ohn seemed to smile. There was such a mixture of sympathy, compassion, and some odd understanding of it all in the old rabbit's eyes looking from El to Leon, he sighed, "I… I’m sorry. I know this probably the last thing you wanted to talk about. Especially being that Raven’s got them all so scared of their own shadows that not only is Kaien acting like a moving statue now but you can’t ever be normal with him around because everyone acts like they want you to stop existing." The rabbit looked at the floor and took in a ragged breath, as if he was frustrated or choking up, “Enforcers treating children that way. The ceasefire musta been because the war was going badly. Otherwise Aramae would’ve been stringing them up like gutted fish for acting like that.” He turned his aging tawny eyes upward at the boy with his face in his hands as if he’d decided something, “I left because this place was supposed to be better. It seems I was mistaken.“ He watched the teen for a moment waiting for him to look up. When he did the man’s brown eyes locked on his violet ones with a deadly and almost soldier like seriousness to them. “You never answered me. I guess this can’t be helped then. Leon, you live with an Enforcer now, so I’m fairly sure you realize the implications of what I am about to say. I am Jonathan Seth Kinnear; former Gray Warden Knight to the Servi. On the honor of my third great grandfather Kenji Pendragon I offer my sword to you and your friends. Will you accept?”

Athena’s paw went to her mouth. She’d heard him talk about the pledge in jest before and how ridiculous it must sound to an outsider. But also how serious of a thing it was for Warden to make, and how many Warden had died as a result of making it to the wrong person. And how this was now the second time John had made it in his lifetime, and considering his first ward his track record was not to comforting. But her greatest concern was that now if the boy left this planet and did not release him from his pledge. He would leave as well.

“I left because this place was supposed to be better. It seems I was mistaken.“

The rabbit’s previous words echoed in her ears like the deafening bells of an old church. A sudden terrible thought came crushing down on her. He… wanted to leave.

Rob laughed maniacally at the warning and pushed Sam to one side, “Loud’an clear ya boss. But I'm thinkin you guys should be the ones worried. Haha, you think Enforcers are scary I don’t wanna what you think of the Warden I got milling about on this-” Samantha had already muted the comm. A half sentence ago, hissing loudly, “Are you HIGH? These are the Sibken authorities you’re talking to! If you tell them there is a real Warden on this ship and we plan on setting him loose in the city they will arrest US.” She looked about worriedly, “Or at the very least from the things Kaybee and I dug up on that man he’d single handedly end the ceasefire by destroying half this @#$%ing town.”

“Can you repeat that?” The comm Chirped back up.

Rob looked enraged for a moment, then she could almost see the lightbulb over his head go on as he stammer out, “Uh.. I was just saying if you guys are scared of a little Enforcer I can’t imagine how badly your troops piss themselves facing the actual Warden those religious nutjobs have runnin around.”

The comm paused and crackled back, “As if a scumbag scavenger’s opinions mean anything to me. Just hurry up and land so you can leave.”

Robert winced visibly, “I think I just killed any chance of a reward. Damn, just hurry up and land.” Sam smirked and shook her head, her hands moving to dancing over the controls to get them safely to the ground.

“Least I’ll have one sane person to talk to then,” Tobias grumbled out rubbed his bandaged hand. As if on cue a slew of passive, “Excuse me” and “Sorry, I need to get through”’s was heard as the frail teenage deer wedged himself through the crowd and to the growing group. He was now wearing some sort of flannel green overshirt and the same jean shorts as before. But he was carrying a green backpack that seemed packed so full it was in danger of exploding. “Sorry I’m late, Tobe moved some of the stuff he needs and… who’s that?” He stated quickly staring at the newcomer.

As if sensing the boy’s dismay the rabbit grinned, “This is Cherry, she patched up my hand.”

“But… but I would’ve done it!” The Cervoid yelped suddenly, looking crushed.

Tobias’s grin faded, “Wait, you only have one backpack. You didn’t mix in your stinky crap with my clothes did you?” Kieran looked distant, “…I don’t have any other clothes.” Tobias winced and thought quickly trying to avoid the line of conversation, “Oh… right, well good. Maybe you should look for some while we’re down here instead of following me around.”

The teen looked down muttering out in a barely audible voice, “I guess, I thought maybe you’d help. I dunno what’s cool or anything.” The rabbit gritted his teeth in frustration, “Dammit stop being pathetic, Kieran. Gimme that damn backpack.” He snatched the bag away from Kieran and hiked it up onto his back, it felt like the deer had put his entire room into it. “Kenji’s sake, grow a pair will ya.”

Angie's curiousity has by now gotten the better of her cooking skills -- she's sure she'd hear the pot boiling rapidly before it boiled over, and there was Elegy to watch it as well -- and she leans on the wall inside just inside the kitchen, ears tuned to the conversation in the next room. She could understand people not liking Kaien on account of his red eyes. She'd had an albino or two to deal with in her time, and the reaction was almost ingrained in people. But adults beating up on a kid...she clenches a fist, claws slipping out of the pads of her fingers. This is why she absolutely despises some adults.

John's words take her by surprise, however. He was a Warden? Well, at least that meant he probably knew how to fight. He seemed to have gone a bit soft -- he hadn't actually stepped in when she'd reacted to Kaien drawing a knife on her, just scolded like a parent. She hopes for his sake his skills aren't too rusty.

Angie's curiousity has by now gotten the better of her cooking skills -- she's sure she'd hear the pot boiling rapidly before it boiled over, and there was Elegy to watch it as well -- and she leans on the wall inside just inside the kitchen, ears tuned to the conversation in the next room. She could understand people not liking Kaien on account of his red eyes. She'd had an albino or two to deal with in her time, and the reaction was almost ingrained in people. But adults beating up on a kid...she clenches a fist, claws slipping out of the pads of her fingers. This is why she absolutely despises some adults.

John's words take her by surprise, however. He was a Warden? Well, at least that meant he probably knew how to fight. He seemed to have gone a bit soft -- he hadn't actually stepped in when she'd reacted to Kaien drawing a knife on her, just scolded like a parent. She hopes for his sake his skills aren't too rusty.

oc: would have posted by now, but having a family crisis. Will see how I feel later on, kay? ^_^

OOC: Hope it works itself out Rei 🙁

OOC: Hope things get better, Reithe. :<

I'll edit this post with my IC later on.

oc; Hay everyone, really sorry about this but I'm not going to be around for a few days. Family member needs constant vidgulance atm, and I've still got a tone of work for collage that I should have finished by now. For the timebeing just assume that Cherry is tagging along with a stupid grin on her face 😀

((I'm so sorry to hear that, Rei. Hope everything works out. *hug*))

In which the youth finds himself in a situation he cannot take lightly for once

It were as though time stopped at that very moment.

Elegy bumped into Angie on the way to the sink. Her gray eyes kept darting from John to a now stricken Leon and back again.

Nel suddenly stood up, her blue and orange eyes almost boring holes into the adult rabbit; she must have instantly picked up on what he meant. "You... you can't do that. You can't do that!"

