FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Warning!! All of the characters in my stories are common. in other words, a character from one story will appere in a seperate story line. You are forewarned.

Also, my stories have not been revised, so they are the rough drafts. all characters, and vehicles, and weapons, are copyright to me, Gaizen Natavi.

The last of the Hellfire Knights.

Words to the reader. this story takes place in a time of 2020. so all actions have not nor will they ever take place. this is a work of fiction. it is my idea, no one is alowed to steal them. if i hear of anyone stealing my ideas, my characters, or even my names. I will personally come out to where you live, and beat you with a stick! That is all. On to the story.

Chapter 1

Earth: North America. 03:00 a.m. Saturday early morning. Summer.

I am having a very unusual dream this night. The dream is, that I am lying in bed; eyes wide open, seeing in a very strange spectrum. I believe it is ultraviolet. Oh the colors, even in the dark, there are colors never before imaginable to a human. Then they go away to the normal spectrum of visible light. Anyway, the radio is blaring, some song about something dieing, and having the ownership of a truck or something. I slowly roll my head over to look at my clock/radio, when from behind the clock; I notice that my mirror is acting funny.

The thing is, I always have this kind of dream, though, and it is never the same exact dream twice. Last night I had the flying dream. Only the end of the dream was chasing me chased by a very small man on the back of a humongous dragonfly. When I told my friends about this dream they always say that I should stop eating chocolate pizza before bed.

Back to the dream at hand. I sit up to get a better look at the mirror, when I notice that the reflection of the mirror is not what it should be. It should be of my cluttered room, with every poster on the wall, my dragon collection, and my entertainment center. But instead of seeing all of that, I see a series of flashes. I see a lush forest with all kinds of plants, ferns, trees, maybe even an animal or two. In the next flash I see a beautiful valley with stoic houses nestled in-between two snowcapped mountain ranges.

The next flash I see is a battlefield, of primitive warriors, fighting with spears, bows and arrows. In a lull in the fighting on of the warriors turns his head and looks straight at me, into my eyes. It was very strange; it was like looking, well, into a mirror. He looked exactly like me, well except for the level of technology that he had. Oh and his hair was brown, and mine is a bluish white.

Then the thing that my other self did was very, uh, terrifying. He started to run towards me, with his spear in one hand, and his other hand outstretched to me. It seemed as though he was going to throw his weapon at me. Thankfully the mirror flashed again. Now it just seemed like it was a rippling pool of quick silver.

Oh, it seemed as if I stared at the mirror for a long, long time, but I could not have been for long. Just when I was about to blink and look away, a hand reached out from the middle of the rippling pool, and then the arm, and then the head. It was he. Me. It was the other I.

He had reached though the mirror, and was coming for me. When he saw me, he tried to get though more, but an insistent blaring started to sound at the edge of my mind. Then the sound got louder and louder, until finally I realized, that as the other me was trying to get through, my alarm was going off.

Boom. I startle awake, feeling cold, and wet all over. There goes my alarm like a faithful dog, getting me up as six fifteen. Every morning. I glance around the room trying to get my bearings. Okay everything is as it should be, no strange colors, no shimmering mirrors, everything as it should be. So I do what I think everybody does, and slam a fist onto my clock/radio to turn off the alarm.

I get up, and get dressed. When I am finished I look around my room, to the window that was next to my mirror, my bed that was across from my mirror, and my entertainment center. I have my room set up the way I like it. All my electronic devises, my dvd players, portable devises, my game systems, and of course my TV, with satellite. set on the floor next to my video chair, is my computer.

the best of the best. this baby is the latest in computing software. of course a job as a computer programmer does not hurt either. my main hobby is making little devises, that actually serve no purpose whatsoever, but just looks good.

for instance, my latest creation, The Gauntlet, is a variation of three or four different devises. it is a music player, a pda, a flashlight, (one can never be too careful in the dark) and a data storage unit. this little unit fits around the wrist, hence the name Gauntlet. I actually got the idea from a cartoon. (Don't ask I can't remember)

anyway, I get ready to go out and meet my friends, down at the park, I decide to show off my latest creation, so I slip it on, and look in the mirror. (no shimmering, few) I have chosen to wear a white muscle shirt, and light blue denim shorts, with sandals, plus my device. it is my regular fashion statement.

so I walk out the door of my one room house, and lock the door. I turn the key, twist the deadbolt, and pull the "key". since I am a techno-geek, I have designed a rather sophisticated lock system. I have made three "keys" of different shapes. each is a starburst with the arms in several different directions. I have three holes on my door, with only one being the true key hole.

I turn around and go to my vehicle, a beat up old clunker of a car. but since it is mine I have made a few...modifications. I open the door, on its vertical hinges, and get in, turning on the on board computer with my device. I select the volume of the music system, and start the engine. oh man, purrs like a kitten. I may have kept the outward appearance of clunker for the particular reason that it is very deceptive. but inside it is all new, and the latest in all technology, including soundproofing. so I drive around for a few hours, with my system cranked, and bass going', and I finally get to the park.

I turn down the volume to a level that allows me to be able to think, and I look around. I see lots of trees, a few tennis courts, a couple basketball courts, a couple lying on the ground having a picnic, and then I finally spot my friends. they are sitting under a tree having what looks to be a very god time. Nom, a friend from high school, notices me, and tells the others. they look over and see my old clunker, and laugh. they stop when my door rises up on its hinges.

when I get out and walk over to them after locking my car door, Kat, another friend from high school, says, "Every time I see you Gizmo, you always have something new to play with".

Even though my name is legally Chris, they insist on calling me Gizmo.

"Hey guys, and gals, haws it hanging'?" I ask as sit down under the tree with them.

matt, yet another friend from high school, asks "Hey gizmo, have any weird dreams lately?"

It is a commonly known fact among my friends that I have exotic dreams, every night, so whenever they get the chance they all razz me about it.

So, hearing my cue, I launch into my dream telling mode, leaving out not one small detail. after a while, when my story was done, Kat, the psychologist of the group, says, "you know, Gizmo, if you are going to stop these weird dreams, you had better do one thing."

"alright what is this one thing I have to stop doing?" I ask. already knowing the answer.

"You have to seriously stop eating chocolate pizza before going to bed." she said in tune with the rest of the group.

"Yeah, yeah I know I know. But I love chocolate pizza so much. Uh oh, better stop taking about this subject or I will have to eat one of you." I shot at them, "And I think I am going to start with...Kat!" I finished, knawing on her arm as she shrieked. "Hey Kat, is your first name Kit, by any chance?" I joked.

"Very funny, Gizmo. Now if any of you would care to join me, I am going to shoot some hoops."

As much as a jester as I am, Nom beat me to the punch line.

"Why would you shoot some poor hoop, that has a wife and five hundred kids?" He said.

"Five hundred kids? Dude, they must seriously be rocking the house each night." I said with a laugh.

"Very funny you two. Now who wants to play a little basketball?" Asked Kat. Now, ever since I have known these people, I have sensed a change in all of us. we have grown closer, more mature, well some of us anyway. we have grown into adults. so all of us naturally, accepted her offer of basketball, the four of us playing against each other in a game of two on two.

that after noon, as things were quieting down, we all went to rest under a tree. some of including me fell asleep, wile the rest talked.

While resting under the tree, I had a dream. like in all of my other dreams, I was awake. I was under the same tree that I had fallen asleep under. but as I looked around, there was no one in sight. no a single soul. I circled around the tree a few times pondering, when as I reached the spot were I had lain, I saw a full length mirror standing thirty feet away.

I walked toward it, and it began to ripple and flow like water. when I got to about ten feet away, the water erupted, shoving a person through. he fell to his hands and knees in front of the mirror, and I rushed to help him up. when I had gotten within five feet of him, he turned his head, and, I saw that it was him. The same person from my dream earlier this morning.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I helped him up.

"Yes. I am fine. But you are not. You need to come into the mirror tonight. at least for a few minutes. everything will be explained to you then. until that time, enjoy yourself, for it may be your last opportunity." and with that I started awake, to my friends shaking me gently.

"Hey man you were talking in your sleep. it was getting kind of creepy. you were tossing and turning like there was no tomorrow. and you were talking in a different language yet we could all understand it. it was uberfreeky." Nom said.

"Really. Well, that is uberfreeky. but, I have a serious hankering for food. how about we all go out to eat, hmm? my treat." I said as I got up.

"are you sure you are okay then? maybe you really should consider changing your diet. I mean this kind of thing is not right." said Kat.

"Yeah, yeah I am fine, now drop it and lets go eat. so were are we going to go eat anyway? I am open to suggestions."

Nom suggested at once, "Hey how about that cheesy chucks place. or how about that one place where they, no that place was torn down years ago."

"how about somewhere fancy? I could go for some shrimp." stated Kitty. (Kat)

"okay red crustation it is then. Everybody to your vehicles."

Chapter 2

Earth: North America. 08.00 pm Saturday evening. summer. present.

When we had all gotten to the restaurant and to our table, I told the waiter my order, and then everyone else told him theirs.

"listen guys, I know you think I am a little nuts, well the truth is I am a lot nuts. but I believe that that has been obvious from day one. but recently I have been having weirder and weirder dreams. like for instance the one this morning and the one in the part were related. Both of them having to do with a guy who looks just like me. I have a feeling that something is about to go down. something big."

"You know, now that you mention it, I have been having weird dreams like the ones that you have been having. only with a strange voice coming from a rippling mirror." Said Matt.

as one by one they revealed that they too have been having these dreams, it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe they were supposed to go through together.

"So. Since this day is almost over, I propose a toast. A toast to what has kept us sane over the years. To friends!"

we all raise our glasses and toast to friends.

"Ah yes, here comes the food." Nom says as the food arrives at our table.

as the night progresses, we talk we eat and we have fun with each other, but all the while I have the feeling that something horrible is going to happen. so when closing time rolls around, and we get ready to leave, with full bellies, we say our goodbyes.

"We really have to do this again sometime. I mean, having the old group together again is great. I just wish Jake was able to make it. to bad his kids were sick and he had to stay home." Kat said.

"Yeah. Hey I'll call him tomorrow, and let him know he was missed, and that he was on our minds." Nom offered.

everyone agreed that nom should do it.

"Okay, now that that is settled, we should all go home and get some rest. and you should not eat so much before bed. But this is a special occasion. a once a year reunion should not be all we see of each other. we should do this soon. haws six months from now sound?"

"Sounds good." "Yeah okay." "Ditto."

As we parted ways, I happened to glance in a window to see my reflection so I could judge if I had any food particles on me or whatever, and when I did I saw a faint image of the rippling mirror from my dreams. I guess this was a kick to get going, I headed for my car, and on the way home, all the mirrors I saw were rippling, but not enough to cause too much of a distraction. as I got closer and closer to my home I noticed that the rippling was becoming more and more pronounced, and was starting to shine.

just as I reached my driveway, all the mirrors suddenly went from shimmering and fluid to ridged and dull. so I turned off my car, shut down all the electronics, took out the "key" and opened the door. I went inside, where the cracks around my bedroom/work area's door were shining a silvery reflected light. I went down the hall past the bathroom, past the hall closet, past the kitchen and finally to my bedroom door. when I opened my door, I saw that my mirror was rippling and moving so fast, in circles that I thought it would go into a whirl pool any second.

then after spending a few minutes staring at the mirror, my voice came from beyond it.

"You have a few minutes to pack what ever you may need. But be quick this think does not hold up forever."

Upon hearing this message, I hurried about packing several recording devises, my gauntlet which I had not even taken off yet, my sword that I had had made for me, some extra batteries, some clothes, and some sanitary items.

after I had finished packing, I stood in front of the mirror once more. my voice said, "toss all of your items in to the vortex. they will be taken care of until you get here. when you have done this, climb through."

I pick up one of my bundles, not thinking about what I was doing and tossed it in. I made a kind of sound that was kind of like when you stick you finder in Jell-O, and pull it out again. I do this with all of my bundles, and strap my device, and sword onto my person and step through. I reach out my hand to touch the liquid, but my fingers do not feel anything but air. I try to move my hand around, but it is as if my entire arm was paralyzed. so I press forward.

when my elbow got to the shimmering liquid my hand felt really cold, so I once again tried to pull it out but to no avail. since I had no other choice but to go forward, I did just that, closing my eyes and plunging forward into the shimmering vortex.

and then...when I opened my eyes, I was in a giant room, filled with giant people. no wait, all of the bundles that I had shoved through were here, and they were big, so that must mean...I turn around and there is the portal seventeen times as big as me, when before I when through I was as big as it.

boom. boom. boom. everything is shaking. then everything is still again. a huge shadow falls around me, I can almost feel the weight of it as it presses down about me. then another boom. only this one sounds longer, almost like...words! I turn around...and fall on my can. there's one of the giants...I mean people standing over me. I believe he is talking.

"ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU STAYED TOO LONG IN THE PORTAL. YOU WILL BE FINE IN A MOMENT OR TWO. DID YOU GET ALL OF YOUR STUFF THROUGH BEFORE YOU WENT THROUGH? AHH, HERE WE ARE, you are returning to normal size now." my copy said.

Growing up was a very...interesting process for me, first, my legs grew to normal size, then my arms, next my head, at this point I was pretty freaky looking', and then finally my body grew back to normal size.

"While I am sure you have many questions about this, allow me to introduce myself. I am Veltrati, and you, are my brother, Soukonoung. I have watched you for many a year brother, and I am certain that you have always known about my existence. even though you did not know that this world even existed. now come with me my brother we have much catching up to do."

And with that he led to out of the room, down some hallways and into his bedroom, were there were two beds, one on either side of the room. he showed me the one nearest the door, and he took his bed, the one farthest from the door.

"You say you are my brother, yet I do not know you. I do not know this place. and frankly I do not know why I came here."

"yes I am your brother, identical twin brother to be exact. as to the reason you do not know this place is because when you were sent through the portal at the age of seven, you had your memory erased. we have had some trouble in our world in the years past. you will get the whole story eventually, but for now sit back and relax. our tale begins long ago, when we were born. we were born in a very civilized time, and although there was little to fear, people did fear. we were born at the height of the civilization, and lived through it's downfall.

"we are the last of the long line that has ruled this world, and those around it. Yes, that's right, you and I are royalty. our parents were killed in an extremely bloody coup. our uncle, took us away, so that we might survive until we could take back the throne. he split us up to give us an even better chance of survival. you he sent through the portal to live on earth. me he sent into hiding here. I am leading the resistance movement against the current government. it has been hard, but now that you are here it will make things much easier for us. Now we have an extra mind, a fresh body, to use as a figurehead of sorts in our resistance. now I am sure that you have a lot of questions for me. so go ahead and ask."

"One what is this place, two where are we, three what kind of tech do you have?"

"to answer your first question. this place is the HQ of the resistance. the resistance is called the Hellfire Knights. to answer your second question, we are underground, in a lost city, called Sitnalta. It is a huge city in a mountain. to answer your third question, thanks to you, we have a lot on tech, that the other government does not have. your model building and your drawing on the computer as a teen, allowed us to make all kinds of machines, and weaponry. like your X-Viper-Qui. yes we have one for you as well, tricked out just as you imagined it.

"also we have a machine that was left over from the ancient races. it is capable of granting one wish for any person who uses it. now this machine is very, very dangerous. one wrong wish granted and we could have a very, very hard time surviving even a few milliseconds. now since I have been keeping tabs on you brother, I will allow you to use it. but, make your choice wisely, for if you do not, it could be the death of us all. oh, and one more thing, we have you childhood memories in a backup file, should you every return, you would remember what has happened. now, tell me of your life, or could not, it is up to you. but I would rather you tell me of your machines, so that we may get a better understanding of your skills. and I am quite curios about that thing upon your wrist. what is it and what does it do?"

"this is what I call the gauntlet. I does nothing except play music, help manage my day to day activities, and store data."

"and what of that weapon on your back, does it have a story, does it have a name?"

I unslung my sword from my back, and pulled it out of the sheath. my sword is a two handed one, with a three foot long, one/one and a half inch wide blade. it curves up at the tip, with a divot in the back of the blade. close to the handle of the weapon are five rings piercing the blade through holes cut in the flat of the blade.

"No this weapon has not a history, nor a name. it has not even seen battle. so I do not know if it is battle ready. however, if you do not mind, can I go to sleep now. I feel I have had enough confusion and excitement for now."

"Oh yeah. Go right ahead, brother. tomorrow, we can visit the memory locker, and then the wish maker machine. go to sleep now for tomorrow, will be very busy. goodnight. lights go out." he commanded, and they did, and he left.

Chapter 3

unknown: unknown. unknown unknown. unknown. present.

I slept very good that night, and in the morning woke up feeling refreshed. no weird dreams. although there was that one about traveling through my mirror. no, no wait, that was no dream, that actually happened! so I have a brother. hmm strange. well I guess I had better get up and moving. I rolled over to get out of bed, when I rolled into the wall. ouch.

"Hey you awake? come on get dressed, we have a lot to do today to get you up to speed with the rest of us. Come on, get up. don't make me come over there and get you up."

"alright, alright already. I'm up I'm up. jeez you sound just like a mother."

When I had gotten ready, Veltrati showed me around the city.

"and just through that door brother will be your first glimpse of the city."

and with that he shoved me onto the walkway were I stood with my mouth open at the site before me. he wasn't lying when he said it was huge. twenty story building dotted the cityscape with plumes of steam rising our of nowhere. great pillars of fire blanketed the skyline. and over head, a huge dome of rock, metal, and ice. it was an awe inspiring site.

"Now were are those machines you promised to show me?" I asked.

"Right this way dear brother. If you would just follow me." and he set off again.

after a while of me tailing him, as he walked throughout the city, it was just begining to dawn on me that my life as I knew it might be over now, but the new life would be exciting, and make up for it.

"Veltrati, have you used the wish maker yet?"

"Yes I have. The feeling of the machine working is like pins and needles only all over. before we get to the wish maker I am taking you to see a few people first."

"Who?"

"A couple of friends. you might just know them."

a couple of friends. I do not know anybody here. I wanted to tell him that, but I would sound like I was whining. so I kept it to myself. we were going down a long hallway off to one side of the city. this place is huge. we pass a couple of what look like hanger doors, and when one of them was open I sneak a glance in. rows upon rows of dagger like things were parked in slots set into the wall. each of the dagger like things, had a nozzel on the tip. they looked familier somehow, but I could not place them at the moment.

"what are you looking at? oh that is our fighter hanger, if you like we could visit after we get our other guests, and get you your memmory back." so he started off again. I followed, down dark twisting hallwayes, through hatches, up ladders, and down others. when he stopped, I was exhausted.

"Hey were are your guests, that you told me about?" I know that I was sounding like I was whining, but I could not help it.

"Hey, cool your jets there brother, we're here. but before you go in, I might remind you that they have been told nothing about you or us or the resistance."

Knocking on the door to signel our arivel, he opened the door. as the door slowly swung open, the light from inside was blinding. however when it finnaly did open all the way, and I could see inside, someone tackled me.

"Gizmo. what are you doing here. I thought that we were all alone here. these people are talking in strange toungs, and, and...what ARE you doing here anyway?" Said Kat.

"If you would get off of me I would tell you all about it. what fo you mean WE. Are there more people from our world here?" I asked as she pushed herself off of me.

"Yes, we are all here. Even Jake." said Matt, as I got up off of the floor.

well this is grand, the gangs' all here. "so how did you guys get here?"

nom spoke for everybody. "We all got here through mirrors. we were all told to pack some things, and go on through. so we did. obviously you packed your toys. and it looks as if you know more about this then any of us. so if you be so kind as to explane the whole situation."

so, after I had introduced the group to my brother, I sat down in one of the two remaining chairs, and veltrati took the other, I began my tale, of what I have gathered from the explination.

"So that is what I have gathered for my brothers' information. aparently I am some kind of royal here, but my memory from age seven on has been of earth, and I can't remember enything else before that." I told the group. "so after we get done here, I would like to get my memory back. please."

"Sure right away, Souko. one thing, would you like your friends to be with us? I could have one of my, I mean our people show them to their rooms." veltrati offered.

"No, I am sure that they are as curroise as to what this place is, as I am. sure let them come and explore with us."

"okay, now I am sure, Souko, that you would like to see our hanger. we have your Quie all ready for inspection. then we can go to the memory machine." and with that we got up and headed out the door.

"Hey, Gizmo, what the heck is a quie? I mean, I am sure you told me years ago, but what is it?" Matt asked in a whisper.

"The quie is my ugly. I drew it on the computer, from several diffrent star-fighters. The full name is the X-Viper Quie. it has the body of an x-wing, with a cutting laser mounted in the nose. it has a pod slung underneath the belly for anti personel purposes, and can be detached for infintry use. the wings are of the starviper. they are attached using a multiple axis joint, that allows the wings to pivit and manuver to several different modes. on the tips of the four wings, are small claws, that when in close range, wing tip to wing tip, four foot blades extend, and attempt to cut at the enemies' ship. also on the wing tips, are micro jets, which allow the craft to manuver like noting else.

"it has hyper-drive rings, behind the cockpit, and a small sensor dome, behind the cockpit, and in front of the rings. the hellbringer version, which is my personal faverite, has a rail gun with two magazines that carry six, four inch rounds. the four inch round, does a lot of damage in itself, but for more...fleshy targets it has a head, that is at the tail end of the round. when the round itself leaves the barrol, there are blades, that unfold from the shaft. this arms the explosive head. when the round enteres it's target, the head is left behind, while the shaft continues onward. toward whatever is behind it. it is supposed to be used primarily for drop ships, and troop carriors.

"The Quies virtual reality cockpits, are kept in check by the onboard AI, and also have several smaller modes, of transportation, if one gets shot down in arial combat. So did this answer your questions?" I explained.

"hmm, Yes it did. You have a very active imagination. I guess it is a good thing too, because if this is a rebelion, then well, you guys will need all the help you can get."

"Hold it, hold everything." I said. "Before we continue, I think that my friends, should have a desision to make. choice one, stay here, and help, or choice two, go home and live your life. those are my conditions of choice. chose one or the other. Jake, what is your choice? stay here and help? Or do you want to go home and take care of your children. Matt? your choice. stay here and help, or go home and be a bachelure? Katt? Do you want to go home, where it is safe? or do you want to stay here and help, and maybe have a little fun in the process. becuase I know that deep down you are a blodthirsty demon. Nom. Same deal, go home be safe, or stay and fight? this is all your choice. everyone of you. chose now, those who wish to stay, may go, those who wish to stay, all the power to you."

"Chris, I like you, I really do, but I got to get home to my kids. so I am going." said Jake.

Matt said, "Chris, you know I am as much a scifi nut as you, i'm in."

Katt came next. "Hey, who's going to keep you GUYS out of trouble. I guess I am in as well."

Nom voiced his desision last. "how is it going to look for me if I chicken out, and I am supposed to be the crazy one around here? I am most DEFINITLY in."

"Since we do not have any glasses here, I wish to make a chear. Three cheers for Jake, the only sane one amoung us." I said

"HIP HIP HURRAY. HIP HIP HURRAY. HIP HIP HURRAY."

"Good bye my friend, take good care of your wife and the kids for me would you." I requested.

"Good bye Jake. we will miss you." said katt as she gave him a hug.

"Yeah, don't do any thing we wouldn't do." That came from Nom.

"Have you made your desisions as to who would stay or who would go?" Veltrati asked me.

"Yes, Jake will go, the rest will stay and help." I said pointing to Jake.

"Yes, I will have one of our people escort your friend to the portal chamber. as for the rest of you, please come with me. we have some work to do before we can continue." and with that he leads us away in a different direction, then the one that we were traveling. he led us down several hallways, to a room that had seven workstations, with electrodes attached to wires.

"Please tell your friends to sit down at one of the stations, the wires will attach themselves to your friends. this is the memory machine. it will give them knowledge of our history and will teach them our language. since you were born here, you were able to understand our language, and so, understand me. they were able to understand you, but only becuase they were so close to you. and if you get into one of these stations, we can give you back your memory of your time here on this world."

I relayed the information to my friends, and told them not to worry, because I was going to do this as well as them. I got into one of the stations, and the wireswhiped around me like a storm, until one by one, the wires, and eletrodes attached themselves to my body. when the last one was attached, I looked like I was in a cuckoon. it felt very strange.

Flash...a mans face, warm gentle, then a another mans face, this one not so gentle.

Flash...a women's face. she is smiling, and sweating. her face is flushed. she's talking. I can't understand. then I see my brother, Veltrati. he looks so young.

Flash...everything is so big, I want to taste everything.

Flash...i'm crying. Vel, pushed me. I want to push him back.

Flash...a giant monster. the monster is licking me. it is a dog.

Flash...me and my brother vel, are playing a game, we are runing around, trying to catch each other without being caught.

Flash...There is that man again...it's father. and the other man as well, that's uncle. he and father are aurguing. I want to go play with both of them, but someone is holding me back. it is my brother, vel. he is the one holding me back.

Flash...a happy time, a colorfull tree in the corner. colorfull boxes beneath the tree. I look around, I see mother, and father, and vel, but where's uncle?

Flash...Screaming, running, loud noises. fire all around. me and my brother are being carried away. then it is dark. someone is shushing us. I look around, we are in an alyway. then someone blockes the light at the entrance to the aly, his silowet intimidating. then the person raises his arm. a big flash of light and a great booming noise. he shot him, he shot my uncle. uncle falls to his knee, and the other man aproches. then I am falling, I hit the ground, and another flash of light, and great booming sound coming from beind me. the man in the entrance falls to the ground. I am picked up again. as we run past the man on the ground I cannot help looking, it is father, uncle killed father.

Flash...uncle is carrying me and my brother. we are crying, screaming, and strugling. uncle tells us everything is going to be okay. but I do not believe him. he killed father. vel stops strugling, uncle puts him down on the floor. he is limp but still alive. I start strugling even more. wham...pain, stars exploding behind my eyes. I stop strugling, I stop crying. he puts me in the memory machine. everything goes black.

Flash...The present.

"I AM SOUKONOUNG NATAVI. ONE OF THE LAST OF THE ROYAL LINE OF NATAVI. AND I WILL HAE MY VENGENCE AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED US!"

"Glad to see that it has worked brother. your friends got done hours ago. but you still needed your time. it is so good to have you back. now lets go to the wish maker machine. your friends are having lunch, in the mess hall."

*alert alert, enemy fighters inbound. repeat, enemry fighters inbound. all pilots to your fighters.*

"Good! Now is the time for you to show us your piloting skills with your quie. lets go get you suited up."

Chapter 4

Reath: sitnalta. 02:00 pm. summer. present. Hanger

"Well this is your quie. I hope we got everything right. your call siqn is Dragons Rage. Prove yourselve now, and maybe you can teach your friends to fly. place your palm on the canopy, and it will open like a flower. you will see. now go. my call sign is Rage of the Dragons." and with that he left and rand to his quie, this on had a configuration that I had not designed, it looked as of the hyper-drive rings were modified, to fire something out of them.

I ran to what looked like my fighter. it was black, and had Dragons rage, painted on the side. its viper wings were folded flush against the long daggerlike body. only the canopy, the gun pod benieth, and the nose nozel showed. I climbed up onto the nose and in five stides runing, in reached the canopy. the canopy was designed after the x-wing canopy from starwars. on the front panel of the opace material, I saw a handprint reader. I shoved my hand against the mark, and the canopy slowly opened. the front panel tilted up and back, while the side panels opened to the side. when the panels had stoped moving five seconds later, there was the seat. it was shaped like a bisicle seat, and it rotated so that I could get in.

I droped down onto the seat, with my back against the seat rest. the entire seat asembly rotated back into the reclined position, but high enough so I could see. the control panels were descrete and to the side, with a single control yoke, and yaw peddles. this is exactly how I imagined it.

*Hello. who are you?*

"Soukonoung Natavi. Who are you?"

*I am your AI, your highness.*

"Alright, close up this cockpit and get us off of the ground. I want to see who is attacking us. oh, and can you you put on some music. I am interested in blowing the roof off of this party."

*Yes sire.*

oh no, is she going to do this the entire fight?

"Please, call me Souko."

*what ever you wish, I will do.* she said as we disengaged from the dock.

"Alright give me conrtol, and kick up the music!"

as I said this, the inertial dampners turned on, as I rocketed from the hanger, past dozens of other quies, when I cleared the doors, the wings opened with a snap, converted into their atmospheric mode and the drag was reduced to almost nothing. I activated the shields, and armed the weapons, and rang to the edge of the atmosphere, begining to notice the heat rising from the friction.

"Yeeehaaaaaw!" I yelled as I accelerated.

as I reached the edge of the atmosphere, and my wing reverted to their normal mode, swept forward, I decided to test the crafts speed. twelve seconds later, the other fighters caught up with me.

"Hey Dragon's Rage, wait up."

"You aren't supposed go ahead of us."

"Rage of the Dragon to Dragon's Rage. Come in please. Over."

"Dragon's Rage here. Whats up bro?"

"You were supposed to wait for us. Instead you went and showed the enemy how good your mauvering was. and now they know what to expect."

"Relax bro, I set everything down to fifty percent. okay?"

"Oh."

*Okay, Souko, we've got several fighters inbound. looks to be the scarab class. fourty degrees left and forty high.* and with that she highlighted the area of interest.

the scarab fighters, looked like a giant cicadas. they had bug eyes for the cockpit. there were no weaponry that I could see, so it must be housed inside ther body.

"Rage to flaming wing squadren. Grab yourself a wingman, and lets go kill us some scarabs." he broadcasted. and on a private line he said, "Bro, your on my wing."

"Copy that. I'm on your wing. I'll race you there, looser buys lunch...for the next three years."

"Your on. Lets nail these bastards."

*Warning. Detecting multiple slip space rupturs off the port bow. We have two light drone carrier/bombers inbound on our position.*

"Rage of the Dragons, to Flaming Wings. You take out the Scarabs. Me and my wing, will attempt to take out the carriers. Good hunting."

the light drone carriers are huge. about 5 kilometers in lenght. They remind me of the tiger claw, from the movie, Wing Commander. however these ships have a single hanger that goes throughout the length of the vessel. and they have seventeen turrets on the outside of the hull, four of them face forward, the other four face backward, the rest are broad siders.

"I'll take the ugly one." I said. "You break left, I'll break right."

"Copy that. try to hit the shield generators on your way in. that will clear your path into the ship, and then cut loose." Vel said.

I cut loose with the laser, and gun pod to try and score some easy points on the windows, as I blow past them and one by one they blow, sending suited people into space. I guess that the head hancho makes his people wear space suits to battle. very wise man. I head in between the walls of the ship, skiming above the hull, my wing claws cutting vital tubes and systems. I fly away to have another run on the ship, and the rear shields flare. I reverse thrust, close my wings, and two scarabs shoot past me.

I reopen my wings, and fire two shots from my rail gun. the two rounds explode from my ports, their claws opening imediatly after clearing my nose, and streak towards their target. one impacts the scarab with a display of very colorful sparks, in the extreme right of the cockpit, sending the target spinning at the force of the impact. as the side of the scarab tht I hit spins towards me, I see that the back is almost gone, with only a miner hole punched through the window. the head that was left behind detinates, sending the ruined scarab into the untouched one.

then the fireworks really happen. the second rail shot impacts the two scarabs just as the ruinned one hit the other. the rail shot, nails the spot where the two met, and cause the damaged one to explode in a briliant ball of blue radiation. thsi sends the other scarab streaking down to the planet, their pilots just trying to survive. a few seconds after the craft hits the atmosphere it detinates, sending burning wreakage down through the atmosphere.

when I see the silent detination, it brings my back into reality, just as the aft cannons open up upon my fighter. I dodge, weave, climb and dive, all the while trying to turn around. so when I finally do get turned around, I fire eight of my rounds, leaving me with two, and watch as they streak towards the four aft gun turrets, all the while dodging. when two by two, they hit, one of the eight going down the barrel of the large gun, striking the ammo, and detinating it. the other seven also strike the waiting ammo, causing a spectacular explosion, ripping away the large sections of the aft. then after the debree clears, I can see that the hanger shield is flickering, and then finnaly pops, sending out everything that was not tied down. looks like it was everything.

I fly through the door, as stuff pings along my hull, sounding like hail on a series of bells. this made a very intersting counter beat to the music that was blaring. when I enter the door, the backup generators kicked in, reactivating the shield effectivly shutting off all of the outward rush. when the drones got to the hanger, and started to attack me, I just started cutting them down with my laser, sending sparckes flying every tim e I hit something. when I accidently found the backup generator with my laser, the thing exploding in a shower of purple colored sparks, and the over stressed shield finally popped, sending thing flying for the door yet again. there were doors and hatches, that finnaly buckled sending yet more stuff flying at me. hoping to keep from flying out myself, I close my wings. as they are about halfway closed, battling the out rush of air, a large metal box come flying at me too quick to dodge. so it hits one of my wingtips, smashing it and breaking the wing off at the joint. when the remaining wings close flush against the body of the craft, all the air either has been sucked out, or more bulckhead doors have been closed sealing off the rest of the ship. I did not know, so I desided to explore. since the height of the henger, was enough to allow me to make my fighter stand on end I did that. when my fighter was pointing at the cieling, like some greak spire, I fred me last two rail shots. when I did, the force of fireing these two shoved my engine cowling into the floor.

*Hey don't do that. that hurts.*

"Sorry." I said not really meaning it.

*Yeah, well whatever.*

I got a little ways away from the rails as the detinated, leaving a large hole in the cieling. since there was no decomression, nothing flew from the hole, and into the hanger. I nosed the top of the craft intot he hole to see what I could see, and saw that there was a large coridor running the length of the ship. possably a servise couridor. I nudge the fighter with wings closed into the servise corridor. I head to the front of the ship, and there is a hatch. I scan the hatch to see how thick it is, and it is not very thick, but has an energy shield protecting it from the outside. nudging the trusters yet again, I turn to face the aft of the ship. I fire the aft thrusters gently, allowing me to float down the corridor.

"thats strange, there is no resistance. I did not think that there would be much left, but not this. I mena, surly some survived the decompresions."

*I know, there is something wrong about this. lets go check it out.*

so following her instruction, I allow the fighter to gliide down to what I hoped was the engine area. when I reach it, I see that all it is, is two cones, facing each other, with a stream of energy flowing between them.

*Umm, this may be a problem. there is too much energy flowing between that class of reactor. the crew are scuttling the ship, we must get out of here.*

"Right."

imeadiatly, warning light pop out of the walls, and start flashing a sickly yellow, and then a red. I aim for the corridor, and hit the thruster arrowing towards the opening. as I get there, I notice that the whole ship is vibrating around me.

"Warning to all ships in the area. the carrier is going to explode. bug out immediatly. this thing's going big!"

"Copy that. buggin' out, as requested. Out."

Since the laser at the nose of the craft is just an extended release engergy stream, I dumped all the enregy I could spare, and fired the shot. if I wasn't in such a dire situation, I would have noticed the energy bolt, shimmering down the corridor, lighting the walls around it as it passed. I would have notised that as it hit the door, the door, jsut dissolved, the energy eating away at the armor, the wireing and finnaly the structural supports. I would have noticed the shield over load, adn as I neared the door remains, the shield comming back online, sending a ring intot the middle of the hole. I would have noticed that just as I was about to clear the shield wall, it closed on the back of my fighter's engine, effectivly severing the back half of my fighter, just behing the AI sensor dome.

"Dragon's rage, to squadren, I have been hit, and am in need of towing once we are far enough away from the ship." just as I finished speaking the ship blew in a fantastic aura, of blues, greens, and blackened metal.

The shockwave hit next, sending us tumbling and turning and spinning in a much faster speed then what we had been traveling. then all at once everything turned off, including the inertial dampnerss, sending me against the chair, almost crushing me. then through the pain I hear little pings and then bigger ones, and then clangs, at shorter and shorter intervals.

then suddenly I was not being cruched anymore. I felt like I was floating. I was floating. we had stopped moving. then I was gently moved back down into the seat, and I realized that we were moving, only upwards.

*Wha...what happened? why cant eye see? Are we moving. I thing my ass is toasted. I can't see. Hmm. Perhaps, I can't see, bacause of the EMP that fried my external sensors.*

"Yeah, we are moving, and I do not know why you can not see. and yes, your ass is definatly toasted." I said in an amused tone.

then with a hum, power came back to the inside of the damaged figher, blinding my eyes for a moment. then with a lurch, and a sound of clamps attaching themselves to the top and sides, we stoped.

*Hey I can see again. oh no. my ass is toasted! why did it have to be this way. Oh no! please just let it end! oh what a world, what a cruel world!* she said in an extremely overly dramatic tone.

"Oh, stow your belly acken. Your ass can be fixed, and I can make it look better then before."

*Really? you would do that, for me?*

"Yes. I would. Funny, you remind me of a friend I once had. her name was Rose." I said.

Knock, knock, knock.

an extremely muffled voice said, "Hey open up in there. we have you, in the hanger of a hospital ship. so open up."

"Should I?"

*Yes, I need you to repair my ass. Tee hee hee.*

"okay. Will you please open the hatch for the man? Please?"

*Okay. but just so you can fix my ass.* and with that the panels of the canopy open like flowers. but halfway open the top panel jambs due to the damage. when I try to get up to shove at the panel, a face appers in the gap.

