Mark stood still, sniffing the air until he was sure where the smell of burnt rubber was coming from. The yellow lizard was on the wall. Mark let his nails grow out slowly, trying not to draw attention to them. He couldn't change his appearance like them, but he was able to control the few features he had. The yellow lizard hissed, then leapt to the other wall before leaping off it to attack him from the other side. Mark expected that. Lizards like him never went for direct kills. As the lizard lunged for his hips, Mark jumped and twisting through the air to roll across the lizard's back. The lizard crashed into the other wall. When Mark landed on his feet, he slashed his black talons across the lizard's back. The Lizard let out a startled scream, twisting around to glare at him with a shocked expression. Mark glared right back at the lizard. The lizard hissed at him, wrapping his tail around Mark's neck and flinging him into the Cafeteria. Mark landed roughly on one of the bolted down tables, sliding off to the floor. Grunting in pain, he looked under the table to see the yellow lizard stepping in casually to close the hatch behind him.

The yellow lizard bared his sharp teeth, sneering out in a menacing voice. "I wonder if you taste as special as you are." Mark pushed himself back onto his feet, watching the lizard creep closer to the table with his long tail flicking behind him in agitation. Mark moved until they were circling each other around the table. The Lizard scratched his nails across the tabletop, hissing out at him as he leaned forward a bit. "What's it like to be living proof at how weak the gene pool gets after cross breeding?" Mark kept his face stony as he retorted sharply. "I don't know. Tell me?" The lizard hissed aggressively, grabbing the table so hard that his claws pierced the metal. Mark stopped pacing a second, telling him seriously. "You can deny it. But there is a little human in YOU." The Lizard hopped up onto the table, crouching as he walked across it slowly on all fours. Baring his teeth, the Lizard hissed out at him. "Do I look human to you? I bet your stuck in that weak fleshy body. One swipe of my claws. One bite... and it will be fatal to you!"

Mark stood his ground, saying calmly. "If you are not willing to accept change... Go home." The Lizard brought his nose within inches of Mark's face, snarling out. "Oh, we will. Once we clean out the filth like you from the herds!" Mark reached up to grab the Lizard's throat, causing the lizard to squeal from how strong his grip was on him. Dragging the Lizard off the table, Mark hefted the squirming Lizard and threw him across the cafeteria. The Lizard landed on a table with another squeal, rolling off and going invisible. Mark had to remind himself that he couldn't be too close to them. As strong as he was... the Lizard had been right. His skin couldn't withstand as many hits from their claws and tails. Let along what some of their bites could do. Moving toward the lizard, Mark kept his eyes on the floor as the lights flickered. Little droplets of blood were trailing after the lizard from his wounds. From somewhere across the cafeteria, the lizard stated aloud. "Don't you see how unnatural you are? We used human DNA to survive. Adapt. Not pollute our strong lineage with the cattle."

Mark watched a slight ripple across the wall, stating back casually. "That's not what I've heard. Your way of life is dying because of Reptilians like you." The Lizard hissed, asking curiously. "Really? Why would you think that?" Mark didn't see the need to hide it. So, he answered as he pulled a tool from his belt. "My father told me. He told me that there is a war between meat eaters and the herbivores. That you came to earth looking for more resources... but only the herbivores wanted to adapt themselves to survive. The meat eaters didn't like the idea of... 'polluting their lineage' as you say to become omnivores. Which is why you come to pick us off. Because meat eaters like you are eating too much. And the herbivores are going extinct or are on earth. I'll bet your kind has even started eating each other as a result." The Lizard chuckled to himself, his voice echoing across the room as he said. "So what? Survival of the fittest is natures number one rule and it is universal."

Mark sidestepped around a table cautiously, then slide on something wet. Grabbing the table to keep himself from falling, he looked down to see a pool of fresh blood and a half-eaten body of his asshole crewmate. Something slammed on a table nearby, jerking Mark's attention back to the invisible Lizard. He could see a shimmering outline of a swaying tail by the table across from his, while the Lizard told him coolly. "Your scent is so... interesting. Hard to single out. Masked even." Mark stepped out of the blood, uttering out bitterly. "Comes with being part human, I guess." The Lizard's voice came from table to table as it moved around, answering excitedly. "No. It's more than that... I smell... A mate?" Mark raised his hammer, muttering out. "Stand still. I'll make it quick." The Lizard continued to move around, pushing chairs around as it slithered under and over tables now, purring out. "I'm going to remember that scent. That way when we go down to earth... I'm going to pick out your lover from the herd."

