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THE LAST SON OF JANUS

By Nahualmorph

Set one year after "The final stand" and the fall or the Chicago A.R.M.E branch. Ashwin is now tasked with hunting the remaining experiments of Project Spectrum.

Wanna know what the hell is all that? Read the stories here:

https://www.sofurry.com/browse/folder/stories?by=759&folder=50211

This is the last fanfiction story of James' characters...for now.

Disclaimer: Do you really need it at this point? Sex, violence...stuff.

3528 AD

The early morning sun reflected on the waters of the Thames as the city of London woke up to yet another day of struggle for existence. Figures of all shapes and sizes already crowding the subway stations. The city's security cameras in every corner capturing thousands of faces every minute as the Londoners hurried to their work. One of the tiny HD cameras focused on a group of four saurians. An Allosaur, a Parasaurolophus and two stegosaurs.

"Subjects in sight, they are heading towards the west Ruislip station" said a guy reading a digital newspaper on a tablet. The bear adjusted his glasses and the tiny camera in them scanned their bodies.

"Sensors show no trace of weapons or chemicals, The Allosaur seems to be even naked under that robe. Is he a priest of some kind?" asked a female voice.

"He's a member of the Sons of Janus cult. A Pangaeist cult that worships some stegosaurus dude. He was supposed to be the first saurian created after the holocaust or something." said a voice with a heavy Scottish accent.

An elephant was sitting on a table on a café, holding a cup that looked ridiculously small in his huge hand. He had a camera on top of the table, and as soon as the saurians passed by, he moved it slightly. The camera captured high definition renders of their faces and expressions, sending the video directly to the S.A.S headquarters, where they relayed it to every intelligence agency involved in the case.

They had been following this group for the last 3 months, and had gathered enough intel leading to an attack in a public place.

One year after the fall of the A.R.M.E. and the discovery of Project Spectrum.

Ashwin and a small group were tasked with finding and securing the remaining Saurians that were used as experiments and enhanced with nanotechnology.

They were ordered to capture the subjects alive...whenever that was possible.

Ashwin still had nightmares about the number of reptiles he had killed in the last year. Everytime he aimed his gun at a raptor all he could think of was...

They discovered the experiment only worked on saurians, theropods to be more precise. They had been close to perfecting it when the entire Chicago Incident occurred.

Now, the A.R.M.E. was no more, but their experiments were still running loose. Sold to the highest bidder.

S.A.S. intelligence said around 1000 test subjects were sold as brainwashed soldiers to several private armies and extremists groups. In the last year, Ashin's teams had managed to locate 800 of those subjects.

They managed to capture 200 of them alive and send them to rehabilitation to have the nanos extracted.

But the other 600...

"Ashwin, look alive man, they're about to reach the Central Line."

The elephant finished his coffee and grabbed his camera, walking towards a black SUV that was already waiting for him.

Once inside, he took a laptop that displayed the video he got from the passing Saurians.

"Oi don't like this...They look...nervous...or excited."

The four saurians entered the West Ruislip subway station, passing by the metal and chemical detectors without triggering a single alarm.

"Are we sure they are striking today? They're not carrying anything."

"Intel is solid," said a doberman monitoring the screens. "There's a Football game today. The stadium is not far from Stratford station, I think we should assume they will use the subway there and acquire either weapons or a bomb before they enter the stadium. Maybe they're already hidden somewhere in there"

"Take me to Northolt station, I'm getting on that thing," said Ashwin to the driver.

"Venka, we have it covered, we have our guy following them and there's cameras in every car, they're not armed, there's nothing they can do", said the Doberman placing a paw on the elephant's shoulder.

"Just do it."

"You're the boss," said the driver and turned the sirens on, speeding to catch Northolt subway station before the train.

The human following the four dinos sat on the same wagon as them, trying to seem as inconspicuous as possible. The four dinos were standing close together, talking low. They looked more nervous now, like they were anticipating something. The undercover agent had a comm device, but he couldn't talk without raising suspicion. He could, however hear the orders from command.

"Davis, Ashwin is getting on the train on the next stop, just keep tailing the suspects and don't do anything else for now."

The train stopped at Northolt station and Ashwin boarded, quickly finding a spot two carts away from the suspects and taking a seat, both tusks framing his head, glinting underneath the pale subway lighting.He was also receiving audio from the doberman checking the cameras in the subway.

"They're moving closer together now, they're forming a circle."

Davis watched in awe as the Allosaur's hands started glowing and the people close to them moved away in surprise.

The blue light around the dinosaur's hands started shifting and solidifying, taking the shape of a weapon.

"What the fuck? Ashwin! That guy just created three rifles out of thin air!"

The other three dinosaurs immediately grabbed the assault rifles the Allosaur created, moving to distribute along the entire train. Ashwin quickly stood, but the panicked furs and humans trying to get away from the suddenly armed dinosaurs made it almost impossible to move to the next car.

"Davis, don't engage them! Wait until I can back you up!"

Too late, the human was already up and aiming his pistol at the dinosaurs, He managed to take one of them out before the other two opened fire. Davis died almost instantly.

The other two armed dinosaurs moved to round the passengers, leaving the robed Allosaur in the tail car.

As soon as the stego opened the door to the next wagon, a big, grey hand grabbed his hand holding the rifle and another hand held his neck. Both hands squeezed hard, breaking the stego's neck and wrist. Ashwin picked the discarded rifle and used the dead Stego as a shield to catch the few shots fired by the Parasaurolophus. The elephant aimed and fired a single shot. The bullet entered the dinosaur's shoulder, causing him to scream in pain and drop his rifle.

Ashwin quickly tackled him, smashing the dinosaur against the wall and knocking him out. The elephant aimed at the Allosaur next.

The remaining dinosaur didn't even made an attempt to hide or fight, he simply stood in front of Ashwin and grinned.

"Get on the floor, hands behind your head, NOW!"

The allosaur lifted his hands, his entire body started glowing.

Ashwing cursed and fired, the high caliber bullet bouncing of the dinosaur's scales. The dino's body stopped glowing, his scales changed color from a dull brown to a slate grey. Ashwin fired again with the same results. It seemed like his entire body was covered by metallic scales.

"You mammals are so stupid, there's nothing you can do to stop me now...or to save the rest of the passengers."

The allosaur crouched, placing his hands on the metallic floor. Ashwin could see small metallic webs protruding from the dinosaur's claws, merging with the metal from the car.

Ashwin could hear the passengers screaming from two wagons away.

"Ashwin! He's made a metal wall, the thing is moving through the subway, forcing the passengers to move closer to the carriage you're in...what...?"

The feed from Ashwin's comm died as the screams and cries from the terrified passengers got closer.

"This entire train is mine now, and it is the vessel which we'll all use to meet with the great Janus...he shall pass judgment upon all mammals and welcome all reptiles into his warm and sunny paradise."

The Dinosaur's body started glowing again. Ashwin felt the air around him getting warmer and the dinosaur's glow changed from blue to red. He could hear the passengers getting closer to the carriage, pushed by the organic looking metallic wall.

The dino's intentions were more than clear now.

Ashwin fired again, this time aiming at the reptile's eyes. The bullet didn't hurt the Allosaur, but caused him to turn away in annoyance. The elephant dropped the rifle and moved fast, tackling the dinosaur and slamming him as hard as he could against the carriage door.

The door broke, and the heavy metallic dinosaur fell from the train unto the subway tunnel.

Ashwin barely had time to drop to the floor before an explosion caused the tunnel to crumble, the explosive wave shattering every window in the last two cars. A couple seconds after the explosion, the train stopped and the Doberman's voice rang in Ashwin's earpiece.

"Ashwin...Ashwin, are you ok? Comms and video are back on, The metal wall seems to have dissolved too."

Ashwin groaned, slowly getting on his knees and checking his body. He was covered in a few bruises and cuts, but nothing major.

"Mmrrhh!...Oi'm fine...ears hurt like shit...are the passengers ok?"

"Yes, whatever he was doing stopped when he blew himself up, the front carriages stopped in a station, we're leading the passengers out."

Just then the door to the carriage opened and the Doberman entered followed by half a dozen agents. Three of them jumped out of the train and started walking through the tunnel towards the place where the dinosaur blew himself up. The dog helped Ashwin get on his feet and sighed at the sight of agent Davis' body.

"He was using nanos Bren, that Allosaur was part of Project Spectrum," Ashwin shook some dust from his clothes and they started walking out of the train.

"How is it possible? I thought they could only create ammo, maybe basic weapons...this guy...this guy is not like the others we've encountered."

"He 'ad full control of them, Oi've never seen them do that...not even James."

"Someone's going to want a full report on this."

"There is still no official statement on the accident on Subway Central Line this morning, The preliminary report indicates it was a spark that ignited gas from a lead on an adjacent pipe. The area is still closed and service might not come back for the rest of the day. So far, it seems nobody was hurt in the accident. We'll keep following..."

The picture of the female fox on the TV switched to a cartoon show of three human brothers playing a prank on a chubby bear.

Fernando sighed and placed the remote on the counter as he returned to the stove and stirred the vegetables he was currently salting over a huge bowl. Feeling the warmth from the oven over his groin.

The crocodile chuckled at the cartoons and moved to the fridge to pour some ice into a glass of water, bringing it to the dining table of the ample apartament. He set the glass on the table next to a couple aspirins over a napkin and retrieved a first aid kit from the bathroom, setting it on a small table in the living room, right between a couch and the TV.

Fernando was wearing just a pair of plain jogging pants and a black shirt, walking barefoot around Ashwin's apartament.

He had just finished salting the veggies when he heard the sound of keys and the turn of the lock.

The door opened and a weary looking, slightly bruised and yet imposing elephant walked in.

Ashwin looked around and lifted an eyebrow, smiling at the crocodile that walked towards the door and received him with a warm hug.

"Hey there Ash. You look like shit."

Ashwin laughed and closed the door, removing his slightly torn coat and hanging it on a perch on the wall...He would probably have to trash it.

"Aye, noice to see you too bud. Heh, I was going to call you tomorrow to let you know I was in town."

Ashwin walked towards the table and took the glass of water and the aspirins, downing them as Fernando went back to check on the oven.

"Well, you called last week, said you'd be in town. Then I saw what happened in the subway. I just had to put two and two together. And I know your bold and careless ass would be dropping here after a shit ton of paperwork, all bruised and tired and hungry so...that's meatloaf and pasta in the oven by the way."

Ashwin laughed loudly this time, dragging Fernando into another hug as he kissed the crocodile's forehead and gave his rump a firm grope.

"Awww, that's why oi love ya. You bugger, yer the best mate."

Fernando blushed lightly at the implications of the word mate. Returning both the hug and the grope.

"You'll get plenty of time to thank me. Now go take a quick shower while I check on the food. Then we'll have dinner, I'll lick those bruises and cuts. Then we'll have us some nice sex and we'll take another shower together. How's that sound big guy?"

Ashwin growled and wrapped his trunk around Fernando's tail, giving it a pull.

"You're just too good fer me mate."

The elephant disappeared into his room as the reptile returned to check on the meat. It was almost ready.

It had been a little over ten years since he and Ashwin met in Mexico. Fernando was a homeless teenager doing small chores for a few pennies and Ashwin was a soldier on deployment looking for clues on a drug cartel.

After his entire unit was killed and he saved Fernando from being sold as a sex toy, Ashwin brought him back with him to England, helping him find shelter with a nice family, paying for his education and staying as close as he could despite his new position with the S.A.S.

They stayed in touch, and spent together as much time as possible whenever Ashwin was in England. But the elephant made it clear they could never be more than very close friends.

Ashwin felt his job would not allow him to have a normal relationship. Always deployed in other countries and with his mate constantly worrying about his safety.

Fernando accepted, even if he wanted to take it further. He understood Ashwin's reasoning, but still promised himself he would always be there for the man that saved his life.

Once the meat and pasta were ready, Fernando served the dishes. He was just finishing pouring two glasses of wine when Ashwin walked back into the living/dining room wearing just a small towel around his waist. His muscled chest showing two clear long burn scars across it, amongst several smaller ones.

"Hope you don't mind the outfit. Too damn tired to get me tuxedo."

"And I hope you forgive the lack of roses, candles and sappy instrumental music. Now get that ass here before the food gets cold."

Ashwin sat and devoured the first serving hungrily and in silence. It wasn't until halfway through his second serving that his hunger was placated enough for him to make small talk. Fernando Knew he couldn't say much about his job, so he didn't ask for details about this morning's "accident". Instead they both talked about the places Aswin visited during his missions and Fernando's job as a chef...yes...a chef.