"Nel," Elegy started, shaking her head. "It's Leon's choice to make."
"But..."
"It's his choice."

Leon felt as though he had an entire world sitting on his shoulders. All he could do was stare right into John's eyes, trying to figure out if this guy was messing with him. It didn't seem like it, but he was truly taken aback by the whole thing.

He tore his eyes away from the rabbit, looking at the still slumbering Kai. "... Um... I..." He shut his eyes tight and shook his head, hands covering his eyes. "...I can't make that kind of decision, not now!" He calmed himself down, although his breathing had quickened when he looked back to the rabbit.

"... Can I.... can I take some time to think about this?"

=======

A hearty laugh escaped the cat's throat. "Nice to see that you're a lot more talkative. Still, it's really strange."

When the yellow rabbit looked towards him, Ken continued, "I've built a life, settled down, got married and started a family. You're barely an adult. Makes me wonder what you are."

"None of your damn business," a rude voice cut in.

Turning to the doorway found Aria leaning on one side, her arms crossed and her expression extremely sour. "Captain says to stop messin' around and get your asses ready; we're going to land."

Her vivid green eyes scanned the group briefly, hovering a bit on Cherry before she scratched her head. "Damn, I should be happy I'll be gettin' to see my little girl, but are we really gonna stick around here just to find your sister, Ken? We ain't supposed to be here, and those pricks at your job are probably gonna hang foot up your ass."

"My boss knows this a personal case for me," Ken said. "No need to worry." He glanced at Kiri, who seemed slightly puzzled by the Cervoid, gazing at him like a strange new toy. When she sensed his eyes on her she jumped and looked at him, orange eyes wide in surprise.

"Ken," she started, but the Felinoid simply smirked, which was enough to silence the fennec halfblood once more.

========

Hawthorne adjusted his hat, still smirking. However convoluted things started out, finally getting to his destination was a milestone.

"Considering you guys blew up my ride, I'd assume that you could still replenish whatever you need on the surface," he said roughly. "You DO need supplies, don't you?"

OOC: Not done with post yet.

oc: With home crisis somewhat averted (yay for drugs and the mental health act), I've found a little time during report writing and lino carving. I'll be writing up a few posts starting the my little pony gm and then kazy's Search for nothing rp ^_^

OOC: Take your time. I rather not charge ahead with things and leave other posters in the dust.

John's eyes softened and he let out a relieved sigh, "It's ok. She's probably right, I shouldn't lay it on you like that." He stood up and looked out the window, "I just have a bad feeling is all. Wanna cover my bases."

"You AREN'T a Warden anymore, Jonathan." Suddenly the squirrel grew serious, putting her hands on her hips. The rabbit's ears flattened, following his cringe and readying for the assault. "Honestly, you guys are so political about everything. Do you HAVE to make a melodramatic scene just to protect people? Can't you just... I dunno, DO IT?" Her response came with a tidal wave of relief but with a tinge of regret on his part. She didn't seem to be reacting like she should him entering into a deal that could very well take him back to Kyzarie. He didn't know how to react.

Toby blinked at the remarks, watching the following exchange still analyzing the Felinoid. Then finally gave Kenneth a hard glare, "What the hell are you talking about? Who the hell are you?"

Angie puts a hand over her shoulder and pats her assault rifle's barrel gently. She's been having a bad feeling ever since she ran into Leon, and this isn't doing anything to make her feel better. "Well, I'm no Warden or nothin' fancy, but I'm a crack shot an' /I/ decide 'oo my gun protects, not no one else. So I'm 'fraid yew lot are stuck wi' me fer a while."

The adult Felinoid scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish, but unfazed. "Not surprising at all," he started, closing his eyes. "Kenneth Sonata's the name. An Enforcer who picked the wrong time to end up in a situation like this."

Aria snorted, "That's what you get for trying to be friendly with everybody, dumbass."

=======
OOC: Extremely short post. It gets the point across.

He acted like he knew him. The rabbit stared hard, trying to think of any possible time he could have been on friendly terms with an Enforcer. None came to mind though, he was already into the conversation though so he smirked back, "Enforcer about to land on Sibko huh? Dunno if thats bravery or stupidity."

The deer looked at the older boy oddly, "But you knew that already Tobe, remember he said it earlier when we- OOF!" The teenager caught the rabbit's elbow in his side, silencing him forcibly.

The cat shrugged again. "Dunno what to think of that yet."
"Of course you do," Aria said irritably. "Sooner you understand that, the better." She continued muttering a string of curses under her breath and sighed. "Lucky those kids are probably with somebody, otherwise it'd be your ass hangin' out to dry."

Kiri gave the female rabbit a disapproving look. "Aria, there's no need for that language..."
"So $&%ing what, there aren't any little kids around."

======

"The more, the merrier, I say," Leon drawled. "Besides..." He turned around in the chair to Angie like a little kid trying to look out the side window on a bus. "Don't mind you being stuck with me for a long while, bab--"

*THWACK* The rest of his sentence died in his throat as a wooden spoon and a ladle that Elegy and Angie respectively held hit the boy on his head.

"OUCH! What the $%&# is the matter with you?!"

"You!" Elegy bellowed. "You and your $%&ing perverted antics need to stop!"

"Shush!" Neliel's voice was unusually scolding, enough to silence the duo and stop them from bickering again. "Kai's still sleep, you're being rude."

The whole exchange was rather comedic, given the small girl's age, in that moment, she seemed much more level-headed than anyone else in the room.

status onlineToby Underwood Unread Message

Kane gave both women a look of pure irritation, "You could be using this time to convey the names and appearances of the missing children to us. But if you would rather spend it mewling like a querulous brat that is your choice."

Tobias smirked, pleased the wolf was aiming his scathing realities at someone else for a change.

John's smile was broadening watching the exchange with his chin in one hand, "Eheh, asking a boy his age to stop acting perverted is like asking an old man like me to stop providing unwanted advice to kids. Leopard can't change his spots and all that."

"Wha's more, I /gave/ ya my name. 'Ave enuff respect t' use i'!" Angie adds, frowning. She does keep her voice quiet, out of respect for Kaien. "I don' go 'andin' i' out ta jus' anybody." She turns her attention to Elegy. "An' don' worry 'bout 'im offendin' me. I c'n take care o' m'self, if'n 'e tries anythin'." Her eyes narrow slightly. "If'n 'e 'as any sense, 'e won'. 'Sides, if'n 'e wants any o' /my/ attention, 'e's gonna 'afta do a lot o' shapin' up. From where I stand, 'e's still jus' an' immature boy."

Kenneth immediately got to the point, as both women huffed like small children forced to drop an argument.

"Their names are Neliel, Elegy, Kaien, and Leon. Neliel is my only daughter; takes after her mother, but she's inherited my heterochromatic eyes-- one is blue, the other is orange. She wears a vest over a tank top, matching pants, and sneakers. She's 7 GSA. Elegy is Aria's kid, an orange-furred Lepoid with gray eyes, and she wears a pink dress and shoes."

