[TheRaisin]

Geez, yer nitpicky, aren't ya? Erect just mains straight. The D'naathi stand up straight. That's it! I think you read a little too much into that! Well anyway, my first dedication is to Silversnow, the first REAL replier. Nads, you sick person.


There was a whining sound as the tri-helimotors were engaged. A purplish glow began eminating from under the chassis as the power stones were tapped into. Tak gave a brisk wave to the villagers and stepped into the cockpit, lowering the canopy. He seated himself, then gave a thumbs-up to Plik and Cedar. The wheels spun, then they took off as one in a cloud of dust. Oak, who had been put in charge of the other villagers, brought his hand up, then swept it forward, and the rest of the convoy began moving as well.
Tak relished in the speed of the vehicle. Tri-helimotors were built for well-kept roads, and with a good surface they were among the fastest-moving D'naathi vehicles, giving them the nickname "road runners". The journey would take the others at least a week. With luck, Tak would make it to the City within a few days. He just hoped it wouldn't be too late.

Jarha stood watching over the operation. Since their landing yesterday morning, the Ket had set up an industrious surface base. Kint, who had argued with him the day before, now obediently gave him a report.
"All energy reserves will be back at one-hundred percent within a matter of days."
"Make it two-hundred percent," Jarha commanded. "We'll need the extra power for the planet-sweep. And I wish to personally fire the first volley."
Kint rolled his eyes, but obeyed.
"Double it!" he shouted, running back to his post. "New order! We need energy reserves at two-hundred percent!"
Jarha allowed himself a satisfied smile. He would personally see to the destruction of this race of monsters. He would destroy the genetic mutants his predecessors had thought so perfect. He would destroy the abominations to their very last man.

Tak pulled onto the side of the road, massaging his neck. They had been riding for hours, and it was getting dark: time to take a break. He popped open the canopy of the tri-helimotor and stepped out. Plik and Cedar followed, glad to be able to stretch their legs.
By the time night fell, they had a roaring fire and a hot meal. After an hour, Plik and Cedar were starting to doze off. Only Tak remained alert, an insomniac if ever there was one. His inability to sleep saved their lives.
An indistinct sound came from near Cedar's trihelimotor. Another followed from the direction away from the road. Tak sensed there were others present. He moved to wake up Cedar. She opened one eye and winked without him touching her. It was obvious she had been awake the whole time. Tak feigned an itch, and rubbed his neck, inconspicuously pointing into the night. Cedar winked again, and motioned downward with her eye. Tak saw that she had already begun to slide a knife out of her belt.
Tak was impressed: she had obviously heard the sounds before him, and had already begun to react. Tak lowered his head at Plik, asking wordlessly if they sould wake him up. Cedar shook her head slightly. They waited.
After a minute, it seemed the sounds were getting closer. When they were within striking range, Cedar held up three fingers. She dropped one, then another, then the last, and they both leapt up noiselessly. Cedar tossed Tak two of the three daggers she had had concealed on her belt. He caught them deftly and brandished them to whatever unseen foe was there. Then Cedar grabbed a branch partially in the fire with her tail, transfered it to her hand, and brandished all three of her weapons: the burning branch, the remaining knife, and her own tail. There was a yelp somewhere in the darkness, and they both ran in that direction. A pounding of feet told them their former hunter was now on the run from them. Cedar leaped into the darkness, guided by her hearing and her electrical field sensor, and gave a triumphant "HA!" as she landed on another D'naathi and laid him flat with the end of her makeshift torch that wasn't on fire.
"Get the rest! Four of them!" she shouted.
Tak ran back to the fire. He picked Plik up and stuffed him in the nearest tri-helimotor, telling him to stay put. Then he began hunting. He realized that all four D'naathi were running in the same direction, making them an easy target. He ran a curving intercept course and cut them off. He lifted one up with his tail, and hurled him at another two. They fell in a heap and stayed there.
The last D'naathi was more bold. He pulled a large curved scimitar from a scabbard on his belt and slashed at Tak. Tak crossed Cedar's daggers in front of his face and blocked the blow. Still keeping the sword back with the daggers, he kicked hard at the chest of the D'naathi, who groaned and dropped the sword. Finally Tak knocked him out with the flat of one of the daggers.
Five minutes later, all five D'naathi were tied together, their backs to the fire. From their weapons and attire, Tak determined they were nothing more than highway bandits. Plik, who had missed out on the fight, gave them a few sharp kicks for good measure.

In the morning, the three messengers prepared to set out once more, with the bandits' weapons stowed along with the rest of their gear.
"Y'know, we really shouldn't have tied them to that big cactus," Cedar commented cheerily.
"We left a knife for them to cut themselves free when they wake up," Plik replied.
"Although they might have to uproot the cactus to get to it," Tak said. "We DID leave it twenty feet away, after all."
"Don't cacti have strong roots?" Plik asked.
Cedar nodded. "Very," she said affirmingly.
They set off laughing, on their way once again to The City.