"Shit. oi'm tempted to invoke rank privilege at the S.A.S and take you with me on every deployment just so oi can get a decent meal every day."

"Yeah, and having croc ass available every night would probably be a nice bonus too."

Ashwin moaned as a bare webbed scaled foot sneaked between his legs and pressed against his impressive flaccid uncut member.

Fernando chuckled as he felt it twitch and fill with blood, catching the meaty foreskin between two toes and giving it a playful tug.

"Later you horny lug. Let's check those bruises first. Don't worry about the dishes, I'll clean those tomorrow."

They moved to the couch, where Fernando already had the first aid kit handy. Ashwin removed the towel and set it over the couch, sitting over it with arms and legs spread.

Fernando sat next to Ashwin, tracing a finger through the large tusks.

"Heh, you look better with both of them whole."

"Aye, it's 'ard enough for an elephant to seem inconspicuous, oi 'ad a surgical regrowth last week."

Fernando grabbed a swab with fast acting antiseptic and examined the most visible small cuts, cleaning them carefully, applying a few band aids. He noticed a scar on the elephant's hip, it looked like a puncture wound and the crocodile had to fight the urge to frown.

"Hey, that's a new one. Do you collect them or something?"

Ashwin chuckled and ran a hand over the scars on his chest.

"Yeah, oi get a free beer at Benny's for each new scar. Two if it's more than an inch deep."

Fernando laughed and leaned to plant a small kiss on the new scar.

How he hated those scars! Everytime Ashwin got home with a new scar or wound Fernando felt as if it was him getting them. He knew the Elephant had a dangerous job, he knew what those scars meant, and he knew each one of them was a price Ashwin was more than willing to pay for putting foot to ass for his country.

So Fernando hid his pain, just doing his best to keep his friend comfortable in the small periods of time they were together.

The crocodile put the antiseptic down and grabbed a tube of ointment meant to relax muscles. Fernando poured some of it on his hands and then rubbed them together, looking for the biggest bruise and working on it first, just placing the palms of his hands over it, letting the warm ointment slowly seep into the bruise and work its magic. Then he started rubbing his hands in circles.

Ashwin moaned and closed his eyes, loving the treatment and feeling the warmth already spreading through his body.

"Mmmrh! You spoil me too much."

Fernando didn't answer, instead leaning over and kissing Ashwin's neck as his hands continued rubbing the ointment over the muscled torso. He smiled when he felt a broad hand slipping inside his sweatpants and groping his naked rump, giving it a nice squeeze.

"I see you're not that tired after all."

"Ye know me mate, never too tired for croc tail."

Ashwin chuckled and moved to remove Fernando's clothes. The elephant licked his lips at the sight of the naked and aroused crocodile, quickly wrapping his strong arms around the smaller male and tilting his head so they could press their lips together.

Fernando reached between them, grabbing both members with his hands and rubbing them against each other, shuddering at the feeling of 11 thick inches of uncut cock rubbing against his more modest 7.5 inches.

Ashwin growled lowly and his strong hands started rubbing all over the crocodile's back, tracing the hardened plates and letting his tongue wrestle with his lover's. The hands moved lower until they cupped Fernando's rump firmly and the elephant got up, lifting him without effort.

They continued kissing all the way to the bedroom. Ashwin laid Fernando on his back, laying on top of him and moving his hands to caress the scaled legs as the crocodile's hands roamed all over the muscled back.

"Fuck...I need it so bad big guy...I'm on fire."

The elephant smiled and reached inside a small drawer next to the bed for the bottle of lube, kneeling between the crocodile's stretched legs and pouring a good amount on his fingers. Fernando moaned and smiled at him, slowly jerking his own hard cock and moving his tail to tease Ashwin's balls. Ashwin pressed two thick fingers firmly against the crocodile's tailhole, sinking them in, causing Fernando to arch his back. Ashwin moved them in and out a few times before coating them in more lube, sinking them back in the warm tunnel, making sure Fernando would be nice and ready.

The room started filling with the scent of both aroused males as Fernando's cock dribbled precum over his toned stomach and the elephant's huge member dribbled over the crocodile's tail. Ashwin pulled his fingers out roughly and spread more lube over his cock. Moving a hand to Fernando's face.

The crocodile took Ashwin's hand between his teeth and they both looked into each other's eyes as the elephant guided his erection to his lover's prepared anus.

Fernando's scream was muffled by the strong hand between his teeth as the thick cock spread him much more than the previous two fingers, causing his legs to twitch and every muscle in his body to tense against the elephant's body.

Ashwin pushed in slow, firm and merciless, feeling the scaled body beneath his shudder and the tight hole clenching. He stopped until he felt his massive balls touch Fernando's scaled swollen taint, feeling the crocodile's rock hard member rubbing against his muscled abs.

Ashwin removed his hand from Fernando's mouth to replace it with his lips in another passionate kiss as he started pulling out very slowly. A few drops of sweat already running down his face to his lips, to be shared between the kissing lovers as the strong arms wrapped around Fernando's back, pressing their bodies harder together.

Fernando moaned and broke the kiss, licking the elephant's neck and chest, letting out gasps and sighs as the huge member inside him moved slowly in and out, no more than two inches at the time as he got used to having Ashwin inside him.

Fernando grabbed Ashwin's hand and kissed the knuckles before placing it in his mouth again, looking at Ashwin in the eyes and nodding. The elephant smiled and nodded as well, pulling almost all of his cock out and tensing every muscle in his body, offering Fernando a beautiful sight before slamming back in, causing the crocodile to cry and clench his teeth around the thick hand in his mouth.

"Nnngh!! ...mmmfffhfgh!"

The crocodile clenched his eyes shut as a single tear ran down his left cheek. The elephant bared his teeth and clenched his muscled rump, slamming his cock in and out of the smaller male, causing the entire bed to shake with the strength of his thrusts as he jackhammered his huge meat into Fernando's stretched hole.

The crocodile could feel Ashwin's chest hair getting covered in sweat and rubbing against his own scaled chest, his own cock rubbing against the muscled stomach and causing the foreskin to move back and forth, exposing the sensitive underside to the grinding abs. He felt a bit of a coppery taste and realized his sharp teeth had pierced Ashwin's hand slightly, drawing a couple drops of blood.

Ashwin continued thrusting nonstop for a good ten minutes, causing Fernando's rump to feel a little numb before the elephant roared, slamming as deep and hard as he could and the crocodile cried around the hand in his mouth, feeling the heavy jets of hot cum filling him. His own climax rocking his body as his smaller cock throbbed and coated their stomachs in seed.

Ashwin removed his hand from Fernando's mouth and kissed the crocodile passionately again, pulling his still hard cock out slowly and kissing his way down Fernando's body, licking the mix of sweat and cum from the scales before sealing his lips around the uncut member, keeping it hard as his fingers returned to Fernando's tailhole, keeping him stretched and feeling the thick cum dribbling between them.

Fernando was panting heavily, but with a huge grin adorning his face as the thick elephant tongue pressed against his erection insistently.

Ashwin gave Fernando's cock a playful kiss before moving to lay on his side, holding the crocodile on his side as well, lifting one of his legs and entering him again.

The rest of the night was nothing but a series of grunts and moans, the wet sounds of sticky bodies grinding and slapping together and the creaking of the sturdy bed as they made passionate love over and over again.

Outside London, in a big country house...

A buff brachiosaur opened the door to the huge library, stopping politely a few feet behind the saurian reading a book on a soft padded chair. The only thing the Brachiosaur could see from his vantage point was a brown scaled hand holding a glass of wine.

"The attack was stopped, it was him again."

"It was him again..." the seated figure repeated, bringing the wine to his lips. "This...person is becoming quite an inconvenience to our operation. We are getting close to the promised date. He must be dealt with swiftly"

"He is S.A.S. They have been on our tails since the Chicago incident. We don't know how they found out, or how they got involved, but he seems to have a personal interest. I've seen him in almost every operation that has failed."

"Do you know why I have all these books?" asked the sitting reptile lifting a hand and waving it around.

The library was huge, probably holding the largest collection of books in this day and age. Some of them had slightly burnt covers or pages.

One scaled hand caressed a thick book laying on a small table almost lovingly.

"I could have every single one of them in the palm of my hand in a memory chip or a holo pad. But it feels so different to read from a real book...you can feel the ink over the paper...you can smell the leather."

The hand lifted the book and the brachiosaur could hear the strong inhaling sound.

"They can be so beautiful, hold so much knowledge, and so much harm...truly enchanting if you think about it...so fragile and perfect balance..."

The Brachiosaur rolled his eyes. He knew better than to interrupt his boss when he started rambling like that, but he also knew he was supposed to listen through the entire thing. His boss usually had a point to make...usually.

The hand lifted the book and showed the cover to the Brachiosaur. It had a painting of a pantheon of Gods and the words Bhagavad Gita at the bottom of the cover.

"You know, in Hindu culture they worship this God, Ganesha...he is an elephant, He is supposed to represent the removal of obstacles...hhhahahaha! And now we have an elephant being an obstacle to our plans. But what fits our friend a little more, is that Ganesha is also the God of beginnings...so that makes me feel a little hopeful. Never dismiss symbolism Lucas, always watch for the signs...If my dear cousin had done that we would have already reached our purpose..."

"Sir?...ummm...about the Elephant..."

"Yes...yes, forgive me Lucas, I sometimes get too absorbed in thought. I just love how different cultures are so similar when it comes to creation. Almost as if...anyway...contact our followers, call Miller and find out as much as you can about our friend. I will pay Anseed another visit."

"Yes sir."

The brachiosaur bowed and left the library.

Lucas Bachman had a rough life. Always teased due to his height and his muscled body, the brachiosaur was stereotyped as the dumb jock at school. He even believed it at a point, but he was actually a very smart guy. Finished college with high grades and was actually considering looking for a job at a pharmaceutical company.

It all changed when he saved the man that was now his boss.

Now he was his butler, bodyguard...and couldn't be happier.

Why?...Simple...very soon he would be alive, and all those mammals that couldn't see him as more than a stupid dinosaur would be dead.

"So, we were roigh' in the middle of the desert, just me and Tusk, both completely out o' water an' the poor guy feels like he'll burst into flames with 'ow hot it was. We finally reach a cave an' he falls to the ground an' starts twitching. The only thing oi can think of is, if oi don't lower his temperature he's going to get brain damage. So...oi just whip me dick out, an' start peeing all over him...hahaha. And oi really been holding it in fer hours!"

Fernando laughed and hit Ashwin with a pillow.

"That's...gross!"

"Hey. It saved his life...besides, oi'm sure he liked it, he definitely got a hardon under his pants."

"Wait, isn't Tusk straight?"

"He says he is. Maybe oi should 'ave given him a drenching while changing in the lockers to see 'ow he reacted and know fer sure."

"You have the weirdest kinks man." The crocodile chuckled and absently rubbed a muscled, scarred and sticky chest.

"Just saying you can't dismiss it until you try it..." A rough hand moved to grab a naked scaly rump and give it a nice squeeze. "Maybe when i get back from my briefing we can just get into the shower, you get on your knees and open your mouth...aah."

Another scaled hand found its way between the elephant's balls and gave them a not so gentle squeeze.

"Sometimes I don't know if you're serious or not...but how's this? You come back from your briefing and we go to the movies, sit in the back row, and I'll get frisky on you...if you can through the entire movie without cumming I'll say yes to whatever you want to do in bed tonight."

"You kinky fucker..."

Ashwin leaned over Fernando, wrapping his trunk around the crocodile's neck and bringing him closer for a passionate kiss.

"Oi better get going or oi'll be late...heh, you can stay in bed if you want buddy, you've earned it," said Ashwin as he got up and walked naked towards his ample shower room.

"Damn right i earned it," muttered Fernando rubbing his sticky and sore ass. "You were really pent up last night."

Ashwin came out of the shower ten minutes later, chuckling at the snoring comatose crocodile on his bed. The elephant quickly got into his formal clothes and left his apartment.

The black SUV was already waiting for him outside the building. Bren grinned as the elephant got into the passenger's seat.

"Is that...? Yeah...that thing you're doing almost passes for an actual smile! Looks like somebody had a very good night," said the doberman punching a solid shoulder.

"Yeah, the morning wuz even better, your mum makes a killer breakfast. Says she misses you, you should call her every now and then...yer dad too."

Bren laughed loudly and started the engine. The Doberman handed Ashwin a tablet.

"That's the intel on the perps from yesterday's attack. You were right, they belong to The Sons of Janus cult. That allosaur was some sort of high priest. We've tried to contact other members of the sect, but they seem to have vanished. It's like a fucking secret club or something."

