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"You alright?" Jacob asked.

"Yes," said Linnaeus, "that was a scary time."

"S-sure was...my throat hurts."

He coughed slightly as the rabbi put a hand to his head,.

"Well it's not a fever so that's good."

"Hah, ahh...jeez." The yoshi clutched his face. "This is a real mess...all of this."

"It is but, what's important is some of us made it, some of us survived thanks to the efforts of our friends."

"...I hope Chanoch's okay."

"I hope so too."

Sitting on converted beds, their heads pressed back against the wall as the sounds of the great Petrie rumbled underneath their feet, thrusters humming through the walls as they stared across the alien craft's interior with its dark-lit passages and smooth purple contours that made it easy on their eyes. The sounds of wounded filled the halls as all patients had been filed onto the ship, knowing as their flagship it was the strongest and fastest of the fleet to protect them in. A few moments later came footsteps into their room and a creaking of the bed next to them.

"I found some snacks," said Schroeder offering two tubs, "seems the flight crew thought ahead."

"Awww nice, in-flight meals!" Linnaeus sat up and took one for himself. "Mmmm and it's all kosher too."

"Oh I didn't even check-"

"Hahaha I'm kidding it's all kosher none of this is actual meat."

"...it's not?" Schroeder blinked looking at his mixed foods. "It looks just like ham."

"It's quorn! Well, that's probably the brand name I don't know what we actually call it, it's a fungus that tastes like meat."

"Wait are you for real?!" Jacob gasped chomping some of the meat. "There's no WAY that's mushrooms!"

"No seriously!" the rabbi smirked. "We grew this fungus in the labs, it tastes just like meat."

"It sure does wow, how come no one ever told me?!"

"You never asked!"

"I can't believe this," Schroeder shook his head feasting on his, "mmmph, that is good, very light almost like chicken."

"Chicken's my favourite," said the rabbi munching away, "mmmph, god you know what I miss most, chicken nuggets. I was a fiend for those, back when I was thirty I nearly ballooned up, was studying in college, there was a McDonald's nearby and I just kept eating away, I had to stop myself when my robe wasn't fitting!"

"Hahahaha wow," Jacob snickered chewing a salad, "I know how ya feel, I really like these small puffy cakes you get at the bakery, I keep wanting to go in but I just don't wanna end up telling dad I spent all my pocket money on cakes."

"That would be bad," Arnold chuckled taking a small drink, "guilty pleasure for me is shortbread-"

"Oh I LOVE shortbread, augh jeez I haven't had any in years."

"Hah, maybe you can get us some from your home."

"Heck yeah I can...what if, YOU could come back with me?"

"What?"

The yoshi patted his knee as Linnaeus sat back smirking.

"Yeah yanno, if you got noplace else to go."

"Oh...I don't know I mean...how do we-"

"N-n-never mind how, just we will eventually, we'll find a way just if you want to."

"...alright, yes!"

Jacob offered his elbow as the two booped with a "sup!", chuckling with a bounce from the yoshi on his seat.

"I'd wanna show you all over, there's like Toad Town, there's my place, my uncles, though not sure what you'd get for a job."

"I'll think of something but let's not plan TOO far," Schroeder wagged his finger, "I might end up returning with Linnaeus and all the other humans."

"You'd make a good bouncer," the rabbi patted him, "could do with one at my place."

"Why, is it a rough area?"

"No I just like the idea of having a bouncer, trick a few goths into thinking 'wait a minute this isn't a night club converted from a church what the hell' and too late I've already got them on the bench."

"HHhahahahhaaha," Schroeder shook his head, "you are a strange man mister Linnaeus."

"That's why I'm here, no sane man would ever come to this godforsaken place...even if I do miss it now."

They fell silent in rememberance. Jacob looked over to his side seeing the hilt of Schroeder's blade catch the light, a haunting face inscribed within the basket-shape.

"I never asked, but...what's the deal with your sword?"

"What do you mean?" asked Arnold.

"Whysit got a face? There a story behind it?"

"Ahhh, yes." He pulled it across his lap to show Jacob. "It's called Sic Semper Tyrannis."

"Ahhhh 'death to tyrants'!" Linnaeus grinned wagging his finger. "Good name for a sword!"

"Yes...my mother would be quite ashamed of me after all this."

"Whysat?" asked Jake rubbing the hilt.

"This sword comes from the English Civil War, used to put down a tyrant king five-hundred years ago. It's passed down through my family for centuries. My grandmother handed it to me, and told me that no matter what may come, I should always stand against tyranny, even within its shadow. I could not do enough."

"It's never enough." The rabbit took his hand. "What matters is you never stop fighting, because it's the right thing to do, for those who can't."

"He's right," the yoshi grinned nodding, "you can't save everyone, I mean almost nobody can, but what matters is we keep trying to help. There's always gonna be someone who needs help, and the best thing we can do with our lives, is making it easier for each other."

"I agree," Schroeder sighed, "but what of those who do not wish to help, such as the nazis?"

"Then we teach 'em a lesson!" he smacked his fist. "You should never trouble trouble, unless trouble troubles you!"

"Hah, that's very good!" Linnaeus smirked. "Where'd you hear that one?"

"My uncle Koopin, always said you shouldn't bother anyone if they're hurting nobody."

"But those who do harm others," Schroeder patted his blade, "shall receive harm in turn...for those we lost."

Once more they fell silent, this time determined with resolute faces. None of them had seen the great explosion but they all had felt it, heard it through the shuddering of the sea and the burning of the sky but one had felt it in her heart deeper than anyone. Across the hall in another room, sat Andrea Dixon, rocking herself back and forth with tears staining her coat and two books kept to her side.

"H-he, he blew it up, he fucking, he destroyed everything."

"I knew Thomas was crazy but not," Kevin sighed beside her, "this...he really wanted to make sure they couldn't get anything."

"Why the fuck didn't he tell me? WHY!? Why did he just-that STUPID JARHEADED FUCK!"

She clutched her face as tears poured through her fingers, hiccuping gasps fading under the rumbling din of the Petrie whilst Kevin looked up towards Amy who knelt over a patient, cleaning out the burning wound before soothing it with a salve smearing out of her fingers to cool it down and seal it proper. The sounds of groaning whimpers filled the rooms as Amy walked from one place to another, keeping track of everyone's condition in a constant cycle of healing, redressing and healing as Kevin took a deep breath and joined her.

"Let me take over-"

"No it's fine you need to-"

"Amy, please." He grabbed her hand. "You can't keep running around for everyone-"

"I literally can, my battery's at eighty-five percent, you're exhausted."

"It's not right though for you to just manage everything by yourself-"

"Kevin. It's fine." She smiled kissing his cheek. "This is what I was built for, this makes me happy, to be useful."

"Well...being useful makes me happy too." He rubbed her fingers. "Let me help a little, please."

"Alright, just a bit, but you need to rest as well, your cortisol's through the roof."

"I know I can manage-"

"Your immune system's getting weak," she grabbed his arms, "it's fine to help me out a bit, but if you keep going like this you're going to get sick and exhausted."

