A feather-ruffled captain nervously gives a report.

  Avean Captain
...and the specimen's escape was aided by two defectors-- Doctor Blaise, and a grunt named Glard Gorpnan!



Ribrax, Squarck and Kree'zik react to the update with rage, mirth and shock, respectively.

  General Ribrax
WHAT!?

  High Consul Squarck
HahyahyaHAHAHAHAAAAHAAA!!

  General Ribrax
How does this keep happening!?

  High Consul Squarck
You sure run a tight ship, don't you, Ribbsy? Kyehehahahahaha!

  General Ribrax
You shut up!
The hijackers-- where have they gone?

  Avean Captain
I don't yet know, General!
We lost them when they entered hyperspace.

  General Ribrax
You lost them!?

  Doctor Kree'zik
I-- I can run a trace!
It should only take a minute-- less, even--

  General Ribrax
Get on it! NOW!

  High Consul Squarck
Seriously, an egghead and a grunt?
If it was a Leviathan gone rogue, I'd get it, but you can't even keep a handle on the dorks!

  General Ribrax
Do you have anything useful to contribute here, Squarck?
Or are you content to make a mockery of your responsibilities as per usual?

  High Consul Squarck
HAH! I'll come clean-- I don't actually care about this, Ribbsy, I just think it's funny to keep you humble.
Loosen up for once, wouldja!

  General Ribrax
I will not "loosen up"!
This incident represents a major breach in our security. We cannot allow those responsible to slip our grasp.

  High Consul Squarck
Should that really be your top priority, big girl?
I recall you have my invasion to be planning?

  General Ribrax
...
I have a military to run, Squarck.
Let me do my Helix-damned job without getting in my way any more than you already HAVE!!

Ribrax is nearly boiling over with rage. Squarck, as always, thinks this is hilarious.

  High Consul Squarck
Awww, you're cute when you get mad, Ribbs.
Isn't she, Kree'zik?

  Doctor Kree'zik
I. Don't think I should answer that.

  High Consul Squarck
Hah! I guess you're BOTH bores!


  General Ribrax
...Kree'zik.
The trace.

  Doctor Kree'zik
Yes! Yes. Ahem.
It seems that-- well.
I did manage to trace their hyperspace route! But the answer is more complicated--

  General Ribrax
Where.

  Doctor Kree'zik
We don't-- strictly know!

  General Ribrax
You what?

  Doctor Kree'zik
I-- We know the way they traveled, we can trace their path, but...
There's a node in the network that's not functioning as expected -- we think it may be related to the recent disappearance of a different craft -- and once they passed through it, they just-- vanished!

  General Ribrax
So you have nothing.

  Doctor Kree'zik
I-- I--
If I had to guess I would say, this is likely another dimensional anomaly, and they've been transported to a parallel reality--
But, these readings-- they could have been atomized!
It would be impossible to know without sending a scout, and given the danger involved--

  General Ribrax
I've heard enough.

Ribrax turns and stomps away.

  Doctor Kree'zik
Where are you--

  General Ribrax
I'm solving this problem.
Seeing as I'm the only one here who still knows how to DO THAT.

  Doctor Kree'zik
But-- Ribrax, that way is the-- those specimens aren't cleared for...
For...









  High Consul Squarck
Hah, wow. You just let her walk alllll over you, eh, dorber?
It's just sad to watch, honestly. You should take a page outta, uhhhhh, wassername, the labcoat I gave the medal to.
Now her -- she was a go getter, she had fire!

  Doctor Kree'zik
You mean Doctor Blaise?
The one who just turned traitor?

  High Consul Squarck
Yeah, be like her!
Wait, that was her?
My mistake! Kyaahahahahehehehehee!!!


A bitter look enters Kree'zik's eyes.

  Doctor Kree'zik
...
Maybe I should.



























In a dark chamber of the facility, the Bastard still hangs against a wall. He lifts his head an inch. He has a visitor.



Ha ha ha...




Another empty shell, come to visit.



  General Ribrax
I came here for a purpose, creature.

Purpose.

Fucking joke.


Is that what you tell yourself?


You love your world?

You want to see it fucking thrive?


You hate this place and everyone in it.



You're running on nothing
nothing
but
inertia.


It's pathetic.

  General Ribrax
...
I wouldn't expect a thing like you to understand dignity.

HA! HA HAAA!
And you DO!?


Do you feel dignified when they fucking
laugh
at you!?




Fucking idiot.



The world is rotting.

Tearing itself to pieces.
And I'm the only one who sees it.


Open
your fucking
eyes.


  General Ribrax
Enough of this.
I'm not here to talk.
I have something I need and you are going to provide.

Ribrax sneers at the Bastard.

  General Ribrax
It's time you made yourself useful.








END OF CHAPTER FIVE











Lum says:
Thanks for reading everyone! Now it's high time I took a break. Expect to see us again on the 6th of April, or the 13th. I might take a week longer break, we'll see how I feel.

As with last time, we'll be posting guest arts and such every Monday, so keep checking in! Plus, my cool new game Jamhouse releases on the 30th of March, so keep an eye out for that!

Seeeeya!!!