A/N: Hi guys. (Dodges a ton of rotten vegetables) I am so sorry that this took me so long, but I have found more inspiration! Time to thank reviewers!

dragon slayer bye the book: Thanks, I really am trying with this.

midnight84118: Thanks, that's a good idea. I hope you enjoy this.

Now, ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

Chapter 12: Escape From Hell's Gate!

As the lid to my linkbed was lifted, I launched myself at the soldier standing beside fists were flying in a blind rage as tears rolled down my cheeks. I screamed at the soldiers and called them murderers as they dragged Jake, Norm, Grace, and myself down to a small containment cell.

I sat on the floor, leaning my head against the wall as I tried to think of a way out of my current situation. I chewed on my lower lip until it threatened to bleed then began chewing on my tongue. My thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice saying," Personally, I don't think these tree-huggers deserve steak."

I looked out the door and smiled as I recognised our wonderful pilot. Trudy lured our guard into a false sense of security then knocked him unconscious and called in Max to unlock our cell. Norm jumped to his feet, I scrambled over to get Jake moving in his chair, and Grace was already out the door.

We stealthily ran towards the flight deck but slowed down a bit as we neared the airlock to the outside. Everyone except for Max and I grabbed exo-pacs and ran out the door. I grabbed Max's shoulder and stared intensely into his eyes," Max, we're gonna need someone on the inside. You stay here and contact us if you have any major news. Otherwise, lay low," I said, running outside and bolting towards Trudy's scorpion.

I pulled myself into the craft and pulled Jake onboard then grabbed his wheelchair as Norm started to climb in. Trudy took off as bullets started coming down on us from the control room in Hell's Gate. I buckled myself in and stayed out of the way of the bullets until we were out of range.

I heard Trudy laugh from the cockpit and ask if we were alright. Jake let out a whoop of elation, and I grinned," I'm good. Norm?"

" Good."

" Grace... Aw crap. Grace is hit!" I shouted, moving over to the older woman.

She let out a pained laugh," This gonna ruin my whole day," she groaned.

" Norm, get a trauma kit!" I barked," You're gonna be ok, Grace. I swear, I will make this ok," I said, trying to convince myself as well as her.

Half an hour later, we landed at site 26 and attached the lovingly dubbed "shack" to Trudy's aircraft. I helped Jake and Grace inside and lay Grace down on one of the linkbeds as Norm went into his avatar and onto the roof of the shack as Trudy flew us out to the Tree of Souls. I helped Jake patch up Grace as best we could then got into my linkbed as Jake got in his. We both had jobs to do.

When I entered my avatar, I immediately realized that I was not where I had been when my link had been cut. A large, dark form was laying in front of me and had growly breathing as it slept. I sat upright and allowed my eyes to adjust then realized that the dark form was in fact Lily, my wonderful thanator sister, and Rayna, my crazy ikran cousin. They both woke up simultaneously and turned to me. They both were ecstatic that I was alive and let out little chirps of happiness.

I stroked them both on the head then attached my queue to Lily's head-tentacle. She showed me what had happened when Hometree fell after my link was cut. Lily had found me and was trying to wake me when Tsu'tey arrived and helped to carry me with the clan. Lily had stayed by my side the entire time that my avatar was inactive, but Rayna had arrived a few hours before I linked.

I detached myself from Lily and stood up to stretch my avatar's stiff limbs and sighed in relief as I heard my joints popping. Light footsteps sounded behind me, and I whipped around to find myself face-to-face with a very angry-looking Tsu'tey.

This was not going to end well.