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Brian drew a heavy sigh as he glanced at all the gear laid out in front of him on the shuttle's dining room table. They were about to return to action far too early, and that meant that he had some hard decisions to make. The wrong choice could spell death, and not just for him. The fate of an entire planet basically rested on his shoulders; if the chunk of rock sitting in the middle of the table wasn't returned to its rightful place the entire place would turn into the galaxy's version of a frag grenade.

Frankly, he wasn't taking any chances. His Dragon Skin armor, vaunted as the most advanced personal body armor systems in production, was patched together with plates he had cut out of the mercs' spare suits. His M14, a trusted companion through many months in the Iraqi desert, was trashed. He was down to wearing his spare change of civilian clothes as his uniform was torn and bloodstained. He couldn't stand to look at the garments without a flashback of Krystal's brush with death a few days prior.

The weapon he held in his hands was one of the mercs' laser rifles. Why they hadn't used these was a mystery to him, but he wasn't about to look that particular gift horse in the mouth. While it was pretty much useless to him if it malfunctioned, what it did to the Godzilla-like beast that had rampaged inside the mines was a good indicator it wouldn't show much mercy to the Sharpclaw he was about to face. Two additional 'magazines' were stuffed into a pouch attached to his belt; Krystal had called them gas cartridges but she wasn't sure how they worked. They were almost as alien to her as his firearms were.

Either way, if it failed he had backups. The stolen Dragunov clone would be a suitable replacement for his M14 and he wasn't leaving his grandfather's .45 behind for anything. In addition, the hacked apart Remington shotgun he recovered from the Humvee was secured in a makeshift sling. The plasma torch in the shuttle's toolkit had made sawing the barrel down to a bare minimum a breeze; following his grandfather's stories he had also shortened the stock a little bit. This made what Clyde Barrow once called a 'whippet gun;' a short-barreled shotgun that could be brought into play with ease. If the laser rifle went down he was going to need it.

The real reasons for his trepidation were standing right behind him. Krystal had pretty much insisted she was coming along to this 'Force Point Temple' they had to get to. Tricky, the young Earthwalker prince, was along by default; apparently he was the only one who could 'breathe life into' the Spellstone, as Krystal had translated from the Queen's instructions. The only ace card they had at the moment was the fact the shuttle was operational enough to jet across the planet. Their objective was heavily guarded by the Sharpclaw, but he had plans for that.

"Are you sure I can't convince you to stay here, hon?" The young Marine was going to try one last time, but his vulpine partner was about as stubborn as Rico had been. A brief thought crossed his mind on how his brother in arms was faring, but he shook it away. "Those instructions were pretty specific about you not being combat ready."

"I can at least do this for you, Brian." Krystal's smile was soft, yet the determined glint in her eyes gave him the short answer: no. "We can't attack them from the air, and you can't operate your vehicle and its weapon at the same time." Her appearance had changed considerably, having donned the spare set of female armor that the mercs had inexplicably left behind. All the nifty features of the helmet wouldn't work without a password they didn't have, but even without it she wasn't going to be an easy target.

"Besides, with all of us together those stinky Sharpclaw won't stand a chance!" Tricky took the time to butt into their disagreement, tilting his head over to the armored vehicle that took up most of the shuttle's garage. "With that thing, not even the big ones can hit us!"

"We can't take the Humvee with us inside that temple, Tricky." Brian's voice masked all but a slight hint of exasperation. "After that, we're on our own. And, Krys, it's far too dangerous in there. I'd feel a lot better if you at least wait outside and keep watch."

Krystal sighed, crossing the short distance over to him and placing a hand upon his shoulder. "We said we would work together, Brian. I intend to hold up my end of that bargain. I'll stay out of direct fighting if you want me to, but I'm not letting you go alone!"

Brian took a long, hard look at his Cerinian companion. She had a point, but so did he. She wasn't in any condition to do any of this, but she insisted anyway. "Damn it, hon... okay. Be careful. If you start feeling out of sorts I want you to tell me immediately."

"Don't worry. The trauma kit you found has a few portable nanite injections which I'm bringing with me." Despite his concerned look she swept him into a tight embrace. "As long as we're careful I will be fine. I promise."

---

"You're doing good, Krys! Just a little more pressure on the gas pedal; pick up a little more speed." The Humvee eased down the shuttle's ramp under Krystal's hesitant guidance. While she had some lessons in driving her family's hovercar the controls of Brian's military vehicle were completely different. His encouragement helped ease things over, at least.

The young Marine was seated behind her, one hand on the nylon sling seat underneath the open turret and the other on the divider between the passenger and cargo compartments. They had picked the only spot they could land that was both sufficiently out of the way of the hostiles they spotted from the air and relatively close to the estuary which marked the entrance to their destination.

The talk of Spellstones and Force Point Temples was pretty much Greek to him, but Brian understood that he needed to get the giant polished rock he retrieved from the Godzilla-like beast he faced off with several days prior into the temple. Also, the only thing that could activate it was a dinosaur of noble blood. The only one who was willing and able to help was Tricky. He had lost track of time, but the couple of weeks he had spent on Sauria made his life on Earth feel an entire lifetime away. The dream he had shared with Krystal a short time ago was fresh in his mind; nostalgia for a home he had left behind creeping into his thoughts with a soft ray of hope. Perhaps that old writer was wrong... you can go home again. However, that was a hope for the future. Unless things went right and the Spellstone was replaced, they had all been given a death sentence.

The sudden thump as the Humvee found solid ground derailed his train of thought. Krystal glanced back at him, beaming like a teenager who had just passed their drivers license exam. "How did I do?" Her question was marked by a hint of pride behind her words.

"Very well, hon." Brian's answer was punctuated by a quick peck on the corner of her lips. He glanced out of the windshield's left pane, taking stock of what lay beyond. Tricky had given them a choice of two Force Point Temples to take their acquisition to; both of them had quickly decided that the one built into the depths of a not quite dormant volcano would be the more hazardous for their health. The path ahead seemed clear and he could see a glimpse of what looked like palm trees and sparkling blue water.

