Beyond the Gate

by Xeir Zith

The last thing Tanith remembered was Cameron cracking a very bad joke and Daniel cracking up in laughter. The next thing she knows is that she has a splitting headache and is in the dark, literally. As she unravels where she is, she finds out things she would rather not know. The SGC and Atlantis learn more of who the Furlings really are, and where they were hiding all that time

16. Tharon 2

Beyond the Gate

Chapter 16 Upgrades

Ascretta

That evening

It had been a full day and night since I woke up in that controlroom section, a lab of a sort. I wasnt sure of what to do. At least until after Tanith and I had rescued Blaze, her brothers Ceaser and Carwyn, and also the two other boys named Benoi and Fiddlestix. Their teacher Georgina, and her boss, Jochen

After getting Fiddlestix to the infirmary, My wife was grilled first by Munkus, and then took Cayran for a flight somewhere, which left me on my own lonesome for a time to get my thoughts together.

Georgina was checked briefly by the two healers, Jelly and Jenny were wonderful ladies and somehow had a knack for what they could do. But once I saw how Skimble stood near the door to the Infirmary, on guard at the same time, it only made things much more clear.

We had to be ready for anything. I had found a map room briefly, and in it I was able to also find details of how far apart the other six Furlings were. My mind was focused on one Furling, isolated and apparently not far away.

I needed something to do. Fortunately Zane found me after drilling three of the other troupe members with their new weapons in some team drills and basic tactics before letting them go on their way. Zane found me on one of the balconies looking towards the Pollicle Zone as Munkus, Tanith and I started to refer to it.

"Something on your mind ?" Zane asked me when he saw me before stepping into view.

"Could say that" I replied in thought. I was thinking about the only Furling in the mess of a group of at least six on the outer most edge of the Pollicle Zone. "I had studied the direction the lone Furling was in, and it was more then likely a child. Surrounded, possibly malnurished, or under guard and barely fed enough to stay alive." I explained the map I had found on the wall.

"Whats up ?" Zane asked as he stepped up. He said nothing of us flying off out of the blue and rescuing the others we had found on that ridge.

I sighed and turned to him, leaning on the balcony as I did so "One of our kind is in the Pollicle Zone, surrounned on the map by six Pollicles, possibly more." I told him

Zane smirked, he liked this kind of mission. "Let me guess, search and rescue ?" He had a impish look in his eyes. "We can even get a lay of a bit of the Pollicle Zone as well if we can."

I smirked. "We could, but if we sneak out to do it, we wont get grilled by Munkus and the others. But I know I can trust Cayran to get a message to my wife. But then I can also use the radio she gave me." I said in thought. I tapped my radio twice. "Tanith, dear, are you there ?"

"I'm here." Tanith replied, "Whats going on ?" She asked me. She sounded as if she was moving stuff.

"Zane and I are going to go hunting, want us to bring back anything ?" I asked her, that meant, in our code of course. That Zane and I were going on a stealth mission to extract a target we had tracked down.

Less than a minute later and Tanith replied. "You got this dear, bring me back a coffee. I'll let Ben know whats going on and he can help you guys on the extraction. Good luck" That gave us the green light. Perfect!

I looked to Zane. "Got all your gear ?" I asked him, he raised his ori staff and pointed at his watch, which was the asgard shield. I smirked, I had similar, but also my twin swords that Tanith and Claire found in the central spire.

Zane and I headed out. We were briefly stopped by one of the troupe, a male cat named Brutus, he looked put out to seeing us wandering since he was on guard duty. "Where are you two going ?"

"Patrol" Zane replied, Brutus looked at him, "When we get back we can drill some more with Tugger" He told the other mancat. "Dont wait up" Brutus nodded at that, though confused. "Quaxo assigned you guard duty ?"

"He did" Brutus replied

"Good, stay put then. At this moment you're the first line of defense other then Tanith, until you hear from her, stay put and keep watch." Zane said to him. In terms of rank he easily outranked Quaxo, and but he ranked lower than Cayran, who as Claire, was a Major. But Zane was my wifes XO on their base. Which meant he outranked, in a technical level, Claire.

Zane and I nodded to each other and started off on our 'patrol' and were soon out of sight of Brutus and everyone else in the town. We headed briefly north, then directly west where I knew the lone Furling to be.

