'Mark of a Killer'

[Sl'askia]

Read 'Moon Child' and 'White Goddess' first, in that order

Prologue

Steinix fidgited nervously as the egg before him wobbled, the occupent struggling to break free of its shell and enter the world. He had been working deligently on this project for months and now he will finally see if all his hard work was going to bear fruit. A crack appeared in the shell, followed shortly by another. Then the egg stopped moving, and he began to worry.
Oh please just be resting a moment. Steinix thought nervously. It would be a very bad thing for him indeed if the baby inside died just as it was hatching. Larhik would have his hide if this project failed. That glukkon has been pushing hard for results on this ever since Mollock disappeared. He just doesn't understand that these kind of things take time. To his relief the egg started moving again and even more cracks appeared. Once again it stopped, and Steinix felt a lump in his throat. Then suddenly the egg just fell apart, and a little baby mudokon collasped exhausted in the nest it was in. Unlike the slaves and wild mudokons, this one was black and gray in color and was female. Pleased, he gently picked up the infant and placed her in an incubaitor to keep her warm. Suddenly the door behind him opened and a Glukkon walked in, Larhik.
"Well? Whats the status, has it hatched yet?" Larhik demanded.
"It just hatched sir." Steinix answered.
"And well the result be everything we expected it to be?"
"It is too soon to tell sir."
"So how long will it be before it can start training?"
"About 5 years."
"Thats too long! Even now that blasted Abe is raiding another factory!"
"I'm sorry sir, but these things take time. You can't rush her growth."
"Very well, but I need results as soon as possible! As soon as she is old enough to start training she is to do so understand!" with that Larhik walked out.
"Of course sir." Steinix said as his watched Larhik leave, then he turned to the infent, "Looks like you have a big destany ahead of you little one, my Kila."
Kila just yawned and fell asleep.

16 years later
Kila sat bored in the arena. She had just despatched five Big Bro Sligs and ten Scrabs inside a maze that was set up within the arena. She found no challege in them at all. She looked up at Steinix and Larhik watching her in the balcony above. She stood up, her spear in her hand.
"Is this the best you can do!?" she shouted to them, "Come on I need a challege here!"
"A rather cocky girl isn't she?" Larhik said with a smile.
"Yes she is. Do you think she's ready yet?" Steinix asked. The Vykker was appauled at what Larhik had turned his creation into, but he had no choice but to let him.
"We need to do one more test." Larhik said.
"What test is it this time?" Steinix groaned.
"We need to ensure she has no problems killing her own kind." he turned the a slig at the control panel. "Send some slaves in there with her. Ten of them."
"Right away sir." the slig said as he relayed the command to the other sligs that were in charge of the holding pens around the arena.
"Now Kila, there's one more test you are going to have to accomplish. You need to find and kill all the slaves that are coming into the arena as I speak."
"Slaves? Boring!." Kila said as she toyed with her red and purple ponytail.
"Just do it!" Larhik said annoyed.
"If I must."
It didn't take long for Kila to kill all the mudokon slaves and not once did she hesitate. Larhik watched her with sadistic glee and Steinix with horror. Kila looked up at them again, annoyed.
"Are we through yet?" she asked.
"Yes quite, you have proven yourself. Now you will go out to the field." Larhik said with glee.
"What!" Steinix said in shock.
"Silence!" Larhik snapped at him, then turned his attention back to Kila, "Your mission is to kill any of those terrorist mudokons you can find. Especially their ringleader Abe."
"Sounds too easy!" Kila said.
"Oh it won't be, I can assure you of that. Abe is a crafty one, he will be a great challege for you."
"If thats the case, I'll do it. When can I leave?"
"Why right now if you like."
Kila smiled evilly.

Chapter 1

A mudokon was laying on the top of a hill, enjoying the sunny day. He sighed with content as the sun warmed his grayish-blue skin. This is the life. he thought.
"Omi!" he heard a familiar annoyed voice call to him.
Ah crud what is he upset at me for this time? Omi thought as he sat up to watch Abe climb up the hill toward him. Abe had certainly started to show his age; his skin and ponytail were starting to gray and his eyes weren't as bright as they used to be. He also now had a limp in his walk, a result of an injury he received during one of their recent factory raids. An injury that made the others make him go into retirement, something he wasn't happy about. Omi reached out with his power to discern how much trouble he was in.
Hmmm he thought, annoyance and concern is all I'm sensing. Looks like it's only going to be a scolding this time. Omi looked at his father, a cocky grin on his face. Abe saw this and groaned.
"You know I hate it when you use your power on me." Abe said as he sat down next to him.
Omi just smiled as he said, "I know father. So what are you upset at me for this time?"
"The fact that you keep coming out here by yourself againsted our wishes." Abe said sternly.
"Not this again. Father I am 15 now. I can take care of myself!"
"I know that, but your mother and I can't help but worry about you. You're..."
"I know, I know. I'm your only child. Still you could cut me some slack here!"
"Son," Abe said with a sigh, "Someday my time will come, and I'll need you to take my place."
"What for? The Magog Cartel is in shambles, its not what it used to be. That and most of the sligs have joined our side. I don't think they are a threat anymore."
"We don't know that. They may be laying low, biding their time, waiting for the day I die. Then they would strike back stronger then before."
"How? Without there slig guards and slave force?" Omi countered.
"There are still sligs that willingly work for them and fellow mudokons that are trapped in slavery. They will find a way to get more I'm sure of it." Abe said with a sudden look of concern on his face. Omi didn't need his power to tell that Abe was very worried about something.
"Father, what's wrong? Something's got you worried." he asked gently.
After a bit of a pause Abe said, "Someone has been knocking off supporters to our cause recently. It will be only a matter of time before whoever it is comes after me and your mother."
"And if this guy isn't stopped," Omi said suddenly fearing for his parents lives, "it will cause the revolution to crumble."
Abe only nodded sadly in agreement

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 2

Steinix walked down the corridor towards Kila's room. Its been five months since Kila first started going out to the field and Steinix had barely managed to convince her to come back for a few days every couple of weeks so he could tend to any injuries or infections she might pick up. So far she had been lucky, but every time he worried that something would happen to her and would never come back. He pressed the 'Call' button next to her door and prayed she was there. When there was no response after a moment, he pressed it again, getting worried. He was about to press it a third time when he heard her voice over the speaker.
"Who is it?" she said.
"It's me, can I come in?" Steinix said breathing a sigh of relief.
"Sure."
As he opened the door he braced himself for a wave of punk rock music to hit him, but thankfully there wasn't this time. He walked in, sighing in annoyence at the various weapons and punk rock items strung up on the walls.
"I still say you hang around those Interns too much." he said.
"Well that's your opinion." he heard her say in the next room.
Ah no, she's in her trophy room. he thought with a shudder as he walked toward the room. The trophy room was a room she set up to display the various items off her victems. Mostly it was some unquie articile of clothing, but sometimes she took body parts. He had wondered where some of his preserving jars had gone until he discovered she had started this collection. It sicken him to no end, but Larhik and his colleages encourged her to add on to it. He really hated them for turning Kila into such a monster. He took only quick glances about the room, most of the items were of mudokon origin, but there were some sligs ones as well. He spotted her at the far end, putting up her latest trophy; a huge tear dropped shaped mask.
"Let me guess, you got a shaman this time?" he asked, consealing his disgust.
"Yep, this one was a tuff one too. Give me a challege for once." Kila said with a smile as she turned toward him.
Steinix sighed, he had long ago given up on getting back the kind sweet Kila she used to be before she started her training. She had refused any notion of changing her ways. She was too set onto the path Larhik had chosen for her. He longed for the days before her training started, she had given him so much joy in his life. Seeing her as she is now filled him with dread.
Is there anyway of getting you back to the way you used to be Kila? he thought to himself.
"Ah another addition to your collection, excellent." they heard Larhik say.
Kila's expression quickly turned into one of annoyance.
"You came in here without my premission." she said.
"I do as I wish," Larhik said boldly, "Anyway it took me a while to get these, but I got some reference photos of Abe for you."
"About time." she said as she took the photos from the slig that handed them to her. As she looked through them she noticed that there were always at least two muds in them. One was Abe, the other was an oddity to her. "Who's the white mud with the ridiculously long ponytail?"
White mud? A Moon Child? I thought there were all wiped out. Steinix thought. Interesting.
"We don't know." Larhik replied,"We just know that Abe and this other mud has always been together for the past 16 yrs. Therefore it stands to reason that this one should get knocked off as well."
"Hmmm," Kila said looking thoughtful, "That ponytail would look good over the door..."
Steinix couldn't ignore the chill that went down his spine.

