The childish voice started annoying Ken again.

"I don't talk to my brother about stuff either. I like him, he protects me and stuff. But he's mean alot. He'd laugh at me if I told him stuff. I told him I was scared of the dark and he's never stopped making fun of me for it. Is your sister like that? My dad's leaving me again, I don't know why, I think he's going to talk to Mr. Vand again. Did your dad leave too?"

The voice was incessant and just kept rambling. It was like whoever it was never got to talk or something. Words just spilled out in a gush of rambling thoughts.

"Cyan...?" His voice was in a whisper, no one would have really heard him unless they strained their ears.

Then the other voice practically bombarded him without warning. The kitten shut his eyes and shook his head just to attempt to straighten out this mess of words.

"...My dad's dead. Never knew him very well, but he never wanted anything to do with me. I don't know why. Eyan's always looked after me. She acts too much like a mother though, she's always been that way..."

It was strange; as irritating as this one was, Ken actually found someone-- or something-- he could "talk" to. Although he didn't really know if he was daydreaming or going crazy as he followed the rest of the group.

---

It took a minute, but Ryn noticed Sabin's casual stroll when she looked back to check on Kenny.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Her eyes narrowed; she was suspicious of him.

"You're lucky, mine doesn't ever let me do anything unless I'd be in his way. Even then I get yelled at if I do anything besides practice. He's always trying to make me a warrior and stuff. Mom used to say it's okay though 'cuz he went through a lot in the war. I don't think she liked me that much, dad says she was just worried 'cuz I'd still be a kid when she died. I dunno.

You think brother is ok? I seen him get shot before and still yell at Uncle when he's putting bandaid's on. But that building like fell on him. You think Henry's dead?

OOC: I smell character development time!

IC:

"It's going to be quite a walk before we get to the next sector, stay close," growled Claw as he led the small group of unconscious-body-carrying sentients through a series of winding alleys and bombed-out buildings.

"Brother? You mean the other kid who's with my sister? He looks fine to me.

Grown-ups are wierd, aren't they?"

Henry seemed to groggily be doing his best to stay awake. Keedis snickered lightly from Claw's coat-tails.

"Good, he's mean but he's okay sometimes.

I used to think he hated dad, cuz they fight all the time. But I don't anymore. Uncle Tobias helped me find him after that thing happened at home, so I guess neither of them are bad for being grownups."

"Most of my big brothers were bad grownups who did all kinds of bad stuff. My dad kept himself locked in a room all the time cuz he didn't wanna deal with it. He was always weird like that. Only Ryn and my other brothers really paid any attention to me.

I think Ryn still hates them all, though. She doesn't like to talk about them, either. Maybe it's because of what happened when we left."

Kenneth sighed as the memory resurfaced. He kicked at the dirt with one foot as he walked.

It sure felt like an eternity to him since that time.

Dad doesn't like Uncle Toby either, I dunno why. Though Uncle Toby acts like a annoying older brother sometimes. One time he gave me a wedgie. Grownup hates each either for stupid reasons mosta the time.

Keedis smirked and pulled on one of the still unconscious rabbit's ears, as if punishment for something.

No, I don't think it was anything stupid. I think it was kinda serious. Everyone around me was always fighting. Ryn said it's because they all miss Mom, but I remember my oldest brother saying it was all my fault. The kitten had to keep himself from laughing. Sis really let him have it.

Ken looked back for a moment; the sirens were becoming gradually louder, and voices were starting to be heard.

Maybe those soldiers were looking for them?

My dad used to say us kids are incapable of bad stuff, just... um, 'Great Promise'.

Hey, don't pay any attention to those stupid guys back there. Not all 'volian's are like my mom, these ones here are bad. If they try anything, I'll kick their butts. I'm gonna be a Warden, ya know.

A Warden, huh? I heard there aren't many around anymore. I think your dad was the first one I'd ever seen that wasn't in one of those old books.

Sis says those that usually try to become one fail cuz there's never anyone 'round to teach 'em. I wanted to be one so I could help people, but sis says you've gotta have the powers for it. I never really understood what she meant.

The sirens stopped, but the voices persisted. Ken covered his ears, it was starting to become too much noise.

Kenneth's focus was bluntly pushed back into reality as Claw snapped his fingers in the kid's face.

"Watch where you're goin' kid, you look ragged enough as it is," muttered Claw, as irritated as ever.