"El's 14 GSA," Aria chimed in, still seething.

"Right," Ken continued. "Kaien and Leon are brothers, my two nephews. Leon's the younger one, wears a yellow shirt with tan pants and boots. His eyes are violet, like his mother's. He's just hit the teen years; the equivalent to 13 years old and a loudmouth, so it's hard to miss him.

"Kaien's the older one, 14, almost 15 GSA." Ken paused a moment, as though he were treading into unwanted territory. "He's wearing a red shirt, dark pants, and sneakers, but the first thing you'll notice about him are his sunglasses. Kaien's albino, you see; he's the quiet one, hardly says a word unless he needs to."

Ken closed his eyes and sighed again, running his fingers through the fur on top of his head. "He... knows the Shadow Art... He won't be able to see you outright due to his vision problems, so he'll pick up on your presence instead."

====

Elegy closed her eyes, brows furrowed. "Tch... still, you'd think he'd at least clean up his act."

"Hey, I'm still here, make no mistake, El," Leon said, still rubbing his head. "Don't talk about me like I'm not."

======

OOC: Post filler is coming up soon. Mainly some backstory stuff that's been stuck in my head too long, but not too much. =-=;

"Fourteen standard age albino shadow artist in the middle of Sarna? Whelp, he's as good as dead." The rabbit said shrugging his shoulders. "Tobe! That's a horrible thing to say." Keiran blurted out looking almost angry. He looked to continue but was cut off by the hulking Lupoid, "Uncouth, but factual. Unlike those of us with sentient brains most people fail to recognize that Raven cannot keep his obnoxious mouth shut for more than a a few moments. Kenneth's nephew's temperament would be nothing like the creature he will be accused of harboring." He grunted and looked at Tobias, "A temperament YOU should be very familiar with considering your own dealings with that... creature." His already low voice lowered further at the third mention of Raven, rumbled on an almost physical level before glaring at the young man sternly, "I am beginning to doubt you will ever learn to think before you speak, Tobias. But that seems to be a family trait." Keiran flinched as if he was going to be the punching bag for the wolf's commentary, but the rabbit said nothing and instead simply glared. The Warden turned back to the others, "If the oldest is as you say he will know to keep others from discovering those facts. He is also with family, I assume they will aid him if all else is lost. However, we should move quickly. Mister Kinnear is familiar with the area and will know individuals sympathetic to the boy's situation."

John chuckled, "He will when you stop acting like a mother hen." Athena shot him a stern look.

OOC: I'm telling you this now, this is a freaking long post. The last three quarters of it is also the most depressing crap I've written thus far.
======

IC:

Kenneth nodded. "He's learned to keep his eyes hidden pretty early. Unfortunately, he can't make them appear a different color while he's trying to 'see,' so he keeps a pair of sunglasses on at all times. It's kept him half out of trouble so far."

Kiri clapped her hands together. "Well, as long as they're with this Mr. Kinnear, I'm sure they'll be okay. Right, Aria?"

"Sure, whatever," Aria drawled, waving a hand at them as she stood upright, straightening her posture. She looked as though she'd started spacing out for a moment, but her annoyed expression returned. "Well, no use standing around here. If we're gonna get moving, then let's move."

======

His earliest memory was a pair of eyes that followed him all the time. They always looked sad, loving, and conflicted all at the same time.

They belonged to a woman whose face he couldn't quite remember. He knew that she sat in a chair by a gray window, and the fact that her smiles were fragile and fraudulent.

She wasn't happy.

The small child knew it was his fault in some way. There was never anything he could ever do about it. That was the main reason behind the pain in his chest whenever he was in the same room as her.

She never said it outright, but he knew she hated him.

Was it because of how different he was? He didn't know.

There was another pair of eyes. An icy, cold blue they were, and they belonged to a man he didn't care to remember.

This man outright hated him, and he didn't hesitate to say so.

"Quite frankly, boy, you shouldn't have been born."

That one sentence had been burned in his mind for a little more than a century now. Ever since he'd heard those words, he was always expecting something to happen to him. Perhaps that, along with that conflicted woman, was the reason he survived those first few years.

He had a relative form of peace in the form of time spent with his uncle and aunt, a family friend and her daughter, first and probably only person in his life that didn't shy away from his 'colorless' eyes. She was a ward of the government up until her adoption.

"Mommy, I think his eyes are a pretty color."
"You think so, huh? I do too."

Even when he enjoyed this bit of piece, there was still his younger brother. He inherited the violet eyes of the woman whose face he couldn't quite remember, but he also inherited the cold personality of the man with the ice blue eyes.

"Why don'tcha play with me instead? This one's nothin' but a freak."

The one that would be his best and only friend had glared with eyes of silver at scolded him, already influenced by the family friend.

"Go sit in the corner, stupid. My mommy says kids like you are the worst."
"Tch. Do what you want then."

The day he saw the retreating back of the woman whose face he couldn't remember tore him apart inside. For the first time in his life, he cried.

And yet he cried. He screamed until his lungs burned and his throat was sore. When he couldn't scream, he punched and kicked things. It was mostly his grandfather's expensive furniture, but he didn't care. Sometimes it was his uncle, but he didn't care. When he couldn't hit things, he smashed things. He tore up anything he could get his tiny paws on and rip. When he tired himself out, he slept. When he woke up, it began all over again.

It went on for a week.

Then his uncle had enough. He talked to him like he never talked before.

"You're not the only one who's hurting; your brother is, too."
"He keeps saying it's my fault."
"That's not true."

Good old uncle. He always knew what to say, but it wouldn't work on a small child who's had more attempts on his life than the head of the most influential noble family before he reached the equivalent of a five-year old human.

His young cousin has developed maternal instincts at a very improbable age. She follows him wherever he goes.

She doesn't think of his albinism as a curse or anything like that; she thinks it makes him unique. She's the second person who thinks so.

She learns scientific and medical terminology from her mother, and by reading books much too complicated for her young mind. Her mother apparently did the same in her youth, though neither her past, the uncle's nor the friend's pasts are topics of discussion that are ventured upon very often. It brings up memories of a past civil war.

He applies his uncle's lessons liberally. Making people see things that don't really exist doesn't seem like a hard thing to do. He adapts to it quickly, and surpasses his uncle in skill. Texts on the subject don't exist at libraries, so anything more he wants to learn he tries to teach himself.

In the midst of all this, he always keeps the pair of knives as a prized possession. It's all he has left of the woman whose face he can't quite remember.

The craft shook and vibrated as it entered the atmosphere,
on the bridge Robert cursed spastically while clinging to a console.    “What the hell is this!?  What did you do to my SHIP?!”  Sam grunted in disgust, her hands jerking
around all over the main controls,  “If
you recall?  The buffer panel is
gone.  No buffer panel means the dampener
emitters are off balance and so is the SHIP!” 
She snapped, making the dog cringe back like a children being berated by
his mother.

A loud knocking noise started as the ship’s descent started
to intensify, the fennec cursed under her breath and pressed the intercom
button, “Toby, please tell me you have that wrist comm on you.  Can you hear me?”