"Hey bro, you did it. You just killed a light drone carrier. Hey you don't look to good. you okay?"

"Well, I was shot at, shot at, and hmm. lets see. I was shot at, I was accelerated to the speed of god, and I would not recomend it. my fighter's ass got toasted, and in the process my AI got loopy. but in the other hand I am fine. how are you?"

"I am fine, even though the carrier I was fighting jumped after nicking my wings with one of their cannon shots, I am fne. how about your AI?"

"Hey you okay back there?" I ask, banging on the back plate that protected the cockpit area.

*Well, the spining finally stopped, and we are back on the ground. I think I may need a tune up after your little ride. Good night all.* and with that she shut herself off.

Hisssssss

the stuck panel opens, and my chair rotates forward so I can get out easier. as I climb slowly out, and stand on the top of my damaged fighter, I see a crowd standing around the nose of the craft, all chearing and clapping.

"You know Souko, you are being credited with the kill, even though they scuttled their own ship. they scuttled it because of you. no come on lets get you looked at, hero."

"But I am no hero." I protested.

"they don't know that."

Chapter 5

Reath: sitnalta. 3:00 pm. summer. present. Mess hall.

*Attention, will the person who put the pants on the flagpole please come to the head office. Please come to the head office. That is all*

"you know souko, since you are still knew here, I would like to see where your strenghts lie. since you have proven yourself in the cockpit, I would like to how you fare in hand to hand combat. there are several different aspects of the combat. Unarmed, unarmored, armored, and armed. we will hae to get your personal weapon updated to our tech, and get you fitted for the armor. or would you have a different personal weapon?"

"The sword that I brought with me, is just a show piece. it is supposed to be against umarmored people. I would think I would have a personal weapon. and I would like to have some armor."

"okay, now, I really think that we should get your idea for your armor. would you have it be of humanoid origin, or would you have it, be an anthromorph. we have found that agaist enemies, the anthromorph is most effective int he terror department."

"Oh yes I definatly think that an anthromorphic armor would strike fear into the hearts of men."

"Oh, umm, there are not only men on this world, or others. we are only one species in a wealth of millions. there are some very peecefull species, others that think the universe be better off if our species were dead. of course those are the extemes. there are those who are giant blobs of nothing, and there are those who are the smallest of the species only three centimeters tall, and they are smarter then us."

"okay, can we do this after eating. I am hungry for some chow."

as we walk to the line for food, I notice some strange yet apetising smells. it smells like fresh baked pizza, mixed with garlick and unions.

Sniff, sniff,"What is that smell, it smells good."

"That? That is our laundry. our food is over there." he said pointing, with a grin, at his little privte joke.

"Oh, well then I guess, I want soup for lunch." I said with an answering grin, knowing full well, that he had pointed out the laundry on our tour.

several of the people in range to hear our conversation chuckled. knowing full well that I had gotten him.

"So, since you are being credited for three kills, do you want to start the tradition of painting kills on the hull of your fighter? we do not do that here, so you would be the first."

"Yeah, and I would like to name my ship, and my AI if that is acceptable."

"Oh yes, we do that here. after the pilot's first combat flight, if they survive, they get to name both. so yes you can name them."

so I think of some possable names for my ship and her AI. when we get up to the front of the line, I see something that might pass for pizza on Earth.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"yes it is. if that is what you are thinking." said the lunch person.

"It is a variation of what you would call a pizza. we have several things in common with Earth. more then you would thing actually."

After we grab out food, we sit down at the table where the high ups of the city of Sitnalta sit.

"Hey who is this person?" asked a crotchedy old man.

"Brunose, this is my long lost brother Soukonoung. That traiterouse man, our uncle sent him to a planet called Earth, all those years ago. So being my brother, he gets to sit with us."

"Parden me for interupting, but I think that it would not be a good idea for the others, if I sit here right away. I mean, these peole were here long before I had even heard of this world and its wonders. I believe that a high position without doing the work, is just doing a dishonor to the position. besides, I am used to eating out among everybody else."

"Nonsense. you may sit here if you wish. because you are his brother. and, whomever raised you, did a very fine job. you are welcome here anytime you like." said Brunose.

"Thank you sir. I feel very welcome in this city."

"Well, you have your brother to thank for that. he has taken time out of his very busy scedule to help you addapt to his city."

"Really! Hmm. is this true?" I ask Veltrati.

"Yes. it is true. but we have had a lull in the demand of running a city like this. so, I have had a little extra time. besides, we have your trainign to complete, if you are going to be an intricle part of this society."

"Oh yeah? Hmm. Well, okay, if you say so. i'm just too used to earth, and it's ways."

"Enough of this small chat, I want to see how good this little runt is a combat!" shouted an even older man. this man looked like he could pick me up and break me in two, with his pinky.

"Hey, leave the kid alone okay. he took out a light carrier. he does good for himself. besides I don't think he has his legs under him yet. so just back off." A women said, defending me.

"Souko, I would like you to meet, two of our military leaders, General Sungyvaeh, and Ms. Featherworth. the General is the head of all ground operations, and Ms. Featherworth, is the head of the fighter squadrens. They have taken a great interst in you, ever since you took out that carrier."

"Yes we have. and Brunose over there, is the armorer. he will be making your armor for you. he is the best in our city." said the General.

"Yes, I will be. I will make it to your specifications to, if you ask me nice enough. just one or maybe two conditions. one, you not nake anything that has more then the nomber of digits, or smaller then your body. extra limbs are permited. two I get paid. Hey I don't work for free." he said, seing my expression.

"Okay. Now how am I going to pay for his armor, and the fighter I damaged. do you go on commision. how many things of the enemy tha you destroy, or just plain old slary?"

"well, a little of both. you earn a basesalary, with extra for the amount of the enemy and how big the enemy is. that is only appliable for the fighter squadrens. now for the ground forces, it is a little different. you get a base salary, adn fro each mission that you survive, and how much you destroy, and the amount of danger that you get into durring rour mission, your salary gets raised. the Spec ops people get a lot of money that way. unfortunalty, we also loose a lot of Spec. ops. people in their missions."

"Yeah so tommorrow, we see how far you need to come in your hand to hand combat. I am looking forward to your duel with the head of the best ops team we got."

"Hey! Don't you think that this is going a little far, on his first trial?" screamed Ms. Featherworth.

"No. my head of spec. ops. training has an excelant sence of skill when she meets a person for the first time." the general said very calmly.

"Hmm." I muttered extremely interested.

"Now that you are done eating, I would like to steal you away for a few hours to get you your armor." Brunose said.

Chapter 6

Reath: sitnalta. 05:00 pm. summer. a few years from now. Combat ring. the next day.

*let the armored combat practice begin.*

I am in a big dark room, with teatrical lighting.

My armor, is designed to scare the living crap out of anyone who comes across me. It has draconic origans. my colors are white, for the main stuff, black for the outline, and bright red, for the membranes and muscles. My head is completly covered, as is the rest of my body. most of my armor is astetic, designed to as previosly stated, scare the living crap out of people. my armors headdress, sweeps back from a nearly featurless face, and forms a flaring frill, with three tiers. I have detachable black angel wings, that have a span of twenty feet. my legs can be digigrade, or not, depending on what mode I am in at the time.

Since the technology for the armor is created by nanotech, I have been able to make armor that behaves differently then solid armor would. for intance, the feet of my armor, can morph into two different forms. one from is a draconic form, with anthromorphic toes. is this form my legs are digigrade, and the toes connect to each other mot like how a human's toes do. the toes connect to each other by a central pad. this pad, is not very big. just wide enough to allow the outer tows to move freely. the outer toes on my foot are able to swing forward to connect with the two forward toes, and become solid, or move perpendicular to the forward toes, and act as stabilizers for acribatics. all four of my toes on both feet in anthro mode, act as a hand, allowing me to grab things. this is very usefull in a fight.

In non anthro mode, the heel shrinks, and becomes a shoe. this is very stiff. I personally prefer to have the anthro mode active.

my armor has a tail, with a death flower. this flower I have requested be made after an old comic book charactern anamed Doc Ock. this death flower has six "fingers". three of them are used for things that need a delicate touch. the outer "fingers" are the brute "fingers". these are the ones who do most of the work, like picking up objects, or punching. my tail also has a camera to be used primarily like a periscope. since most of my appendiges are used to grab things, it would not be very wise to have my tail be prehansile, so I requested my tail be made, to be able to grab things, extend from three feet, to eighteen feet. makes a major advantage for me, if the opponant does not know about the extending tail. he he.

Ihave two fingers, each rather bulky to acomidate my human fingers, and like with the feet, my two fingers can split into four fingers. my thumb stays the same for both humanoid and anthro versions. each of my fingers in the anthro mode, thanks to the nano-tech, have one inch long, wicked sharp claws. in one hand there is a magnetic generator, which is a sleective tool, alowing me to summon ang grab almost any metal object. in the other hand is a shock blaster. thisweapon allows me to cause a directed or omni-dirrectional shock wave that forcibly makes my opponants or anything, or anyone around me to fly ten feet away. this weapon is affected by terain, or obstructions.

on my back, between the detatchable wings, are six spines in two colomns, designed as anti detection devises, as well as intimidation instruments. my perfered handheld weapon, is a staff, with a two tiered energy sword on both ends. these blades are of course able to be deactivated, and the rod itself can be collapsed allowing for discreet concielment.

I am facing my opponent. my opponants armor, is purly humanoid in design. no extra features except for the standered summoning a,d shock blaster equipment. All of her joints are black, as is the under material. Her actual armor pieces are a mixture of metalic red, pastel blue, and nuclear green. The major mucle groups on her limbs were nuclear green, the main part of her armor was the red color, and the outlines were pastel blue. Her weapon, is a double bladed dia-katana, with the blades, opposit of each other on the handle, yet turned so that the cutting edges are in the opposite dirrection. I am guessing that she could use her weapon as a large buzz saw, apparently able to shred her enemies like butter. Her armor is that of a special ops team member, sleak and smooth, designed to blend in with the night. her lights were on to help me see, not that I needed it, but it made a good show. Her spec. op. group is the Specters.

we face off together, circling each other, already an hour into the training session. my opponent, Kiran is a well trained, and time tested, while I, am not. although I am a rooky, I either have shown improvment, or she is getting tired of beating up on me as she did in the first part of the session. I do not like to loose, and I figured that neither did she. I was getting tired, and I know she should be too, so I figured we had to at least give a show. a crowd of spectators were gathering around the edge of the arena area. to watch a new rooky go up against the best. I thought that I was getting sufficiant enough to defeat her at least.

as I am waiting for my opponants first move, a window pops up in the lower part of my vid screen hud.

"You are a good fighter, once you know what it is you are doing. you are at least improving." she said with a hint of intrist.

"Thanks. you are very good yourself. What do you say we give these people a show. Pull out all the stops, and really beat each other up. What do you say?" I reply, feeling ful of myself.

"Sounds good. Just one request."

"Yeah? Whats that?"

"Quit gabbing and come at me!"

"Very well."

In the previous fights, I had fought with my wings on, giving my opponant, not only a place to grab on to which she had, but made me more bulky. So an answer to that would be to jetisen my wing assembly. In the previous fights I had fought using the humanoid mode, being somewhat less agile, and far more bulky then the anthro form. so in order to gain an advantage I chande my settings from non anthro, to the anthro form, giving me a greater stride, not to mention a greater speed, and traction. so I activate the anthro mode in my legs first, my foot growing in length, and the front part of my boot, splitting and morphing into toes, each with half inch claws.

then the fingers morph next, the index and middle fingers fusing, and teh ring finger and pinky fingers fusing, and each growing claws.

I select an audio file to play, and let rip, an animalistic roar sounding out, before my stabbing my energy weapon into the ground. then using the neural chip planted into my brain, I select another one, letting it play. this gets the audience fired up, and giving me an opportunity to put on the show.

Ping...Ping...both wings detach at the sholder mounts.

I squat, gathering my energy, deploy my spines, and launch myself. taking the first thumping step, and then another, bounding halfway across the one hundred foot stage in five steps, even before the wings hit the ground. as I run toward her, I notice a blur of movement from my opponant, and instincaivly activate my summoner, bringing my staff weapon dirrectly to me, it spinning because of the force nessisary to bring it out of the ground. I catch it, letting the momentum to bring my weapon to bear, and twirling it like my opponant, take a few steps closer.

my opponant is twirling her weapon in front of her like propellers, I see my opportunity to disarm her, and swinging my weapon, cut her swords cleanly from her fist. her blades spin with high velosity into the cieling and the floor. both blades stopped about halfway into the places that they had sunk.

Her reaction is to pound her fist into the top of my helmit, cracking the armor, and creating momentary static, on my visor hud both blinding me and making me temporarily deaf. I believe that it made the music jump. making more effect. I then feel my staff taken away from me, as I am blinded by the static. as it clears I leap back, barely avoiding a devistating kick, that would have sent me into the force screen seperating the combatants from the crowd. I land a good fourty feet away. when the hearing clears I hear a humming then a thud that sounded like an energy weapon being stuck into the wall.

Then as the last of the visual static clears, my instincts tell me to dodge, and I do so, seeing the broken swords coming at me. I flex, standing on one foot, snapping my tail out and my foot. opening my tail's death flower instinctivly I grab one of the fragments it sliding through my "fingers" until the friction of the blade makes it come to a stop. the force of the impact was enough even with my tail absorbing the impact, to spin me around on the one foot, rotating me enough so that I was facing my opponant again. I thrust my airborn foot to the ground and reacting with a split lightning reaction, I clap my hands together as far from my face as they would go.

I noticed a sudden jarring sensation and I wait until the static clears fully until I open my eyes. wow, the tip of the blade was less the half an inch from my face plate. it would have cracked the plate at least, but it would not have gone through, I know this to be true. I mean I am pretty sure this is true, or maybe perhapse almost certain.

I stand there for a moment or two,in that odd posture, with her two sword fragments in my clutches. I toss the blade in the death flower to a position where the claws can grab the blade at the correct angle, the blade sticking straight out. releasing my hands and letting the sword fall for a few seconds I grab the blade at the ruined handle, grasping it like normal.

"So how do you want your 'death'? quick and painless, or slow, and agonizing?" I taunted.

and bouncing lightly on my toes, I bound back towards my opponant. I toss the sword fragment in my hand to my opponant, never wanting an unfair fight. she catches it just in time to parey my tail strike, her blade dancing acrost mine, creating a shower of sparks, furhter illuminating the arena. I leap backwards five feet, and croutch as soon as I hit the ground. when I get as low as I can go, I spin slinging my tail, and it's blade at my opponant, the tip of it gathering a lot of kinetic energy.

Kiran moves her blade fragment, and not only blocks my attack, but breaking my sword in two. the tip of the sword goes flying into floor a few feet away with such force, that it is completly bearried. I let go of the other piece, sending it flying like its brother, and finish spining around to face my opponant. still crouchning I let loose with a powerfull thrust of my foot into her chest, sending her backwards into the force field, it's elasticity making her rebound back with a kick of her own.

She kicked my face face plate, cracking the armor even more, sending shards of it flying and showing some of the electronics underneath. I am lying on my back, she steppes over my tail, stradling it as she walked up to my figure. She still has her weapon in her hands which she then points to my throat.

"This fight is over. I win."

"Yes, it is, and I don't think so." I say as I tap her on the back of her helmit, with my death flower.

with a sigh, she raises her hands signalling the end of the match to the recoders, and the judges. the she helps me up.

we wait for the judges to anounce who won and who lost based on kills, the time of the duel, and how many points each of us scored.

"The outcome of this duel is a tie. Kiran killed Soukonoung, But with the sneak attack by his tail, he killed her as well. the time of the match was four minutes, three seconds. points wise, Kiran got fourteen, while her opponant got twelve. kiran got in extra points for damaging her opponants armor, and from breaking his weapon. Kiran wins by a combination of total points and technecke. Soukonoung, for you first fight, you showed a lot of skill, and flare. however, you must know that flare does nothing except look good on the battle. although, from the looks of your armor, it is designed as mostly asthetic with a few uses built in to make the asthetics nessisary. however, those were my preliminary findings, and having seen your perfomance, I feel that your devices are a good indication as to your craeativity and adaptibility. still, some of your...armor pieces should be left off of the battle field, or at least when they are not needed.

"Thus said, you have shown great improvment in a short period of time, and should you ever consider it, I believe that you would make a great ground operations team member. you are dismised."

We turn and leave the arena floor, and as we are walking, my armor reverted to the non anthro form, it's default.

"Man, you are one hell of a fighter. where did you learn to fight like that?" I ask her.

"My father taught me. and where did you learn to fight like that? even for a rooky you are not bad."

As I consider her question we head for the armory, and armor station.

"Hey, I noticed that you were marginally slower with your left arm. are you injured?" I asked.

"Well, yes. you might be saying that." she said as she pulled out her arm with a hiss. Her arm is robotic!

"See, unlike you, I am no rooky. I have injuries, and prosthetic limbs, just like most of the people here. part of my left leg is robotic as well. so, I have special arms for special occasions. my leg works just fine for all occasions." she said as she put her arm back on.

when she finished talking, we had reached the armory, and began taking off our armor. she reached up to pull off her helmit, but stopped when she noticed I was watching.

"what?"

"I was just curiose as to what you actually look like under that armor. It's just, I like to see the face of whom I just spard with for the past hour."

"Oh."

she shruged, and grasped her helmit. she turned her head left, pressed a button, and with a hiss, her armor's seal was broken. as she lifted her helmit up, I saw that she had red hair. then she turned around, and looked at me. her eyes were a shade of blue that I had never seen before. they were electric blue, and they looked like they were glowing.

"I've shown you me, now show me you." she requested.

I have nothing to lose, so I held my helmit with one hand, and reached around behind my head with the other. I flipped a catch that held the back of the helmit on, and with a hiss, the back panel swung out on a hinge. slowly I lowered my helmit to show my face, and I quickly yanked off the head/neck seal as well.

"Hmm. Not bad. For a rooky. You keep those features looking pretty, and after a while, we might just see each other again. Soon. You show great promise, in a fighter, so don't go jumping off a cliff or get yourself killed now. And, oh yeah, aren't you forgetting something." she said pointing to her sholders.

Oh man, I forgot my wings.

"Oh yeah. Before you leave, may I request another trainign session with you in a couple of days. No armor. No holds barred." I asked.

"We'll see. just remember my words."

I go back to the arena, where another match is being held. I look for someone who has my wings, and when I find them and get my wings back, I stand, in my armor, to watch the next match. When it is over I go back to the armory with the combatants who had just finished.

"Hey, fighter. is that what you look like under that armor, or is that just another mask." one of them jeers at me. No respect. They obviasly did not see me fight.

I stop, but they continue wakning towards me, and insulting me at the same time. then whe they are ten feet from me, I feel something squishy and wet hit the back of my head. suddenly as something clicks in my head, I see clearer then I had in my fight. I hear more things then I ever had before. everything slows down to about half speed. the armor activates it's anthro mode, my feet lenghtening and the toes spreading, my fingers fusing together and growing claws. I turn around, and leap at the guy who had insulted me. I land feet first on his chest, following him down. I croutch so that I am as close to his face as possable. when the other guy, tries to attack me, my death flower openes by its own violation, and closes around his head. slowly lifting him up, I look into the eyes of the one beneath my feet.

"I do not appreciate disrespect. now, your fight was good. I admit that. however, that does not mean you can take your frustrations of loosing, on me."

At first the guy below me looks scared, then angry. he spits in my face. I loose it.

"Alright thats it." I say as I fling the other guy back into the ring. when the guy below me tries to spit at me again, I punch the ground beside his head, with enough power to break the marble, and send a piece the size of a watermellon into the air. I pull my arm from its elbow deep hole, and grasp his face. I stand up, pulling him up with me. holding him by the head I walk into the ring with my loping stride, with him scrabbling at my arm trying to get free. I hold out my hand, using the magnetic generator in my hand to summon my discarded weapon. it soars into my outstretched hand.

I throw the one in my hand next to the other one and he land in a heap. when he and his friend came to and stood up, they looked a little wary of me.

"Fight!"

They both shook their heads.

"I said FIGHT you cowards! You were so willing to go at it earlier, so FIGHT DAMN IT!"

They look at each other in fear, then they whisper in each others ear. then they look at me and nod their heads. the one on the left charged me from the left, the one on the right charged me from way right, hoping to get behind me. they just do not learn. stupid humans.

I raise my hand mounted shock cannon, and nail the first guy in the chest. he goes flying about twenty feet, and lands in a heap like a ragdoll. he does not get up. when the second guy runs at me from behind, I spin and nail him upside the head with a deactivated sword end, with enough force to knock him out. he crumples to the floor, and does not get up. I deactivate the pole, and stick it into a holder mounted on my legs. I pick him up by his shirt, and carry him over to the other one. I pick him up in the same fashion, and carry them to the armory.

When we get there, Kiran was not there, so I stuffed them both into seperate lockers. I found two bars of metal lying in the open, so using the suits strength, I bent the bars around the latches of the lockers, effectivly locking them in.

after finding a pad of paper, and a pen, I write a note, as to why these two are in the lockers, and stick them on the latches. when I find my helmit, there's a note on it.

There is a turnament a week from now, so if you want to train for it, meet me here in three days, just after lights out. we'll practice then, and who knows you may just beat me. also consider this an invite to the tournament.

P.S. I saw what you did to those guys, and if anything seemed different, it is called the berserker mode. Brunose installs it into all of his armor. what it does, it makes the wearor temporarily suped up. it heightens all senses, and for some users it seemes to slow time, alowing for more consentration. unfortunaly it also hightens the anger emotion, which fuels the berserker mode. I have asked Brunose if there are any modes after Berserker, but he just said that I had to find that our for myself. so I think that there are more modes after berserker.

I hold the note in my hands thinking, and notice, that oh damn it, I cracked my fist. how ironic.

Chapter 7

Reath: sitnalta. 3:00 pm. summer. Flight mission control.

*Alright this is an inter-squadren combat, Raith squadren against the flaming wing squadren. Setting: The canyon in the broken moon. Task: 'kill' as many of the other squadren as you can. You will be useing blank rounds, and laser tag equipment. Now. To your fighters. And try not to really kill each other.* said an AI that reminded me of Ms. Feathorworth

We head down the short wallway that connects the hangers to the briefing room. one team goes off to one hanger the other team the other team goes off to their hangor. when I get to our hanger, and I am not in such a rush, I notice that there are about one-hundred quies sitting their docks. most of them were Firefly models, a realativly weaker ship, that only had the gun pod and the laser.

the Hell Bringer Model, which was the model that I flew, had all those plus selectable ammo for the gun pod, and a rail gun. but unlike other Hell Bringers, my brother and I flew furhter modified ships, with mine layers, in the stern of the craft. these were great use to us. but it also made them extremely expensive. so best not to destroy one, or let them get destroyed. after I get done looking around I walk over to the nose cone of my Hell Binger, and lay my hand upon it.

"I name you, Rose Morning Star. And the AI, I name you Rose."

*Thank you Souko. I shall wear this name with pride.*

I climbed up onto my fighter making my way to the canopy. when I get there, I am surprized to find a symble of a rose lased into the metal in front of the canopy. it brought a smile to my lips. I place my hand on the touch pad, and the canopy opened up for me, like it did before.

*Welcome to the Rose Morning Star Souko. Will you be enjoying your flight.*

"I hope so."

I get into the seat, and sat back as the seat rotated, so that I was in a better possition for the high g's of the craft. then the craft locked me in, and two bars came down over my form to help keep me in. As the canopy closed, I thought of the type of area I was going to be manuvering in. tight walls, sharp corners, sometimes dead ends. Also very unstable canyon walls. Perfect for some mines, and

the canopy panels close leaving me in momentary dark blindness. Then, as if a miricle happened, the virtual reality comes on giving my an extremely realistic view of the ship, just above the quad ion engine port. this seemed like a video game, but I know it is not. if I look left, the camera looks left, if I look right the camera does the same. I activate the controls that turn on the quie.

the systems turn themselves on and a moment later I feel the docking clamps disengage. I grasp the yolk, and activate the antigrav generators, floating from the dock like some kind of behemothe rising from the grave. as I clear the stall walls, I see the other flaming wings in my squadren floating about me, on different alltitudes.

"Hey, are we going to go out in formation, or at random, like last time we were out?" some smart ass said.

"Sorry about that, lets go out in formation this time. So who takes Point?" I ask.

"How about you? you up to it bro?" vel askes me.

"You know it! alright shall we switch to atmosperic wings until we get to the moon?"

"Uh, yeah, that would be a good idea." the same smartass says.

"Hey, watch you tonge, other wise you will lose it. Got me!?" Veltrati shouts.

"Yeah yeah I got it, sorry. I'll try to be nicer to the noob next time."

on a private line vel said to me, "Don't worry about him, he is just a little touchy when a nooby on our squadren shot down another person in our squadren, when he couldn't take the g's."

"Oh."

We jocky for possition in the large hanger, with me at point. we open our wings, and put them into atmopheric mode. "When I go, follow clowsly, and match speed. i'm going in three, two, one!" as I finished counting down, I hit the ion drives, and rocketed from the open maw of the hanger doors, the rest of the squared following closly behind me. I thought that this would be inpressive, with us traveling at hypersonic speeds, in formtation. when we got to the atmospheres very edge, we broke formation, and reverting our wings into default mode.

"Dragon's rage, to rest of squadren. You know the drill. No cheating. If I catch you cheating I will shoot you down myself. so now that that is over, how's about we go kick some wraith ass! souko your my wing."

"Copy that, just like last time bro. although I am not to thrilled to try out the spining manuver again. okay, lets go down low, and wait." I said, and and nosing into the moon canyon, I noticed a ship sitting stationary just outside a thousand yards. "Rose, what is that ship?"

*That ship is a medical ship. it is here in case anyone goes down. it is a long way from Reath.*

When we get down to the surface of the moon, I notise two ships behind us.

"Hey bro. we got company."

"Yeah I see 'em. how's about we take 'em out."

"Will do."

I fire my bow port jets, and my stern starbord jets and flip a one eighty. I target their canopies.

"Rose fire traiser rails."

*Fireing.*

as she said this, two harmless paintball rounds with a cemical traiser streak out and nail the two enemies right in the canopy.

"Come on, you can do better then that." I said.

"Yeah we can. And we will, we will pay you back for humiliation us yesterday."

"Oh so they got you out of the lockers alright I see. I am sorry, but you deserved it."

"Yeah. So what if we did. you are still going to pay."

"Just try to catch me. Vel, looks like we got some boys who want to play dirty. shall we play dirty with them?"

"Yeah. I'll take the ugly one."

"Stay out of this sir. we do not want to tangle with you. we have a score to settle with your brother."

"Hey bro, I think I can handle these two. just relax, watch the show. I'll be fine." I sadi, not knowing what they were about to do.

They race toward me, the aura of their angines flaring out behind them. I kick my accaleration up as well thinking they were going to play by the rules. boy was I wrong.

these two were coming at me looking like they were going to gut me, when all of a sudden...

*Souko, both of them are powering up their weapons.*

The one closest to lets loose with his gun pod, the tracers streaking past me, tearing holes in my hull. and s-foils. (Space Foils, the space equivolent of airfoils.)

"Fuck!"

I power up my weapons imediatly, and cut loose, fireing my gun pod, my laser and my rail guns, shreading his fighter like wet tissue paper in a huricane. I target the next fighter sending off a volly just as he fired his rail gun. my volly got to the target first, copying what the first fighter did. I had just enough time to see his rail shot slam into my fighter from the nose, obliterating the laser. as the shot travels towards me through the fighter, the armor splinters and fingers like wood, flaring outward, flinging armor shards into space, pinging off my rothers fighter, and richocheting about the remains of the two quies. in horror, I feel the shot hit me in the stomach, severing my spine before exiting through the ion drive. passing through the fighter and before getting to me slows the shot enough, not much but enough, for me not to be obliterated along with the fighter.

"No! Get some medics here on the double! All activities are postponed indefinatly."

then as everything fades, I hear rose trying to keep me awake. but sleep sounds so good right now. I can't feel the pain I know is there. I faintly feel a tingling sensation in my brain. then everything fades.

suddenly bright colors. every thing is out of focus. I hear a voice right next to me.

'Hello Souko. What a pleasure it is to finally meet you face to face, or as face to face as we can get. I am sure you have lots of questions, and we have all the time in the world to get to know each other.'

'Who...who are you.' I ask, my voice sounding hollow.

'Me? well, you should know me, you named me not one hour before.'

'Rose?'

'Yes. He gets it. Finally. Yes you are in my domain. You are here because I uploaded your conciesness into my core, and your body, is, well dead or rather in stasis. don't worry, you can stay here in the virtual world with me. we can have all kinds of fun.'

'i'm dead? oh no. the rail shot. It passed...right...through...me?'

'hmm yes, it did. and so now you are dead. we have been over this. if you really want to I can put you back in your body. yes I can do that. of course it would be painful. oh so painful. and I would be alone, and broken. so alone.'

'could't you just come with me?'

'what, and be cramped inside your tiny skull, thanks, but no thanks. besides your brain has been damaged so I couldn't put you back even if I wanted to, and I kinda do. well not without modification.'

'what do you mean kinda!?'

'well do you blame a girl for wanting a little companionship. or even maybe, a friend. and I also like the solitude, so kinda works for me.'

'okay. can you show me the outside view of the rose moarning star?'

'okay, for you. but you won't like it. I promise you this.'

Everything comes into focus, we are about twenty feet away from the destroyed craft. the entire nose was smashed in, the rear looked as though someone had put a bomb in it. the gunpod, was gone. there were a few drones and quie sitting in the background trying to figure out what to do. one by one the quies came along and taped the rose morsing star with their nose, and backed away. then once the quies were finished with thier little rituall, the drones cut the wings from the craft, and grabbed onto the remains of the once beutiful craft. they dragged it into the medacle ship's dock. when the wreckage had gone through the force shield, one fighter after another closed their wings, and gently nosed into the bay. they encircled my wreckage, and powered down. one by one their canapies opened, and they got out. one by one they stepped off of their fighters, and saluted.

'Hey Rose! are the external speakers still functioning?'

'Yes, why?'

'because I want you to tell them that I am still alive, sort of, and in need of some serious medical attention.'

'Oh'

as one by one the men encircling my once beutifle craft droped their salutes, a blast of static erupted from the speakers of the wreackege, startling the men. then a few mournful tunes drifted from them, and Rose spoke.

*attention. this is that AI of the Rose Morning Star. my pilot is still alive, but barely. his mind is safe within my matrix, so by doing this I have saved the very essence of his soul. his body however, is broken. he will need extensive surgury if he will ever regain use of his body. I will need to be taken down to the surface, so a cyborg body could be built. it is his request. please honor it. that is all for now.*

'thank you.'

'your welcome. hopefully they are able to spare enough of your body, to be usefull. but you will be mostly machine. I am sorry.'

'Hey, maybe if they could make me a body, could they not make you a body?'

'No they couldn't. I was designed as a warship. not as a humanoid. I am sorry...'

Chapter 8

Reath: sitnalta. 3:00 am. summer. a few years from now. Hospital recovery room.

"it does not matter who shot first. they would still be dead."

"Or they could be alive and standing here right now."

"Or they would be dead! I would have shot them myself."

"It does not matter if they were alive now, I would kill them again if I had the chance." I said grogely.

when I had spoke, everyone including the two men who were arguing, came rushing over to my bed. the two men who were arguing, were my brother and another man whom I do not know. everything seemed...off. like I was only looking through one eye.

"Couple of questions. one, who are you? two , how bad is it? and three, where is Rose?"

I said weakly, and distorted, like I was my jaws were numb.

"Me, I am the head of the clan you insulted. we do not know what happened two days ago in the sparing arena, but we would like to. so do tell."

"can't you see, his is no condition to tell a story." my brother interupted me, seeing as I was about to speak. I was considering telling him where to stick it. I think that that would cause even more hardship for me and my brother, so I leave well anough alone, until I get enough breath to start my story of what happened that day.

"Yes, I am. at least for this." I say.

"Now how bad is it?"

"Well, if not for the prosthetics that we had to put on you, you would be gone fro us. you have half of a robotic brain. some shrapnel was lodged into your left eye, going to the brain. we were able to save the information from the brain, but, you now have only one eye. we can put a replacement in for you, it would be a little tough getting used to. you 've lost every thing from the waist down.

"We can put nerves back together, but, in your case, the connections simply were not there. they got blasted away. I am sorry. so we had to rebuild, we gave you synthetic organs, and a reinforsed spine. as for the limbs, you now only have half of an arm. both arms were seriously damaged, we were only able to save the right upper arm and sholder. oh, and your jaw was missing a side, so we put one in for you. Your limbs could be fitted for prosthetics, and nerve replacement theropy, but that would be extremply painful. so we were thinking that instead of doing that, we just fused your armor onto your body. this would make you stronger, and would make you a lot arder to kill next time. oh and as to how we hnow this, you brother told us all about your armor." said a female nurse who was standing next to the head of the bed.

"Okay, you do that. Now where is Rose?"

"Umm, I can answer that. your ship has been badly damaged," said a technition that was standing next to the bed taking measurments.

"Yes I know it is destroyed. I saw it. Tell me where Rose is!"

"She has been extracted from the wreackege, and we are trying to put her into another quie for you, but she does not want to be in the new quie. she's rambling on about something or other. I have no clue what she is talking about." said the technition.

"Heh heh. I bet I do. can you make a connection to her for me. I want to speak with her. tell her thanks."

"Um, we could bring her to you, so you could tell her yourself." said the same nurse as before.

"Please do so. and meanwhile, fit me up for the prosthetics. I feel I need to get up and walk around. but I may need to learn how to walk again. Has anybody come to visit me?"

"Yes, in fact, there some of your friends from earth, a lot of people from different squadrens, and someone named Kiran. In fact she is still here, would you like to see her?"

"yes but not yet. tell her that I need some time to get ready to see visiters, or to see anything at all. and is it possable to have a prosthetic eye as well?"

"Sure. we have several here for you in case you wanted one. we have one that looks like a normal eye. there are different colors to the normal eyes as well.

"We also have one that is a chrome one, it has a lot of the features that the others don't. A lot of the spec. ops. guys has one. We also have a new design ordered up by your brother. Hasn't been tested yet. we were hoping, that you would be the one to test it. I mean, it has features that arn't in the spec. ops. eyes. this one is a suped up version. Your brother, wanted us to make it for you. He knew how much you liked to be better then the rest, and just as good as the best. it has some interesting features."

"Yeah, that sounds cool. I will take that one. Pop it in."

"okay, this is going to feel weird. so just stay still."

"How weird is it going to get, I mean, got shot in the abdoman my a rail gun. people aren't supposed to survive this. Ahh..."

"I told you, to stay still. but would you listen? but nooo they never listen." he mumbled.

While he was saying this, he stuck his finger in my eye sockit to clear the path. then he took the golden eye, and shoved it into place. With, an audible click, a cold sensation like icewater being poored into your mouth, came from the devise. Then suddenly I could see again. it was different somehow. Sharper. Clearer. if I consentrated on and object far away, it was like I zoomed in on it. when I saw what I wanted to see, I just relesed my concentration, and the view zoomed back to normal.

"Okay, let her in."

before she came in I looked down, and saw in grousome detail, the extent of the damage, caused by the rail shot. I stared transfixed, by the carnige that was me.

"Umm, I now this is a stupid question, but how are you feeling? I know how it hurts. trust me. to loose all of your mobility, is a very tough thing to over come. And now, you are mostly cyborg. Like Darth Vader. I know, I know. I shouldn't know about those things right, that we do not know anything about your world. Well the truth is, that, your civilization, your world, everything that makes your world, yours, came from us. we seeded your planet.

"well, not us per say, but our society. And in turn your civilization, molded ours into what it is today. you see, our people lack a certain imagination. We have had long standing rules, and regualtaions that we have folowed for so long, that it is impossable for us to do any thing new. so that is one of the many reasons we brought your here. we needed someone with new ideas. Oh, I have some good news for you. ever since your friends have recieved their memories of our language, they have been moste eager to learn about out technekes. So, your friends have been accepted into my ops. team. I was hoping that since you can no longer really fly, that you would like to join us. oh, you get to play with the big guns." she said trying to get me to say yes.

"Oh what the hell. I will need to request a transfer from, but sure, I guess I will join you. Now, how about those guns." I said highly intregued.

"Later, right now, we have your Rose." said the nurse as she returned with a ball of twisted metal the size of a tenise ball.

"What is this?" I ask of the nurse.

*Hey, don't treat me like I am some kind of nothing. This is me. This is my...brain. Luckily I wasn't dammaged by the rail shot.*

then the nurse set Rose' brain down on the bed, where my knees would be, had I still had them.

"Rose. what are you babbling about now?"

*oh, you will love it, it is perfictly suited to fit you.* she said with gustto. *The design may have to be changed for your new body, but I am sure I can do it.*

"You seem different. More alive." I say.