Mark tightened his grip on the hammer, stating out doubtfully. "You're never getting off this station. Now come on and fight me, you yellow bellied coward!" The Lizard chuckled, purring out. "I'm binding my time. I don't know what you can do. So, I'll wait until your guard is down... Then I'll tear you apart." Mark huffed, grumbling out. "We'll be here for years then." The Lizard chuckled, his voice echoing enough that Mark lost track of where he was. Then everything fell silent. Mark slowed his own breathing to listen. His eyes scanning for any sign of movement. The sudden crackling of static came over the speakers, causing Mark to jump in surprise as a voice said aloud. "Space Station 01, this is Dream Chaser. Respond?" Mark froze, his heart twisting up in his chest. When no answer came, the static came back before the familiar person told someone. "Nothing. Switch it to the Ceres. Ceres, this is Dream Chaser. Please Respond?" Mark shook his head, the hairs on his arms standing up. That wasn't possible. Why was Sean up here?!

Over the broadcasting coms from the Ceres, Mark heard Sean say aloud with more worry in his voice. "Nothing... Don't say it, Logan! We'll keep trying." Sean's voice tried to get a response from Ceres again, before pleading out. "Mark? Mark, please answer me!" From the room, the Lizard's voice echoed out menacingly. "Well now... Is that fear I smell? Someone you know?" Mark whirled around, yelling out. "SHUT UP AND COME OUT!" The Lizard chuckled, cooing out. "My, my... What beautiful eyes you have, Mark." Mark hissed aggressively, until he heard his own voice say over the coms. "Dream Chaser, this is the Ceres. We've been suffering electrical failures. Can you dock?" Mark tensed, yelling out. "NO!" Over the coms, Sean stammered out in relief. "Oh my god! Mark, are you alright?!" Mark's voice answered calmly over the coms. "Yes. But the Station controls are down, and we are locked off from the Ceres. I had to hack the door controls just to contact you." Sean came back on, asking hopefully. "What can I do?" Mark ran for the hatch door. He couldn't listen to this anymore. He had to keep Sean from docking. Jumping over the tables, Mark reached the hatch. Grabbing the handle, he yanked it open. Upon opening the door, a loud hiss came from his right as the Lizard lunged at him with teeth and claws bared.

Earlier on the Dream Chaser, Sean got up from his nap. Logan sat in the front seat with Whitney snuggled to his chest. He was monitoring speed but was starting to slow the ship down now. Floating away from his bed, he patted Logan's shoulder, telling him warmly. "You should go get some rest. I'll watch and wake you if shite starts to falls apart." Logan chuckled, showing him what to watch for on the scanners, then yawned as he told him. "I managed to shave a few days off our trip too. You were right. Smaller ship means less drag." Sean blinked, staring at the fuel gauge as he said in a slight panic. "Logan? Exactly how did you shave off those days? Because when I went to bed, this gauge was full!" Logan waved a dismissive hand, crawling onto the bed as he told him. "It's fine. We can refuel on the station and we're almost there. Don't you see it?" Logan yawned, then laid down. Sean cursed, taking a seat to strap himself in. With nothing to do but watch the monitors, Sean removed the laminated manual from a case in the wall by the seat. He wasn't much of a reader, but this was a special circumstance.

The manual was actually a pleasant read. There were descriptive pictures of the controls that made it easy for him to follow along with the control panel. He even started messing with the controls to figure out the autopilot and how to use the coms better. He even figured out what other gauges meant. Nothing in the manual mentioned the Reptilian control panel though. He guessed that wasn't for the 'humans' to know about. He was halfway through the manual, when the alarm started to go off. Sean stiffened, looking out the window for any objects within close proximity. Nothing. Logan lifted his head from his nap, asking curiously. "What's going on?" Sean shrugged, looking over the scanner as he said with slow realization. "I don't know. It says something is here... but I don't see... anything. LOGAN!" Logan leapt from the seat, going to the Reptilian controls as he told him. "Hang on. Let me see if I can change the window." Sean was confused, until Logan pressed something, and the front window changed in tint.