Ashwin flipped through the electronic pages. The allosaur's name was Patrick Renton, born in Scotland, 40 years old. Joined the extremist group at age 30 after his entire family was killed in a riot. Disappeared for five years, probably secluded and indoctrinated into the cult. Typical extremist terrorist.

Then Ashwin gasped and almost dropped the tablet.

There was a picture of the Allosaur in a conference about Pangaeism. He looked like he was leaning in to talk to someone shorter. The features of the person Renton was talking to were blocked by the body of another dinosaur, so all Ashwin could see was half of a brown snout...a brown snout with a purple stripe.

Ashwin had to take a double take on the picture and checked the date...three years ago.

"That's impossible."

"What is it?" asked the Doberman without taking his eyes off the road.

"We need to know how is it that The Sons of Janus got involved with the strays from project Spectrum. The A.R.M.E. were a bunch o' goons, but they weren't religious fanatics, a mix of both can't be good."

They both reached the S.A.S headquarters and Ashwin got out of the SUV. Instead of following Bren inside the compound he walked to the parking lot.

"Venka, where are you going? The boss wants a full report."

"The boss wants the case solved, oi'm talking to the only person that can throw some light into this shit." The elephant pulled a remote keychain from his pocket and the engine of an expensive floating car came to life. "Oi'm going to see Anseed, clear it with the MI5!"

"Ash! Wait!"

Before the Doberman could say more, the car was already hovering away from the parking lot and into the assigned highways for floating cars.

"He makes it sound so easy," grunted Bren walking inside the building.

Thankfully, hovering cars were still extremely expensive and scarce. So that gave Ashwin pretty much a free way to drive towards Doncaster Prison, in south Yorkshire.

"Leave it to SERCO to survive the fucking apocalypse." He chuckled at the sign of the company at the entrance.

Ashwin parked his car in the space selected for hovering vehicles. He showed his credentials to the guards and stepped inside the receptionist and weapon storage.

"Venkatanarasimha from S.A.S to interrogate Dr. Derek Anseed."

The human behind the desk raised an eyebrow, looking at the screen.

"You guys should coordinate better, some guy from another agency came for him too. He went in like 30 seconds ago...big dino guy...what the hell does the government feed you guys?"

Ashwin wasn't paying attention to the last part. He waved his ID card right in front of the computer scanner and a message appeared in every guard's visor, displaying the elephant's face, name and rank.

Ashwin unholstered his gun and pointed at two guards, a bull and a wolf.

"You two, with me!"

He ran inside the facility towards the interrogation and temporary holding area.

Dr Anseed was sitting in interrogation room 2. The human wearing the orange prison jumpsuit was looking at the table and scratching his cuffed hands nervously. He had told every imaginable agency everything he knew about the A.R.M.E. and project Spectrum. He had no idea what they could want at this point. Yet, on the other side of that huge double view mirror, in the adjacent room, was yet another agent ready to make the same questions for the hundredth time.

Anseed didn't even look at the mirror. The agent was probably looking at him...looking down on him as if he was some piece of garbage stuck in his shoe.

Anseed sighed and closed his eyes. After what he did to that raptor and his mother, he knew he deserved that and more.

A noise from the other room made him jump from his inner thoughts. It sounded like something hitting the bullet proof reinforced glass. Anseed got up from his chair and jumped as he heard a crashing noise. One second later, the dark glass broke into pieces and two bulky figures burst through, landing over the table and smashing it to pieces. He instantly recognized the elephant trading punches with a brontosaur.

"Mr Venka?!"

The door opened and the bull guard dragged Anseed out of the interrogation room.

"Come on!"

The wolf aimed his weapon inside the room, but was slammed to the wall by the two fighting titans before he could fire.

The brontosaur grabbed Ashwin's tusks with both hands, pulling the elephant's face down and lifting his knee, hitting him in the face once, twice. By the third time, Ashwin grabbed the dinosaur's leg and lifted the almost 500 pound body, slamming him against a wall and breaking through it. They both got up and the brontosaur charged, Ashwin caught him in a lock and they smashed their heads. Ashwin delivered a pair of solid punches to the bronto's ribs, making him groan.

"You came here to off Anseed, didn't you?" asked Ashwin, kicking the dino's stomach "that means he 'as information oi can use."

The bronto tried to punch Ashwin, but the elephant quickly grabbed his arm and threw him on the floor.

"And now...now oi have you too mate, and believe me when oi tell ya...yer gonna fucking tell me everything."

The brontosaur groaned again and spít blood on the floor, looking up at Ashwin and lifting his hands in surrender.

"Lucas Bachman, 38, biology major, dropped college two years before graduating. He got into an argument with an evolution teacher...has a hardware store in Dublin. Nothing else, always pays his taxes, good neighbor, greets everyone. A fucking model citizen...except he got into a prison impersonating a Chicago detective and tried to kill Dr. Anseed and a certain thick headed asshole that seems to love delegating all the paperwork to his partner." The very annoyed doberman tossed the digital file on the passenger's seat of his car.

Bren sighed as he and Ashwin watched Lucas being taken inside an armored hovercraft escorted by a dozen well armed men.

"Oi want three escort cars in the front and three in the back, nobody talks to the prisoner or touches him, don't take off until oi give the order." Ashwin talked through his comm unit, oblivious to the paramedic stitching a cut on his right ear, standing next to his car and overlooking the operation.

The prison was swarming with activity after the attack.

Ashwin invoked S.A.S. rank to have the dinosaur and Dr. Anseed moved to another facility for interrogation. The human was currently sitting in the back of Ashwin's car, looking visibly shaken after the attempt on his life.

"Venka, the path is clear, response teams are ready and anti-EMP fields are up, we're good to go."

Bren moved to the passenger's seat and Ashwin got in the driver's seat.

"All units, green light, commence transport."

The elephant started the engine and the hovering car slowly moved behind the convoy.

"Are you going to tell me why a brontosaur tried to kill me? And why you're taking me to the exact same place where you're taking him?" asked Anseed finally.

"No," answered Ashwin drily "but yer gonna tell me how is it possible fer a project Spectrum subject to overload all his nanos an' become a walking bomb."

"What?! That's not possible, none of the test subjects ever finished the conditioning phase, nor got proper training. Other than four or five prototypes. The only ones to ever completely master the nanos were James Campbell and Roy McGregor. You already took out the prototypes, and James and Roy..."

Ashwin handed Anseed a pad with the video from the subway attack.

"That happened yesterday. That fucker made an iron wall, produced ice shards, covered his body in steel and overloaded his nanos. All in less than five minutes."

Anseed watched with interest, examining the face of the allosaur.

"Ah, yes...I remember this one, our one and only volunteer. Once he knew what we were trying to do, he was more than eager to be a part of project Spectrum."

"And you forgot to mention him when we brought you in?" asked Bren.

"I didn't mention him because despite his eagerness, he never showed any particular progress. I'd even say his development was slightly below average. He would struggle to create the simplest things. This...this isn't below average."

Ashwin laughed, causing both Anseed and Bren to look at him.

"Oi can't believe you guys didn't see it, you got a fucking mole. He infiltrated the A.R.M.E. just to steal your project. He played his cards right, kept a low profile, an' returned to the fucking cult when the shit hit the fan."

"And now we have an apocalyptic extremist cult with access to weaponized nanotechnology," added Bren.

"What oi need to know is 'ow he did it. An' what are the chances or more like him in the ranks of The Sons of Janus."

They finally reached the S.A.S. headquarters where a full contingent was ready to receive both Lucas and Dr. Anseed.

A zebra wearing military clothes was waiting for them. Ashwin and Bren took the human with them and saluted the zebra.

"Commander Miller."

"Private Venkatanarasimha. I heard you ran into unexpected trouble during your visit to Doncaster."

"No trouble sir, it was actually a strike of luck that we captured a member of the cult for questioning." Ashwin pointed with his head at the Brontosaur being escorted out of the hovercraft "Oi brought Dr. Anseed to assist in the investigation. We'll need access to the files and equipment confiscated from project Spectrum, and he'll need access to our files as well."

Anseed thought for a few seconds Ashwin was joking. A private asking a commander to give a convicted felon access to sensitive information and confiscated equipment from an international case?

However, the zebra only raised an eyebrow, looking first at Anseed and then at the elephant.

"Ok, I'll have a room set up in a few minutes. Will you be interrogating Mr. Bachman?"

"Yes, have him stripped, searched and scanned. Move him to room 12 and turn off all cameras and microphones."

The commander nodded and went to give orders to the soldiers.

Bren placed a paw on Anseed's shoulder and lead him inside the building.

"Come on doc, it's back to playland for you."

As they were walking through the white, simplistic corridor, Ashwin took a turn, leaving the dog and the human alone. Anseed finally got the courage to ask.

"Ashwin is not a private, is he?"

Bren chuckled and answered without turning to look at the human.

"He is a private. He is the private that saved the entire royal family during his first S.A.S. deployment. The private with a carte blanche from her majesty to invoke executive privilege whenever he deems necessary. And after project Spectrum...the only private that has full authority and command to diffuse any nano-terrorist threat."

"That...explains a lot."

Ashwin was sitting in his office, typing at his computer with a cup of coffee at his side. The elephant sighed and opened a drawer, pulling a leather wallet and opening it. Inside were two pictures. One was of Ashwin and Fernando a few years ago, when they spent a full week in Australia to celebrate the crocodile's 21st birthday. They had asked some guy to take a picture of them. In the last second, Fernando grabbed Ashwin's crotch, causing the elephant to flail his arms and wrap his trunk around the crocodile's chest, dragging them both down to the floor. The picture showed the exact moment Ashwin jumped and the crocodile wearing a huge grin.

Ashwin chuckled every time he saw that picture.

The other picture was of a brown raptor with two purple stripes across his snout. He was sitting on a table inside a bar holding a glass. He was talking to a female dolphin and a male human. The raptor seemed to be telling a joke as the other two were laughing. The picture had been taken from outside the bar and from some distance, as the faces were just slightly blurry from the zoom effect.

After the Chicago incident, Ashwin got into every government database, searching and erasing every trace and mention of James Robert Campbell. That slightly blurry photo was the only evidence that he ever existed in that world.

"Venka?"

A soft knock in the open door made him turn to see Bren standing in the doorway.

"Bachman is ready."

Ashwin returned the wallet to his drawer and got up. He stretched and cracked his neck.

Lucas Bachman stood completely naked in the middle of an empty room. His impressive length hung flaccid at 8 inches, swaying as he walked back and forth, just waiting for what he knew was coming.

He had been stripped, having every cavity searched. They even went as far as to sticking a sound in his urethra. Then they took a sample of his blood and used a scanner on his head and heart to make sure he wasn't wired with nanos.

The slide door opened and Ashwin walked in. The door closed again behind the elephant.

Ashwin tossed a picture to the ground. It was the picture of the Allosaur from the subway attack at the Pangaeist conference, three years ago.

"That's you next to Patrick Renton. You are linked to a terrorist. You attacked a federal prison, killed three guards. You reptiles have a long life span, but there's no way you're getting out...but you already know all that."

Lucas simply stood in the middle of the room with his arms at his sides, looking forwards.

"We also know you're going to play tough guy and endure all kinds of torture during your interrogation. We're not going to break you. Then the government is going to try to make a deal, offering you to walk out in exchange of information. But you're a believer, you're willing to rot here, or to die for your cause...unfortunately for you, oi don't play by the book. Oi'm going to pump you so full of drugs, your brain will fucking melt. You won't even know what you're revealing in your delirium."

"Or you could just skip the crap and ask me who that raptor with the purple stripes is and how he relates to James Campbell," interrupted the dinosaur with a smirk.

Ashwin's eyes widened. Lucas smiled and crossed his arms.

"He wants to talk to you. He wants to answer all your questions. We know why you are so interested in this case Mr. Venkatanarasimha."

"Oi don't like to play games, "said the elephant dryly.

"But you will play it nonetheless. Because you don't have time. You can go to Willoughby Chateau, ten minutes outside London, through Pullman Road and have all your questions answered. Or you can try to break me."

The brontosaur grabbed a finger from his left hand, grinned and twisted it grotesquely until it snapped, dislocating the knuckle joints.

Lucas moaned and Ashwin noticed his penis twitched and lengthened slightly. The dinosaur laughed and gave himself a grope.

"If you're going to interrogate me, I suggest you remove your clothes, they will get sticky."

Ashwin growled and turned to leave, but Lucas spoke again just as he opened the door.

"Mr. Venkatanarasimha. He is already waiting, but his words are for you only. Go alone...or he'll disappear and you'll get nothing."

