Cliff's pod falls out of the sky, smoke streaming out from cracks in the hull. Something is terribly wrong. Something is terribly wrong.















Warnings flash on screens all over the cockpit, which is now lying at an odd angle with a broken windshield.











Cliff's little shrine to his family, with the cutouts of animals made from Avean keycards, now sits askew, the animals scattered about and the photo hanging off the wall by a single thread of tape.











Cliff lays huddled still with Allen in the corner. His bed, thrown on its side, lays nearby.

Hhhh.....

  Cliff Mason
Oh.



  Cliff Mason
We've landed.

Cliff stumbles to his feet, Allen in hand, and heads for the door. There's a bright light, too bright to see past, on the other side.

  Cliff Mason
It's just you and me now, Allen.
We're all we've got.

  Cliff Mason
That... that makes us family.

Cliff walks into the light...

  Cliff Mason
No matter what happens. No matter what's out there.
We're gonna face it together...!









Cliff's eyes adjust to the light. In front of him is a collection of animal people having a picnic in the middle of a bright and picturesque park. Alma is there, currently sizzling sausages at the communal barbecue. Everyone is staring at Cliff with their eyes wide, hotdogs slipping out of their paws.



Cliff stares back. His pod is behind him, crash landed in the middle of the park. It's still smoking.



Cliff does not know how to process this situation.

  Cliff Mason
Huh?




END OF CHAPTER 3..









Lum says:
Hope you're enjoying the ride! I'll be taking my leave now, to get some rest and work on some special secrets-- stay tuned for announcements in the coming days. Foreach will return on the 16th/17th of June. Until next time!