Did you just throw something at me! CLANG!!! "Hey cut it out! I'm not gonna hurt you!" Stacey's head was throbbing with pain. Gzzzzb The lights came back on and the blue man was back against the door, but even with the lights on, his face was still dark. The lights lit up an arm band. It was a solid orange with black bars on the top and bottom. A stylized number 999 was in the middle. Star-Crosser moved his focus to the ground to see what was thrown at him. It looked like some metal bar, but it had a real nice shine to it. He picked it up. It felt snug in his hand. "What is this?" Stacey said aloud to the man who was still shaking out at the door. "It's a t-t-t-ticket puncher." The man stuttered. Star-Crosser looked at the ground and saw another one. "You have two?" "I come p-p-prepared for work." Star-Crosser picked the other one up and walked to the stranger. He pressed his back harder against the door as Stacey approached him. "Look I'm not gonna hurt you! Just try to relax so we can work this out." The blue coated man leaned off the wall and took the ticket punchers. "Thank you." he said. "What do you do here on the train?" asked Stacey as he pointed to the florescent orange arm band. Oh...I'm the conductor." "Does Mr. Conductor have a name?" "My name is a little abnormally long, so I ask that y-y-you call me F-F-Fern." Star-Crosser smiled. "Nice to meet you fern. My name is Star-Crosser, but people sometimes call me Stacey." he stuck his hand out trying to shake the man's hand. But Fern jumped back. "I just wanna shake hands. That's how we greet people." The conductor shoved his hand in awkward manner towards Stacey. He grabbed his hand and moved it. The conductor's glove felt really soft, as if it had been worn for centuries. "Interesting...." said Fern, as he pulled his hand away. "We normally bow to each other." he leaned over and made his gesture. "All employees of the 999 express must bow to passengers. The railway has done this for centuries. Except for recently..." The conductor sighed. "Well we've had new employee and she tends to do things her way." "She?" Stacey asked. SCREEEEEEEEEEECH The car shook violently again, throwing conductor Fern and Star-Crosser on to the floor. "What is she doing now!?" grumbled Fern. He stood up and pounded his chest. "I've had it with her! This time I'll tell her that she can't go throwing the brakes on like that!" He stomped his way up the hallway mumbling to himself. He was almost out the car when he noticed the door knocked on the floor. "Oh now the door is unhinged! (I wonder how l didn't notice that earlier?)." he leaned over to pick it up and set it aside, but he saw something else. "Hello." said Princess Luna nonchalantly. The conductor threw his hands in the air. "ANOTHER ONE!!!!!!" CLANG!!!! Luna was knocked back against the side of the car. She rubbed her head as she groaned. "Did he just throw a metal rod at me!?"