Kenneth looked down and noticed he was walking through ankle deep sewage that was gently pouring out of a crack in the ground.

All around there were signs of survival. Evolians, pure-blood Evolians, with they're greenish-black skin and all too human facial features shuffled around swaddled in blankets to ward off the shock of having they're homes ripped apart.

Evolia was certainly a melting pot of races. Ever since Evalc's death, Mobius had become open to space travel and many of the so-called "animal" races had flooded the Evolian sphere over the course of hundreds of years.

Mixed in with the pure-bloods were other animal-race Mobians and even the bizarre-looking-but-still-just-as-Evolian Evolians were stalking around the border of rubble and civilization.

The next sector was close.

Already tents with long lines full of newly homeless Evolians lined up to get they're share of soup, medical attention, loved ones, or some combination thereof.

No one noticed as the battle-tattered group led by Claw quietly pushed through the increasingly crowded area of survivors.

"So thats what Evolians look like. I'd never seen a native until now." Henry muttered quietly in Ryn's arms. He looked up and gave her a half-smile, "And here I thought Terran's looked weird."

It was odd, even though he was Kydane and had probably lived quite a long time already. She knew that Kydane only acted as old as they were physically, and this kid certainly wasn't acting like your standard adolescent, making jokes in his condition? Trying to lighten the situations mood? Those were more adult things to do. It seemed his physical appear wasn't the only thing that was unique about him.

"Terrans?" She raised an eyebrow out of utter confusion. "What do you mean?"

Kenneth seemed to have focused his sights on staring at the strange beings that lined the streets.

The half breed smirked, "You probably haven't seen them much. Once the war started the pretty much cut this whole area of space off. They're pretty smart though, they knew enough to do that." He coughed lightly and winced a little trying to keep himself conscious, "Both and Sparky and I are at least part Terran. Mom may have been from Evolia but she was Terran, thats pretty much a positive now. Guess Evolia really was the melting pot of the quadrant."

He looked forlorn for a moment and rapidly changed the subject, "Whats your story?"

"Well, it's kind of long, but I'll keep it short," the feline answered softly. "My brother and I had been drifting through space almost 25 years before arriving here. We'd left because of the war, and it was becoming too dangerous to stay on Kyzarie. My family turned their backs on us long before, because I wouldn't let them take an innocent kid's life to spare a criminal's."

Ryn closed her eyes. "I don't think I'll ever be going back there again."

Claw pushed open a rusty shop door and herded the group into a well lit room full of gym equipment. At the moment the aging fitness equipment lie dormant in light of recent events. In the back of the room an office door swung open and out walked an Overlander, or at least the spitting image of the Terrans that inhabited Mobius.

"Well look who just walked out of Hell's maw!," exclaimed the 5 ft tall, pudgy, brown-haired Evolian as he walked up to shake Claw's hand.

Claw showed the Evolian his hand, it was covered in congealed blood. The Evolian scratched the back of his head and laughed.

"Right, so these friends of yours?" chuckled the Evolian.

"We need a place to get patched up," mumbled Claw.

"And cleaned up I'd say. My name's Max, I run this gym. There's showers in the back and some medkits in the locker rooms nearby. Oi, better hit those showers, you're a smelly lot," chuckled Max.

Claw nodded and wordlessly walked to the back of the gym.

In a dank and uninviting place where two segments of old sewer met beneath the feet of the unsuspecting city, a thick vale of darkness had formed across the crumbling arches of ancient architecture. This was a place from a deeper time when sewers had been just as important as the buildings that they served. But now its purpose had been twisted to a darker end, for now it caused shelter for many sets of dark eyes blinking in the extended darkness. At their centre, within the large circle of dim light that filtered down from the streets above, stood the abomination, Envy.

Hidden by shadow, the creatures around the limits of the light seemed uneasy. They muttered and growled among themselves, speaking in tongs older then the stone they stood upon.

At the forefront of the circle sat another beast, its frail frame facing Envy but not venturing from its platform on a mound of fossilised waste.

< As I was saying. > Said envy with an air of superiority < With the connection too the master lost it seems only right that we continue his wishes until his inevitable return. >

A general growl of agreement shuffled through the room.

< Metal girls not dead. Reavers not dead. Even Fulcrums not dead. What will he say if we fails? > Poked a squirmy voice from the darkness.