"Fine but-"

"Okay...okay. See that patient?" She pointed towards Andrea. "Keep a check on her for me, alright? She's important."

"Heh...si, doctor."

He understood and sat back down beside her, keeping Dixon company as she brought out a book from her coat. The cracked greying cover she stroked with her fingers as she shook her head.

"Did Chanoch come with us?"

"No," Kevin sighed, "he was still at the base."

"...son of a bitch." She sighed pressing the book to her face. "You have to fucking do this to me, I was supposed to hold onto this, not carry it like some fucking hairshirt."

"Hairshirt?"

"...Haytham said it once, never knew the term until he...god, the man was a walking thesaurus."

"Hahaha, he should've been friends with Oddie more." The chemist patted her side. "You need anything?"

"No...you don't have to hang round me."

"I'm your doctor, it's my job to check on you."

"Thanks." She looked to him with a forced grin. "So...who's leading us now?"

"What do you mean, that's you."

"...fuck." She stroked her head. "I was really hoping you wouldn't say that."

"We can regroup first, make sure everyone is safe-"

"I don't know how to lead a fucking team-"

"You managed with your nerds, it's no different. I'll help with the organising, I've been in wars and all."

"I'd appreciate that Kevin." She patted his hand. "Where are we going then?"

"Well," he stood up stretching his legs with clanking steps, "we have the cave under the Skylands, that'll be good to group everyone at, that's our emergency point."

"So we're just fucking trapped here then?"

"We still have the moonbase, if they haven't found it."

"I don't know," she laid her head back, "we've had no contact with them, and I got no idea what would happen to their gate if mine blew up."

"Well we'll find out won't we?" He turned to her with his hands on hers. "Take it one step at a time, we find our friends, regroup and beat these fascist pendejos back where they came."

"That's literally not possible now."

"I meant to the grave."

"Ah." She smiled nodding. "Alright...yes. We also have to find Jane, they kidnapped her, maybe others."

"So let's make a plan, I'll check on the cockpit."

Making his way up to the front of the ship through corridors of smooth curves and violet sheen, Kevin found the cockpit where two pilots kept the ship steady over the endless sea.

"Howsit looking up here?"

"Terrible," said the co-pilot in short brown hair, "there's nothing on it's just bad reception all out here."

"He means we're fine," said the pilot in long blonde locks, "but he's right in that the view is terrible."

"Glad you guys haven't lost your humour," Kevin shrugged, "really need that right now."

"It's how we managed all these years, right Ted?"

"Sure is," said Ted drinking a glass of water, "even managed to overcome my drinking problem thanks to humour."

"Cool cool," the medic patted them, "we heading to the storage place?"

"Just soon as that nazi ship gets out of range, if I can see it then they can see us too."

"They better nat-zee us coming," the pilot giggled clapping her hands, "sorry sorry I just HAD to, I been waiting to do that joke for years."

"Seriously Elaine? How many nazis you know?"

"Too many, I come from Illinois."

"I'm from Colorado, so yeah," he shrugged, "well there's gonna be a lotta dead nazis soon that's for sure."

"Best way to solve it...shit," Kevin slapped his head, "forgot we had that one guy we caught and no one knows how to speak German."

"I speak German!" said Elaine raising her hand. "I spent a few years with Lufthansa, started out as an air hostess."

"Wow for real?"

"Yes! You know if you just came to us and asked every once in a while you'd find we have lots of talents, Ted's a world-class juggler!"

"I-i don't like to brag about it," the co-pilot waved his hand.

"Alright well," Kevin stepped back sweeping his hand, "could you come and help interrogate the guy we caught?"

"Sure!"

Leaving her co-pilot to man the controls, Elaine walked off with Kevin as Ted took a deep breath and focused on the endless sea, taking a long skirting turn to the west and slowly returning back to the mainland.

"You'd think we woulda found other landmasses by now...haaaah...hey, what's that?"

On the horizon after curving wide to the west, he saw a mountain upon an island. A deep scar ran through the west of it as he flew in closer.

At the Hunters' Nest, a small memorial was made to Stonevoice as his body was left inside his favourite tree. The forest was quieter than usual, the wind turned silent as if honouring a friend as not a single leaf would stir.

[i]"He looks like he's sleeping,"[/i] said Seaclaw.

[i]"Yes,"[/i] said his mother beside him, [i]"he would be happy you came to see him."[/i]

[i]"Where's uncle Barkclaw?"[/i] asked Skyfang.

[i]"In the mountain,"[/i] Oddtooth gestured to the southeast, [i]"he hath not come out yet."[/i]

[i]"Not since he returned,"[/i] his father shook his head, [i]"he does not even speak to me."[/i]

[i]"I am sure he will be fine,"[/i] Moonclaw nuzzled him, [i]"he just needs to rest, he has suffered greatly."[/i]

[i]"I know but...I worry, he was doing so well, he went hunting without me, you remember how he was before, too shy to speak and frightened of everything."[/i]

[i]"Have faith in your brother, just be at his side and let him know you are there for him."[/i]

[i]"Alright..."[/i]

They stood for a few minutes more in solitude to their fallen friend, making their way back to the nest as they were welcomed by Barren sitting up with a yawn.

[i]"Nnnnngh...are you alright?"[/i]

[i]"N-no,"[/i] Seaclaw shook his head.

[i]"Awww,"[/i] she pulled him close with a nuzzling lick, [i]"he was a good beast, I will miss him too, even if we barely speak."[/i]

[i]"Wh-who...who did this? I want to find them, I-i want to-"[/i]

[i]"Theaclaw."[/i] His brother growled. [i]"We are hunterth, we hunt them if we find them."[/i]

[i]"Mmm."[/i]

[i]"We'll kill 'em good,"[/i] his sister barked stomping her feet, [i]"they won't mess with us again!"[/i]

[i]"That is enough,"[/i] Moonclaw snarled sitting down beside them, [i]"we have to look after ourselves, we have mourned our friend but he would not want us to pursue in hatred, we protect our family first."[/i]

[i]"Exactly,"[/i] said Oddclaw with a deep sigh, [i]"as difficult as it is, and as angry as we are, we cannot run off hunting for vengeance, hunters only hunt for food."[/i]

[i]"I know."[/i]

His son thumbed along his sword hilt, replacing his old blade with that of Stonevoice's crooked katana that was now sheathed inside of a crude scabbard of bark wrapped in vines for safekeeping. Oddclaw sat down next to him, rubbing his shoulders with a tender kiss that soothed him as the family fell silent. Some minutes passed before a shadow fell over them as they looked up towards Fishclaw.

