The mission and the ship

“Hold on,” interrupted a technician. “New footage coming in.”

The Queen, Professor Xavier, the other professor, myself, and everyone else on deck who could spare an eyeball looked up at the screen and saw a far off shot of the ship. It certainly looked impressive, but it didn’t seem to be doing much.

“There’s more…” the technician punched a few buttons and the view changed a bit. This view showed some sort of energy building around the ship. The energy lanced out and scorched the moon of the planet the ship was orbiting. The moon exploded into a fiery flash of light.

The ship seemed to shift subtly and another lance of energy shot out towards our view. I blinked as the view broke into static.

“Drone 2 confirms that Drone 1 was destroyed,” the technician announced his readings. “Drone 1 is maintaining its distance and will hopefully stay out of that thing’s range.”

“This is now more serious that we originally imagined,” Queen Galacta IX stated. “If Galactor should get his hands on something with that kind of power, it will spell doom for the peoples of this galaxy.”

“Then we’re just going to have to beat them to it,” I said. “No sweat. First and ten.”

I saw Professor S’Magmier sneer just a little bit again. It was as if he was barely trying to contain his distain.

Although I can certainly appreciate your Earth sports analogies, I don’t believe anyone else here will get them, Professor Xavier thought to me.

Of course not, I replied. All part of the fun.

“Do not worry, Your Highness,” the leader of the X-Men announced out loud. “We shall not fail at our mission. You have my word on that.”

“Thank you, Professor,” she replied. And with a nod, we knew that we were dismissed.

Our happy little band made our way to the transporter room. The plan was to beam back to the Danger Sled and fly as quickly as possible to the living ship. On our way to the teleporter, S’Magmier’s sneer grew into full blown distaste.

“Ironic, isn’t it,” he thought out loud. “That two members of such an unevolved species are tasked to make first contact with perhaps the most advanced creature that this galaxy has known.

Is he for real? I thought to Professor X. What is his problem?

I am afraid that you will be able to find prejudice in just about every part of the galaxy, he answered. Humans certainly do not possess a monopoly on bigotry.

“I also find it highly ironic that one of the greatest telepathic minds in the galaxy comes from such a backwards species,” he continued. “I’ve studied your planet. I am quite surprised you aren’t yet extinct.”

I stopped him right there in the corridor and held up my finger. “That’s one, Smegy,” I said. “I know we’ve got problems. We’re not perfect. But I am not going to stand by and let you insult us like this. I’m getting’ pretty sick and tired of defending my planet to every damn holier-than-thou jerk that comes along.”

“I was j-just…” he stammered.

“Stow it!” I sent a mental wink to Xavier, he returned a psychic chuckle. I never knew that he could do that.

S’Magmier was fuming as we got onto the transporter pads. It didn’t take a telepath to see he was not happy with his situation.

Too bad for him. He’s stuck with us.