We came to a thick patch of woods after a few moments of fast walking. With our swords we cut a small crack in the underbrush and entered carefully. After a few minutes of walking we came to the same conclusion, using the trees would be quicker.

Scampering to the left and closest tree we scambled up its trunk to the branches above and slung our staff weapons across our backs, and then we freeran along the trees. Moving fast we kept out of sight of the paths below. Being a Furling had given me an extra sense so to speak, and it helped me track the movement of the patrols below us and when to time our movements. By using the trees as our means of movement, we were entirely out of sight of those below us. As well as out of scent.

Finally we came to a stop, not far away was a camp site of a sort, and I could smell at least a solid six other Pollicles, and only one Furling. We dropped silently to the ground, thankfully the mutts were upwind of us, which sent their scents towards us instead of them smelling our own scents. We crept forwards to the edge of the underbrush and spotted the campsite.

It was a single cabin of a sort using fallin trees as a roof and most of the walls were piles of leaves, no real structure to it was to be had however. a cage made of thick sticks held a single body, a child no older than six years old more then likely. It made me remember the news story of a child disappearing from a day care center in Ohio back on Earth. I couldnt imagine what this childs mother was going through as I watched the Pollicles.

"I count six" Zane whispered softly, I nodded. I looked at the pollicles, they roved around rthe campsite in pairs. Or tended the fire, or otherwise kept watch at the edge of the underbrush. There were three dobermen, a bulldog, a rotwilier, and a golden retriever type Pollicle in the mix. The furling child was a handsom black and white patchwork boy.

I tracked the pollicles for long moments in silence. Finally I whispered to Zane. "I'll take the mutts down, soon as I cause a ruckus at the far end of the camp, spring the child and head for the trees as fast as you safely can." I said outlining a very simple plan, with our asgard shields, the Pollicles were harmless anyhow. I jerked my thumb back the way we had come "Soon as you have the kid, we'll meet on the other side of the river we crossed a bit ago."

Zane nodded and stayed put as I moved around the edge of the camp ducking behind trees and crawling through low bushes. I snagged one of the Pollicles, a doberman, who was keeping watch at the edge of the underbrush without a sound. My knife met the mutts throat and I snapped its neck at the same time, pulling the body into the underbrush without a sound.

I moved towards the next Pollicle, the bulldog was in the center of the camp, clearly the leader of this bunch of a patrol. The Golden Retriever looked like she wanted to be somewhere else as she cooked some meat for the Furling kitten. I figured she could be either helpful or a hinderance. Maybe it best to knock her out ? I figured it better to clock her out of the fight once I took the bulldog out of the fight.

Another Pollicle, this time the rottie, was at the edge of the camp, in full view of the bulldog I snatched the rottie from behind, slit its throat, stabbed its ribcage six ways from tuesday, and then cut off its head in one fliud motion.

As the body fell the Bulldog spotted me. An angel of death more then likely in how I carried myself. Sword ready for use. If only I had my hat from home I could easily be mistaken for Puss in Boots, I just needed my hat!

"Ambush!" The bulldog screamed! The golden picked up the meat and dove for the cage. Only to get knocked cold by the Cage door swinging open as all attention was on me, the bulldog rushed at me, sword swinging, I danced around him as Zane knocked out the Golden with the cage door and picked up the Furling in his arms. Swinging about as the remaining Doberman spotted him, I watched as he fired from his hip, the three shot burst from the Ori staff tore into the doberman dead on, nearly ripping off its left arm

Shrieking in pain the doberman ran at Zane with his gun ready, only to fall as he tripped on the Golden. Zane blew apart the dobermans head with another shot from the staff before turning and booking it for safety.

We had found a river not far off, and planned to meet back up there in the case of us getting sepreated. Moving quickly Zane was out of sight, leaving me with the enraged bulldog trading blows.

I continued to dance around him, circles were had as we danced in our sword fight. But I could tell the mutt was slowing, he ws not as experienced as I was, but he did have more time on this planet and age was getting to him. I quickly disarmed him, when he saw his own squad was gone he dropped to his knees. "Kill me quickly" He said

I thought a moment then shook my head "I need answers first." I said in his language. The mutt looked up at me as I put my sword away, but kept my right hand directed towards him. "We'll start with the basics. Tell me what I want to know, and you keep your body in one piece. But lie to me, and each lie breaks part of your body, I dont have any pain killers, so the pain will hurt quite a bit. Are we agreed ?" I asked him, a stern expression on my face, he nodded "Good, we'll start with the kitten, where did you find him. What was your plan with him ?"