Chapter 3

Omi walked along side Cili in the forest, helping her gather nuts and berries. Like Abe, his mother was showing signs of age. Her skin was more gray then white now and the color in her eyes had faded. Though she had been living her life to the ut most, Omi could tell that the fact that no others of her kind had been found hurt her to no end. As a result, he always felt a hint of depression in her. The fact that his parents, for some reason, wasn't able to have another child, no matter how hard they tried, didn't help either.
"You know...," Cili said suddenly, breaking his chain of thought, "I've been wondering why you have been insisting on escourting your father and me lately. You never did before, expecially after you and your father had gotten through one of your debates."
"Um well..." Omi hesitated, he didn't know if Cili knew about the assassen or not, "I just wanted to spend more time with you that's all."
"You're lucky Squawks isn't here." Cili said with a slight frown, "Abe told you about the assassen didn't he?"
"Um, yes he did." Omi said, defeated.
"Abe," she said to herself with a heavy sigh, "I told you we shouldn't tell him."
"I would've found out about it sooner or later."
"I know, I just didn't want you to be putting yourself into greater danger for our sake."
"I can't help if mom. I don't want to lose either of you."
"I understand that son, but someday we will pass from this world, whether by an assassen's hand or not. And I want to ensure that our legacy will carry on through you."
"Jeez you as bad as father is on this." Omi said with a sigh, "I know all this, but what can I do to ensure it carries on after me? I mean, there aren't actually any other female mudokons out there that we know of." Cili got quiet for a moment and Omi knew he hit a sore point, "Mom, I'm sorry. I forget how hard it was on you."
"It's ok son, I just want to ensure that you won't feel as lonely as I did before I meet your father. Besides I know there's a female out there somewhere for you, I'm sure of it."
"Really?"
"Sure, I feel it in my bones. Anyway, we should be getting back." Cili said, "Abe is expecting these nuts and berries."
"Here let me take that." Omi said as he took the basket from his mother's hands.
"Really now Omi," Cili said with a mock look of annoyance on her face, "I maybe old but not that old."
"Only in your mind mom. Ouch!" Omi said with a chuckle as Cili playfully punched him in the arm. They both laughed as they continued on their way home.

Kila had only caught the last part of their conversation, but it was enough.
Heading back home to Abe huh? Kila thought as she followed them from a safe distance, How nice of you to lead me straight to him.
The grin on her face would have scared a scrab.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 4

Steinix was just about to leave for the day when Larhik came into the lab.
"Ah I see I caught you just in time." Larhik said. Steinix could have sworn he heard a slight growl in the glukkon's voice.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I just wanted to confirm something I've noticed about you."
"And that is?" Steinix asked, starting to fell nervious.
"Now I could be wrong, but you seemed to have been going soft on us, especialy over the last few months."
"What does that have to do with anything? As long as I do my work does it matter if I'm going soft or not?"
"As a matter of fact it does," with a quick motion the slig escort put his gun to Steinix's throat, "You see, those that go soft on us tend to turn against us. So tell me, what caused you to change."
"I...," Steinix gulped, "Didn't like the way you changed my Kila into a killing machine."
"What's this? A Vykker showing an emotional bond with one of his creations?" Larhik bent back his head and roared with laughter. Then with another command to the slig, the slig whacked Steinix in the head, sending him to the ground."For now on you will have a guard with you at all times. This is your only warning, if you show ANY sign of turning against us you will be killed." As Larhik headed to the door he added, "And remember, you signed Kila's life over to me the moment you agreed to create her."
And that means as soon as she is no longer of any use to you... Steinix couldn't finish the thought and he put his hands on his face and wept.

Kila had been watching Abe for the past couple of days, staying hidden and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. To her annoyance, someone always accompanied Abe whenever he left the village, usually a grayish-blue male. This male was escorting him this time. He's about my age, she thought as she studied them, quite devoted to protecting Abe, kind of cute too. She slapped herself. What am I doing thinking of such a thing!? There's no room for wooing someone. Snap out of it girl. Noticing they had stopped, she decided that now was the best time to strike. She notched an arrow in her bow and took aim....

Abe and Omi had just stopped to rest a moment when Omi's power kicked in big time. Wha... he thought as he rubbed his forehead, I'm sensing, hate, determination, and the intent to kill. Not from father, but from someone close by. He rubbed his forehead with both hands now.
"Omi?" Abe asked, concerned, "What's wrong?"
"Look out!" Omi cried as he suddenly knocked Abe to the ground. As he did so an arrow grazed him across the shoulder blades, where Abe was a split second before. Omi then knelt on the ground holding his shoulders, whimpering slightly in pain.
"Omi, son, are you alright?" Abe asked as he stood up, a bit shocked at what just happened.
"I will be." Omi said grimacing.
"I was the assassin wasn't it?" when Abe saw Omi's nod he said, "Is he still around?"
"Yes, but I'm sensing shock, confusion, and a little fear. I don't think he ever missed a target before."
"Well lets get outta of here before he comes to his senses." Abe said as he helped his son up, "And to see about that wound."
"Agreed."
They both ran back toward the village.

What! Kila thought, in shock, How did I miss? How did he...know? There was no way he could have seen me, he's back was to me.! After she noticed Abe was gone and she had regained her senses, she said to herself, "Kid, I don't know how you knew, but it looks like that if I'm going to kill Abe, I will have to kill you first."

Chapter 5

"Ouch!" Omi said, wincing.
"Sorry, Omi I'm out of pain killer." Cili said as she stitched up his wound, Abe was nearby pacing, "Love please stop pacing, you making a hole in the floor."
"I can't help it. Omi, why did you pull that stunt?" Abe said, looking somewhat aggiated.
"If I didn't you would be dead right now father." Omi said.
"You could've gotten yourself killed!"
Omi sighed, he hated it when Abe started getting overprotective of him, "I'm aware of that father, anyone else would have done the same thing I did."
"In this case anyone probaby wouldn't have because they wouldn't have known of the assassin. It was your power that alerted you and no one else has that." Cili said calmly as she finished stitching and wrapped a bandage around him.
"I know that mother. That's why I insist on going with you whenever you leave the village, I'm the best protection you could possibly have."
"But by foiling the assassin, you have made yourself a target. And that's what we been trying to prevent!" Abe said sternly.
"Father, more then likely the assassin would have found out about me soon enough, therefore I still would've become a target."
"Perhaps, in that case you should stay in the village for your own protection. No you will stay in the village!"
"Father, you can't seriously expect me to.."
"AND THAT"S AN ORDER!" Abe suddenly shouted, causing both Cili and Omi to recoil in surprise. Omi stood there silently a moment, a look of shock on his face. Then his expression changed to anger.
"No father," he said in a calm yet angry voice, "I will not.."
"What!"
"I am 15 now father, I am old enough to TAKE CARE OF MY F****** SELF!" Omi suddenly shouted and stomped out before either of his parents could stop him.
"Omi!" Abe started but Cili stopped him.
"Let him go love." Cili said gently.
"But.."
"I know, but we both have been pushing him toward a path in life he doesn't want to take. We need to let him make his own choice for once." Abe could see the tears in her eyes. And he embraced her.
"Cili, your right. We have been. I just hope the choice he makes doesn't send him to an early grave."

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 6

Omi walked into his 'shack' and collapsed on the bed. His shack was a little hut he had set up for himself away from the village so he could be alone for a bit when he wanted to. Not many knew about this quiet little place, but those that did knew it was best not to bother him when he was there. Only one usually came around from time to time, his friend Zig, one of the sligs that quit the Cartel. Unlike most of the sligs that joined Abe's revolution, Zig decided to completely lose all the things that once associated him with the Cartel, namely his metal pants and mask. While it was difficult at first to get used to getting around without pants, he found he was at home in the trees. Omi often found him hanging upside down by his tail acting like a total goof ball. But other then those bouts of silliness he was an important scout for the revolution. Omi hadn't seen him lately, and he was beening to worry that the assassin might have gotten him, that is until he heard him come into the shack.
"Nother spat with yer parents I take it?" Zig asked.
"Yeah." Omi groaned.
"Whoa what to yer back?"
"The assassin made an attempt on Abe today, I foiled him though."
"Yer power alerted yer to his presence I take it."
"Yeah, good thing to, cause the strike came from behind us. Father still went balistic on me afterward though for put my life on the line. He's so overprotective of me"
"He's just looking out for yer well being."
"I know, I just wish he would realize that I'm old enough to take care of my self."
"Yer parents will worry about you no matter how old you get."
"I know." Omi said with a small sigh, "Hey I'm thinking of going to the river, care to come?"
"Nah, I'm on scouting duty right now and only stopped by to say hi."
"Ah ok, see ya around then Zig."
"Be careful now ya hear?" Zig said as he left the shack.
"I will."

A little later Omi was soaking himself in the river. He was careful not to get the bandages wet. He was just leening up against a large rock that was in the middle of the river, when he heard someone or something come up to it on the other side. He intictively froze, he didn't know who or what it was. He reached out with his power, to see if he could tell what he was up against.
Annoyance is all I'm sensing. Could it be father? No he would have called out to me by now. Omi thought. He carefully turned around and peeked out from behind the rock. He gasped at what he saw.
There bathing in the river, was a female mudokon. The only one he had ever seen other then his mother. She was black and gray in color and had a sleek musicular frame. Her ponytail wa purple and red and she had red eyes. He could tell she was a warrior type. The sight of her made him feel all weak inside and his heart felt like it was in his throat. He couldn't move, all he could do was stare and watch her. It took him a moment to remember to breathe. The whole time her back was too him, so she never saw him. After what seemed like an eterity to him, she finished and walked away, not once noticing him. After a moment he was finally able to regain his senses.
Whoa, he thought, who is she? She was the prettiest thing I have ever seen. I wonder if I'll ever see her again?

