Chapter Four

The next morning J-Sela awoke not in a cave but in a factory-like building. Silver plating covered tubes that ran out of the ceiling and through the walls. As he watched, silver pods shot through them like bullets, making a whizz as they sped by. The old male rested his claw again on J-Sela's shoulder, but with a gentler touch than before. He was led to a corner where he slipped on a protective over-garment. Three young people came towards him, a male and two females.

"I am Zenak, and these are Kona and Fena. Welcome to the base of the Masks."

He young male who had introduced them motioned for J-Sela to follow him into a brightly-lit room on the far corridor. Once they were there and both were seated Zenak asked, " Well, what do you think?"

This question so started J-Sela that he rocked back in his chair. He had never before been given permission to speak freely, certainly never asked to do so. Zenak smiled. "It's alright. It's a strange place." He went on. "We are the Masks, so called because these bodies." he looked down at his own fur, embarrassed, ".are not our true identity. We, like you, like broken the boundary of society and revealed the truth!" Zenak said these last words with such force, such passion, that J-Sela was started. Who were these people?

"You can never go home. " Zenak carried on in a factual tone. "So you will stay here, among friends. We live in peace, except when we go on raid to spread our message. "

Suddenly J-Sela blurted, " You are .terrorists?" He had heard of those who dare do harm to the council, and they're seemingly fitting punishments.

"No. The terrorists you have heard are slaughterers. We are subtle, cutting communication lines, opening a window or two. We do not kill unless we are forced to. To date, we have never taken a Sonijian life. "

J-Sela breathed. "Who was the male who brought me here?"

"That was Wolaf. He is what we call a scout. He can somehow tell when a new Mask is 'born', and retrieves them. He is also commander when we go on raids."

Zenak paused, considering. Then, " Now you are to take on a new name. Two syllables are in fashion now, but you may do as you wish. "

J-Sela messed around with the letters in his name, finally finding nothing that suited him at all. But it came to him, as Zenak knew it would.

"I have decided."

"What is it?"

The name he said with the same passion with which Zenak had said the word truth.

"Li-shon!"



* From now on, J-Sela's name will be Li-shon. And to add to the confusion, the next chapter takes place 20 years later. Now please please please review! I'm beggin' ya! *