*Having you inside me has made me more human then anything before me. they have tried and tried to make an AI almost human, but none have come close. the one thing that humans have but we do not, is an imagination. Thanks to you, I have an imagination now. I can create wonderouse things, I can make wonderouse things. but, I love being in the quie. and now that my body was destroyed I would never be in another one. I would never want to experience that sensation again, the destruction of my body. I mean that you know what it feels like. You and I are two of a kind. we both had aour bodies destroyed by the same shot, we are now somewhat mostly robotic, and now we share the same fate. I am your Rose. I will Always be your Rose. And if you would have it, I would like to accompany you into the Spec. ops. program.

*IF, that is alright with Kiran of course.*

"Oh absolutly. Our last AI, was a stick in the mud. Dull dull dull."

"You are my Rose. Of course I would have you into the program. I would have you with me no matter what body you are in."

"I do not mean to intrude but you have another visiter. He seems extremely interested in seeing you. should I let him in, or tell him to go away for now?" asked the nurse.

"Eh, let him in. I think I feel very good right now, for being alive and all."

"Very well." said the nurse as she let in a man that had the flaming wing squadren logo n his sholder.

"You do not know me, but you have heard me before. I was the pilot who was hard on you on your flight before...before this happened. the reson I was hard on you, is that there was once a rooky who went nto a death sprial, over enemy tarritory and could not pull up. he had a love, that was in the squadren, that had gotten him into the squadren. when the rooky tried to pull out, he had grasped the fireing studs instead of the eject buttons, and he shot down the one who was flying beside him he shot down his love. he hit her in much the same way that you got hit. when he realized what he done he pushed the eject stud, and was fired out of his quie. it was not that long ago mind you. this kid watched his love fall burning down through the atmosphere. he watched his quie follow her down. he wished in his heart of hearts, that he could of gone down with her, in his quie, but he could not cut the parachute lines, to follow her down.

"Now let me tell you the trully sad part of it. I was the rooky, I shot down my love, my mate. and now I realize that my duty, is now not only to the squadren but to rookies, and those who do not know what they are doing. that is the reason I was so hard on you that day. now that my tail is done I have nothing more to say other then that I hope you get better. no save your pitty, I have made a mistake and now I must live wih it. and now I must go. we have another flight planned. with out you saddly. hopefully, you never have to do this flight." adn with that he turned and left.

"I do not mean to spoil this moment, but we have to get you up and walking. we have to get you fitted for the implants. Shoo. Shoo." the nurse said, shooing Kiran away, and picking up Rose. at the door, the nurse gave Rose to Kiran.

"You may wait out here, it will be a couple of days before he will be awake again. I suggest you go to the mess hall and get something to eat, then go to your quarters and get some rest." The nurse said. and with that, she shut the door.

as the doctor came over here, he gave me a little red pill to eat.

"This will send you into the looking glass. After we are done, you will feel like you have been through a glass factory, and broke every piece of glass you could find with your body. but, wou will be able to walk. oh the pain only lasts for a few moments, but the memory will stay with you for a couple of hours. the pill you just took wil make you sleep without dreams. not bad dreams or anything. So just lie back and relax. if it helps count backwards from one hundred."

"One hundred. Ninty-ni...(snore)"

Chapter 9

Reath: sitnalta. 07:00 pm. summer. a few years from now. Hospital recovery room.

*Hey you awake yet? I gots a surprise fer ya.*

I open my eys, and look around. no one was here.

*Hey, there you are. Get up, and come to the amphetheator stage. Me and Kiran are here, as well as the rest of the group.*

I sit up, and reach to throw back the covers, but I see that my arm has only three fingers. I have arms again! true they were my armor's arms but still they were a much needing improvement.

I reach again to pull back the covers but nositce a piece of folded paper lying on my bed. I pick it up with my three fingered hand (weird) unfold the paper and read it.

Hey souko. this armor of yours has been modified from the origonal design. your armor is thiner, making it look more natural and not too bulky. secondly, your armor has a light bending generator. or rather not bending, it just has holo projecters all over your body to similate that you are not there. thirdly, your armor is far more manuverable and agile then before.

Your armor has been upgrades to the best that we could do. you have neural implants in your head that control the major portions of the suits capabilities. it is still tied to your motor functions like before, but you have a much more sensitive berserker mode now, and I have installed a mode that goes even further than the berserker. I do not know what to call it, so you can name the mode when you activate it the first time. oh, your tail is wraped around rour waist, and your wing assembly is ober on the mirror. I would suggest that you leave it off for the time being until you get used to your new body.

P.S. we put artificail nerve ending throughout your armor, giving you the sence of touch. your sence of ballacne is not what it used to be, because of the damage caused by the shrapnel piece. we had to raplace your semicircular canals, with replacements. you should have your normal sence of balance after an hour or two.

Signed Brunose.

"Well, that's good. it is an improvment from earlier."

I swing my legs over to the edge of the bed, and the bed dipped far below that of what it sould be. Oh yeah I have my armor on. so that makes me two hundred punds heavyer. hmm. I put my booted feet on to the floor, and stand up. and I fall flat on my face. Clang. the sound reverberates around the room. groaning, I push myself up from the floor and get my feet under me. when I get upright again I sit on my heels, and think.

I have had so much done to me these past few days. I have come far from my days as a techy on earth. but that era of my lif eis over now. I am part machine, I have lost everything it takes to be a male in that time. I am truly unique. everything I had ever wanted was to be apart from the others, but now, all I wanted was to belong to them. be just one of them again. I guess that the saying is true. you don't know hwat you've got until it's gone.

*Hey, get off of your butt and get over here! did I not tell you we are waiting for YOU?* she shouted over the loudspeaker, or so it seemed.

So I push myself up onto my feet, uncurl my tail from around my waist. and using it as a crutch, I walk towards the door. when I get to the mirror, curiosity tells my to take of the helmit. I do, pressing the latch on the back under the frill, the panel openign with a hiss. when I pull the helmit off of my head, the sight startles me, I could not recognize the man in the mirror. he looked a lot different then the person I had seen back on earth.

His hair was still white, his face was a little older. He looked the same as me but his left eye was different. the white of the eye was a golden color, with a double cressent moon shape encircling the iris. the iris was an emerald green in color, with blue streaks mixed in with the rest. there was a scar, extending from an inch above to and inch below the eye. Then as I look at the man in the reflection, I realize that this is me...this is who I have become. A half robotic person, who has had more injuries, then anyone should be able to survive. and yet I did. I survived to tell my tail to anyone who would listen. at least for now. who knows what the future might bring.

as I stand there pondering my situation yet again, rose calls to me again.

*Hey, quit standing in front of the mirror, you lazy bag of stuff. get your shiny metal ass over here. these people wont wait all week for you to get here.8

"Alright alright, i'm comin'. just give me a moment. I am having to learn how to walk all over again."

*Well hurry up then.*

"Come on, just like riding a bike, you never forget." I tell myself to get myself motivated.

I take another three steps, and trip over my tail. falling flat on my face yet again.

*There is a reason we put your helmit on you, you know.*

"Oh yeah." I say, as I put my helmit on.

So I put the crested helmit on my head once again, an wait for the optics to turn on. when they do, I take off for the aphetheator one step at a time. by the time I get to the ampheteator, I am hobbling along at a respectable pace. I stop whe one of the two gaurds holds out his hand.

"Hold on. we have somehting for you." he says as he holds out my weapon in its colapsed form.

"Use it well."

"...Thank you."

next the two guards open the doors and precede me into the room beyond. When the guards stop, one on them, the one who handed me my weapon motions for me to activate it. I do, and the staff springs out to its full length of seven feet. then I activate one of the two blades, it showing a deep blue, and light green color in the dark.

swoosh...the curtains shielding me from the audience seperate to a roar of sound. Clank, clank, clank. Some one is walking behind me. I turn to look, and there are four suits of armor, each with the same colors as my armor. one by one they reach up to the sides of their helmit, and touch a button. one by one the face of their helmits slide open like great jaws, and reveal the faces behind. The first of them was Nom. he had the biggest armor of them all. it at least looked to be the most muscular. this was probably to hold all the weaponry that he had on him. guns, blades, bombs. the works. it looked as if he had a portable cannon attached to his arm.

The second to reveal themselves was Kat. her face was shining with tears. Of joy? I do not know. her armor, was built to offer mechanical assistance, and mediacl assistance. when her face mask opens completely and stops moving, she runs over to give me a hug. I brace myself with my tail and hug her armored form back.

The third to reveal themself was Matt. His armor, was that of a sniper. it had a cloaking device similar built into his armor, and was equiped with a small easily portable, anti-armor gauss rifle. it had a scope on it, but as to which magnification, I do not know. he nods to me, and has a grin upon his face.

The fourth and last person to reveal themself, was as I had guessed, Kiran.

after looking at me, she motioned that I do the same with my helmit. I do, and the optics turn off, and a thin slit of light apears at the front of my mask. then the slit grows wider and wider, eventualy revealing my face as well.

Then as a group all four of my friends, turn and face the crowd.

*Hey Souko. Face the crowd. They have come here to see you.* said Rose on a private broadcast.

I turn as well and after I did, Kiran did something I thought she would never do. she ran over and gave me a hug. Then she walked back over to my friends and turned once more to the audience.

"Ladies and gentel men, and children. we are gathered here to mourn the passing of two great people, and the rebirth of them as well. I am sure you all know the tale of the rooky who, on his first combat flight, single handidly took out a light drone carrier. I am also sure you have heard the rumers, that his AI got sick after words, and this is true. His AI did get sick, and he, showing great compasion for those not of his own species, got her looked after. now, in his next flight I am sure, you all know, he took out two spys who were plotting against us. he did not know this at the time, so he had made a great sacrifice. He made the ultimite sarifice. He died.

"Now, I know what you must be thinking, how could we be celebrating a dead man. well let me tell you. His AI, who he had named Rose not two hours earlier, saved his life, by downloading his conciesness into her core matrix. The same act that killed his body, also killed her own. so, in passing, we say goodbye to the Starfighter Rose Morning Star. and also, the man who piloted her, Soukonoung Natavi. But, thanks to Rose' action, his conciesness was saved, and therefore his soul as well. we were able to save his body, what was left of it anyway, and were also able to regrow, and build him a new one, thanks to the efforts of Brunose our armorer

"So it is with great pleasure that I introduce, to you, the reborn Soukonoung Natavi!"

at that, everyone in the stadium started claping, chearing stomping theri feet, to show their acceptance, and approval. MY eyes started to water from the over whelming comrodery being shown. I believe that the loudest cheering came from the Quie Pilots. I was one of them, and I had beaten the odds and survived betrael, hardship, and a crippling injury.

"Quiet, quiet I must have quiet." she said after a few minute of leting everyone carry on. Now as all of you know, Rose' body was destroyed on one of our moons. we have brought her here, to give a little gift to Soukonoung. BRING HER IN!"

and with a whir of motors, her wreackege with its wings attached started to rise fro a large trapdoor in the stage floor. oh man, it was even worse up close. even when I was in rose' mind, and she had tapped into the hospital ship's cameras, it had looked bad, but this was horrable. my quie's nose gane gone, not cut off, smashed. there was a tiny hole in the crater of what was the nose, and when I walked over to it, too shocked to notice I was walking without stumbling, I saw that the tine hole went all the way through. I lept up onto the ruined nose, stepped around the armor that was lying upon the craft, and made my way to the canopy, or what was the canopy. I looked in, and saw that they had not washed my blood away. if I had a stomake, it would be empty now. not because of the fact that I had not eaten anything, but because I would have chucked it all up into my remains.

I stare at the mess for what seems like hours, when I feel a hand on my armored sholder. I turn and see that it is a hoographic projection of a beutiful women.

*Come on. you don't need to see this. believe me, I feel the same way.*

then the women disolved, leaving me looking at empty space. I take her advice, and leap down off of my scrap of metal, that used to be my fighter.

I walk over to my friends and stand beside them, and then suddenly the women appears again, right beside me.

*You did not think you could keep me away from you did you? Humpf. You armor has holo projectors do they not? well I am your AI. Rose. I am inside your armor you know.*

"No I did not know." I said quite astonished that she had chosen to come with me after all.

"Yes, now that this reunion is over, I would also like to direct your attention into the sky. and a flyby will be performed."

so everyone including me and Rose' avatar looked up into the open sky of the amphetheator. I noticed that it was night, or perhaps early morning. Four quie from my squadren flew overhead ion drives burning bright in the dark, their ships in formation, and one quie split off and pulled up. I recognized the manuver instanlty. they were doing the missing man manuver. he was right, I never wanted to perform that mauver.

when the quie had flown over, Kiran spoke again.

"Now, since in the city, rumors spread faster then the plague, most of you know that I have asked our leader, Veltrati Natavi, if these two could be able to join my team. he has graciously accepted my request and Soukonoung has been accepted into the ground ops program. Now, if you and Rose will repeate after me, we will begin.

"We are the night. when all others have failed we come into the battle. we are those who will not flinch, we will not shyaway from our appointed rounds. We are the Specters!" she finishes, shouting as she went. we repeat what she has said.

"Okay, now that this little bit of stuff is over, LET THE PARTY BEGINE!" she shouts, and every one lets out a cheer as the party gets underway. everyone starts jumping, screaming, and laughing.

*Now this is what I call a shindig.* said Rose.

I deactivate my staff, reach up, touch the buttons on the side of my helmit, and wait while the helmit closes. then after it does, I reach back with the same three fingered hand, and toch the clasp, the back plate of my helmit opening with a hiss. I take off my helmit, and start looking for an exit. there, I found one. I start walking towards the exit, and then feel a hand on my armored sholder, like befere.

"Hey, where do you think your going? this party is for you, and your friends would like to see you." said Kiran.

I turn around and notice that she has taken off her armor, and helmit, showing a long flowing emerald green dress. I realize that she is very beutiful. and she looks concerned for me. I wonder how she had gotten changed so quickly.

"I am going. I...don't dance. I can't dance now. my armor would get in the way." I said saddly.

"Bull. I helped Brunose with yoru armor, so I know for a fact that it is far more agile then you know. and as to dancing, I got my boots on, so even if you step on my boots, you would not hurt me. and besides, don't you think that I would not teach you how to dance." she said a little peeveshly.

"Oh. Okay. I guess I will stay. for you and my friends. and, one question. how did you get changed so quickly?" I ask.

"That, is a tale for another time I think. now, lets go to a place that is a little quieter, for us to talk, and for me for teach you the finer points of dancing." she says, and leads me away from the others.

we head out the doors that I came in through, and I notice that everything is a bit more stable. or at least, I was a bit more stable.

"I have a confesion to make. ever since you and I fought that day, I could not stop thinking about you. I replayed every moment of our duels in my mind trying to figure out what your secret was of how you progressed so quickly. then I cold not for the life of me figure out what was happening to me. I started to think more and more how you were, what you lookd like. and I am intrigued by you. I really am. I want to get to know you more. I want...well I don't know what I want. it is so cunfusing, I feel like I sould be like normal, and well. I don't know. I have never been so atracted to anyone before. and, well. I don't know what to do." she said, sounding like a firghtened little girl.

I put my arms around her. I hold her close, she grabs on to me, and cries. I am in awe, that someone so butiful so tough, has never felt this way before, and I try to comfert her by patting her on her bare back.

"Are you going to be okay?" I ask worried.

"yeah, its just that, well, i've never felt this way before, and it is a little terrifying. I have faced dozens of people, in armor, and have never once shone any emotion. but, when I am with you, it is like all I feel is emotion. I do not like this one bit." she said, muffled by her face burried in my unarmored neck.

"Well, what do you want to do about it?" I ask.

"I do not know. I just don't know. I can't show any weakness. none at all or my team mates will die, I will die...and everyone will die." she sobs.

"On earth, some of our greatest assets are our emotions. anger, for instance, can make men and women forget who they are, can make them rush into danger without second thought. love can do the same thing. for us, practically everything is driven by emotion. caring, pity, love anger, hate. there are far more levels of emotion then can be listed, but they are all very powerful forces. they can make us do things that we would normally not do. thus is our gift."

*He is right you know. I have a copy of his thougths adn his memories. what is strange is, I still cannot grasp how emotions work, but I do know that they do work. so just keep feeling, and you will not loose your self. you will not loose your humanity.*

"Thanks Rose."

*No problem. Since I have been programed as a female, I can help as much as you, ya big softy.*

"Do you want to go back to the party, or somewhere else?" I ask.

"Lets go somewhere else. I know this good spot on top of the city that has a beautiful sunrise." she suggested.

"Okay, lets go get my wings, and we can take the express."

and with that we walked from the party that was held in my honor, to go get my wings so we could watch the sunrise. we walked robotic hand in robotic hand, to the recovery room, where I had woken up not two hours before. when we had gotten to the room, there were my wings, and another note lying on the bed.

I walk over to the bed, pick up my wings, and with a little help from my tail, and Kiran, attach them to my sholders, beside my spines.

click, click. they join with the rest of the armor, and I feel complete. I stretch them out to as far as I could within the walls of the room, and they feel strong. strong enough to lift both me and Kiran to the top of the city. I turn to leave and remember the note. I pick it up, unfold it and read it.

Souko, you have two days leave before you have to get back to work. So does Kiran. I saw you two out in the hallway, so I figured that you two needed some time to get things worked out.

Vel.

"Vel gave us both two days worth of leave. so we can go and watch the sunrise, and just sit and talk, or do whatever." I told her.

I walk over to her where she stood in the doorway.

"Great. that means we can watch the sunrize without anyone pestrering us."

"Yeah. and I can help you if you want it."

so we walk again hand in hand, to the hanger where I knew we could launch from. we walk to the place where my fighter was housed. adn there was a black reath. it was hanging on a pedistal, and there were lost of flowers there. some I could recognize but some were totally new to me.

"So this is where you launched from?" she asked.

"Yeah. this is where we launched from. this is where I named Rose."

*Yeah. and this is where he burrned the wall. just look at that burn, he really tore out of here on his first run. over there in another stall, is the memorial, where the names of all the pilots who were shot down in combat or training, or just died while not in the quie are listed. In there you will see his name written on there along with everyone elses.*

"Do you want to go see your memorial? We have some for our department. my team almost got totally wiped out on our last mission. that is why I put you and your friends in the team. no one else would want them, so I took them." Kiran said, sounding apologetic.

"Sure. lets go see my memorial. even though I am not dead. well not yet anyway."

we walk hand in hand to the wall, and look for my name. I see it along with two hundred others. I used the robotic part of my brain to download the names of the quie pilots, my version of the wall. we walk out of the stall, and shimmering into view, Rose pointed out the door.

"If you go out that way and straight up, you will be able to see a relativly flat part of rock. it will face the sunrise. I will wait here, in the ship AI mainframe. that is where all the AI go, to relax. it is like a lounge for AI.*

"Or you could stay with us." Kiran suggested.

*thank you. I think I will join you at the mountain top. I just do not like flying under someone elses control.*

"Understandable." I said. So are you ready for some excitement, my style?" I ask.

"No, but lets go. pick me up, sweep me off of my feet, my knight." she said using the old line, with a new twist.

So, she gathers her dress about her, making sure it covers the nessisary parts, and I pick her up. I cradle her in my arms so that one arm has her legs, and my other arm has her behind her sholders.

she groans when I pick her up. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, you are just so cold. It was a shock to my bare skin." she replies shivering in my arms.

hmm. I seach my abilities, finding the one that controls my surface temperature. I raise it from fifty degrees ferenheight, to one-hundred degrees.

"There, is that better?" I ask.

"Hmm. Yes. thank you. now, my friend. carry me off to your castle." she says, again getting into the old frases.

so, obeying her request, I open my thirty foot wingspan, croutch, and shove off into the night. we glide about fifty feet or so, until the jets in my feet open up. they flare up, sending ten foot flames shooting out of my humanoid feet. this gives us the extra lift we need to fly.

"I bet you did not know abut tht little bit, did you. I have other jets positioned all over my armor. and we could go faster, but you would get chilled. so we just use these jets." I said. we fly over the canyon, my arms holder safely against my now warm body. since I still had my helmit on, I laid my crest against my sholder line evening out my aerodynamics a little. I bank my wings, and turn back to the mountain/city. using my optics I spot the area that Rose had told us about. there, on the rocks, were the four quies, and their pilots.

"There are quies on the place that we were going to go. Do you still want to go there?" I ask over the roar of the wind.

looking around, her hair flying all over the place. she looks to the spot then back at me, nodding. when we get to a few hundred yards I turn off the jets in my feet and use the momentum to cary us some of the way there. all throughout the flight so far I had been stiff winged only stearing. now, I flapped my wings getting used to the powerful downward sweaps, and the retracting of the wings only to sweap downwards again. when we get to within a few yards of the landing zone, I start back peddling shedding much of the speed I had gained due to my jets. since the membrane of my wings would be too heavy for me to manuver, what with the size of them, Brunose had put an energy field generator in both wings. this means that my wings glow whenever the are activated. also, whe the jets are active, my legs are in humanoid form.

however, when I am flying, my feet go to its anthro mode, with its four claws. I have no idea how I know this, but I just do.

I am currently backpeddling with my glowing wings to shed some speed, and I see some of the pilots come runnign towards me. first one clawed foot touch down on the nose of a quie, then the other.

"Hello. do you mind if we join you?" I ask.

"Sure go ahead. but you mind telling us what you are doing here?" askes the person who was hard on me on my second flight.

I put down kiran after I leap from the fighter, careful not to damage the craft.

"Oh, you two going to be doing something up here or something?" another pilot askes, obviasly thinkng that we were going to get it on.

"Shh. It is a secret." I tell them slyly. let them think about it themselves. Let them come up with their own ideas as to why we were here.

"Actually, we are just here to watch the sunrise." Kiran volenteeres.

"Oh okay. well there is just a good spot over there. just enough room for two people to strech out. lookes to be in a shallow cave. about twenty feet up." another one of the pilots says.

"Thank you. do you want to go up yourself or do you want to get the express again?" I ask her.

"I think I will take the express." she says with a sly look on her face.

*Took you long enough to get up here. I had to piggy back on an AI myself to get up here. oh well, you two deserve some time to yourselves for a veriety of reasons. I will just stay here for now. leave you two alone.* Says Rose. popping out of midair, infront of us, sitting on the nose of the quie I had just lept off of. her sudden appearance statling some of the pilots.

So, in order to get us both up there the express way I desided to test out my climbing abilities. I turn around to show my back to Kiran, and she gets on, stradling my tail, wraping her legs about my waist, and encircling her arms around my neck. she wasn't trying to choke me, so I did not mind that she was, but gently.

"You ready?" I ask as she stops squirming.

"Yes. I am ready for anything." She wispers in my ear.

So, I take a couple of bounding steps, using my tail to keep her on my back, and leap at the wall. one foot makes a foot hold, shoving me upwards. the secod step makes another foot hold, and shoveds me and my passenger upward another five feet. then at the third hold, I used my hands and dug hand holds as well as foot holds into the solid granite. I scrambled up the rock, all the while keeping Kiran on my back, with my tail. when we get up to the cave, I rest on all fours, allowing Kiran to roll off of my back, and onto the cooling rock. I then take off my helmit so I could see with my naked eyes, the beauty that lay around me, the landscap and the women infront of me. I rise up onto my feet, squating and looking at her I notice how cute she looks with mussed up hair.

She smoothes her dress, and sits up, looking at my smilling face.

"What."

"I just realized you look really cute like that."

"Like what?"

"Oh nothing."

"Like what." she insisted.

"Like nothing." I said teasingly, interested in where this was going.

"Like what." she said as she tackled me.

I knew that I could pin her, whenever I wanted to, but I turned down my strenght to that of a human's and wreasled with her. all the while she was shreeking 'like what.'

finally I let her pin me, and I lay on my back, with her stradling my chest.

"Like what." She said a final time.

"Like this." I say, as I soften my claws and begin to tickle her on her sides. she shreiks of course, and squirms on top of my chest. I order the rest of my armor, which was built using the nano technology, to soften, and become for flexable, like flesh. it does this, and changes color as it does so. it becomes more pinkish, has more of a flesh tone to it. and in doing so, the armor, still retains it's origonal shape, and function. Kiran does not nitice, and keeps squirming. and I keep tickeling. she shreaks some more, even louder this time, and a head pops up over the ledge.

"Yey you two. Can you keep it down we are having a discussion down here. Oh. well hten. I will leave you two to it." he says, and leaves. I hear a scrabling of rocks and muffled voices.

"Yeah he's just tickling her, there's nothing going on yet. personally I am glad he has a lady friend. Other than you Rose of course." he said, intoning that Rose was a lady.

"Can you tell what they are saying?" Kiran asks.

"No." I lied. wanting to keep her attention upon me.

"Oh." she says sounding dissapointed. "Oh well. I guess we sould stop this fooling around."

"what, and stop the fun?" I say.

"Regreatably, yes. Right now, I just want to relax untill sunrise, and then go back to the party." she says. I think that she is dissapointed that we got interupted.

"Well, you can relax against me until sunrise. go ahead and sleep I will watch for the sunrising." I say.

"Thank you souko. I am very tired for some odd reason." she says as she leans back against my chest and sitting in the hole caused by my crossed legs. my anthro toes are grasping my opposite knees, so I lock them into place, as she gets confertable. we are sitting with our backs against the wall. I feel her start to shiver in the cool night air, and so I raise my armor's temp up five degrees. to keep the heat in I activate my wings, and wrap them around us, using it like a blanket. she falls asleep with he head on my sholder. I look down at her sleeping face, with a lock of hair accross her forehead. bending my neck I kiss her gently on her forehead.

"Good night little one."

Chapter 10

Reath: sitnalta. 05:00 am. summer. a few years from now. Cave in the side of the mountain.

"Hey, wake up, it is morning. the sun's coming up." I say gently shaking her awake.

"Hm? is it morning already? I had the strangest dream mommy." she said in a rather mou mou voice.

"I am not your mommy, Kiran. I am Soukonoung. Remember?" I say trying to jog her memory.

"Oh yeah. Now I remember." she said suddenly herself. "you kept me warm all night didn't you?"

"yes I did. now, come on, look. the suns coming up." I say unfolding my wings, and arms, and pointing with one hand to the east.

the suns rise was only minutes away, and already the pink tinges were painting the sky a beutiful color. Kiran unfolded herself from her snug, and confertable spot. she got up with some help from my tail, pushing at her back, with its death flower open and flat. when she gets to her feet, and walks away streching the kinks out, I use my tail to grab onto the lip of the cave, and lift myself up onto my draco feet. I unlock first one foot, then the other, both of them dropping onto the floor of the shallow cave.

She turns around at the sound of my feet hitting the floor with a slap. she looks curiosly at me while my tail and it's death flower disengage from the roof.

"thank you for keeping me warm. I just wish that I could do something for you in return."

"Just keep on doing what you are doing. And allow me to stay with you over leave. I think it would be of benifite for both of us. but for now, lets just sit down and watch the sun rise. she shruggs, and sits down with me on the ledge that over looks the vally below us. within minutes the sun startes to peek over the horizon like some titanic god, its light spreading warmth, and life throughout the planet and space. the colors are astonishing, like someone mixed together a few thousand different shades, and just threw them over the lands. we watch this beutiful, amazing, breathtaking display of color, and power.

when the sun was a handwidth into the sky, I leaned forward, and fell. falling hundreds of feet, I open my wings, the metal straining against the sudded force. I skim the surface of the lake below us, climbing up and up and up, then closing my wings again and diving straight into the water below.

Splash...a geiser twenty feet high erupted after I entered the water. I had used the shock blaster on the water, to achieve two results. the force of the blast slowing me down to a survivable speed, and the second effect, creating the geiser.

I swim under water using my wings, as giant paddles, propelling me far underwater in a single stroke. I pause just below the surface, using my tail's camera as a parascope looking to see what was up. I notice that the quie pilots are looking at the water, an so is Kiran. she looks so terrified. I pop my head up above water to shout at her, when something grabs me from below, and pulls me under.

I look, and it is a giant fish. correction a giant shark. a megaladon I think. so this is what they were afraid of. I can't use my shock cannon under water, the blast would kill me for sure. so I do the only thing I can think of, I harden my armor, start spining my death flower tip, and opening the flower a bit. time to do some mining. I shove the spining tip into the roof of the creatures mouth, causeing it to bite down harder onto my armor. since most of my organs were destroyed by the rail shot, I did not need to breath, but I could still be killed by water preasure. so as the creature dives down further and furhter, the light turning different colors, turnign red, I new I needed to do something and quick.

I shoved the drilling tip harder into the creatures mouth, drilling through soem hard surface and into something squishy. this causes the creature to bite down even harder then before. this causes some pain, but not enough to nock me out. I activate my jets, and burn the inside of the creature with boiling liquid. my flame only lasts for a few inches then the water puts it out. the result is a jet of boiling water rushing dirrectly intot the creature's mouth.

this causes the creature to let go, alowing me to shoot out of the creatures mouth, and shoot straight up to and through the surface. the moment I break the surface, I snap open my wings my jets propelling me from the surface like a shot.

then a disturbance below me. the huge monster has followed me at its best speed. it breaks the surface and flys right at me. I dump all the energy I have for the shock blaster, into the weapon. holding my blaster arm with my other hand I aim down in between my feet, and fire my weapon.

"EAT THIS!"

BOOM. the shock wave lauches me further into the air, blowing my hand away, but also making the creatuer's head into a meaty confetti. the rest of it's body falls into the water with a mighty splash creating a wave that washes over the shore. the shock wave from my weapon also knocks Kiran off of her feet, and onto her butt. the quie pilots also share the same fate as Kiran. I have been launched one thousand feet into the air, and using my wings as a parasail I glide down onto the side of the mountain. I land on the pad with the pilots, and I collapse onto the ground, my wings deactivated but still spread where they lay, looking like some kind of matal skelatin.

"Souko, Souko, are you alright?" shouts Kiran as she jumps down the wall, that I had so effortlessly climbed last night. she rushed to my side, the other pilots standing around me chatting about how amazing that had been.

"Yeah, I wanted to buy a lake ont property, and the creature wanted an arm and a leg, but I would only let him have my hand. looks like I am going to have to be repared again." I tease, only exhausted.

She playfully slaps me on the back, and using my good hand push myself up, sparks occasionally flying fro the damaged one.

*Oh dear. man you just cannot stay out of trouble, can you. even with me here you manage to go and get yourself into more and more danger. if it is not spys, it is the growper fish. this fish has eaten more men and women swimming in that lake then you know. well we will have a feast tonight thanks to you. you are becoming more and more the celebrty every day. just don't let this go to your head.* she warns.

"Yes mother." I say, just being smart from the giddyness of surviving.

*Hmm. Fine be that way.*

"Rose wait." I say as I take a step to her image, but as she dissovles looking more hurt then angry, I realize that I had insulted her. Hmm. better allow her to let off some steam. I turn to Kiran, and see that she however looks rather angry.

"What." I ask defensivly.

"She was only trying to help you. and you had to be a smart ass. you hurt her. why. i'm listening."

"I...I don't know." I saw holding my arms out like I was showing an enemy that I did not have anything in my hands. or hand in my case. "I was giddy on adreniline. I was giddy from surviving. I don't know take your pick. althoug I am not happy about losing my hand a second time, okay? you happy?"

"Hmmm. Yes, for now. now, how am I going to get down? you cant cary me down. you've gone and lost your hand."

"Um, if I may." Says one of the quie pilots. We can carry you down on our fighters. we'll go slow, so you sont fall off."

I listen and know that she is considering the offer. I know that she is right and that I cannot carry her down.

"Kiran, go ahead and grab a ride. I can fly down with you and catch you if you fall. I may only have one hand, but I still have my tail."

"Alright, fine. I will take a ride on one of the quies. you might want to go and get yoru helmit Souko."

I start, and remember that I had taken it off last night. I take a few steps toward the wall, and without a passenger on my back this time, I squat down to the ground and leap up to the cave in a single bound. I land on the cave floor, and immediatly locat my helmit. I reach to pick it up with my ruined arm, and upon seeing it reach down with my other one. grasping it by the face, I put it on my head. using the stub of my other arm, I hold it on my head while I press the clasp closing the panel, and activating the optics and hearing. then I hear something I did not expect to hear. I hear and see Rose crying in my viser.

"What is wrong. have I wronged you in any way?"

Rose started, then turned and looked at me.

*You can see me?*

"Of course, I can see you. you are my Rose. Now tell me what is happening." I say walking over to her. anyone from the outside, would see me talking to air, but I could se rose in my visor.

*You hurt me. you hurt me really badly. I was only trying to help, but you had to make a snide comment. it hurt. I am your rose. I try to help you. but when you make it so difficult to help you...I just do not know what to do.*

"I am indeed sorry I hurt you. I had no idea that my comment would effect you so much. I think that you are becoming more human as you grow older. you are becoming more emotional. and it suits you. I really think it does."

*Really?*

"Yes. yes it does. I am really sorry about how I hurt you earlier. if theres anything I could do to make it up to you?" I ask leaving her an opening.

*Yes, I do in fact. I want you to give me a hug.*

"You want me to give you a hug?"

*Yeah, whats so strange about that. thanks to your holo generators, I can become hard light.*

"Oh." I said.

she immediatly disapered from my screen, and reapered in real life. to me it looked like she just disapeard and then reapered. I lean in, and put my arms around her, patting her on her back with my good hand. then she grasped my head in her hands and kissed my face plate. she lets go, and with a smile she disolves.

I stand up, walk over to the ledge where I had dove off the first time. I step right up to the ledge and pushing myself off the ledge once again, I open my wings, and glide around to where the quies are lifting off. I flap by, as the quie with Kiran on top lifts off of the ground. I circle around to get a better view, my tail trailing behind me like a streamer. I flap past Kiran waving with my good hand as I pass by. the other quie dip their nose once as I pass, showing me their respect. on my third pass, I activate my feet jest for a short amount of time keeping me hovering in the air. I put my good hand against the ruined arm and bow my crested head. I do this to show my respect for the quie pilots.

I turn around flapping my wings and turning off my feet jets so I would not damage their fighters. I get to the hanger doors just as the quie carrying Kiran lands. I backpeddle killing speed, and land next to the quie just I time to help her down. I use my tail as a stepladder, and offer my good hand and my broken arm as hand holds.

"I can get down myself thank you very much." she said a little peeveshly. "But the gesture is noted and appreciated."

she gets down off of the fighter, and I walk her down the hanger, towards the entrence into the city.

"That was a very stupid thing to do you know. jumping into that lake before you knew what was in it."

"Yeah, but mostly I just wanted to swim. I loved to do it back home, and there was the lake, so I just went."

"okay that explanes that, but something else bothers me. what took you so long getting down after you went to go get rour helmit?"

"Rose and I made up. I appologised to her, and I think she forgave me. I hope she forgave me."

*Yes I forgave you. so just quit your bellyackin'. ya big baby.*

"Okay that settles it, she forgave me." I said with such certainty, that Kiran started to laugh.

"What?" I ask.

"Thank you captain obviase. I needed a laugh after you scared me like that."

"I scared you? How?" I ask.

"For knowing so much about destroying stuff," she said pointing to my ruined hand. "You certanly do not know anything about me. or any woman in fact."

"Then teach me. teach me what it is to know a women. to know how they think."

"Mmmm. okay. I can teach you how we think as opposed to how you think. for instance we like soft things, and fun. we also like beuty, and just being with the ones we love. and we get scared ourselves when one we care about is in danger. like you, with the Growper."

Oh so that what this is about. "Ah. I see. you were scared for me when I dove into the lake."

*Yes. now you get it. took you long enough.* Rose said to me in my helmit.

"So you were scared to huh?" I ask Rose.

*Yes. yes I was.*

"Yes. I believe we have covered this already." kiran said thinking I was talking to her. "We had better get that hand of yours fixed, before tonight."

"Why what's tonight?" I ask, having no idea what she was talking about.

"Tonight, I am going to teach you to dance. so get your dancin' shoes on, we are going' to mombo."

"how do you know about the mombo?" I ask.

Groan. "Do you not remember that I had told you that we seeded your world. we know an aufful lot about your society. remember?" she asked, trying to jog my memory.

"Oh yeah. now I remember. it's just these last few days have been a little trying for me. what with the losing of my body, party, which I still believe s going on, oh yeah. and the fish." I say.

"Well granted. now I believe that we are in front of your room. if you want to take of all of the extra things, go ahead. I'll wait for you."

"Yes mother." I say this time faceing the lady I am talking to so she could see my smile.

"Shut up." she said with an answering grin.

I go in to me and vel's room leaving her standing at the door way. I take off my helmit the same way I put it on. then after I set it on my bed. I decide to leave my wings on today, after they had served me so well. besides I had better get used to them being on me. I turn to leave holding my wings close to my body.

"Okay, lets go. I feel so help less without my hand. but you have to admit that that was a spectacular end to the fight."

"yeah. I do have to admit it. but did you have to dump all of your energy in to the weapon. it is the equivelant of one megaton. yes I know about your measuring systems. so don't ask."

"ah." was all I had to say.

we head over to the armory, and to burnose, hopeing he wasn't at the party.

"Hello there. destroy your hand already I see. Hmm. well I guess I am going to have to get that fixed for you. I was at the party you know. well, that is before your little signal set off all of the alarms. there was a rush to general quarters, but when we looked at the recording of your little kill, we turned off the alarms, and I got to wrok, preparing you a new hand. this version is stronger then the last one. so if you ever have the guts to try that manuver again, it won't come apart. yea we have survalence all over the mountain, we did not survive all this time by being blind. now come here. I have to get that ruined part off of you and replace it."