Chapter 7

Omi was leaning back against a tree, humming to himself. It's been a about a week since he had seen the female mud at the river, and he couldn't stop thinking of her. He even dreamed of her. He sighed heavily, he really wanted to see her again.
"Omi?" he heard someone say, and he looked up to see Cili.
"Hi mother." he said cheerfully.
"Boy you have been in a good mood for the last few days, care to let me in on why?" she asked.
"Well..." Omi blushed slightly as he sat up, "I have meet someone..."
"Wha.. Who?" Cili said suddenly interested.
"Well we haven't actually introduced ourselves to each other, I just happened to she her at the river."
"And you didn't say hello?" Cili looked disappointed now.
"Well I was too stunned at her beauty to move, she didn't even see me."
"Well I hope next time you see her you'll be able to get her name at least." Cili said with a mischievous grin.
"If I see her again..."
"Oh you will son, I'm sure of it." Cili said as she gave him a light playful punch in the arm, "Anyway I need to go, I have to go find some more herbs for the healing bag."
"Alright mom." Omi didn't notice that she didn't have an escort with her....

Cili continued on deep into the forest. She was getting frustrated, the herbs she was looking for were being elusive.
"Why must these healing herbs be so difficult to find sometimes." she grumbled to herself.
"You won't be needing them where you're going." a mencing voice said behind her.
"Wha.."Cili whirled around to see a black and gray female mudokon. She was packing several types of weapons on her, including a gun. She was looking at her with an evil smile on her face. "What do you want?"
"Why to kill you of course. Now stay still and it will be quick and painless." The female suddenly rushed at her too fast for Cili to avoid, kicking her right in the gut and sending her slamming into a tree."
"UGH!" Cili collapsed against the tree, trying to regain her breath. She's too fast, I have to go Guardian on her. she thought, It has been awhile since I used it, but I have no choice.
"What's the matter old one? Can't take it?" the female taughted.
"You don't know what you are up against." Cili said as she stood up and transformed.
"Wha.." now it was the females turn to be shocked, "Ok this is something new. But I'm always up for a challage!"
The two battled for awhile. Cili was getting minor wounds but nothin major, her adversery was getting knocked about by her. Finally Cili was able to pin her against a tree.
*Had enough and care to tell me what this is all about?* Cili asked.
"Not in the least!" the female sudden drew her gun and shot her in the shoulder. Cili screeched in pain and turned back. "I may not care much for guns, but they are handy for getting you out of sticky situations." the female laughed.
Cili was in too much pain to do anything, she just sat there holding her shoulder.
"Well I must admit you nearly had me there." the female said as she approached Cili with a sword in hand,"So I'll do something I haven't done in a while: Do you have any last requests?"
At first Cili looked frightened, but then she got a strange smile on her face, "Yeah." she said, "Look behind you."
"Just that?" the female said as she turned around, "how pa..th...ic....." her jaw suddenly dropped as she saw Dragadon glaring at her angerly. Before she could react, Dragadon swiped at her with a foreclaw, knocking her to the ground and getting a nasty side wound. The female, knowing there was no way she could win now, got up and bolted as fast as she could. Dragadon started after her, but Cili stopped her.
"No Dragadon, I don't think she'll bother us for awhile."
"Was that the assassin?" Dragadon growled.
"If that wasn't, then I'm a glukkon." Cili said, then she suddenly collapsed, clutching her shoulder.
"I better get you back to the village fast." Dragadon said as she gently picked her up and took off.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 8

When Omi returned to the village that afternoon he found everyone running around like a scrab with it head cut off.
"What's going on?" he asked the nearest mud.
"Your mother was attacked by the assassin. She's hurt pretty bad." the mud paused to say before running off again.
"Oh no...Mother!" Omi ran to his parents place as fast as he could. When he got there, there was a decent sized crowd in front, he had to push and shove his way in. Inside he meet with Abe. "Well she be alright?" he asked as they embraced briefly..
"Omi, I was just about to send someone for you." his father's voice has a depressed note to it, "She'll pull through, it was a good thing Dragadon was nearby. The healers say she may have trouble with that shoulder for now on.."
"At least she's alive, thank Odd. Are we allowed to see her yet?"
"Not yet, their still working on her. They'll let us know. By the way Dragadon is in there, she refused to leave."
"Well its kind of hard to boss a dragon around." Omi said as they both laughed, somewhat weakly. "Well, we might as well find a place to sit and wait."
So they sat and waited. Omi watched his father, who was just sitting there looking depressed.
I can't even imagine what father feels right now. That is his mate, my mother, getting patched up in there. I'm not even sure what I'm feeling right now. Shock? Yes. Depression? A little. Grief? Definately. Anger? Not yet. Omi thought.
He was tempted to reach out and try to find out what his father was feeling, but he decided against it. I don't really need to. He probably feels the same way I do only ten times worse.
His chain of thought was broken when the healer walked in.
"How is she?" both Omi and Abe said.
"She'll be fine. A little weak but she will pull through. She's a tough girl that's for sure."
"Can we see her?" they both said.
"Yes..whoa!" the healer and to jump to get out of the way as Abe and Omi bolted for the door. They found Cili sitting up wanting for them with a weak smile on her face. Her left arm and shoulder was all wrapped up in bandages.
"Don't kill the healer getting in now." she said with a weak laugh.
"Oh Cili..," Abe said as he embraced her, "Thank Odd you are alright." Abe suddenly turned toward Omi with a look of anger as his face, "Why weren't you with her!?"
"Oh sure, one min you don't want me to escort you guys and the next your screaming at me for not escorting you! Make up your freaking mind!" Omi said defensively.
"Abe please, don't start this now." Cili said, turning Abe back toward her, "Besides, I'm the one who's to blame, not Omi. I went out on my own, thinking nothing could possibly happen to me in the short time I was out. I was wrong, I nearly paid the price with my life." she had tears in her eyes.
"Cili,"Abe embraced her again, "I'm sorry."
"You were only trying to place the blame, my love."
"At any rate," Dragadon suddenly said, startling all of them, "we know what the assassin looks like."
"That's right, let me guess it was a slig right?" Abe asked.
"Nope, not even close," Dragadon said as she shook her head, "The assassin is a mudokon. A female one at that."
"WHAT!?" both Abe and Omi screeched.
"But, how could a fellow mudokon turn against us like that?" Omi said, in shock.
"She must have been raised from birth by the Glukkons." Dragadon theorised.
"And therefore was told lies about us and so only see us as the Glukkons want her to see us."
"Most likely."
"There's a chance she can be turned around then..."Omi said thoughtfully.
"Not likely if she's that set into the Glukkon ways." Abe said.
"But we have to try, whats her phyiscal description?"
After Dragadon gave them the description, Omi suddenly sank to his knees in shock.
"Omi? What's wrong?" Cili asked, then it dawned on her, "it's the same female you saw a few days ago wasn't it?"
"Yes." Omi replied weakly.
"What are you talking about?" Abe said confused.
"Great, my first love interest and she turns out to be a killer." Omi muttered.
"WHAT!" Abe screeched when he heard him, after he recovered a bit he said, "If that's the case you are not to see her!"
"Abe you can't honesty believe he would be able to.."Cili started but Abe stopped her.
"Father, she can be changed, I know she can."
"Well try if you want, you'll probably end up getting yourself hurt or worse." Abe grumbled.
"So you have no intention of helping me?" when he saw his father scowl, he said,"Very well then, I'll do it without anyones help!" with that Omi ran out.
"Abe, you need to learn to be more open minded." Cili said, Abe just snorted and Cili just signed disappointedly.

Chapter 9

Kila struggled to keep herself going. The wound Dragadon had given her was deep and she was bleeding heavily. As she attempted to cross a river she collapsed.
No, it can't end like this! she thought as she tried to get up again, but she was too weak. The cold water in the river felt strangely soothing to her. I'll just rest a moment here. Just a moment... her world went black.

Omi and Zig were walking along and Zig was trying to think of a way get Omi out of his sour mood. So he decided to try something that usually worked: he climbed up a tree and dropped down in front of Omi, hang by his tail.
"Booga! Booga!" he shouted with the silliest looking face he could think of.
"Not now Zig." Omi said, annoyed as he just walked around him.
Zig sighed, righted himself and caught up to Omi.
"So yer really think you can change her?" he asked.
"I don't know." Omi said glumly, "But I have to try."
"'Pose that's all you really can do."
"Yeah. Eek! That river water is cold today!" Omi said when he stepped into the water then promply stepped out again. Then he noticed something upstream, it took him a moment to realize what it was. "Oh geez its her and she looks badly hurt!" he said as he raced over to her, Zig was hard pressed to keep up. Omi checked for a pulse and signs of breathing. "Man she's barely alive, help me get her out of here." Omi started to pull her out of the river, but Zig stopped him.
"No don't! The coldness of the water is the only thing that's keeping her alive!' Zig shouted.
"But." Omi protested,"won't she get hypothermia?"
"Possibly, but if we take her out and she warms up she'll start bleeding again. Therefore we should tend to that wound BEFORE we take her out."
"Alright, get the healing bag I have in my shack. I'll stay here with her."
"Righty o." Zig took off as fast as he could.
"Hang in there girl." Omi said to her, though he doubted she could hear him. "Hang in there."