In the hold people half the people panicked themselves into
corners the other half were frantically trying to help Bant with the
injured.  Tobias braced himself against a
cabinet full of medical supplies trying to help Cherry steady it when the call
came.  The young man quickly pressed the
device on his wrist against the cabinet and yelped out straining against the
weight.  “What is it Evans I’m kinda busy
keeping things from flying around due to letting a woman drive.”    The communicator chirped back, “Smart off
all you want young man but we’re losing control of the ventral dampening
emitters… you know, where the-”  “I’ve
got it MOTHER, just hang on.”  He craned
his head to one side to see Keiran cowering under a table.  Cherry swore a vein bulged out on his head
due to anger before he let barked out,  “Dammit!  Kaybee if you don’t stop hiding I’m going to
beat you to death!  Get the hell over to
that console, remote in, and reset the dorsal emitters NOW!”

The boy banged his head on the table when yelled at, paused
only a second to rub it before yelping timidly and galloping across the room
literally on all fours to the a terminal. 
A few moments passed as another violent round of shaking hit the ship
before he looked back with panicked eyes, “What your password?”   The rabbit yelled in frustration still using
all his strength to keep the cabinet righted, 
“Yellow Rabbit and my birthday you idiot!  I thought you knew it!” 

“It’s now working… 
Tobe are you ok?”

“ARGH!  It’s in Kydane
you $#%!”

The teen cocked his head quizzically and said simply, “Oh,” then
proceeded to do as he was originally instructed.  A few minutes later the ship righted itself
and straightened out, causing the falling medical components to cease their
tumble and again sit on all for legs.

Those that had been helping and those that had been taking
cover alike suddenly relaxed and looked at their unlikely savior.  Who was already being held up but the
stretched collar of his shirt now held tightly in the older rabbit’s fist with
his head cringing as far away as possible, eyes shut tightly.   “The hell were you doing hiding!  I thought I told you hiding from problems
just makes them a million times worse! “ 
The rabbit pulled his injured hand back as if he was going to cave in
the Cervoid’s face.

Sibko:

           Athena stood up, a mix of anger and depression etched into her face. She clutched her arm, staring down at her husband. "Dear, we should-" but before she could finish, there was a light knocking at the door. It was barely audible over the boiling pot. Athena walked toward the door and opened it. Standing in the doorway was a little human girl, no older than ten. Her hair was black with red highlights, and she had a wide-eyed expression on her face. "Are you ok? Do you need help getting home?"

          "What is it, honey?" asked John from behind her, stepping forth, himself. His own eyes widened in response. "Athena, get her inside and ready a bath."

          "Um... Ok." Athena knelt down and offered her hand to the child. She backed away, staring up at them, frightened. That was when Athena noticed what had set John off. The red in her hair wasn't natural. It was blood. Fresh blood. The girl was covered in it, and she seemed to be hurt. She looked up toward her husband, unsure of how to handle this situation. John's eyes were focused on the scared and injured child. His Warden codes flared to life within his mind. "What is your name, little one?" asked Athena to the girl. She didn't respond, just staring at them.

_________________________________________________________________

The Grey Lance:

          Ashley piloted the ship down quickly, avoiding radar zones and flying below their range. She drove the ship into a hollow in the ruins of the Genesis, using it as cover, and hiding away from prying eyes until a better location could be found.

         "With all this secrecy, you'd think you had something to hide." stated Hawthorne with a smirk. Jak grinned himself, circling his finger around a particularly overused and faded red button. Without a moments hesitation, he slammed his fist into the button, launching a barrage of missiles out of the wreckage of the Genesis and into the town. "Oops. My bad. Naughty Kyzarians, attacking an unarmed town." he chirped, "Good cover for us, though."

         Ashley and Harvey looked out toward the raining destruction, shock on their faces. Harvey stood from his seat, about to storm over toward Jak, but was stopped as a Felinoid form pushed him back into his seat. Ashley shook her head at him as she looked back at the laughing hedgehog. Now wasn't the time to fight their captain.

         "Shall we get going? I assume you're in a rush." quipped the spined captain to Hawthorne.

What happened instead was not what the young Keiran had expected.

*BAM.*

The teen found himself suddenly let go and on his rump, looking up in surprise at the older female rabbit whose fist had apparently impacted with the top of Tobias' skull. With much force, given how the yellow rabbit was holding the top of his head with both hands while glaring at her with pure malice.

Aria, of course, completely ignored this and said quite plainly, although there was an equally sinister tone to her voice that would make most anyone cringe, "All I've seen you do is #*@ around like the brat you are and beat up on that kid when you get mad. Next time I you lay a finger on him..." She leaned in slighty towards Toby as though he already couldn't see her face. "... I'll personally rip you a new one. Understand?"

Aria didn't bother to wait for a response. Crossing her arms, she continued, "And by the way, that's not a threat; that's a promise."

======

Elegy huffed and turned away, but was immediately brought back to reality the moment the latest visitor had ended up on the doorstep.

All eyes were on the human girl as she entered. Even Neliel stood and rushed over to the girl, curious but also trying to figure out how she could help. It was slightly humorous, but it was a honed reflex to the small fennec mix.

Leon stayed where he was, looking thoroughly uninterested.

"Hmm, I can't tell where's she's injured," Nel whined, ears flattening against her head, "an' if I can't tell where she's injured, I can't heal her..." Her orange and blue eyes lit up with pure enthusiasm as she addressed the human, "I'm Neliel, but you can call me Nel. Can you tell me how you got hurt?!"

======

"Heh, this makes things interesting, but it might make my job more difficult, you know, pulling this stunt. And there's a cease-fire you know; you just may have ended it single-handedly," Hawthorne said, chuckling lightly. "If the cease-fire's tossed out... well, $%#@'s gonna hit the fan real fast."

"You coddling @#+$%!  Mind your own business!  If I don't smack some sense into him he'll never...."  The rabbit stopped suddenly, eyes widening.  "Wait...  How did you login?  You don't speak Kydane."     The boy watched between Toby and Aria warily, "I..uh...  you do at night.  I  just thought if I learned it..."  

"YOU!  You were watching me sleep?  What the hell?!"  The rabbit lunged forward but another quick jab from Aira brought him down again.   Keiran's eyes started to turn glassy, "I'm sorry Tobe, I was using the cameras.  I thought if I learned it you'd... nevermind."

The rabbit seethed and bore holes into the woman for a moment, then looked back at the sullen deer.  "You hijacked my cameras?!"   

Aira readied another pummeling.   Instead of a lunge a smug grin washed over the rabbit's face, "You hijacked my cameras...  I KNEW the bandwidth was too high!  What did you go, clone your MAC to hide your connections?  no wait, that wouldn't work."

"I, um.  Remoted in and accessed it from your system while you were asleep."

"I'd notice!"

"You never clean your logs, it would've be a nightmare to find."

"I..."  The rabbit looked utterly shocked.  "You...  Listened to me?"