To Brian's eye it reminded him of a vacation in Hawaii he took with Erica about a year before they were married. Wistfully, it had been one of the better times they had spent together. Once again the past caught up to him for a moment, which he reluctantly shook away. To Krystal, the past also evoked itself as images of her family's private lake danced before her. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Her voice was hushed and reverent.

"It is." The young man's agreement wasn't without a degree of trepidation. "There's still a bunch of Sharpclaw down there I'm not too eager to tangle with. That's why we brought along this bad boy." The young Marine reached up and patted the bulky weapon that was mounted on top of the vehicle.

"Are you going to kick some Sharpclaw butt with that thing?" Tricky's voice echoed from the vehicle's cargo compartment. "Can I see?"

"You really don't want to. Trust me." Brian's hollow tone caused Krystal to shudder as ghosts of his memories crossed her mind. They may not have been Cerinian, but the quick flashes of men being torn apart was both an example of how fragile they really were and how terrible conflict on her companion's planet must be. His next words echoed her sentiments. "War truly is Hell."

Krystal took a deep breath and shook the images out of her head. "I think we should get this over with as quickly as possible. This is necessary, but I'm not looking forward to this." She eased down on the gas pedal and edged the Humvee closer to their destination.

"Something's not right here." Brian surveyed their surroundings for what must have been the twentieth time. The calm, tropical lagoon seemed to beckon to them; the peaceful and idyllic scenery seemed no more dangerous than that Hawaiian beach resort he had enjoyed another lifetime ago. The heavy Sharpclaw resistance they had expected simply wasn't there. The Marine knew better than to praise good fortune. This was a critical point for them; it would have been like leaving an entire firebase abandoned with a fully stocked armory. "Talk to me, Krys. Are you sensing anything out here?"

"No Sharpclaw here, Brian." The vixen closed her eyes, allowing her senses to drift as far as she could. The presence of other creatures surrounded her; tiny specks of golden light radiating like a field of stars over a cloudless sky. Larger fields of light were present farther away, although the largest ones were radiating warmth right next to her. She gasped in mild surprise as the realization came to her. Somehow, her senses had been amplified. Even insects and fish didn't escape her notice.

While her abilities were far beyond the comprehension of most Lylatians, Krystal's talent as a telepath and empath were stunted in comparison to where they should have been. Her deficiencies had been a cause of concern to her parents, who had spent a considerable amount of silver on some of the best tutors they could find. She understood the concepts, but the amount of potential she should have been able to tap just wasn't there. Now it was.

"Isn't that a good thing, guys?" Tricky asked, squeezing into the backseat to get a better look around. "If they went away, we can just return the Spellstone! We just have to find a way into the temple and we've got it!"

"No, Tricky." Krystal responded before Brian could, stopping a flippant remark before he could utter it. He was stressed and frightened, but she couldn't let his venting cause an argument. "They could be watching from an area farther than I can sense, waiting for us to let down our guard. We must remain watchful."

"Damn straight we do." Brian wouldn't let it slide that easily, however. "We've got to act like a team, here. If anyone sees anything odd, let the others know. Other than that, all of us need to have our heads on swivels. Smells like an ambush to me." He glanced ahead, a practiced eye scanning the wide dirt walkways and wooden bridges that crisscrossed an ancient-looking structure built into the walls of the far cliff. "Those look like they'll support our weight. Take us across, hon. Just go slow." He placed a hand on her shoulder, leaning in to whisper into her ear. "No matter what, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise."

"Thank you. We will get through this, I know." The Cerinian's hand brushed his for a brief moment before she returned it to the steering wheel, guiding the vehicle along a path that was barely wide enough to accommodate it. The bridges creaked with the armored transport's weight but held without any further complaint. The three let out collective sighs of relief as they stopped on the walkway outside the weathered stone temple.

To Brian, the façade of the building looked like an ancient stone monument; an alien face easily on the scale of the ones carved into Mount Rushmore. It definitely looked like the entrance to a temple; some sort of chamber could be seen just past the eyes carved into the monument. "There's gotta be a way in there." The Marine pushed his way into the turret and glanced upwards, surveying what little he could see from his vantage point. "Any ideas?"

Tricky spoke up. "I was here with my mom once! The Lightfoot had to raise and lower the water inside the temple to make it work. I think there's a door on the other side that should get us in!" The young Earthwalker tapped on the armored passenger door with a forefoot. "If we get out of this thing I can show you."

Before Krystal could open the door Brian tapped her on the shoulder. "I know you want to help, Krys. But, if we run into something that's going to tear that scar tissue open you're not going to be a happy camper. I'll find a way in there with Tricky's help, then I'll come and get you."

Krystal shot him a tired, frustrated look. "Please, trust me. I promise I won't overexert myself. With something as important as this Spellstone we will have to work as a team." She reached out to him, her frustration draining away. "I know you're afraid; you blame yourself for what happened to me in the mines. Those mercenaries are dead, and I have this armor. This isn't your burden to bear alone."

He took a deep breath, the realization that he was in well over his head dancing with the fact her willful nature wasn't going to back down. "Okay, Krys. Just please don't overdo it. We've got a long way to go and I don't want you putting yourself out of action. Let's do this and be done."

---

"You have got to be kidding me." Brian's voice was incredulous after seeing what awaited them inside. The human, vixen, and Earthwalker were standing on a small outcropping over the room, which was almost completely filled with water. The sunlight from outside was streaming in from one of the 'eyes' carved into the structure; the other was blocked by a small bush which had somehow taken purchase into the stone. There was, however, a platform on the other side of the room which could be reached with a brisk swim. The platform housed some sort of switch. "We're too heavily loaded; either one of us will sink like a rock if we jump in."

"I have an idea." Krystal offered him a smirk as she disengaged the catches on her armor; shedding the pauldrons and gauntlets she had been wearing. The boots and leggings were next, followed by the cuirass. This left her wearing the base bodysuit, which was made of a material that reminded Brian of Kevlar. The armor's integrated holster housed Brian's M9; the only weapon she carried besides her staff.