The elephant didn't say a thing and closed the door.

Bren and two guards were waiting on the other side.

"That was quick, either he broke real fast or didn't break at all."

Ashwin didn't answered, addressing the guards instead.

"No one but me gets in, oi want a guard 'ere at all times."

The guards saluted and Ash and Bren walked out.

"What now?" asked the Doberman.

"Now we wait, let him stress naked with no bed or food, talk to him tomorrow. In the meantime, we follow other leads. Let's give Anseed some time to work too."

Back in the cell, Lucas Bachman smiled and fixed his finger, leaning against a wall and holding his hardening member, closing his eyes as he started stroking slowly.

Ashwin and Bren stopped outside the elephant's office.

"Go home, oi'll send you some foiles on project Spectrum subjects and members of the cult. Oi want you to cross reference them. See if Patrick Renton was the only mole or if we 'ave more super soldiers religious nuts to worry about."

Bren growled and rolled his eyes.

"You couldn't just send me home without homework, right V? I have a wife too, you know? Husbandly obligations."

"I'll send you the files tonight, you'll 'ave all evening to fuck."

Ashwin walked into his office, getting behind his computer. He did a search for the address Lucas gave him. It was a country house just outside London. Registered at the name of a Liam C. Burroughs. Deceased 15 years ago. The house was out in the open, making it practically impossible to approach unnoticed. The surrounding trees were probably full of cameras and sensors.

Ashwin's screen beeped indicating he had a text message. He opened his mail box and the message popped up.

"We also have 24 hour satellite coverage of the compound. I'll know if you don't come alone."

"Motherfucker," muttered Ashwin, unsure at first if he should reply. He finally gave in and typed.

"Who are you?"

"Come visit me and you'll know."

"Why are you doing this?"

"We'll have tea and talk, wear whatever you feel comfortable in."

"How do you know about James?"

"Be here at 5, bring Fernando if you want."

The last message sent a chill down Ashwin's spine. He left his office, stopping a guard in the hallway.

"Take my computer down to tech, have them check it for bugs and get everything they can about the last e-mail log."

"Aye sir."

The elephant got into his car and connected his phone to a scrambler device, calling the number of his come. After just a couple rings, a familiar voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Fernando, do you 'ave any plans for today?"

"Oooh? Are you asking me out? I was going to go out with Edgar, but if you want, I think I can convince him to have an evening of three-way fun."

"That's not...sorry. Listen, oi 'ave a favor to ask. Don't go out today. Invite Edgar over, 'ave fun, but stay home."

"Ash? Is everything ok?"

Ashwin gritted his teeth, clenching the wheel harder.

"It's just work stuff. Oi'm sorry, you know oi can't talk about it. Just, please do this for me ok? Oi promise oi'll make it up to you."

"...ok man, we'll stay inside."

"And...ummm...don't open the door to anyone."

"Yes mom."

Ashwin grunted and hung up. That crocodile was just too good for him.

Ashwin had called him with unusual requests more than once, and had cancelled more than one date. And still, every time he returned home, Fernando would be there, waiting for him with a smile.

The elephant felt a lump in his throat and shook his head, dialing another, much larger number.

"Hello?"

"Jenny, it's Ashwin, is Sarah there?"

"Oh! Hey Ashwin! Sorry, she's out buying some groceries. Do you want me to ask her to call you back?"

"Nah. Hey, you 'appen to know if James is visiting soon? It's been a while since he left an' oi still owe him a beer."

"Well, you're in luck, he's actually coming either tonight or tomorrow. So, if you're in town, maybe you two can have that beer."

"Shit!"

"What?"

"Nothing. Just spilled me drink. Anyway, oi'll call you guys later."

Ashwin hung up and revved his car's engine, taking the freeway out of London towards Willoughby Chateau.

The elephant stopped his car just outside the huge metallic gates of the manor. Considering if he should ram the gates, storm the place and get his answers. Or try sneaking and capture whoever was playing with him.

Instead, the gates opened welcomingly.

Ashwin felt no choice but to drive inside the compound, parking right at the entrance of the luxurious building.

Ashwin double checked his assault rifle and handgun before stepping out.

A strong-looking triceratops wearing a butler's suit was waiting for him.

Ashwin felt rather stupid to stand there wearing combat boots and pants, kevlar vest and holding an assault rifle, but he wasn't about to throw caution out of the window. The butler bowed slowly.

"Welcome sir, My master is waiting for you in the garden. This way please."

Ashwin followed the beefy dino butler without lowering his weapon, studying the layout of the house and the beautiful garden surrounding it.

The butler lead Ashwin to the back of the house, where a table and some chairs were set on a small clearing next to a pond. A tray with pastries was laying on the table and there were empty porcelain cups in front of every chair.

Occupying one of those chairs was a raptor with brown scales and two purple stripes across his snout. He was wearing a tailored suit, and was typing on a portable computer while holding a book with his other hand.

There was a certain resemblance with another raptor Ashwin knew all too well, but this one was of a more slim build. He looked almost...frail.

Ashwin noticed a cane next to the chair where the raptor was sitting. The dinosaur closed the book and nodded at the triceratops.

"Thank you Julius, please bring the tea. Would you like to sit Mr. Ashwin?"

"Oi would like some answers," replied the elephant raising his rifle at the raptor. "Who the fuck are you an' how do you know James?"

"Luckily I can answer both questions at the same time. My name is Martin Campbell. Son of Liam Campbell Burroughs, brother of Gerald Campbell...James Campbell is my cousin."

The raptor smiled at Ashwin's surprised expression.

"You should probably take a seat. It's a long story."

The guard outside Lucas' cell barely had time to react.

All the lights in the compound were out and he heard the electronic locks from all the holding cells opening.

The rhino tried to grab his sub machine gun, but a meaty, gray scaled hand grabbed his arm, dragging him inside the cell. Another hand grabbed his neck and slammed his head repeatedly against the metal wall until his skull cracked.

The naked brontosaur grabbed the guard's main gun and sidearm and waited until he heard screaming and a series of explosions.

He left his cell and started running, catching a glimpse of a carnotaur charging at a group of soldiers, pressing a switch he was holding and exploding into pieces.

He continued running, shooting at anyone that wasn't a suicide cult member.

He reached the temporary lab that had been assigned to Dr Anseed. He entered and quickly found the human cowering under a desk.

"It is time, good doctor."

"You see, my uncle Gerald wasn't in good terms with the rest of the family. He failed to see the liberating power of the Pangaeist faith"

The butler returned carrying a porcelain pot, pouring hot tea into the cups in front of Martin and Ashwin, completely ignoring the elephant still aiming his rifle at the raptor, leaving a small cup filled with sugar cubes and a small spoon. The elephant was now sitting in a small lawn chair in front of Martin.

Once the butler left, Martin continued, typing in his computer every now and then.

"I do recognize grandpa was a bit...passionate about his beliefs. But my dad sort of filtered them for me, helping me see only the truly important things. When uncle Gerald moved from Canada, the family kept track of him. They followed him closely."

The raptor took a sip from his tea, taking a butter cookie.

"The thing about cults...if you play your cards right, you have almost unlimited resources. It turns out it paid very well."

Martin lifted the polished wood cane, staring at it sadly.

"You see, when i was born, i was given one, maybe two years to live. I was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a variant that only affects reptiles, something about my mother not getting enough sunlight...I was 1 year old when uncle Gerald and his wife died. My dad and grandfather came here, watching the funeral and burial from afar. I can only imagine their surprise when they saw little James alive and well. The last thing they learned was that James was very ill with linear scleroderma. My father started investigating and stumbled across my aunt and Dr. Anseed's research. They procured a sample of the nanos and..."

The raptor waved his hand, gesturing towards the purple marks in his snout.

"It wasn't enough to cure me, my bones are still ridiculously fragile, but here I am. The cult got interested in Anseed's research, so they continued following his moves. Then they learned about project Spectrum and about James Campbell and Roy McGregor. We immediately planted an agent of our own. I'm sure at this point you can pull all the pieces together."

Ashwin, who hadn't touched his tea, frowned and got up.

"You got a test subject, both as a weapon an' to fuel the belief in the cult. Some of the members probably don't even knew Renton's powers came from nanos. The fact that you let 'im sacrifice himself in the subway means you got a way to create more like him."

Martin nodded with a smile.

"So far, so good."

"What oi don't get is why use someone like Patrick Renton for a petty subway bombing. He was too powerful, you could 'ave used him fer something much bigger."

"Yes, I have to admit that was the original plan, but you see...this weak body of mine keeps decaying. Once Renton returned after escaping the A.R.M.E. I extracted a sample of his nanos. I have to say...they are incredibly stupid at the A.R.M.E. creating an entire secondary circulatory system for them! I did a little tweaking. A bit of programming here, a bit of reconfiguring there. It's both boringly technical and fascinating at the same time. In any case...Patrick Renton fulfilled his purpose...which was to get you interested."

"Me?" asked Ashwin tightening his grip on the assault rifle.

"Yes, but don't worry. I'll explain everything once Dr Anseed arrives."

A chill ran down Ashwin's spine once he realized the raptor's plan. To keep him distracted while Lucas Bachman escaped the S.A.S. building with Dr Anseed.

Before the elephant could fire, a surge of electricity traveled through his body, forcing him to drop his weapon and fall to the floor convulsing. The current amplified as it traveled through his metallic Kevlar vest, making him feel like his heart was about to explode.

"Aaargh!...urk!...what?...how?"

A few crackles still came from Martin's hand and he shook it, dispelling the leftover voltage over the air.

"How can i use electricity when that's exactly the weak point of every project Spectrum subject? My dear Ashwin, you have not been paying attention."

The raptor finally got up with a groan and some effort, holding his cane and walking towards the elephant.

"Only Patrick was from the original batch of test subjects. I perfected the nanos. I hybridized them, made them half organic, able to mix with the body perfectly, communicating directly with the brain without the need of any interphase. Faster and stronger response...none of the weaknesses."

The raptor gave Ashwin another discharge, making him roll over the soft garden grass as the current heated his vest to almost unbearable levels.

The butler came again and removed Ashwin's sidearms and any other potential weapon. The elephant reacted quickly, grabbing the triceratops' horns with both hands. He twisted hard until the dinosaur's neck snapped. He was rewarded with another discharge, roaring in agony as his clothes started smoking.

The discharge stopped and Ashwin fell again, twitching and drooling. He could hear footsteps approaching from the path coming from the entrance.

"Ashwin!"

He turned to see a naked brontosaur leading a scared looking human holding a portable computer.

Lucas let go of Dr Anseed and the human ran to examine the barely conscious Ashwin.

"Did you have any trouble?" asked the raptor.

"None besides the ones we anticipated. Everything is going according to our plan. Jacob and Marcus are ready to pick the other one."

"Keep them on standby. I want our guest to be a bit more conscious for this. Remind them they are to take the crocodile only. Kill the other one."

"Your boyfriend sure knows how to spice an evening date," said a wolf loudly as he pressed a button in the blending machine, nicely mixing the concoction of milk, coffee, ice, caramel and chocolate.

"Come on, we were going to spend the evening at the movies anyway. This is the same, with the difference that if you get frisky, we won't have to sneak into the theater's bathroom stalls for a quick blowjob," said Fernando with a chuckle as he placed two huge bowls of caramel popcorn in front of the T.V. "And Ashwin is not my boyfriend."

The wolf poured the drinks over two oversized cups and moved to seat on the couch.

"Right. I'm only keeping my clothes on because getting caramel on fur is a bitch." They were both wearing only their shirts and underwear. "And he totally is. I've seen the way you look at each other when the three of us go out together."

Fernando sighed and flopped on the couch next to Edgar, grabbing a handful of popcorn and eating them.

"Oh man! I wish...how I wish for that to be true."

The crocodile lowered his head and stared at his mochaccino.

"We've never really talked about it, but i don't think he wants that kind of commitment. Sure, we have lots of fun whenever he is in town, but he always has to go back. He gets deployed all over the world, always on dangerous missions. I think he is scared of hurting me if we become serious. I mean, the possibility of him not returning is very real."

Fernando started shaking, placing the cup over the table and rubbing his arms, fighting back the tears.

"Whenever he comes home with a new scar I feel someone is stabbing me with a hot iron. That's why I'm always waiting for him with a smile! Because I want him to feel loved! I want him to know those scars mean something, that he means something! I just want him to feel loved before...before...fuck!"

Fernando placed a hand on his head, unable to hold his tears back any longer.