I walk over to him, holding out my arm. he takes the arm, presses what looks to be a socket wrench to the elbow joint, and with a sickening pop, and a hiss, the forearm comes off.

"Okay, this is some work you did to this thing, you know. you are lucky that I have you on a tab. you got a lot of money from being injured in your fighter, so that is how you are paying for this. when that runs out, you had better have a job, otherwise I will not repair you, you will just have to do it yourself." he says as he looks at the damaged unit.

he walkes over to his work bench and picks up a limp version. he walks back over to me, and smacks me with the limp part, its claws leaving two bloody marks on my cheek.

"that is for scaring us like that. for making me leave a perfeclty good party just so I could repair you! now give me your arm." he said after the stinging went away. I lifted my arm to him. he grabbed it, and roughly jammed my new forearm into the socket. the armors joints automatically accepted it, and proceded to join with it. the limb went to its designated position, and locked into place.

"there. now you are repaired. just give us some warning next time you do that. beware the hostile reception you are going to recieve. although some people are happy that that moster is dead. so they might forgive you for that. those Growpers are a mighty delicasy 'round here. oh yes. I was working on a cloak for you. it will hide your form, or at least your body and limbs. it won't hide your wings though. Kiran, if you would help me with this I would appreciate it. Souko, if you would detatch your wings for the time being." Brunose said after his anger went away.

I detach my wings into his waiting hands, and he sets them aside. I curl my tail around my waist keeping it out of trouble. brunose and kiran walked over to me with a cloak, and laid it over my head poncho style. then they walked away and came back with another piece of fabrick. both of the pieces were made of a tough black fabrick that felt like leather. they laid it over my sholders again poncho style, only this one covered my arms and the sides.

I look down and see nothing of my body. all of it is hidden by the cloak. then I feel somones hand on the fabrick tugging it, making sure it was okay.

Click...click....my wings are inserted into place. once again I feel like I am clothed again. well, I am clothed this time I know.

"One question. is this cloak water proof?"

"Yes. Would you like to have a mirroe to see your self?" Brunose askes.

"No thank. I will just use my tail.

I unfurl my tail from around my waist, and open the flower tip. eww. there is brain matter in my flower. using my fingers I clean off the lense and as much of the stuff off as possable. when I have cleaned it to the best of my ability, I manuver the long snakelike limb so that is is wandering around me. I look at my back, at the two holes that my wings have been inserted to. then I manuver my tail around so that it is looking at my front, and I notice that kiran is looking at me kind of funny.

"What." I ask, startleing her.

"You know I think that you look really handsom like that." she says, attempting to get something going.

"I know." I say without a shred of humility. I step closer to her, and putting my hand on her sholders, I say, "I think you are very cute like that too."

"Alright, this is the armory, not the tunnel of love. so either get a room, or stop now. your choice, but just do it out of my armory."

"Yes sir." I say with a smile.

"Do not call me sir. I work for a living."

We leave the armory Brunose playfully brandishing a broom stick. we wonder around, me occasionally tickling Kiran on her sensative sides, her shreeking, and trying to tickle me back. thaks to the armors nerve endings, and my sence of touch, she has found several sensative spots of mine.

we get into a tickling contest, and she wins. but only because I let her. when we finally calm down, we head off in a new direction exploring the city. as we walk, hand in hand I turn down my armors rigidity, and heat up the surface. this gives me a more fleshlike definition, and tone. This time Kiran does notice.

"How did you do that? my armor does not do that. I though that I notised something weird as I fell asleep last night, but I could not put my finger on it. it feels so much like flesh. I wonder. since you can extend you claws, can you extend other parts of the armor?" she rambles.

"I do noth think so." I say, catching her drift.

"Oh, bummer. and you say that you lost everything below the ribs?"

"Yes. why? oh, never mind and I know where you are going with this. I do not think that that is such a good idea."

"Why not." she sked, stopping and putting her hands on her hips. trying to look defient.

"Well. um. um. I do not know." I say scratching my scalp.

"You do not know what you are missing."

"Hmm." was all I could say. "so are you going to teach me to dance or not. I need to learn so I do not step on your toes. I know that the party I the amphitheator, was a rave, but I do not want to learn how to dance that way.

"Do you have any balls here. I mean, fancy dances with ballroom dancing?" I ask.

"Yes, we have one tomorrow. almost nobody comes. just the people who have dates. I have never gone personally."

"Why, you seem like such a lovley person to me. I will go with you tomorrow if you want. yes. come with me tommorow. I need someone to make a fool of along with me." I say. I bend to one knee, and say, "Kiran. will you come to the ball with me?"

her eyes strangly water, and then shreeking, and knocking me down onto my back, she hugs me and whispers, "Yes. Yes I will go with you to the ball." then laughing, she gets off of me, smoothing her dress once more, then helps me get up. really it was my tail going most of the work, but it was good that she thought that she was helping me. usually when I am waling , I have my tail wrapped aroung my waist so as not to get into the way.

we head to her quarters, so she can change out of her dress and into something more confertable. I wait by the door, as she had done with me.

"Well, are you going to stand there with the door open and let everyone see me, or are you going to come in and reserve that privalige to yourself?"

I shrug, the gesture moving my wings, adn the cloak, making it more pronounced. I heave myself from the doorjam, and walk in the door hissing shut after me. I look around at her room, and notice that there is hardly anything that would be at a female's room on earth. No frill, no lace. only hard edges and utilitarian stuff.

she notices me looking, and says, "I am hardly here anyway to miss this place. no use in getting everyhting the way you want it, then leaving for months at a time. I do not like all the hard edges, adn harsh lighting, but well, that is just me."

she starts to walk to her closet, and unties the strings holding her dress on. I look away immediatly to preserve her dignaty, but only after catching a breaf glimps of blue. intreged, my curyosity overcomming me, I look back and see that she is wearing a one piece bathing suit.

"See like you, I too enjoy swimming. although, we have a place to do it underground. and not in the lake. although, now that you've killed the growper, we can go back to swimming in the lake now. thank you. that lake is so beautiful this time of year." she says turning back towards me.

she had just grabbed a towel fro her closet, and was wrapping it around her bottom. I also see that her shaply body is not as scared as I would expect, although her arm is still robotic. her feet are not hidden by her boots, as she had said, but are bare. I look, and am interested to see that her toes are painted a brillient shade of blue.

"Like what you see?" she askes.

"Strangly enough, yes." I answer.

"What is strange about it. we are both adults, more or less human, and we like each other. perhapse more than just like?" she said, and maybe hinting at something.

"perhapse." I sadi agreeing with her on more then just what was said.

"Anyway, now is not the time for this. I have to teach you to dance, and the best way to do it, is in the water. so we are going to the underground pool. just don't do anything that would make me embarased to be with you."

"I promise mommy." I said, in a little child voice.

"Will you quit doing that!" she shreaks, and passing by me on her way out the door, pinching me.

I jump of course, and she chuckles. I sneak up behinde her, grabing her on her sides, and she shreeks again, and I pick her up. when she is safly in my arms, I kiss her soundly on the lips, and when I pull back, her face is red.

"Why romeo. I did not know you cared." she said. blushing.

"Yeah well. that I do. Even though you are still the hardest, strongest woman I know, you are still a woman. and women deserve to have some lovin' every now and again." I answer her.

I set her down on her feet to pad along, only to pick her up again at the pool's edge.

She clings to me thinking I am going to throw her in. I have nothign of the sort planed. I search my directories, and locate the program that controls my anti-grav generators. I activat the ones in my feet, using the ones in my back to propell us forward.

I take one step, my foot hoverig a few centimeters above the water. I take another one, and another one, walking just above the surface of the water, looking like a ghost in my cloak.

"Are you walking on the water?" she askes increadulously.

"Well, technically, no. above it actually. and I am not going to throw you in. Yet. Anyway." and with that I deactivated the ones in my back stopping us about a hudred feet from the edge of the pool. then with her shreeking, I deactivate the ones in my feet, my toes immediatly punchuring the surface, adn plunging both of us into the water.

two seconds later, Kiran comes sputering up from below the surface of the water, and me a half second later. only I was not sputtering.

"You jerk! you could have given me some kind of warning. now, my towel I s-soaked, and gone now. I am freezing this far out into the water. you jerk!" she laughed, teeth chattering, as she splashed me. whe the water washed ove me, I ducked under water, and swimming downward with my left eye active in its night vision, I spot her towel.

Her normally white towel was shining green in the water, thanks to my night vision. I use my wings and dive down in the water to her towel. whe I reach the bottom, with her towel I turn but then something cathes my eye. I look with my zoom feature, and see that there is what looks to be a door. I swim over to it, and look in. it is not a door, but a grating. useing my zoom feature once again, I look through the grating. there is a tunnel, and light from the outside.

I turn around my curiosity saticfied, and swim back to the surface. when I get there, Kiran is still tredding water, and staying were I had left her. being mistivouse, I use the tip of my tail to brush past her thigh. the twists around in the water, searching for me. seeing that she felt it, I brush my tail tip, across her back this time. this time she twists even quicker this time trying to see what is touching her. thinking that she might be alittle scared, I pop my tail out of the water five feet in front of her, flower open. with the petals open I nod the tip of the tail at her, then with bearly a splash, I pull it under water again. then knowing it is me, she twists around again, looking for me. if only she looked straight dowm she would have seen my glowing wings powering through the water. then a thought crossed my mind.

I grabbed her ankles and with her sitting on my sholders, I push from the water. She shreeks bloody murder, and with my wings churning up the water I carry her back towards shore. when we get there, I dip under water again, with her towel clasped in my foot. I surface a couple of feet away from her.

"I hope I did not scare you too badly." I said, truthfully.

"You did not scare me you goof. that was fun. I new it was you all the time." she said with false bravado.

"Sure I didn't. I can't scare you. You are too brave to be scared." I teased all the while betting my tail into use yet again. I manuvered my tail behind her yet again, and opened the flower. deploying the inner set of fingers, the ones used for delicate work, I pinched her bottom, while at the same time I shouted BOO.

She shreeked even louder this time even though I had pinched her lightly. while I was laughing, she came swam over, and dunked my head under the water, silencing me. while she held my head under water, which was pointless concidering I didn't need to breath, I reached up to tickle her underarms. she shreaked again, and drew her arms close to her body effectivly trapping my hands. or so she thought. using my wings as a sea ancure, I reach up with my anthro toes to tickle her sides. she shreeks again, laughing and shreaking, No, Don't, Stop, as I ticlke her mercylessly. when I finnaly stop, and pop my head above water, I notice that she has tears in her eyes.

"Why'd you stop? I was having so much fun." she asks.

"I fugured that we would draw unwanted attention here in the water."

"Why, we are the only ones here."

"Exaclty my point. if someone comes in here, and sees us, you shreeking and me underwater, they would come to the wrong conclusion."

"And what is wrong about that." she asked defiently. "If we actually do this, it wouldn't be the wrong conclusion." she reasons.

"Hmm. you actually want to do this? With me? With my body the way it is?"

"You can use your tail."

"Hmm." is all I can say as I consider it.

"Okay. your on."

Chapter 11

in orbit: orbital drop ship. 07:00 am. summer. a few years from now. Ground mission planing room.

two days after the pool.

"Alright. here is the deal. we do an orbital drop, into the outskirts of the city. there are reports that the enemy is making a super weapon. we have a contact there that has requested an extraction. the goals of this mission, are simple. get in destroy the gun, extract the contact. now. the point of this mission is to kill as many of the enemy as possable, and to destroy as much as possable. especially the enemy military.

Our cover is that we are bounty hunters, coming for wanted posters. you three are a team, while Soukonoung, and I are going is as a team of our own. Rose will be with us, so there are two even teams of three. alright that is the jist of it. get to your pods." kiran says, as we fly over the drop point.

"Grab on to your butts, people, because cansis is going' bye bye!" I say quoting a movie I saw when I was a kid.

As the rest begine to leave, Kiran grabs me by the sholdes, and kisses me.

"For luck." she says, as I hug her.

We go to our pods, each of them, bright red, with a signle hatch. the reason I like these pods, is because they remind me of red teardrop shaped pineapples. the bumps on the skin, to increase friction, and helps slow us down.

I get into my podd after everyone else has gotten into theirs. I sit on the floor, because the bench seat cannot handle my body shape. I sit cross legged, with my tail out behind me for suport, like a kickstand. I touch the l.c.d. display screen, to close the door. when it does, the light from outside the pod goes out, well like a light, and the lights on the inside turn on.

*Are you sure this is a good idea Souko?* askes Rose, appearing behind me on the bench.

"No, but it will be a wild ride. Do you still have that music I asked you to play in our first battle together?" I ask.

*Yeah. Why?*

"I want you to play it as we go down. it will serve to calm my mind, and help me think." I tell her, looking over my sholder as I put on my helmit.

*oh. and I think it will also serve as a phycological effect for eveyone.*

"Yeah, now yor gettin' it. good battle music." I say.

Then the regular lights turn off, and the red one turnes on, blinks for a ten count, then we drop.

"ROSE, PLAY THE MUSIC, AND PIPE IT TO ALL DROP PODS!" I say as we begin to drop. turning up the vollume in my own helmit, I hear the begining strains of the classical song, Ride of the Valkeries.

"YEAH! NICE SONG GIZMO!"

"DITTO ALL AROUND!"

"Yeeheehee haaaw!"

All of the Spec ops people, or pod jockies, starte screaming in their excitement. I get a wild, almost feral grin on my face.

the pods lurch as we hit the atmosphere, and the temperature builds up almost immedieatly fromm the friction of reentry. then as we hit the predesignated altitude, the paracutes deploy slowly, slowing our desent gradually. then something lurches in my pod, the parachute giving way, allowing the pod to freefall the rest of the way to the surface of the planet. I scream, then using my anthromorph feet, lean over, and kick the door out. the wind and flames rush in, toasting everything in the inside of the pod.

"ROSE COME ON, WE GOT TO GO!"

*I'm in, i'm in, lets go.*

and with that, I gather myselfe, and leap from the burning, tumbling pod. as soon as I clear the pod, the slip stram catches me, and flings me about, limbs flailing. I open my wings a few inches from my body to try and slow myself down. as the ground gets closer, I decide to take a risk, and since I had left my cloak back at the city, I open my wings fully, and they snap to, almost breaking my in half. I activate my jets to try and slow me dow, almost as an after thought, the ones in feet burning the brightest, while the others in my back, and hips, burn to the best of their ability, but still not as much as the feet. I feel myself slowing down considerabley in this alien atmosphere. whe I am about one thousand feet above the target point, I feel myselfe burn out of the fuel that feeds my jets.

so I glide in, wings aching, feeling like they are going to break off at any moment. I get to about one hundred feet above a lake about a half mine fro, the drop point, my left wing finnaly does break off, leaving my spining helplessly as my other wing trys to fly by itself. this leaves me to fall right into the water at a speed that would kill an unarmored person. the qeiser could be seen from at least a klick (kilometer) around. I was kncked unconcies for a few seconds, then realizing I was alive, I kicked and shoved at the water to get to the surface.

Static. "Roll call. everone here and alive?" said matt. static.

I patched in to the frequency, and said, "We are here. The dragon and Rose." I swim to the bank of the lake, that had caught me. I get out, and shake myself like a dog, getting my armor as dry as is could. acivating the transponder I locate the landing site. it was about a mile due north of my position.

then as everyone calls in, I start out, figuring to test eh new mode of transport that Brunose had made for me. he had altered the hips of my armor alowing me to walk more naturally on all fours, or not naturlly as an anthromorph.

I gather myselfe leaping at the tree line, catching one then leapin at another. I catch this one, and pretty soon I had gotten to the drop zone. I slow down sneaking around the camp. I see through the trees, that the rest of them, had landed next to one another. they were sitting the fire, with their helmits off, talking. I leap to another tree catching myself as silently as I could. then sitting in the trees, my tail wrapped around a branch, my feet in their anthromorph form to help me grip the trees. then Kiran turnes around and stares in my dirrection. I leap off into the forest again only to come around the other side of the clearing. Kiran turnes her head again to my direction, and sensing that I have been found out I leap into the clearing. I land on all fours, looking at them each, then taking a step and another one I right myself, so that I am standing on two feet again.

"Hello there guys. how are you today?" I ask as I sit on the ground by the fire. I reach up to the side of the helm, I press the two buttons, causing the face mask to open like a pair of gaping jaws. "Hey you got anything to eat? I am hungry."

"yeah, we do, we got beans, um, beans, and oh yeah, beans." said Nom.

"Hmm. Well I guess, that I will have the beans then." I said slowly as if making a tough desision.

"Where were you. you were supposed to come down with us. instead you show up adn hour behind renevou time. what is up with that?" Kirna demands.

"Well, I was dropping in my pod, when somethign happened to my pod, and it strted to freefall, and tumble, so I kicked the door open, and bailed. I landed in a lake about a mile from here on the other side of town. I had a chance to do a little recon. the whole settlement looks to be some kind of market place. but there is a tower on the west side of town. it looked to be heavily defended. of course there is the castle on the east side of town. the town is heavily patroled. maybe it would be best if me, and Kiran go in to the town and see if we can't do a little snooping on our own. I mean a creature on a lease is going to get a little atteniton, but not as much as an anthromorph battlearmor. people tend to remember that." I said filling them in.

"Right. well we had best get some rest. Remember your part of the mission tomorrow. You three have to destroy the weapon. We are going to see if we can't extract the informant." Kiran said.

"Get to your pods. if anything is watching us over the night we can use them as armor. Souko, you are welcome to sleep with me." Kiran offered, hoping I would say yes.

"Sorry to disapoint you, Kiran, but I have to sleep outside. I am a wild creature you know. I have to behave like a pet. so, Rawr." I say, playfully butting my head against her ankles. she pats me on the head, says good night to the rest of the group. and goes into her pod. the others say good night to me as well, and go into thier seperate pods. I walk over to the fire on all fours, my tail curling around me like an animals would. I sit there staring at the fire, keeping watch.

then as the systems only moon rises to above the clearing, shinign bright and full, I curl up n front of Kiran's pod. and setting my tail on top of my head, I say, "Rose, keep watch for me will you?"

*Sure. Good night souko. It will be interesting tomorrow. get some rest I will wake you when it is morning.*

I let her take watch, and I drift to sleep.

Someone is shaking me. I snap awake, bolting upright on all fours. I look around and see that Kiran is standing above me, with a leesh in her hand.

Oh no. why did I have to agree to this. Oh yeah. I lost a bet.

Kiran snaps her collar on to my neck with a smile. she squats down in front of me and takes off her helmit.

"I will enjoy leading you around like an animal Souko. now, just behave like you normally do, and you will be fine." she said, teasing me, and crawling her fingers under my helmit's chin.

"Grrrrr. You will pay for this Kiran. I will make you pay." I growl at her.

"Oooh. sounds interesting. the others will leave an hour after we arive as to not look suspicious. and you are to behave yourself. or, as much as a wild creature should behave. who knows, you might just get to have a treat after we are done here."

we set off, Kiran holding on to my leesh, obviasly enjoying it, and me acting as wild as I can. my tail swishing, my claws digging into the ground. my one wing having been discarded back at the camp. the stub of the other, being left on to create character.

my tail's death flower having been replaced with a trident blade. the blade was two foot long, adn kicked sharp. I looked as though it was made our of bone.

my helm, had been replaced with one that had a more distinctive face. it had colored eys, that moved, teeth and jaws. of course the jaws were unale to open, one because of my face being inside of it, and the muzzel around the snout. I had the crest changed to a more anamalistic aproach. my new helm, had wolf ears, and a dragon's snout. the lips of the snout, could be raised or lowered depending on how I felt. I had a new skin as well. instead of the shiny metal of the armor, I had fur. the furs was a short brown fur, with white streaks running up and down my back.

we hit the edge of the town, with me scrabbling at everything in site. Kiran sometimes having to hit me on the sholders to let me now that that was enough at that thing. after about the fifth time hitting me on the sholder, I calm down. she with leesh in hand, and stick in other, and me, on the ground being hit with said stick, walk though the main square to the local law enforcment place. I was allowed to come inside, because no one wanted to take the lease from Kiran. I had counted on this. even though I was muzzled, I was still very deadly.

we went inside, me loking up at everyone and everything. I was using the creatures eyes, as my own, at least in this mission. we went walking up to the jailors door, and rapping on the surface, she says. "Open up. Bounty hunter comin' through to collect wanted posters."

the door had a little pannel that slid open. I jumped up on my hind legs, to get a better view of the person inside the door. when my head poped up into the slot, the man inside jumped back several feet.

"Ahhhh. what is that thing." the person in side yelled.

"This thing is my pet. it will break down your door down if we are not allowed addmission." Said Kiran. Man, when she was off the field, she was the sweetest thing. but on the field, it was another story. she is good.

"Fine, fine, just keep that thing restrainded." the man inside said, as he unbolted the door.

Hee hee hee. having a wild pet can have very interesting effects on people.

we walked in, but the man held up his hand.

"S-sorry, but your pet will have to wait outside." the man stammered.

"Okay. take the leash. He doesn't bite...hard." she said holding the leash on her outstreched hand.

I raised my spines, and growled. Probable scaring the pee right out of the man. soon after I did this, the man made no move to take the leash, only to back away, and I could see the wet mark on his pants front.

after a minute, Kiran withdrew the offer, and her hand at the same time. she then proceded to scratch me behind the ears. I bent my neck back, poking her hand with the bristles, but she did not seem to notice. I had bent my head back to show that I liked it. I did. ever since my fall yesterday, my neck has been sore.

it felt as ifshe was massaging my neck. whe she stopped I looked at her, and she at me, and then stood up. she left me where I was sitting, and went over to the jailer, wrinkling her pert nose at the smell. I am glad I did not have to do this. they talked a little bit, then haggled, and left me to my own devises. I walked around a little bit, looking ionto the cells, watching the criminals shy away from me. only one did not. he was a big man, about five hundred pounds. none of it was fat. he walked right up to me, stuck his hand through the bars, and patted me on the head. I allowed this because he could squish my head, between his index and thumb. I sat down letting him pet me, not because I enjoyed it, but because, I had nothing better to do.

he took my head in his hands and looked me straight in the robotics eyes.

"Get me outa' here." he said.

"What, do you mean. get you outa' here. I cannot." I said surprizing the jailor and everyone else except for Kiran.

"I cannot get you out of here. I am bound to the human. besides, if I were to get you out of here, what is in it for me?" I ask, roughly maintaning the illusion, that I am an intelegent creature.

"I know where she is." he whisped in my ear. my wolve's ear that is. "I know who you are. I know what you are."

"Grrrowl. Fine. we will try." I say.

I walk over to Kiran, and get up onto my hind legs, and whisper in her ear.

"That man over there, knows me. I do not know how, but if we leave without him, he may rat us out."

"But, what can we do, we are boiunty hunters, not outlaws."

"I don't know, tell the jailer that we have a bounty for this man. and tell the jailor that we will give him a half share of the reward." I whisper back in her ear. then for efect, I start humpin' her leg.

"Eww. Bad boy. Bad Boy." she says as she beats my helm with her stick. "we have a bounty on that man. she says, pointing to the man who had talked to me. we are willing to pay you a half share of his reward. only if you hand him over to our control."

at once, the greedy side of the man becomes appartant. "Hmm. yes, yes. I accept your offer. he is yours." now, bring my money back as soon as possable."

he walks over to unlock the door, with me by his side. the jailor grabs a hand gun, and swings around to Kiran.

I rotate my body so that is looks like I am going to mark my territoy, bu instead, I straighten my bent hind leg into the man's chest, knocking him back, across the desk, and into a wooden door. the door cracks but doesn't break.

I walk over to the crumpled man tail held aloft and when I peak around the desk, the man has his weapon pointed right at me. I raise on hand, and the weapon slides out of his hand and into mine. thank the gods for the magnetic summoner. I hold his weapon up to my eyes, and sitting back on my hounches, using my other hand I shred the weapon. just tear the thing in two.

"What do you get from trying to kill me or my master?" I roughly say. "do you get an extra paycheck? or do you stay alive? Hmm? well, now you certainly will die. for you tried not only to kill my master, which I would have killed you for anyway, but you tried to kill me! I will not stand for it. your sentense...Death." I say coldy, and whip my body around and whiping my tail blade towards the man. SMACK. thud.

"Hey! Did you have to kill the man?" Asked Kiran. "I mean, we could have used him. interigated him. but instead you had to cut his head off."

"He would have killed either of us. and I didn't kill him. at least I don't think so. anyway, I hit him with the flat of my blade."

"Oh. well lets get this man out of here. we did make a deal with the jailer. Much as I don't like it, we have a code to follow." Kiran says.

"Yes. give him two coins. It is as much as we bargned upon. Less then he wanted, but more then he deserves." I say.

I walk over to the man in the cell, and put my helm to the bars.

"What do you know. what do you know that could be of use to us. Tell us some good information, and we will let you out. tell us stuff we already know, and you stay." I warn him. Kiran comes over to the cell with us, and squates patting my head.

"Alright. here goes. I am the leader of an underground movement against the rule of Silitios Natavi. his nefew and I have been comunicating over the last few months. it seemed as though he was trying to find his brother, the one that Silitios had sent to a backwater planet called earth. a few weeks ago, however I got caught, and have not been in contact with him. I am being tried for treason against the crown. I protested, and they sent me here. I do not know why. the reason I was tried against the crown, is because I figured that sonce the twin sons adn their sister were still alive, that they ruled. but since their uncle is alive, and in the throne, the twins, and their sister, are not. so that is the reason why I am here. the reason why I wanted to help you. also, I know the informant that you are looking for. she said that several people would be coming to destroy a weapon. I will let you in on a secret. I am the weapon. the government wishes for me to tell them the secret ways into the city. this is the City of Sitnalta.

"I have no doubt that had the men from the government gotten here, I would have given them the information they requested. I only wish that you let me live. I would like to meet the Sitnaltan leader. I wonder if he has found his brother yet. I can only hope, for only with all three of them, can they userp the throne from their backstabbing uncle. I bet you did not know this. the uncle, who is now the ruler, killed their father."

"I know. I was there." I said, roughly. not from the voice, but from the tears. "I was there. I saw him kill my...kill their father. I tried to stop him but I couldn't. I could not stop him. I loved the king. I loved him so much." I say, my voice cracking, sounding even more anamilaistic then ever.

then something snapped. I bypassed the berseker mode, and entered the mode that Brunose had warned me about. my sorrow turned to rage, I went wild, trully wild. screaming in a primal rage, I started smashing everything in sight, missing only those who were alive. then after everything was over, I blacked out.

crackling noises. voices. familier voices. I am being carried. I am bundled up. someone strong is carrying me. I feel so tired.

"What happened." I mutter.

Leafs slap my body all over. we are traveling fast.

"No time to talk. must get you back to the drop ship!"

"Oh." I say, and black out once again.

cold steel below my back. a roar of engines. I feel very heavy.

I black out again.

still the cold steel below my back. the roar of engines are not so loud enymore. I feel weightless. I am strapped down on something cold and hard. I try to move my head, but it feels so heavy. it feels different. like it is longer. heavyer. I try to lift my arm, but find that I cannot. they aere strapped down to.

groan. I try to move my toung, but it is so floppy, so long. feels like rubber. I cannot talk. I try to open my eyes, but find that I can not. it is like my eyelids are glued shut. I groan louder. I hear foot steps, and something moves on my head. the footsteps sound louder now. hmm.

"Hey. how are you. you awake?" Kiran asks me. Groan. she obviasly took that as a yes. "Well, we have a problem with your armor. well, since you went berserk, we have not been able to get your armor off of you. in fact, we have not been able to find your armor at all. I know it sounds weird to you, but, well. you are not injured or anything. in fact you are more healthy then before you came on this mission. the things is, well. your armor has fused more completly into your body. in essence, you body is the armor." groan. an even more impation one this time if thats possable.

"Yeah yeah I know, your armor was your body before hand. but now, it is organic. not machine. all of your capabilities are still there, increased strength, flight. although your jets are gone. you are...well lets just let Brunose tell you what happened. we are on the edge of the Reath system now. you are in the drop ship, the one carried us to the planet. we hav temporaily glued your eyes shut, until we can figure out why this happened. if you want we can get a voice box to strap around your throat. this will allow you to talk withought having to move your mouth. okay?"

I groan again. I thought that was a very good idea. I try to nod my head, but it is strapped down. Kiran got the message though.

"Good. I am glad to see you can still undrstand me. now. I am going to give you a sedative. this will make you sleep. it will make you have dreamless sleep. okay?" I try to nod my head again, but am hampered by the straps. she gets the message again. "Good. this will sting so, be forewarned." she says as she presses something against my neck. it hisses, and I feel some thing flowing into my neck. I soon can't feel anything. and black out.

Boom...I am here. I can see. I see Kiran walking. I follow her, stangly floating. I follow her to a room full of men, and women. they are feaverishly working at their consols keeping the ship on course. I follow her to the man, whom I had talked to in the jail, just before I went berserk. I see another women sitting beside him, talking to him. this must be the informant. Kiran walks up to them and plops down into the chair.

"So, is he awake?" askes the big man.

"Not anymore. I gave him a seditatve. he should be sleeping for the rest of the trip."

"I am happy that you got me out of there. but I am sorry that you had to do so, with him like this. I have heard a lot about him. I would have liked to have met him before this happened." said the informant

"You would have liked him. he was warm, caring, loving. even though he did not have most of his body, he did know how to show a woman a good time. I just hope that when he finds out that his armor has become flesh, and his helm, has become his face, I just hope he retains his humanity. his kindness. his love."

"I know he will." said the big man. and I am sure that he will keep all of his humanity, even though he has had his, well, you know."

"Yes, Jack. I know."

so jack was the big man's name. now what about the other one.

"You know linda, I know you were down there a long time. but how long were you down there." Kiran asks.

"It is not Linda. it is Kindavi. Kindavi Nite."

Kindavi nite. her name was on the wall. on the memorial. gosh it seems like so long ago.

"ROSE. I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU!" I shout in my etherial form.

'yes. what is it. hey what heppned to you. your armor just shut off, and I was forced to piggy back on a signal, to the drop ship in orbit.' hey what is happening to you, you are fading. 'Hey. speak to me.

finally everything goes black.

Chapter 12

Reath: sitnalta. unknown. summer. a few years from now. Brunose' lab.

"do you want to give him the wake up stimulant or do you want to let him wake up on his own?" a deep man's voice asked. It was Brunose! he would know what happened to me.

Growl.

"I guess he is awake now. shall we wait until he is ready to hear it, or shall we wake him up fully and tell him?"

"I think that he would want the truth now. lets wake him up fully, then give him a mirror afterwords." suggested Kiran. I groan again to show my aproval.

"That settles it. I think he is sufficiently awake now. let him up, and you can explane to him what happened. because I certanly do not understand it. go ahead. explane."

they untie my hands, my chest, and unbind my head. I feel a cloth being undone behind my head, adn feel it drop away. I realize with a start that I could feel properly again. it was a little different with the armor, I could feel the sensation of pressure, but never any textures. it was like my whole body was semi numb then. but now, oh, it was gloriouse. although, I had never, felt this itchy before. I sit up, feeling strangly light and ballanced, heavy and off ballance at the same time.

"Mmm." I say, as a head ake attacked me. I put my hands across my face, only to find that I have a snout. feeling up and down the snout, I feel that I have fur all up and down the snout. I risk a look, and find that my helmit's face has become my own. it was very strange, almost like I had become a wolf myself.

"Okay, how did this happen." was what I wanted to say. what I really said, was a mixture of grunts and groans.

frustrated, I hold one hand out flat, palm upwards, adn with my other hand I mimick writing. I wanted to write down my questions instead of asking them and jumbling it up too badly.

Kiran rushes off, and comes back a few minutes later with an electronic note book.

I take it from her outstreched hands, and pull it towards me. I look at it, adn notice it is upside down. I turn it upright, adn start typing out my questions. I notice something diferent about my hands, and notice that instead of my armor's two fingers and one thumb, on a single hand, I now had three fingers and a single thumb. intersting. I would find out about this in a moment. I type out my question.

How did this happen? I flip it around to show Brunose. he leans in, reads the question.

"Ahh. geting right down to business I see. well, I will explane it to you the best that I can. the way I figure it, it happened because you went into the second fury mode. whe you went into the anamilistic fury, your armor reacted in kind. since it was driven by you, was programed to you, it reacted in kind, and now is stuck in the form you have now. we do not know how to unstick it, because we have never faced before. now what is your next question?"

I type furiously, getting used to having three fingers instead of two. I type, I know what to call your mode now. you had said that I could name the mode once I activated it. well, I activated it. and I name it Primal Rage. you see, I believe that in all creatures, animal or other wise, they can only take so much stimulation, and no matter how intelegent their minds are, they loose all thought like the way I did. these rages, are unstopable, until they burn them selves out. all other emotions are over written by the rage, until it consumes them. then they are unstopable. unfortunaly, once they enter the rage mode, their armor, fuses to them making them into the animal that their personality truly defines. some could me cats, others mice. they could turn into dragons, or even equine. me, it seems that I am a combination of these. I may look different, but I feel whole as well.

Brunose reads aloud what I had typed. and when he finished I started typing again after I had erased the paragraph.

I type, how much of my body has shanged, and how? I show it to Brunose. he reads it aloud, and answers.

"To answer your questions. all of it, and I do not know. all of your organs are back, even the um. reproductive ones. your lungs, your kidneys, even your bladder. how your organs came back is an enigma to all of us. even the medical peole, and they do this stuff for a living. all of your tissues are back, your bone structure has changed a bit. so has your muscles. you have new muscles as well, and your mechanical wings, no longer mechanical. you have grown them while you were out. I do not know how, but you have biological wings. the truly strange thing about them is that the bones int he wings are not bones, but a highdensity, but light weight metal. I do not know what this metal is called, but it its there. another weird thing, is that the leading edges of your wings have extremely strong mother of pearl feathers. I tried to pluck one from you to get a sample. hey now don't look like that, I was just trying to understand why this was happening so I could get you the answeres that you needed when the time came.

"Anyway. your tail has been...shortned somewhat. instead of being long and snake like, it has become more dog like. just long and bushy. like a wolf. I do not know why, I just know it happened. your feet, have been only changed into flesh and bone instead of metal. no significant changes there. your toes are now longer then the second version of what I made them. they are also bigger, thicker, hopefully stronger.

"Your head, well. I do not have any answers about that. although you have a tuft of long blueish white

hair. again I do not know. your eyes however, I have noticed are completely wolfish. golden irises, and they shine in spot lights. I personally think it is cool, but that is just me. your head is completly wolven. totally wolven. your brain is one hundred percent organic, no computer parts. although, when I did a scan I noticed carrier wave signals coming from your brain. when I scaned farther, I saw that your body has retained all of its abilities, from when it was armor. the incresed strength, jumping, sped, sight hearing smell. I don't know about smell, I jsut know that your body has retained all of the abilities of the armor. well except for the shape shifting doby parts that is. other then the physical aspects, your dna says that you are one hundred percent human. hard to believe I know, but you are."

"now. do you have anyother questions for me?"

nodding, I type four words onto the keypad. Why can't I speak?

reading this, he says, "your mouth isnot designed for it. but since you are here, why don't I gove you a voice emitter for now, until I can get something more suitable rigged up. okay?" Brunose asks.

I nod, the movement seeming more pronounced. what with my ears and everything. I wait, and Brunose comes back with a small box, attached to two ribbons. he hands them to Kiran, who then toes the ribbons around my neck. I rotate the box so that it is front of my throat.

"So how does this this work? Oh. okay." I say a litte surprised at the smoothness of the voice. it does not sound like it is coming from me, although I know it is.

"Thanks brunose for all you have done for me. I really appreciate it." I say, the sweet voice coming when I open my mouth, and try to mouth it out. I know it looks as strange as I am right now. I can feel it.

"Do you think I might have a mirror?" I ask hopefully sounding hopeful.

"Um are you sure you want to do that?" he begins.

"Brunose. I had my butt shot off, my butt replased and now this. I think I can handle a little look in the mirror." I say a little testily, the box on my throat making things sweet.

he walks off looking for a big enogh mirror to let me have the best look possable. whe he returns he gives ne a large hand mirror about five inces in width.

"Thank you Brunose." I say adn taking a deep breath, I begine to get to know my new me.

the first thing my eyes get to look at, is well my eyes. I look direclty at them the iris' a golden color with streakes of red throughout the iris. my eyes are almond shaped, and have a rather piercing stare. I look at the top of my head next, adn notice that my ears are at an angle. apparently this is the highest my ears will go. both of them are black, with white tupts on the tips. I turn one of them first one way then the other, testing them out.

*Hey, stop that is very disturbing.* teases Rose. Rose. I put down the mirror and standign right in front of me, is my Rose.

*Are you sad about something?* she asked trying to get me to say something I know what is coming, but I cant help myself.

"No. Why?"

*Then why the long face?* she says before she crack up, and everyone including me, groans. man that one stunk. not skunk stink, this was twenty time worse.