The shipped lurched as it touched down and  people began to collect themselves.  Kane grumbled watching the main doors on the cargo bay start to open, "If you are all quite finished we should disembark and vacate the area before too many questions are asked."  Both boys stood up slowly and painfully, the younger of the two hefting the backpack up to carry.

Aria huffed angrily, resisting the urge to beat more sense into the older teen. Seeing his demeanor do a complete turn around was almost enough, but there was one more thing to be made clear.

As the refugees and the landing party left the Murrieta's cargo bay, the adult rabbit tapped the shoulder of the younger one. When he looked up at her with that same malicious glare, she matched it with one of her own and said, "By the way, don't use that kid of language with me again, boy. I don't give a rat's ass about whatever you're goin' through, but don't #$@! around and tick me off. I already got a chip on my shoulder with Enforcer Fishbreath over there, and I'm not in the mood for any kind of crap."

She turned him loose and addressed the struggling Cervoid directly, grabbing the heavy bag from him with relative ease. "You. Grow a spine. Then you won't get your ass kicked."

"That's not a nice thing to say," Ken remarked.
"Shut up," Aria snapped. "You're just as bratty as those two. You have the added bonus of being older and owning a shiny badge."

Angie turns as the door opens, and she identifies the red highlights as blood easily. Not to mention the smell! Her first concern is for the child. What had happened? How badly was she injured? She brushes past John and Athena, her entire demeanor changed. She's not a hardened fighter of the streets -- she's someone to confide in, someone who will listen and help. What's more, she's someone close to the child's own age, not a potentially intimidating adult. "'Ey, kiddo." Angie stops as far away from the child as the child is from Athena. Letting the girl decide how close she wishes to get to her. "I'm called Angie. Wha's yer name?"

((gah, new page more posts. Meh. I'll let it stand.))

Her tyraid halted as the bag was snatched away, continuing the game of hot potato, by the younger lepoid this time, "Kenji's sake you're arrogant for a rodent, obvious you weren't on Kyzarie long or they woulda beat some humility into ya." The comment actually made the now departing Lupoid stop and turn his head halfway back with a raised eyebrow.

As if sensing both of the two rabbit's tempers about to explode the timid deer did something strange. He stepped between the two, spreading his thin arms out to each side like a wall and sticking his non-existent chin out as far as he could to feign confidence, his pale green eyes betraying the immense fear screaming in his mind. "Please, Miss, just stop. I'm fine."

Her tyraid halted as the bag was snatched away, continuing the game of hot potato, by the younger lepoid this time, "Kenji's sake you're arrogant for a rodent, obvious you weren't on Kyzarie long or they woulda beat some humility into ya." The comment actually made the now departing Lupoid stop and turn his head halfway back with a raised eyebrow.

As if sensing both of the two rabbit's tempers about to explode the timid deer did something strange. He stepped between the two, spreading his thin arms out to each side like a wall and sticking his non-existent chin out as far as he could to feign confidence, his pale green eyes betraying the immense fear screaming in his mind. "Please, Miss, just stop. I'm fine."

Her tyraid halted as the bag was snatched away, continuing the game of hot potato, by the younger lepoid this time, "Kenji's sake you're arrogant for a rodent, obvious you weren't on Kyzarie long or they woulda beat some humility into ya." The comment actually made the now departing Lupoid stop and turn his head halfway back with a raised eyebrow.

As if sensing both of the two rabbit's tempers about to explode the timid deer did something strange. He stepped between the two, spreading his thin arms out to each side like a wall and sticking his non-existent chin out as far as he could to feign confidence, his pale green eyes betraying the immense fear screaming in his mind. "Please, Miss, just stop. I'm fine."

The rabbit didn't seem to respond, instead walking quickly
into a back room. 

Mister Kinnear?

Another explosion, this time further away.  A minute passed, the brothers
squabbling and the older girl panicking as more impacts shock the ground. 
Athena was doing her best to calm Elegy but neglecting to notice the youngest
of their troupe slip after the rabbit.

The eldest of them stood alone in his room, his shirt removed and his eyes dull
and distant, his body moving automatically. 
A pistol here, a knife there, straps to hold them being secured as he
mutter to himself lowly.

“And with these final days I ponder, of what life means and
how it becoming far too somber.  The
Warden inside me's steeled as a link, so on my words I've made good I should
think.”

Another weapon added to his pile, the man began securing the
holsters and sheathes for his weapons while a pair of oddly colored eyes peeked
around the corner of his doorway.  The
light was fading but even through the smoke of the explosions Nel could see his
back.  It was a little surreal to see
scars in that light.  One long and two
shorter ones crisscrossing the gray fur of his back like etched lightning bolts.   

“Mister Kinnear?”  She
squeaked a little frightened by what had happened and now this man that somehow
did not look like he did before.

Kinnear simply continued speaking, as if repeating
something.  “In everyone it seems to
hide.  It merely needs a heart to guide. To
protect, to love, to live and to die. This is my purpose and I have no reason why.“

Finally the man squatted down and pulled a long box out from
under his bed.  He closed his eyes for a
moment before lifting the cardboard top and pulling out a dark blue
overcoat.  It looked old and ragged,
obviously designed to conceal the weapons he’d been strapping on and lining out
in front of him.  He held it up, looking
at it sadly like the photograph of an old friend long gone.

“Mister Kinnear, you aren’t going to leave us are you?”  Nel spoke again.

The old rabbit smiled, almost to himself, “It falls to you,
who you want to be.  I am the Warden, in
some way we all are.  Take my words to
heart, and as they say.  I hope some follow the- “   He blinked
suddenly and looked over at the little girl. 
Another explosion hit, causing a flash through the room.  He was still holding his old Warden coat up,
the scars of his time in the Servi exposed, 
he stammered a moment before speaking again, this time the distance and
sadness gone from his voice and his normal disarming voice returned, “Nel… what
are you doing in here, Wix’an?”

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

“What?  Are you
kidding?  Now you guys don’t wanna save the
kids?  What is it with you women?”  Toby snarled carting his backpack past
her.   The wolf said nothing, ignoring
the protests and nodding silently to Kenneth and starting to slip through the
refugees toward the city.

"She's only worried about walking right into a disaster zone," Ken answered, placing a hand on Kiri's shoulder. "Aren't you, dear?"

When the fennec looked as though she were going to slug him, he chuckled and continued, "Relax, I've walked right into disaster zones like this loads of times. We'll be alright."

"Then shut up and get going," Aria snapped, walking right by the trio, following behind Kane.

======

The small girl stepped into the room, keeping a safe distance from the weapons on the bed. "I... you're not going somewhere, are you, Mister Kinnear?" Her large blue and orange eyes remained on the coat, as though she were almost afraid to look in the man's eyes.

Mister Kinnear, are you listening to me? Kai's thought cut in. Mister Kinnear?