Edgar simply grabbed the crocodile and hugged him lovingly, rubbing his back and letting Fernando bury his face in the wolf's warm chest fur, letting him cry freely.

Once the sobs subsided, Edgar lifted Fernando's chin and looked into the reptile's eyes.

"I'm not going to offend you asking how much you love Ashwin. But i will say this... all those things you said you wanted him to know...he knows. He might not express it much. But after a mission, after killing and bleeding for his country and getting a pat in the back and his next mission, you are that light that keeps telling him this is worth it. He will keep going and fighting, and getting new scars, and you will keep waiting. Just being here for him, kissing those scars and devoting your entire self to him every second you spend together, until he gets called back on duty. I know you know the answer to this question, but you need to hear yourself say it. Is it worth it?"

There was no hesitation in Fernando's voice.

"Yes!"

The wolf smiled and gave the crocodile's cheek a playful slap.

"There you have it. That's love man! Now let's watch some movies, and then i'll expect you to coat my chest with more than just tears."

Fernando laughed and started tickling the wolf. They tickle wrestled each other for a good five minutes until they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Both males froze and Fernando's face paled.

"Mr. Rivera? I'm Marcus Fisher, from S.A.S. there was an incident regarding Mr. Venkatanarasimha. I'm afraid he...listen, could you open the door?"

Outside Ashwin's apartament, two dinosaurs were waiting on either side of the door, their pistols ready to fire.

Ashwin groaned and rubbed his eyes before opening them.

He hated being captured. The elephant checked himself and his surroundings. At least he wasn't naked and chained this time. Someone had removed his vest, leaving his muscled and scarred chest bare, but he still had his pants and his boots on.

He wasn't in any cell either. He was laying in a rather comfortable bed, in what appeared to be a guest room.

Dr Derek Anseed was also there, reading a book on Pangaeism. The human had changed his prison orange jumpsuit for dress pants and a grey button up shirt.

He noticed Ashwin was awake and got up, walking towards the elephant and offering him a plain white shirt.

"He wants James, Mr. Venka. He wants to harvest his bone marrow and his nanos, and use them to cure himself."

Ashwin growled and got up, walking towards the door, but Anseed stopped him before he could touch it.

"Wait! The door is wired, if you open it we both die!"

The elephant stopped, considering to break through a wall instead. But Anseed grabbed his forearm.

"He's a genius. He probably has a trap waiting for you if you do that."

Ashwin growled and took the shirt the human offered.

"He hacked into the S.A.S. system weeks ago, taking over slowly and subtly. He got all the info he needed, tapped every phone. Then he staged the subway attack to get you involved, and sent that brontosaur to get me, knowing you'd get us both into the S.A.S. That's where he got the last thing he needed. The hard drive with all the information on James' experiment, which you took from the evidence room and plugged into the mainframe he was controlling...now he knows everything about James."

The elephant put the shirt on, the fabric hugging his muscled torso nicely.

"So...the phones were tapped as well. He knows James is probably coming to Chicago tonight."

"Yes, and he plans to use you to lure him into a trap. He has two agents outside your apartment. He plans to use a friend of yours as leverage."

Ashwin didn't seem to mind much about it, as he started searching around the room, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon or help him escape.

"Looks like the two of you spent a lot of time talking."

"Pretty much the two hours you were unconscious. It was important for him that I understood what he is trying to do...he wants my help to improve the next generation of project Spectrum...pretty much every cult member is loaded with his hybrid nanos, but only a few of them are able to use them."

The human clutched Ashwin's strong arm with a look of panic and desperation.

"I'm not a strong man, if he tortures me or threatens me, I'll do what he wants. Mr. Venka...you have to kill me now! I don't want to be responsible for more madness. Please! Just snap my neck or something!"

Just then, the door opened and two rexes entered carrying rifles. They aimed at Ashwin from a prudent distance. The sound of the wooden cane on the polished floor preceded the entrance of Martin Campbell, closely followed by the Brontosaur, Lucas Bachman.

"I see you two were catching up, please come with me. I hope I don't have to ask you in an uncivilized manner."

The guards cocked their guns and both Ashwin and Dr Anseed walked submissively out of the room.

They were escorted out of the manor, where four black SUVs were already waiting with more armed dinosaurs.

"You'll come with us doctor, you seem a little on edge."

Dr Anseed, Martin and the Brontosaur got into the first car. Ashwin and the two rexes got into the second one, one rex sitting with Ashwin in the back and the other in the copilots seat. The rest of the armed dinos got into the other two cars.

A split screen turned on in the back of the driver's seat and Ashwin cursed. Martin's face was on one side of the screen, and in the other...a live feed of the security cameras he had installed in his own apartment.

Right now, he could see Edgar and Fernando in the kitchen making popcorn and frappe. Martin chuckled.

"It wasn't hard to access the feed. The security protocols for some of those companies are a joke. As you can see, your precious crocodile is doing fine just now, and he will continue to be as long as you do exactly as I ask."

Ashwin continued looking at the screen. Both, the hidden cameras and the screen had audio.

"You boyfriend sure knows how to spice an evening date," Ashwin heard Edgar say through the noise of the blending machine.

The elephant witnessed in silence the following scene, watching the crocodile crying his heart out and confessing his feelings. A couple minutes later, both males were playfully wrestling and trying to tickle eachother.

"You are so fortunate Mr. Venkatanarasimha, I'd say he is definitely a keeper. And he doesn't even need to know his life's in danger. All you have to do is come to Chicago with us and lure my dear cousin to the abandoned A.R.M.E. building."

Ashwin noticed they were traveling through London Bridge right now and quickly got an idea.

He laughed thunderously, causing Martin to raise an eyebrow.

"You planned this all so carefully, made us dance to yer fucking tune...and now your entire master plan will go to shit for the one thing you couldn't expect..."

Ashwin's eyes narrowed and his stare pierced deep into the raptor's soul.

"My boyfriend is not a fucking damsel in distress."

The T-rex next to Ashwin was ready to react in case the elephant tried something...and that's exactly what Ashwin was counting on.

The Rex activated his nanos and created a metal spike with his right hand. Only, he was a second too late.

Ashwin grabbed the dino's wrist, and by the time he formed the metal spike, Ashwin used it to stab the rex that was in the co-pilot's seat through the back of his neck.

Ashwin reached forwards and reached for the steering wheel with his trunk, wrapping an arm around the driver's neck, sinking his tusks in the back of the driver's seat.

The slender parasaurolophus gurgled as the tip of one tusk burst through his chest.

Ashwin groaned as the surviving T-rex delivered a solid punch to his ribs and and used his trunk to turn the car's wheel.

Martin Campbell watched as the last car of the convoy swerved violently to the left, crashing past the contention wall and plummeting down towards the cold waters of the Thames river.

Martin immediately grabbed a radio, talking to the men outside Ashwin's apartment.

"Get him now! Kill the wolf!"

"Mr Rivera? I'm Marcus Fisher, from S.A.S. There was an incident regarding Mr Venkatanarasimha. I'm afraid he...listen, could you open the door?"

The door buzzed as Fernando unlocked it and one of the dinosaurs got in front of it, kicking it open and quickly aiming his pistol inside.

A green scaled hand grabbed his wrist and twisted it before he could react. Another hand easily took the gun as Fernando expertly twisted the dino's body around, using him as a shield as he aimed the gun at the other dinosaur still outside. Fernando fired twice without hesitation, killing the raptor immediately with two precise shots to the chest and neck.

The second raptor struggled to break free, gasping as he felt the shot entering through his right side, breaking a rib and piercing his lung.

Fernando released the dinosaur and shot him in the head, quickly going outside and checking the hallway to make sure there were no other assailants.

He quickly dragged the raptor's body inside and closed the door, taking the second raptor's pistol and frisking both bodies for ammo, id's and car keys.

"What...who...the fuck?"

Everything happened so far that Edgar was still trying to process it.

"Put some pants on."

Fernando ran inside Ashwin's room, emerging a minute later, fully dressed, with a pistol in the waistband of his pants and carrying a backpack.

Edgar was still frozen on the couch, staring at the bleeding corpses of both raptors.

"Fer...what just happened? What the fuck is this?!"

"I'll explain on the way, we have to go now!"

The crocodile grabbed Edgar's arm, dragging the half naked wolf from the couch.

"Go where?! ...wait...my pants!"

The door closed and the only movement the security cameras registered was the slowly growing pool of blood from the two dead raptors on the floor.

Martin shut the life feed down. His entire body shaking as he controlled himself to avoid roaring in frustration.

Dr Anseed chose to wisely remain silent, even if his slight smile spoke volumes.

"This changes nothing, he can't stop us now."

The driver received a message directly into his comm and turned towards the raptor.

"The jet is ready sir, it's just leaving the hangar."

"Good, take us there."

The World of Scarves. The small store full of colorful scarves next to the Thames river was close to closing time. The human clerk had just finished mopping the floor when the wooden door opened and the small bell at the entrance dinged. The clerk groaned and rolled his eyes at the idea of mopping again. He walked from the back of the store to the counter and dropped his mop at the sight of the completely soaked elephant, wearing a ripped shirt and pants, dragging the body of an unconscious...or dead t-rex by his tail.

"Good evening sir, oi need to use your phone."

The phone in Fernando's bag ringed twice before he answered. They had ditched the car Fernando took from the Raptors and the crocodile was now driving a jeep through a small dirt path.

"Estas bien? (are you alright?)" It was strange to hear Ashwin's voice speaking in Spanish.

They agreed some time ago when Ashwin was training Fernando, that if anything like this happened, they would only communicate in Spanish through that old cell phone that Ashwin made sure couldn't be traced. Fernando would leave the city and hide in a secret bunker under Ashwin's cabin outside London.

"Si, estoy bien. Edgar tambien, ya vamos en camino. ( Yes, I'm fine, Edgar too, we're already on our way.)"

He looked at the sleeping wolf in the back seat, still wearing nothing but shirt and underwear.

Edgar had been so nervous and panicked Fernando had to give him a sleeping pill.

"Cierra todo y espera a que yo llegue. Tal vez un dia o dos...ummm...lo siento. (Lock everything until I get there. Maybe one or two days...ummmm...sorry.)"

Fernando hung the call and sighed, replaying Edgar's words from earlier and smiling slightly as he realized...yes, it was worth it.

Charles Ashford was sitting behind his desk reading one report after another. The city had been nothing but chaos for the last couple days. He was expecting a call from the prime minister any second asking how he could let that happen.

A subway bombing, a prison attack, a suicide bombing into an S.A.S. building, and now an incident at London bridge that also seemed to be related.

The lion snuffed the cigarette butt on the oversaturated ashtray, reaching for another one and lighting it.

Despite the open windows, the office was covered in smoke and full of the acrid scent of the flavored tobacco.

"Mr Ashford. I have a Mr. Meck...Venkash...an S.A.S officer here to see you?" said his secretary through the speaker.

"Tell him to come tomorrow, I'm too busy cleaning their shit."

One second after he hung the phone, the door to his office opened, and an elephant wearing soaked and shredded clothes entered, followed by a slightly panicked female vixen.

"Venkatanarasimha. S.A.S. oi require assistance from the Q branch."

"Hah! After all the mess you've been causing for the last two days? A mess that for some reason we are under orders to clean and cover up. You have some fucking balls to come here and demand that I..."

The lion's desk phone rang and he slammed his fist on the answer button.

"What!?"

A female voice that was definitely not his secretary answered.

"Please wait for the prime minister."

All color drained from the lion's face and he coughed, sputtering the cigarette across the expensive mahogany desk.

"Ashford?" asked a firm and imposing voice on the other line.

"Yes, sir?"

"You have me on speaker? Pick up the phone...right fucking now!"

Ashwin could see the lion's ears press against his skull as he picked the phone and pressed the receiver against his ear.

"Yes sir...sorry sir...yes sir...yes...I'll see to that personally... ... ...no sir...yes sir...Thank you...good night sir."

The lion hung the phone and rubbed his temples, reaching for yet another cigarette.

"What can the MI6 do for you sir?"

The car stopped at the furthest hangar at the London airport.

The prototype supersonic jet was already out of the hangar and ready to go.

Ashwin stepped out of the car, followed by a human wearing a suit.

Ashwin was wearing a black flying suit and carrying a custom made helmet under an arm.

"This is really exciting! I was looking for a chance to test this prototype...heh, most of the agents are too scared to try it. It needs a strong body to handle the gravity pull."

The black jet looked more like a rocket and less like a plane as it was moved to a special launching platform.

Instead of a take off field, it was situated on top of a long metallic rail. The jet had no visible landing track, hugging the metal rail with its streamlined underbelly.