After what seemed like forever, Zig came back with the healing bag.
"How is she? Any change?" Zig asked as he handed Omi the bag.
"No, I guess that's a good thing in this case." Omi said as he started to stitch up her wound. The cold water made his hands numb, making it difficult to work, but he succeeded in closing her wound. He then picked her up and made his way back to his shack, Zig along side.
Once as the shack, he put her onto his bed and piled blankets on top of her to help get her warm again.
"Now..."Omi said with an exhausted sigh, "We wait to see if we reached her in time."
"You get some rest." Zig said, seeing how tired Omi was, "I'll do the first watch."
"Ok," Omi said as he collapsed on the couch.
Please pull through for me, please. he thought as sleep claimed him.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 10

Omi looked over at his 'guest' with a worried look on his face. It's been a week since he and Zig found her. There had been little to no improvement since then, through her breathing and pulse did seem to have gotten stronger.
Unless she wakes up soon and starts eating... he wouldn't let himself finish the thought. Every day she remained unconscious, the worried he grew. He looked over at Zig, who was sleeping with his head on top of the bed. Heh that slig can sleep in just about any possion. he thought with a weak laugh. He heard and felt his stomach growl. Well, I might as well fix myself something. he thought as he stood up. He stroked the side of her face gently with the back of his hand. "You can pull through this, I know you can." he said gently to her.

Kila's consciousness was drifting through a sea of memories. Memories that assulted her from every direction. Some were pleasent, like the time Steinix let her hold a fuzzle when she was a child. Others were terrifing, like her first day of training and the when she was wounded by that huge monster during her recent assassination attempt. Yet others didn't seem like memories at all. There were only voice she would faintly hear now and again, she couldn't make out what they were saying most of the time. What are these other voices I am hearing? Where are they coming from? She heard one of the voices again, this time much clearer then before. She also 'felt' something as well. By reflex she reached out for it...

"Whoa!" Omi said in shock as her hand suddenly flew up and grabbed him by his waist. He was surprised at the strength in her grip for one in her condiction.
"Wha?" Zig said, awaken by Omi's yelp of surprise, "What's going on?"
"I think she's waking up."

Kila could feel the warmth of whatever it was in her hand and she heard a yelp in surprise as well. She heard another voice as well. A slig voice, but one that didn't sound like other sligs she had been around. She heard the first voice again, this time crystel clear: I think she's waking up.
That voice, where have I heard it before? Steinix? No, its one I've heard much more recently.. she thought as she fought her way back to consciousness...

Kila's eyes flew open, what she saw was not what she was expecting. She was in a wooden shack and she was on a bed covered with animal skin blankets. She felt something in her hand and she pulled it toward her. It was a hand, a mudokon one. She looked at it curiously, her mind was struggling to come to grips with reality again.
"Um could I have my hand back please?" she heard someone say. She looked up to see the owner of the hand. A grayish-blue mudokon with yellow eyes was looking down at her with a kind smile.

"Yes it's still attached to me." Omi said gently to her. She looked at him with a look of confusion on her face, but let him go. She tried to sit up but he gently pushed her back down again. "Take it easy, you're still too weak. Zig could you see about getting her something light to eat."
"One step ahead of yer." Zig said as he scampered off toward the cooking area. As he went she was watching him curisouly.
Her mind must still be trying to come to grips with reality. I'll let her recover somewhat before I start trying to 'change' her. Omi thought.
"Where..." she said weakly, "am I?"
"You are in my shack somewhere in the Great Forest, not far from the river where I found you." he answered her.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Omi and the weird creature you just saw a minute ago is my friend Zig."
"I heard that!" he heard Zig shout from the other room. Omi just laughed and she giggled slightly as well.
Better enjoy her calm temperment now while it lasts. Omi thought, Something tells me she'll get a lot nastier as she recovers.
"So what's your name?" he asked her.
"Name?" she looked confused. Omi waited patiently as she thought a moment. "Kila" she answered.
Omi smiled gently at her.

Chapter 11

Kila was getting stronger every day physically, but mentally she was the same as when she first regained consciousness. Omi was beginning to wonder if the trauma she had endured caused brain damage. Lately she had been having nightmares, but she never remembered them when she woke up. In fact she couldn't recall anything that happened before she regained consciousness.
I hope it's guess a temporary case of amnesia. he thought with a sigh. Squawks chirped at him from his perch on window sill, demanding attention. Omi sighed again as he stroked the Mindcaller's neck, causing it to start purring happily. Cili had insisted that she take Squawks back with him last time he had stopped by the village. 'His lie detecting abilities may prove usual.' she had said to him, and he had to agree. Once I prove to her that Squawks can really detect lies, it will be a lot easier to convince her that what she had been taught to believe about us is wrong. he thought. He walked into the bedroom, where she was laughing hysterically at Zig's antics.
"Sorry but its getting late, we should all hit the sack." he said to them.
"Party pooper." Zig grumbled.
"Ok." Kila said as she settled herself under the covers. She looked over at Omi with a smile. Omi smiled back at her as he turned around and shrugged off his vest. He absentmindedly fingered the scar on his back where he was grazed by the arrow a couple of weeks back. Little did he realized that Kila was still watching him with an odd look on her face...

Kila was watching Omi prepare himself for bed. She thought he was a very handsome male and enjoyed looking at him. But then she noticed the scar on the upper portion of his back. A scar that triggered a recent memory. It was then that her mind decided to snap back into place...

Omi found himself flat on his face as he was suddenly knocked to the ground.
"What the..." he groaned as he turned to look to see who had struck him. He saw Kila standing over him, a look of anger and hate on her face.
Oh man looks like her mind finally decided to snap back into place. he thought, frightened, yet relieved.
"You!" she growled,"You're the one that foiled my attempt at killing Abe!"
"Hey! Back off sister!" Zig said as he leaped toward her. A swift round kick from her sent Zig flying into the wall, knocking him out.
If she is that fast now, Omi thought. then I'm going to have my work cut out for me when she is 100%!
"Is this how you normally greet people?" he asked calmly after gathering his wits.
"This is how I treat my enemies! And you're my enemy!" she snarled.
"How can I be your enemy when I just saved your life?" he asked as he stood up. He 'turned on' his power so he could get an idea of when she'll try to strike again.
"Does not matter! You are still my enemy!" She threw a punch, which Omi easily avoided. He managed to slip behind her and grab her. She struggled against his grip.
"Listen to me! If I was really your enemy then I wouldn't have tended to your wound and would've left you to die back at the river! Now stop moving so recklessly before you reopen your wound.."
She stopped struggling a moment, panting. He could sense, momentarily, confusion in her. He relaxed his grip slightly, not wanting to hurt her. She sensed this and suddenly broke free from his grip and floored him with a side kick. Then she suddenly doubled over in pain and sank to her knees, clutching her side.
"I told you to stop moving like that." Omi said annoyed as he got up and walked over to her. She was glaring at him threateningly, but didn't try anything. He gently moved her hand to see what damage she did to herself.
"Darn it, that's going to need stitched and I had just removed them too." he grumbled annoyed as he brought out his healing bad. "I'll need you to lay on your side."
"No." she growled, grimacing in pain, "Why should I trust you?"
"Like I said, if I was truly your enemy I would have never helped you in the first place."
She growled at him, but complied and laid on her side. She still glared at him as he worked though.
So far so good, Omi thought, I'll have to be careful though, she may just be going along with this until she is healed enough to kill me. He had to suppress a shudder.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 12

Omi paced the room. He wasn't sure if he should even try to go to sleep, though he needed to. Exhaustion was starting to set in and Zig was still unconscious, therefore he couldn't keep watch to ensure Kila didn't try to kill him in his sleep.
As fast as she is, it probably wouldn't matter who was keeping watch. Omi thought. He looked over as Kila who was laying on her uninjured side with her back to him. He knew she wasn't asleep, every once in a while she would look back at him with a glare.
"Will you stop pacing! It's getting on my nerves!" she growled.
"Sorry." he said as he stopped. Then he realized that there was something different in her voice. It was slight and hard to notice. He reached out with his power to confirm his suspensions. Depressed? How can she be depressed? Omi thought.
"What's wrong?" he asked her.
"Nothing other then the fact that you won't leave me alone!" Kila said as she glared at him. This time he could see it in her eyes.
"No something is wrong." he said as he walked over to her, putting a hand gently on her shoulder. She tensed up when he did. "Why are you feeling depressed?"
"Just leave me alone." she said curling up into a ball. He could see hints of tears in her eyes.
Jeez I didn't expect to break her this easily he thought a moment, All that happened recently must have crushed her ego.
"It's not good to keep all your feelings locked up inside you." he said gently, "Please, talk to me. Or scream at me, whichever you prefer."
She was quiet a moment, the she said, "Why are you helping me?"
"Because you needed help."
"But..." she said with a slight sob, "I was always told that the wild mudokons were vicious savages that only care about themselves and terrorizing the Cartel."
"The only truth in what you just said is that we do 'terrorize' the Cartel. But not for the reason's you're suggesting."
"Then why?"
With a sigh Omi told her about the delicate balance of nature and how the Cartel was destroying it. He was just starting at the part where his father started the revolution when he notice she had fallen asleep on him.
I hope she got all that, I would hate to have to repeat myself. he thought as he yawned. He pulled a blanket over her and then collapsed on the couch and joined the dreamworld as well.