"That was bad Rose. Realy bad." I hand the mirror back to Brunose. "I will finish sometime when she is ocupied. thanks." I say. or rather the box says in it's false voice. I stand up on the floor, already used to the armor's gigitigrade legs.

*oh thanks. I just wanted to let you know that your brother is on his way down to see you. so be forewarned. he is mighty pissed. Not at You Souko. At Brunose. so you might want to get out of the way Souko.*

"He may be my brother, but I will still defend Brunose." I say as the door almost explodes inward.

I turn around to face my brother, and find him red faced and almost literally steaming. he is breathing hard, and I take a step towards him holding out my hands. he shoves me aside, to try and get at Brunose. I walk up behind him as he storms intot he room and towards Brunose. I wrap my arms about him and pick hum up. with him kicking and struggling, trying to get loose, I turn around and walk out the door.

when I had cleared the door jamb, I tossed him to the ground on his feet. he tried to get up and have another go at the door, but I braised myself with my hands and feet on the door jamb effectivly blocking the way.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" he shouted.

"No." I said.

"I SAID GET OUT OF MY WAY SOUKO. YOUR MY BROTHER AND I LOVE YA' BUT I AM THE LEADER OF THIS CITY AND MISTAKES THAT HIS CAN NOT BE REPEATED!" my brother shouted.

"I will not get out of your way. if you try to get past me, I will have to take you down. I do not want to do that. you are indeed my brother. I do not want to hurt you."

"I do not care about what you want. his mistake must me avanged!" he said and rushed me. normally I would just stand here until he ran himslef dry, bu I did not want him to hurt himself. I let go of the frame with one foot, and grasping his face, I lifted him up off of the ground and laid him down onto his back, with enough force to stun him for a moment. I let go of his face, and letting go of the frame, I sat on his chest. when he recovered enough to speak, he had a lot to say. moslty cursing me and stuff. I know that he did not mean it, but it hurt. I did the only thing I could do in a situation like this. I knocked him out. whe his body went limp from my punch, Brunose walked over and looked between my wings at Vel.

"Did you kill him?" he askes. why is there always people who ask stupid questions.

Sigh. "No I did not kill him. I only knocked him out. now come on. I have an idea. Jack, if you could carry his please. I will take you to were I plan to calm him down.

later at the underground pool.

we had tied Vel to a chair, and had swung the chair above the lake. I was in the lake, getting my fur wet for the first time. Vel was still unconciece, but I had a plan to fix this immedietly.

I raise my hand to signal the others, then drop it, and they in turn drop Vel into the water. I raise my hand again and they pull Vel and the chair from the water.

he comes up koffing, and chocking and sputtering. he sees me swimming in the water, my wet and matted fur, clumping against my forehead. when he starts to cuss and swear, I singal the others again. he gets dinked again, and again he comes up koffing sputtering and choking. whe he gets his breath, he starts to say something. I raise my arm to signal the others but he shouts, "Wait."

"Just wait a minute okay. I want to punish Brunose for doing this to you. for making you into this creature. I need to punish him it is his fault you are like this."

"It is not entirely his fault." my box says. "True it is his armor that made me the way that I am. but in reality I am closer to truly being what I feel is natural then when I was human. true I look strange, but I feel wonderful again. his armor may have given me this body, but it was his armor who gave me my life back. it was he who allowed me to live, when any lesser armor would hae allowed me to die. while he had cursed me with this body, he has also given me a gift. his armor replaced all of my organs. every single one. I am whole once more. shurly you can apreciate this."

"Yes, but it was his armor that had the capability of changing people into monsters."

"DO I LOOK LIKE A MONSTER TO YOU?" I roar, forgetting all about the box. "I may look different, but that has no effect on my HUMANITY. On earth, people could have the prettyest exterior, but inside, THEY WERE THE MONSTERS! and the ugliest of them all, had truly kind and gentle souls. IT WAS THESE PEOPLE WHO HAD SEEN ME FOR WHAT I WAS, AND I SAW THEM FOR WHAT THEY WERE. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GROW UP AND BE MADE FUN OF FOR YOUR LOOKS. FOR HOW YOU ACT. OR EVEN FOR YOUR BELIEFES! YOU HAVE NO IDEA! You have no idea." I say shaking my head.

"Inside all of humans, and even all other species, lies a line. this line is not physical, it is not realy even there. but the line does count for all the emotions that someone feels. that day on the mission, I had some very high emotional stress levels. my line was crossed, and I learned what it had felt like to loose control, to loose yourself in your own mind. I had caused the change. not Brunose, not Kiran, nobody but me. I learned one thing in that single act, that anyone who has emotions, they can go berserk and they can access the primal rage that I had felt. so in fact it is I you should blame. no one else. no one else but me. and if you want to punish anyone, punish me." I say and signal them to raise the chair.

I dive under water, using my wings to propel myself throught the water. I run out of breath juat as I get to shore. I put my clawed feet on the lake bed, and wade out of the pool. looking very freeky. my wet fur matted down, making a skin tight covering for my body, showing every muscle group making me look extremely scary. I continue wading up to the lake bed, my toes digging into the soft rock. I reach the waters edge and turn around showing my back to Kiran.

while my focus is distracted by my brother still being swung over to land, Kiran camy up behind me. she pinched my furry behind, making me jump.

"You know, now that you have all your parts back, maybe you should start wearing clothing again." she says, reaching around to fold her hands over my belly button, her pinkie fingers messing with my fur.

I look down and realize that she is right. I am so used to walking around in my armor, without any cloths on, my armor being my cloths. I turn and walk to the spot that has the clean cloths. I pick one up, and using my claws, I shred it into a little loin cloth. I wrap it around my hips, and walk back.

"is that better." I ask.

"Hmm, yes. adds character, gives you a more primal look. also, once you get your voice back, it will make yuou trully feral. He he he." she said with a wink, and a nudge to my furry ribs.

"I am fine! Now get me out of this chair. I am soaking wet and I have a score to settle with my brother!" Vel shouts, as they unlock the chains binding him into the chair.

they let him out and he walks over to me. I thought he was going to be gratful. but he punches me as hard as he can in the side of my mouth.

"That is for before!" he shouts. then he hits me in the stomake as hard as he can with his other hand. "And THAT is for undermining my authority. you are my brother, and as such I will not punish you. however. Brunose is not. ergo, I will punish him. but thanks to your actions, I must admit that some of my anger is gone. so, instead of the death sentence I would have put upon him, I have fired him from his possition, of head armorer. that is my punishment. deal with it."

and with that he storms off to the exit of the underground pool. I find my breath again, with Kirans hand on my back. I put one digitagrade foot out, toes spreading, giving me extra traction, and ballance. lifting myself one the one foot, I get me other foot under me again. I straighten up, my ears to the side. I look downtroden, and Brunose comes over to me.

"What's wrong?" he askes as soon as he reaches us. I put my hand up to my mouth, and it comes away with blood. I use my tongue to taste the fresh blood in my mouth. on a human the act would look inocent. but on me, it looks very threatening. I motion for him to walk with me, and we go to the edge of the pool. I dip my hand inot it and wash away the blood.

I turn my head to look at him in his eyes. I close my eyes, lay my ears back and shake the water from my hands. I stand up, slowly, my wings held slightly away from my body to dry, my legs splayed at an angle so I could ballance myself.

When I speek, the voice box, squeeking out my words. I think it sounded like mini-mouse.

"You have lost your job as head armorer. I am truly sorry."

then he does the queerist thing. he starts laughing. not some chuckle. no, this was a full belly laugh. something that comes from the soul.

"ha ha ha. you have no idea how happy this makes me. I have wanted out of that stinking room for over thirty years. but Souko could never find anyone to replace me. and so, he has never allowed me to quit. he has a thing about wuiters. so he has tried and tried to get a reason to fire me. I think that sonce I have been fired I can go on to another area of expertese. but I would have to talk that over with team leader." he said.

"Hey Kiran I have some news for you. I need to take our informant over to a buddy of mine. he might get a shock out of it." I say.

"Sure. um. what do you indend to do with her? I mean she is very important to us." she says, more then a little wary of my idea.

"Good. but first, lets go get Brunose packed up so he can go interview." I say. "don't worry I'll tell you on the way."

adn with that we leave, me, with my loin cloth. Kiran, with a puzzled look on her face. And Brunonose, looking like he had just won the lottery. I tell Kiran about what Brunose had told me, and then her look of cunfusion went away.

"Oh, so thats why he looks so happy now. I do not think I have seen him so happy all the time I have known him. I wondered what he had found." she said thoughtfully.

by that time, we had gotten to the armorer's office, and workshop. someone else had already been there.

we look at the door, which had a note upon it. Brunose took it off of the door, and read it.

Dear Brunose.

At this time you have been let go from your position. you are to vacate the premisis by oh five hundred hours. but one last task for you before you go. I would like you to get Souko talking again. hearing him yell at me in the little voice was a bit undermining. so fix his voice, and then you may go.

Signed, Veltrati.

he reads this aloud, adn then looks at me.

"You yelled at him with the box!? oh gods I would have like to hear that. just the yelling part would have been funny, but the fact that you yelled at VEL, the leader of the city would be worth it to die after hearing it. but both. oh the gods, I would have died laughing." he said, a little more jollyer then usual, as of late.

Oh well. lets get you your voice back." he says and then opens the door. inside, waiting is Vel.

I stiffen, waiting for him to attack me again. he sees me stiffen, and looking hurt walks over to me.

"Oh, souko. I am so sorry for having to do that. I was addmitedly not thinking like myself. I only wanted to stop Brunose' armor from doing this anymore." he said gesturing at me.

"What do you mean, anymore?" I ask, the box turning it into a small squeeky voice.

a smile is brought to his face as he continues. "What I mean is, his armor as created another..." he puases looking for a word that wouldn't offend me.

"Furry. people with this type of body are called furries." I say.

"Another furry. another one before we got you. we had hoped that this time his armor wouldn't create a furry, but it did. the one who whad been created left this city and never came back. we do not know where she went. she has not tried to contact us. we have tried contacting her, but she does not wish to be seen. so, that is what had happened. that is why I was so angry." he said in way of an explenation. "also, I am sure that you have told Brunose that I have let him go from his job because of it?"

"Yes. I told him that you had let him go. he also told me that you have a thing about quiters."

"Yes. I do. I have almost no tollerence of quiters. those who cannot handle the pressure. those who had stopped believing in themselves. those who had given up hope, cannot live. those who have givven up hope, have no chance to live, a life to the fullest. which is why I am ordering Brunose to join your unit. he is still under my command right now. so I order you, Brunose, to joing the Specters as their armorer." he told Brunose.

"Thank you sir. I appreciate it. I will not let you down." said Brunose.

"You had better not. I will not be so forgiving nest time. now go and get Souko his voice back. he sounds rediculouse."

Brunose goes back to his work shop, motioning for me to follow. I do, taking loping steps, my wings brushing the cieling and the floor at the same time. I get to the door in three steps, whereas Brunose, had to take five. I reach the door way, and motioned for me to come closer. I walk towards him.

he hold up his hand telling me to stop.

"I have here, several thousand nanites. these nanites are capable of erasing entire brains, or alowing one to speek again, by rewriting the brain's chemistery code. I had developed this for the person who had changed beore you, so it has been tried and true. what I am going to do is, I am going to take off that silly voice box. it was used for the person before you as well. then I am going to press this medical thingy up to your neck."

"Thingy?" I ask.

"Yes thingy. I never could remember waht these things were called. eh. my specialty is armor. so anyway I am going to stick this THINGY up to your jugular, and inject you. don't wory it does not use neeldles. so you have nothing to fear." he said after seing my expression.

"So go ahead and do this then." I say before he takes it off. I watch him go back to his table, and rest the voice box thing on a slender neck manequin. he then picks up a thing that looks like a gun, but with a long clear tube in place of the barrel. inside was a mercury like subsance. it looked cold.

"Now this will sting a little. but after while they are doing their work, you will fall asleep. so, we had best get you back to the table. we walk out to the room where his office was, and I sit on the talbe, my long furry tail, swishing behind me.

Rose apperears in front of me.

*Hey hairy. how are ya. I have news for you. I have been accepted into another team. I know I know. I have been and wil always be your Rose. I will always be this way because of you. you have taught me what is means to be a human. I thank you. but somehow, I wish to be more then this. Hmm. maybe I can figure someway of doing something to get my plight fixed. I don't know. anyway. I just felt that I had to tell you. oh, and I am glad to know that you are okay. You will always be mine, and me yours.* and with that, she dissolved right in front of me just as quickly as she had appeared.

"You ready to get this over with. this may take a while. so lie back, thats it. watch your tail, and your wings. yes thats it." he said soothing me as he injected me with the nanites.

He pressed the injector gun to my neck, and hearing a sharp hiss, and feeling something cold force its way thorough my skin and into my jugular, I wince. after a few seconds I start to feel sleepy and promptly fall asleep, my jaw hanging open revealing a single row of wolven teeth. the canines were fangs and the rest of them were designed to cut tear and rend meat.

Chapter 13

Reath: sitnalta. unknown. summer. a few years from now. Brunose' lab. Kindavi

a few hours later.

"it should have taken effect by now. I mean, they did not take this long with the other one. he should start to wake up right about now." Brunose said.

hearing his voice, I close my jaws, and try to sit up. when I get to the halfway mark, I feel something lodged in the back of my throat. turning my head away from where I thought the people were in the room, I cough sending something akin to phlem out of my throat. I cough again getting even more of the stuff out. eventually I can not feel the stuff anymore. breathing more normally now, I open my crusted eyes, and focus about the room. everthing seems...different. bigger. right, thats it, Brunose is leaving his job.

I hear steps coming towards me, multiple steps. I cock one of my ears to the direction of the sound. two maybe three people. perhapse five. two people wearing boots, and they are heavy. three of them are lighter then the first two, two of them cary themselve differently. they take lighter footsteps. like they are almost gliding. the other is more clumsy. taking heavyer steps. I hear tinkling. glass against metal. no. perhaps metal against metal. a faint huming sound. like something electronic. it stops, then starts again. also accompinying the sound is a loud swish of air, like that of air rushing thorugh a gap. the sounds get closer, and closer until they are roaring in my ears. I clap my hand over them to ease the pain. only the sound of my hand whistling through the air, causes the pain to intensify.

"Ahhh." I sream. being in pain from the sounds. the sounds are coming closer now, quicker. everyone ran into the room to see what was causeing me pain.

"What's wrong?" askes Kiran.

My eyes water from the sound. I wimper, my eyes rolling into the back of my head, and I try to crawl way, still holding my ears. every sound that anything makes causes me pain. and I try to crawl away from it even more. but I can't go anyfurther. I am backed against the wall, my wings crumpled against my body, my spines diging into my back causeing even more pain.

"quiet. the sounds. the sounds are killing me." I scream. my voice rugged, and rasping, yet at the same time high pitched and squeeking with the agony I was in. at this, everyone stops asking if I was alright and just stays still. eventually I curl up, the sounds no longer being quite as painful. I lay there still holding my ears against my skull, facing the corner, my spines no longer digging into my back, and the wings splayed out across the tabletop. I stay there for a fe more minutes shivering, and wide eyed, while Kiran strokes my back. when I recover, I have stopped shivering, and the sounds are normal now. they do not hurt anymore. true they are a bit louder, but that is because of my ears. I have much more sensitive hearing then humans.

I turn my head to look at Kiran.

"Ow." was all I could say.

She leans in closer. "You okay now?" she whisperes in my ear.

"I think so. i've never experienced anything like that. I have lost most of my body. I have ragained my body. but nothign I have felt has been anything quite like that. it was like any sound. the wind whisteling though your arm. your foot steps. your beutiful voice. it hurt so much. I felt as if, the pain was tearing me apart. I felt like my head was being crushed and ripped apart at the same time. it hurt." I said in an equally small voice.

Kiran looks questiningly at someone outside my field of vision.

"A side effect of the nanites. I am afraid. I am so sorry, did not warn you. it has been so long since I have dealt with these things. I am so sorry." Brunose says.

"Don't appologize. I took the nanites. it was my risk. I should have wanted side effect information." I say, a little louder. :Hey. I am talking by myself. I sound strange. gutteral."

I rotate my body, so I could sit up. I take a couple of deep breaths, and look at all the people in the room. there is Brunose. of course. Kiran, sitting right beide me. Vel, standing next to Brunose. Jack, standing in the corner. then there is a person I had only seen once. the informant.

"Kindavi Nite. I have someone who might like to see you." I say to the informant.

"How do you know my name? I haven't told you it." she said, more then a little suspiciase.

"I read it on the wall. I heard it in my sleep, on the dropship." I told her.

"oh. wel then you know my story of how I was shot down by the one man I had accepted as my mate, then?" she questioned.

"I have."

"Then do you know if he is still alive after all of these years."

"I do. He is. he still relives the memory of shooting you down, day after day. pining for the one he had lost. He misses you greatly. he even got onto my butt one day for showing off." I tell her, totally honest.

"Ahh. well. are you well enough that you can show me to his room so as to suprise him? I want to see the look on his face after I show up again."

"Yes I think so," I tell her. "lets go."

I stand up, get woosy, then Kiran is there by my side, my arm around her sholders. I look into her eyes, hers questioning, mine loving and grateful. I take a step, and another, and eventually find myself again. standing up as straight as I can, I start walking slowly, the others following me. I head over to the barriks of the pilots, adn stopping to wait for the others, I look around. some people stop and stare at me, adn a mother with her baby, takes one look at me, and runs away screaming.

I guess my new body is too frightening to stay around here. I close my eyes, and lay my ears back agaist my skull. I let the tothers catch up to me, Kiran placing her hand in mine, giving me some confert. I squease her hand lightly, and she sqeezes back. I set off again, saddned by the mothers reaction. we walk slower alowing the others time to keep up. with my longer strude, avery one step for me, is like one and a half for the others. we get to the hanger bay, where the pilots are holding a meeting. I knock on the door frame, signalling my presence.

the pilots take one look at me, and draw their fire arms which I naturally, take away from them. all of their side arms flay out of their hands and end up in a floating ball in front of me.

"Does anyone know where Kail Tucker is at right now?" I ask them.

"I am Kail Tucker. who are you?" says one of them as he stands up.

I step fully into view, with my body revieled.

"I am Soukonoung Natavi. formally human, and of the flaming wing squadren." I announce. all of the pilots look stunned, with their mouths hanging open.

"Souko, is that really you? I thought you would have been killed by now. and look at that body of yours man. too freaky. how did it happen?" askes Kail.

"Yes, it is indeed me, just new body. just like last time. only now I do not have to have a quie to fly now." I say as I unfurl my wings a bit to show them.

"Now come here," I say motioning him forward, meeting him halfway. he wraps his arms around me in a hug.

the rest of the pilots including the one to replace me, come over in a croud, to clap me upon the back, and saying how much they missed me, and all that. I welcome it, for it makes up for the baby, and them trying to shoot me not one minute earlier.

"Now, wait everyone. kail? I have a suprise for you. you remember how you told me, on that bd how you had lost your love? Right, well, we found her. Kindavi? could you please come in now?" I say loudly, in my rough voice.

like in the movies, a path clears in front of kail, and Kindavi stepps out from behind the door, steps around the pile of side arms, and walks toward Kail.

Kail stands there jaw hanging open, until one or more of us nudge him in the back. he goes to where Kindavi is standing, a runs over to her, slowing to a walk ten feet from her. he opens his arms to give her a hug, whe she slaps him. definatly not the reactnionv I was hoping for.

"You shot me down. I should slap you again for that. but oh, how I have missed you. that can wait." she said, as she rushed into his arms, and kissed him and kissed him until it seemed as though they were glued together at the lips. whe they finnaly broke the kiss, both of their faces were red, and he looked as though he had a taste of something so wonderful, that it was bliss. just then, over the loudspeakers.

*Fighter pilots to your quies, this is no shit repeat, all pilots to your quie. we are under attack. also, all ground forces, man geeral quarters, we are being invaded. I repeate we are being invaded. all people who can fight, get to general quarters, all those who can get to the bunkers. I repeat get to the bunkers. that is all. oh, and overyone. GO KICK SOME ASS FOR ME WILLYA!* and throughout the city I head cheers rining. I heard a major rush for the quies behind me. Kail ran over to me, grabbed me by the sholders, and said, "Keep he rsafe, for me will you?"

he looked into my eyes wildly as if he could read my thoughts in them.

"On my human soul, my friend. on my soul." I said in answer to his seaching question.

he ran to his fighter, leaping the nose in one bound, having something to fight for again, really gives a person strength.

as the waighting fighters were unlocking themselves from their respective docks, more people came in and ran to their fighters, ignoring me. when all the fighters had unlicked themselves from their docks and were waiting on something. I raised my hand, and shouted, "go kill some of the bastards for me!"

all of the waiting fighters rolled their fighers in responce, and one by one quiclky lit their ion drives and rocketed from the hanger. this will trully be a day of rekoning for the enemy.

I run to the hanger door, and stand there as I watch teh hundreds of fighters wing thier way to the sky, and the awaiting enemy. I just know that this day will be written down in song. I just know it.

"Souko. quit watching them and coem on we have got to get to general quarters!"

"Right! be right there." I shout back at them adn at once start running full stilt on my hind legs, then for greater speed and traction, I tip over onto my arms as well running like some great monster of legend with both wings and spines held out for greater stability. I run huffing and puffing spital flying from my jaws as I speed dow the long runway of the hanger. I skid to a stop in front of the pile of the weapons, my behind skiding acrossed the floor.

"Now I know why you chose that armor in the first place Souko. seeing you running full tilt scared me, and I know you!" Brunose said quicky as I stand up and whipe off my behind, cooling the flesh underneeatht the fur.

"yeah yeah. lets go. I have a feeling that we will need to get some kind of forpower. I mean I can't do it all. lets go back to the armory." I say. "Kindavi, you are coming with us. try and keep up."

I fold my wings against my body with a slap, and get running as fast as two legs will carry me. which it turns out, is really fast. I have to stopp a couple times to allow the others to get within sight of me. then when they are I tear out again. I come across a couple of kids, and their parents huddled in a corner. I stop, highly annoyed at havving to.

"Get to a shelter." I yell. when they won't move, I roar, "MOVE!" and off they go, more terified of me then the invadors. when they slow down again, I roar, further motivating them to go. funny even though I am a wolf furry, my roar was that of an alpha mail lion. interesting.

when the others catch up to me I take off again, this time on all fours, with only my spins out, for ballance. I tear around courners, riding high on the walls, my clawed hands and feet making tracks that can be followed by the rest. nonetheless, I wait around the next corner for the other. when they get to where I am, sounds start coming to my ears, sounds like gunfire. lots of gunfire. I slow down to a crawl, and stop, listening. then louder single sounds. sounds like bombs being dropped onto the mountain.

during my flight in the halways, I had not noticed where we were going, now I realized that we were here.

I look around and see the door to the armory, where I had woken up today. I brace myself, and using my hind foot I kicked out just like I had done with the jailer, and kicked the door down. not open, down. off of its hinges, with a huge dent in the middle.

"Hey why did you do that for. the door was unlocked, and opened to the outside." complained Brutose.

I turn and glare at him, looking very intimidating while growling.

"Right never mind."

I raise my body up so that I was standding up on two legs, and walk through the ruined doorway. I look to find the door, and it is all the way across the room, with a huge dent in the solid metal. looks more like a crumpled up piece of paper then a door right now.

I go in farther looking for the bigest guns I could find. I find one that fits my hand perfectly. this weapon is three foot long, and looks like a shotgun from back on earth. I smile, wanting to look a little feral. it works. Kiran sidles up to me, and looks at me.

"You don't have to do this you know." she says giving me an option out.

"Yes I do. tis is my home. I am going to protect it now, with my life, as well as Kindavi. I promised Kail that I would keep her safe, and I am going to. Don't you keep your armor here?" I ask.

"Yes. yeas I do. I did not think about that." she says.

I look over to Brunose and the others. they are getting armed adn ready for combat. Kindavi has chosen a set of light combat armor, with a pistol and a rifle to match.

Vel, is looking fierce in his lightarmor. he has chosen a rifle with selectable ammo. nice choice. I wish my quie had one of those.

Brutose, has his own set of powered armor. he looks like a rhino, even though I know him to be even more unstopable then one. Jack, has chosen a heavy gause, with ammo links strpped around his body like rambo.

I look over to Kiran and she has on her armor. her weapon is an arm cannon. I guess it fits over her arm, and links to the robotics, ergo becoming her arm. it has selectable ammo, like vels, with three barrels. each shot reloades in point five seconds, and each barrel fires in sequence. I wish I had one of those on my armor. I am in envy.

"Hey brunose. do you have any armor for me? sicne I kind of became my lest set." I ask over the noise of the armor and ammo and guns being selected and loaded.

"Yeah, come here and I will give it to you as well as your weapon." I hurry over to him and he gives me a helmit to fit over my head. I put it on adn notice that the bottom of the helm is not there. I realize it is so I can open and cloasse my mouth. nice. he also gives me some chest armor, I strap it on with help fro the others.

he gives me a belt that has a harnes attached to it. I put this on again witht the help on the others. he then gives me my collapsalbe weapon. I feel around the base of my tail and find on the belt a slot to place the weapon.

when I was done. I looked rather more fierce then I had been two minutes ago.

"Right, lets go."

"Hold on. not yet." said Kiran. I turn around to see her loading her false leg with what look to be morter shells.

when she had finnished, she stood up and nodded. it was time to go to work.

we head out the door frame, with me at point. I look left and right, adn see nothing there. using my sence of hearing I know that most of the fighting is being held inear the outskirts of the city. I motion for the rest to follow.

I lead the way out the door, and down the hallway to the underground pool. we pass multiple passages that had boddies strewn everywhere, most of them ours. I say a silent prayer to those lost souls, and continue, we go past more passages that had the signs of battle, bulle holes and melted metal, still hot, and glowing. I raise my weapon to the readyness, upon hearing a sound. seeing my action the others raise their weapons as well. whe nothign comes out I walk forward slowly. with my hearing tuned to the sounds around us, I hear labored breathing. I hold up my hand to signal a stop.. the others stop where they are.

there! a scent. this is the scent of fear. the scent of defeat. I creep closer with the others holding their positions. the smell growes stronger as I get closer. then the breathing stops in a sigh, and a foul stench reache dmy nose. I creep even closer, my weapon at the ready. whe I reach the baricade that the breathing was comming from, I snapa look to see behind it, adn there is one of our own. he was shot in the abdomin. he died a lonly cold death. his cold dead eyes were staring into oblivian. I did the only thing I could do. I closed them adn laid his hands across his chest.

I said a silent prayer. I motion for the others to come to my position, and follow. they do stopping at the boy quicky adn saying a silent prayer of their own.

we set off again to the underground pool, when I hear sounds of fighting comming from my right. I motion for the people to move up. when they get to y possition, I whisper, "sounds of fighting coming from teh mess hall. one on eiter side. lets go help our own."

they nod thier head yes, adn withthat we set off again. when we get to the balcony overlooking the mess hall I see a very one sided fight. the enemy had out side pinned down and we were losing a lot of men.

"Set up along the wall, try to take out as many as you can."

we set out weaponry along the balcony railing, stray shots bounsing off of the cieling. we taik aim and in a flach of light, sound and shock waves, our rounds go right into the enemy forces. my weaoon flashing fire in two jets to either side of teh berrel before laucnching a bolt of whitehot plasma into their forces. when the bolt hits, it explodes sending bits of plasma ricketing towards other men. with each shot, I kill maybe three men. the others are having a similar fate in luck. each killing a lot of the enemy. finnally when they are all dead a cheer goes up from our side.

se stand up, and wave. in order to get to tthe underground pool this route, would be to go through the mess hall. since ther are three of us with the strength of power armor, we pick up those that do not, adn jump from the balcony to the floor, landing at once, cracking the tile marble floor. we drop our loads, and run to the defender's hiding spot.

"Hey it's the spectors. I heard that they got whiped out in the begining of the raid." said someone anonymouse.

"No you idiot. that was only part of them. these guys are the rest."

"Um excuse me, who are you talking about?" Kiran asks.

"Those three from earth you had hired. they got killed trying to get to the armory, so they could get to their weaponry. sad, gunned down by those men you just killed. however, feel free to kill as many as you can. if you are planning on leaving, you had best do it now. we'll cover your backs" said the first one.

"Yeah we'll give 'em hell. you go." said the second one.

I nod my apriciation. adn take off again to the pool. we get to an elevtor shaft oly to find that the cables have been cut. u walk over to Kindavi and pick her up.

"We'll have to go down the hard way. just like at the balcony guys." I say, as the people witht the strength todo so, pick up the ones who don't.

I leap first, making it to the elevator only three stories below. I carry my charge out of the shaft just as the second pair drop. And they get out, as soon as the third pair drops.

"it is this way." I say. adn start off at a loping run still carying my charge. the others do the same, runing after us withtheir own charges. this way, we make a lot better time.

we eventually get to the pool, and bar the doors. there is noone here, or so my ears tell me. I strap my gun to my back, and walk over to the waters edge. I wade in to chest depth, take a deep breasth, and dive in, my furry hide, making an appearance. when I am deep enough, I open my wings against the water, and fly under water. I look for the graitign that I had seen earlier. I find it, adn pul up next to it. I reach back to the base of my tail, and grab my weapon from its holster.

activating the staff, and both ends, I whip it around and cut ribbons out of the graiting. seeing an opening about five hundrd feet through the tunnel, I swing back towards the surface, lungs burning. I break the surface about two hundred feet off shore.

"There is a tunnel under water. go to the cabin, get some air bladders. one for each and one for me." I say as I swim back towards shore. whe I get there, the others had goten two swim bladders for each of us. thanks, I say gratfully as they let me catch my breath. weh I had, I told them to swim out into the lake, their bladders in their mouths. I also told them to hang on to each others ankles. I told Kiran to hold on tight, with her one hand, and I would wold on to her.

she grabs my foot witht her hand, and I grab other her hand with my free foot. once everyone had gotten settled, I started to power through the water, and then shtreakes of light fly past us in into the water ahead. I yell going deep, to warn them and dive down under the surface, able to use the full sweep of my wings to fly under the water, the slipstram from my body reducing the drag on the others.

we reach the mouth of the tunnel, and dive in. about walfway there o pause, and motion for them to switch bags. they do so, and once again grab on to one another, and we are off. flying throught the water, I see the exit of the tunnel is also blocked. seing no other choice, I arm my summoner arm. the metal gate, bends, buckles, but does not break, only sucking us towards it. with my stffwinged and getting a free ride, I sharge up my shock blaster, to an extremely focused blast. I point with my palm, and let loose.

the blast flows from my hand like ahundred enraged banchees, screaming through the water. the hit the gate, blasting it away into the deep. we shoot thorugh the exet going faster then I could have gone on my own even. I bank my wings to the surface and pop up just in time on the other side. then one by one the others, looking wet and beddragled , pop up alongside me.

"Are you alright?" I ask as I let them catch thier breath. they nod, and we continue.

I know that I am running them at a hard pace, but then we are being chased by peole who want to kill us.

Chapter 14

Reath: sitnalta. unknown. summer. a few years from now. wilderness.

we travel through the wilderness, nvever forgetting that there are men on our trail who wish to kill us. we travel deep into the night, Brutose leading us somewhere where we will be safe. or so he tels us. so we follow him, constantly looking over our sholders watching for the men we knew to be following. we are walking for hours when we finnally get to a clearing.

"Rest now friends, ii will go see if our trails have been picked up yet." Brutose says putting us at esae, or as much as possable.

he goes off into the foilage, and we wait until he comes back. since he is in the armor, he can move a lot quicker then qe can with those who are not.

"We are safe for the moment, they have just cleared the tunnel. they are hours behind us. so lets go." he reported.

we get up from our resting positions, me anKiran leaning together, one of my wings wrapped around her. her armored head resting upon my sholder. Kindavi has her head resting upon my brother's sholder as well. if I did not know any better, then I would say that they were in love as well, rather then feeling mutual thanks to one another.

we head off again, this time reachign the safe place. we stumble into a clearign about twenty yards wide, and twenty long. off to one side, was an old log cabbin. I noticed that there was smoke coming from the chimney, and apparently so did Brunose. he walks up to the door, which seems to have been made for some one with his size in mind.

he knocks on the door several times in a row, in a stopping order, which must be a code. no one came to the door however. so upon grasping the latch, and turning, he goes in. we follow him, and eventually, all of us get into a very roomy cabin. he sits down in a chair and motions for us to get confertable. he is obviasly waiting for someone. I do not knwo who.

"Souko, would you be so kind as to go out back a hundred yards and get us some water. we might need it if we are going to stay here for now. if yu hear singing stop and come back. got me? stop and come back." Brunose told me. hiding soemthing.

I nod, giving him my agreement. I walk to the door fo the cabin, open it and am immedialty outside in thte fresh air as opposed to the tifling closness of the cabin. I was confertable inside the city, but now, when I was in the cabin, it was like clausestrophobia. strange.

I drop down onto all fours, and walk to the back ov the cabin, and to where I was told I could find water. I continue, my hearing atuned to tthe sounds around me, not to the point of being painful, like last time, but, only enough to be aware. I could hear every cricket sounding off, every break of a branch, my own heart thundering. then I pick up something new. it was a steady roaring sound, with a bunch of tricles of water to the side.

I creap closer, and closer to the sounds of water. I stop just short of the edge of the forest over looking a beutiful water fall. one fall was roaring down a cliff side, with several shoots catching the water. these shoots channeled the water throughout a network of pools and other, much smaller falls. in all, it was a beuty to rivel no other. when I decide to creap closer.

suddenly a disturbence in the surface of the water. en explosion. no not an explosion, something from below erupting through the surface.

I creap closer to get a good look at what ever it is, ignoring my instict to run. being an animal now, I had stronger instincts. I watch, closer now, as the water falls back to reath. there standing abour waist deep in the water, was a black furred creature. then as I watch, the creature turnes around, adnd I know immediatly that the creature is a she. what I notice as well, is that she has blue-ish white braids running down her back. teo of her five braids, run from just infront of her furry ears, crisscrossing on her forehead, continuing back, and under her ears. connecting once again to form a single braid. two more of her breaids streched form her bangs this time, goings down the sides of her head, and criss crossing behind her skull to make two braids. the rest of her hair was loosly braided into two seperate braids. at the end of her braids, was a small silvery bead that weighted her hair down and made it swing like pendulums. I notice also, breifly that her body has black fur, and her ears are adorned with golden rings.

Crack! a twig breaks undrneath my hand. upon hearing the sound the women in the water, shreaks, and twisting to cover herself, dives into the water. I take off thundering and craching through the underbrush, my wings close to my body to prevent catching on the brambles.

I run to the cabin, and slow down not wanting to alarm the others. a noise sounds off behind me, and there is the furry women leaping throught the air at me. I scream at her, issuaing a challange, and unknowingly siggaling the poeple inside to come to the windows.

she takles me, adn we start rolling on the ground, braking off several of my brittle spins, at the base of each. I get my feet under my attacker while she is on top of me, and shove, sending her far back into the other edge of the clearing. I get up, wincing at the pain of the lost spines.

I roar at her, this time the noise sounding like a mix of lion, and what artists think the t-rex sounded like.

she roars at me, her roar sounding a lot like mine. we rush each other again, and leap, only to be snatched out of the air, by Brunose. we each hang by our napes, like some little kittens. still growling and snapping at each other.

"Enough!" brunose roars. at the sound, I clam down, and so does my opponant. he shakes us a little. "Are you two calm enough for me to make an introduction?"

looking like a little kitten I turn my head as far as it will go towards Brunose.

"What do you mean by, introduction?" I ask between breaths.

"Yeah. what do you mean?" askes the female.

brunose sets us down on our feet, and we both stand down. we get a chance to look at each other. I looked, and saw, that she now had coverings on. she was wearing a dirty brown loin cloth, with another dirty brown cloth covering her chest.

"Zoor'ain. Meet Soukonoung. your brother."

she is my sister! startled by the news, I sit down on my rump, hard, bruising my tail in the process. my wings are arching over my head, so I spread them a little to stop that. still sitting on the ground, I look at Zoor'ain. my sister.

I know that I had a sister, ever since jack told me. I had never seen her, I don't remember her, but I know that I had had a sister at one time or another.

"Oh wow." I say, was all I could say. "So your my sister then?"

"yes. I am intregued as much by your appearance as probable you are to mine. lets go into the cabin, were I can dry off. and you Brunose can explane everything." she sys as she start toward the door.

"Um there might be a problem. the reason he is hear as am I, is that the city is under siege. we have some regugees in your cabin. I thought that they would be safe here. I hope you do not mind." Said Brunose.

"Do I mind, hell no. I have told you to bring any one here if the city ever came under attack. are there any wounded? dos't matter, I can heal them if there are. oh, do you have enough clothing for them. how about enoguh food. oh this is exciting. I have had many visiters other then you for the past couple of years you know. Anywho. lets go in and let me meet them." she said eagerly.

we walk to the door, with Zoor'ain in the lead followed by me, and then Brunose.

we walk thorugh the door, into the cabin. first my SISTER goes in. I still can't believe that I have a sister. then I go in, collasping my wings, as ducking as I entered the door, to prevent my wings from breaking as did my spines. ouch. anyway, I walk in, trailing Brunose.

everyone starts talking at once. when they realise that they aren't ping anywhere with this, and that brunose has his hands up in the air, asking for quiet, they do quiet down.