"A commercial flight takes around eight hours to reach Chicago from London, a private jet like the one Mr. Campbell is traveling in will probably make four to five hours. With this baby, you can get there in under an hour and a half. See, the rail will magnetize, reducing the friction to zero at launch, you will travel at mach 3 until you reach the mesosphere. We take advantage of the earth's rotation, and by the time you reach the apex, you start the descent."

The human's excited blabbering was drowned as Ashwin put his helmet on.

Go up, go down, stay conscious, eject. That's all he needed to know.

The elephant climbed into the cockpit, feeling the magnetic straps practically glueing his suit to the cockpit. He plugged the oxygen feed to his suit and pressed a few buttons, feeling the cockpit elevating a few inches as the rail and the ship magnetized.

"Now remember, keep your breathing steady...the pressure..."

Ashwin pressed a button and the ship's engine roared, catapulting the jet at over twice the speed of sound from the beginning.

Ashwin gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. He felt like one of his feral ancestors had just kicked him in the chest and stomach. The suit was designed to apply pressure in certain areas of his body to keep his blood pressure stable enough to prevent him from fainting. The real danger was that he had to endure that procedure almost three times longer than the safe amount of time.

The jet reached the Mesosphere and Ashwin was finally able to take a few breaths at normal speed.

The elephant adjusted the ship's coordinates and position, getting almost another blissful minute in zero gravity and pressure.

He took a deep breath and maneuvered the ship to point downwards. The engines started again, this time the pressure feeling even harder.

Ashwin could feel his vision threatening to blacken, having a hard time focusing on the display screen in front of him. He was right over Lake Michigan. The elephant pressed a button and the cockpit detached from the rest of the plane a second before it sunk in the lake. The pod was launched with enough strength and at the right angle to be sent over the water surface a good half a mile before ejecting Ashwin.

The elephant's backpack opened, but instead of the regular parachute, it deployed a glider, which was enough to get him close to the shore just outside Chicago.

Ashwin opened the straps of the glider and landed over the dirty shore. He rolled a few times and finally stopped, quickly removing his helmet and trying to hurl the non existent content of his stomach. After a few more heavy heaves, he collapsed, taking deep breaths and trying to get his body to function normally.

"Dude...he's like an alien or some shit."

"Don't be stupid! He's not an alien...he's more like...like that master boss dude. Remember? The one from those AURA games?"

"Videogame characters ain't real dude. It's not like you can get inside a game or something, much less pull someone out."

"He's kinda hot though."

"Guys, guys! ...he's waking up!"

"Oi wuz conscious the entire time lads," said Ashwin slowly opening his eyes and getting up. He checked his assault rifle and his other weapons were in good condition and with the silencers still on before focusing on the other people.

There were two males and two females. They seemed to be in their teens or early twenties. He noticed a fireplace nearby, with two camping tents on opposite sides, a couple ice boxes and a small propane grill. Further in the back, he could make the silhouette of two vehicles.

The sight of the slowly cooking artificial meat over the grill made his stomach growl.

Ashwin checked his clock, grinning as he noticed he beat Campbell and the rest for over half an hour. He still had to get into the city and into the abandoned A.R.M.E. building tough.

"Dude, that was some sick stunt. Was that a freaking rocket you were riding?" asked one of the jocks chewing on a hamburger.

"Aye...wanna make a trade?"

Ashwin stepped on the gas pedal of the sports car as he held the wheel with one hand and took a bite from the hamburger with the other one.

The private jet landed at the Chicago airport, moving to a track where a group of cars was already waiting for them. The door of the jet opened and Lucas Bachman came out first, surveying the scenario before turning and helping Martin descent the stairs. Dr Anseed followed them, clutching a laptop in his arms.

They got into a black van, where Martin settled into a plush cushion and Dr Anseed sat across him. The human opened the laptop and started typing.

"Is the equipment ready?" asked the raptor, leaning against the cushion.

"Everything is ready sir. Satellite uplink is established, the operating room is ready as well. How are we going to bring the subject in?" asked the brontosaur checking a screen.

"We'll capture Sarah King and use her as leverage, but I want to finish the synchronisation project first. James might try to rescue her after we capture her. I want to be well prepared. Doctor, is the algorithm ready?"

The human adjusted his glasses.

"Yes, we just need to upload it to your nanos, and then you'll have to connect yourself to the mainframe and the satellite dish. We'll have to make adjustments to the ports since you don't have a neural chip."

"Don't worry about that. Just set the code right."

"I do this for you, and you help me improve it, right? You make the nanos work on me, then upload the same program the A.R.M.E. used for James and Roy."

They finally reached the seemingly abandoned A.R.M.E. building, circling around it and parking the cars a block away, next to a red sports car.

They entered through the service door, turning their flashlights on.

The entire building was dark, but the members of the cult had managed to reroute power to some of the rooms in the center of the building. Keeping doors and windows covered to prevent giving their activity away.

A member of the cult was standing guard next to the elevator, holding an assault rifle. He nodded at Martin and let them in.

There were guards in the lobby, the 32nd floor, where the operating room was settled, and the 58th floor, where the satellite link had been set. A few additional guards were on the rooftop, calibrating the satellite dish and guarding a helicopter.

The dinosaur guarding the elevator saw the doors close. Resuming his watch. The ankylosaur heard a faint moan coming from a nearby room and growled.

"I swear, if Daniel and Rob are at it again during work hours, I am cutting their dicks off."

He slowly opened the door, hoping to find two rexes in the throw of passion.

What he found was one of said rexes laying on the floor, drowning in his own blood with a hole in his chest. The other rex, along with the rest of the lobby guards was piled up dead inside the room.

Before the ankylo could react, a pair of strong hands grabbed his neck and snapped it.

Ashwin closed the door carefully and checked the elevator indicator, noticing the light stopped at the 32nd floor.

Martin and the rest entered the improvised operating room. A table and several monitors were already set, along with a brand new computer loaded with all the emulators Anseed used previously.

"Is this everything you need for the transplant?" asked Martin as the brontosaur helped him sit on the operating table.

"Yes, a bone marrow transplant is not complicated. It will be extremely painful for both you and James though."

"I think I can live with that," chuckled the raptor. "As for my cousin...he's not going to survive, is he?"

"I don't think so, I'll need to remove his neural chip and harvest all his nanos to recreate the experiment on myself." Anseed smiled. "I'll do whatever it takes to get out of this world...I'm going to need a sample of your nanos to upload the synchronisation program now."

Anseed took a syringe and the raptor extended his arm. Lucas stood right behind the human and growled in warning.

"Careful."

Anseed nodded and plunged the needle in, extracting a sample of blood infused with the hybrid organic nanos. He took the sample to a small glass and metal chamber. He took a wire from it and plugged it to his laptop.

The safest and fastest way to make the information transfer was via microwaves.

"Do you have the second sample?" asked the human.

The brontosaur grinned and handed Anseed a tube with a clear liquid. It was a sample of the nanos in virgin, uncoded RNA, ready to be injected into a subject.

Anseed took the sample to a second device and started typing sequences, giggling with excitement.

"You were right, the key is to focus in RNA instead of DNA. And if we use mitochondrial RNA, it's even more flexible. We just need to encode the hybrid nanos to an individual species' genome. You're a genius Mr. Campbell!"

Anseed took the first sample after the data transfer was complete, returning it to the syringe, then he looked at the brontosaur.

"This could cause him spasms."

The bronto nodded and Anseed injected the organic nanos in Martin's neck.

The raptor hissed and laid down. His body started twitching.

Martin grunted and gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the stronger spasms, knowing he could break his spine if he twitched too hard.

The strong brontosaur placed his hands on Martin's chest, delicately massaging the tense muscles as the newly programed nanos transmitted the new instructions to the rest of the hybrid machines inside the raptor's bloodstream.

A hard spasm caused Martin's left forearm to slam a little hard against the table's hard edge.

Anseed cringed at the sound of the breaking bone and Lucas immediately moved to hold the raptor's arm to prevent further damage.

The spasm finally died and Martin laid panting and groaning in pain. Anseed started looking for something to immobilize Martin's arm.

It was a success. The raptor now only needed to connect himself to a satellite and he would be able to communicate with and control other nanos. Both the originals from Project Spectrum and the new generation ones he created for the members of the cult.

"C-...call the roof...ugh! Confirm...the dish is calibrated...aaah!"

The big dinosaur nodded and grabbed the radio.

"Roof team, what's your status?"

No answer.

"Roof team, come in...roof team!"

"Something's wrong" said Anseed.

They turned towards the elevator seeing as the indicator light started moving up.

"Ground team, come in...ground team, come in!"

The raptor got off the table, shaking lightly.

"It's him."

"Ashwin? How is that possible?" asked Anseed as he finished setting a cast around Martin's arm.

"We have to go. We have to reach the 58th floor."

Lucas checked his gun, setting a silencer in it.

"You'll have to take the stairs. Go, I'll hold him off."

The brontosaur went to the other container, taking the second nano sample and placing the tube inside an injector gun.

Anseed and Martin started walking towards the stairs. The raptor leaned on the human as he noticed the light of the elevator coming closer to the 32nd floor. He was so close, if only the elephant would have showed up five minutes later.

Lucas aimed his weapon at the elevator's doors. A thick drop of sweat running down his brow as he saw the little blinking light coming closer and closer to the 32nd floor.

The light stopped in the number 31. The brontosaur blinked a few times and cursed as he heard an explosion in the floor below. The floor he was standing on shook and he screamed as part of the 32nd floor collapsed.

He fell on the 31st floor and immediately rolled to the side, avoiding the falling debris and the shower of bullets from Ashwin's rifle. The brontosaur took cover behind a pillar, returning the fire.

"You are a persistent mammal," said Lucas, "but you won't be able to stop the change."

He shot in the direction he knew Ashwin was hiding, moving to another spot to get more advantage.

"We saurians shall take over and return to the place that was stolen from us over 65 million years ago."

Lucas inserted another clip in his rifle, moving behind another pillar.

"Think of that boyfriend of yours, crocs are close enough to dinosaurs, maybe my master could let him share a bit of our glory. I'm sure he would..."

The brontosaur stopped when he felt the warm cannon of a recently fired gun against the back of his neck.

"Oi think oi made clear you can't use him as leverage earlier...an' you talk too fucking much."

The brontosaur chuckled and dropped his weapon, slowly getting up and lifting his arms.

Lucas quickly turned, slamming his arm in Ashwin's rifle and sending it away, but the elephant moved faster, unholstering a handgun and shooting Lucas point blank in the stomach twice.

The dinosaur doubled in pain and slammed his body against Ashwin's before receiving another shot to the chest.

Both males fell to the floor in a tangled mess.

Ashwin crawled from under the bronto's body and aimed his handgun at Lucas' head.

The brontosaur started laughing weakly and Ashwin raised an eyebrow. Something caught his sight and he focused his eyes on an empty injector gun next to Lucas.

Ashwin cursed, but before he could pull the trigger, a thick brontosaur head slammed against his, sending him against the floor and causing him to lose his weapon in the darkness. The onñly source of light coming from the hole in the 32nd floor.

Ashwin quickly got up and unsheathed his knife.

Lucas was groaning and thrashing on the floor, ripping his clothes. The dinosaur's muscles started to throb and grow. His fingers and toes elongated and long, vicious claws appeared at the end. A row of spikes sprouted from his back and his tail. Lucas roared and exposed several rows of sharp teeth. The naked brontosaur stood, reaching a hulking 11 feet, having to practically crouch to avoid bumping his head on the ceiling.

Lucas looked at his claws and laughed as the bullet wounds on his stomach and chest started closing.

"Not bad, I could get used to this theropod perk."

Ashwin charged, slamming his body against the dino's.

He was able to unbalance the massive mutated bronto, even pressing it against the wall, sinking his knife into the reptile's leg. A heavy punch to his face made him let go of the knife's handle. A second, painful hit to the ribs caused Ashwin to stumble a few steps backwards, before a third one sent him straight against the opposite wall.

Lucas pulled the knife from his leg, easily snapping the blade in two. The wound started closing slowly as soon as he pulled the blade out.

Ashwin groaned and spat blood, waiting until the dinosaur was close to attack again, jumping and landing an uppercut to Lucas' jaw. The bronto stumbled backwards and Ashwin body slammed him, sinking his tusks into the naked, muscled torso.

Lucas roared and grabbed the elephant's hips, lifting Ashwin and throwing him across the room. Ashwin rolled and barely had time to move his arms and catch the massive foot coming down to crush him.

The elephant bared his teeth and the veins in his muscled arms bulged with the effort to hold the brontosaur's foot.