[i]"Hello dear,"[/i] cooed his mother licking up at his face, [i]"are you alright?"[/i]

[i]"I am well,"[/i] he purred snuffling back, [i]"the longsnouts are fine, they are safe in the caves."[/i]

[i]"That is good,"[/i] Oddclaw nodded, [i]"do you need me to speak with them?"[/i]

[i]"Not yet, but I will ask if I need you. Have you spoken to the hairless yet?"[/i]

[i]"No,"[/i] he shook his head, [i]"the speakstone is silent still...it has been two days."[/i]

[i]"I am worried too,"[/i] Moonclaw shook through her tail, [i]"they would never be silent for so long, do you think something happened?"[/i]

[i]"I do not know...would the greatmoon have something to do with it?"[/i]

[i]"No...but did you not tell me the longsnouts were attacked by starbeasts?"[/i]

[i]"Yes but,"[/i] Oddclaw rubbed his head, [i]"I do not know of these other hairless they spoke of, who wore deep on their skin."[/i]

[i]"If our hairless friends,"[/i] added Barren, [i]"needed help or had trouble, surely they have their stoneflyers that would come to see us."[/i]

[i]"Hmmm...yes, you are right, perhaps I am just worrying too much."[/i]

[i]"You always did think too much,"[/i] she puffed licking his cheek, [i]"just like your brother, how is he?"[/i]

[i]"Still silent, not speaking to anyone."[/i]

[i]"I see..."[/i] she pulled herself up with a creaking gasp, [i]"I will bring him some food, he needs to eat."[/i]

[i]"I-i should-"[/i]

[i]"No, let me. The Dry Mountain yes?"[/i]

Oddclaw nodded as he watched his mother take a chunk of meat that was being stored aside, draping it on her back and venturing into the forest. The family decided to take a brief nap, basking in the sun as an eerie quiet covered the nests with a mood disparate. The afternoon dragged, the sun rose high to its zenith with a balmy heat as the cool waters of the lake helped them refresh when they woke up and splashed in the shallows to clean themselves. Then they saw something on the horizon.

[i]"OH! F-FATHER!"[/i] Skyfang shrieked. [i]"F-father look, s-stoneflyers!"[/i]

[i]"What?!"[/i] Oddclaw rushed to her side. [i]"Is that...is that them?!"[/i]

[i]"It must be,"[/i] Moonclaw muttered, [i]"certainly not a flyer."[/i]

[i]"But. it lookth odd,"[/i] said Oddtooth rearing back, [i]"it lookth too...big?"[/i]

[i]"Wait...you are right, it is...Oddclaw?"[/i]

They sensed something wrong by its shape as he nodded pulling them back from the water, motioning the other raptors to leave and step back to their nests before racing to Fishclaw and alerting him. The closer the shadow approached the more clear it was that this was not a ship from the base. It was something far worse as a grand darkness fell over the entire nesting ground. Fishclaw stood braced beside his kin, watching and waiting for the first signs of battle as the long fiendish battleship of 300 feet length and 60 feet width, sharp jutting wings from its back as the raptors pulled back with shrieking fright and a hissing anxiety as the bottom of the ship opened. A large circular platform descended by some invisible tractor beam, slowly hitting the dirt as six steel creatures stood with a mechanical purring that threatened them back, along with a black screen suspended on their backs.

[i]"Wh-what, what is that?!"[/i]

[i]"What are THOSE, they look like...us?!"[/i]

[i]"No, no they must be another tribe, they smell nothing like hunters."[/i]

[i]"But they are made of stone, not a single scent of flesh they have!"[/i]

[i]"Stay back."[/i] Fishclaw warned his tribe. [i]"Protect your children first."[/i]

They watched the raptor-mimics straighten their tails with a unified shriek, the monstrous ship continuing to hover with a burning drone as the screen flickered on to show the face of another raptor.

[b][i]"Attention, Swiftclaw tribe of the Hunters' Nest."[/i][/b]

[i]"WHA-...YOU!"[/i]

[i]"R-RUMBLE?!"[/i]

Riptor's eyes plastered across the screen with flickering lines.

[b][i]"I do not come to fight, I have no intention of harming others of my kind."[/i][/b]

[i]"How...h-how do you have this?"[/i] gasped Oddclaw with a brazen snarl. [i]"What...what ARE you?!"[/i]

[b][i]"A greater hunter than any of you shall ever be."[/i][/b]

[i]"LIAR!"[/i] Moonclaw shrieked. [i]"YOU tried to kill me, you say would harm no other but you not only tried to kill me, you VIOLATED my mate!"[/i]

[b][i]"Is that what he told you? How terrible."[/i][/b] She shook her head with a tutting sound. [b][i]"It is tragic when a happy couple finds their loyalty tested-"[/i][/b]

[i]"SHUT UP!"[/i]

She rushed towards them before anyone could stop, before the sudden strike of six steel tails launched upon her stopping inches from her face.

[b][i]"You were lucky with just ONE of me...but can you fight six?"[/i][/b]

[i]"ENOUGH!"[/i] Fishclaw stepped forth with piercing silver eyes. [i]"I am the alpha of this tribe, you are trespassing on our home!"[/i]

[b][i]"My apologies,"[/i][/b] she watched the cyber-raptors pull back their tails, [b][i]"as I said, I do not come to fight, I only ask for one thing."[/i][/b]

[i]"Speak then. But you would do better to come out and speak to me yourself, rather than hide behind your stoneflyer."[/i]

[b][i]"I only have so much I can do at any one time, so forgive me for my rudeness. I demand you bring me the ones known as Oddclaw, and Seaclaw."[/i][/b]

[i]"WHAT?!"[/i]

A cry of outrage filled the entire nest to a crescendo of screams.

[i]"WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH HIM?!"[/i]

[i]"YOU CANNOT HAVE HIM!"[/i]

[i]"GO DROWN IN YOUR OWN SHIT!"[/i]

[i]"YOU WON'T TOUCH MY BROTHER!"[/i]

[b][i]"SILENCE!"[/i][/b]

The ship suddenly trembled above with a burning gleam of a wicked red beam, blasting towards the trees that melted five of them in a charring scorch, before the land they rooted on fell into the waters of the lake and decayed to a withering mire of lumpen black as the tribe fell silent.

[b][i]"This 'stoneflyer' as you call it is very capable of making your lives far more difficult I will not harm you, but if you so defy me, I shall leave your homeland in ruins."[/i][/b]

[i]"Why do you want them?"[/i] Fishclaw stepped forth. [i]"What reason do you have for two of our tribe?"[/i]

[b][i]"That you do not need to know-"[/i][/b]

[i]"BECAUSE SHE'S A MISERABLE OLD SHIT!"[/i] Skyfang screeched jumping forth. [i]"You're jealous of my mother, you want what she can't have cuz no one loves you, you can't even get a mate without poisoning him to USE HIM!"[/i]

[i]"Thkyfang ith right!"[/i] Oddtooth barked stepping up. [i]"I thaw her try to kill my mother, even when we freed her from a cave in the great thea, thhe tried to kill her like a COWARD!"[/i]

[b][i]"Hmm."[/i][/b] Riptor snorted shaking her head. [b][i]"You say I am jealous of your mother?"[/i][/b]

The cyber-raptors stepped forth, two of them swung their tails to knock down Skyfang and Oddtooth before thrusting towards Moonclaw's head. In that moment a sword struck against the tail, knocking it aside as there stood a child with burning eyes as red as his mother's.