Without preamble she dove into the water; cutting beneath the surface like a cerulean dart. She was in her element now; despite the dull ache in her shoulder and soaked fur the cool, clear water was revitalizing. She surfaced a few meters from the platform, offering her companions a grin and a wave as she reached it. Forcing the ache and twinge of pain from her mind she pulled herself onto it, taking a moment to shake off some of her sodden fur. To its credit, the bodysuit had kept her mostly dry despite her dive. "I think this switch drains the room! Shall I pull it?" Her voice cast an ominous echo through the entire chamber.

"Do it!" Brian called out. "Just swim back here as fast as you can! We don't know how fast this thing's gonna drain!" He reached down and plucked her staff from the stone floor. While it was completely unfamiliar to him a strange clarity washed over his thoughts as he grasped it. Somehow he simply knew its functions. The strange symbols upon it were a selection of different abilities; tools for combat as well as survival. More importantly, he knew where not to hold it.

Krystal tugged the lever down, the stiff resistance giving way to a satisfying clunk and the grinding of ancient machinery. She wasted no time in jumping off the platform, cutting into the water as if she was competing in an athletic event. The noise and rush of water was horrendous as the water level lowered; the frightening thought of getting sucked into whatever mechanism that was draining the chamber spurred her onward.

Brian was ready. The water level was lowering rapidly; the chamber itself becoming the world's largest bathtub with the stopper pulled out. He laid flat at the precipice of the stone ledge, thrusting her staff into the water as a safety net for his vulpine inamorata. He felt a sharp tug as she grabbed onto her weapon; the Marine putting all his effort into pulling her back onto the ledge.

One moment she was hanging onto the end of her staff for dear life and the next she found herself in a haphazard, awkward pile amongst the pieces of her armor; tangled up with Brian. A gasp of relief escaped her lips despite the shooting pain down her left side. She must have bumped her shoulder against the stone wall at some point. They didn't bother to get up; taking comfort in the awkward embrace as the almost deafening roar of water grew more distant before fading out entirely.

"What are you two doing?" Tricky's voice broke the moment, bringing a sheepish look upon Krystal's features. She pulled herself off the slightly irate Marine and started collecting her armor as he approached. "I thought you weren't really friends before, and now you're _that_friendly? What happened up there?"

"Having a moment... some privacy, please?" Brian's flippancy carried through to his voice as he stood up; despite the weight of his weapons and armor he didn't have too much difficulty. He shooed the errant Earthwalker through the doorway as Krystal donned the bulky armor once more.

"This is going to be one of those days, huh?" The Marine's remark carried to the tropical air, the scent of salt spray and exotic blooms a heady reminder of more idyllic times. "At least the way's open for us now, right?"

"Not exactly." Krystal's voice echoed from behind him her hand found its way on his shoulder. "From the description Tricky's mother gave us the Temple is filled with all manner of tests and dangers; they really didn't want this thing to get stolen.

"Really?" Brian's incredulous inquiry gave forth to a muttered curse. "Alright, we'll do what we have to do. We'll take the Humvee as far as it can go, lock it down, grab this rock and get it where it belongs. Whatever happens can't be worse than what we've been through, right?"

---

03 January 2049 LDC

Lower Orbit over Sauria

10:36 Local Time

"The freshest drive trail leads right here, Yuri." Ivan's attention was glued to the sensor console in front of him as the Shrike_stealth shuttle screamed towards its destination. "It's been to that separated planet chunk we passed earlier, made another stop on the planet's mainland, and then came here. That's all the activity I can determine after the other _Shrike landed on that chunk." Tracing the Cerinian's shuttle hadn't been that difficult; it hadn't been equipped with a disperser system and the major fuel leak Slippy had detected wouldn't have been missed by a blind man.

"Which begs the question of how a young, barely trained Cerinian managed to survive stasis sickness, repair a spacecraft she barely knew how to operate, travel to that planet chunk, and presumably kill six highly trained mercenaries? One of them was a Venom Eradicator, and they were armed with our prototypes! By all rights she should have been killed. Perhaps your theory she is being helped has some merit." Yuri was at the ship's controls, scanning the terrain below for a safe, sheltered spot to land. "Either way we will need to be quick about this. I do not want to be here when Star Fox shows up, let alone if the Remnant shows up."

"With Star Fox on that wild goose chase we should have days before they notice anything amiss, comrade." Ivan replied from behind him, finishing the last tasteless morsels of a spacer ration. "Grafter should be here tomorrow with the stasis units. After that we follow the plan. Conversion will take..."

"Da, da." Yuri interrupted, his voice laced with annoyance. "Conversion will take two to three days, and depending on the Cerinian's actions she will also be placed in stasis or be watched over by Grafter until the process is complete. After that we get her to agree to our plan, and anything that is left after paying Grafter will be hers. However, that is if she is cooperative and if she knows how to use her abilities. Those aren't certainties, Ivan."

"I understand that, Yuri." The stockier canine huffed, turning his attention to the small incinerator mounted in the tiny galley in order to dispose of the foil packet the ration came in. "However, the promise of money, protection, and a chance to reunite with her family will provide the push. Cerinians are also capitalists, after all." The next thought was voiced with a devious grin, one which had once inspired confidence in his allies and fear in his adversaries. "If that doesn't motivate her, the video log of our conversation with Wester most definitely will. I knew you First Directorate types were good for something."

Despite the dig from a lesser ranking officer, Yuri had to admit that the look on Wester's face when Cornerian Intelligence agents came for him would have been a sight to see. That was if the Cerinian didn't decide to try killing him herself. While that possibility was remote and it wasn't likely the corrupt capitalist would serve in the Cornerian version of a reeducation camp the two would have the last laugh, as it were. "Why, yes we are." He allowed himself a smirk. "It's what kept you Army types from getting your asses shot off by backwards peasants." He could give it back as well as he received it. Despite sounding cold-natured on the surface, the banter served as a reminder of home.

"At least now we can be shot at by angry lizards, not backwards peasants." Ivan's smirk belied his sarcastic remark as he returned his attention to the sensor feed. "There hasn't been any other ship activity here for quite some time. The Cerinian's shuttle and the other shuttle are the only recent trails. I've pinpointed her landing site within a hundred meters. If I were to wager a guess she is heading for that small cove about a kilometer to the west."