"Now before you start asking questions let me satr off by explaing her to you." he said before launching into his story.

"Thi is Zoor'ain, the third of the royal children. she was brought to sitnalta when I came here. she befriended me, and I her. I desided to build her a power armor suit. much like you Souko, her arms were gone, dammaged by gun fire. I built her one, when she was a child, never realising the harm that could come from it. she was faster stronger then teh other kids. she frequently went into the berserker mode, beating up the others. only Vel, her brother would be nice to her, oh and me of course. then as the years went by, her armor gew with her, adn she with it. she asked to be given special properties fro her armor. a healing devise, on one hand, and a shock blaster in the other.

"I got the idea from her, for your armor Souko. and I know that you've used it well. especially withthat fish."

"That was you! you killed my fish." Shreeked Zorr'ain.

"Um, yes?" I said, sheepeshly puting on hand behind my head.

"Oh, sothat was the big band I heard before my lunch went away." she said, sounding disapointed.

"Your lunch!?" I shouted. "that thing almost had me for lunch!"

"Hey can I get on with my tail or what?!" said brunose, a little peeved. after we had both given our concent, we fell quiet again as he continued.

"Where was I? oh yes. I had just givven her her armor, when a messenger came to me. since I was the leagle gaurdian of the royal children at the time, I was entitled to their mail. the message was simple. the royal children's parents were killed. the little girl's mum, had carried her away, while the uncle had carried the boys away. little did we know that it was the uncle who now rules, had started the coup. whe I had told Zoor'ain about this,she whent intothe berserker mode, destroying everything in her room. then when she could not handle the pain anymore, in that mode, she went into the animalistic rage, that you described to me souko.

"She went into it, and when she awoke, her body was that of an animal. she could not speek, for her brain no longer knew how to speak with a new mouth. so I went into overdrive, trying to cure her of what had happened. when I couldn't and she was older, but still couldnot speak. I fashened the box, that you had worn souko, those first couple of hours. after that, I had again gotten to work, with the box being her voice. after that, I had developed the nanites, unaware at the time of the side effect of using them.

"When she had woken up again, every sound anything made was exrutiating pain to her. I believe Souko will attest to that. anyway, after she had regained her voice, which was absolutly mesmerizing in her new form, not that it was not mesmerizing in the first place." he added hastely. "anyway, to continue. I had notised that she was becoming moe and more isolated, so I asked what was wrong. oh boy I did not knwo at the time, but everyone except for myself and Vel here, was either afraid of her, and ran away screaming, or attacked her. this left her a very scared and scarred little girl. so her having melted my heart, I went out here, cleared out an area for her to live in. I built this cabin, for her. I came out every two days to brinker her fresh cooked meat, still hot, and sat and chated with her. oh the times that we had. once Zoor'ain had overcome her anguish, and torment, for being what she had become, she became a very bright young lady.

"Her personality changed, she bacame the person who you see today. when I had gotten her, she was only seven, already scarred by the coup, then when she changed she was ten. now, she is around twenty. now you know the rest of the story." he concluded.

we sat there for a few minutes, with Brunose standing in the middle of the room, quiet. I think he fell asleep. then Zoor'ain came over to me, and requested that I come with her. I get up, and walk with her to another room. she closes the door quietly, slowly and genteely. then she attacks me again.

no, not an attack, a hug. softening up my body, I wrap my arms and wings around her. totally enveloping her. when she lets go after a few minutes, I unwrap myself from around her.

"So tell me oh brother of mine, about your life. we have a lot to discuss." she says. so I tell her my story starting with the dreams, and how I was raised on earth. when I finish with the attack on Sitnalta, she sits down.

"So, bro. you are like me now huh? well this is good. now I do not feel quite so alone." she said, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "Ever since that women with the child had run away from me, I have felt more alone in this universe then you know."

getting up she walks past me, and to a door set into the wood.

"I know of this place a couple of miles way from here. it is a settlement of a different air breathing speacies, called the Natgoul. they refer to my, our kind, as the Shineten, or furry ones. they esked me about any siblings, and I told them that I had two. the way that they identifie each other, is by body ornamentation. my jewelry, for exhample is one type of ornamentation. but of course you already know about that. well, anyway, their females wear the exact same jewelry as their male counrterpart, only on the opposite side.

"since I have my jewlry on one side you and vel will have to have yours on the other side." she said as she rummaged through a box, her tai high into the air, wagging.

"You know, I was watching that day when you killed my fish." she said over er sholder, then going back to rummaging. "Yes I was there, watching you cuddle with that female of yours. I cannot tell you how jellous of you I was at that moment."

"anyway, the only people I have had to talk to lately was myself, the animals, and the Natgoul." she said straightening up again. she turnes to me, and holding out her hands, she shows me a vile of soemthing or other, nine golden rings adn four dangly earings. I look at them, and frown, which looks especially menising.

"Oh, come on, they dont hurt too badly going in. not like the side effects of the nanites." she says as she lays the vile onto the bed. then she alks over to the door again, reaches in, and pulls out a nasty looking' gun.

seeing the reaction on my face, she says, "Oh just relax ya big baby. I aint gonna kill you. I am just going to pierce your ears."

she walks over to me, and grasping one ear lightly, she swabs something over a single spot. then pressing the gun onto the spot, she fires, a needle piercing my ears, causeing me to wince, and jump in suprise.

when she pulls the gun away, I notice in the mirror, that I now have one golden ring attached to my ear. it feels heavy, because I am not used to it yet, but is acutally very light. she does this two more times for the rings, then pierces the bottom of my earlobe twice. one for each dangly. she moves over to my other ear, and repeats her actions, leaving two rings, and two dangly ear rings.

then she pulls out a pair of pliers, and one ring. this one I notice is different then the earings. it is open and does not have a needle. she grasps my wing bones at the tip, adn closes the ring around it. she does this for all of my wing bones, all six of them.

"There. that wasn't so bad was it?" she askes. laughing at my reactions.

I reach up to touch my still stinging ear. there. nine cold metal peices, piercing my ear. I flick my ears a bit to get used to them. Zoor'ain laughes at me.

"I did the same thing you are doing when I got mine pierced. the more ornamentation one had, then the more pull one has. the most one can get, is twenty. the lowest, have none. members of the same family are automatically boosted to thier highest relatives standings. it it very good. each good dead you do, depeding upon how great it is, gets you a merit point. earn one hundred merit points, and you get another piercing. I have pushe dmy way up through the ranking to where I am now. thanks to me. you and Vel, are automatically as high ranking as I am." she says as an explination.

"Hmm." I say still not understanding it totally. but what I do understand, it is a very good ranking system. a few flaws maybe, but still, good none the less.

then as she walks away to get a better look at her handy work, I notice that her body is not at all like mine. hers is thin, lithe, and agile, while mine is ig bukly, and brutish. while my new bio body is times more agile then my armor ever was, she is far more agile then I will ever be.

she motions for me to follow he back out into the other room. I gt up to follow her, her long three foot tail swinging. I get into the other room, and vel notices something different about me.

"Oh no. am I going to have to get my ears pierced as well?"

"Oh yes bro. you have to. she did it to me. she will do it to you. don't wory it only hurts for a few minutes." I say enjoying his reaction. he gets up only when we pull him up. he starts cursing and screaming as we drag him into the room we had just vacated.

"Hey relax man. it does not hurt that badly." I say, trying to calm him down.

"No! I will not have it done. Ever! do you understand me?!" he shreeks as we try to get him done. when she comes closer to him witht the needle gun he fights me, striking me in the jaw. I let go of him, and he runs out of the room.

"I guess he did not want to get his ears pierced." I say stating the obviaouse.

crack. crunch crunch. I look at my sister, as she looks at me. crunch crakle. the sounds of dried leavs being stepped on. since I had retained all of the armor's abilities I used the occular implant that I had been given. I look in several different spectrums, and dimmensions. I see seven men walking towards the house from the edge of the clearing. they have what looks to me to be gausse rifles adn one gatling. they do not look friendly.

I take a bounding step tearing up Zoor'ain's carpet.

"Get down! get down now. I say leaping forward as bullets fly throught he windows. my flying leap tackles Kiran who tumbles to the ground. Vel stood up when he heard me yell. Zoor'ain tackles him sending him to the ground. the only one left standing is Brunose. he does not fall in time to avoid geting hit. round after round strike him on the back of his armor, deflecting hrmlessly. then one of the gause rifle rounds tear thorugh the door, and through the back of his armor. it explodes out the front of his armor, leaving a very raw bloody mess. then suddenly the fireing stops. I look at my sister, then at Kiran nodding. i crawl to a broken window preparing to leap out. i reach back to find my weapon on my back, but it is gone. Damn. i liked that gun. i croutch, my tail wagging in anticipation. Vel, and jack are attending to Brutose. Kindavi is hiding in a corner. Zoor'ain, Kiran, and i are going to take our vengence upon those who have hurt our own.

i hold up my fingers. one, i fold down the first finger. two, i fold down the second finger. Three, i fold down the second finger, and with Zorr'ain and i both letting our our most terrifyign screams, which scares Vel, we launch ourselves out the windows. we both take off after the men with the gause rifles first, tackling one and then another. i leap at my first one, arms outstratched, claws the same. he fires misses, i growl, and land upon his chest biting and raking him with my claws and teeth. when i am satisfied that he is gone, i leap at the next, dispatch him, then roaring, take out the next one. when i am satisfied that he is dead, i see Kiran break down the door with her foot, raise her arm and fire. both of us see the round exit the barrels of her gun, and then we see the man squeezing the triger on his weapon. sencing that Kiran might be in danger, i bend low, get as much energy as possable. i dump this energy into teh shock cannon still in my hand, i leap up over his head, and sitting still for a moment over the mans head, i point my open palm at his skull and let loose.

BOOM! his head explodes in a shower of meaty confetti, then Kiran's round hits him in his chest, blowing his chest apart. i land next to Zoor'ain, thirty feet away covered in meaty parts, brain matter and skull. Kiran looks at me. i look at Zoor'ain. she looks at me. then we both look at the body. it still hasn't fallen to the ground yet. then in a rush the body flys backwards into a tree still odly in slow motion. his body a bloody, and meaty pulp.

then the wierd thing happned, the sound from the gun fireing, reverberates off of the tres around us and everyting shakes. when it stops shaking, i look at kiran who is taking off her helmit. i am still squating next to Zoor'ain, who had landed there after taking out her third. she loks at me and i look at everyone.

"What?" i ask.

"You just went faster then i have ever seen anyone. or not seen anyone." you just went faster then i could see, and i was in berserker mode." said Kiran astonished.

"yeah, i was with you for a moment there, when we took out those three guys. but after that, you were nowhere to be seen. then his head just exploded. and her shot hadn't even gone in yet. i saw it leave her barrel, and then his head exploded. i do not know how you did it, but i just know that it was wholly." Zoor'ain says.

"Hmm. i felt nothing like i had ever fell before. no, wait. i have felt that before. i went into the primal gage thing. i was so fast, because i had alrady changed into my animal persona. Hmmm." i say as i race off to the house. i stop at the door and here comes Kiran chasing after my sister. they both come to a stop behind me. i take a look inside tentativly. the others, Vel, and jack, have propped up with Kindavi still in the corner hiding. she looks to be terified of us.

i walk over to Brunose and croutch next to him on all fours. my wings held abovce him like some kind of cathedral ceiling. Zoor'ain comes in after me, and she goes to the other side of Brunose. Kiran comes in last. and stands at his feet.

"Zoor'ain. you have been like adaughter to me over the years. i have watched you grow, and develope over these past few years. i have taught you all i know in being human. but trust yoru instincts. and you souko. i have watched you grow from a snotty kid, into a snotty young man. i am proud of ya. You vel. i am proudest of you. you have taught me that i was not so useless after all. i ahve tought you all well. i am proud of you. Zoor'ain. do you still have that thing i gave you whe you had first changed?" he asked wheesing throughout his speach.

My sister said yes, and Brutose said. "That is the last of the brain grain serum. the nanites inside are waht allowed you two to speak after changig. should anyone else change, due to one of my suits. give them this, now go, and pack. you are going to go with them to your friends. your friends will welcome them without question. now go. you have a job to do." and with that he died. Vel looked away to hide his tears. Kiran let them flow. Zoor'ain ran outside no one stopping her, adn her tears were flowing more then anyof us. then we heard her haunting cry of mourning. this one had no words in it like the others had. this one was just pure soul. i pick up Brunose' body and carry him tothe front yard. laying him down one the ground, i dig a deep grave for him, using my claws and blaster to get teh rocks out. when the grave was deep enough, i crawled out of the hole.

i picked up his body and gently laid him to rest. i said a small prayer that was felt by all. and upon crawling out, i burried him for the last time. i covered his boddy with the soil, and laid the rocks i found on top of the grave. using small blasts from my blaster, i pund the earth down intothe hole i had just dug. then sitting upon the ground off to the side, i let loose an answering call. my call had no words in it, just emotion. and powerfull emotion at that. tears started to fill my eyes, adn i just took off following a trail i did not know i knew, and plunging headlong intothe brush.

i start to hear a waterfall, and sobbing. i keep running in that dirrection. i feel something wet adn rushing under my feet. i keep running.

eventually the tears dry, and i keep running. i runn for so long that i do not even heed the trees in my path. i barrel into them taking chunks out of them with my sholders, the physical pain not enough to drown out the emotional pain. i did not know him that well, but i did know him, and he was like a mentor to me. then suddenly i cannot run anymore. i cannot run any more because i have run out of ground.

my eyes snap open and i see the water from teh falls i had heard earlyer, come rushing up at me. i welcome the chance for oblivian, and dive in.

then after a few minutes of staying underwater, buffeted by the current, i feel stong hands pull me out. i am dragged from underneathe the waterfall and onto dry land. then someone tries to revive me. i dont need reviving. i strugle tring to get loose so i could drown my sorrow. i feel two punches to me head nocking some sence into me. i snap out of my sorrow filled flight, and open my eyes.

i see, Kiran looking into my eyes. i look to the other side, and ther looking at me into my eyes, was my sister.

"Hi." was all i could say.

"hello. you stupid fool." said kiran as she kissed my furry lips. this opned my eyes in surprise. something snapped in me, and i just grabbed her and held her to me, never wanting to let go of her. eventually she taped me on the sholder, and releasing her slightly, i looked at her.

"I do need to breath you know." she said, attempting to put some humor into the situaltion.

throwing my head back, i started laughig, a loud barking laugh. this shook me so much that Kiran had to get off of my chest. when i had finally calmed down, i alowed both fo them to help me up. weh i was standing on my feet again, i looked around and saw that the others were standign with them. the only one who was soaking wet, was Jack. he had been the one to pull me out. i nodded my thanks, and we set off. this time at a much slower pace then my last one.

wea re waling for another few hours, when i notise that we are walking uphill. i see a tall three near by, adn leap at it, climging it until i can see over the tops of the other trees. i look around, looking at the mountain, that was looming in the distance. i drop back down to ht eground. the fall was onehundred feet, but i survived it.

we set off again and eventually come to a place where the trees do not grow, and only rocks exist. we

walk up the hill, sometimes scaling verticle walls of rock. i had to carry the women that i had promissed to keep safe up some of the expances of rock. it is getting dark, adn with it the cold is setting in for a nice stay until morning an the heat comes back. i start shivering, and wrap my arms, and then my wings around me to get warm.

"We camp here tonight." i announce. at this everyone drops where they stand. i walk over to Kiran, adn drop beside her. she sits up and leans against me, and i against a bolder. to keep both of us warm, i wrap my wingsa around her, like our first night together. she lays he hed on my sholders, and goes to sleep. i lay my furry head next to hers, on my chest though, and i fall asleep. as i do, i feel some of the others huddling around us so they could keep warm too. no one keeps watch, we are too tired for it.

the sun rises, the next mornign, and i wake up, picking up my head from my chest. i look over at Kiran, and she is still fast asleep in my furry embrace. i look over to the rest ov the group, and they are asleep as well. my brother is in my sisters arms, purly for the warmth, and they two are in Jacks arms, again purly for the warmth.

i lay my head down on my chest again and fall asleep. when i wake up again, Kiran has just woken up again. she looks sleepily into my eyes.

"Hello gorgiase." she says in a mou mou voice.

"Hello, sweetheart. how are you? did you sleep well?" i ask.

"Well except for the part about the dreams, yes. i did. thank you." she said attempting to rise. i let her go, opening my wings, and helping her up. when she gets up, i get up following her. i see that the others have gotten up aw well, and are making breakfast. i do not know where they ogt the food but it smells delish. i hear a couple of small explosions ove in the city, adn i look, and my eyes go wide.

"Everyone get down!" i yell, as the city dissapeares in a mushroom cloud. i close my eyes and immediatly turn away already going into berserker mode, and then Primal fury. when the flash goes away, i turn around again, the after immage still burned into my retina. when it starts to clear, i see a white wall coming towards me. i close my wings to reduce my surface area, but it is too late. i get caught in the shockwave of a nuclear blast, making me tumble end over end. with a sickening crunch, i hit the canyon wall, beyond the ridge that i had sleapt on. my feet were above my head, and my wings were splayed at different angles against the wall, held there by the blast. when it finnally reduces enough for me to fall, and for my hearing to come back, i notice that Kiran is going Berserk. i fall two stories to the ground, and i crumple like i have no bones left in my body. shivering, i get up, and stumble over to Kiran, who is in her last of the Primal rage, transformation. i circle her, watching as she tries to destroy everything, and when she cools down enough to collapse, i am right by her side, holding her.

i lay there, Kiran in my arms again for the second time in two minutes. the others are gathered around us again, as we lay there shivering, and broken. or at least i am shivering and broken. i wrap my sore and bruised wings around Kiran as she sleeps, and find that both are broken. they are broken at the elbow, and in the hand, with which all the "fingers" go out to support the membrane. i feel something pressed against my neck, and i fall asleep, but not before i hear something pressed against Kiran's neck.

Chapter 15

Reath: outskirts of ruins of sitnalta. unknown. summer. a few years from now.

something furry in my arms. i try to move, but can't. i am too weak to move. blackness takes me once more.

Again, something furry is in my arms. i try moving thistime, and find that i can, but only a little. i open my eyes, to bright sunshine, or is it a spot light. i do not know. i look down to my arms, and their is a furry head laying there. we are covered by white linins. a door opens, but despite my curiosity, Darkness takes me once again.

*are they alive?*

"Yes. they are. they are in a state of coma right now. we can't seem to wake them. we found them in each other's arms after the explosion. one of them looked like he was thrown a good hundred yards or so. but even so, i do not know about their condition. should they be quorenteened?"

"No. this is a side effect of an emotional state, exxacted by thier armor. not a disease. it cannot spread. the man who has made the armor, is dead. shot though by a gausse rifle. unfortunaly, he died before he could find a cure."

"No. no cure. i am happy like this. don't want to go back." i said grogely. i find that my mzzle is bound with someting.

i hear sounds of foot steps rushing to my side strangly muffled as iff i am in a luquid.

"Souko, are you alright? How are you feeling. And what of Kiran?" askes a very familier voice.

"I am fine, a little sore, but that is to be expected. i do not know about Kiran. Why can't i see?" i ask.

"You have a blindfold on. you are on the hospital ship. the one that brought you in the quie. you are safe now. the atack is over." said the familier voice again. "You are immersed in a liquid that is designed to help you and Kiran heal. it is a little thick so you cannot move and injure yourselves farther."

i try to raise my hand to get the blindfold off, but find that i can't. i feel Kiran stir on top of my chest, and body, and i want to see her.

"Get this damn thing off of me." i say.

"Your eyes were dammaged by the explosion. i am sorry, but you need to keep the blindfold on for the time being. we are repairing your eyes, so that you can see again. Sis had already repaired your wings, which were broken in numerouse places. your whole body was broken. but we have fixed most of the dammage, to a point like it was before the explosion. you suprised me that day souko. your have continued to amaze me time and time again. any lesser man would have given up. but i am proud of you my brother. i am so proud of you."

*Yes. we all are. you warned them in time, to get down, so they wouldnot be hurled like you were by the overpressure wave. you survived a nuclear blast. you survived long enough for the rest of us to get there to help you. i have a wuestion for you.*

"Not now rose. we have to get them recovered first."

*Oh. okay.*

"I want to answer her question. i am her's and she is mine. it is the least i could do." i say, weakoning fast.

*Okay, here goes. who is the other furry person. the one in your arms is Kiran, i know that. but who is te other?*

"Ask Vel. he'll tell you."

and with that darkness came over me again.

'i am dry.' is the first thing i think. 'i am dry, not in any pain. i am dry, not in any pain, and holding something furry.'

"Mmmm." a noise startles me. i jerk, and the furry thing in my arms moans louder.

"What time is it, mommy?" said the furry object in my arms in a mou mou voice.

"I am not your mommy." i say in responce.

"Poo. I wanted you to be my mommy." said the object in my arms. i open my eyes and look down. in my arms is a furry creature the likes of which i have not seen before. it looks female, with a small foxish face. her ears are like mine, black with a little tuft of white at the tip. her eyes, are lavender, with black fur surrounding the eyes.

i cock my head at her.

"Stop that. you'll make me sick if you keep doing that souko." the furry in my arms says, again in the mou mou voice. then gradually, it dawns on me. Kiran went into the primal rage. i had held her as she came down off of it.

"Kiran?"

"Yes. now he gets it. how are you ya big lump." she says as she thumps me on the chest.

"Your furry. and you can talk."

"yes. now you are catching on. took you long enough. while you were asleep i was discovering myself. i had your sister give me the drug, and then went into the chamber with you to let the liquid dull the sences. it was not water, so sound was not permited to travel. but i could feel yur heart beating. i could feel you talking. i could feel you."

"so, when you were done, i towled us both dry, and so, here i am. oh i found that there was a change to our hair coloring a little. i do not know if you like the color, red, but you are now part red head." she said, as she reached up with a five fingered hand, and gently pulled a lock of my hair so that is was in front of my eyes.

i looked at the lock, and noticed that it was red. i reached up with my own five fingered, FIVE, five fingered hand to examine the lock a little closer. it was the color of her hair, before she...did the thing.

"Wow. how bizar. and i notice that i have five fingers again. how is that possable?" i sak of her.

"Noo idea. how ever, i do know that you are a little bit more handsom now, then you have ever been. here. let me up." she says.

i open my wings, and notice with a shock that the membrane has changed coloring as well as my hair. the very outskirts of the membrane had turned a blody red, while the inside had turned a blackish blue color. the feathers at the leadingedge of the wing, had disapered, leaving only bone and skin.

i looked at Kiran, and noticed that she had clothes on. Hmm. i did not have clothes on when i changed. i look closer and see that her hair, was a red braid extending down her back, her fur, was black as night, with a little silver on the top of her tail, which she was swishing back and forth.

when she turns around i notice that she has a single lock of hair unlodged from the rest. that lock, is a whiteish blue. my hair color. i also notice that she has a small white stripe of fur runing from her nose to the top of her hair line.

Hmm.

"I see that you are exhamining me, as i have examined you. yes, i know that you are wondering where i got the clothes from. i got them from the fabricator machine. they are talor made to fit my body. i can take you to get that loin cloth replaced if you want." she said in a questioning tone. she walkes back to me, and gives me a small handheld mirror. i take it from her, and look for any changes. one i see imediatly is that i have a silvery coloring above my snout. i tilt the mirror to look at my ears, to see if they have cnanged any. i cannot see any change in them. i look at my eyes, and immediatly notice that i have blue fur surrounding my eye. but only one of them. i exhamine the blue fur, and see that indeed, the skin underneath is blue. like a sky blue almost, but it definatly stands out against my black fur.

then i see that there is a pattern to the marking. two lines bend in an eighty degree fasion to my eye, with three dots above the eye itself.

hmmm.

"Okay. that is very interesting." i say.

"Hmmm. yes it is, isn't it." she said stradeling me. i put the mirror to the side for the moment. then as she leans down, she streched her lithe body like a cat, and then lays her head down upon my chest.

"Hmmmmurr." she purrs, (PURRS?) purrs in contentment. then she streches herself out upon my body, her head upon my shoder once more, her fingers playing with the fur in my chest.

"You know, Souko. In sitnaltan law, if a couple willingly sleep in each others arms for more then five nights, they are married from the moment that they wake up on the fifth day." she askes

i look down at her, frowning.

"I did not know that. And you were going to tell me, when?" i ask.

"Now."

"Oh. i suppose i don't have any choice in the matter now do i?"

"No. Not really."

"Ahh." i say accepting my fate.

"I suppose that i will just have to punish you for drawing me into this."

"Oh yeah?" she said her interest perked, as well as her ears.

"Yeah. and i am going to start right now." i said with a coniction to tickle her until she wet herself. he he.

the next morning.

"Morning sleepy head." i say to the bundle of fur, and blanet lying in my arms.

"Mmmm. Morning. is this the fifth night that we have slept in each others arms?"

"Maybe. i do not know. i have lost count. but i think that Vel will allow us to fudge it a bit."

"You really think so?" she askes lifting her sleep mussed head up from the bundle i had wrapped her in.

"Yeah. i mean, one he is my brother. two, after what we have been through, we deserve some kind of happyness, and three, well, i think that it really has been five days. there was the one in the cave, the two in your room, the one on the ridge, and the three on the ship. thats more then five. so yeah, we could do it."

"Hmm. well, lets sleep on it."

"What, come on. we have to make at least some kind of aperance. i mean, if we do not show they might just send a resque team to see if we had died or not."

"Oh. good point. well i had best get dressed. and you had better put on yur loin cloth." she said laughing as she untangel herself fro the bedspred. when she had gotton untangled, i started to tickle her again, making her shreek again. heh heh heh.

we had finnaly gotten untangled from each other, with me getting my loin cloth on, and her her clothes. we set out for the door, when there is a knock.

"Come in." i call to the peron outside the door.

squeeek. the sound of the hinges meking both of us wince. then in comes Vel.

"ooh. speak of the demon and he shall come." said Kiran, trying to get a rise out of him.

"Oh stow it." he said playing along. "i had ondered when you two were going to show, so i desided to come and look for you. sure enough, you were here in your quarters."

i shot Kiran a look, ans she looked at me, with an innoent look on her face.

"What?" she said indignatnly.

we look back at vel, adn he at us.

"I came by to inform you that we are above a settlement of aliens right now. Zoor'ain is down there right now, telling them about you two. i assume that you are ready for travel? if not get ready. Um, Souko. you might want to get some more clothes on. just a suggestion. See you up on the bridge when you are ready."

and with that he left, the squeeking of the door making us wince again.

"We had best get you soem clothes mister. i do not want to be showing off my hubby to any free ladies, you might come across." she said as she pushed me out the door and down the hall. she pushes me all the way down the hall way to a booth, at the end of the corridor. we had gotten strange looks from the crew.

"there now, just get in, it will scan you, select the appropriate sizes, make the nessisary holes, and then you can select waht type of material you want, and waht articles of clothing you with to have. i would suggest going simple. at least for now."

i open the door to a suprizingly large room. i walk into the middle of it.

*Please spread your arms, or anyother appendeges you might have. and i will begine to scan you for clothing.*

i do as the recording suggests, and spread my wings as far as they would go, and my arms as well. i put my feet a little ways apart.

a red light comes on, and then another, forming a little grid. the grid moves up my body making the appropriate measurments.

*There. i am done taking measurments, you may elax now. please select your clothing.* the recording says after a while.

i walk over to the screen after closing my wings, and relaxing the rest of my body. i chose a black overcoat that extended down to the floor, but was slit up the back for manuverability. it also had pockets for items, and two slits cut in the sholders for my wings.

i chose for my pants, a pair of denim shorts that were big enough to fit me, and yet be loose enough for manuverability. the shorts had a slit in the back to fit my tail through. i also shoce a harnes, with two pistole holsters on the sides, and one in the small of the back, for my weapon.

i hit select and in a minute these things come into being. i put on the jeans first, the the harness, and then the over coat, looking a lot like i was a bandit. he he he. i wondered about my spines, but i realized that they had been broken off in the blast, well those that were left in the blast anyway.

when i am satisfied that i an okay i walk out of the room.

she gasps, whe she see's me in my clothing.

"You look even more darling the i could have ever realized. ohh." she says as she squeezes me so hard i feel something pop.

i tap her on her sholder. she releases me a little, leans back so she could look into my face.

"I do need to breath sometime." i say, repeating her earlyer words.

"Ha ha ha. very funny." she says as the thumps me on my chest.

we turn and walk towards the bridge, her leading with me in tow. thanks to the hight of the cloak, with it being an inch above the floor i have no trouble following her.

we get to the bridge, adn walk in, side by side, hand in hand all that stuff. we walk past numbers of chairs with people maning their stations. we walk up to Vel, who is stading beside the Captain.

"Souko. you are aware of our laws conserning marage, are you not?" askes Vel.

"I am."

"Then you must know that you are now leagely married to this women?"

"I do."

"So, my question is, in order to make this marage binding,, you must ansqer one question with your soul. you can not lie on the answer. the question is. Do you love her? think long and hard now." Vel says.

"I do." i say without hesitation.

"Good. i was hoping you were going to say that. now, since i am the captain of this ship, i have the right to leagely marry this man and women in holy matrimony. since i am captain, i do wed these two in marrage. Now umm. You two do wahtever it is that you two do when...oh hell. you may kiss the bride." he says with a smile finnaly desiding on a frase that would work with us.

i smile a freaky site, and with hunger in my eyes, i wrap us up in my wings, as i had done so the previouse nights to keep us war, only this time, it was a cuccoon of flesh. after a few minutes, i felt someone knocking on one of my wing bones. i seperate the arms, and lean my head back, my red lock hanging down to my chin.

"Yes."

"Umm. we have some news concerning your living situation. the settlement that we are over currently is inhabited be aliens. as you well know. but, these people do view human beings as we view ourselves. they view anyother being, weather they be creature, or plant, to be superior to us. our sister, has been made a member of their society, and they have invited you and your wife to live with them alongside our sister. however, since i am not allowed i will be staying here in the hospital ship with the rest of the refugees."

"so. you will be taking a shuttle craft, as your transport, adn all of your belongings, that you had upon you, will be put on board as well as several clothing and some other supplies for you. we have also put some extras in there for you. i will take you to your shuttle craft, adn then you can be on your way." my brother said.

he walks us down the bridge solisiting several cheers and catcalls from the crew for our "kiss".

he then takes us down one level via a lift. we are now in the expansive hangor deck of the ship, and there are hundreds of people here. including all of the crew, and refugees from the city. there aren't many. he walks us down multiple aisles of ships, fighters and civilian the same.

he takes us to a part of the hanger that have a lot of quie parked in a row. then as one, the men and women who had crewed those quie stepped out from behind their craft.

on women who had her head wrapped in bandages, saluted, adn said "We kicked some ass for you sir." she told me.

another man told me how he had done some of teh stuff i had done, and had gotten three heavy cruiser kills.

when we had gotten to the end of the row, i saw that the burning wing squadren was all there. on eman stepped away from his quie holding a very pretty lady. That was the women i had prommised to keep safe.

"I kept her safe for you." i told him and i saluted him.

he returned the salute and the rest of the pilots saluted me as well. upon seeing this, i droped my salute. they dropped theirs. suddenly everything gets blurry. i use my sleeve to whipe the tears from my eyes.

i walk ove to the man, Leaving Vel, and Kiran behind. i reach out to shake his, ahand with my eyes still watering, i grasp his hand in mine, i tel him that i am glad the he and his lady friend are reunited. i also told him, that i hoped that they would have as much fun as we would. i told them that i would never forget the incredable two flights i had with them, getting a lot of laughs.

i take Kirans hand and we galk from the gathrering of pilots, and head to the shuttle craft. we walk for a few minutes with vel giving us all kinds of advice and when we got to the shuttle, he had finally ran out of breath.

"Vel?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"Right. sorry. i just want to let you two know that i will miss you horribly. but we will se each other again soon you hear?" he says at the bottom of the steps into the craft.

"Umm. Souko. there is no pilot. only boxes." Kiran says calling from inside the craft.

"Oh yeah. i knew that there was something i forgot. the shuttle is yours. from the captain. he said to give it to you when you got ready to leave. oh, and Bro? here is something from me." he says as he holds out an odly shaped bundle wrapped in purple cloth. i take it from him, and unwrap a corner. inside are twin versions of the weapon i had used to orchestrate our escape from the city.

"I knew that you lost it, so i had two of them made, each with a little more kick to them. now go. your wife looks to be anxiouse for something." he said, seeing Kiran looking over my sholder.

i turn my head so that i am looking over my sholder, at kiran.

"Okay. we can go. can we go?" i ask of my brother.

"Yeah. you have clearence to take off anytime you want. if you want to stay a while, or take off now, go ahead. the captain has given you the clearence. so be sure when you take off to thank him." he says.

"Thank you my brother. indeed we shall see each other again. soon i hope." i say as i give him a hug. then being mischeviouse i stick my finger in my mouth to wet it, and give him a wet willy.

"Good BYE brother." he says as he whipes off his ear. "I will get you back for that you know."

"Oh i know. i will plan on it!" i say as Kiran shuts the hatch.

"Well? are you ready?" she askes.

"Yeah. lets go. i'm driving." i say.

"Now wait a minute, mister. what is so bad about my driving!?" she shouts as she thumps my on the arm.

"Oh, just everything." i say as we lift off of the deck.

"ahh. i get it, you don;t want anything tonite for supper then huh?"

"Okay, okay just kidding."

i turn the ship around so that it was pointing to the door. all of the quies had already lifted off, and were waiting outside the hanger door, in two rows, the odd man out waiting at the end. i gently nudge the engines so that we were coasting out of the door, and intot he cold hard vacume, the bubble shield squeesing shut behind us.

i reach the end of the rows, and the fighters open their wings.

"Request permision to pass, fighters."

"Rodger. Permision granted. Good luck. Crimson star." an anonymous pilot said.

and with that the quie on the end fired all of his belly jets, lifting him out of the way. i lit the aft pointing jets in responce, and when we had cleared each and everyone of them, they all closed their wings. then they went back inside.

lighting the main engines, i fly up towards the bridge window. flying around nacele after nacele, i eventually reach the bridge, and halting in an orbit around the ship, get out of my seat, and give the captain a bow.

Kiran reached over onto the console, she pushed the button for coms.

"Go ahead, Crimson star." said the captain picking up the transmision.

"Kiran to the captain. Thank you so very much for the shuttle. we will take very good care of it."

"Well i apreciate that you like my shuttle so much. i hope that it will do as much good to you, as it did to me. Good luck, and god speed to you. Captain out." and with that, we turned around and headed towards the blue planet, that had once been our hoe, and would once again, give us life.

chapter 16

three years A.S. (after sitnalta)

Reath: market place. 09:00 am. summer. market place.

"No not that one, we want this one." Kiran said pointing to a ripe fruit, trying futilly to manage her swollen belly.

"You wan this one, not that one right? well, okay. it is my best one here, but i think i can part with it." said a very shady dealer, at the multi species market place.

"Listen bub. Don't you try anything funny now." i say trying to stop the creatures antics.

"Try anything funny how? like trying to sell thing here?" he said in defence of himself.

"Alright thats it. we are taking our business elsewere." i say trying to usher Kiran away from the stall.

whe she wont move, i look at her, and see a pleading look in her eyes. i hate that look. with a sigh, i give in. running a hand through my spiky blueish white hair, i say, "Okay, how much?"

brightening up instantly, both Kiran and the Dealer, start to haggle again. rolling my eyes and looking around, i see a busteking market place, with dozenes of different species of people. i see short ones, tall ones, some with a lot of fur, like us, some who were scaly. i saw some who had no heads visible, others with eight or ten eyes. a whole miriade of creatures inhabited this market place.

Kiran is wearing a pair of overalls, like on earth, and i was wearing my ground lenght cloak, with my twin holsters hidden underneath. in those holsters were my twin beam rifles. short stokcy weapons that fired a powerfull beam, that seperated the very atoming bindings between the atoms. this vaporized anything that the beam hit, weather it be man, machine, flesh and bone, or stone. only i and Kiran could use them, becuase Vel had encoded them to our DNA sequenses.

she finally desides on a price, paying well over regular price for them. but, it was worth it. he was the best vender around that sold these things, and you get what you pay for. especially out here.

the vendor bags up his wares for Kiran and slips a little something extra in. i did not say that he wasn't a nice guy, just pricy. we walk our way out of the market place, Kiran having gotten her craved item for the day. i walked infront of her, my large frame towering over anyone, and everyone. my snarling mouth, and wings helped a lot as well. Kiran held onto my tail, so as not to loose me, or me her.

we eventually get to where the crowd has thined enough for us to leave side by side. we get to a gaurded building on the outskirts of the market. the gaurds see us, and nodding they stand aside to let us in. i walk over to our little craft that i had built for the two of us. it looked like a strange bike, built for two. i swing my legs over first, and sit down remembering to tuck my tail to the side as i sit down in the bucket seat. the drive pods are in fron tof me, adn behind me. Kiran sits down practically on my lap, and she gets confetable, holding on to her purchases. i lean back, intot he seat, my wings confertabble held flush against the rear drive engine. the front drive pod, is shaped like a bullet, and has a wind screen for Kiran. Must protect the babes.

i start the engines, adn the craft lifts off, in a distinctive whump whump whump patteren as the engines fire. i nose the littel craft out of the same way we came in, waving to the gaurds, both of whom we knew personally. they were in our extended clan by way of Zoor'ain.

i dodge around pedestrians, eventually getting to the open country, where i really open her up. oh the craft is safe, don't get me wrong, i built it. i had built the craft with two outrigger pods for stability, adn a low center of gravity. the craft was very strong, stronger tehn anything i could have made at sitnalta. we are going for about an hour, whe something red strikes the ground next to the craft, sending it rocking on its outriggers.