[i]"Hurt, my family again, and I'll KILL YOUUUU!"[/i]

[b][i]"Ahhhh...hello Seaclaw,"[/i][/b] her simpering smile filled the screen, [b][i]"I am so glad to see you are well-"[/i][/b]

[i]"SHUT UP!"[/i] He raised his sword with sneering teeth. [i]"You hurt my father, YOU TRIED TO KILL MY MOTHER!"[/i]

[b][i]"I understand you are angry, which is why I want you to come so I can explain-"[/i][/b]

[i]"NO! I won't listen to you!"[/i]

[b][i]"But I thought we were friends."[/i][/b]

[i]"YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND, YOU'RE WORSE THAN AN EGGTHIEF!"[/i]

A gasp trembled through the raptors at his words. Riptor shook her head and closed her eyes with a gentle sigh.

[b][i]"I thought you were better than this, but you are still a child it seems. Besides, I would much rather speak to your father."[/i][/b]

[i]"He is right."[/i]

Oddclaw marched up towards the screen putting a hand on Seaclaw's shoulder.

[i]"I know what you are, all of my family do, you are a coward and a cruel beast who would not hunt to eat, but hunt to torture!"[/i]

[b][i]"You have never seen me hunt,"[/i][/b] she cooed, [b][i]"trust me if you did, you would realise I make a far better mate."[/i][/b]

[i]"You are nothing I want."[/i]

[b][i]"Hhhmhmhm, pitiful you should blame me for what your body naturally desired-"[/i][/b]

[i]"I NEVER WANTED YOU!"[/i] he thrust his finger at her. [i]"You USED me, poisoned me!"[/i]

[b][i]"Which your primitive mind calls the simple urge to breed a far superior female, I'm disappointed in you. I would have thought you would want a better family."[/i][/b]

[i]"He DOES have a better family,"[/i] Moonclaw nuzzled her mate, [i]"something you will never have."[/i]

[b][i]"Oh...but that's where you're wrong."[/i][/b]

Her eyes slitted with a dark grin that Oddclaw had seen only once before. His face became rigid and his heart stuttered with a brief pain as Riptor continued.

[b][i]"I don't want to tell you everything in polite company, so bring me and your son and we shall avoid further embarrassment."[/i][/b]

[i]"Why do you think we would EVER come to you?"[/i] he rasped. [i]"And WHY do you want my son?!"[/i]

[b][i]"Because if you don't, I'll kill your friends."[/i][/b]

The monitor cycled through two different screens, one that made Oddclaw clutch his head, the other which made Seaclaw scream.

[i]"J-JANE, JAAAANE!"[/i]

[i]"STONETREEEEE!"[/i]

Both Addison and Jarogniew had been chained to the walls of their separate prisons, beaten across the face, blood drooling from their mouths with Jane missing her metal hand and Chanoch stripped of his armour completely. Her head was covered in bruises, welts thickening her cheeks from purple to black whilst Chanoch's bare chest was covered in scars with pieces of his flesh cut off in chunks.

[b][i]"You are a kind creature,"[/i][/b] said Riptor's voice from the screen, [b][i]"so I know you would not throw their lives away so flippantly."[/i][/b]

[i]"H-how...how do you have them?!"[/i]

[b][i]"Oh, did you not hear the news from your human friends?"[/i][/b] they heard her smile widen. [b][i]"Are you perhaps having some problems with your communication?"[/i][/b]

[i]"You...you are the one."[/i] He stepped forth with tightening fists. [i]"YOU did something, what have you done?!"[/i]

[b][i]"Made your home more pure, you should be thanking me."[/i][/b]

[i]"But this is a hairless stoneflyer, who are you working with?!"[/i]

[b][i]"Oh you recall them, the ones who kidnapped your friends, I vaguely recall, fire and slash?"[/i][/b]

[i]"...no."[/i] Oddclaw's eyes widened clutching his mouth. [i]"No...n-no."[/i]

[b][i]"Would you like to see what happened to them?"[/i][/b]

Without his asking, the screen flickered to a recording of two creatures trapped inside of containment units, bound with steel as drills pierced into their necks and burrowed deep inside the base of their skulls, the sounds of their screams ringing through the receptor.

[i]"S-SLASH, SLASH THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING!"[/i]

[i]"Just, just save your strength, we can figure a way out of this, just gotta-a-AAAH, AAAAAGH!"[/i]

[i]"SLASH!"[/i]

[i]"A-AAAAAAAGH, [b]AAAAAAAARGH, S-STOP IT, S-STOP, MY HEAD, MY HEAAAAAD![/b]"[/i]

[i]"STOP IT, STOP H-HURTING MY FRIEND YOU SHIT-A-AAAAAAAIIIGH!"[/i]

[i]"F-FIRE, FIIIIIIRE, I-IT'S [b]BURNING MY EYES![/b]"[/i]

[b][i]"ODDCLAW, ODDCLAAAAAAAAWWWWWWW!"[/i][/b]

[i]"STOP IT!"[/i] Seaclaw screamed swinging his blade. [i]"S-STOP IT, COME OUT AND FIGHT US YOU, Y-YOU COWARD!"[/i]

[b][i]"QUIET!"[/i][/b] The screen flickered back to her face. [b][i]"The adults are talking, child. Now, Oddclaw, will you come with me, or shall I show you what-"[/i][/b]

[i]"You are sick,"[/i] Moonclaw hissed, [i]"you...I was right about you all along."[/i]

[i]"I will not go with you."[/i] Oddclaw shook through his body clutching his stomach. [i]"Y-you are a vile creature."[/i]

[b][i]"An alive creature,"[/i][/b] Riptor wagged her finger, [b][i]"Unlike your friends if you do not come."[/i][/b]

[i]"You think they are not ready to die?"[/i] Fishclaw stepped forwards. [i]"The hairless I know are strong, who like us have faced many threats, and they know Oddclaw as a friend."[/i]

[i]"B-brother,"[/i] he gasped, [i]"what are you-"[/i]

[i]"Oddclaw. As your brother, and your alpha, I will stand with you whatever choice you make, but know that our friends the hairless would not want you to offer yourself to this sick beast."[/i]

[i]"...you are right."[/i] He turned back to Riptor crossing his arms. [i]"I will not go with you."[/i]

[b][i]"Wh-what?!"[/i][/b]

[i]"F-father, but-"[/i]

Seaclaw stuttered at first but then he saw his father's look. A brief moment of fear before he understood, biting on his tongue as he stepped back and crossed his arms in turn.

[i]"My friends fought well,"[/i] continued Odd, [i]"but they would not want me to submit to you. Even if...if it meant their deaths."[/i]

[b][i]"...unbelieveable."[/i][/b] Riptor shook her head. [b][i]"You would risk that?"[/i][/b]

[i]"They would understand."[/i]

[b][i]"Hm. Hhhhmhmhmhmhm...hhhhahahahhahaa, ohhhhh...you are such a frustratingly difficult male. Alright...you have forced my hand so I will up the stakes. You see that melting pile of forest that's there?"[/i][/b]

They looked towards the blackening smoulder that slipped into the lake.