< And what of the traitor? > Piped another, deaper voice from the limmits of the circle < She is with them! She must pay for what she has done to brother Avarice! >

<Enough>

The dark room fell silent, all pairs of glowing eyes focusing on the apparent overseer as his disembodied voice filled the space with a crushing aura of menace. The large beast was toying with a rat.. a rather oversized rat with red glowing eyes.

<We remain here for now.> The voice continued <Our actions, nay; our mere presence, has begun to effect the balance of equilibrium. This creature in my hands has already been touched by a thread of chaos. Should we continue before the balance heals more threads will bridge across the gap, eventually tearing the fabric of this place apart. Within the hour it and its kind will swam in search of fresh food. Every creature touched by chaos in this way will. With that in mind, we shall bide our time.>

The dog stood up on all fours, letting the rat scurry away and shaking its coat vigorously before turning towards the far wall of the sewer.

<Until then, all of you return to the Shadow-fold until I or the master summons you>
--

Somewhere in the far reaching country side surrounding the stricken city, a young mercenary was sat up in bed rubbing at the aching points on his chest where the defib had done its work.

"You should lay down." Muttered the old sheep dog next to him, leaning forward from the chair and placing a hand upon the boys shoulder as if to etherise the point you had a bad turn there, my boy. Tell me, what exactly was it you were trying to do?

Rayne looked at Gause with mildly confused eyes, I am unsure. I am unable to remember. I take it from your presence that the captain has ordered me bed bound?

The dog nodded, leaning back again and taking out a long pipe Aye, his order being the only thing thatd keep you here, that is.

The boy didnt reply. In stead he lay back again and tried to recall the events prior to the darkness. Hed been on the hill watching the bombardment, and then nothing.

How

Disapointing?

Wheres Sash? He muttered.

Gause humphed slightly at the question Fixing that bloody engine. Not where shes supposed to be though, if you ask me. She seemed pretty desperate to get her running though.

Why? Rayne asked simply Are we not on skedual for dust off?

Nothing like that lad. But I think your turn has got her scared. She wants off this rock more then anyone.

The boy nodded slightly before continuing with his next line of enquiry Has the lutenant checked in since the bombardment.

There was a pause on the medics behalf before he stood up and patted Rays shoulder None as of yet. But she will be dug in by now. Radio silence unless we try to contact her directly.

Get some kip lad.

"Yes you will!" Keedis chirped up cheerfully as the entered the gym. "Dad's going to rebuild it ALL!"

Ryn could almost feel the annoyance radiating from Henry as she sat him down in a chair in the front room room. The youth ground his teeth for a minute until it looked like the human was going to continue. He snorted to stop the younger boy, "Will you can it about your old man. Noone is going to fix Kyzarie, it's beyond fixing. Rico is just going to get himself killed trying to revive something that already failed. And he'll probably take you with him."

The human boy's smile faded, his face seemed to lock up like an emotionless stone. He wordlessly walked back outside.

Henry snorted again and folded his arms, finally realizing Ryn had witnessed the exchange. "Kids, he thinks Rico's going to fix everything. As usual." He mutter out, trying to give a half-hearted smirk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rico didn't stay still long, as soon as the others had left sight range he had moved quickly along an almost parallel path some few hundred yards away. He seemed as if he knew exactly where he was going, even in the ruins that were unintelligible as having once been buildings and streets.

He made a beeline for a deserted park, decorated with burned grass and small craters. The fox stopped not 4 meters from a smaller Kydane. A familiar looking floppy eared canine again seemed to be expecting his guest.

"Was this your doing? Attacking them? Are you looking for a war, Vand!?" The fox barked out, putting a hand on his sword's hilt.

"Not my doing per say. Well maybe not entirely, though I must say I did do myself a favor."

"Is this your idea of a JOKE?! Kinnear is dead. You know what this means I assume."

"I know better than you. Now."

"You have no idea you worthless dog. Just because you did enough research to find us doesn't mean you understand what exactly you're messing with. You could have killed my son you disgusting bastard! Give me one reason not to kill you here and now!"

"He he he, calm down, you still haven't REALLY learned to control that temper... have you, Koibito."

Rico's aggressive stance faltered, he clumsily grabbed his weapon and yanked it out, pointing it at the man, eye's wide with fear.

The man seemed more interested in the smokey clouds than the trembling Kydane behind him, "Do you like my new attire, Ricky?" He mused, refering to a black leather jacket he'd probably stolen from an abandoned store. "I thought it appropriate, call it a gift to myself for a miraculous escape from captivity."