"We will do a sweep of the area before setting down close by." Yuri replied, his teasing tone switching to all business in the blink of an eye. "As always, prepare for heavy resistance. We still don't know what we'll come across. They mentioned a secondary target, which could be anything from a Saurian guide to a pirate group that has captured her."

"Pirate groups and Saurians don't have access to automatic rifles, Comrade." Ivan pointed towards the arms locker that was tucked between the two small staterooms their shuttle housed. "I already discussed my theory with you and I think it holds water."

"And I still think your theory is bullshit, Major." Yuri shot back as he flared the thrusters; showing the shuttle down for its final approach. "Western soldiers appearing here as we did on Cerinia? Somehow attached to the Beacon? There is absolutely no chance the Committee would allow the device to be sold or taken by the West under any circumstance. Especially considering the years of rebuilding the damn thing after it was taken from the Fascists."

"We have been gone twelve years. Twelve. There is no telling what might have happened during that time. We might be on friendly terms with the West at this point, or at least in a peaceful coexistence with the capitalists. It's better than spending every resource we have on an arms race we were losing every day." Ivan shrugged as he began to don his armor, making final preparations for their excursion.

"Suspicious talk, coming from a soldier of the revolution. I'm surprised you weren't reported. Possession of Western weapons. Western music. Hopes for a mutual understanding of peace. If it wasn't for your distaste of the capitalist system, I would think you were sympathetic of them." Yuri's hands danced over the controls as their craft stopped in midair. The sleek, small shuttle would have made an imposing sight to those left on Cape Claw as its obsidian frame gently lowered to the sandy beach. As the automated systems handled the final stages of the landing Yuri exited the cockpit, already encased in the armor which had served them well on Cerinia.

"We've already had this argument, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. As much as you pretend to be a part of it, there is no KGB here. There is no VDV here, either. We are men seeking a way home. Nothing more and nothing less. If you wish to report me, you can do so once we set foot on the motherland. Until then, I suggest we find this Cerinian before the capitalists or fascists do." To punctuate his words the stocky soldier removed his worn, battle-scarred AK74 from its place in the arms locker. "If we don't get to her first there will be no chance of going home."

---

The beach was peaceful, almost deceptively so. Ivan and Yuri were far too experienced to let their guard down, however. Their careers started in the Red Army, progressed to lead various covert operations for Venom forces during the Lylat Civil War, and culminated as mercenaries for various groups of dubious legality until their recruitment by CDI. Both had seen friends killed, both Lylatian and human. An ambush by hostile forces could be lurking anywhere.

"She must have taken shelter in that... building." Yuri pointed toward the ominous-looking stone head carved into the side of the massive cliff wall that dominated the cove. A stone bridge ran around it, crossing the crystal-clear waters that lapped up against the construction. While made by an assortment of superstitious, religious creatures taken out of a prehistoric children's book, there was an impressive, almost foreboding air about the place.

"Likely. She shouldn't be that hard to track down." Ivan replied as he glanced around the area. It was empty of any sort of sentient life; either this was an abandoned temple or there would be hostiles lying in wait. Either way the silence and stillness around the area was unsettling. Without another word the two moved forward, scanning the area with their weapons as they went.

The old soldiers were using the same equipment they had entered the system with. The war-worn AK74 and AKS74U were like reliable old friends despite the years of use and abuse heaped onto them. They were maintained with almost obsessive care that belied their appearance. The two men were well aware of the fact a jammed gun meant death in a battlefield filled with blasters. They found a path to the massive stone edifice and carefully made their way to the entrance.

Ivan rounded the corner first, his rifle out to track a potential ambush. The interior of the building was badly lit; the shadows combined with the overpowering sunlight obscured his vision. The light amplification module in his helmet kicked in almost instantaneously, revealing a large stone chamber. The floor was damp and small puddles of standing water gave it the air of a peaceful city street after a heavy rain. A flash of a memory of his boyhood home in Novgorod came to him as he stepped into the chamber; a tentative first step to returning home once more. "It's clear."

Yuri stepped into the chamber after a scan of the cove revealed no hostile presence. The chamber had an exit at the opposite side, large enough to accommodate the sentient dinosaurs Sauria was known for. Everything was built to imposing scale. Still, they had a mission to complete. Yuri was a practical man, used to dealing with major changes. Twelve years was a long time to be stranded halfway across the cosmos, but the end of their journey was in sight. The technical advances they would bring with them would give the motherland a much needed advantage over her rivals. "Let's see where our friend ran off to, shall we?"

The chamber opened up into a natural clearing, revealing the entrance to a larger structure built into yet another cliff. Almost instantly the two noticed a few forms crumpled into the dirt... bodies of several Sharpclaw. "Looks like someone has been here first." Ivan wasn't familiar with the aggressive Saurian tribe, but the dead reptilian was armed with a primitive, single-shot rifle.

"Looks like they were shot with blasters." Yuri shook his head. "There goes your Western shooter theory. More likely she escaped from a group of pirates and is trying to hole up here." He cast a critical eye to the entrance embedded in the cliff. "We should still use caution. We're using the same armor those assholes used, and I would rather not take a blaster bolt."

Ivan responded by removing his helmet, clipping the advanced headgear onto a clip mounted to his belt. He shook his head, taking a whiff of the air. That was one thing that Lylatians took for granted; a superior sense of smell. Not him. With effort he could actually track individuals or tell if something was amiss just by scent. Perhaps years of technological assistance dulled their senses; he wasn't sure. However, something smelled strange. It was artificial, pungent, and yet vaguely familiar. "Then perhaps if we don't look like them she won't shoot." He chuckled, motioning to his comrade. "Besides, take advantage of the fresh air here; we've been sucking down that recycled shit for a couple of years, now. Smells a little funny but it's better than what you get in a starship."