Angie is on her feet again in moments, her gun ready. Her ears turn back at the intrusion of Kai's voice, but she knows her priorities. Kaien, can you hear me? she thinks at the smaller feline. I know somewhere on the edge of town we can go that will be relatively safe. Safer than here, at any rate. Tell the others to follow me. To Kai, her thoughts will be a bit on the fast side, but clear nonetheless, with no trace of her chirrupy accent. If he's still listening in, he might catch a grumbled thought about how she'd rather people stay /out/ of her mind without permission, but she knows now is not the time for such things.

Sibko, Kinnear Residence:

             Athena shot a glance to her husband's room as she held
Elegy and the newcomer tightly, trying to calm the both of them down,
but meeting with little success. Elegy was panicked, and the other girl
was shaking furiously, trying to run away. "John! We have to do
something!" she shouted after her husband, but an explosion drowned out
her cry.

             The blood-soaked girl, however, screamed audibly, the fear to much for her. Poor broken little thing... Her screams stopped and her eyes darted around. At the same time, Athena felt something horrible creeping into existence. Dry your tears and know that I will love you in place of what you have lost. You needn't be alone anymore. The girl nodded, closing her eyes.

_____________________________________________________________

Mindscape of a Broken Girl:

             She opened her eyes once more to see a room, tinted green,
and filled with dolls of all of her friends and family, as well as those
that she had just met. Before her stood a glowing sphere draped in
white feathers, slowly coalescing to form a long haired man with pale
skin and silver hair. He was draped in the same feathers as the sphere. Here
you will never be alone, dear child. Allow me to make your memories
real once again, and perhaps add new... better realities to your life...
He pulsed with light as he spoke, never moving his lips. The dolls came
to life, the one of her mother embracing her and telling her that
everything was alright.

             "My name is Alma, sir. Alma Stein. I lost my real mommy and
daddy. A big metal thing fell on them and sprayed red stuff
everywhere." she said, looking up at the doll once she had finished
speaking. It was brushing her hair, now dyed ed from the blood. "Can we
be friends?"

             I would ask for nothing more, my dear, dear child... But allow me to ask... Is there something that you desire? Maybe... an eternal companion? One... unable to leave you? The girl nodded, looking at the dolls of John, Leon, and Kaien. She then glared at those of the women and girls. I see... A pair of clawed gloves appeared on the girls hands. She looked at them in shock. Cut them...

             "Huh?" She looked puzzled. They will love you if you cut them...
Hesitantly, she cut the dolls of Athena, Elegy, and Nel. Blood sprayed
from the dolls, splashing out upon her and the floor. She looked shocked
and afraid. Do not fear. The red is a sign of their love for you. The more red that gushed forth, the more they love you, so do not fear... With this acknowledgement, the girl began to slice up the rest of the dolls until the whole room was bathed in red.

_________________________________________________________________

Sibko, Kinnear Residence:

               The girl's eyes went wide as she returned to normality,
but she was no longer afraid. She glanced up at Athena, staring at her
throat, watching her veins pulse under her flesh.

               Another explosion sounded, this time much closer and
causing the floor to quake. Athena dropped the girls as she rocked to
the ground. "John!" He wasn't able to hear her. Finally admitting that
this was a time for her to take action, she focused hard. A dim light
began to well up within her as she concentrated. In an instant, the area
pulsed with life and inverted, warping the color and space. No sound or
motion penetrated this zone, yet the explosions could still be seen
outside. However, it was as if they were detonating in slow motion.
Athena seemed to be strained.

_______________________________________________________

Sibko, Ruins of the Epoch Genesis:

                Jak stepped forth, out of the lowered boarding hatch of
the Grey Lance. The weapons were still firing on the town as he watched,
a sick sense of pleasure in it all. "I love the view from here at
sunset, don't you, Ash?" he quipped, chuckling lightly to himself. The
Felinoid quivered visibly, watching the obscene amount of carnage below.
She knew this hadn't been necessary, or even warranted, and yet her
captain did it without hesitation or regret. She would kill him right
now... if she were able.

                "It would be best to do what we came here to accomplish
quickly, before we find unwanted guests on our doorstep." stated Regis
as he, too, stepped forth from the hatch, "I would rather quit this
place now than go on a fool's errand for an unknown such as this
Hawthorne."

                "I'm right here, you know." stated the man in question, tipping his hat.

                "All the more reason for it to be said aloud." returned the Musteloid.

                "Let's just get this done and leave... please..." begged Ashley as she loaded her pistol.

                "What's this? My dear Ash doesn't seem to be enjoying
herself... Such a shame... I'M HAVING A BLAST!" Ashley flinched visibly as the hedgehog shouted.

The Lepoid blinked blankly at her, as if confused by the question. It was always when it seemed the man could start to resemble something threatening that his eyes wrecked any hope of a oppressing feeling; they weren't just brown, they were the kind of brown a young puppy would look at you with. It was disarming and non-judgmental, friendly and trusting, and this feeling just seemed to radiate from him as a whole as well. It was like there was no way the man could ever be perceived as a threat. "I'm... not sure what you mean. It's not safe here with all these explosions, we need to find shelter. Of course we're going somewhere, we're going somewhere safe." He cocked his head as if hearing something, then pulled a white shirt on before fastening the straps for two handguns he had stowed via his torso. He gave Nel a smile, "Don't worry, I told ya you hand my shield didn't I? Noone's gonna hurt my little lady." He suddenly sniffed loudly and coughed a few times, quickly grabbing a nearby tissue box and taking care of the issue.

OOC: WTFlatus did Athy just do? o.O

OOC: Used her timey-wimey powers. =D

OOC: Trying to guess here but.. she's slowing time down for herself? Just be careful not to grab a kid or something, she'll probably snap their arm like a toothpick at that speed.

OOC: I thought I had something, but I was wrong. Give me some time to come up with something halfway decent that'll still move the plot along. D:

OOC: Being honest even at the peak of Sibko's developement Sibken only have time TRAVEL abilities. Not time manipulation. So if that is messing with this I can help him change it.

OOC: Sorry... 🙁 Athena wasn't really doing anything, so I just thought.... You know...

OOC:  Was just confused it is all.  I haven't really gotten what extremes psiochronetic powers goto yet so I was just making sure they weren't going to eff up the RP being unfinished as they are.   Was trying to see what was up in chat but you never responded, lol.

Sorry about the intrusion, but yelling won't do me any good, given the situation. I'll let the Mr. and Mrs. Kinnear know, Kai replied back.

There was a slight pause as the mental connection wavered. ... Thank you.

======

Sarna was a complete state of chaos.

Fires raged everywhere. Those that couldn't escape the missiles raining from the sky perished one way or another. Almost every civilian who did survive fled. Sibken officers and firemen who were able-bodied struggled to find the ones still missing.

At the airstrip, the Sibken officer waiting for Kane's group was standing by the control building. When he saw them approached, he greeted them with a sarcastic, "You sure picked a nice time to land. And before you ask, no, a crapload of missiles didn't just rain down over half the city. Also, I can't get in contact with HQ. This day just keeps getting better and better."