Lucas grinned and lifted his hand, extending his palm towards the trapped pachyderm. His grin died when nothing happened.

"What the...? Fucking Anseed! He promised me I would be able to make fire."

"Here, you can have sum of mine," said a voice behind him.

One second later, a huge ball of fire hit Lucas' back, charring scales and skin, making him roar in pain. The flames scattered and reached some of the dusty furniture, revealing a pair of glowing blue eyes.

Lucas turned, finally moving his foot away from Ashwin.

A gust of wind and ice shards slammed against his chest, piercing the thick scales in several places and sending him flying.

Several small bright orbs appeared and adhered to the walls and ceiling.

"I always lahk it more with thuh lights on."

Ashwin's eyes widened as he recognized the person standing next to the stairs door.

A buff raptor with black scales and blue circles surrounding his eyes. He was wearing a set of sport pants and tight shirt, gray with blue stripes. One of his hands still had small ice shards stuck to it. Ashwin noticed it was made of black metal.

The raptor shook his hand and approached the elephant.

"Yer Roy McGregor," said Ashwin getting up.

Before any of them could say more, a roar turned their attention to the mutated brontosaur.

Roy raised both eyebrows as he saw the wounds and burns slowly disappearing. Roy looked at Ashwin.

"Lemme guess...another A.R.M.E. pet?"

"Religious cult, hybrid bio-organic nanos," said Ashwin removing his broken metallic vest and exposing his strong, scarred chest and back. "They're after James"

Roy sneered and his hands started glowing again.

"Fucking amateurs. Alright, ahma need some answers after we kick this guy's ass. Can you fight?"

Ashwin cracked his neck and grinned.

Lucas charged at them both, roaring.

Roy shot a gust of wind with a hand to slow him down and a blast of ice with the other one. Trapping the brontosaur's legs in ice.

Ashwin screamed and jumped, slamming both hands into Lucas' skull, sending him to the floor. He tried to get up, but a flaming raptor fist sent him back to the floor.

A thick spiked thrashing tail managed to hit Roy in the chest, sending him against the wall.

Ashwin caught the tail and pulled with all his strength, screaming with the effort and causing every thick vein and muscle of his body to bulge to the max. He lifted the massive mutant brontosaur body, slamming him violently against the ceiling, making another hole connecting to the 32nd floor.

Still holding the thick tail, he pulled back and sent Lucas against the floor. The impact was too much for the structure and all three of them fell to the 30th floor amongst a pile of rubble.

The entire hallway collapsed over them, letting the light from the strange orbs reach them.

Lucas was the first to get up, his wounds closing and his bones slowly readjusting.

Ashwin and Roy got up with a little more difficulty.

"He's a tough motherfucker," said Ashwin panting "got any ideas?"

"These nanos are bio-organic. They're in his blood right? No secondary circulatory system?" asked Roy.

"Aye, that's why he can heal faster."

The raptor chuckled as they both watched the brontosaur finished regenerating his wounds.

"That's also his weakest point."

Roy's hands started glowing again. His nanos working at full capacity and creating matter out of thin air.

Two swords appeared in the raptor's hands. They had serrated blades and a darker metal around the hilt and the back of the blade, with red carvings over it.

"Catch!" He tossed one at Ashwin and the elephant noticed it was much lighter than it seemed. He also noticed a strange tingle running through his hand.

"Hah! You assholes just don't learn, I'll just keep regenerating and breaking your shit faster than that fucking raptor heretic can create them."

Roy attacked first with a smile on his face. He seemed slower than before.

Lucas caught the sword by the blade, grinning and applying pressure to break the blade. Instead of breaking, the blade got incredibly hot as flames erupted from it, both cutting and burning his hand. Roy laughed and slashed at the bronto's cheek.

"Daedric metal bitch, good luck breaking that."

Ashwin and Roy attacked at the same time. Lucas lifted his arms, ready to slam his fists into both of them.

Roy created a tetra-shield to block the attack and Ashwin slashed the brontosaur's belly, feeling somehow some of his strength returned.

Lucas tried to kick them, but Ashwin blocked the kick and held his right leg as Roy quickly crouched and slashed his left leg.

Every time Lucas tried to attack, one of them would block while the other striked, leaving a fresh, deep, bleeding cut. Lucas' nanos leaving his body through his bleeding wounds, wounds that were opened and reopened faster than he could heal them.

"How much you weigh?" asked Roy to Ashwin.

"250 kilos, why?"

Instead of answering, Roy tossed his sword at Ashwin. As soon as the elephant caught it, Roy roared and summoned a strong gust of wind, lifting Ashwin in the air and sending him against Lucas.

The brontosaur roared and charged at them in one last, desperate attack.

Ashwin landed 10 feet behind the huge dinosaur, both blades covered in blood.

Something rolled close to his booted feet and he turned to see Lucas' headless body twitching and the arms still uselessly trying to hit the air before the body fell to the floor.

Roy approached the body with both hands covered in flames.

"Heal that mutherfucker."

He let his flames loose on the body, incinerating it, along with any puddle of blood.

Ashwin understood what Roy was doing and grabbed the brontosaur's head, tossing it into the fire to make sure all trace of the nanos was destroyed.

"Now...answers," said Roy crossing his arms. "Let's start with who thuh fuck are you."

They started going upstairs towards the 58th floor. Ashwin gave Roy a quick briefing on everything that happened on the way.

"So...religious nut with shitty bones that happens to be FG's cousin, wants his bone marrow and has an army of more religious nuts with more effective nanos. And you're thuh guy in charge of stopping all that."

Ashwin nodded as they got closer to floor 49.

"Aye, been cleaning the A.R.M.E.'s mess since we stopped project Spectrum...what about you? James has been looking for you."

Roy rubbed a hidden scar on his chest before answering.

"Ah been...busy. Ah just returned yesterday to see how things were going. Ah wuz 'bout to leave when ah saw people sneaking into thuh building. Ah took down the ones on the roof, wuz about to crash thuh 58th floor when ah hear you and big ugly...wait."

They stopped and Roy tapped what Ashwin thought at first was a wrist watch. It displayed a large amber-coloured holographic interface, which Roy started browsing through.

"How did he...?" The raptor opened a text file he just received on his omnitool. "Oh man, you gonna luv this."

"Is it ready yet?" asked Martin between pained grunts, leaning against the wall.

"We're almost done Mr. Campbell" said a technician.

Him and Dr Anseed were adding a sensor to the communications system. They needed something that was plugged to the computer and would be able to come in contact with the nanos in the raptor's blood stream.

Dr Anseed took a huge needle and connected it to a wire from a weather probe, plugging it to the mainframe as the other tech configured it.

"Stay...stay alert...Lucas should have returned by now...aaah! ...FUCK!" He screamed as the large needle pierced his left arm, entering his vein. Anseed lead him to a chair next to the computer.

"This will hurt...but you'll still need to focus on sending the broadcast. Just picture the satellite in your mind and the nanos will do the rest."

The raptor nodded as Anseed executed the program.

Martin gritted his teeth as he felt the surge of electricity traveling through his veins.

Out of the small room, a small army of 20 armed dinosaurs got ready to defend their leader.

One floor below them. Roy finished scanning the 58th floor with his omnitool, displaying a holographic layout of the floor with the location of every enemy.

"This is gonna hurt. Oi would kill for some body armour," sighed Ashwin.

Roy chuckled and turned his omnitool off.

He placed both hands in front of his body and focused, groaning and sweating lightly.

A ball of light formed in front of his stretched hands.

Ashwin watched in awe as a full set of tactical gear materialized right in front of them. Reinforced carbon fiber full body armor, assault rifle, handgun and knife.

"Roight! Forgot you guys could do that. When this is over, oi hope you have some energy left to summon a couple beers."

Roy laughed and created a second set for himself.

The door leading to the elevator in the 58th floor exploded when the small bomb inside detonated, sending it against the group of guards. It knocked two of them and the rest fired towards the entrance.

A window to their right shattered and a swift form landed amongst them.

Roy quickly unsheathed his pistols and started moving like lightning, shooting several guards point blank, dodging most of their shots. The few shots that landed were easily deflected or absorbed by his white carbon fiber Turian tech armour.

The door leading to the stairs burst from its hinges as Ashwin charged, quickly shooting as many dinosaurs as possibly before running for cover.

After his deadly strike, Roy also got behind a pillar. Their surprise attack had managed to take out around half of the guards, but that meant the remaining 15 dinosaurs were now ready, responding fire and running into other rooms for cover.

The computer beeped, indicating the process was completed.

Martin was sweating and panting heavily. The new wave of spasms had broken one of his ribs, and the effort had over exerted his nanos, making it feel like he had lava running through his veins. But it was over now. As long as he stayed connected to the satellite, he could control the nanos of every single subject from both project Spectrum and the Sons of Janus. They would do whatever he wanted, anywhere, anytime. He could order one hundred of them to attack targets all over the world simultaneously, and then overheat their nanos to turn them into walking bombs, just like Patrick Renton. All he had to do was place them strategically and he could get the entire world on its knees. All he had to do now was to capture Ashwin alive so he could get to James and get the transplant he needed.

Martin frowned when he tried to reach the nanos of the guards outside the lab. He could feel them, but could not activate them. They were still even dormant!

A groan and the sound of something heavy hitting the floor made him turn towards the computer desk.

The other scientist was unconscious over the floor, a trickle of blood coming from the back of his head.

Dr Anseed was standing next to him, holding a metallic coffee maker.

"You! ...ngh! ...what have you done?" Martin growled as he slowly got up from the chair. The probe still plugged to his arm.

"I'm just trying to fix my mistake. The mistake i made so many years ago."

The human started walking towards the weak raptor.

"You're a monster Mr. Campbell. You perverted my work even further than the A.R.M.E. did. I had to play along and pretend I accepted your offer so you could give me access to the building. It's all over now, I planted a trojan program to your nanos and disguised the code as the program you wanted. Now every single nano from both projects is synchronized with your heart. If it stops, the nanos die."

Martin's eyes widened as he limped back, whimpering as his cracked rib protested when he pressd his back against the wall.

Anseed grabbed the raptor's cane and continued advancing.

"I've never killed anyone before...hah, I've never even fought anyone before. But I think even a wimp like me can take out a half-dead freak like you."

Anseed raised the cane, ready to strike, when he felt something cold in his stomach and all the strenght being drained from his body.

The human dropped the cane and looked down. A huge ice shard was protruding from his stomach, and a growing red spot was soaking his white shirt and lab coat.

"Thank you for explaining so thoroughly doctor. Now all I need is to rewrite the code while I'm still plugged to the system," chuckled the raptor.

Anseed fell to the floor, gasping and coughing blood as Martin created a small gust of wind, lifting the cane from the floor and deposited it gently on the raptor's hand.

Martin slowly walked past Dr Anseed and started typing on the computer.

"You poor feeble-minded milk drinker...you have changed nothing."

Ashwin and Roy stood on either side of the door leading to the communications room where Martin and Anseed were. The rest f the guards ñlaid dead all over the floor behind them.

They had been passionate fighters, but lacked the military training and the years of experience Ashwin and Roy had.

The elephant signalled Roy, indicating he would kick the door down and the utahraptor would provide cover fire.

They never got to make their move.

The door, along with the entire wall exploded with a blast of furious wind, sending them across the floor with a pile of rubble and debris.

They slowly stood up and gasped at the sight.

Martin Campbell was completely surrounded by a sphere of wind. The raptor was breathing with difficulty and his body was shaking. His left arm was still plugged to the satellite console. The wind carefully avoiding the wires and keeping the machine intact.

They saw Dr Anseed behind the wind sphere. The human was leaning against a wall and clutching the wound on his stomach. His skin looked pale and his eyes were losing focus.

Ashwin cursed and fired at the sphere.

The wind was so strong, the bullets were immediately deflected. Roy was about to attack with his nanos when strong lightning attacks hit both him and Ashwin.

"Aaaaargh!! Christ! ....ggghk!"

Roy fell on all fours, almost unconscious and Ashwin staggered, going on one knee. The attack had been strong enough to pass even through their high tech insulating armour.

Roy's natural weakness to electricity, plus the effort of having created their armor and weapons had him on the verge of collapsing.

A wall of fire rose and headed towards them.

Ashwin barely had time to grab the black raptor and taking cover behind a pillar. Roy was protected enough, but Ashwin screamed as the fire reached the metal plates on his left arm. He quickly removed the armor, exposing the patch of red skin over his muscled arm.

"Fuck! Any ideas?" he asked the raptor as Roy created water to pour over the pachyderm's burn.