Yuri grumbled before removing his helmet. "You're right. It does smell funny." Something else had caught his attention as he blinked, getting used to actual sunlight for the first time in months. The trip to Cerinia had been like a tease from a beautiful woman; a pale, poisoned glimpse at what they had been missing for years. As he blinked away the afterimage, he cursed. They had missed something. "Do you see tread tracks here?"

Ivan glanced down to his feet. The tracks were perhaps thirty centimeters across; a twin set about two meters apart from each other. Some sort of vehicle had come through the clearing. That wasn't good. "Something's not right. She wouldn't have a vehicle."

"Damn it. We've got grenades, so the vehicle will be a priority target. We've faced worse circumstances before." Yuri pointed toward the entrance. "We go in, we complete the mission. Whoever it is doesn't matter. We will secure her."

The two highly trained operatives hefted their weapons and made their way towards the entrance, ready for anything. As they crossed the threshold, the strange scent became stronger; almost overpowering. Blinking, their eyes adjusted to the darkened interior. The blue-gray stone construction was artfully designed, complete with intricate carvings and meticulously-built walls. They took in the details within fractions of a second as they moved in, their rifles tracking the shadows and covering any potential hiding spots.

As they made their way further in, something clicked within Ivan's mind. The scent, despite its unpleasantness, made a connection. He held up a hand to stop his comrade. "Wait."

"What is it?" Yuri continued scanning, his primed carbine aimed down the darkened corridor.

"That scent, we know it." Ivan grimaced. "It's diesel exhaust." The implications were immediately clear. There was no gloating over possibly being right. There were other men here. Whether or not they were hostile would be the big question. That wouldn't change their mission in the slightest. The VDV had a talent for breaking out of impossible situations. He wouldn't sully his unit's tradition by failing.

---

The going so far had been arduously slow, although the wide corridors of the temple, designed for Earthwalkers and Snowhorn, had easily fit the Humvee. The stiff resistance they expected from the Sharpclaw hadn't materialized; the sizeable ambush Brian and Krystal were expecting had turned out to be a few guards here and there. Instead of wasting precious machine gun rounds, Brian had simply shot them with his appropriated laser rifle from the safety of the turret.

Krystal had been driving; between the Humvee's armor and the scavenged mercenary armor she was well-protected. She had gotten the hang of the big, noisy vehicle, though the stench its exhaust produced was nowhere near pleasant. However, the military vehicle was the safest way to navigate the treacherous halls of the Force Point Temple despite their unorthodox tactics. However, the Humvee had only been useful for the first part of their trek through the temple.

They soon came across a raised platform with what Tricky described as a 'warp pad.' Teleporting a heavily-loaded military combat vehicle with them was out of the question, which meant they had to lock it up and continue on foot. The massive complex they entered contained a set of tests designed to protect the Spellstone and prove the worth of the ones who would return it. One by one they managed to break the seals to the final chamber, although by the end of it they were soaked, cold, and weary.

"We're just about there!" Tricky's shout spurred the others to action as they crossed the giant stone bridge over the damp platforms below. Another warp pad lay beyond, with hopes that their final destination was within reach.

"Really? I'm so ready for another trip on the Happy-go-Pukey!" Brian's sarcastic remark chimed in. He had barely stopped short of throwing up after the experience of being warped; to him it was akin to being thrown on the world's most insane tilt-a-whirl after a night of partying with Hunter Thompson.

Krystal's confused glance became one of concern. "Are you okay? I didn't want to say anything back there, but warp travel doesn't seem to agree with you." The three emerged into another large room; one of many they had been through. The trials hadn't been much fun, although similar to what Krystal had been through during her Guardian training. Between varying levels of water, putting out torches with Krazoa statues that spilled water, and maneuvering a block into a goalpoast with blasts from her staff the three were tired, soaked, and wishing it was over.

"I'm good with a lot of things, hon. Heights and motion sickness aren't on the list." Brian grumbled as they came to what was hopefully their last obstacle. A platform beckoned to them across a large gap, complete with another warp pad. There were two obstacles, however. One of which Krystal instantly recognized as a switch; a glowing blue orb placed in a direct path with a roaring flame whose color shifted gradually. The general idea was to get a firebolt from her staff through the flame at the exact moment it turned blue, charging it with an energy the orb 'recognized.' Due to its placement, it would likely extend a bridge over to the platform.

"Get the orb, I've got the brain-squid." Brian was referring to a Wraith, the rare, dangerous predator which were hunted by Cerinian Guardians. Their tentacles were laced with a lethal poison which was used to kill prey. Few Cerinians who encountered them lived to tell the tale. Brian lifted his blaster rifle, sighted in, and fired. The whining pop the weapon made was much different than the sharp crack of a firearm, but it did its job very well. Two blaster bolts lanced out and struck the creature, which crumpled to the floor without offering so much as a twist of resistance.

At the same time Krystal brought her staff to bear and fired. The firebolt slammed into the flame and carried on, impacting the orb with a hollow bong. She had timed it correctly; a grinding vibration underneath their feat signaling a stone bridge rolling out to meet the platform.

"Cool!" Tricky exclaimed. "I knew you two could do it! Mom told me this leads right to the Spellstone chamber, so we're pretty much through!" He cast a sideways glance to Brian. "Think you can handle another couple of warps?"

"The things I do for the sake of duty, huh?" The Marine shook his head, steeled himself, and crossed the bridge over to the platform. He kept the blaster trained on the dead Wraith; one close encounter had revealed one wasn't quite dead. Its poison barbs had only stuck into his armor, but he wasn't willing to take another chance. He fired a third shot directly into its brainpan to make sure, then motioned to the others. "Clear! Move on up!"

Krystal and Tricky crossed the bridge quickly, keeping an eye open for any resistance. They were almost there. This was the home stretch, at the very least. There were three more Spellstones to collect, but they had made it this far. They would somehow make it through. Especially with their firepower upgrades. He wasn't about to get caught with his pants down again. Not with everything riding on their safety. Something, however, tickled the back of his mind; a little voice crying out a warning of danger. He wasn't one to tune out his instincts. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"What's wrong?" Krystal asked, placing a hand on his arm. "Is this about the warp pad?" She wouldn't stray into his thoughts out of respect for her... what would she call their relationship? They weren't quite mates at this point, not by her culture's traditions. Yet they were more than friends. They cared for each other, and at this point that was all that mattered.