Chapter 13

Over the next few days Omi had to contend with Kila's 'mood' swings. Sometimes she would be depressed, other times she would be just plain nasty. While she was easier to talk to when she was depressed, Omi knew he will have to start convincing her of the falseness of what she has been taught in her angry state. And to do that, he needed to prove to her that Squawks was a living lie detector. At the moment she just saw the Mindcaller as an exotic pet.
Omi was trying to think of a way to convince her of Squawks ability, when something dawned on him. He didn't really pay attention to it before, but sometimes while she was in her angry state he would get the feeling that she liked him. It was always very brief, for she buried it as quickly as it came to her. So he decided to try to use that.
"You like me, don't you?" he asked her.
"Wha?" she looked at him in shock, "Whatever give you that silly idea?"
"Just a hunch. So...do you or not?"
He could see the emotions running through her head on her face. She turned away from him, he could have sworn he saw her blushing.
"No." she finally said.
Immediately Squawks flew up and started to attack her.
"Hey what the...?" Kila said surprised as she tried to fend off the Mindcaller. Omi calmly and gently grabbed Squawks and stroked its neck to calm it. "Why the hell did that thing attack me?" Kila demanded.
"Simple, you lied." Omi answered.
"Huh? What does that have to do with it attacking me?"
"Mindcallers react violently to those who lie. You lied so Squawks attacked you."
"But I didn't lie..." Kila protested.
Squawks reacted again only this time Omi kept hold of him. Kila looked at the Mindcaller trying to get to her. With a depressed sigh she sat down on the bed.
"What was the point of this?"
"Well over the past few days he has been in the room with us right?"
"Yes."
"And have you seen him attack me?"
"No." Kila thought a moment, "And that means..."
"Everything I have told you is the truth."
"If that's so then why didn't he attack me when I was telling you what I...thought was truth?"
"Because there's two types of lies."
"And those are?"
"There's the unwilling lie, which is when you hold a lie that someone has told you as truth, and a willing lie, when the individual tells something he or she knows is a lie. Mindcallers react only to willing lies. What you were telling were unwilling ones."
"Then how do you know that you are not unwillingly lying to me?"
"Because everyone else here will tell you the same thing. And that's because we all know the truth."
Kila was quiet a moment, the she asked, "You asked me if I liked you. Well now it's your turn. Do you like me?"
Omi took a deep breath before answering, "I don't just like you, I love you."
Kila couldn't help but notice that Squawks didn't react....

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 14

"How could you possibly love someone like me!?" Kila screeched. Omi stood there slightly stunned at her outburst. "I mean, I...I...killed your people, your allies. Why would you want someone who has done such terrible things?" Kila broke down into sobs.
"True what you have done in the past can not be erased, but you can take the steps to move on to a better life." Omi said gently.
"Even if I tried, the others wouldn't accept me. I would never be allowed to 'be' one of them."
"You don't know that Kila. My mother had problems getting accepted too, but she eventually was accepted."
Kila looked up at him a moment, stunned. "Mother? Is she a queen?"
"No, she's a subspecies of mudokon. One that doesn't have queens, rather equal parts of male and female."
"I've never heard of any such mudokons."
"Well," Omi looked sad for a moment, "As far as we know, my mother is the only one left of her kind."
"Oh,...but then who's your father? If she never met a male of her kind then how..."
"Two words: Divine Intervention. Mainly my father was given the ability to reproduce by a benevolent god."
"Your father must have done some great deeds if they decided to bestow him with such an ability. Who is your father again?"
"Well..um...Abe is."
Again Kila looked at him shocked, "A..Abe is your father?" When Omi nodded, Kila brought her knees up to her chest, "Then...there's no way I could be accepted."
"Kila, I told you, you don't know that. Abe is a very understanding guy, well save to me."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he has never given me a chance to prove myself. I know he loves me and just wants to protect me, but dam it he over does it. He didn't even want me to find you to try to show you the errors of your ways. He doubts my abilities and he won't let me prove to him otherwise!" Omi sat down next to Kila, trying to fight back the tears but they came anyway.
Kila watched him stunned, not knowing what to say to him. Hesitantly she put a hand on his shoulder and said, "At least you have someone you can really call father."
Omi looked up at her, "What do you mean by that?"
"I...don't really have a mother or father, I'm a...Vykker creation. So in a sense I can't really be called a mudokon at all."
"Don't talk about yourself like that. You are a mudokon, no matter what your origins are. And no matter what happens, you will always be welcome here, with me."
Omi stroked the side of her face and just gazed at her lovingly for a moment. Then he leaned toward her and kissed her on the lips. At first Kila was so shocked that she couldn't respond. But then she let herself relax and eagerly keep that kiss going...

Chapter 15

When they woke up the next morning they were in each others arms, still fully clothed.
"Man my vest is all wrinkled now." Omi grumbled, sitting up and trying to flatten out the wrinkles. Kila just giggled at him.
"I just thought of something..." Kila said.
"What? A way to get the wrinkles out?" Omi asked.
"No silly, I was thinking that since both your parents are fertile you must be too." she said with a sly smile.
"Well..." Omi said starting to turn red,"As far as I know I am."
"Lets see for sure..."
Suddenly before he could stop her, Kila pulled open the front part of his shorts and looked in. Then she let go and sat back up proudly. Omi was now very red.
"Yep." she said with a mischievously grin.
"Jeez I could have told you I had something down there..." he muttered, quite embrassed.
"So modest."
"You think? How would you like it if I pulled your top open and looked in?"
"I would kill you if you tried. Ok so maybe went a little too far there. I'm sorry."
"Well I forgive you," Omi said getting his normal color back, "lets take a look at your wound shall we?"
"Ok." Kila laid on her side so Omi could remove the bandages.
"Looks like your all healed up now." he said as he as ran his fingers over the area lightly. Kila suddenly started giggling.
"Stop that, that tickles."
"Oh really?" Omi said with a mischievous grin on his face. Kila saw this.
"Oh no, no your not." she said as she tried to crawl away, but Omi caught her and started tickling her. She bursted out in laughter. "Stop it, you creep!" she managed to say between laughs.
Omi stopped but didn't go of her. Instead he pulled her close to him and embraced her, kissing her neck. He did this for a few minutes, Kila enjoying every second of it.
"I just remembered something." he said as he let go of her and stood up.
"What?" she asked.
"Well.." Omi walked over and pulled something out of his dresser. It was a dress of sorts, it was light purple with darker purple feather designs on it. The front of the neck was lined with light blue feathers. "I got you this awhile ago, but back then you weren't exactly...accepting of me. I figured you would be more open to try this on now."
Kila looked at it curiously, "Um ok, I'll try it on. But I'll need you to leave the room."
"Aw you mean I can't watch?" Omi said mischievously, only to get a pillow in the face, "Ok ok I'm going." Omi went into the next room, sulking.
"Ok you can come back in now." she said after a few mins. Omi walked back in and his heart stopped.
"I think I've just fallen in love with you all over again." he said.
"Please." Kila said looking embrassed.
"What's wrong? You look good in that." Omi said as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"I don't know, I'm just not used to this type of clothing, its so..."
"Unindustrial?"
"Yeah."
"Well if you don't like it you don't have to wear it. I'm not going to force you to. Don't wear it just for my sake. I just thought you would like to get out of those clothes you were in for once."
"Hmm you're right there." Kila said with a giggle, "they were getting a bit grungy."

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 16

A few days later, Omi and Kila where taking a walk through the forest. Kila was still wearing the dress Omi gave her, and he couldn't have been happier.
"You know, Omi." Kila started, "Being with you has brought me joy and happiness I would have never gotten back at the factory."
"I'm glad to hear that, meeting you has given my life new meaning. I'm glad I was able to help you, otherwise I don't know where I would be right now." Omi said, a tone of sadness in his voice.
"I think.." Kila wrapped her arms around his neck, "we both have what we truly wanted."
"I couldn't agree more." he said and they kissed.
Little did the happy couple know that they were being watched....

A pack a sligs were watching them from the cover of the forest.
"Is that her?" one whispered to the BBS that was leading them.
"That's her." the BBS whispered back, "Looks like Larhik was right, she did turn against us."
"So what's our orders now?" another slig asked.
"Larhik said that in the case of her betrayal to bring her back alive so she can be interrogated and executed." the BBS replied.
"Aw we don't get to kill her?" the first slig said.
"She would kill us before we even landed a blow." the BBS said, "so we'll put her to sleep first with this handy dandy drug the Vykkers gave us."
"What about the other one?"
"We can do as we wish to the other one." he said as he loaded a tranquilizer dart into his gun and took aim....