"Y...You! But, Tobias..."

The man snorted, "Yes... that brat's been nothing but trouble for me since the day he was conceived. I guess not even I could fully control your father. That damnable Underwood hormonal streak I would venture. That makes two times that your... half sibling, has thrown a literal rock at me. Maybe one day he'll learn..."

"S..shut up. Turn around!"

"I don't think so, Koibito. I think I'm done talking to you. I just thought I'd say goodbye though. You should thank me, If I hadn't planned this I'd still be after your... spawn. He's no longer required now. Farewell, Little Ricky.

Oh, and next time you see The White Tail... Tell him, 'Thanks'. Ciao."

The man suddenly seemed to vanish into a dark haze that dissipated within seconds, leaving Rico with holding his trembling sword pointed at nothing. The fox stood shaking for a few moments, then fell to his knees, dropping his sword and sinking his head into his hands.

In the locker room Claw pulled of his black cape, revealing a muscular, brown-fur covered body. He wasn't wearing much underneath the cape, just a pair of loose black pants and a belt with a couple built-in utilities. Claw unbuckled his belt and dropped his trousers while grabbing a white towel and walked into the surprisingly well kept shower area of the aging gym.

The blast of soothing hot water filled the large communal shower with concealing steam. For a brief moment, the infamous Bladed Terror relaxed all of his senses and even let his guard down, if just for a second or two. Two water dissolved the congealed blood matted in his fur and blasted away all the dirt and gravel he had acquired from being thrown across various grades of asphalt. He extended all ten of his claws and washed the grime and black wispy blood from that... thing he had fought in the last sector.

Kruehees, what the hell were you thinking thought Claw to himself.

"I'm not me."

Claw had somehow forgotten the large ball of tannish fur he'd dragged all this way. Tobias had woken up, right where he'd been left, on the floor of the shower.

Lost in his own thoughts, he had totally forgotten that he had set Toby down like an unwanted backpack.

Claw glanced down at the furry lump who was steadily growing more and more moist as the heavy steam began collection on his fur.

"What are you talking about, kid?" muttered Claw, realizing too late that Toby was far from a kid anymore.

Old habits were hard to kick.

"I don't know," Ryn mumbled, sitting in another chair nearby, "maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. It's none of my business, anyway."

The feline put her head down on the table in front of her and stretched her legs out. She felt so tired for some reason; she'd have gone straight for the shower if it wasn't occupied.

Kenneth had just reached the doorway as he saw Keedis leave. "Did I miss something?" he asked, looking to Ryn and Henry.

"If HE's involved, he'll make it everyone's business. He always does." Henry muttered snidely to himself.

He looked at the other boy with an almost condescending air, "Sparky's being a dork, as usual. I'm Henry U-" He paused as if he wasn't sure of his own name. "Vand, Henry Vand. I'm partner's with Toby."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rabbit clumsily got to his feet and practically fell to the nearest sink, feverishly wiping the steam from the water off the mirror staring at the reflection. The young man's hands shook as he reached up and pulled his glasses off, pushing himself closer and squinting at his own blue eyes.

"Blue... No..."

The rabbit whirled around as if suddenly a frightened child, "What happened to me?! What happened? Where is he? Where is... Oh god." The rabbit looked as if he been shot. He hadn't even noticed he was talking a naked man. He shoved his glasses back on, turned and scampered out the door muttering one word, "Keedis."

"I'm Kenneth Sonata. Over there's my older sister Ryn." The kitten scratched his head. "Did you say 'Vand,' though? I was talking with that other boy earlier, he said something about his dad leaving to speak with a 'Mr. Vand' or something."

OOC: Noice one Kaze. Generally people never get my hints.

A low grating sound crackled from the half-breed child's mouth, the sound of his teeth audibly grinding together in rage.

Tobias darted by in the blink of an eye and out the door.

"You're lieing. I never saw him talk to you until you got here." Henry growled under his breath.

Claw shut off the soothing water, toweled off and quickly got dressed. The serene world of steam and moisture was quickly being washed away by cold reality once again. Claw briefly examined his katana before rejoining the group in the back of the gym.

OOC: Got to love plot triggers ^_^

Ryn looked up at this point, alert but not really aware of what was going on.

"It wasn't really talking, but that's not the point!" The kitten was almost taken aback by Henry's change of behavior, but he looked directly in the hybrid's eyes as he spoke. "I'm TELLING THE TRUTH!"

