Chapter 3 Out of all the star cruisers in the galaxy, only one stands as the most feared of all: the Dork Star, which has been the prey of many stray cruisers and innocent planets. In addition, the Dork Star belongs to the most feared jedi in the galaxy, Dark Inhaler. Being five miles long and four stories tall, the Dork Star is the largest and most dangerous ship on the dark side. Within the Dork Star, storm troupees went busy at work in the control room, which had been covered head to toe in computers. Many were at work searching for Princess Brittany. Yet, no one had found signs of her father's star cruiser. An assistant commander, Smith, ran into the room. "All rise in respect in the presence of Dark Inhaler," he ordered. The workers obeyed. The sliding doors opened. A large shadow cast on the floor. Dark Inhaler walked slowly and frighteningly into the room. Ironically, Dark Inhaler was four feet tall. Unfortunately, you can never judge a book by it's cover. Dark Inhaler wore black armor, a black cape, gloves, boots, and a black helmet to hide his identity. He turned to the assistant. "Smith," he demanded in a deep voice, "progress report." "Not a ship was found, sir," Smith explained. Dark Inhaler turned to his troupees. "Fools! Imbesiles! Disgraces! I hereby put you all on probation!" One troupee, the new guy, snorted in laughter. Dark Inhaler heard him and quickly spun around. "What is so funny?" "Oh," the troupee snorted, "nothing sir." Dark Inhaler moved closer to him. "I demand to know what is so funny!" "I apologize, sir," the troupee giggled, trying to keep a straight face, "but aren't you a little too short to be our leader?" Everyone else gasped. Dark Inhaler fumed inside his helmet. "I don't mean anything, but it's true," the troupee continued. "The majority of us are six feet tall. You're like a termite giving orders to a horde of bees!" The troupees stepped back, as did Smith. Dark Inhaler raised his hand at arm-length threateningly. The troupee howled in pain as he felt something riding up. It was what all the troupees has dreaded the most. It was one of Dark Inhaler's galaxy renound wedgies. As soon as Dark Inhaler was satisfied, he let his arm drop as the troupees briefs pulled over his head. "Take him away," Dark Inhaler said. Two troupees got up and followed Dark Inhaler's orders, taking the troupee away to the prison chambers. Dark Inhaler turned back to the troupees, who went back to searching. "Sir," a troupee called, "I think I found something!" Dark Inhaler approached the troupee's computer. "Yes, that's it. That's the king's ship. Inside the king's ship, Princess Brittany still piloted while Eleanor stared out the window. "That's the seventh time we've passed that asteroid belt," Eleanor said. "I'm fully aware, thank you!" cried a flabbergasted Brittany. "You sound stressed, Brittany." Eleanor leaned to the control panel. "Maybe I should..." "No, don't worry!" Brittany lied. "I know where we are!" Eleanor leaned back, arms folded across her chest. "Then where are we?" Brittany gave a frustrated sigh and buried her face in her hands. "In the middle of nowhere." Lucky for the girls, Alvin's ship wasn't too far. "There it is!" Alvin explained. "The king's ship. Piece of cake." "Cake?" Theodore yipped, happily wagging his tail. "Sorry, Teddy," Alvin explained. "Figure of speech." Theodore whimpered in disappointment. Simon looked at the king's ship in awe, then noticed something else. "Alvin, I think you'd better hurry." "Why?" Alvin asked. His eyes followed the direction of Simon's pointing finger. "I don't see anything." "Look closer." Alvin obeyed. He squinted his eyes, then noticed in the blackness of space, the Dork Star was right behind the king's ship. "Oh, shoot!" He sped towards the ship. Within a few seconds, Alvin's ship was right above Brittany's ship. Theodore opened an emergency hatch in the back room and lowered a rope as Simon watched the ship. Alvin climbed down the ladder, followed by Theodore. Theodore knocked on the king's ship. Brittany sat up. "What was that?" "It's coming from the ceiling." Eleanor opened an escpae hatch on the ceiling and let Theodore drop in. "Excuse me," Brittany said, "but who are you?" "I-I'm Theodore," he began, "and the