"We can't get close to that. If it can deflect bullets, that sphere can tear us apart if we touch it. Ah could try to create a similar one to make them cancel each other out, but my nanos are almost drained, an' if he hits us with that fucking lightning attack again ahm pretty much done for."

They curled behind the pillar as a wave of ice shards followed by another wave of fire hit it.

They saw the ice quickly melting and evaporating.

Ashwin and Roy got the same idea. They simply nodded at each other silently and Roy released a burst of fire at the wind sphere.

The flames touched the sphere and immediately created a roaring vortex of fire.

Martin gasped as his vision was entirely covered by flames.

It was something he had seen before...a sea of fire, falling from the sky, drowning all lives in sorrow, creating a concert of screams and cries...the great Pangaeist cleansing...just as Janus had predicted.

The raptor's pupils dilated, then turned into vertical slits for just the blink of an eye, and then dilated again as the fire sucked all the oxygen from the sphere.

Martin lost control of his nanos for just one second, enough for the wind sphere to disappear.

Roy was laying on the floor, panting heavily and shaking with exhaustion, and Ashwin...

Ashwin was standing right in front of Martin Campbell.

The elephant roared and punched the raptor with all his strength.

The raptor's weak and sickened bones instantly pulverized with that one hit.

Martin Campbell was dead before his body even hit the ground. Ashwin's punch went straight through his ribs and spine, causing all of his inner organs to explode inside his body.

A beeping sound from the console confirmed a last command had been sent to the satellite and then transmitted to every nano machine from both projects, effectively neutralizing them for good without killing their hostages.

The last vestige of Derek Anseed and Mary Campbell's research had finally disappeared.

Ashwin approached the coughing human, kneeling next to him and examining the wound

There was nothing to be done. Dr. Anseed had lost too much blood.

Roy approached and kneeled next to the dying human.

"Mr. McGregor...*gasp*...did you get my message?"

"Ah did. It's over now. Thuh kill code was sent."

"I...*cough*...I'm sorry...ughk! ...It seems like you and James are trapped here. The code killed your nanos too."

Roy smiled and raised his hand. It sparkled briefly before being covered in flames.

"Me an' FG got more than a few upgrades along thuh road. Our nanos are roughly thuh same as when the experiment started."

"Good...*cough*...It means you...are...free...too."

Anseed's hand fell limp and he exhaled one last time as his eyes closed forever.

Roy made the sign of the cross over the human's body with his metallic hand and murmured a small prayer in Latin.

He got up as the approaching sound of sirens reached their ears.

"Shit! Ah think we'll have a lotta explaining to do."

Ashwin grinned and placed a hand on the raptor's shoulder.

"Oi don't think so, just let me make a quick call."

The door to the Two by Two bar opened and the female dolphin smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around the brown scaled raptor and kissing his snout. They both entered and closed the door.

The small stealth drone across the street followed them, hovering over the roof of the adjacent building.

Roy smiled as he watched the video feed from the drone's camera on a computer.

He was sitting on a comfortable chair in front of a table in a luxurious looking hotel suite.

The raptor was wearing only a pair of blue boxers shorts and still had a damp towel around his shoulders.

The door to the bathroom opened and Ashwin walked in, still drying behind his huge ears. He was holding a phone in his other hand.

"Ya terminó. Bren va en camino en helicóptero para recogerlos...estas seguro?...si, tienes razon...de acuerdo...regresaré pronto...te...te veré pronto." (It's over. Bren is on his way with a helicopter to pick you up... are you sure?...yes, you're right...okay...oi'll be back soon...I...I'll see you soon.)

He removed the towel around his waist and started putting his clothes on.

"James is here...wanna go say hello?" asked Roy, feeling a little pang of pain.

James looked so...happy. Happier than he'd ever seen. The utahraptor sighed, hoping he would feel just like that soon.

"Nah. I miss my buddy, but seein' me would probably bring back some not too pleasant memories," said the elephant fastening his pants.

"Heh...sound lahk James alrigh'," said Roy turning the computer off.

Ashwin opened a chest where his weapons and gear were stored. Despite knowing that had been the purpose of Project Spectrum, it was still hard to believe all that had been created from nothingness by Roy's nanos. He grabbed one of the daedric swords and ran a finger through the carving.

"You sure you don't wanna take all this with you? Oi'm gonna have a hard time explaining sum of this shit," he said, lifting a piece of the high tech armor.

"Ahm done fightin'," said the raptor with a heavy sigh, "from now on, ahm holdin nothin' but farming tools. Mah lady is waiting for me at our farm...but you look like you could still use some of those." Roy chuckled. "Besides, from what you told me, you don't have to explain shit to anyone."

Ashwin put the stuff back in the chest and closed it, taking a look at the raptor's exposed body and taking notice of the many scars, some of which looked very recent.

Roy returned the stare.

There was a moment of mutual understanding as they both read each other's story through their scars.

"Well, don't keep yer lady waiting Mr. McGregor. You deserve yer happy ending too," said Ashwin as he finished buttoning his shirt.

"What about you? Don't you have a happy ending waiting for you too?

Ashwin thought for a full two seconds before answering with a smile.

"Yeah...oi do."

Fernando wiped the sweat from his brow and hung the axe in the tool rack, stacking a few logs inside the storage shed behind the cabin and carrying the rest to the main building.

The setting sun offered a beautiful sight of the lake, making it look like it was made of gold.

The crocodile took in the sight for a few seconds before walking inside the cabin.

It had been a week since Bren showed up to pick him and Edgar and take them back to the city.

Fernando had already told Ashwin he would stay at the cabin and wait for him. Ashwin's apartment was still technically a crime scene, and both the door and security system would need a long look over, and Fernando's own modest house was simply too cramped for an elephant to feel comfortable.

Edgar was happy to go back tough. The wolf hugged Fernando and added jokingly that he would send Ashwin the bill for his psychologist. Bren didn't seem too happy, but Fernando assured him he would be fine.

The crocodile placed the logs next to the fireplace, going down to the underground shelter to pick a few supplies. He returned to the living room, turning the TV on and wrapping himself in some blankets he got from one of the bedrooms upstairs.

There was still light outside when the crocodile heard the sound of tires over the dirt path.

A scaled hand moved to grab the gun under the couch, the other holding the TV's remote, switching to the security feed, focusing on the one in front of the cabin.

Fernando sighed in relief when he saw the elephant climbing out of the car.

Ashwin grabbed his duffel bag from the back of his car and walked towards the front door.

He was still unsure of what to say or how to apologize to Fernando.

The door opened and Fernando stood at the entrance, waiting for him. Ashwin stopped once they were within arms reach and dropped his bag. Ashwin was wearing blue denim shorts and a white shirt. Fernando was wearing only a pair of shorts.

They both stood just staring at each other for a few seconds, letting the amber rays of the setting sun wash over their faces.

There were no words needed. They immediately understood what the other was feeling. Still, this was something Ashwin felt he needed to say.

"Fernando...I love you."

The crocodile's answer was to wrap his arms around Ashwin's neck and lock their lips in a passionate kiss.

The elephant wrapped his arms around Fernando's waist and easily carried him inside, not bothering with the door or his duffle bag.

The main bedroom in the second floor was filled with light moans and kissing sounds. The naked males on top of the covers were covered in sweat after half an hour of nothing but passionate kissing and caressing. Both members painfully hard and dribbling precum profusely, but remaining untouched until now.

Ashwin moved to lay on his back with Fernando on top of him. The crocodile shuddered as he felt their hard, uncut cocks rubbing together.

"Fernando...please."

The crocodile smiled and nodded, understanding what Ashwin wanted.

He leaned and started kissing his way down, starting with the elephant's thick neck, letting his hands caress his lover's body. He looked at the scars on Ashwin's chest with curiosity, they seemed smaller somehow.

Ashwin would later reveal that he started a treatment to fade his scars. In a few weeks, the smaller scars would disappear. The large ones in his chest and back were impossible to erase, but they would be much less prominent.

Fernando gave each pectoral a kiss, promising himself he would return to those erect nipples soon.

He moved the elephant's erection aside, slowly stroking it with a hand as he kissed and licked the firm abs, feeling his own cock twitch at the taste of skin, sweat and precum.

Ashwin propped his head against a pillow, moving a hand to the back of Fernando's head, loving the sight of the crocodile using his tongue and lips on every inch of his body.

Fernando gave the elephant's cock and balls a few licks before moving even lower. He placed his hands on the muscled legs and Ashwin eagerly spread and lifted them lightly. Fernando nuzzled under the massive, musky balls, feeling slightly jealous for a second that his own testicles were internal, giving the sweaty and swollen taint a long lick, dragging his tongue lower until it touched Ashwin's tight tailhole.

The elephant gasped and moaned, holding his legs with his hands to give Fernando better access. The crocodile gave the fleshy pucker a loud kiss before pressing his tongue against it, pressing his hands against the elephant's muscled rump cheeks, spreading them. The thick, crocodile tongue entered the tight tunnel, causing both males to moan and nearly cum. Ashwin because of the rare feeling of submissiveness and the almost alien stimulation of his sphincter, Fernando because of the mix of arousing and masculine scents and the muscles he was touching, and both of them because they were simply too close after such a long make out session.

Fernando continued rimming the tight and tasty hole for a few more minutes as Ashwin slowly stroked himself.

Ashwin growled a little louder and Fernando knew what was coming. He pulled his tongue out of the elephant's tailhole and wrapped both hands around his cock, pulling the foreskin all the way back and sealing his lips behind the thick glans. He squeezed the base of the shaft and was rewarded a second later with a thick jet of warm seed hitting the back of his throat.

The crocodile swallowed and sucked hard, milking the elephant for everything he could give. A few trickles of cum dribbled between his lips and ran down the thick, dark grey shaft.

Fernando finally opened his lips and let go of the heavy member, watching it pulse and release the last few drops over Ashwin's sweaty abs.

Fernando grabbed his own neglected cock and started masturbating, feeling he would only need a few jerks before reaching his own release.

"In...inside," said Ashwin between heavy pants.

The request only drove him closer to orgasm. He barely had time to shove half of his cock into the tight hole before his body tensed and his internal testicles contracted, coating the elephant's hot tunnel with his seed.

Both males remained hard despite their previous climax. Fernando pushed all the way in until he felt the elephant's massive balls touching the scales of his lower stomach, his cum acting as lubricant.

He remained hilted inside Ashwin, lifting the elephant's muscled legs and placing them over his shoulders. He spent the next few minutes thrusting very lightly, kissing and licking whatever he could reach of Ashwin's legs.

Ashwin moved his legs away from the crocodile's shoulders, wrapping them around his waist and pressing the seven inches inside him even deeper.

Fernando got the message and lowered his body, trying to hug the huge, muscled torso and raising his rump, leaving only the hooded head of his member inside Ashwin.

A massive hand went to Fernando's back, another on the back of his head, pressing his face against sweaty and thick pachyderm hide. He found a nipple and sealed his lips around it, sucking and nibbling as he started slamming his hips as hard as he could.

Ashwin growled in delight and hugged the crocodile harder against his body, feeling his own thick cock grinding against Fernando's belly scales, coating them in precum.

Fernando's hands kept roaming all over the elephant's muscled body, feeling the strong heart beating against his lips as he sucked, licked and kissed every inch he could reach of Ashwin's chest.

Ashwin started moving his hips as well, grinding his erection more insistently against Fernando's stomach. He could feel his meaty foreskin sliding back, causing his frenulum and the sensitive underside of his glans to rub against the precum and sweat slickened scales.

Fernando's breath quickened and his moans became louder. Ashwin sensed this and squeezed harder around the crocodile's cock inside him. Fernando pushed one last time, tensing his entire body and crying cutely with his face buried in the cleft of Ashwin's pectorals as his member throbbed hard and unloaded again inside the warm fleshy tunnel.

Ashwin groaned and shuddered, feeling his own strong climax coating their torsos with his thick cream.

Fernando was about to pull out, but Ashwin's hand moved from his back to his rump, keeping him hilted inside the elephant. Fernando lifted his head, Ashwin kissed him on the lips twice before rubbing their cheeks together.

"Thank you...thank you...thank you," whispered the elephant between pants with a slightly cracking voice.

Fernando kissed him again and continued gently and lovingly rubbing and massaging Ashwin until the tired elephant slowly drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Fernando stayed awake just a little longer, resting his head over Ashwin's chest, feeling the muscles expand and contract with his steady breathing.

To be his anchor...to watch over his sleep...to hold his heart safe whilst he was away fighting and to let him know he'll always have someone waiting for him ready to say "Welcome home"

...yes...totally worth it.