Kila yelped as something struck her in the arm.
"What's wrong?" Omi asked concerned.
Kila reached and yanked out the dart that was in her arm. She looked at it horrified, she knew what it was.
"Oh no..." Kila muttered. "Omi run!"
"Wha...?" Omi looked puzzled.
"I said RUN!" Kila shouted as she pulled him along in a dead run. Behind them a pack of sligs including a BBS, jumped out of the bushes and gave chase.
Oh please let us make it to the village before the drug takes effect. Kila thought. Normally she would have fought them, but with the drug in her system and Omi in danger she couldn't risk it. They may want me alive, but they won't hesitate to kill Omi. And I can't let that happen.
Fate wasn't so kind to her, she could already feel the effects of the drug, and they had taken a wrong turn. Now they were looking down a steep grassy hill, the forest continued at the bottom of the hill. Kila, now really feeling the drugs effects, sank to her knees.
"Kila we can still make it, let me carry you." Omi said.
"No, I would slow you down, go on ahead without me." Kila said weakly.
"No, I am not leaving you behind!"
"Omi.." Kila could hear the sligs closing fast, "they'll kill you, and I don't want that to happen now go!"
Kila, using what was left of her strength, pushed Omi down the hill. He rolled and disappeared into the bushes below. Kila, tears in her eyes, forced herself to stand and faced the sligs.
"Whatz the matter girl? Yer boyfriend leave you behind?" the BBS said with a laugh.
Kila, with was energy she had left rushed forward and grabbed one of the sligs from behind and broke his neck. She then collapsed, the drug now taking full effect, and went unconscious...

Omi stood up slightly stunned from what just happened. No, she didn't just sacrifice herself to save me, it can't be! He raced back up the hill, ignoring the pain of the minor injuries he received. When he reached the top all he found was a dead slig and one of the feathers from Kila's dress.
"No," he said picking up the feather, tears welling up in his eyes, "NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Chapter 17

Omi staggered into the village, grief stricken. Abe and Cili spotted him and ran up to him.
"Omi, what happened?" Cili said concerned, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but Kila...," Omi started.
"What did she do to you!?" Abe demanded.
"She did nothing to me father." Omi insisted Nothing other then steal my heart.
"I don't believe that, what did she do?" Abe pressed.
"Abe lay off!" Cili snapped at him, Abe recoiled at her outburst, "Son, tell us what happened."
With a nod, Omi told them what had happened. Abe paced nearby, scowling.
"Oh Omi," Cili said when he finished and embraced him, "We'll find a way to get her back."
"No." Abe growled.
"What?" both Cili and Omi said in shock.
"Don't you get it? She's been playing a game with you. Playing with your heart and staging her capture so that you'll convince us to try to rescue her. It stinks of a trap."
"She would never do such a thing!" Omi shouted.
"You never know.."
"But I do know, father! Have you forgotten what my power is? I know what she is feeling and I never once sensed that she was faking it! And Squawks was there too, he never reacted to when she admitted her feelings toward me!"
"She probably figured out a way to mask her true feelings from you." Abe insisted.
Omi, now burning with fury, lost all control and socked him. Abe fell to the ground and looked up at him shocked.
"Dam you father! You have never given me a chance to prove myself! Not once at all! If you won't help me rescue her, then I'll do it by myself!" Omi grabbed a nearby warriors spear and ran off. Abe just sat there looking a mixture of shock and depressed. Everyone else was too shocked to say or do anything.

When Kila woke up she found herself in a jail cell, chained by a foot to the wall. She looked up and saw Larhik on the other side of the bars, sneering at her.
"'Bout time you woke up." Larhik said annoyed.
"So I wanted to sleep in a bit." Kila replied sarcastically.
"Funny. So what's the deal here Kila? You did so well for us, why did you betray us?"
"I was told the truth. And I decided I no longer wanted to be a part of you sick organization!"
"Pity, you had such great potential. Very well then, you will be executed for your betrayal. And it will be done in the arena. We will see just how many opponents you can kill before you die." Larhik walked off howling in laughter. Kila put her knees up to her chest and sobbed.
Omi, will I ever see you again? she thought. Then she heard someone tap on the bars. She looked up again to see Steinix.
"I suppose you're going to bash me for betrayal as well?" she said.
"No." Steinix said, surprising her, "I just want to know, what changed you?"
"I meet a male. He saved my life, he showed me a new way of life. A way of life that I was always meant to live. He..." she choked back a sob,"gave me happiness. Happiness I never felt before."
Steinix nodded in understanding. He then knelt down a rolled something to her; a small bottle of liquid.
"Its a stimulent, take it just before they take you into the arena. Maybe, just maybe, it well help you survive long enough to be rescued."
Kila took the bottle and hid it in her dress. "Why are you helping me?" she asked.
"Before you were forced into training, you gave me joy and happiness. Something I have longed for ever since they took you from me. You gave me a reason to start looking for a way out of this hell hole. Perhaps, when you are rescued, I can go with you."
"Steinix, I never knew you...felt that way."
"Before you didn't care, how I felt. But that's in the past now, and I should go before they find the guard I drugged."
"Be careful Steinix."
"I will." Steinix took off, leaving Kila to ponder what will happen next.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 18

Omi raced through the forest. He felt guilty for striking his father, but he wasn't about to let that bother him now. He had come across Zig earlier, who by pure chance happened to see the slig pack that had taken Kila and had followed them for a distance. 'They're heading for a factory that just happened to be the next one on your father's hit list.' Zig had said. What a coincidence. Omi thought as he came upon the clearing that the factory was in. Instinctively he hid and surveyed the area. Only one guard, I can take him.. Omi rushed the guard. While he had the element of surprise, his power, and his natural mudokon abilities, he was too inexperienced in the matters of fighting, let alone fighting a slig. The slig had quickly disarmed him and knocked him to the ground.
"Well now," the slig laughed, pointing his gun at Omi, "I don't know whether to call yer increditably brave or increditably stupid! Don't matter now, cause yer dead!"
The slig was just about to shoot him when the slig suddenly started to convulse. Then, as if the slig was no longer in control of himself walked over to the door and opened the door.
"Get in..." the slig said, "Son"
Father... Omi thought with a mixture of relief and surprise as he went through the door. He stopped a short distance in and looked back to see the slig explode and Abe run in shortly after.
"Now that was a stupid thing to do, son." Abe said folding his arms across his chest, "You almost got killed there."
"I know father..." Omi said, hanging his head, "I'm sorry, I let my emotions take over and I wasn't thinking logically."
"And the reason we fight against the Cartel so well is because we use our head and not brute force." Abe lectured, "Besides, even if you did kill that slig, how would you have gotten in?"
"You're right father. If I did I would have never been able to..." Omi broke down into sobs.
"Son," Abe said as he embraced him, "I'm sorry."
"Huh? What are you apologizing for? I'm the one who should apologize for being so rebellious and for striking you. "
"You said I never gave you a chance to prove yourself and never let you live your own life. Well you're right, I've been a jerk toward you and hurt you, which I never wanted to do. I guess since you are my only child I wanted to ensure you safe, but in doing so I pushed you to a point that made you even more likely to hurt yourself. If fact I'm glad you socked me, it made me realize just how much I was hurting you."
"Father..I don't know what to say."
"Right now lets just worry about saving Kila."
Omi nodded with a smile and the pair ran off down the corridor.

Kila was awakened by a slig prodding her with his gun. She swiped at him but the slig was just far enough away.
"Now now, little missy. Yer better behave yerself or we well turn you into swiss cheese." the slig said motioning to the sizable pack just outside her cell, all of them pointing their guns at her.
"I take it its time to go to the arena?" Kila growled.
The slig nodded and unchained her from wall and cuffed her hands together. Then with a poke in her back, forced her outside the cell where the rest of the pack surrounded her. On the way, she managed to slip out the bottle Steinix had given her and drink its contents without the sligs noticing.
Well, she thought glumly, it's do or die time. Omi please be on your way...

Chapter 19

As Abe and Omi where running they literally ran into a Vykker.
"Gah!" Omi cried, as he pointed his spear at the Vykker, "Where's Kila!?"
"Omi, you don't honestly think that the first person we come across will know..." Abe started.
"You must by the male she told me about. By now they would have taken her into the arena for execution. You better hurry you don't have much time." the Vykker said.
"Why should we believe you?" Omi growled, pressing the spear against his neck. Just then Squawks appeared out of nowhere and landed on the Vykker's head, chirping happily.
"Ha, Cili must have sent Squawks after me. He must have been following us cloaked the whole time." Abe laughed.
"And what does that mean?" The Vykker said, flabbergasted.
"Squawks accepting you means you're telling the truth." Omi said, taking the spear away from his throat.
"A living lie detector, interesting."
"So why are you helping us?" Abe asked.
"I'm the one that created Kila, and I hated what the Cartel made her into. But enough chit chat, you're running out of time! Take this corridor on the right," the Vykker said pointing to the corridor he means, "Then the first left, then second left, and finally the third right. That will take you to the arena. Now hurry!"
"Thank you ah..."
"Steinix."
"Thank you Steinix, we owe you." Omi said gratefully as he and Abe ran off using the directions Steinix gave them.
"Don't mention it." Steinix said. Now that I know Kila will be saved, I can do what I have wanted to do for a long time. he thought as he headed off toward the boiler room.