[b][i]"This vessel I am on, with an entire army of other humans that I am now controlling at my personal fullest, is capable of annihilating entire forests, please bear that in mind. If you do not care about your friends, you WILL care about your family starving where I will ensure that only the strongest of you will survive."[/i][/b]

[i]"If you dare attack our home,"[/i] said Fishclaw scraping the dirt, [i]"you will face our fullest strength and we shall not rest until you are torn limb from limb."[/i]

[b][i]"I would believe that,"[/i][/b] said Riptor nodding, [b][i]"but how long will it take for you to reach me, and how swiftly will I take in destroying this great forest, along with all of the plains to the west where perhaps most, if not even ALL of the prey that you hunt. Shall I demonstrate?"[/i][/b]

The raptors looked to each other with increasing anxiety, Fishclaw shaking his head quietly as Oddclaw gave a solemn nod and took Seaclaw's hand.

[i]"No."[/i] Moonclaw whispered grabbing his hand. [i]"N-no, no please-"[/i]

[i]"Let them go."[/i] The alpha purred quietly. [i]"It is their choice in the end."[/i]

[i]"I do not want to lose them, not, not my family, you do not know what she does!"[/i]

[i]"I do."[/i] Oddclaw stroked her face. [i]"I will not fail you. I will kill her."[/i]

[i]"If he doesn't, then I will."[/i] Seaclaw patted his sword. [i]"Right father? We hunt together."[/i]

[i]"Yes my son. Together."[/i]

He pulled him close with a soft kiss as Moonclaw sighed, reluctant but entrusting as Oddtooth and Skyfang approached with bruised faces and nuzzled their brother and father with gentle whimpers. Oddclaw took his son's hand as they walked onto the platform amongst the steel raptors, a shuddering hum slowly lifting it back into the sky as they entered the ship from beneath.

[i]"I already regret this,"[/i] said Moonclaw.

[i]"I have a plan,"[/i] Fishclaw brought her aside before turning to his group, [i]"alright, all of you, when the stoneflyer leaves, I will tell you what we must do."[/i]

[i]"Wait, a plan?"[/i] Skyfang twitched her tail. [i]"Why didn't you do it now?!"[/i]

[i]"Becauthe we want to thurprithe them,"[/i] Oddtooth nipped her cheek, [i]"right alpha?"[/i]

[i]"Indeed,"[/i] the elder raptor puffed his chest, [i]"you did not think we were going to just LET her have my brother and nephew did you?"[/i]

[i]"No..."[/i] the grey raptor purred with a sigh of relief, [i]"no I did not think you would."[/i]

[i]"Tho what do we do?"[/i] asked Oddtooth.

[i]"Come with me,"[/i] his uncle gestured towards the stone plinths, [i]"your aunt should be arriving soon, when she does we begin our plan."[/i]

The ship interior smelled of death and flames. Seaclaw kept close to his father as the six steel raptors lead them through the corridors of deep black and violent red banners that fluttered slightly from draughts and ventilation. Strange symbols covered the walls from crooked cross to golden eagle as humans walked back and forth, marching in full uniform of darkest night with scarlet bands and bleak masks of deep burning eyes. Through large halls of looming spectres and sharp-triangular roofs, the raptors' feet clacked across the cold steel floor as they passed rooms where the sounds of fading screams could be heard, voices familiar to Oddclaw that disturbed him as the constant rumbling snarl of the ship burned through their ears.

Through a long march of ten minutes in silence, they were brought into a grand room of overwhelming red that stung their eyes as two rows of steel raptors stood either side of them, joined by the other six that escorted them as the replicas clacked their feet and barked in unison with a single screech beneath a pale circular light.

[b][i]"Welcome...my new family."[/i][/b]

At the end of the raptors was a throne in darkness.

[b][i]"I was worried we would not be reunited again, after so long apart."[/i][/b]

[i]"We will NEVER be together,"[/i] hissed Oddclaw tightening his fists, [i]"I am only here so you do not harm my tribe."[/i]

[b][i]"To which I commend you for, choosing your tribe over your own safety. You make such a good father."[/i][/b]

His son felt Riptor's gaze turn to him, tensing his fingers to wrap around the hilt of his sword as they saw a head move in the darkness.

[b][i]"Are you not happy to see me again Seaclaw?"[/i][/b]

[i]"NO."[/i] He barked through his teeth. [i]"You're not my friend anymore."[/i]

[b][i]"Ohhhh are you sure about that? Perhaps I could find a way to make it up to you."[/i][/b]

[i]"Let go of my friends then!"[/i]

[b][i]"Well, I would love to but,"[/i][/b] a pair of claws shrugged, [b][i]"the humans I've befriended seem to be VERY attached to them."[/i][/b]

[i]"I thought you despised the hairless,"[/i] Oddclaw sniffed crossing his arms, [i]"why are you with these other ones then?"[/i]

[b][i]"Hmhmhmhm...that's a secret I'll only tell you when you become my mate. Rest assured though you won't have to deal with humans any longer, not past this week certainly."[/i][/b]

[i]"I see...that is all you care about then? My seed, my body, not what I think, what I want?!"[/i]

[b][i]"Of course I care about what you want."[/i][/b] The head leaned forwards with a single red eye. [b][i]"Why do you think I've done all of this, for myself?! Well, yes, but in doing so I plan to make this land of yours the perfect place for all raptors to live."[/i][/b]

[i]"How?! You...my friends Firetail, and Plainslash they were, they were murdered!"[/i]

[b][i]"By these humans, not me. I haven't done anything...but if you try to destroy my hopes of utopia, I can very easily tell them what to do if necessary."[/i][/b]

[i]"Not if you're DEAD!"[/i]

Rushing forth with Stonevoice's blade, Seaclaw drew it forth and lunged upon the raptor's throne with sword raised high to strike her down. Then the shadow leapt from the darkness, knocking him down to the floor with a single hard kick as Oddclaw tried to rush for his aid.

[i]"S-SEACLAW, NO!"[/i] the steel raptors shoved him back.

[i]"N-NNNRGH!"[/i] he felt the scaled foot press against his chest. [i]"I-I'LL KILL YOU, G-GET OFF ME!"[/i]

[b][i]"Now that's not very nice,"[/i][/b] tutted Riptor, [b][i]"you should be much more considerate to your old friend Shaderunner."[/i][/b]

[i]"Sh-sha...what?"[/i]

Looming over him was another raptor of both steel and flesh. Half his head was covered with a metal plate, his left eye replaced by a synthetic sensor that tracked over the boy with mechanical indifference. Where there had once been crippled arms, there now were two powerful limbs of steel-ball joints and metal struts ending on razor sharp talons along with his wicked tail shining like a twisting spire.

[i]"S-...Sunscreech?"[/i]

Oddclaw gasped at the sight of his former brother, his foot still pressed firm upon Seaclaw's chest before he barked over at a red visor that gleamed in the dark.