He averted his gaze only for the briefest of moments as Tobias passed the two boys...

The halfbreed looked stubborn for a moment then turned around, folded his arms, and continued to pout.

A minute went by before a VERY relieved Tobias reentered dragging a pouting Sparky behind him. The rabbit toss the boy in a chair by Henry muttering something about letting them pout where he could see them as Claw reentered the scene.

The rabbit look directly at him and stated his thoughts clearly, "There's a problem."

"Isn't there always?" grumbled Claw, "What's going on this time?"

The rabbit removed his glasses and pointed to his eyes. They were clear and blue, just like they'd been when he was young.

"He's escaped."

OOC: What happened to Sabin an the resident medic?

OOC: If you read back, Sabin snuck off and followed Rico. Christer may or may not post anymore. He's due to be shipped overseas in... I think he said January.

"Rico's rugrat?" growled Claw, still taken aback by Toby's eyes, the same eyes from nearly three hundred years ago. As innocent as they had appeared, Claw could see the trauma behind them... if only for a second.

Amazing how the sands of time could polish certain parts or a memory to a mirror sheen. For a brief second Claw saw he reflection of everything he and an age old band of heroes had went through on Felus and Mobius.

Claw glanced out the window at the other end of the gym. In the distance he could sill see the smoggy cloud of ash hanging over the sector they had just escaped.

***

"Claw refused to comeback with us, Director Kruehees," reported an ESO trooper.

Kruehees, a pure-blood Evolian, massaged his temples as he clenched his eyelids tight.

"Dammit, Claw, this is not the time to be stubborn," sighed Kruehees, his frustration all too evident.

"What are your orders, Director?" asked the trooper.

Kruehees leaned back into his large leather chair behind his plain black executive style desk.

"Just leave him alone for now, he'll come here on his own terms. He has no reason to betray us," explained the Director of the Evolian Special Operations.

Kruehees smoky green eyes shot open and leaned forward, closing his hands together, "What information have you learned about the incident with the army?"

The ESO Trooper shifted his wait nervously, anyone would under the piercing authoritative glare of Director Kruehees.

"We still haven't been able to figure out what caused the break in the chain of command. The order to glass sector 6 was not official, the Brass-"

"-The Brass are too busy playing the blame game right now. None of them would risk the political fallout attached to nuking Evolian soil just to take out one man. Bring me the report from those two soldiers that called down the strike, I want to read through it one more time," interrupted Kruehees as he dismissed the trooper with a wave of his hand.

Most managing directors of the local Evolian RnD spent their days behind large intimidating desks, complaining about poor performance or misusing their funding on extravagant coffee machines for their oversized offices.

In this aspect, Professor Ures Sinhyu was unique, spending as little time in his small dank office as physically possible. Instead his grey spindly countenance could be found stalking the floors of the numerous laboratories in Sigma Five. Renowned for his short temper and occasionally unhinged scientific methods, Ures had a reputation that preceded him like ball lighting precedes an earthquake.

It was small wonder, there for, that his subordinates felt reluctant to call him even in the most urgent of matters.

But circumstances had conspired and now a shaky, unsure private in a bloodstained doctors coat found himself staring through the video monitor as the irritated grey ferret scanned through the report he had just faxed across.

Moment after moment ticked by as the professor looked over the file, seeming to have become completely immersed in the document. The private began to relax slightly, glancing back towards the medical tent across the camp where the patient was being kept.

So,

The private nearly leapt out of his fur as the professors course voice broke the silence.

She was brought in heavily damaged and wearing Evolian military uniform, but cannot be identified as a known member of the military forces.

Clearing his throat the private responded Yes sir, no insignia and no successful id on DNA register. Yet her enhancements are undoubtedly Evolian weapon grade models, ancient ones at that.

The doctor remained silent again, pawing over the detailed scans that his subordinate had taken of the injured 'soldure'. Old they most certainty were. But out of date they were not. Bio-Technology this detailed had not been scene for centauries, the techniques and skills behind its construction been lost during the last grate war. Nowadays if a soldier lost an arm and was lucky to receive a replacement it was usually grafted directly onto the existing structure, crude and prone to rejection without constant treatment. This however was something quite different, a technique far more elegant, Bio-integration and that meant that this woman was quite possibly the last person in the Quadrent with fully operational Nanomesh woven throughout her biological systems. An invaluable specimen.
"She could be from Special Ops?" Ventured the private in an air of helpful anxiety, "They're the only personnel not on the direct register."