Kila stood in the center of the arena, still with her hands chained and with her 'escort' surrounding her. Larhik was in the balcony above.
"So are you ready to die Kila?" Larhik asked.
"Well see who's the one who will die here!" Kila said boldly, while she has a tough looking exterior, she was terrified inside.
"You don't stand a chance of survival!" Larhik laughed, "Unchain her!"
As soon as they had unchained her, Kila reacted. Grabbing one of the sligs guns and shooting, punch and kicking at the pack around her. On the sides of the arena, several doors opened and sligs, mugs, and BBSs rushed out to join the fight.
There's no way! There's no way I could survive all this. Omi please hurry! Kila thought to her self, dread filling her.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 20

Kila was getting exhausted, and yet more still came. She had lost count of how many she had killed. She had numerous injuries and was in tremendous pain, but she keep going, desperate to survive. One of the BBS managed to land a hard blow on her, and she collapsed, unable to get back up again...

Abe and Omi had just made their way into the arena when they saw Kila fall.
"No!" Omi cried, "Father!"
"Right." Abe said as he chanted as possessed the BBS that knocked her down and used him to start shooting at the others in the arena while Omi made his way to Kila.
Please still be alive, please! Omi thought as he fought his way to her. He adventraly reached her, and was horrified at the injuries she had obtained. She looked up at him weakly.
"Omi.., I knew you would come." she said weakly, tears in her eyes.
"I couldn't just leave you here" he said as he embraced her gently.
"Better get going, I can't them them off much longer." Abe said through the BBS.

Recent events didn't get past Larhik who had noticed Abe.
"Stop him!" he said his slig guard. The slig nodded and ran off.

"Dammit! There's too many of them, get moving!" the BBS said.
Omi looked for an opening but there wasn't any. "Can't there's no pathway through them all!"
"#$%*@#!"
The other sligs and BBS were starting to shot at the BBS Abe had possessed. Abe adventrally lost that BBS and Abe had to start chanting to get a fresh one. Things are happening too fast! Abe thought frantically.
Suddenly the skylight above the arena shattered and Dragadon flew in in her shrunken form, becoming her full size as she descended.
"Never fear! The calvary is here!" Dragadon roared as she landed on top of some sligs effectively squashing them. She then started ripping into the remaining Sligs, which were now running away terrified.
"Alright!" Omi cheered happily.
"Yes!" Abe cried, then he felt something pointed at the back of his head. "Oh ****!"
Omi noticed the slig behind Abe, "No." he said.
"Now you all put yer hands up, or I blow his brains out." the slig threatened.
"Now who has the upper hand!?" They heard Larhik laugh.
"No, it won't happen this way." Kila said as she aimed a gun in Abe's direction. "Abe duck!"
Abe did so, just as Kila squeezed the trigger, blow out the SLIG's brains.
"You bitch!" Larhik cried.
"Hmmm I suddenly have a hankering for Glukkon." Dragadon grinned.
"Oh no." Larhik said, backing away but he tripped and fell helplessly onto his back.
Dragadon lunged at him, jaws agape.
"HEL..." was all he could get out before she bit his head off.
"Father are you alright?" Omi said as he up to him, Kila in his arms.
"I'm fine." Abe said. Suddenly an alarm went off and all the lights turned red. They could hear small explosions going off, somewhere in the factory.
"What the f*** is happening?" Omi said.
"I have set the boiler to blow." Steinix said as he joined them in the arena, "We have less then 5 mins to get out of here."
"Hey blowing the place was supposed to be my job!" Abe said.
Steinix just shrugged as he said, "Sorry. But I figure you would be too busy to do it yourself. Anyway lets get out of here."
"I'll take point," Dragadon said as she shrunk herself, "Get on Vykker, you'll need to show me the way."
"Its Steinix," Steinix said as he hesitantly climbed on and the group run off in the race to get out before the place blew.

Chapter 21

The group raced down the corridors, Steinix showing them the way on Dragadon's back. Dragadon cut threw any sligs that got in the way. They came across some mud slaves too, and Abe quickly told them to follow. Omi was hard pressed to keep up, Kila's weight was slowing him down, but she was too badly hurt to stand on her own, let alone run.
Suddenly a large chunk of ceiling crashed in the middle of the group, separating Omi and Kila from the rest.
"Omi! Are you two alright?" Abe called over the debris.
"Yes it didn't hit us!" Omi called back, "Go ahead, I'll find us another way out!"
"But..." Abe started but Dragadon stopped him.
"He's right, even with my help we wouldn't clear the path and still make it out in time." Dragadon said sadly.
Reluctantly Abe nodded and they continued on.

Omi backtracked a bit and took another corridor. As he ran he asked Kila, "Do you know another way out?"
"Yes," Kila said weakly, "Nearby is a garage, take the next right."
"Ok." Omi made the next right. They continued this, sometimes having to backtrack to take a different path due to debris blocking the way. Eventually they made it to the garage.
"Over there, the big doors. Drat there closed." Kila groaned.
"Lets open them then." Omi side as he ran over and pressed the 'open' button. Nothing happened. He pressed it again."Come on , come on. Open!" he said getting desperate.
Finally the doors started to open, but before they had opened enough for them to go through they stopped.
"No! Come on!" Omi said, pressing it again. But the doors refused to budge any further....

Meanwhile the others had managed to make it out. Abe was pacing, starting to panic.
"Where are they? The place will blow any second!" Abe said.
"They must have come upon more trouble!" Steinix said also getting worried.
"Wait.." Dragadon said as she squinted, "Those large doors I could have sworn I saw them open slightly."
"It might be them!" Abe said as he started to run toward the doors.
"No Abe I'll go." Dragadon said as she became her full size and run toward the doors.

Omi and Kila clutched each other tightly, the doors wouldn't open any more and there was no time find a new way out.
"This is the end, isn't it?" Kila said sadly.
"It...looks that way." Omi replied tears streaking down his face.
"At least we are together." she said as she buried her face into his shoulder.
"Yes at least that."
Omi suddenly looked up and cocked his head.
"What is it?" Kila asked.
They suddenly both heard a roar of fury and the doors suddenly went flying off their hinges. Omi had barely managed to get him and Kila to cover.
"Well now they certainly don't make doors like they used too." they heard Dragadon chuckle.
"Dragadon!" Omi cried with relief, and he raced up to her with Kila still in his arms.
"Oh there you are, get on quickly!" Dragadon said as she knelt down and Omi, with some effort, climbed on with Kila. "Hang on, we're blowing this joint!"

Abe was again pacing, he couldn't see exactly what was going on, but he could tell that Dragadon had literally busted the doors down and had knelt down for a moment. Now she was running back toward them the factory just blowing up behind her. Abe stopped pacing and waited impatiently as Dragadon screeched with a halt in front of him. To his great relief he saw Omi and Kila on her back.
"Did somebody order a pair of lovebirds?" Dragadon grinned.
Everybody laughed, then Abe said, "Let's go home."
Everyone nodded in agreement.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 22

Cili sighed as she and Abe watched Omi pace the room in the healer's hut.
"He had to inherit pacing from you." Cili teased, punching Abe lightly in the arm.
Abe sighed and shook his head. "Son." he said," Please sit down, you're making us dizzy."
"Sorry." Omi said with a worried sigh as he sat down and leaned up against the wall.
Zig, seeing the dismal mood, decided to try to lighten things up. He went over to the area where Omi was pacing and pretended to fall in to the 'trench' he had left behind.
"Ah help me! I've fallen in and can't get out!" Zig cried.
Cili and Abe both burst out laughing, Omi managed to crack a smile.
"Sheesh, yer a tuff one to get to laugh." Zig said.
"Sorry, I can't help it. I'm...worried. Kila was so badly injured." Omi said, fighting back tears.
"We know son," Abe said, "Please try to be patient."
"I'm trying, I'm trying."
Just then the door opened and Steinix and the local healer walked out, chatting happily. At first the healer apprehensive, when Steinix offered, no insisted on helping with Kila, but now they seem to have become best buds.
"Your stitch work is the best I have ever seen." the healer said.
"Why thank you. Your knowledge of the local herbs is astounding." Steinix said.
"Um excuse me," Omi said, sick with worry,"How's Kila?"
"Oh sorry." the healer said, turning his attention to him, "She'll be just fine. You can go see her now if you like."
Omi quickly got up and ran into the room Kila was in. He gasped slightly at all the bandages on her. She looked like a mudokon mummy. She looked up at him with a smile.
"How are you feeling?" Omi asked as he gently took one of her hands into his.
"'Bout as well as can be expected." she said, then she looked sad for a moment, "Omi, I'm sorry the dress you gave me got ruined."
"Silly girl, it's you I care about. Not some dress. A dress can be replaced. You, however , can't be." he said as he leaned over and kissed her.