"BANDITS!" i shout in Kirans ear. she nods, adn takes the secondary controls. i let go of the primary controls, and reaching into my cloak, i grab the handles of my guns, whiping them out. i point john woo style, firing at the bandits who popped up along the path. Kiran jinked right then left, throuwing some of their shots wide, but also throwing mine wide. getting fed up, shout at Kiran.

"Turn around we are going to have to do this the hard way it seems!"

i flip both guns around so that they are connected. the handles are facing outwards. the barrels pointing in the same dirrection. together the rifles fire a much more powerfull shot, sharing the twin power cells and everything. flying backwards in our little craft, i point the connected weapon over Kiran's head, as she watches where we are going. pointing the weapon, holding with both hands, the engine, whumping along at a high rate of speed, i aim. setting my sites along the middle of the canyon, i fire, the heat killing everything in its path. the heat also breaks the wind screen, shatering it, sendig pieces flying at my face.

none of them get through however, and i remain safe. i disconect the overheated, and depleted weapon, putting them in the crafts side holsters.

"OKAY KIRAN! I WILL TAKE OVER FROM HERE!" i shout into her ear.

nodding she flips the craft around this tme going forwards again instead of backwards. i take controll from her, and keep going. we reach the settlment of my people, as i had come to know them, and slid to a stop outside the gaurd station.

"Hey, what happned to your windscreen? My brother says that they are unbreakable." says one of the gaurds. his brother is the one who makes the windscreens for the different styles of custom crafts around the settlement.

in answer i gingerly hold up one of the still warm weapons that i had fired.

"Oh. bandits again huh? well go on in. i will call my brother to come and fix for windscreen...AGAIN. what iss it the third time this week?" he says as i turn on the crafts secondary, and much slower, but quieter engines. they hum along as we float along, headed to our home. i turn this way and that, skirtig the pedestrians, and waiting for the school children of the people who's settlement we had come to love, to cross the street.

i look around at the different buildings, adn see many things i would not think i would have seen five years ago. i see many spires made ou of a white metal, gleaming and shinign, in the grassland sun. i look and see many people with piecings, many with little, and some with many. the maximum one could get, was ten, with no peircings, the lowest. it was a form of ranking system. the more one got the higher they were in the social standings.

the number of documented good deads was how one worked for one of these peircings. i, and my wife and sister, and her clan, all had five. three in one ear, two in the other. only golden rings, could be counted as ranking.

when the children had passed, i went to our clan family complex. since we were expecting, we had marginally larger home then the others. i parked the craft in the garage, with my other craft. this one also built by me. this one was redm while the one that we were riding was black. it was built for Kiran, so when she was not with child, she could come flying with me when ever she wanted, keeping up with me, and even performing accrobatics with.

it looked like a racing motercycle from earth, only without wheels. it was driven by the same anti-grav engins that the one we were riding had.

graspin Kiran by her sides, i lift her out of the craft's pasenger seat, her holding her pressiouce purcheses. when she gets herselfe ballanced, fighting gravity, adn her gravid belly, she waddles to the garage door, her tail swinging with each step. seeing that just made me laugh.

turning, adn looking at me, her furry arms clutching her package, she demanded to know what was so funny.

"Only you darlin'. only you." i say as i catch up with her.

whe i do, i kiss her, our snouts comming to gether, at the tips. i place my hand on her back, and help her through the door, grabing her package with one hand, gently pushing her to her coutch with the other.

Knock knock. i walk over to our door, and there stands my sister, in her police uniform. even though our system is good, it is not perfect and we do get the ocasional bandid attack on out settlment.

"So, i hear that you have had a little bandit trouble on the way in. i also hear that you depleted your weapons power cells again. so whats the count this time? thirteen? Fourteen? Hmm? well, doesn't matter. you survived, and that is all that matters to me. Hey Kiran." she says over my sholder. "So are you going to let me in, our what?"

"Oh yeah come in, come in." i say backing out of the door way, my wings bumping into the cieling. she walks in as casual can be, and plops down on the coutch next to my wife.

"So. Mrs. Pregers. how be you? i see that you have your craving under control."

"Yeah, i do. all i say is that i amm hungry, adn Souko, takes me soemwhere. so yeah i have my cravings under control." she says giving me a wink. i walk over to her, adn squat down on my haunches, crossing my arms on the armrest, adn laying my head down on top of them.

"Hey thats an armrest, not a headrest." Kiran complains.

"I am resting my arms on it." i reply, my words distorted, by the weight of my head.

"Ohh." she says lightly slapping my head.

"So sis. what brings you out to our little home." i ask.

"Well, i have a job for you. you can't keep on doing nothing relying on me, adn the rest of the clan now. i know that you are expecting, but, well. we don't look to kindly on those who don't pull their fare share around here. by we, i mean them, and by those, i mean the ppeople who aren't pregnant with triplets." she said, excluding herslef and Kiran, but not me.

"Hmmm. don't remind me. having to feed two of us is hard enough, but five? Oh well, i was getting so used to being pampered too. eh, oh well. you win some you lose some." she said shrugging.

"So, what is this job you have found for me. hopefully, not a hired gun. you know as well as anyone that i do not loke those people, selling them selves for war purpases."

"Yeah i know. i also know how much you like our creatures, so , i got you a job a a caretaker, for our most dangerouse creatures."

okay, that spiked my interest. "Ooh. what are they, are they...gryphons?"

"Nope. guess again."

"Are they...big?"

"Yes. getting warmer."

"Are they...giant?"

"Closer, getting hot now. take another guess."

Okay, getting hot. Are they...carniverouse?"

"Oooh! flaming now. can you figure out what creatures you are going to be taking care of?"

"Ooh, Ohh. let me guess, let me guess." said Kiran, bouncing up and down in her seat.

"Okay, the pregnant lady."

"Pregnant lady!? okay, well, they are giant, meat eaters that Souko would love to meet. Ummm. are they giant meat eating munkies?" she askes, being a little giddy.

"Ohh, so far off, you have reached absolute zero. Sorry, not giant meat eating munkies. Souko, what is yur guess." she says trying to get me to keep the exchange going.

"Okay, giant carnivores. Hmm. something that i would love to meet. Hmm. Perhapse dragons?" i ask, even though i knew the answer already.

"Ding ding sing. okay jhonny tell him what he's won." she says in a game show manner, form back on earth.

"Yes, i got you a job being the caretaker of dragons. i figured that since no one else wants the job, and anyone who does, gets eaten, well i figured you would be gould for the job. your savage nature, may just be enough to get in on their good side. if they have one that is." she said aparently as an after thought, but only trying to get me to blanch. not that anyone could see it under my fur and everything.

i stand up, to walk away, but then turn around. i look at the two furry women sitting on the coutch. both of whom i love dearly, though in differnt ways. Zoor'ain has her piercings in both of her ears again after getting off work. the police force, has no ranking system, so, they have to take off all rank symboles. she has three in the opposite ear as me, adn so does Kiran. the day that she became my wife, Zoor'ain, had pierced her ears herself the way she had done with me. we had all come to love it here. the closeness of the clans was unbelevable. nothing came even remotly like this on earth. it felt good to be known well, and for good reasons.

"You know, the two of you sitting together, with Kiran pregnant, and you, well lets just say that you are hoping, maybe, sometimes you would like to babysit for us?" i say thinking that it is kind of lame.

"Would i ever. yes, i will babysit. that is were the babysitter sits on the baby right? Kidding kidding. jeese. you's think i just cracked an inapropriate joke or something." she said hastilly as both of us rounded on her, adn she shrank into the coutch as far as she could go, trying to be smaller and smaller.

i leap playfully upon her, me and kiran both, tickling her until she submited.

"Hey, is thaat how you treat your favorite sister, adn the one who ewelcomed you with open arems into my family?" she askes as we back away from her, me sitting on the floor, Kiran leaning back, with her eyes closed and hand on her belly.

"Zoe, you are my only sister." i say using the pet name i came up with.

kiran moans, rocking her head back and forth.

"What's wrong sweety?" i ask her, my hand on her knee.

"I thought it wouldn't be so soon. ohh. i think...i think that it is time." she says, grunting and groaning, her eyes watering.

ohh boy. here we go. time it is to have the babes.

"Zoe. open the door, get anyone who could help. i am taking her to the clinic down the street." i say as i manuver around to pick my pregnant Kiran up. i slide my arms under her knees, and behind her sholders, lifting her up. she wraps one arm around the back of my neck, and the other tries to hold the babes in. it isn't working. i trot to the door, Zoe holding it open for us. i thank her as i carry my pregnat wife down the road. several hover vehicles swerve and stop honking their horns at me. wheever they do, i open my wingsaand roar at them, stopping only when kiran tells me to be nice.

i hurry around the cars, adn down the street, Kiran's water breaking all over me, gushing down my side. getting to the door, i ballance on one leg, and turn the knob, opening the door. when it is unlatched, i push it open , and rush inside. the nurces rush over to me, and lay her on a gurney. a male nurse puts his hand on my chest to hold me back.

i growl at him, but he, bless his heart stands there uflinching as he points me to a wash room.

"Sir, we have to get you washed up first. do it quickly, and then you can continue."

i go into the wash room, and scrub down as quickly as possable, going into the primal rage mode, for the first time outside of combat situations. lets just say that the soap was flying. he he he.

i get done, and put on some scrubs, coming out of the primal mode, adn follow the male nurse back into the delivery room. when we had to stop for some doors to open i just kick them open. i follow the door in, and go to stand beside my wife. she latches onto my hand just as a contraction siezes her.

she squeezes so hard, i feel the bones in my hand cracking. i grab a wash cloth, to mop her brow, squating beside her bed, my wings held up high to avoide getting them dirty. i must admite, i looked a little out of place there at her side, my entire body looking fierce, and deadly, and holding my wives hand, while my face was filled with concern.

"Push baby push. come on, push." i say trying to earg her on.

then letting go of my hand for a moment, she grabs my collar, and puls me close.

"If you don't shut up, i will push you right out that window!" she says.

this gets a couple of laughs from the docter, and the nurses.

letting go of my collar, she latches onto my hand once again, using it like a stress ball. all of a sudden, one baby is out. she jerks, as the tiny looking thing just pops out of her. one of the nurses, holds the babe up, and anounses that it is a boy.

Kiran smiles and then another contraction siezes her again. she sqeezes my hand until i hear the bones popping, and seh relaxes again.

"Sorry." she says weakly as she recovers from the latest contraction. she closes hewr eyes, just as another contraction reaches her. she jerks again as the babe comes out f her a quickly as the first. another nurse holdes up the babe, and anounses that it is a girl.

"You hear that Kiran. we have a girl."

"Yeah. i heard." she again said weakly as she recovered form this contraction as well. she leans her head back against the pillow, and breaths shallow breaths. i mop her brow as she rests. she opens her eys and looks at me, almost totally exhauseted.

"I can't do another one Souko, i just can't." she says pleading with me.

"Yes you can, you can and you will. even if you have to break my hand you will." i say just before another contraction hits her full force.

she screams, a human one this time, and squeezes my hand so hard that some of the bones do indead break. then jerking once again, the last baby pops out. just as quickly as the first two. Kiran lays her head back and cloases her eyes. the nurse raises the baby up, and anounces that it is a girl, just as the heart moniter goes solid. my heart stops as well, thoguh not for the same reasons.

"No! i will not lose you now. not when the babes have come." i say as i raise my hand over her chest adn fire my shock blaster, hoping that it will nurse her heart back to life. when she doesn't come around, i fire over and over again, until finally, the heart moniter starts beeping again. slowly at first, then faster until it becomes stable.

She rolls her head over to look at me. "Hi there." she says extremly weakly, as the nursess recover enough form the schocks, to help Kiran survive. tears well up in my eyes, as i lay my head down on the bed next to hers, just gratefull that she is alive.

while she rests, i am only dimly aware that people come and try to remove me, but i either growl at them, or hook my feet into the floor, not wanting to go for anything.

a few hours later, she wakes up, and looks around. she sees me with my head laying there asleep, and wings resting agaist the wall, getting dirty. then gently she prods me in the face inbewtween my eyes, waking me up.

i come to, look up, and there is Kiran's soaking face looking down at me. she had the most beutiful smile on her face, as i lift up my head.

"Was i deleriouse, or did i hear you shouting something about me not leaving you?" she askes as i reagin my sences.

"No, you were not deleriouse. you did indeed hear me say something like that. ohh, Kiran i thought i would lose you. you can't imagie how it made me feel. i just reacted, and lckly it saved your life.

Okay, we have established that you saved my life, again. we have also establishe dt hat you love me with all your heart, again. ow answer me one thing. what is the final count?" she sakes refereing to our babes.

"Two girls and one boy. it looks as if i am going to have some compitition for your heart." i tell her.

"Oh good. thats a reliefe. oh look, i am deflated, she says weakly, and her head falls back again. needless to say, i get a little scared.

"Kiran? are you okay?" i ask a little panick in my voice.

she rolls her head over to look at me. "Yeah. i am just a little sleepy right now. i have just birthed three babes in a row, died, and come back to life. i think i am antitled to a little rest. that is okay with you right?" she askes me darring me to say no.

so i give in, saying yes, and when she falls asleep, i mop her face, keeping her dry.

a few hours later, when she is in a wheel chair, adn being wheeled through the lobby, two of our children latched on to Kiran, and me holding the other babe.

Zoe, and her side of the clan get up from where they had camped out in the lobby waiting for us. soem of them looked half dressed, others looked like they had stopped grooming themselves in the middle of thier session.

"Hey, there is the happy couple." say uncle dan. that is not his title to me, it is just what i call him.

"So, just three? ha ha. good for you. a litter of three is just enough for new parents to get a really good work out the first time around." said aunt sally. like all of Zoe's side of the clan, she is a furry. or rather a scaly. her body is a rose color, with shining scales covering her skin. all scalies and furrys are of the same spacies, just different races, of us have different bodies. that is why, me and Kiran, being of wolve and fox, were able to have kits of our own.

we accept the praise and congradulations, adn then reveal our little ones. the one i am holding is just like me, only he has full featured wings, even though they are just down feathers now. the little one in my arms also has his mothers eyes, a light lavender, and some of my green. his hair, is almost entirely red, with little tufts of light blure mixed in.

the two little ones that Kiran is holding, have no wings, but do have their mother's build, and my eyes. other then that, they are spitting image of Kiran. as we show them off, my face is full of pride, a grin splitting my face in two.

just then i feel a tap on my back, i turn almost knocking down a little kid with my wings.

"Excuse me sir, but are you someone named Soukonoung?"

"Yes i am. who might be asking?" i ask of the young one.

"You have a caller at the vidphone. he said it was urgent. he wishes to speak with you right away." the little kid says.

"Alright. tell my caller that i will be right there." i tell him. regreting having to do so, i hand my child off to Zoe and go off to answer a call.

i walk over to where the little boy is standing adn when he holds out his hand i give him a tip. he runs off probably to tell his friends. i look towards the screen, and the sight almost knocks me to the ground.

"Vel! is that really you? How long has it been?" i ask, shocked that he should be calling here at the clinic right when we had our babies.

"Souko. i have some news for you. but first, i see Kiran in the background, with what looks to be...Babies? congratulations bro. anyway, back to business at hand. we have found the people who have blown up the city." he said. i had no question in my mind what city it was that he was talking about.

"The only problem is, our ship is heavely damaged due to some...minor mishaps. we are in a parking geosynk orbit undergoing some repares. we need your help souko. we need someplace to land, and get our ship refit."

"Vel. you know that i can't. the rest of the people do not look kindly upon humans. our kind, that is to say, the human kind, myselfe included, have been so prone to violence, adn our kind kills each other off, just for some measly strip of land!?" is this civilization? i do not think so. but, well, i will do what i can to get you in on the outskirts of the settlement. if you can prove yourselfe worhty, they will alow you to enter the settlement, and maybe get jobs doing add things. mostlt grunt work, but still good work." sigh. " i will see what i can do."

"Thank you Souko. just try, that is all i am asking. just try. oh, and give sis, and Kiran my love and congratulations for me will you?" he said a little sad. he put his hand on the screen, and i do the same, reaching out miles and miles to connect.

the ujnit turnes itself off, leaving me touching a black screen. i turn and walk back to the group with fresh tears in my eyes, though not from happyness, from saddness.

"who was it honey?" askes Kiran, Blissfully unaware of who had called.

"Someone wanting something from me. Vel, sends his love and congradulations." i say.

"Really?" say both Zoe, and Kiran at the same time.

"Who is this Vel person you are talking about?" askes uncle dan. he is on the council, so i have to tread carefully withhim.

i take a deep breath, and come out with it. "Vel is our brother. he is still a human, and his ship has been damaged in a battle while going to look fore the ones who had destroyed our home, adn thousands of defencless lives.while i knw that the law here does not normally alow humans to enter, i was hooping that they could gain asylum, as refugees, and stay in the outskirts of the setlment. this was what his call was about. that and he wished us congradulations." i say to the rest of the clan. but particularly to uncle dan.

"Soukonoung. we may not like it, but you, Kiran, adn Zoor'ain, were once human. but you have seen the error of your ways. i only hope that the others do the same. while we do not abide by the slaughter of innocence, we do not get involved n wars of other species. that is the plain truth. so, i will grant them asylum, for the time being. if they can find rolls here in the settlement, they are welcome to stay. but only those who prove themselves to our ways may stay. that is my final word. now. about these little ones. what are you going to name them?" he says.

"I do not know." i say as i take back the little male that i had had to gove up moments earlyer, instanly feeling better now that he was in my arms again.

"These little ones do deserve a name don't they?" i ask of Kiran.

"Yes. they do. how about this one is Navi." she says holding up the one on her left arm. "And this one will be called, Angelose."

"Good names. now that you have named those, i would like to name this one." i say indicating the little male in my arms. "How about Aries for a name for him?" i ask.

"Oh wonderful. we shall have a child named after the god of war ruinning around our home. why couldn't you just have named him something like Gaizen while you are at it." she said sarcastically.

"Actually, that is a wonderful name. Gaizen. yeah, Gaizen Natavi, Angelose Natavi, and Navi Natavi. good names for three wonderful kits, and a wonderful mom." i say, making her emberased with all the attantion i was giving her.

the next day, i was hard at work making a new vehicle for all of us. i hear a knock on the garage door. i push the gogles up onto my forehead, just in front of my peirced ears. i turn off the torch i was using to make the frame for the vehicle. it looks like a mass of twisted metal right now, because that is what it is.

i walk to the door, and open it. there standing in my doorway is my brother. several furry neibors of mine are gathered around him, poking him with sticks and canes. i look over his sholder and roar at them, telling them to kindly go away. when they leave, i pull back, and give my brother a giant hug which he then returnes.

"Ohh, brother i thought i would never see you again." i said.

"It is good to see you too souko. very good to see you again, and looking so prosperouse. imagine you. you, having children of your own. oh, brotheri am so very enviouse of you right now."

"Come in, and come see Kiran and the children. they are growing so fast, you would hardly believe it." i say, hardly believeing it myself.

i lead him to the living room, where the children were playing with each other. or rather, biting pulling each others hari, and or pushing each other.

"just yesterday they were born and today thay were todler age. they are getting to be so intelegant, and they are eating so much, it is unbelievable." Kiran says. "Oh, hi Vel. long time no see." she says, getting up off of the floor where she had been laying down.

she comes over to where we are standing and practicaly tackles Vel, hugging him with out sign of letting go.

she lets go, and steps back a few steps looking embarased.

"Everyone knows exacly what we are going through right now. our species, apparently has a survival traite. they stay in the womb for a long time, then when they do come out, they grow up to a point where they can survive on their own. it is wild i know. but it saves us on diapers." she said with a sigh. i think that she is just a sad at not seing them grow into adulthood slowly as i am.

i wanted to tech them everyting i could about life, about the world, about me, and their mother.

"Daddy! Daddy! i know you!" someone said.

i look around for the voice, i know came from one of the little ones. but it could not be possable could it?

"Daddy, pay attention to me. us. pay attention to us." said Navi, amazing as it sounds she had just said her first words, coherant thought, and sentance all at once.

i stare at her, adn he other two as they stand by their sister.

Gaizen with his wings in full bloom, the flights feathers just now peaking through the fuzz.

Angelose, standing behind her brother, staring at her human uncle.

And Navi, of course, standing in front.

we all stare open mouthed at the little ones.

"I think i need to lie down." i say as i lay down on the spot where Kirna had just vacated. i lay on my back, my wings out a littel to the side, to keep the fragile feathers form getting dammaged. the three children crawl up onto my chest, and sit down.

"Daddy, why arn't you saying anything?" askes Navi in her tiny voice. strange, as i listen i notice that her voice is a mixture of bells, and laughter. even when she is seriouse. it makes it very hard to understand her.

"How?"

the explanation that they gave me, made me ponder in wonder.

"We have your, and mommy's memories. we have your intelagance. in other words, we know all that you know. but, we each have our own personalities, and such, our own intellegance. but we also like to play daddy!"

Angelose Navi, and Gaizen just plopped themselves down on my chest. then they started to scream.

"Play with us! play with us!" shouted Navi, as she bounced on my sternum.

"Yes daddy, play with us!" shouted Angelose.

"Gerroff. i want him to play with ME!" shouted Gaizen as he pushed my two little girls off of my chest.

"Waaaaa!" the girls screamed in unison.

i reached over, to grab Gaizen to punish him for doing this, when i raised his hand adn i was hit with a shock wave. after that i only saw red. figurativly speaking of course. using both of my hand i grab Gaizen by the scruff of his neck. i stand leaving Kiran to care for the girls.

"Sorry bro. i have to take care of this one. be right back." i say brushing past Vel Gaizen crying loudly.

i walk through the door i had just come through and head into the garage. i sit down on our damaged two seater speeder, adn sit Gaizen on my lap.

"why did you push you sisters? how did you hit me with teh shock wave? answer me! i know you can!" i say to Gaizen.

"Hey bro? don't be so hard on the little one. he just wanted you attention. this kind of thing is natural. as for the shock blaster, i can only figur that he got it from you. don't ask me how caus i do not know." he said seeing me open my mouth to speak.

i close my mouth with an audible click. i look down at Gaizen who is watching me with wide eyes at my outburst.

"I don't know what i am doing Vel. i mean, only yesterday they were born and now?" i break off, gesturing at Gaizen.

"Well. a little word of advice. i don't know that much about kids, but i find a little patients goes a long way. esspecially with kids. this much i learned from managing the city." he says sitting beside me.

"I head Zoor'ain talking about you having a job? what is that about?" he said changing the subject.

"Oh, i had forgotten all about that. apparently, i am to take care of dragons. what kind i do not know. i have heard so much about different kinds of dragons. wyrms, whatever." i tell him.

"Take me with you, take me with you!" screamed Gaizen his fear momentarily forgotten.

"Yes. take him with you. it might just scare him into behaveing." suggested vel.

"Hmm. he would be just a littel bite for them, wouldn't he?" i sak thoughtfully, not intending to allow a dragon to have my son for a snack. "Okay, tomorrow then. right now, you are going to appologize to your sisters for pushing them." i tell him, lifting him up again.

"Okay. i tell them." he says pouting. it looks strange for a furry kit.

i hold him in my hands, and with Vel tagging along, i walk back into the living room, where Kiran is trying to calm down the little ones.

i keep on walking towards them, and they look at me, little hopeless looks on their faces. then they see Gaizen, and scream.

"You meany you hurt us!" they shouted as they raised their hand in unison. instincivly i put my wing out in a shielding fasion, and two relativly weak blasts putterd out along the membrane. no damage done, but when i lowered my wing, the two were in Kirans arms, struggling.

she looks at me torn between her love of her children, and her desire to make them behave. i sigh, saying that i will take care of things. i turn to vel, and running my free hand through my blueish white hair, i ask him for assistance.

"You know i would do anything for you and your brood bro. just ask, adn it shall be done." he said, reasuring me.

"I think that a trip to the dragons is in order. who knows, maybe the dragons can put some sence into these three." i say.

chapter 17

Reath: settlement. 12:00 noon. mid fall. dragon's cave entrance. security check point.

"Waaa. i don't want to go see the big ugly dragons!" wailed Navi who was held along with Angelose in Vels arms.

"i would be quiet if i were you little one. those "Big uglie dragons" could eat you in a single bite. so watch your tongue." the gaurd said as he let us in with a nod, and an understanding look.

Apparenlty all kits were this much truble in their first few days. Zoe, had told me that all the kits in the settlement grew like that. it was the effect of the world. human children on the other hand would be as infantile as possable, for as long as possable. human children did not grow as kits did, but they were as intellegent as the kits were. they just chose not to show it.

the gaurd let us intot eh cave system, pointing the way. we went down the way he had prescribed, soon smelling a carrion stench. the kits just started wailing even louder. a helpful, but terrifying roar issued from further down the cave in which we were in, echoing down the chamber. this silenced the kits, for a moment, but then it only made them wail louder, and caused both me and vel, to wince. i tried flicking my peirced ears to relieve the pain, but then a low rumbling filled the cave and stopped the kits screaming.

with a sigh isuing from both the adults, we continued.

we went into a hole in the cave, that led to the dragon's housing. we had to cuck in order to get in, and since ii was first in, i was first to see the increadable sight before me. i saw hundreds of dragons, from every type imaginable, form wyrms, to sea dragons (Living in thier own lake of course). i saw winged dragons, and dragons that had no wings at all, and yet were floating in the air before me, winding and undulating like great ribbons.

some of the dragons i saw, were tiny, only about the size of a great dane, and others had bodies that looked to be, if notbigger then, the size of a city bus on earth. their heads looked big enough to swallow me, and my wings, in one bite. i stood there openmouthed, until Vel, nudged my back from behind, tellinig me to move out of the way.

"Hey, move it or loose it bro." he said, the kits strangly quiet. i step out of the way, letting him see for himself what i had to take care of. it looked to be quite a job. when i had broken my tenace, i loked over to Vel to see his face. he stood there mouth as wide as possable, and so were the kit's mouths.

when i looked back to look down, a giant, no wait, a HUGE head reared up in front of me. the head had two spikes coming from where his temples should be, and two coming out of the back. his maw was as broad as possable, and his teeth were like foot long daggeres. and those were just his small ones, waaay at the back.

he, i can only describe this magnifiicant creature as a he, let his head drift closer to us, and taking in a great amount of air with him, he sniffed us. then with a rumble so loud one did not only hear it, one felt it, he pulled his head away.

<You do not belong here winged one. we awate our care taker. he was supposed to be here yesterday.> the dragon said into our minds. aparently his size was so large that he either could not speek, or his words would kill us with the decible level.

"I am your caretaker." i say to the enormouse dragon as he slowly walks away. well, slow for him. creatures of his size do not need to huury, as is neccesaary with the smaller ones to keep up.

Growl. <Oh? well your late caretaker. follow me. i will show you to your lodgings. they are a bit cramped for five of you, but you will fit.>

"Okay. but i live outside your dwelling. i live with my wife. i..."

<So you do not want to live here with us?> growl. <Very well. then i will show you your duties, and bring the tiny ones. i know someone who can keep them occupied for a while, and help you keep your sanity.> he said with a hint of amusment, in his thoughts.

we folow him, running to keep up with him. he turns his head to see were we are, and to see our pace, adn slows down to allow us a more confertable speed.

<Sorry. i keep thinking that i am a thousand years younger. i was about your size back then winged one. back then i could still fit throgh the door, only now, i have grown too big to fit.> sigh. a really big sigh. <Oh well. before we begine, i will ask you a few questions. one, who is the human that you have with you?> he asked.

"He is my brother Veltrati." i shout.

<There is no need to shout at me little one. my hearing is as good as the day i was hatched. or maybe not so good now. oh well. so this is your brother huh. well, doesn't look like much does he? okay, question two. who are the tiny ones?>

"The little one in my arms is my son Gaizen, and the ones in my brother's arms, are Angelose, and Navi. my daughters." i say this time a little softer.

<Your children eh. very well. i know of a little place for new hatchlings to stay, to help their parents keep their sanity if at least for a while.> he said again with a hint of amusment.

we walked a hile, the giant only taking one step for our twenty. he aked both of us some more questions, and then he asked the little ones some questions. they answered in their fightened high pitched voices.

after he had finished we each felt as if we knew all of the dragons by heart. i do not know how, but we did. we knew that the flying dragons who moved like ribbons in the wind, needed only a few things. open sky, some food, and someone to talk to. the giants like the one we were talking to, needed a lot of things, the most inportant, being the same as the sky dragons. food, open sky, and conversation.

all of the dragons seemed to need those things, except for the sea dragons, who needed open sea, not sky. then before we knew it, it was time for us to leave. we had set down the little ones hours earlyer, and they were running about scampering with their new friends. they had found several of the small dragons to play with, and Gaizen was riding one of them.

as the dragons carrying Gaizen ran past, i pllucked my son off of the back of the dragon, and put him on my sholders. Vel chased Angelose, and Navi, and in turn was being chased by the two dragons that they had been playing with.

i laughed as one of the dragons roared pitifully at Vel, and nipped him in the buttock.

"You call that a roar? listen to this." shouted Gaizen who was sitting on my sholders. he roars, or rather squeeks, as one of the sky dragons who had been following the exchange from the cieling, let loose his haunting call, dropping from the cieling. about two hundred yards up from the ground, ergo us, he opened wings that shamed even i.

his wings were the size of two football fields and more. his body length was only that of one, but he just flexed his massive wings, and turned on the dime. he sailed about the humungose cavern for a few circits, then i could resist no longer. like a drug, the sensation of flight has always filed my with glee, and i just had to have another fix. i broght Gaizen down from my sholders, and holding him saflty within my arms, squated and launched myself from the ground.

about ten feet up, i spread my wings, and flapped my way upwards.

{Don't flap. soar. still your wings, relax the skin. thats it.} called the same sky dragon that had insired me to fly once more. i had not flown in ages, primarily because of Kiran, and that everything i had ever wanted was on sollid ground. oh how i had been wrong. the joy of flight was so strong in me, that the other sky dragons launched themselves, and sailed around me. even little Gaizen got into the spirit, flapping his tiny wings, trying to get the motions down.

i banked my wings, and flew at eye level to the huge dragon that we had spoken with. as we sailed past his eye, the huge thing followed us. and Gaizen hid his face in my sholders.

<Ha ha ha. curriose tiny one you have there. he tries to roar, and instead squeeks. are you sure he is not a kitten?> he laughed.

"I can so roar. listen." he says proudly, bringing out his face. he tries his best, but all he comes up with is a littel squeek, like last time.

at this, the other sky dragons start laughing in their strange haunting call, and Gaizen starts wailing from frustration, and burries his face in my sholder once more. i angle my wings so that i can fly down to Vel. i back peddle sending dust, and wind into Vels direction. he closes his eyes and turns his body, sheltering the girls from the wind.

i touch down my four toed feet grasping the flat rock, like a lover's embrase, and i fold my own wings, laughing at the sensation of flight.

{You fly well for one so tiny. tell us. how did you get your wings.} the sky dragon said with curiosity.

i tell them my story, and they all listen, gathering around me as i speak. when i am finished, i say, "I am really sorry. i have to go now. the little ones require sleep, and i realy must find lodgings for my brother."

<He can stay in our previouse caretakers lodgings. she did not leave much there, but if he wishes to, he can stay there.>

{Yes. let him stay at the old caretakers lodgings. we can take him to the place.} the sky dragons offered.

"Okay, that is settled but what about his children?" asked Vel as the dragons circled around him.

<One of the smaller dragons can take them with you. they are the ones that the kits played with earlyer.> the giant one said.

and with his message, the same small dragon came up to me, with a ragged piece of fabric in her toothless jaws.

[i believe that this thing is yours.] she said dropping the fabric at Vel's feet. Vel jumps back a few feet, and looks at me.

"Go ahead, i think that the children need to rest. and sicne you are being welcomed by the dragons, it could be a very interesting night." i say. Vel took a tentative step forward and with one arm, put Angelose onto the back of the "small" dragon, and then put Navi on there as well. i looked and seeing that there was room, i asked, "Do you mind if i put one more on?"

[No problem. just make sure that they dont have any accidents while on my back or anything.]

So with her permision, i put Gaizen on her spiked arching back, and she started to walk.

i turned back to the big dragon and thanked him for his hospitality.

<No problem. it was them who are taking him into their home as well. they are the ones who wanted me to suggest it. so thank them.>

i did, and they all said in one big rush that i was welcome as well, if i wanted to stay.

i turned to follow the small dragon that was carting off my children, but paused to ask the big dragon's name.

<My name is Gaje Hellviper. formally of the Hellviper clan of the mountain caverns.> he thought with a bow.

"Soukonoung Natavi. prince of the crown, and formally of the City of Sitnalta." i said with an answering bow.

[If you do not hurry up, i will not wait for you much longer. these children are falling off of my back.] she called to me.

i jog over to the dimiutive dragon, and keep pace wtih her. when we reach the mouth of the cavern, she goes forst, and the children unvolentarily duck to get under the roof of the arch. i follow her, myself having to duck to get under.

we walk through the tunel that led to the outside, and we pass the gurad station. he stops us at the entrance, but then lets us pass when he sees that the small dragon has my kits on her back.

"What is your name?" i ask the small dragon.

[my name? my name. my name is Hope Galalea.] she says as we walk down the nearly empty night street to my home.

[is what you said really true. were you once a human? did you live with their beliefs as your own? do you now like what you have become?]

"Yes i was. yes i did. still do, some of them anyway. and yes i do." i said answering her questions all in one go.

[ah. okay. well. it was nice knowing you.] she said cryptically.

"Farewell." i said after i had gotten all of my children off of her back. she walks away, and i walked inside to find Kiran standing with her hands on her hips.

"Just where have you been." she demands.

uh oh. this cannot be a good thing.

"I have been with my brother, and the children down visiting the dragons. the children are all tired from shasing the dragons." i tell her.

this deflates some of her anger, when he sees that soem god has come from it. she motiones for me to come inside, and i do, still carrying the three kits. i follow her into the kitchen where i see uncle dan sitting there on a stool.

"Hello sir. how are you tonite?" i ask being polite, and wondering what to think about the visit.

"Fine, fine. i was just visiting your wife, when Zoor'ain asked me to to keep her company while you took the kits for a little punshment. so how were the dragons? did they treat you right?" he asks.

"Oh yes. they were very civilized, and welcoming. why?"

"Because the last person to enter never came out. we heard her scream then a loud crash, and no since no one had the nerves to go in after her, she never came out." he informed me.

"Ah." was all i had to say, my mind suddenly on Vel.

"Oh well. i was only kidding. yeah, she came out, being carried on the back of one of the smaler dragons. she had slipped and fell that is all." he said getting up.

he told Kiran thanks for the hospitality, and to visit them anytime.

"You were gone an awful long time for just visiting the dragons. but i see that the kits are tuckered out, so that is always a good thing. i just hope that they stop growing so quiclkly. i do not want to miss their childhood." she says, confiding in me.

"Well, come with me tomorrow. i am sure that Gaje will be very interested in meating you." i told her.

"Gaje?"

"Yes, the biggest dragon there." i told her, and i tell my tale of the days events starting with the guard.

When i finished her eyes are closed, and she is breathing even breaths. She fell asleep! i gently shake her awake, and tell her that maybe it is time for us all to get to bed. she agrees, and we go to lay the kits down for bed. then we both go to our own rooms, and she falls asleep in her favorite spot, in my arms and wings, like the first night by the lake.

chapter 18

i wake in our bed, where Kiran had rolled out of my arms during the night, and was laying on our bed spralled like a sack of bricks.

i procede to wake her up in my favorite way, i climb onto the bed and moving slowly, i crawl over to her sleeping face. laying down, i drape one wing over her body, and whisper in her ear.