"No, hon." He looked up at her, concern and a little bit of fear plainly visible in his expression. "We haven't run into many Sharpclaw yet, and that's exactly what worries me. This is going to be a huge monkey wrench in their plans, and they practically haven't lifted a finger to stop us. If they're going to ambush us, they're going to do it past this warp pad." He took a deep breath and turned to Tricky. "I have to face the facts here. Tricky's Earthwalker royalty, and you're likely the last Cerinian left alive. If anyone's going to jump onto that warp pad first it should be me."

"No." Krystal pleaded. "I can't let you do this alone. Every time we split off, one of us gets nearly killed. That's what I'm trying to avoid!" She stepped open, flinging her arms around the young Marine. "I don't know what I'd do if something happens to you, Brian! You're the only reason I'm alive right now..." Her voice broke as her embrace grew tighter. "...I don't want to lose you."

Brian returned her embrace, taking a deep breath before responding. "You're not going to lose me, hon. I just don't want to lose you, either. Out of the three of us I'm the most experienced at this sort of thing. You're holding your weight but this has been a relative cakewalk so far." He reached up to brush a glove-covered hand against her cheek. "I want to make sure you're safe, and the only way to do that is to go through first."

She hesitated for a moment before offering a sigh to the cool, humid air. "Please... be careful." Her aqua eyes fell onto his hazel ones as she slowly stepped away from their embrace. "Promise me."

"I promise, hon." He leaned forward, only to be stopped as her lips pressed into his; a forceful, passionate strength behind her kiss. He stood back, slightly surprised at her forwardness. "Give me thirty seconds after I go through; that'll be enough time to make sure the coast is clear."

"Wow... I don't know how you two made up, but you two _really_made up!" Tricky blinked at the display of unfiltered affection before turning to the Marine. "I think you should do as she says; I don't think she'll like it if you don't come back safe."

"I think he's right about that." Brian offered, glancing back at Krystal. "Remember... thirty seconds. No matter what, okay?"

Krystal gave him a nod, concern apparent upon her features as he stepped onto the platform. The shimmering, blurred vision, and nausea announced his transportation to parts unknown.

---

The nausea was even worse the second time around, the contents of his stomach(mostly a hastily-scarfed MRE) threatening to eject themselves onto the cold stone he found himself on. He took a few deep breaths to still his gastric distress as he forced himself to look around the area. He didn't have to look far.

The scent of sulfur wafted on the air, stinging his eyes and almost completing the task the warp pad started. However, the rumbling, angry growls coming from ahead focused his attention. A large pillar stood in the center of the room; four identical walkways converging upon it. A large indentation faced him; the receptacle for the Spellstone they were trying to return. Knee-high balustrades acted like a barrier; the entire room was suspended over a pool of lava. Bas-relief figures of the strange Krazoa spirits dominated the walls, flanked by massive panels of stained glass. It was apparent that he was in Sauria's holiest of holies.

However, he wasn't alone. Several Sharpclaw emerged from the shadows, all of them the massive, brutish variety. One of them was larger than the rest; a wicked-looking blade hanging at his side and a very large laser pistol in a ham-sized fist. He fixed Brian with a glare of pure malice. When he spoke his voice was in thinly-accented English; not the broken Saurian the rest of his brethren used. "So you're the one who has been massacring my troops for the past several days. Tell me where the blue Cerinian bitch is, and I will make your death quick and painless."

Brian's response was instantaneous. "Up your ass and around the corner, you slimy little pissant. You're not getting your goddamn hands on her!" He wasn't about to waste time talking. His thumb flicked the blaster rifle's selector switch to autofire and he let loose; a flurry of crimson particle beams erupting from the weapon. There was little recoil as he swept the Sharpclaw... and faltered as the beams simply bounced off what looked like energy shields surrounding all of them.

The lead Sharpclaw belted out a hearty laugh, shaking his head at the Marine. "Is that the best you have? You're going to have to do better than that to save that little bitch!" He leveled the heavy blaster pistol at Brian and snapped off several shots, driving the Marine to cover with a yelp and a muttered curse. He returned fire with the blaster, hoping to wear them down as the others joined in. There was little time left.

The blaster fire was getting thick in the air and his weapon was ineffective; he had only seconds to come up with some sort of plan or Krystal was going to walk right into their clutches. His hand went to a pouch he had sourced from one of the dead Lylatians; the round, yellow ball he snatched out was a grenade of some sort. His thumb stabbed down on the activation button in the top as he chucked it at the marauding Sharpclaw; they dove for cover as the orb exploded into a rain of smoke and fire. The return fire slackened, allowing him to fire random bursts at his attackers.

The red bubble around one of them fizzled out, Brian targeting him with a long burst from the weapon. Scorch marks flashed on its chest as it was hit several times, killing the Sharpclaw soldier where it stood. Everything was moving at a frenetic pace; his mind racing through the several options he had when the blaster's magazine ran dry. It would be suicide to change it out in the middle of a firefight.

A pulse in the air shook his concentration for a second, enough for a blaster bolt to scorch the air inches from his head. "Get down!" He shouted, throwing an extended burst of fire at its source. "Bastards are everywhere!"

Krystal's voice chimed in. "Tricky, stay behind me!" He couldn't see them, but the distinct, high-pitched resonance of her shield kicked into action, followed by the sharp crack of her M9. However, unlike his blaster fire her pistol seemed to be having an effect. Screams and roars of pain followed the flurry of rounds being sent downrange. "Brian! They've got shields! Your blaster won't work!"

"Damn it!" He cursed, dropping the blaster. "Give me some cover fire!" As Krystal put more rounds into the clouds of smoke and fire that obscured the Sharpclaw he snatched the shotgun from its resting place. Its throaty boom echoed through the chamber as buckshot was sent into the first available target. This time the Sharpclaw went down; Brian went up to one knee as he racked the pump. "Change your mag, Krys! I'll cover!"