Chapter 23

Omi and Kila walked beside the river holding hands and just enjoying each others company. Kila had made a full recovery from the injuries she had received two months ago and Omi had managed to get her a new dress very similar to the last one. Kila with a mischievous grin, bent down suddenly and splashed Omi with water.
"Yipe! Hey that water is cold!" Omi said.
"So?" Kila laughed as she splashed him again.
"Ok two can play at this game." Omi laughed as he started to splash her as well. They splashed each other until they were both sopping wet. Omi give Kila a mischievous look.
"You look good all wet." he purred.
"Pervert." Kila laughed, then she shivered when a breeze came up,"Ok, now I'm cold." she said as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Let me warm you up then." Omi said as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. She welcomed it and they continued on like this until someone behind them Cleared their throat.
Omi looked back annoyed at a mudokon warrior who was standing behind them, "Do you mind? We would like to be alone." he growled.
"Are you Kila?" the warrior asked, completely ignoring Omi.
"Yes," Kila growled, "What's it to ya?"
"The council has decreed that you stand trail for you crimes." the warrior said as several more surrounded them,"You will either come with us peacefully or we'll take you by force."
"No way!" Omi cried as he put himself in-between the warrior and Kila, "You will not take her!" Suddenly with one swift motion the warrior knocked Omi to the ground with his staff.
"Omi!" Kila said as she knelt down beside him, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," he growled at the warrior, "What the f*** was that for!?"
"A warning." the warrior said as two other warriors grabbed Kila, "If you interfere further with the council affairs you will suffer a much worse fate."
Omi got up an started to charge, but Kila stopped him.
"No Omi," Kila said as they started to lead her away, "I don't want you to get hurt."
"My father will hear of this!" Omi howled in fury.
"Go ahead tell him." one of the other warriors said, "He may be the mudokon savior, but he has no power in the council."
That doesn't mean I won't try. Omi thought, shaking with anger.

As it turned out, they were right. Abe couldn't do anything to keep the trial from going ahead. Despite their testimony in her defense she lost the trial and was sentenced to die the next day. Omi managed to convince the guard at the jail hut she was in to let him see her for one last time.
Despite the intense passion they shared with each other at that time, there was a lingering sense of depression and doom.
"Omi...I love you." Kila said, choking back a sob, as they embrace each other tightly.
"I love you too Kila." Omi said, tears streaming down his face, "It's too bad...that we'll never know if...anything would've come from what we..."
"No Omi." Kila said putting a finger on his lips,"Lets not talk about what might have been."
"You're right, let just enjoy the moment."
Unfortunately, that moment was too short.
"Um Omi? You should leave now, you've been in there too long as it is." they heard the guard say.
Reluctantly, Omi parted with her and left.

The next morning a crowd gathered in the village center. Kila was brought out and tied to a small post in the center, she looked at the ground the whole time, tears in her eyes. Omi was on his knee's sobbing. Abe and Cili were trying to comfort him, but to no avail. The head of the council started his speech, one Omi did not care to hear. He did look up when he said:
"Is there anyone here today, other then the members of the defense, that disagrees with this execution going forward.?"
Omi looked and listened hopefully. But there was nothing but silence and his heart started to sink. Then, from somewhere in the crown opposite of him, a voice said:
"I do!"
The crowd parted to let an old mudokon through into the center. Cili stood up in shock.
"It can't be." she muttered, "Irun?"

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 24

Despite it having been over 16 years, lost most of his muscle mass, his skin and ponytail being mostly gray, and the color of his eyes having faded somewhat, Cili still recognized Irun. He still had his tough guy look to him, even though he needed to use a staff as support. He walked toward the council chief.
"I disagree with this execution going forward." Irun said.
"Very well," the council chief said,"State your case."
With a nod, Irun started:
"Long ago, there was a mudokon who was the proud guardian of a youngster. One day he came upon the youngster trapped beneath a log, with two Moon Children close to him. Since he heard only bad rumors about the Moon Children, he went to question them. But in doing so interrupted what they were doing and as a result the youngster was killed. Filled with grief and rage, he attacked the Moon Children, not giving them a chance to explain. He killed one, the other managed to escape and he vowed to hurt her down. It wasn't until two years later that he did. Only this time it was he who found his life on the line. But instead of killing him, she said that 'Death was a release, not a punishment' and showed him the truth of what truly happened that day. That the Moon Children were trying to save the youngster and that his interference caused his death. Filled with grief, he wandered the lands, searching for a new purpose in life. One day he came upon a whole tribe of Moon Children. He begged them to punish him for the crime he had committed. But they could see the remorse he felt for what he had done and told him there was no need for him to be punished further. Instead, they invited him to join the tribe and learn their ways so he may pass on the truth about them to others, and therefore begin to heal the scars of hate that exists between are two races.
After many years the tribe had grown too large and he was asked to lead half of the tribe to a new home. Remembering the Moon Child that had spared him, and realizing that she may be the only one left in that area, he decided to take the splinter tribe there."
"And of what relevance does this story have to her?" the council chief asked, pointing at Kila.
"The lesson that was learned was that when one does not know all of the facts, one tends to make decisions that he or she would not have normally have made if he or she did know them. This poor girl never had a chance to learn the facts, the truth, about us before she started killing. Now that she does know the truth, does she feel remorse for what she has done?"
"But she has killed dozens of our kind, the one you spoke of only killed one. How does that put them on equal terms?"
"Because of the differences in the way we multiply, the Moon Children feel that the death of one of theirs in equal to the death of a hundred of ours. And I am standing before you am I not?
There was a bunch of whispering with in the crowd. The council chief looked stunned a moment. Then with a motion he gathered the other council members around him and a discussion ensued, too low for anyone else to here. After what seemed like forever, they all nodded in agreement and parted. The council chief approached Kila, who looked up at him nervously.
"Kila, I am only going to ask you this once." he said, "Now that you know the truth, do you feel remorse for what you have done?"
Kila looked back down toward the ground, tears in her eyes, and said. "Yes"
Everyone looked up toward Squawks, who just sat on his perch, preening himself. Satisfied, the council chief looked back at Kila.
"Very well then, in that case..." he suddenly grabbed her by her right arm. Then, with two quick swipes of a small knife, he cut an 'X' onto the upper portion of her arm. She give a yelp, more out of surprise then pain. Then he cut her free of her bounds. "You are free to go, but remember this: Your crimes in the pass has been forgiven, but not forgotten. I have put the mark of a killer on your arm as a reminder of this: If you kill anyone from this point on for any reason other then self-defense, you will face the council again. Do you understand?"
"I...I understand." Kila said, somewhat shocked at what just happened.
Then council then left and the crowd started to disperse. Omi ran up to Kila, tears of relief and joy in his eyes and they embraced. Cili, Abe, and Irun also went up to them.
"So that's where you've been all this time." Cili said to Irun, who just chuckled.
"So mother I guess this means you're not the last Moon Child." Omi said.
"No I'm not." Cili smiled, tears of happiness streaking down her face.
"That reminds me," Irun said, "Would you like to meet them? They are camped not far any."
"Yes I would very much like to meet them."
Omi reached out with his power, and found that the hint of loneliness that was always present in his mother before was gone. I have never seen or felt mother being so happy before. She no longer has to worry about if she is the last anymore, if she is alone. Omi thought as he looked over at Kila who smiled at him sweetly, nor do I...

Epilogue

Its been two years since she was nearly executed and Kila was relaxing under the sun, letting the sun's rays warm her body. Much has changed since then. Many of the lower ranking Glukkons and Vykkers had turned sides, throwing the already fragile Cartel into further decay. Moon Children are now reestablishing the ties they once had with the other tribes, a movement both Irun and Cili were heading. Abe seemed content to just relax now, though he did help out when he could. Steinix was now the top healer in the village, a first for a Vykker.
Yes much has changed, all for the better. Kila thought. She heard someone approaching and she looked up and saw Cili shaking her head at her.
"You know Omi will be upset you came out here." Cili said.
"I know, but he can't expect me to stay holed up in the hut all the time. I get stir crazy." Kila said, "Besides, I think the little one needs some sun don't you think?" she lightly patted her slightly extended abdomen.
"I suppose I wouldn't hurt." Cili laughed, "I bet Omi wouldn't agree though."
"No he wouldn't, he's too protective."
"Take's after his father."
"That's for sure...oh." Kila sat up, putting her hands on her stomach.
"You ok?" Cili asked concerned.
"I think so..ah."
"Here let me have a feel." Cili said as she gently put her hands and her head on Kila's stomach. After a moment, she sat back up proudly. "Girl it's time to lay that egg."
"What? But the healer said I wasn't due for another week or so."
"When it comes to egg laying and hatching times, healers are often wrong." Cili said with a smirk.
"If you say so."
"Lets get you back to the village." Cili said as she helpped Kila up.
"Great, Omi is going to have a fit."
"Not once he finds out that your having contractions, then he'll panic and start running around like a scrab with its head cut off."
"How do you know he'll do that?"
Cili smiled mischievously,"'Cause that's what his father did."
They both laughed as they made there way back to the village.

[Lantra]

very nice keep writing.