[cherie]

fienly,next chapter. read on!

In truth Zander wasn't very intrested in his job. Like most sligs he rather be doing something else then what he was assigned to. To Zander, anything that got him to stay around the other sligs longer was something he rather not do. He hated being with the other Sligs. There were many reasons for this. He thought of those reasons as he kept one eye on Ali.

Ali now was merely stareing ahead, a frightened look in her eyes. Zander could hardly blame her. Ripped from the place she knew as home and being brought to a Vykkers lab. Hell, he'd be scared too. He almost felt bad for the Mudokon. Of course,he wouldn't say that out loud.

" How much longer?" Zander called out to the front of the truck.

" Not too much longer." The driveing slig replied. " just about six more miles and we'll be there."

"good, i'm getting sick of sitting back here." Zander said.

If it were possible Ali looked more miserible then she had a few seconds ago. Not long untill she would be i na Vykker lab. There she wouldn't have a likely hope of escape. She would end up as a project. Suffering or possibley dead.

Now things could have gone that way. And it would of if it hadn't been for the herd of scrabs.

The scrabs were merely resting, a couple of them hissing and fighting eachother. The sudden rumbleing of the truck disturbed then. And a disturbed scrab is an angry scrab.

" Oh shit." Say the slig driver the second he saw the scrab herd heading towards the truck.

" No problem, just ram through them. the truck should be able to take the punishment." Said the passenger slig, though not without a waver in his voice.

" Ram through what? Whats going on out there?" Zander asked, hearing the conversation.

" explain later. hold on."

With that the driver slig slammed his foot down on the gas pedal.

" Hold on to ..wahhh!" The sudden change in speed sent both mudokon and slig went tumbleing to the back of the truck ending up piled on one another.

" o.k,that really hurts." Ali managed to mumble.

" Get the hell away from me!" Zander snapped at her as he pulled himself away.

" Hey,your the one who fell on me." Ali snapped back,temper getting the better of her.

" Don't you talk that way to me you damned muddie. I ought to.."

The truck swerved suddenly,sending the two tumbleing again.

" You know something, nevermind." Zander said,now under Ali.

" Shit! it got the tire!" Came the scream from the driver.

More bumps and swerves. Screeching from the scrabs could be heard. Ali was so frightened it was almost a blessing when there was an almighty crash and everything went black.

**************

"Ow,my body hurts." Ali moaned as she came to sometime later. She saw only darkness as her eyes focused. Was she still in the truck. She felt around untill she felt the steel sides,confirming she was still in the truck. On her feet now she walked blindly in the dark. She yelped as she tripped over something soft and went rolling. It was a luckey roll though as she went rolling out the now open doors of the truck. She landed onto her back,looking up at the starry sky. The sight made her almost forget the confuseing situation. Almost. She pulled herself up and looked about. The scene was choas. Chunks of landscape and bodyparts of the two sligs that were in the front. were strewn about. Ali made a face about the body parts, epspicely when she stepped on one of them.

" EWW!" she cried and imedditly began rubbing her foot in the dirt, trying to rid herself of the " ew,i stepped on something gross." feeling.

" Wah...whats going on?" came the moan from the truck. Ali turned to see Zander comeing from from the back of the truck,rubbing his sore head.

" I...don't know." Ali anwsered. " I woke up and found this scene. Something ripped apart those two sligs."

Zander looked toward the choas and gasped. Holding in his disgust he walked over to the scene and studied it.

" Scrabs." He muttered. " They look like they've been ripped apart by scrabs. They must have made the truck crash somehow."

Despite the sligs being her eneimes Ali couldn't help but feel bad. Unfoetunely there wasn't much she could do now. Instead she turned and slowly began to walk away.

" Hey, just a second. Where the hell do you think your going? The labs that way." Zander growled, pointing to the left.

Ali sized up the situation. One slig, with no gun. Suddenly she felt brave.

" You think i'm going there? Hell no! I'm staying as far away from that place as possible."

"Is that so?" Zander hissed as he advanced.

Ali backed away, her bravery leaveing her. She then turned and ran. Zander went after her.

The chase was on.