"//I'll take that, thank you Sonnenschrei.//"

The long black figure of Frau Grimm stepped over to the boy and grabbed his sword, wrenching it from his hand and standing beside the mecha-raptors before Sunscreech let the boy stand up.

[i]"Sh-sha...shaderunner?! What...wh-what did you DO?!"[/i]

[b][i]"A few advancements,"[/i][/b] said Riptor from the now-empty throne, [b][i]"just to fix up a few problems here and there to make him more...suitable."[/i][/b]

[i]"You...you sickening,"[/i] Oddclaw shook his head, [i]"how, h-how could you do this?"[/i]

[b][i]"He tried to disobey me. I hope you understand."[/i][/b]

[i]"S-SHADE?! SHADE!"[/i] Seaclaw grabbed his face. [i]"Shade, do you remember me?!"[/i]

[b][i]"He will speak when I order him to speak. As a good soldier should."[/i][/b]

[i]"You...y-YOUUU!"[/i]

He tried to lunge for her again but Sunscreech stopped him with a swipe of his tail, the other raptors pulling him away and holding him down as Frau Grimm cackled at his efforts.

"//Such a pathetic little halfbreed.//"

[b][i]"//Do not underestimate them,//"[/i][/b] said Riptor back to her in German, [b][i]"//they are still beasts like me, except THESE ones understand not your greatness.//"[/i][/b]

"//I see.//" She stroked her chin. "//Is this the one who-//"

[b][i]"//Yes...his uniqueness you see offers a greater variety.//"[/i][/b]

"//Do not let Ingelbaum near him, you know what he's like with the dark-skin types.//"

[b][i]"//You manage your tribe, I manage mine.//"[/i][/b]

Turning back towards Oddclaw who pulled Seaclaw back, Grimm watched the father and son share the same expression of hate as Riptor returned to her primal tongue.

[b][i]"I assure you that you will not be harmed, however if you disobey me...you'll find a better place as a loyal pet for however long I require these filthy degenerates."[/i][/b]

They looked over to Sunscreech who walked up to Frau Grimm, standing by her side with a shriek and a full-arm salute of his limb much to the kommandant's quiet glee as she stroked his head.

"WAIT, wait!" Oddclaw shouted to Grimm. "She is using you, do not listen to her!"

"//My god even THIS savage knows English.//" she smirked shaking her head. "//A sign more than ever of its degenerate tongue.//"

"She wants to kill you, she does not want to help you she is going to kill you all when she is done with you!"

[b][i]"She can't understand you,"[/i][/b] snickered Riptor's voice, [b][i]"these humans speak a different tongue to your friends, and I doubt you know it well enough."[/i][/b]

[i]"...fine."[/i] He swept his hands staring back to the throne. [i]"I know why you want me, but why my son? He has nothing to do with us!"[/i]

[b][i]"Because I want to show him the greatness he can become. One day he shall grow old and mature like you did, and since he obviously carries your genes he will make a perfect mate for another of my pack."[/i][/b]

[i]"NO!"[/i] He pulled Seaclaw behind him. [i]"You will NOT have him suffer like I did you SICKENING-"[/i]

[b][i]"QUIET!"[/i][/b] Her voice sparked with a hiss. [b][i]"Stop acting like a weak simpering human, I thought you were a good father!"[/i][/b]

[i]"Which is why I will never let you touch him!"[/i]

[b][i]"Oh I don't plan on touching him, as I said he'll breed with another of my choosing."[/i][/b]

[i]"I don't want ANYTHING from you!"[/i] screeched Seaclaw holding his dad. [i]"You're a murderer, you don't care about me, my father or anyone!"[/i]

[b][i]"Such an awful child!"[/i][/b] she clicked her tongue. [b][i]"You were so well-mannered when I last spoke to you, I certainly hope you treat your new brothers better."[/i][/b]

[i]"B-...brothers?"[/i]

The lights flooded the room as they were blinded by a sharp white beam, covering their eyes as the throne was revealed fully before them. They saw the bones of creatures that at first they did not parse, but then they saw a horn twisting from its side, a long lizard's tail curled down its front and stubby legbones pressed deep into the frame. On the throne itself was another TV screen sat upon the peak of its seat, where they saw Riptor's full body sitting upon another throne in another location plunged into a deep amber haze where steam hissed out of pipes surrounding the wall behind her. On her head was a helm of silver connecting to the ceiling where a dozen cables writhed like serpents into a large half-moon-shaped device that throbbed with menacing aura and a burning electric tinge. Then they saw her swollen belly. Oddclaw felt sick as his legs turned numb, his son stumbling back to fall before his father caught him.

[i]"What...n-no, no!"[/i]

[b][i]"Do you like them?"[/i][/b] Riptor stroked her pregnant form. [b][i]"Twins. Two beautiful boys you gifted me Oddclaw."[/i][/b]

[i]"Th-that is not...that...NO!"[/i]

[b][i]"Oh you couldn't possibly think after I fucked you twice that something didn't take, not with your pure fertile seed."[/i][/b]

[i]"F-father, father no,"[/i] Seaclaw grabbed him, [i]"that's not, she forced you, I know she did, those aren't my brothers!"[/i]

[b][i]"Seaclaw don't talk about your family like-"[/i][/b]

[i]"THEY'RE NOT MY BROTHERS!"[/i] he shrieked jabbing at her. [i]"You hurt my father, you MADE him, you'll NEVER be my family!"[/i]

[b][i]"Hmph. You trained him well it seems."[/i][/b] Her teeth grew to a sneer. [b][i]"Alright, Seaclaw, would you leave us for a moment?"[/i][/b]

[i]"No."[/i] He stood fierce with a stomp towards her. [i]"I'm not leaving, you wanted me here, so I'm staying with my father!"[/i]

[b][i]"You'll do as your new mother tells you to."[/i][/b]

[i]"And if I don't-HNRR-RRGH!"[/i]

[i]"SEACLAW, NO!"[/i]

In the same second that his son was shot by a taser, Oddclaw was pulled back and restrained with two metal raptors holding his arms in their teeth as Seaclaw was approached by Sunscreech. Without a word he used his tail to pull the unconscious boy onto his back, and carried him towards another room as the father struggled to break free.