Krystal ducked behind her staff's shield as she swapped out the M9's magazine. Brian fired twice more into the smoke; the blaster bolts acted like tracers and provided a good point of reference for his shots. The growls and roars told him he was doing something. As the smoke dissipated he saw the remaining Sharpclaw ducking for cover. He fired twice more; groups of shot chasing their ambushers into cover. He racked the slide back once more; the weapon was now empty. Reloading would take too long, which meant he was also down to his pistol.

"Three of them left!" Krystal called over the din. She fired a few times around the pillar; he realized that she could tell exactly where they would try to emerge. That gave him enough time to throw shells into the shotgun. With a satisfying shack-shack of the pump he was back in business.

Brian slid his way over to her, keeping a close eye on the pillar their antagonists were hiding behind. "Keep them busy on the right. I'll take care of anyone who tries to flank on the left." Without another word he moved forward, focusing on the curvature of the pillar. Soon enough one of them tried to make a break for it. The shotgun slammed against his shoulder as he fired, sending the Sharpclaw brute to the ground. He worked the shotgun once more, pausing as Krystal fired several more shots.

"Only one left!" Her voice called out again. "There's nowhere to hide from us! Throw down your weapons and yield!" Her appeal for the creature's surrender was met by a roar of defiance.

"Do you think your monkey pet and your firesticks will save you, blue bitch?" The Sharpclaw snarled as he rounded the corner. Despite his words his hands were empty. "Scales will have you soon enough and I will rule this planet with him!" Despite his size he was fast. He rushed forward as Krystal fired; her shots going wide. Brian's shotgun was slapped out of his hands, dangling on its makeshift sling as the monstrous lizard grabbed him. The Marine was lifted into the air and tossed like a child's toy right into Krystal. The two were slammed against the far wall, the vixen's cry of pain drowned out by the Saurian's roar.

Despite his Kevlar helmet Brian's head was instantly cloudy; the wind was knocked out of him and his chest was on fire. His healing ribs had broken once again, and the pain made it hard to concentrate. He could see Tricky standing alone; the Sharpclaw facing the lone Earthwalker with a devious grin. "And you, young Prince. You shouldn't be here. Trying to stop the resurrection of the Krazoa God? For that, I think I'll make you watch as I finish your mother off!"

The brutish Sharpclaw stepped forward as Brian felt the pulse of air that signaled another use of the warp pad. Someone else had used it. A cold wash of fear settled over him as two figures solidified into existence... more Lylatian mercenaries. Their backs were to them, but the Sharpclaw brute didn't hesitate. He went into a full charge.

The mercenaries didn't hesitate, either. The AKs in their hands chattered, sending a wall of lead into the brute. While he was tough he couldn't stand against a hail of gunfire. He fell to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. The two fanned out, scanning the area ahead of them. "Where is she?" One of them muttered in a thick accent.

There was nothing left to do. He was out of options and they were completely out in the open. There wasn't much chance they were going to survive. He wasn't going to die without a fight. He wasn't going to let Krystal die without saying something about it. He slowly lifted the shotgun into place, the only thought going through his mind was a prayer to get at least one shot in.

The mercs whirled around but it was too late. He pulled the Remington's trigger, catching the one with the standard AK in the chest. With a yelp he fell backwards, a burst of gunfire erupting from his rifle. The other canine stepped forward, shoving the stubby barrel of an AKS-74U into his face as a vicious kick landed on his chest. He yelped; dropping the weapon as a strong arm hauled him upwards. "Try something cute like that again and I won't hesitate to pull this trigger, asshole."

Krystal stifled a moan as she sprung into action, stopped only by a shout from the merc who held Brian. "Don't try anything funny, either! We are not from the group who came here before. We are not going to kill you. Your lives are in danger, and we're here to get you out."

"Bullshit." Brian spat. "You're going to get our guard down then you're going to shoot us. There's a lot of money riding on her life, but I'm sure you're aware of that. We're a couple of pieces of alien gutter trash to you, why should you care?"

"Because we're not going to be paid to do some bastard's dirty work." The merc Brian had shot chimed in, struggling to stand up. "Damn, that thing packs a punch." He visibly winced, rubbing a hand over the pockmarked area where the cluster of buckshot hit. "You're going to have to trust us, because we're your only chance of getting off this shithole planet."

"Brian, they're telling the truth." Krystal rasped. I'm having a hard time reading them, but that much I can tell. They're not here to kill me." The vixen struggled to her feet, only to be aided by the merc who had pinned Brian down.

He glanced her over as the other merc covered the Marine, his AK not quite aimed at him but close enough to act as a warning. "Are you injured?" His evaluation was quick but professional, surveying the way she was favoring her left side and noting she wasn't giving the handgun and staff she had dropped any second glances.

"My left side." Krystal grit her teeth and looked up at the merc as she leaned against Brian. "I think my injuries may have opened up when we collided."

Brian met the merc's questioning expression with a cold glare. "She was hit three times by those rifles you're using. She nearly died. Getting shot in the chest multiple times isn't something you spring back from." He fixed the closest merc with a stare that would have made ice wilt. "As far as I'm concerned, using those guns makes you involved in this. Good intentions or not."

"I really don't give a damn what you think." The merc's accented tone was equal parts anger and disdain. "You shot first, after all. Everyone in the system is after your friend, from these Saurians to the Venom Remnant. Even the Cornerian government wants her. You can stop bitching and help her get to safety, or we can leave you here. Your choice."

"I'm not leaving without him." Krystal growled, shaking her head at the merc. "You can stop the arrogant attitude or you can fly home. Besides, we still need to stop this planet from blowing apart." She pointed towards the pack on her back. "We need to restore the Spellstone and find the others." Wincing at the effort she pushed past the mercenary, stubbornly making her way to the now-scarred pillar. Speechless and shaking, Tricky kept close to her. "I'll be but a moment." She cast a determined gaze back towards Brian.

'Keep them occupied.' The thought carried to him, clear as day. Although it didn't look like it was going to take much. The mercs were sizing him up as much as he was returning the favor. The two looked to be dogs of some sort; one was perhaps a husky or malamute while the other looked like a retriever of some sort. He wasn't exactly an expert on dog breeds. Both of them were probably very tough inside the armor, though the husky was more physically imposing. He didn't even look all that affected by taking a shotgun blast to that armor.