For a second the bulldog didnt say anything until I produced a knife. "We found him," He said to me, it was true by the look in his eyes. He nodded towards the knocked out Golden, "Laime wanted to care for him, said he reminded her of when she was a pup." The mutt sighed, "But he's a furling, so how were we gonna feed him ?"

"Why the cage ?" I asked I crouched down to the kneeling bulldog. My hand snaked out and grab his own. Holding it up. I held my hand in such a maner that I could break a finger, easily. "He is only six by the look of him, starving, scared. Why the cage ?"

"Our safety, AGH!" The mutt screamed as I broke two fingers. He sighed, panting hard, "We found him I swear, I had the others make the cage to keep us safeAGH!" he screamed again, two more fingers were busted, broken at the knucles

I looked at him, "I dont buy it" I broke his thumb as he tried to tell a pure lie to my face. His left hand was useless. I let the arm go and snatched his other one. "You got five fingers before I start stabbing." I told him.

He looked at me. Venom in his eyes. "Go to hell, cat." He told me, before screaming as one after the other I broke his fingers. Then both his arms.

I stood up and stepped away. "I cant go to hell" I finally said, "Satan still has that restraining order out against me" The mutt growled something and I heard him struggle to get to his feet. I rounded on him, my foot lashing out, hard and fast. Catching the mutt in the side of the face, his neck broke against a rock.

I turned towards the coming to Golden. She was the only one who was truthful I felt, as she seemed to want to care for the boy. She looked at me in horror as I knelt next to her. "Do me a favor, and tell your boss, we will find the others. We will rescue the others. We will know if they are harmed. Tell them, if the others are harmed, in any manner, those who armed them will die. Got that. Nod. Good girl" I knocked her out again

I stood back up "As much as I hope you truly did care for the kitten, I cant have you following us, so... good bye pup." I said, I turned and fled into the trees without a sound, leaving in our wake a campsite filled with dead Pollicles and a knocked out Pollicle. The kitten however was nice and safe in our hands.

Zane and I met back up near the river, we crossed it, our scents disappearing rapidly. "Any following ?" Zane asked

I shook my head. "The golden seemed to want to care for the boy, how is he ?" I said to Zane

"Starving, he told me so himself" Zane replied, the two of us headed back onto the path towards home. We took a winding route. In order to shake any persuit. "Where's the Golden ?" He asked me

"Out cold, couldnt risk her coming home with us" I replied. I smirked though. "I did warn her to tell her bosses, if any of the other Furlings get harmed in any way, we'd know, and do equal if not worse harm to those who harmed the Furlings. She understood my intent and I knockled her out again" I replied

That was that. Soon we came to the edge where we cut through with our swords. Perfect. Almost home. I stopped at the edge of the meadow. "Munkus is gonna rip me a good one" I mumbled.

"Hey, relax, Munkus has no control over you, Far as I care, you only answer to Tanith, not to me, not to Munkus, just to her. You're her husband, and that means she also answers to you. And in that case I answer to the both of you. So you asked me along." Zane said. I raised an eyebrow, it was rapidfire, but what Zane said made senbse

During our trip away, we did mention we had gone out hunting. So I had found us a six legged boar. And with my ori staff killed and dressed it. Then here I was dragging the carcass home as Zane carried the boy, Agustus, in his arms.

"So those were Pollicles" Zane mused. The fight was fast and furious, he had taken out one, I had taken out the rest. Two of the dobermen pollicles were silently slain in the underbrush, while the rottie was murdered flat out in front of the bulldog.

I was breathing hard from dragging the carcass of meat. "Yeah, those were Pollicles. Ulgy fuckers werent they ?" I joked, it made the boy laugh. That was my hope. Seeing the boy, scared out of his wits, finally peaceful among others like him, the dog people must have freaked him out something fierce. "Its alright kiddo" I said to him. "We're almost to safety"

Somehow it felt like I was in my favorite video game when I was off duty. Assassinating targets where needed. And yet here we were, heading home. I was glad Tanith gave me one of the Asgard Shields. It worked perfect. Not a scratch on me!