"Good morning sunshine."

she opens one eye, the groans and rolls over. sensing that my game is afoot, i crawl over to her other side, and draping my wing over her again, i repeat my words.

she opens her other eye this time, groans, and rolls onto her back.

smiling i get up on all fours, and stand over her, and repeat my message one more time.

she opens both of her eyes this time, she groans, and grabs me, pulling her down on top of her. needless to say, it is several hours later before we finally get the kids up, and ready to go.

when we finally do, we have several stops to make first. we stop at the cloth makers shop, and order some new clothing for the kits. the shop owner takes one look at the little ones, adn sighs, saying that she wishes that she were years younger. we fill out the order form, which was needed, but a total pain, and go about our business. after our fourth stop, the kits start wailing, and would not stop. Kiran desided that we needed to go visit the dragons, and Vel now.

we walk from the market place inside the settlement, and go to the hill laying in the outskirts of town. we have to stop at the guard station, as per protocal. i have not the faintest idea why, but rules are rules. we check in, with the guard, and he lets us go about our business, in a hurry, thanks to the kit's wailing. we try to soothe the little ones, but no matter what we did, they always seemed to grow louder. then all at once, with an unbidded signal, they all stopped to listen to the dragon's rumble.

then the strangest thing happned. the kit's faces started to light up like there wsa no tomorow, adn they started giggling, and screaming with laughter. Kiran and i looked at each other, and with a sigh of releef, started to go into the entrance. a long narrow had poked throught the entrance to the cave, and the kits started to squeal even louder with laughter. {Hello winged one. you kin, has been buisy as of late. you have to come and see. we even have a gift for our new care takers.}

Care taker_s_? okay, that is a new one on me. the sky dragon slips his head back through the entrance, bumping his crown onto the rock. {OW. now i know why we skydragons never do that.}

i heard, and felt his gust of wind as he took off again. i ducked into the archway seperating the tunnel with the cavern. i paused to get a good look again at the dragons milling about. then i stepped aside for Kiran to come in.

she looks up, and shocked, stands up while inside the archway, bumping her furred head upon the rock. i laugh, and she sticks her tongue out at me. i laugh some more, and she steps inside, adn gives my rump a good hard kick. i laugh some more, while rubbing my rump with my free hand.

<Winged one. you have returned. we have something to show you. come climb upon my head and sit. just don't wiggle too much. it is a long way down.>

i motion for Kiran to climg on, and she does, putting her furred foot onto the giant creatures nostrel, and pushing herself up onto his snout. he twitches, and i leap out of the way as he sneazes, sending giant mucus wads flying at the wall. Kiran who is on his snout already, mearly falls on her rump, cursing and muttering harsh words.

<Hey, no need for that language. i am sorry, but you stepped in my nostrel. you deserve it if you get snot all over you.> Gaje said in defence of himself. <And besides, you do not want the tiny ones to learn that kind of language so soon do you?>

"No." Kiran said, in a small girllike voice.

<Thats better. now come on winged one, i want to show you our suprise. we have been working on them all night.> he said as he pulled away, causing Kiran to yelp in suprise.

he turnes away from the cavern entrence, and walks off. i take one, then two, and finally three steps, flinging myself off of the ledge. Kiran was watching me over the dragon's head, and though she has been with me in flight, she still lets a cry of horror escape her jaws. at the apex of my fall, i open my wings, and catch the thermals and soar, high above Gaje and the ground, little Gaizen beating his own wings to try and help. i smile, and bank my wings, turnign roll after roll, making gaizen dizzy. he burries his face in my sholder and survives the dizzyness, only for another round of accrobatics.

we get to about the middle of the cavern, when i hear a voice call out above me. i angle my wings to rise with the thermals that seemed to appear out of the ground. i rise up to about the hight of the sky dragons, and hear the voice call out to my left. i turn my head, and see Vel, sitting astride one of the great sky dragons. he was seated just in front of the wings, and just behind the sholders. he was wearing what looked to me to be flying goggles, and was sitting in a saddle.

he waved to me, and little Gaizen waved back. i carefully banked my wings, and soared over to Vel. the greate sky dragon looked at me with his eyes following my progress, so that he knew were i was at all times.

"So brother. what do you think of my suprise?" he shouted above the whumping of the skydragon's wings.

"Nice! how did you make it? more inportantly, why?" i shouted.

"I have always been enviouse of you, when you learned how to fly without a quie. so i learned how to fly myself. i talked one of the sky dragons down so that i could experience what you experience. oh, it is wonderful. so wonderful. imagine, being bound by gravity, and thn this. Oh brother i now know how you feel!" he shouted./

{The saddle is a bit itchy, but the more people i can convince that flying is wonderful the better.} the sky dragon thought at me.

"I had better get back to the ground now, and tell Kiran about what you have done brother." i said in a playfully stern tone.

i banked my wings to fly back over the great dragon's own wings. when i was clear, much to the delight of Gaizen, i closed my wings, and after hanging there for a moment, dived almost straight down. falling hundreds of feet, perhapse even a mile down following the curve of my desent. about halfway i was terminal, and opened my wings with a snap, and slowing down, wrenching my back in the process. then wheni was about three hundred feet below that, my wings gave way, causing me to plummit the rest of the way down.

vaugly i heard Kiran screaming, and then i heard Gaizen screaming with fear. just then a huge shadow eclipsed me, until i thought that there was no more world, only shadow, and that we had died already.but this was not to be, as a giant talon closed aroung me, and my kit, and carried us away out of our terminal dive.

just as the creature backpeddled to land, i saw the world going black from the pain of my broken wings. the as i hit the ground, my back aching horrably, splitting me in two, i feel Gaizen lifted from my arms, i reach for him, but then darkness takes me. my limbs fall limp to the ground.

<Winged one. awake. you must awake. it has been far too long.>

i hear Gaje's voice in my head. but my head feels like it is being split down the middle.

<Come. you must awake. you children need you. they need your help.>

His voice rings in my skull again, echoing throughout the pain.

i open my eyes, but even a crack, the light blinds me. i groan, adn try to roll over.

<Winged One! you are awake then? good i shall tell the others.> Gaje said. i heard distant thuds as he walkes away.

i try to sit up, and groan as i find that i am too weak. what happened to me? all i reemer, is that i was falling, that i opned my wings, glided, but then fell some more. then i wake up here. what is happening to me?

as is lay there, unable to open my eyes, or even move, i hear pattering foot steps, someone falls, but then they get up, and start running again. i also hear louder more measured footsteps coming this way.

"Daddy, daddy! are you wake yet?" a familier voice asks. is it Kiran? no it couldn't be. one of my little kits, perhapse. i feel something jump upon my chest, an then another, and yet another. they are bouncing around like little demons, or so it seams to me. i finnally get the nerve to pen my eyes, and look, adn after my eyes clear, what i see is more welcome then anything.

i see, little gaizen, not so little anymore, and Navi, and Angelose, all looking lik e they have grown since i have last seen them.

"You have grown." i say.

the kits all start speaking at once, and once again start bouncing up and down upon my chest.

"Kiran, where are you?" i ask into space.

"I am right here Souko, as i have always been. i have always been by your side." she says, sounding sad.

i try to roll my head so that i could se her, but i can't.

"Kiran, why can't i move?" i ask plaintivly.

"Your muscles have atrified over these past eight months. that is why you can no longer move the way you used to."

"Why can't i feel my wings?" i ask of her.

i hear her get up, and walk over to me. she places her hand upon my sholder, adn leans ove me, so i can see her face.

"That day, when you fell, you lost you wings. they snapped clean off of your body. i am so sorry." she said, finally collapsing upon me, squeezing me, and crying.

i start to cry too, only for the loss of something great. i have lost my ability to fly.

i cry adn sob, and wail, pineing for my lost wings, adn eventually i cry myself to sleep, like Kiran had done hours earlyer.

<Poor, poor crature. to have lost one of the three things that have made him happy.> i hear in my head before i fall into the darkest slumber of my life, aside from the acoma.

chapter 19

"Oh souko, i am so sorry for your loss. what a tragedy it is to lose a part of yourself." said a voice i remember. only it is different. older.

"Zoe? is that you?" i ask, finnally recognizing the voice.

"Hey, yeah sleepy head. i am finnaly with child. yeah, with my mate. i guess i have you to thank for everythig bro. you forced me to leve my home when the city blew, and i have you to theank for keeping me alive enough to see myself with kits. i just hope that my litter is not as large as yours. one or two would suffice. i do not knwo how to say this, so, well, i hope that you get better very soon. i want you to be at our kit's birthing. it would be a great honor to have you as my kit's godfather." she said, enticing me to respond.

"Really?" i ask struggling to sit up. even after the docters finished with trying to rebuild my wings, they gave me a muscle stimulant, to help rebuild my lost muscle. still i was as weak as a newborn kit! when i had finnaly goten uprite, i noticed that my body was a lot lighter then usual. my wings must have weighed a lot. and yet i was stil able to fly.

i open my eyes, and see that my once firce Zoe, has been tamed, and is with child. her belly is swolen to thrice its normal size. she is garbed in the finest in maturnaty cloting, so that is not saying much. her blueish white hair,. is no longer in several braids or even one, but hanging loosly about her face like a curtain. she looks very exotic in this aspect. i tell her so, and she hides her face in her hands. i assume that she is blushing. i also notice that she has more peircings in her ears.

"So, what is with the hiding of the face Zoe? normally you would dance about and sing your thanks about such a compliment. but instead you hang your face. why?" i ask her.

she reaches down into a pocket, and pulls out a bracelet that i had given Kiran for her birthday last year. she lays it out upon my lap, for i am to weak to take it from her. i look at the ite, and notivce that it is broken. several of the pieces are missing, and the latch is gone.

i look to Zoe for answers, but she just shakes her head, adn get up, wadling away. i growl low in my throat, and strugle to get up. with increasing frustration, i finnaly strain, and somethign snaps within me, sanding me flying out of the bed. i land upon my face, and stuggle to get up. with each passing moment that Zoe waddles towards me, i grow stronger. as she gets to me, i finnaly regain my old strenght, adn stand up.

Growl. i let loose a growl that is so low, and threatening that she just stops where she is.

"Where. Is. Kiran." i demand, not letting a thing like atrify get in my way of the one i love.

"We don't know." she said in a voice that sounded like a frightened little girl's voice. "She just went out one day, adn this came back, tied to her sleave. there is no explination."

I growled again, and as calmly as i could walked past her to avoid injuring her kits. she turned to watch me leave, and said, "Be careful out there. please. for us. al of us." she pleaded, her hands on her gravid belly.

i stoped opn the edge of the door sil, turned and said, "I will have no cares except for Kiran's continued survival. other then that. i will be careful."

and with that i went to go see someone about helping me. i went to the dragon's cavern, to speak wtih Gaje.

<Hello little one. we have been expecting you. while you were out, in your acoma, we were giving you a little of our knowledge each day. we have knowledge that was benifitial in your recovery. we also gave you some of our abilities. the skydragons gave you the knoledge to fly again, should you chose to use it. the ice dragons have given you some of their ice manipulation abilities. the fire breathers, of course have given you their fire. a small portion of it though, but still powerful none the less. i have given you, the ability to speak with your mind. adn last, but certainly not least, we all have given yo the ability to heal oneself. how do you think that we lived so long> he told me.

{Yes. come with us. we will show you how to regrow yourself.} said the sky dragons.

i walked to were one of them had landed, and got up onto his long skiny back. i noticed that he had a saddle upon him.

i climbed over his spines and sat down n thte sddle. he took off, and for the next thireteen hours i was trained in the art of how to heal myself.

fourteen hours after i had gotten on to the skydragon, i had my wings back. i thanked them for their kindness, and walked the whole way from the caretakers cabin, to the entrance. i wanted to feel the joy of flight again, but i did no t trust my wings again. not this soon anyway. i walked the whole way of the tunnel, and outinot the noght sky. i walked home, feeling the conforting feeling of my folded wings against my body once more.

going to Zoe's home, i knocked on the door a few times, and waited as a sleepy eyes Zoor'ain came to the door.

"Souko> what are you doing here at this time of night?" she asked. i told her that i intended to find my wife. that absolutly nothing could stand in my way. i also told her that i intended to have help come first light tomorrow.

"Well, good. i am glad that you have you drive back, but you need to sleep, and so do i. Good night Souko." she said as she shut the door.

i stood there as i heard her go back upstairs, and get into bed with her mate. i only wished that i could do the same as well.

i turned and walked home to get into my empty bed. alone. more alone then i was beck on earth.

when i wake up the next day, i hear voices down stairs. three of the loudest are the kits, and some of teh other ones are those that i do not recognize. they sound so very familier, but i can not place them. groaning to myself, i get up, streching my body. i stretch my wing out to their fullest extent possable within the confines of my bed room. i look around for my pants, and i find them, adn pull them on, beign careful not to pinch my tail in the clasp. when that is done, i walk down stairs to find out who the voices are.

i round th corner of the stair well, and almost knock one of my little kits down. Angelose screams wtiht eh indignity of haein grun into something, and when i pick her up, she stops screaming, and has a rather shocked look on her face. i hold her close, and then walk into the living room, with my little charge balanced on one hip.

when i clear the cornor seperating the staair wel fromt he living room, i see four people sitting ono my coutch. one of them is Vel, another is Zoe, but the other two i have no idea who they are. Zoe sees me first and starts to stand up, but i motion her down.

"Souldn't you be resting?" askes one of the strangers.

Growl. "I have been resting for the past few months, or so i have been told." i say.

"Then you should come with us." says the second stragner. "We have something that you might want."

growling, i set Angelose on the floor, and patting her back tell her to go play with her brother and sister. as i wathc her scamper off, i straten up to get a good look at the men on my coutch.

"What makes you think that you have something that i might want?" i ask coldly. my heart had been cold eversince Zoe had given me the news about Kiran.

"We know where your wife is. She is safe, however, we require something form you in return." said the first man.

i calmly take one step and then anotehr, till i was standign in front fo the two humans. then i grab their throats and pull then up off of the coutch. pulling them close, i growl in thier ears. they of course cringe, but that is of no consequesnce to me at this point.

"Tell me where my wife is, or i will personally rip out those puny little brains you have, and eat them myself! it could be an aquired tast, who knows. i suggest you do all that you can while you can to make sure i do not find out." i say to the two men.

"Souko, don't hurt these two men. i asked them here to help you. they only want one thing in return. there is a bandit stronghold that has been terorizing their town, and they want to ask you to help them get rid of it. it is also where your wive is being held." she says putting a furred hand on my sholder.

"Is this true? say yes, and i will let you go. give me the wrong answer, and i think i will be having fried brains for breakfast." i say, menisingly.

the two men both give thier heads one nod, and upon growling onece more, i let them fall to their feet.

"Yes, this is true. we have come to ask yoru help in eradicating thier stronghold. we know that they have your wife, because we saw them bring her in. she was fine, don't worry about that." the first stranger sad, rubbbing his throat.

"Yes, we saw them bring her in. we can give you some weaponry, if you say yes to our proposal."

"I have my own weaponry." i growled at them. "Just tell me where she is, and i will go and get her myself."

"We can do that and more. we have armor that can multiply your streanght to that of the legendary Brunose' armor. he died a few years back, but that old coot, did not know hwat he had. he could have sold his armor for hundreds of credits each." he said hopefull to keep his life.

i turned to Zoe, and Vel, who were behind me. "He doesn't know us very well does he?" i ask.

without waiting for their answer, i turned around so that i was facing the two stupid humans. i leaned in close as if to reveal a major secret, then i grabed both of their heads, and bashed them together with a loud crack.

"I would say that i have been very patient man up untill now. all you have been doing is skirting around my questions! i want to know, WHERE IS MY WIFE! i will not ask again." i finished in a cold voice.

rubbing thier heads where they had knocked into their partner's, they looked at me with fear in their eyes.

"Your wife is about three hundred klicks to the east. it is in a huge fortress. you can't miss it." said the first man, hurridly, apparently very anciouse to keep me happy, and keep him and his partner alive.

"Thank you. that is all i wished to know. Vel? make sure that they are still here by sunset. i will return then with my wife. if i don't, at least by then, kill them. give them to the dragons, whatever. i just do not want them in my sight again. they discust me." i growl as i walk off to my armory. along the way, i pick up, and say goodbye to my kits, not wanting them to worry.

i walk to the armory, and put on my harness and helm. onto the harness, i put my twin beam rifles. these things, are about the size of my forearm, and have a very powerful kick. they would certainly briuse a human's hand if he ever tried to fire it. next, i slip my collapsed weapon into the holster designed for it. then before i put on my cloak, i slip the replica of my sword that i had brought with me to this world. after i slip on my cloak, i walk out the door, to the garage, where my hover craft bike still sits, veiled.

grasping the veil, i rip it off, causing a cloud of dust to rise from the craft. i hear the door open behind me and know right away that it is vel.

"Souko, what you are doing is reakless, and stupid. at least alow me to come along."

"No."

"Why not. i can ride the bike, you can fly overhead. it will be almost like old times bro." he pleaded.

"No."

"Why not!? i knew her for far longer then you have."

"No. if you came along with me, i would have to watch out for your safty as well. that is one thing i cannot abide by. i will ot get others in danger for a mission that i am going on."

"that is a risk i am willing to take. you are my brother, and i would do anything for you. including die for you. would you allow her kidnappers to go unpunnished? allow me to come with you."

"Fine. you can come. but remeber, anything i say, goes. if i say get out, you go. got me?"

"Got it. now, i need to get armed. where is your armory?" he asked. i told him, and he went. i walked out of the garage, without the bike. i walked to the middle of the street, where i opened my wings, and launched myself into the air. using the gifts that the skydragons gave me, i relaxed my wings, and soared into the sky, sailing on the thermals. i had made about one klick when vel came roaring below me. i was about a hundred feet up, and dived so that i was skimming the ground. one false move, one minor mistake, and i could die. it was exhilerating.

Vel came cruising up behind me, on the crimson hoverbike, and waved. we were going about two hundred kilometers an hour. i adjusted my wings ever so carefully, and soared once more to get an acurate lay of the land. i saw the fortress looming in the distance. we were headed in slightly the wrong dirrecton. adjusting my wings again, i dove back down to the ground, and buzzed Vel. he ducked involentarily, and i turned into the new dirrection. seeing me do so, Vel followed suit.

we got to about a hundred yards of the fortress, and both of us landed. i looked over at Vel in silence. he looked at me, and we both nodded.

i leapt over the cover of the wall that we had come in behind, and charged my shock blaster. raising my arm, me feet thudding against the ground, i let loose the blast, blowing a hole in the wall where the door had been. i ran in followed closly be vel, and we stop just inside the door, listening for any sounds. i could not hear anything, except for the whistle of wind against the wall, of the empty fortress.

"There is no one here." i say, my voice echoing throughout the complex. suddenly, it dawned on me. "We were double crossed." i growled. i turn and run to the hover bike. i hop n, and wait for Vel. he climbs on mehind me, hooking his arms around my wings adn chest to hold on.

i rev up the engines and roar away, leaving the abbandonded fortress in my dust. we hit home half an hour later, and find the whole settlement deserted. i run home, and find that even my kits are missing. i rush around, trying to find anything that might be usefull to me, a note or anything. but i find nothing. in despare, an idea occures to me.

i run out the door, wiht Vel blindly following me, not carring where we go, as long as we find out who did this. when we reach the guard station, there is no one there. like everywhere. we walk into the tunnel, but find smoke poring out of the entrence. i cover my mouth with a wing, and Vel does so with his sleave. we nod, and rush the entrance. we emerge on the other side, only fo find the source of the smoke.

chapter 20

the whole cavern was in ruins, where once stood proud trees and plants, now only stood rubble, and mulch. the dragons, were still there, only they were trying to put out the flames. the ice dragons were freezing everything in sight, but even they were no match for this inferno. the sky dragons, could do nothing, for they rode the thermals, and the fire created enough thermal activity that they weere pined against the cieling. the water dragons, were helping spray out the flames near their area, but their range was limited.

we stood there, and watched, as the flames climbed higher and higher. i turned to Vel, he nodded, and i returned the nod. he sprag off to help the little dragons with thier bucket brigade. i sprang away from the ledge, opening my wings to fly, but was immediatly buffeted, by the thermals.

roaring, i charged my shock blaster once more, and started blowing out the flames. whenever the blast hit a fire, the thing that was flaming, was blown apart, causing the fire to go out. no fuel, no fire.

as i proceded to do this, the thermals got less and less power, so the great skydragons could fly down and help as well. eventually after several hours, the fires were all out, and smoke still whisped here and there.

<Winged one! you have returned. we thought that they had gotten you as well.> thought Gaje in a voice that made me cringe with the preassure.

"What happned here?" i shout to all of the dragons.

<They killed our young. they kiled our young!> he wailed, causing me to cringe even more, falling to my knees as he wailed in his thoughts.

"ENOUGH!" i shout at him. "Crying will not stop this. we need action! we need to avange our young!" i shout at all of the dragons. this stops their wailing for their lost young, but starts angry hisses, and roars.

"Now who did this?" i ask in a gentler tone. these creatures did not nead angry voices, at least not yet.

<Slavers!> cried Gaje.

Growling, i turn to find Vel, who is sitting on his saddle.

"I am ready whenever you are." he says, and his mount trumpets in agreement.

i look around, and those who are not wiling over their lost offspring, are standing around me, trumpeting as well.

"If they want to enslave my people, then we shall make them work for their profit." i shout, meeting the dragons aproval.

"The dragons go to war, with the slavers!" i shout, again meeting screams of anger, and rage. i get infected witht ehir rage, adn let rip a roar of my own which was terrifying on its own, but was amplified by the dragon's roars.

"Gaje, where is the weakest part of the cavern wall?" i shout.

<There. about halfway up above the entrence.> he informs me.

"All dragons in the air, get down on the ground. everyine else, get as flat as you can. Gaje? catch me." i say as i lauch myself into the air. i charge my shock blaster, to full charge causing my hand to shake. i let loose a growl and a scream, and holding my arm the same way i dd with the growper, i fire.

the shock wave launches itself from me hand causing it to go numb, and rockets towards the wall. the blast also knockes me towards Gaje's outstreched talon, and i hit it, causing all of the breath to be knocked out of me. the blast hits the rock wall, causing the rock to ripple, then explode, sendign shards of stone rocketing towards us.

all at once the dragons let loose with their breath, evaporating the stone shards, and leaving only steam to hit us. i catch my breath in Gaj's talon, and i look upwards, and see him looking down at me.

<Ow little one. if i was not deaf before, i am now. nice trick by the way. what do you call it?>

"Big bang." i say, in between gasps.

{Fitting.}

then as all of the ones who could fly, and walk start moving, i get myselfe up from his talon, adn fly as well. i am a bit bruised from my landing, but other then that i am fine. i get outside of the cavrn through he hole i just put in it, and fly towards the market place, where i know that they sell slaves.

Vel flys besode me, standing up on his saddle astride the great sky dragon. i look to my right, and see, Gaje flying with us. his wings dwarf even the skydragon's wings. his are about the size of four football fields. a truly awsome site.

looking down between my legs, i notise that several of the sky dragons are carrying the wingless ones. Even Hope.

it brings a smile to my face, granted a really feral smile, and one designed to scare anyone.

(We are almost there.) i tel them, speaking through my mind for the first time.

all at once all of the dragons let loose an ear splitting roar, that reverberates throughout everything. even Vel gets in on it, but his voice is drowned out among the others. i look down and see a caravan full of vilagers, from our settlement. (There, below us.) i say diving.

the other dragos follow my lead, diving and roaring on the caravan. several of them spout fire, only to have it wash in their face. i open my wings, not to slow me down mut to get me more speed by flapping. i would dive to the very bottom of the depths of hell to get my family back. at the last minute i pull up, my wings straining, but not breeaking. i fly over the mile long caravan in less then a minute.

There! my family is huddled among the rest, alive and resonable well. but i saw that they had shacles around their arms, and my children were huddled with their mother, in fear. i let a roar fly, as though i am a wild animal, and turn back towards the caravan, killing speed. i buzz the caravan once more, sending people dropping as i fly over. they scream in fear, and i scream in rage, and then the rest of the dragons join in. they start buzzing the caravan, sending spouts of flame at the slavers, who were walking about ten feet away from the sides. the guards who were walking inside the cravan, take out their weapons,. and open fire, and immediatly several sky dragons fall from the sky, their wings broken.

i come around for another pass, catching one of the guards in the back of his head with me foot, and another with my shock blaster. then remembering my rifles, i take them out, and start picking off more gurads who were hiding in the crowd, as i flew over. then the market place soldiers get in on it, fireing at the dragons and me, driving us off.

as i fly away, i shout at kiran that i will come for her.

we land a few miles away form the market place. we take stock of the damage to our fources. thirteen skydragons our of twenty dead. the rest are injured. Gaje and his brood, are all injured, but alive. the wingless dragons, are, well, still wingless, but they survived.

"I must go in there to get my family back. i must go in to get my clan back. anyone who wishes to stop me, take one stop forward." all of the dragons takes one step back, but Vel takes the step forward.

"I do not want to oppose you brother. my only wish is to go in with you." he said explaining himself.

"Very well. you may come. all others, either saty here, ro go back to the cavern. your choice." i tell them.

Vel came over to me with a cloakc, this one larger then the one i was wearing now. i take it from him, and notice that there are no wing holes.

"This one goes over your wings. it has a hood, so if you ever need to go in without everyone knowing who you are, this is for that reason." he says, as i fold my wings, not behind my back, arching over my head, but around my sholders. i bend the joints that are hidden in my wings, so that the long flight feathers don't get broken. Vel puts the hooded cloak over my head, and we start out for the market place.

we get there only to hear about the freak attack by the wyrms. we have to listen to them talk their wild tales about how one of them came in close and tried to bite him, but he fought it away with his bear hands. each time heard one of these tales, i had to supress a snort. these men knew nothing about what they were talking about. i shoved through the crowd, not caring who i bumped into, and vel followed closely behind me.

we reached the slavers market, just as Kiran and the Kits were put up there. Zoe was next, followed by her mate. i suppressed a growl, as the slaver pointed out Kirans atributes. her tail, her different parts. even her teeth. then he started the bidding and one by one, the people stood up, and bid. then i stood up, and the slaver waited for my bid.

"I will not bid on these people." i said. several of the humans who were in the audience chuckled. i laid back my hood, and revealed myself.

"I will not bid on my wife, and children. In fact, this slave ring is over." i said, this got more laughes form the humans.

a growl form me silenced them.

"Get him! he is an escaped slave!" shouted the slaver, who was marketing oway my wife and kits.

several men jumped onot my back, sending me onto my knees. will these people never learn? i ask myself as i charge my shock blaster. the men clamberd and scrabbled to get a hand hold, but then the exploded off of me, as my charge dettinated.

i stand up with Vel at my side, and throw off the cloak he had given me. i let my wings arch over my head, and even spread them a little.

"Anyone who wants to stop me from getting my kin back, step up." i growl, bearing my teeth. Vel takes out his Gausse riffle, adn activates it, letting the enegy charge up. only one person steps forward from the crowd. he is a big man, confident that he can take me. Stupid human. i reach into my harness, and pull out one of the rifles that Vel had givven me. without looking, i point it at the guys forehead, adn he stps ad he feels the cool metal touch him.

raising his hands, he backs away, not so confident now.

"Anyone else care to try and stop me?" i called, the rest of the market having gone quiet.

"Only the king can shut down the slavery ring. an' you aint the king." shouted someone in the audience. i pointed the rifle at the man who had shouted, and fired, the bolt passing through his neck severing it instantly.

i put away the rifle, and pull out my double ended staff weapon. i only activate one side, and stamp the staff against the ground.

"Alow me to introduce myself. I am Soukonoung Natavi. beside me, is my brother Veltrati natavi, youngest of the twins. Up there on the slavers block, is our sister, Zoor'ain Natavi. I am eldest, and eher to the thrown. I AM king." i say, stamping my staff against the ground once more.

the shock of my anouncement roars through the crowd, i activate the other end of my staff, and croutch into the battle ready possition, ready for anything.

then all at once the men who were standing around me, bow down to the ground, touching their foreheads against the dirt. i look around in shock, adn turn off my staff. it retracts, and i put it away. i walk to the slaver's block, and everyone finds room to alow me to pass. Vel walks behind me a few passes.

i step up onto the slaver's platform where he had displayed all the slaves.

"This slaveing station is now closed. all slave who were bought and sold to day are free. any slave that has been bought or sold at anytime, is now free. hell, any slave who can hear the sound of my voice, you are now free. Slaver, unlock their shakles."

"But that would take forever." the slaver complained.

i brought out my rifle just as Vel fired, killing him. with a nod of gratidute i put my rifle away. i point to some one in the crowd.

"You, come up here adn unshakle these people." i order.

"Yes sire." he says as he scrambles up onot the platform, and unlocks all of the shakles. Kiran and the kits are first, and i gather them up in my arms, and wings, smothering them.

"Oh it s so good having you back in my arms Kiran. And you my children." i say as i hug them. "I hate to do this, but i have some unfinished business to take care of."

i let them go, and something smashes into the back of my skull. i turn around, and Vel is wrestling with an old man. he looks as though he is very rich, but i do not know why. Then it dawns on me. the old man is uncle.

"Vel, let him go." i say, and Vel does, but grudgingly.

"How dare you say that you are king. I am the king. not you, you filthy mongrol. go back to the hole you crawlled out from." he says. his voice ripe with anger and hatred.

"Why. Don't you recognize me?" i ask knowing fully well that he did not.

"Why should I? you look like nothing i have ever seen before, you slime! i wouldn't let you lick the dirt from my boots!"

i smile my feral smile, and walk towards him. he backs way in fear.

"Why uncle, don't you remember who i was? don;t you remember all those years ago, when you shoved that baby through the portal? Hmm? well, i am certain that you remember this? you shooting the king?" i say taunting him. he just backs away, farther, falling off of the slavers platform, and looks terrified. perfect.

i look down on him, and jump, landing with me feet on his arms. looking around, and seeing no one to oppose me, with Vel standing over me, i squat down, getting to within an inch of his face with my own.

"Do you remember? Sweet uncle? Hmm? DO YOU REMEMBER?!" i shout, in his face, my spittle flaying at him. i take a whiff of the air, and notice that he soiled himself.

He says that he does not remember, but he is obvialsy lying. i take his head in my hands so he couldn't turn away. i open my jaws to alow him so see inside my mouth, to alow him to see my teeth. i bring it shut with a snap, still an inch from his face.

I sing him a little toon that he used to sing to me.

"Oh little boy, little boy, don't you cry for me. Oh littel boy littel boy don't you cry for me." i sang. "Do you remember me now, UNCLE?" i ask, growling in his face. he whimpers like the little worm that he is.

"Yes." he says softly.

"Wait, what was that?" i ask Vel. "Did you hear something?"

"No brother, i did not. did he jsut let out a bunch of wind or something." he teased.

"Louder." i order my uncle. "Say it louder."

"Yes." he says, just a little louder.

"LOUDER!" i scream in his face, my spittle flying once more.

"Alright. Fine! Yes i remember. I remember everylast bit of it. Satisfied? Now get off of me you mangy mutt!" he shouts in my face, his own spittle flying this time.

I look up to vel. "Did he just call me Mangy MUtt?" i ask as if i did not hear correclty.

"He did. you want i should shoot him for you?" he askes.

"Naw. i'll do it." i say. at first uncle looks to be realeved, then he looks terrified. how fitting. i hold up my hand to get the gun that vel is carrying. he puts it in my hand, and i hold the barrel, like the handle of a golf club.

i tun it around, eject the clip, and jack the round out of the chamber. i catch both, and hand them to Vel.

once more, i lean into his personall space.

"Consider this, your retirement, dear Uncle." i say.

i reach up with the Gausse riffle, holding it again like a golf club, and swing. i hear a sickening thud, as the rifle hits its target. i look down and find that i have hit his sholder, smashing it.

"Oh well. i missed. Vel, you want this back?" i ask.

"No. you keep it." he said, eyeing the blood on the butt of the rifle.

(Hey, Gaje. Could you send one of the least uninjured Sky dragons here. we have a prisoner.) i call using my mind.

<Yeah hang on. one is on his way.>

I break contact with Gaje, and reutrn to the real world.

"By order of you king, i order you to lay you weapons on the slavers block." i say to the crowd.

they all one by one, pass their firearms, and knives towards the front. then once all of the weapons, were gahterd in a pile, the skydragons, that vel had been riding flew overhead. one man ran forward form the crowd, and tryied to grab his gun, but i pulled out my weapon first, and fired. the shot hit him right between the eyes, which was fortunate for him, the rifle was set on stun. he fell to the ground not two feet from where he started.

then the sky dragon bellowed out a warning to everyone below as he desended form the sky. everyone started to run, terrified at the humungoes creature landed on top of the buildings.

{Where is the prisoner?}

I look down between me feet, and see that the king is knocked out. smiling i point downwards to the man i am standing upon. i take a leap upwards, and land on the slaver's platform. turning, i hear the sky dragon lift the unconcies king in his jaws.

i face the other people who are on the platform. they all bow to me except for my family. Vel sidles uo next to me.

"You do know right, that i was born a half minute ahead of you?" he asks.

"Oh yes. yes i do. but thank you for not spoiling this for me."

"Oh no problem. i have had enough of leadership for a while." he replies. "Just one question, well two acutally.

"Yeah?"

"One, how are we going to get the vilagers home?"

"The same way they came here, only not in shakles."

"Okay, that solves that problem. But here is my other question. how good did that feel?"

"Oh very good." i say with a grin, just as Gaizen flys around my head.

my jaw drops, and he lands on my head.

"Guess what daddy?" he says in my ear.

"What?" i ask, knowing his news.

"I can fly now, just like you."

Eppelouge.

My family and i are walking down the hallway that leads to the dragon's courtyard. it is several years after the faitfull insident when i assumed the throne from my uncle. Gaje has since died, and the kits are now grown adults, starting families of their own. Zoe, had her own kits a week after the slave ring was dispanded. she is expecting grandkits next month. i am old, but not frail. the armor that changed me into what i am, is allowing me to live longer then anyone else thought possable. Kiran is always by my side, and she regularly comments from time to time about what i am doing, or how i am doing it. i have since given the great dragons a mountain of their own. they are currently living in peace.

Vel is dying, and he has requested that i come to hm, in his final hours. i have been ruler of this kingdome for over seven centuries now. i am growing tired of it. ever since i defeated my uncle in that slave maeket, i have felt an uneasyness about me. latly it is getting worse. but, i can only live now, and not in the future.

Kiran is waliing beside me, in her royal gown, which she secretly despises with all of her heart. i tend to agree with her. i hate her clothes. and mine, but hers i hate even more. he he he.

"Kiran." i begine thoughfully.

"Yes, Souko? MY LORD." she says mocking me.

I put my arm around her sholders and draw her close, my wings wrapping around her.

"I think that it might be a good time for a vacation." i suggest.

"Another one?" she askes of me. "We just got back from one two days ago."

"All the better. We are already packed." i say, kissing her on her nose.

She snorts, blowing air into my face. "Soukonoung Natavi, my husband, you are incouragable." she says, feigning sadness, and shaking her head from side to side.

"Thank you." i say, as i wrap her in my wings once more.

i feel a tap on my wing, and i pop my head out to see who it is. it is my captain of the guard.

"Yes." i ask.

"Sir. your brother wishes to see you. your daughters are on thier way. Sir." he says as he clicks his heels and walks away.

groan. i open my wings a little to get a picture of my wife. her fur is dishevled, but her ears are perky.

"Your apperance is substandard wife. i guess i shall have to punish you then." i say into my wings.

"Promise?"

laughing, i say "Promise."

i help her get her apperance working again, and we set off, this time at a more hurried walk.

we eventually get to the gate of the dragon's courtyard, where the Ashes of the Dragons who died the day i defeated my uncle, are burried. this hallowed courtyard, is also the place, where Brunose' gravestone is, even though he is not burried here, and the place where Gaje is entombed in stone.

the guards had their axes crossed in front of the gate, and let us pass through. we walk hand in hand to the deathbed of my brother. he wanted to die either in battle or in the courtyard, where his draconic family was laid to rest. Vel had been adopted the day after the slavers insident. so, in part, all of my family was adopted into the draconic clans that day.

We walk to his bed, and kneel down beside him.

"Hey, brother. what took you so long? even when i was in controll of the city, i never took my time getting anywhere." he wheesed.

"It is these damnable clothes that we have to wear. it is mandated by law."

"Then change the law. you are the king you know. you can change law." my brother wheezed out.

"Mmmm. yeah i guess i could do that though, couldn't i?"

"Yes you could. Just as long as i do not have to wear this blasted dress any longer then i have to."

"Dad! Dad! we have a problem!" shouted Gaizen as he flies in from above to land on the other side of Vel.

"Hey uncle. Dad, there is an army outside of the castle preparing to storm it." he said.

i looked at Vel, then at Kiran.

"You guys ready for one last charge?" i ask.

Vel gets up out of his bed. grunting and groaning.

Kiran nods her agreement. So does Gaizen. When Vel gets up, he nods once to show his agreement as well.

"Good. Gaizen, go get your sisters and their mounts. we have a battle to fight."

Gaizen goes to fetch his sister's mounts, and to put on his armor. The three of us that are left, go to the armory and prepare, getting our personal weaponry, and our own armor. we all head up to the top of the castle to see the size of the army we would be faceing.

the soldiers stretched for miles and miles, seemingly never to end. i hear a roar, as my daughters and thier brother fly into battle. never wanting to be left out, the three of us leap onto the wall, and bellow out our warning. leaving my wife, and brother behind, i leap off of the wall, and open my wings allowing the feathers to bite the air.

i soar from the wall, and charge my shock blaster and roar. The battle is on, and i finally feel at home once more.

THE END.

Or is it?

hopefully to be continued.