[i]"SUNSCREECH, SUNSCREECH NO GIVE HIM BACK, [b]GIVE BACK MY SON![/b]"[/i]

[b][i]"He can't hear you,"[/i][/b] Riptor tapped her silver helm, [b][i]"I made sure he can't disobey me ever again, with a few improvements thanks to these humans and this lovely machine on my head.."[/i][/b]

[i]"You...you are telling him what to do?"[/i]

[b][i]"Somewhat."[/i][/b] She swept her claws. [b][i]"Half of these fake raptors you see around you? Directly controlled by me, up to twelve at a time, six per hemisphere not that you would understand but Sunscreech is one of them."[/i][/b]

[i]"You...you disgust me."[/i] Oddclaw gasped. [i]"How could you think any of this was good, for anyone?!"[/i]

[b][i]"Your hypocrisy is outstanding, that your humans would be any better than mine."[/i][/b]

[i]"MY friends never harmed any of us, your hairless fiends have been murdering everything!"[/i]

[b][i]"And if it wasn't for me they would have eradicated your home,"[/i][/b] Riptor leaned forth with her shifting belly, [b][i]"so DON'T test me. It took me a great amount of work and dedication to bring these humans under my heel, which considering our future will be a mercy."[/i][/b]

[i]"What...what future?"[/i]

[b][i]"Oh, not yet."[/i][/b] She smiled tapping her claws. [b][i]"I don't want to spoil the surprise too much."[/i][/b]

[i]"...I do not understand."[/i] Oddclaw shook his head pulling free from the silver raptors. [i]"How, if we had...if you used me a cycle and a half before, you would have birthed them by now!"[/i]

[b][i]"And have you miss the birth?!"[/i][/b] She sat back in her seat as the cables twisted above her head. [b][i]"I asked the humans here if they had means of forced gestation, birth delays and what have you. Luckily they did, they experiment with all sorts of terrible things and twist bodies into such horrid creations as you have seen from your dear...friends, I assume, the fire and slash duo, were you colleagues or-"[/i][/b]

[i]"SHUT UP!"[/i] He marched forth until two raptors stopped him. [i]"They were my FRIENDS, how DARE you mock them!"[/i]

[b][i]"You should be more worried about your currently-living friends,"[/i][/b] Riptor smirked, [b][i]"But yes, the humans here gave me several serums that not only delay the birth, but allow me to nurture a stronger, more powerful pair of sons than I could ever have wished."[/i][/b]

[i]"Stronger...sons?"[/i]

[b][i]"They had to make a new changes, one of them being they can't be in eggs but that's fine...if I have to birth live like a filthy mammal it will only serve for a greater purpose of invoking the TRUE rulers of your world."[/i][/b]

[i]"True...wait, wait,"[/i] he shook his head clutching his face, [i]"what do you mean rulers?"[/i]

[b][i]"Rulers of...what?"[/i][/b] Riptor blinked with a soft gasp. [b][i]"What was I saying?"[/i][/b]

[i]"True alphas of my land, what did you mean?"[/i]

[b][i]"I meant, n-no, no I meant RULER, me, I shall become your alpha, what does...well..."[/i][/b]

She scratched her chin looking off into the distance.

[b][i]"I suppose if I were to pass on my sons will take over, that is what I meant I'm sure. But I promise you, none shall ever harm your tribe so long as I rule over all."[/i][/b]

[i]"I have my alpha already, and he protects us well, we do not need you, none of us do!"[/i]

[b][i]"Oh but you do."[/i][/b]

Riptor turned to Frau Grimm who pulled out a remote and clicked on two large screens that flickered on the wall, showing the battered beaten bodies of Jane and Chanoch breathing.

[b][i]"Remember them? Let's make this the first choice of your new life."[/i][/b]

[i]"What do you mean?!"[/i] He gasped crying out to them. "JANE, CHANOCH!"

[b]"O-oddclaw?!"[/b] Jane whimpered looking at the screen. [b]"Oddclaw, oh, g-god I'm so sorry!"[/b]

"It is fine, are you alright?!"

[b]"God...they got us. F-fucking nazis they shot everyone, they killed so many of us...they kidnapped me, I don't know where Andrea's gone, Kevin, i think I heard Jeremy but Thomas and Anna I've no idea where they've gone!"[/b]

[b]"It is only us,"[/b] Chanoch shook his head, [b]"fight them, Oddclaw. Do not surrender-ARRRGH!"[/b]

[b]"//QUIET JEWPIG!//"[/b] a hand from off-screen stabbed him with a burning rod that jolted his body.

[b]"N-nnngh..."[/b] he shuddered from the new burn of black on his battered skin, [b]"I will not...yield...you should not either-N-NNRRRRRAAGH!"[/b]

[b]"//QUIET!//"[/b] another guard burned his flesh. [b]"//Speak when you're spoken to you fucking lizard!//"[/b]

[i]"STOP IT!"[/i] Oddclaw screamed trying to push past the guards. [i]"LET THEM GO, L-LET THEM GO!"[/i]

[b][i]"Do you want them to be safe?"[/i][/b] Riptor snarled tenting her claws. [b][i]"Then you will do as I say. Or else."[/i][/b]

[i]"I will not breed you again,"[/i] he hissed in their tongue.

[b][i]"You have no choice. Unless...hmm...actually."[/i][/b]

She muttered something to Frau Grimm, who in turn radio'd something to her guards as two gun barrels slid up towards Jane and Chanoch's heads.

[b][i]"I already have two sons on the way, so perhaps I can give you a reprieve of not breeding me any further...IF you can show me your loyalty."[/i][/b]

[i]"What...what loyalty?!"[/i]

[b][i]"Let's do a test. One of them will die this day, but I'll have YOU choose."[/i][/b]

[i]"NO! NO I cannot, you sick-minded BEAST!"[/i]

[b][i]"Then I shall kill ALL of your friends instead-NNGH!"[/i][/b] Riptor snapped with a wince as she clutched her belly. [b][i]"D-dammit, forgot about this wretched body."[/i][/b]

"//Do you need help?//" asked Grimm tapping her foot.

[b][i]"//N-no,//"[/i][/b] she shuddered pushing herself back, [b][i]"//just need to remember I'm not as strong or agile when carrying for two.//"[/i][/b]

"//I can take over this interrogation if you need rest, it would be terrible to overexert yourself so near the birth.//"

[b][i]"//I can manage...thank you.//"[/i][/b]

Cricking her neck the ultraraptor gave a shudder as she felt the churning in her womb, the twitching flutter and the soft kick of something inside that made Oddclaw shiver in disgust. Sometimes a hand, sometimes a foot as Riptor's nose started to bleed when her eyes twitched.

[b][i]"If you choose one of these two to die now, I shall spare you the honour of breeding me, as well as allow the rest of your friends to remain alive."[/i][/b]

[i]"You cannot make me choose,"[/i] he took a step back, [i]"You will not, I will not, my friends would not want-"[/i]

[b][i]"Then I will burn your home to ashes, as I demonstrated. You have no choice...explain that to them."[/i][/b]

She nodded towards the two screens, Jane shivering as she felt the gun without even turning her head and closed her eyes sobbing with bloodied streams down her nose. Chanoch stood resilient, staring at the screen with piercing eyes and a stiffening spine as he saw the look on Oddclaw's face, the barrel of the gun rubbing against his cheek.

"They...she, said I have to choose."

[b]"Oh fuck,"[/b] whimpered Jane, [b]"f-fuck, fuck I'm sorry, I'm s-so sorry."[/b]

"It's fine, it's not your fault, it...I am sorry. If I do not choose...they will...they will burn my home, they will starve us of all our food."

[b]"Oh god, god no!"[/b]

[b]"Oddclaw."[/b] Chanoch's voice rumbled through the feed. [b]"If one of us must die, choose me."[/b]

"WHAT?!"

[b]"Ch-chanoch NO!"[/b] Jane shrieked.