As we neared the city proper, there were two people waiting for us. Tanith seemed bored out of her mind by the look of her, also upset, but thankfully not with us, the other person with her was Brutus, on guard duty, keeping watch for us. Seeing that we indeed brought dinner home, I had to apologise. "Sorry Dear, they were all out of coffee" It made her smile.

"That's well and good, but we've got a problem, Munkus got wind of you guys going off on your own. I see you found a friend ?" She said to me as she chuckled as she turned to Agustus. "Whats this kids name ?"

"Agustus" I replied as Brutus took the boar meat for the kitchens. Munkus was going to have my tail but Zane was right, I answered to Tanith not to the silver tabby. I held my hand up to my wife. "I know what you're gonna say, what we did was reckless, but I didnt know it was a kid. I thought he was an adult or a teen. The Pollicles had him in a cage. Fortunately one of the mutts were actually trying to care for him and also feed him, so that explains why he is not malnurshed, just hungry, but otherwise fine." I explained to her

"Munkus is gonna have your heads" Tanith said to us both Zane smirked in reply as I chuckled "What ?"

"Far as I'm concerned, I answer to you and Tharon boss, this Munkus guy, he might lead the others, but he's not military." Zane said, he had a point, truth was I wasnt military either, I was a commerical airlines pilot for Delta Airlines.

"Fair point Captain Zane. But you are also training his soldiers in team tactics. Munkus will want toi know where you two went off to." Tanith told us. She could tell I had to do some nasty things to a Pollicle and never pressed the issue. Torturing the bulldog though somehow was justified in what he, the dumb mutt, really wanted the Furling kitten for.

"So, does Munkus know wee went hunting or what ?" I asked

"He knows you went out, but not that you went hunting, when he sees the meat he'll know why you went out. But when he sees the kitten, that will be a a problem and he'll wonder where the boy came from." Tanith said to us

"Ah, yes..." I said in thought "That is a problem" Tanith looked at me, as did Zane. "Before I disappeared from Earth and reappeared here, there was a news story of a day care in Ohio, it got hit by lightning, and a six year old boy disappeared." I told her.

"So its not a one time thing..." Tanith said, more storms would occur, and each time they did, more would arrive here on Ascretta until the planet was properly repopulated.

"I cant imagine what his parents are going through right now" Zane muttered softly as we took Agustus to our penthouse, Zane allowed Tunia to take the boy off him.

"What about the seven we rescued, they all came from one place didnt they ?" I then asked to my wife.

"Yes, Blaze and her brothers explained they were outside while visiting the school for new student orientation when the tornado alarms went off. They were running for cover in a nearby ditch when they were hit. Two students in that same school were in a finals exam, and their teacher who was giving the exam, and their principal all disappeared in a lightning bolt." Tanith explained what she knew and what Cayran had told her

"So that explains that" I mumbled. Blaze, her older brother Ceaser, and her apparently twin brother as a human, Carwyn, had been running for safety in a low depression when the tornado sirens had gone off. While Tim, as Benoi, and his brother Mike, as Fiddlestix, and their teacher, Georgina, as Fawn, were in the middle of exams. At least that is what I could understand.

"So you saved a young boy, did you learn anything ?" Tanith asked me, Zane looked at me.

"Yeah" I replied, I smirked at her. "Never trust a bulldog, the mutt's lie through their teeth that their mother was a hamster and their father stank of elderberries" I never expected Cayran to breakdown laughing, along with Blaze and her brothers at what I just said. The truth was, using that as code, Tanith knew exactly what I meant

Never trust a bulldog. Ever.

Tanith took it in stride and took a seat on the low sofa. I joined her after getting some drinks, before which I had also washed and cleaned up. Upon sitting down and handing her a glass, I said while holding up my arm, the asgard shield deactivated long enough for me to drink. "This worked amazing."

"What really happened out there ?" Tanith asked me. The look she gave me made it all the more easy to tell her. Because I wouldnt have to tell Munkus, she'd take the rap for me.

I sighed and sat back. "The patrol was in a campsite, three dobermen, a rottwiler, the bulldog was the boss, and finally a Golden. They had the kitten in a cage, but the Golden seemed to want to care for him, make sure he could eat an drink and be alright. But I could tell the Bulldog wanted something more out of the deal." I explained.

"I provided the distraction as Zane got the boy to safety. I let the Golden go free as she was more concerned with the health of the kitten than her own." I concluded. I even told Tanith everything that I did to the bulldog to get further information, only to be proven that you cant trust a bulldog whatsoever.