Their armament was similar to the ones the other mercs wore, albeit with one major difference: their hardware looked very well used. The handguards on their rifles were made of wood; the patina was almost identical to the scarred, oil-soaked ones he had seen all the time in Iraq. They didn't sport the mounting rails for optics like the others, either. Either way the two looked very comfortable in the use of their weapons. We wasn't about to offer much resistance, but something seemed off about them. "Mind telling me who you are? Neither of you look like the charitable type."

"Yes, we do mind." The retriever spoke. He was the one who carried the shorty AK. "It's classified as none of your business." The husky with the standard AK was about to speak, but he was silenced by a glare from his partner. "However, you can tell us who you are if you'd like. Brian, isn't it?"

"Well, at least you're not deaf." Brian shot back. "Jury's out on the arrogant and smartass, but at least you're not deaf." The glare and snarl he got was priceless, but he wasn't going to roll over and beg with these mercs. He wasn't trained to do that.

"I would rather you two not be tearing each others' throats out if you can manage it." The husky responded, walking up to the two. "I cannot offer you my name, but I can offer you my word of honor at the very least." He extended a hand toward Brian, his gaze full of determination. "From one warrior to another, I propose a truce. We work together until agreed otherwise."

Reluctantly Brian took his hand and shook it, giving the canine a nod. "I can agree to that. I won't put another shotgun shell into you, at any rate." Surprisingly enough, the mercenary chuckled at the comment. Brian pushed away from the wall, although the exquisite sensation from his newly re-cracked ribs didn't make it a pleasant experience.

"It's done. The Spellstone has been replaced." Krystal's voice echoed from behind them as she approached, Tricky giving a wary glance to the Lylatians as he approached. "We need to discuss obtaining the other Spellstones and bringing them back here. We can't leave this..."

"That is not an option, Miss Haleth." The retriever shot her a stern look. "If we found you here the entire Venom Remnant will not be far away. I will put out a distress call to the Rangers, but I must stress that we must get you off of this planet as soon as possible."

"Why?" The Cerinian growled. "What could _possibly_be more important than the fate of an entire planet? I made a promise to them; I wouldn't rest until they were safe! Millions of lives are at stake!"

"And billions are at stake if the Venomians capture you." The husky entered the conversation. "Millions of your people are already dead. They sterilized _your_homeworld to get you. That's why those mercenaries were here to kill you. They will do the same thing here if they find you." He paused for a moment and glanced to Brian. "You understand this, right? They will stop at nothing to take her."

Forced between a rock and a hard place, Brian had to concede to the facts. "I hate to say this but they're right, Krys. We'll stand a better chance if we keep moving, and being gone before they show up will improve our odds a hell of a lot more. We won't last long against an organized force. I might not like it but if this means we keep breathing we need to take this shot." Motioning to Tricky, he posed a question. "How long would having just this Spellstone in give us? Could you hold out for help to arrive?"

Tricky looked between his newfound friends and the scary, armored Lylatians who had come so suddenly. "I... don't really know, guys. It could be a couple of seasons, but unless the Spellstones are returned we don't have much of a chance."

"We will get the Rangers here. You have my word." The husky turned to Krystal. "We also know who hired those mercenaries who tried to kill you. If you come with us we will tell you who did it." He motioned to the warp pad. "We don't have much time. If you're going to come with us you must decide now."

---

It was the final warp pad that did it. As soon as he stepped off Brian couldn't hold it anymore. The vestiges of his hurried breakfast hit the floor; the nausea as well as the pain from his ribs completely overwhelming him. He remained bent over for a moment, shaking his head at the entire situation.

Krystal rushed to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" She helped him into a standing position, wincing as her own injuries screamed in protest. Perhaps their new 'allies' were right; they weren't having an easy time of it. "Just a little further..."

"Thanks." Brian groaned. They were both reaching the end of their ropes, but he was less enthusiastic. To say he didn't trust the Lylatians was an understatement. Something seemed off about them, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The whole situation stunk to high heaven but they didn't really have much of a choice. These mysterious mercenaries swooped in to save the day, but what was their angle?

"Are you through with tending to your weak stomach?" The retriever merc's voice was laced with sarcasm. The merc hopped off the platform, taking a look at the Humvee which was parked on the level below. A set of stairs and wading through a canal would get them to their ride. "Would you like to take the grand tour and see the medic while you're at it?"

"Fuck you." Brian hissed, eliciting a chuckle from the Lylatian. As they started to make their way down the stairs Krystal stopped, her expression changing from tired to frightened in an instant.

"I can't... feel anything." She darted around as the thought patterns from the Lylatians shut off as if someone had turned off a light. She could barely detect Brian's presence, yet it was as if he was hundreds of meters away despite holding onto her. Something's happen.... AGH!" The sensation of someone jabbing daggers into her temples and her eyes was the most agonizing pain she had felt, including the recent experience of being shot. It was as if the very core of her being had been torn from her; every bit of her telepathic abilities turned inward and attacking her mind. Even her scream was cut short; a muffled whimper was all she could muster before collapsing.

Brian, despite his nausea and cracked ribs, caught her before she could fall on Tricky. Supporting her with one arm, he extracted his old Colt with the other. The pistol was swung towards the retriever, its sights placed upon his face. At the same time the husky brought his AK to bear on the Marine, a tense look on his features. "What the fuck did you do to her? I should have known this was a setup!"

"This isn't us." The retriever's voice was grave, yet he made no move toward his weapon. The EM jamming equipment to put your Cerinian friend in such a state would need far more power output than the cores in our armor. Depending on range one would need something at least as large as a hovercar or a..." the merc broke off for a moment. "A starship. Shit. They're here."

He gestured to Brian. "Get that damn pistol out of my face. "The only ones beside us who could know about EM jammers working against Cerinians are the Venomians. I hope your aim is as good as your ego, boy. You're going to be putting it to use soon enough."