[b]"I am a soldier,"[/b] said Jarogniew, [b]"I have faced death, and will accept, to keep others safe. Jane is innocent...your family, your tribe, must live."[/b]

[b]"Chanoch no, no god don't say that, don't bloody say that Oddclaw don't listen to him!"[/b]

"I do not want to choose!" he cried scratching his face. "I-i do not...no, I do not want either of you to die!"

[b]"I don't want it either,"[/b] she shook her head faster between sobs, [b]"please, please don't let them do this, don't let them win!"[/b]

"I am TRYING!" he screamed trying to push through the steel raptors that forced him still. "I-i am trying...I was supposed to...help you."

[b]"You have."[/b] Chanoch said softly. [b]"You have helped us well. But, you must protect your people."[/b]

"But, b-but you are my friends...you, Chanoch you are my son's friend he has already lost one, he cannot-"

[b]"Chanoch don't make this harder for him,"[/b] Jane shivered bending forwards, [b]"ohhhh christ, ohhh please Oddie, I'm sorry I never wanted this to happen I just w-wanted to be your friend and study your home and keep everyone safe!"[/b]

"I know Jane. I know." He sighed with gasping tears stuttering his chest. "I-i don't want to choose."

[b]"If you have to,"[/b] Chanoch took a deep breath, [b]"you know, who to choose. I am ready, Oddclaw."[/b]

He gave one last look to both of them, the human shuddering as she gently rocked back and forth, the lizardman stoic and resolute keeping his back straight as he could within his chains. He hated Chanoch's words, burning deep in his heart but he nodded in the end.

"Jane. Jane look at me."

She looked up with tears besmirching her face.

"A person, is a person. No matter how small."

His smile grew as she started giggling from her nerves, gasping in a sigh of almost relief as her lungs emptied out in a more desperate-sounding laugh that rattled through the room and slightly unnerved the raptor.

[b]"Aaaaah...yes...h-hahaha, yes...you are right...alright. Threeclaw."[/b]

"Hhhahahahaa...haaah."

The raptor turned back towards Riptor who kept watch on him, the lines of cyber-raptors all staring with the same look as her from the small creep of her sneer.

[i]"I...have decided,"[/i] Oddclaw took the longest breath, [i]"I choose...Chanoch."[/i]

[b][i]"As you wish."[/b][/i]

She turned towards Frau Grimm with a smile and nodded.

[b][i]"//Kill the human.//"[/i][/b]

The kommandant relayed the order as the gun pulled on Jane.

[b]"Wha-NO, ODDIE, ODDIE NOOO-"[/b]

[b][i]BANG.[/i][/b]

[i]"JANE! [b]NOOOOOO![/b]"[/i]

His legs gave out in a startled shock, stumbling onto his knees as he tried to stagger forwards in a desperate charge to grab Frau Grimm. Screeching with tears bursting from his eyes, the mech-raptors threw him back and pinned him three at once, the body of Jane slumping against the wall with a deep crimson spot through her temple.

[i]"YOU LIED, YOU WORTHLESS WRETCH YOU LIED TO ME!"[/i]

[b][i]"Because you made the wrong choice,"[/i][/b] Riptor hissed through the feed, [b][i]"the fact you put humans first before anyone else, even yourself is disgusting."[/i][/b]

[i]"I CHOSE CHANOCH, [b]I DID WHAT YOU SAID YOU SHIT![/b]"[/i]

[b][i]"I said you had to choose, NOT that I would fulfil it. I warned you Oddclaw, that I would silence your human voice, and I know it was she that first taught you to speak like them, THINK like them...but not any longer. And I hope your little human trainer learned that too, in her last moments."[/i][/b]

[i]"JANE! JANE I AM SORRY, I S-SAID CHANOCH, I SAID CHANOCH YOU-GET OFF ME!"[/i] The cyber-raptors pulled him down as he kicked harder. [i]"I HOPE YOUR SONS ROT IN YOUR WOMB, AND YOU DIE WITH THEM-HNN-NNRGH!"[/i]

He was soon sedated, one of the cyber-raptors opening its mouth to shock him with a stabbing pain in the back of his neck before he passed out swiftly, his sobbing shrieks fading out with hissing breaths and bitter tears as he kicked his legs before he turned limp. He was dragged away by the metal beasts down the hall as Riptor sat back in her seat, the humming device above her ringing with a sound that echoed in her mind constantly.

"//Is that all you need?//" Grimm asked turning her visor to her.

[b][i]"//Yes, thank you.//"[/i][/b] The raptor scritched her claws across her seat. [b][i]"//I appreciate the fact you built me a throne, master.//"[/i][/b]

"//I understand in order to subjugate, you must invoke a certain...strength of position, by the environment you create. That, and in order to power the panzeraptors efficiently, one must require a great energy source.//"

[b][i]"//I am glad we thought the same thing.//"[/i][/b]

"//Plus, I'm not the sort of girl who lets dogs sleep in my bed. Standards you see.//"

[b][i]"//Hah, this is quite a bed for a mutt.//"[/i][/b]

She sniffed sharply as she felt something warm drip down her snout. Lapping her nostrils she tasted blood, sitting up slightly with a snort.

[b][i]"//Ugh, it's happening again.//"[/i][/b]

"//Yeeees Ingelbaum did warn us,//" she walked up to the screen, "//but you need not fear, your mind is powerful enough to ensure that our new panzeraptors make our work much easier, thanks to that moonbase you somehow discovered and its source of power.//"

[b][i]"//I hear many things,//"[/i][/b] she purred restraining her snarl, [b][i]"//I am glad they are working well, but my subordinates can take over should I need to rest.//"[/i][/b]

"//Of course.//" Frau Grimm walked up to her head and stared into her eyes. "//Incredible to think, we are separated by millions of years, and yet our thoughts align so perfectly.//"

[b][i]"//You said it yourself master. Farmers and livestock. Predators and prey, it is the same thing to me.//"[/i][/b]

"//As it always has been...of course.//" The commander grinned clasping her hands. "//Well, I will let you rest, there are still some new places to colonise and I wanted to delve deep into that scarred island.//"

[b][i]"//So long as you harm not one raptor,//"[/i][/b] she closed her eyes, [b][i]"//Radium will help you manage the ones there, they will not harm you so long as he is there.//"[/i][/b]

"//And what of my new Sonnenschrei?//"

[b][i]"//His mind's essentially sleeping, he'll listen to any order you give him, but his children might be a little...startled, to see him so different. Again, Radium will explain.//"[/i][/b]

"//Very well.//" The human stroked her hair and made a full-arm salute. "//Rest well, my perfect beast.//"

Taking her leave, Frau Grimm headed down the corridor where the captives had been taken. The screen turned itself off, as Riptor laid her head in her throne from an unseen location, sighing as the neural transmitter went into sleep mode above sensing her exhaustion as blood continued to drip from her snout. She stared up towards a circular gate sitting in front of her, stroking her belly as she curled her tail round herself where two steel blades shimmered an evil gleam.

[i]"Patience my sons...you will have your kingdom soon...the door will open, and in you ran...your day shall come for the death of man."[/i]