"You did good dear." She finally said to me. I turned to her. She smiled, that was good then. If I did good in saving the boy with Zane, then Munkus could scream until he lost his voice for all I cared. Tanith approved of what Zane and I went through.

To me, that was the important thing. But night was coming on. Which meant that morning would bring Munkus grilling me in his office slash home. But I told myself, Tanith knew everything, she could tell him off ? Maybe even explain that because there was only six Pollicles holding the boy I was smarter to get the boy while there was so few Pollicles.

And maybe next time I could go with just the kull suit plus the asgard shield. Let the Pollicles whale on me, only to fall while I rescued another ? They were all fairly good ideas, but for now, only Tugger had the Kull Suit in full. I did not know that Tanith had four more in the puddlejumper.

But I wasnt jealous of the catman, far from it. He seemed to know his limits and had tried to impress upon Tanith when they first met. He seemed at first to have the vibe of the Baddiest Kid on the Block type. But to me he had more of a "I really miss my family" type of vibe. And I could tell.

Tugger was spending a lot more time with the burmse known as Cassandra. And I did not like the look of the catwoman either. Cassandra gave off the vibe of a holier than thou, bow before me peasent type of feeling that just didnt sit right with me.

I told myself that the only Catwoman I'd bow before was my beloved wife Tanith. And if that upset Cassandra, who gave a damn ? I for one, sure didnt give two shits either!

"You went and saved a kitten, and you warned the Pollicles. Should we worry of the other five or would they be released ?" Tanith mused thoughtfully.

I hadnt given it much thought, the pollicle I had left alive to tell the others about the other Furlings they had, by now had more then likely alerted the others. "What about Ben, can he track them ?"

"Track who ?" Tanith asked me

"The other five, Zane and I just rescued a kitten, but who is to say there is more ?" I said to her.

"You have a point." She said, she stood up. "Ben" She said

"What's up ?" Came the reply as Ben was closely monitoring the control panels in the control room not far from the stargate itself.

"Can you track the other five Furlings current location, along with the Pollicles around them ?" Tanith said

"I can, if you like I can also send the topographic maps to your puddlejumper. It will update in realtime when you access it." Ben had an almost amazed or in awe tone to his voice. "I have been learning more about this facility as well" He said

From what it sounded like he had found that with enough supplies, the shipyard could infact construct several cityships, or drones, or weapons, or armor, or even other types of ships such as the gateship, otherwise known as the puddlejumper, a windrunner class cruiser, a cruiser, the aoura class cruisers, and the deadly Defender Battle Barges.

However, everything was entirely automated, he also found two other shipyards nearby, and both of them were in the Pollicle Zone. "If you have to, you can fly your puddlejumper, cloaked of course, to the other shipyard cityship, and track where the other Furlings are. With the asgard personal shields, and the kull armor working in tandem, its possible the Pollicles would break ranks and panic just by sight of you." Ben said

Tanith liked the idea, but she knew that Munkus wouldnt go for it. "Track the nearby armories, are any of them in the Pollicle Zone ?" Tanioth asked

"Yeah, two of them, but they stay away because of the protections you guys had installed on the zones. Thery're the only areas without any Pollicle activity within the Pollicle Zone" Ben reported.

"Wonderful" Tanith repolied, so we couldnt walk to the armories in the Pollicle Zone, but we could take the Jumper. "What about construction supplies to build more jumpers ?" Tanith then asked

"In order to do that, to make them have the pulse weapons you installed on yours, you'd need more then whats in the armories to make another jumper. Otherwise supplies could be gained provided we, as in, myself, my nanites. Were allowed to replicate twice to begin harvesting resources for you to regrow your economy and a small fleet." Ben said, he honestly wanted to sincerely help us it seemed

From what I was briefly told, the Replicators were originally a means of a servant, to end the wraith, to fight the wraith in battle, but they grew out of control and the project was seen as a failure, eventually the Atlantis team had destroyed their home world of Asuras. And then subsequently, Rodney had rebuilt the Replicators with a new kill code.

In this case the Replicators wanted to now help humanity instead of fight against it. And in this case Ben simply wanted Taniths permission to replicate and begin the process of harvesting nearby resources so she could begin production of further puddlejumpers and otherwise.