"Special ops are not in the habit of abandoning their men without at least putting a bullet through their head first." The doctor replied coldly, "But for now let us foster that assumption. I do not want anyone tampering with her, and rumours that she is cloak and dagger will keep the ground commanders away at least."

Dropping the papers back onto the desk and motioning to someone out of shot, Ures finally looked up at the monitor and into the face of his subordinate.

"I take it that she is stable for the moment?"

"She's heavily sedated, explained the private though she keeps adapting to whatever Traquiliser we give her. The dosage shes under is enough to kill an Uronphant out right. As I stated before, her interwoven systems have already repaired most of the internal damage, its been really quiet fasina -

I am not interested in fine detail Mr Walsh, interrupted the professor with a tone that was so level that it could have sliced steel I am sure the scans will tell me all I need to know until I can instigate my own analysis.

Walsh remained silent for a few moments as the sentence sunk into his mind.

Youre coming here personally?

The doctors brow furrowed further, a nerve twitching in his forehead, the bright light of the communications room flashing off the surface of his glasses momentary as he adjusted their frame with an outstretched finger Is this a bad time, private Walsh? I suppose you would have me stand outside the door while you rearranged the furniture? Hmm? After all; I wouldnt want to incontinence you. The half breed private seemed to shrink a little as though desperately trying to make himself invisible by shear force of will. But unless, you have discovered something of far grater significance, I find it highly presumptuous of you to think I would travel half way across the galaxy to your backwater planet, abandoning my many responsibilities simply to observe something that will be just as fresh if you get it into stasious and send it to me on the next transport vessel.

Walsh trembled slightly, cautiously giving reply Yes sir.

Straightening his back, the agitated Ferret glared at the private for a moment longer before once more tuning his attention to the report on the desk before him.

The weave will keep her stable. Put the specimen on ice and have her ready for transport here by the end of the night-

There was a hurried call from off screen, a laboratory technician signalling the professor over with haste in his voice.

Ures stalked out of shot, addressing the underling with a sharp What?. For a few seconds Walsh felt that he had been granted a reprieve. But now he could just make out the mutterings beyond the range of the camera. He only caught a few words; visual cortex - on database - matches. All in all it made little sense to the young lab rat.

The room beyond went quiet again and Ures stalked back to his original position in front of the monitor and sat down hard in the chair. Drawing his spindly fingers together in thought, the ferret stared sright onwards into some far off distance that apparently existed six feet behind Walshs head. The nervous assistant could only stand there frozen to the spot, hoping the good doctor wasnt debating how best to execute him.

Drawn out seconds past while Ures stat in contemplation, until finally, without moving from his seated posture, he addressed Walsh again.

Private. There has been. a change of plan.

"No, Spark's fine. I don't remember a whole lot from back then. What do you remember about a man called Raven?" Toby stated glancing back toward the two boy's as if nervous they'd hear him.

Henry was too busy trying NOT to look at Kenneth. But he couldn't help but mutter, "Why would Rico be talking to HIM. They're probably both out to kill me now."

Kenneth sighed and sat on the floor, bringing his knees up to his chest. He knew Henry was still staring at him; he wished he'd quit it already.

What's going on? Why's Corky emo-ing? Whats wrong with Uncle Toby's eyes?

The voice was back again. Distracting Ken from Henry's barrage of glances.

I don't know anymore. The kitten stared at the ground, he didn't really want to talk to anyone anymore.

Still, something didn't seem quite right; he could feel it somehow. His eyes looked up to where Ryn had been sitting, only to find an empty chair.

His sister had vanished.

---

No one seemed to pay attention to the lone feline as she strolled through the tent-lined streets.

Ryn kept her gaze straight ahead as she turned into an alleyway and came to a stop.

"Of all people, I never thought you'd be the one who was following me the whole time," she spoke softly. "Don't you think it's about time you stopped hiding like a coward... Julius?"

The halfbreed winced.

Why not? Weren't you here? What are you so quiet about? The questions continued.

Henry sneered, his canine looking teeth became visible.

Hey, are you listening to me? Hey, listen.