king of Xerray sent my friends to rescue you from the wrath of..." "Ugh!" Brittany scoffed. "I'm not going back! There is no way I'm going to marry that nerd!" "Brittany, don't be rude," Eleanor scolded, "he just came in!" She turned to Theodore. "I'm really sorry, Brittany's had a tough day and all because of her wedding. I'm Eleanor, by the way." Theodore said nothing. His face was bright red. "Wow! You're pretty!" Eleanor gasped. Theodore gulped and stared athis feet, a shy smile on his face. Unbeknownst to him, Eleanor shared the same smile. "I don't care if your little friend wants to rescue me," Brittany said. "I'm staying right here, away from Ned and away from eternal geekiness!" "You know," Theodore said, "you should never judge a book by it's cover." "What is this book everyone's talking about!" Brittany exclaimed. "Can't they just watch soap operas or something?" Alvin was listening to her from outside. He was having enough of her sassiness. "Oh, that's it!" He knelt to the open hatch to climb in. "I'm gonna give that brat a piece...of...my..." Alvin's firm voice faded as soon as he caught a glimpse of Brittany. Even though she was smart talking Theodore, Alvin couldn't help but notice her immense radiance. His heart suddenly pounded against his chest. He couldn't breathe. His palms were sweaty. Never in his life had he seen a creature so beautiful. "And another thing," Brittany continued, "what kind of animal are you, a chipmunk, a dog, what?" "Actually, I'm a chookie," Theodore confirmed. "Half chipmunk, half dog." "Ew!" Brittany screeched. "Are you gonna wet the carpet or something?" Alvin's thoughts about the beautiful princess inside the star cruiser came to a stop. He couldn't let her talk trash about him like that! "Oh yeah?" Theodore replied. "Well you're...you're...mean?" "Hey!" Alvin shouted. "You can't talk like that that about Theodore!" He hadn't noticed he was leaning in too far and he fell through the hatch, landing with a hard thump. "I'm okay..." he moaned. "Well," Brittany huffed, "look what the cat gagged in." "Speak for yourself, sister," Alvin retaliated, still on his knees. Brittany's mouth fell open. Nobody talked to her like that. "Well, I never!" Though she couldn't see Alvin's face, she noticed how handsomely built he was as he got up. Strong looking arms, lean pressed body, and he had an attractive voice. "Never what?" Alvin asked. "Learned manners?" Brittany snapped back to reality. "Oh, that's it!" The two finally came face to face. "Look, you!" They stopped short. They got lost in each other's eyes. All they could think about was how beautiful the other looked. Those sparkling eyes, the jaw dropping body, and those lips. Never had they seen anyone this...cute! Brittany blinked hard. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Alvin was next to speak. "No, but it should've gotten yours earlier." "Okay, I'm a princess, I don't have to take this!" Brittany said, placing her hands firmly on her hips. "Well, he's not much of royalty," Alvin added, pointing at Theodore, "but he doesn't deserve it either!" The cruiser began trembling. "Shouldn't we be going now? Dark Inhaler's getting pretty close!" "Well I'm not leaving," Brittany said. "Look, princess, it's only a few minutes before Dark Inhaler finds us and puts us in the hooscow!" Alvin argued. "I don't care if he puts us in the hoosbull for all I know!" Brittany spat back. "Probably not much then," Alvin mumbled. Brittany wrinkled her nose. "I'm staying here. This Inhaler guy can have me!" "Fine! Stay here and be caught!" "Fine! Maybe I will!" "Fine!" "Fine!" "Fine!" Alvin led Theodore and Eleanor out of the ship. Brittany stubbornly stayed behind. Alvin then came back in and yanked her out of the ship. Just as Brittany got on the rope ladder, her father's ship got pulled into the Dork Star. Brittany had a hard time pulling herself into Alvin's ship, Alvin appeared at the top of the hatch. "Need a hand?" Brittany looked up, admiring his handsome highlighted profile, then rejected his offer. "I can pull up myself." It took her a while, but she finally climbed in. Simon heard them coming in. "Did you guys find the princess?" "Nah," Alvin remarked. "We found a pea instead." Brittany punched his arm.