Our hyperspace approach

Flying through hyperspace, we approached the sector containing the leviathan. And save for the occasional uproar of maniacal laughter or sudden crashing of metal crates, our journey was basically without further incident.

From my seat in the cockpit, I stole another glance over at Professor Xavier. He was still staring out through the glass at space warping around us. He certainly seemed occupied, but of what I couldn’t tell. Interesting how the one man in this galaxy who could possibly read anyone’s mind keeps his own thoughts and feelings so closely guarded.

“Hungry?” I asked.

“No thank you,” he answered pleasantly.

I shrugged and took a bite out of a protein bar. I crinkled up my nose and put the rest of it into my pocket when I realized what that thing tasted like.

“We’ll be pulling out of hyperspace in just a few minutes,” I said. “The plan is to enter real space on the other side of the system from where the leviathan was last seen. Don’t want to pop up right in front of the thing. That energy weapon it’s got is something else.”

“I concur, Jon,” the professor replied. He sounded like he wanted to add something, but instead he just clenched his jaw shut.

We decanted out of hyperspace and I brought up the scanners to search for the leviathan. My equipment was having troubles zeroing in on the ship, though.

“That way,” Professor Xavier pointed.

I oriented the ship in that direction and aimed my scanners. In short time, I was able to bring up the living ship onto my screens.

“Fascinating…” I murmured.

“Indeed…” the Professor concurred.

“Hey Jonesey, how’s come you stopped the boat?” Mojo the Monkeyboy hopped into the cockpit, took one look at the screen and his jaw dropped. “Holy jumpin’ crimenelly!”

“You said it,” I added absently. “I’m on a vector towards it but I’m still worried about that thing’s energy weapon. I don’t know how we’re going to contact that thing either, maybe a singing telegram.”

Though we were still on the other side of the system from the organic ship, we had a good look at it on the viewscreen. It was impressive to say the least. The ship was drifting; aimlessly it seemed, towards an asteroid field.

“What is it doing?” I wondered out loud. The Professor just shook his head slightly. The monkeyboy, for once, was standing there quietly.

Suddenly my sensors started pinging noisily.

“Energy levels are going off the scope!” I announced.

Energy began to visibly build up around the great ship, it then discharged onto one of the largest of the floating rocks. Energy caressed it for a moment, then the asteroid exploded in a bright flash.

“Whoa!” I shouted.

“Impressive…” the Professor added.

“I’m not so sure we should be running up to that thing to say hello,” I concluded. “That weapon looks even more dangerous up close.”

“Continue along this vector, Jon,” Professor Xavier assured me. “We will not be harmed on our approach.”

“I don’t like it,” I countered. “That thing can turn us into French fries faster than you can say ‘Freedom Fries.’”

“Do not worry about the weapon.” the Professor kept his eyes on the image of the leviathan. “She will not fire it at us.”

“She?” I asked. “So it’s a she? How do you know?”

“Because, Jon.” The Professor looked at me. “I am in contact with her.”