Right in front of them was a larger version of the Reptilian ship. Logan cursed, rushing to the controls as he said in a panic. "Don't get too close! DIVE!" Logan tried to grab the controls, but Sean stopped him, saying in a panic. "Stop! Autopilot is on! I have too-" Before he could finish, a pulse rippled out from the Reptilian ship and all the controls started flickering on Dream Chaser. Logan froze, uttering out. "Oh shit... That's not good..." Logan rushed to the back, opening a hatch to reveal the smoking engine beneath. Shaking his head, he told Sean seriously. "Damn it! It's overworking the engine!" Sean gawked, while asking terrified. "You can fix it, right?!" Logan shrugged, mumbling out. "In theory... The good thing is that we are low on fuel. So... that's a plus. We didn't blow up." Sean's face paled. Logan pointed to the controls, telling him seriously. "Just keep your eyes on the controls. I'm going to try and fix it." Sean turned his attention to the controls, but asked Logan aloud. "What's the ship doing?! Should we be worried?!"

Logan answered by saying curtly over the running engine. "No. We're fine. Think of that like an anti-theft device. Keeps other ships from trying to salvage their ship. It also explains why the signal is jammed." The rumbling engine shut off, sending everything into an eerie silence. Sean took a deep breath, then gasped when he saw the oxygen gauge starting to drop. Twisting in his seat, he reached for the helmet of his suit, yelling out. "Logan! Oxygen is going down!" Logan yelped at something below, before growling up. "I'm trying! Everything is hot!" Sean started to put his helmet on, when Whitney peeked at him from under Logan's wool blanket. Muttering fowl disgusted words under his breath, he reached out for her. She slithered out slowly to his hand, then picked up the pace as the cold got to her. She slithered into his suit, causing him to squeal. She twisted and positioned herself against his chest to absorb his body heat. Gritting his teeth, he put the helmet on and sealed it shut.

One of his hands immediately went to his chest to compress the suit over her. He felt better having a hand on her to know where she was at all times. Turning his attention back to the controls, he turned everything off. According to the manual, when the power comes back it would help reset the system if all controls were off. Their ship drifted closer to the Reptilian ship, making Sean's heart race. He didn't like the idea of being suddenly shot or abducted. The oxygen gauge kept falling and Logan kept cursing beneath the floor. Logan kept trying to bring the engine back online, but it just revved and sputtered. Then with a sudden metallic 'BANG,' some of the controls came back online... but not everything. Logan crawled out of the hatch covered in black grime as he told him grimly. "I've got some good news and some bad news..." Sean leaned back in the seat, feeling his heart twist as he asked. "What's the good news?" Logan pointed to the controls, answering lightly. "We've got the coms back..." Sean turned his head slowly, asking more nervously. "And the bad news?" Logan cleared his throat, then answered. "We had less fuel than I thought... What is left is literally burning in the pipes... We are running on fumes."

Sean raised his hands, trying to calm himself as he said softly. "Ok. The station is right there. We'll just see if we can get their help. Alright?" Logan nodded, rushing to his bed, before asking in a panic. "Whitney?" Sean raised a hand, uttering out a bit distracted. "I have her in my suit. She's fine. Help me with coms." Logan let out a sigh of relief, then pulled out a small book from a pocket on the seat. Opening it, Logan told him quickly. "Ok. So, we can try two different codes. We can try the Station's coms and the Ceres. If the Ceres is docked properly, the coms to Ceres will broadcast all over the Station. What do you want to try?" Sean brought up the screen, telling him a little shaky. "Just give me one. We'll keep switching until we get something." Logan sat down in the seat, telling him a little uneasily. "Sean... We may need to think of another plan if this doesn't work. I mean... What if they are all hurt or-" Sean pointed a stern finger at Logan, snapping out. "Don't say it! Just give me the codes!" Logan sighed, but gave him the first code. They needed help and he could only pray that someone would answer. To Be Continued...