He suddenly brightened, energy and color returning to his features.  The man tossed on his blue overcoat on and smiled, picking the confused halfbreed up and putting her on his shoulders.  "Guess we better get moving, eh?"

"If it is so inconvenient, we will be on our way.  I am meeting someone in the city and finding him will be difficult enough if it is under-siege as you suggest."  Kane said stoically, boring holes into the man.    The rabbit suddenly looked pale, pushing past them and staring at the city.   The young cervoid followed him asking, "Tobe whats wrong it looks like you've seen a gh-TOBY!"  The rabbit suddenly bolted forward at breakneck speed, Keiran right on his tail.

Toby wasn't listening, his mind instead replaying an event from a few days prior while they were still on Sibko in some vain attempt for John garner his trust again.  He'd managed to escape away to really his only living relatives house, a mother and son ferret, the Followill's.  The rabbit lay on his friend's bed in his shorts and a t-shirt, legs up in the air while playing with his feet out of boredom.  They were in a small bedroom, the windows covered with towels and only the glow of a monitor to see by.  "BAH!  Jaaaamie you gotta get outside more often.  All you do sit in here and fiddle, you aren't even accomplishing anything.  It's rogue software, get something mainstream so someone will actually USE your programs."   At the computer a slightly younger ferret turned halfway, glaring at the older boy over his glasses, "I didn't actually invite you you know, as I recall you walked in, dropped your pants and proceeded to hump my bed in your shorts."   Toby giggled, "Well it made you move DIDN'T it?  Come on, lets go outside!"  He bounced up, using the bed as a springboard and landed on the floor on his feet before posing like an athlete.  Jamie sighed and pushed his chair back, "Just because I don't make networks physically doesn't mean what I do is pointless...  and would you PLEASE put your pants on?"   The rabbit smirked smarting off, "I didn't say it was pointless, I said it was booooooooooring." as he was pulling his cargo pants back on.

Back at the Kinnear residence the door swung open, surprising the occupants of the main room as John re-entered with Nel in tow.  The old man still smiling, "My apologies Kai, my but you ARE talkative once it isn't with your mouth.  I just had to get a few things before we left, which we should do... quickly."  Suddenly he noticed the newcomer, his smiled faded for a few moments before being replaced with a fake looking one, "And who is this little one?"

OOC: What newcomer are you referring to, Tobs?

OOC: The only person in the room John hasn't seen yet.

The albino simply blinked behind his sunglasses. I regret to say that the situation is indeed stressful. As for the visitor, she just showed up on your doorstep.

Leon snorted as El and Angie gathered with the others by the front door. "No time for talking and all that crap, yeah?" He eyed Angie, continuing, "Since we're going to your place, maybe you can I could-- OUCH! DAMMIT, EL, stop punching me!"

"You're UNBELIEVABLE!" the orange rabbit shrieked. "There are FIRES and SMOKE all over the place!"

"I'm gonna tell Daddy and Auntie Aria on you if you don't stop fighting!" Nel squeaked from her perch on John's shoulders.

The threat was enough the silence the two teens, and the two adults exchanged amused looks. There was no chance for any kind of conversation to continue as another explosion rocked the ground underneath their feet. Once everyone was sure that nothing was forgotten, the group-- two adults, four teenagers and a small girl-- left the residence into the fiery night.

======

"I know you gotta do what you gotta do but-- hey, HEY!!" The officer couldn't stop the Lepoid and Cervoid from passing by him in a hurry, and his continued shouts of "IT'S DANGEROUS!" and "DON'T GO!!" fell on deaf ears.

"Sorry, we can't afford to stick around," Ken said, pushing his way past the Sibken. "There are still kids in the middle of all that, too."

The officer's mouth opened and closed like a fish, flustered beyond belief. He regained his composure and shouted at the tomcat, obvoiusly fed-up now, "Fine then, do what you want. Just don't come crying to me when your ass gets burned, #*$ing Kydane puppet."

As soon as he said it, a scalpel appeared dangerously close to his throat, and he found himself staring into fierce orange eyes.
"Do you think you want to say that again?" Kiri asked, her voice low. "Because if you do, I can't guarantee that my hand won't... slip."

Ken grudgingly lowered his wife's arm, his expression half-stricken, half-furious. "Kiri!"

The woman's hardened face suddenly softened, and she looked at Ken worriedly. "He threatened you," she said, her voice an octave higher than it should be.
"You don't pull out weapons on people," the man hissed. "Please, don't do that."

======

"... Music to my ears."

Hawthorne had left the company he had been with, hands tucked into the pockets of his trench coat.

He whistled a low tune as he walked past the smoldering wreckage of what was once a Sibken orphanage; the caretaker and all the children that had been inside were killed when the building collapsed. Hawthorne, perhaps unwittingly, stepped on a small toy that had landed just outside the building, scorched by the missile's impact.

He rummaged in his pocket for a moment and pulled out the photo he'd been given before he arrived on this planet and gazed at it. It was worn, as it had been taken a century and a half ago, but the form of a white feline with violet eyes wearing a black bandanna was still quite visible.

The creature smirked, making his features look twisted. "This just beats all, doesn't it," he said to himself, "that I'd be out here on a backwater planet like this." His grin widened, giving him a more sinister air. "You'd better make this worth my while, Ryn Sonata..."

OOC: I'm going to assume that's Alma.

Sibko, Kinnear Residence:

             The little girl looked up at the rabbit, thoughtfully. The rumble of the explosions was beginning to calm, signalling at least a break in the assault. "We are..." she stopped for a moment, "My name is Alma. My mommy and daddy lived across the street. I watched you a lot. You have funny eyes." It was at this moment that Athena's concentration was broken and she let go of the energy that she had gathered. It had been a bit much on her. She looked slightly older. Not much, but enough that John could see it. She stepped toward her husband, grabbing his sleeve and leaning on him.

             "I'm sorry. You said I wouldn't need to ever do that with you around, but I panicked." stated the Sibken woman. The male Kinnear brushed a hand through her hair and looked into her eyes.

             "It's ok. I understand." was all he said. His eyes never left the strange little girl, however. There was a distinct aura of feel bad emanating from her.

______________________________________________________________________________

Sibko, Amidst the Ruins of Sarna:

              "And just where are you going, amigo, friend, com-padre, pal..." piped up a familiar voice from behind the mix breed, "You can't get rid of me that easily, oh no. We're THICK NOW!" He growled the last two words, almost threateningly, and yet playfully at the same time. His mood was hard to pinpoint. "Where are we going, huh? Huh? I wanna play some more!" At that moment there was the sound of some rubble falling to the side. The spined captain whipped up his weapon, a modified assault machine gun, and fired away. A corpse of an old man fell amidst the ruin, bloody and broken. "Did I get him?"