The half breed stomped his feet on the floor and stood up, spinning around to face the human boy. "SHUT UP! For the love God just SHUT UP! You've been doing nothing to pester the guy since you met him! Just SHUT UP, DAMN! Maybe he doesn't wanna listen to your stupid TALKING all the damn time! I know I don't wanna hear it! Just SHUT the HELL - UP!"

"Don't take your anger out on him just 'cause you're mad."

Kenneth's eyes were narrowed at Henry, his tail twitching in agitation. "He hasn't done anything to you. Leave him alone."

The halfbreed continued his sneering, "Ah can it, you don't have to put up with it every day, every minute, every hour. It's so freaking annoying!"

The human boy wrinkled his nose and turned away, folding his legs up to his chin and wrapping his arms around them, muttering something to himself and glaring holes into the bench below him.

The kitten furrowed his brow. "Listening to you whine about it is annoying. If you've got such a problem with others besides you talking, walk away. Yelling doesn't solve anything, it only makes it worse."

Although he sounded indifferent, he was truly keeping his own anger in check. The last thing he wanted to get himself into was an unnecessary fight, but it didn't look too likely.

---

"You just now noticed? I didn't think you'd gotten so soft."

Stepping from the darkest shadows of the alley and into the dim light was a tan-furred cat, dressed in what seemed to a simple trenchcoat and matching shirt and slacks. In contrast to Ryn's dusty appearance, he was proper and neat.

"Heh." Ryn crossed her arms. "You've turned out just like that bastard after all; just as full of yourself as he is. You didn't think I'd notice you following me earlier before that mess in the town started up? It's a good thing you got your ass out of here in time, then, huh?"

"Cut the crap, Ryn," Julius spat. "You know who I'm here for."

"Then I'll tell you the same thing I told you when I left that hellhole of a planet: You're not taking him back."

"Whatever! You can listen to him ramble for the rest of your life you want. I'm sick of this crap, I'm gonna go kill the @#%$ piece of crap and HIS dad while I'm act it. Later." The hybrid barked and stormed outside.

The human hugged his knees tighter as tears formed and started to fall, despite the youths attempts to stop them.

Kenneth sighed. Sorry. It's my fault he's mad. I told him what you said earlier about your dad going to see that 'Vand' person you mentioned.

The kitten stood and headed for the front doorway, looking back once more at the human, then the adults. He wasn't sure if they were even aware of the previous exchange, or if they would even notice that two kids were apparently going to disappear right from under their noses.

"Gonna walk off, just like that eh? Com'n boy, we lost a good man today saving yer sorry butt and this is what we get?"

Ken was almost beginning to expect voices from random locations now. This planet seemed full of mysterious people and unknown allies. The old coyote leaning against the entrance to the building was just another enigmatic man popping out of known talking to him as if they'd met before.

"Tell me something, how much is it worth to you? You know, to know exactly whats happening here. The scope of this little brawl thats only just beginning? The players in it and a little bit of info that just may be interesting to ya." the old man coughed a little, perhaps showing his age.

"Do you always storm into the middle of militarized refugee camps?" growled Claw as he stalked the two young ones.

Claw shot a dangerous glance at the old coyote who had slinked out of the shadows.

"You haven't changed a bit, I see." Julius took a couple of steps forward, keeping his eyes locked on Ryn. "Your tenacious and stubborn behavior knows no bounds. That's why you dragged that poor boy halfway across the galaxy, isn't it?"

"Just to keep bastards like you away from him," Ryn growled. "You think I'm gonna let you sacrifice a kid just to cover up that mess you got yourselves into? Just so a @#%$ criminal like NATHAN won't get what HE DESERVES?!"

Julius sighed, "I should have known. Well, I suppose you'll be needing this... where did I put it?"

As Ryn watched, he fished what she immediately recognized as one of her knives from a pocket, placed it on the ground, and kicked it across the alleyway to her. She looked back at him, eyes narrowed. "Where did you find it?"

---

Ken kicked his foot at the air. "I dunno. I just gotta go look for someone, that's all." He turned his head away and shoved his hands in his pockets. The kitten didn't want to think about creatures made out of black smoke or giant monsters. He just felt like knocking some sense into that other kid's head when he found him.

The old coyote smirked, "When ya find him, tell 'im 'Master' Bant," He spoke the title with extreme sarcasm, "Says to knock it off."

He watched the youth walk off with a twinge of uneasiness before turning and walking away from the building himself.

Henry hadn't gone much further along the road and was now sitting against the wall of a small building, face buried in his hands.