John's worried glaze at Alma faded in the wake of another flirtation attempt by Leon.  The rabbit's smile returning with a half laugh spilling out after his jockey threatened the two teenagers.  As they wandered into the burning town John seemed to get distant again, he would respond but not with the same attentiveness and warmth as before.  His grip on Nel's legs seemed to tighten a little.

~~~~~~

"Sometimes I wish we were still on Kyzarie.  I know it was a little rough but this place... just feels wrong.  I don't like it, Tobe.  I want out."  The young ferret's face was twisted in stress.  They were outside now, sitting on the front stoop to the small apartment complex.  Tobias cringed, struggling to come up with what he should say.  "Dude, they @#$%ing HATE us on Kyzarie.  I don't care what that crazy witch says they won't ever think of us as anything more than bucktoothed filth.  You can't just force people to not be bigoted assholes."  The ferret hung his head, his dirty blond hair falling down and hiding his face, "I know, I just.  I just wanna go home.   Maybe your ship..."  He trailed off as the rabbit rubbed the top of his nose in frustration.  "I, can't.  I mean I could, I can weasel anything outta that dumbass Allen.  But, dude."  He opened his eyes and felt his blood turn to ice, he was crying.  "Tobe, please.  I can't stay here."  The ferret cracked out looking up with a look of sheer desperation.  The rabbit sighed and hung his head in silence.   A few moments passed before the ferret stood somberly and started to walk past Tobias toward the house.  As he passed the rabbit reached up and grabbed his wrist, "Jamie.  I ain't got any friends, well expect your stupid face that I barely get see unless Kinnear wants to try to worm his way back to a clean conscience."  Jamie stared down at the older teen for a few moments before the rabbit looked up smiling, eyes almost sparkling.  "Tell ya what.  After we leave I'll give that old dog an offer he can't refuse.  I'll promise him I'll make up with the old rabbit, if he lets you join the crew.  Gets Sam off his back and stops the monthly trips here."  The boy's mouth hung open, "They'd... let me join a real salvage team?"  Toby smirked, "No, but I can extort your way in.  Maybe you can replace this idiot we have fixing the ship."  The ferret seemed to visibly relax, "Tobe I...  wow."  A kind of smug air seemed to wash over the yellow bunny as he stood up and dusted the seat of his pants off, "I just gotta fix up the primary buffer panel and whack some sense into the idiot they replaced Lori with and I'll offer it up.  Rob HATES this planet and coming here just so some ex-crewman can rationalize being the 50th role model to abandon my ass.  It's pathetic really.  Anyway, yeah, it's in the bag.  Might take a month but I'll do it and we'll be back ta-what?"   Jamie lunged forward and hugged the rabbit tightly before wordlessly running back into the house, leaving the rabbit red faced from embarrassment.

"Toby slow down!  What going on!  We need to wait for the others!"  Keiran's high pitched voice stung his ears even over the commotion in the streets.  He skidded to a halt and spun around tears streaming from his eyes and face glowing with rage, "Shut up!  Go away!  This is your @#$%ING FAULT!  YOU AND YOUR DAMN ATTITUDE! YOU HAD TO BE NICE TO ME!  YOU HAD TO LIKE ME!  I NEVER GOT TO FIX THE BUFFER PANEL!  JUST... JUST GO AWAY! "   The rabbit screamed over the falling buildings and people struggling for cover and shelter.  He sneered and took off even faster.  Keiran stood watching him run, a look of confusion mixed with fear seared onto his catatonic form.

~~~~~~

Kane gazed sternly at the burning city, "We should move on.  This will only cause further altercations.  I do not wish to lose another Warden this day."

"Completely ignoring the last part, that's the smartest thing that's been said by anyone all day," Aria quipped, shoving the frightened officer aside. "I hereby dub Mister Wolf here 'the Hero' and Kenny 'Reckless Sidekick.' I'd go for 'Idiot Hero' in the case of the latter, but he doesn't even qualify for that much."

Kenneth chose not to listen to that jab; it was Aria's way of complaining about situations she couldn't do anything about right away. Instead, he commented, "I just hope the kids are alright in that frightful sight." His grip tightened on Kiri's wrist.

======

With the authorities too busy helping the injured, missing, and dead, no one bothered to ask what two adults and six children were doing wandering the practically ruined downtown area.

It was en route to a safehouse Angie knew of, although she seemed very reluctant to lead the others there. Kai seemed to sense this, although he didn't say or do anything to press the issue, only relayed what he had been told to the others-- by opening his mouth to speak, for once.

The surroundings proved to be too much for the young Nel, and she shut her eyes tight, her ears folding back as her arms almost wrapped around the older rabbit's neck. There were no words of reassurance to be said; she would just have to bear with it until she was reunited with her parents again.

======

"You sure did," Hawthorne chuckled. "Anyway, like I told you before, I've got a job to do here, Mr. Captain, sir."

The male brought the photograph in front of the hedgehog's face, smirking. "See this woman here? My employer's got me looking for her. Might be here on Sibko, he says. To be honest, I don't know how time's treated her, though, but she was a very... interesting woman when I encountered her."

Hawthorne pocketed the picture, not really caring if Jak had an opinion. "A Kydane Felinoid of questionable birth adopted into nobility at a young age because the family had no daughters. Of course, said family has since developed a less than ideal reputation, but that's another story." He paused his monologue for a moment to close his golden eyes, then open them again, as though remembering something he was fond of. "That woman-- Ryn Sonata-Arverne-- her screams were like a goddamned choir. All this around us right now? This is nothing compared to her. The dead look in her eyes as I left her in the alleyway that night after I was done with her was a diamond in the rough. She was shivering, holding herself like she was going to shatter like glass.
"Of course, all that noise almost got me in trouble. Had to take some measures to keep her quiet, and seeing the look on her face as she saw her own blood was enough to silence her. If it's one thing I have to thank her for if I see her again, it would be for making me have to hunt for more... timid prey when the opportunity arose."

Hawthorne fell silent again, listening to the the sounds of crackling fire and the yells of people around them. "You smell that, Captain? Blood, at lots of it. I feel right at home here."

Sibko, Amongst the Ruins of Sarna:

            Jak's smile widened. "Did you say... Sonata? Why, that does ring a bell. Such an old bell. It's kind of dusty..." He seemed to drift into thought for a moment, "Maybe I should clean it. Oh well, not important! What is important is that I find a new watch! Wait... that's not right..."

            Ashley and Regis finally caught up to them. Ashley looked around, a little disturbed at the senseless destruction. She knelt down by the broken toy and picked it up, looking at her captain's back. He wasn't paying attention. He never payed attention, yet always knew what she was thinking. She pocketed the toy and stepped up next to Hawthorne. She was about to ask something, when she noticed that the doctor was missing. She turned to find him crouched over the fallen old man. "What are you doing, Regis!? We need to move." she shouted.

           "Silence, you stupid wench! I'm collecting samples." he returned, continuing to carve at the deceased. He removed a small cooler from his coat and began to place the man's good organs within. "So many fresh materials. You can't let them go to waste. Or would you rather I not have a fresh liver in stock when you need one." He looked back at the Felinoid with disdain.

           "But that's... You're..."

           "What? A monster? You're no better, filth." with that, he ignored her.

           "Ugh... Anyway, where are we going?" asked Ashley to the mix breed, "You do have a lead, I hope."