Tanith thought hard and then said "Let me sleep on it, Ben. For now, track those other five Furling lifesigns. See if you can figure out a eay to get their levels of health and wellbeing as well.. In the mean time, its nightfall, and I'm bushed."

I was too, Zane and I were gone all day, and it was that morning when Tanith and I had rescued Blaze, her brothers, Fawn, her students, and Fawns boss Jochen.

"Alright, sleep well" Ben replied, he sounded not the least bit upset as he was already quite happy to be tracking for further energy storms that delivered us to the planet from Earth.

A few minutes later, and Tanith and I were laid in our bed. I stared at the Celing as Tanith laid on my arm and used my chest as a pillow. "You trust him ?" I asked her

"Rodney does, and I feel we can too. But he's a Replicator, and from past experiences, its not easy to just start trusting him outright." She replied

"But he told us where the other Furlings were in the Pollicle Zone" I said in thought. I looked to her as she looked up to me. In our human bodies, her eyes were a gorgeous steel green, in our new Furling bodies, her steel green was replaced by steel gray, which kind of made her look blind. But I could see that the love she had for me was there as always.

"And he also told us of the seven in the ridge" Tanith mused in thought.

"I say we trust him. Munkus can rant at us later." I said, Tanith smirked, alright that made sense, better to start harvesting resources for the moment. Before going to sleep, Tanith did just that, she let Ben know to begin work on replicating so he could safely harvest the resources they'd need to make drones as a defensive measure.

Finally we both nodded off to sleep.

The next morning

Sunrise

I woke up to Tanith purring in my ears, I looked in her direction, I had rolled onto my side and she was curled up close to me, her black, silver, gold, red and white mane of hair needed a good conditioning. But otherwise she was gorgeous. She shortly woke up, her sleep heavy eyes blinking at me. "Good morning gorgeous" I said to her.

"Good morning dear" She replied with a gentle kiss on my nose It made me smile, my wife slept like an angel like always. "Did you sleep well ?" she asked me

"I did, but I also couldnt help but think of the kittens mother." I said in reply. What was his parents going through at that moment I couldnt hope to imagine.

Tanith snuggled closer to me. "She must be devestated to hear her child is missing because of a lightning storm" She said in thought. "I bet the news media had a field day with it too"

"They're not the only ones" I had already explained to her about Cam Mitchell showing up at the house when I showed up on Ascretta.

"Dom must have given Cam our address, I never did. When I joined the Marines, I used Doms address, not Dads" She said in thought.

"Either way, we're here, together again" I said to her. She smiled and snuggled close. Being a cat was going to take some getting used to, but somehow we could easily sit on chairs and in the puddlejumper perfectly. There came a knock at the bedroom door.

Tanith slowly sat up and stretched. "Come in" She called out.

Blaze entered. "Sorry to wake you but, you got a guest, and by look of him, he doesnt look happy." Blaze more then likely meant Munkus had arrived, and he was more then likely pissed off by something, and I was pretty sure I knew what pissed him off. Tanith and I traded looks. She got out of bed.

"Stay here babe, I got this" She told me, when I started to get up. I smiled and laid back in bed, staring briefly at the ceiling, Blaze was still in the room.

"Something on your mind" I asked her, my eyes still on the ceiling.

She stepped forwards. "Actually there is" She said, she sounded a bit shy.

"Whats up ?" I asked her.

"I wanted to thank you, for yesterday morning I mean, coming into that cave to rescue us. We thought we were alone here." She said to me

"Oh, well, you're welcome, Tanith did the flying, but I did the actual go out into the rain and get you guys quick" I replied as I looked towards her. I had no idea that Munkus and Tanith were talking about Ben's replicating twice, and then harvesting resources for something. It was as if the facility had come alive and some of the younger cats in the troupe were hearing weird noises far below us.

Ben had begun harvesting the resources that had overgrown parts of the shipyard, leaving the already designed courtyards alone of course, the meadows were going to be stripped clean for certain. However there was also the matter of something else. In this case where he was storing the harvested resources.

I finally got up shortly after Blaze left after saying thank you. I listened at the door as I got dressed as Munkus and Tanith ranted at each other. "Tell me again why I am wasting time waiting for an attack ?" Munkus said to her

"You're not" Tanith replied, "We're gathering resources to build more puddlejumpers and drones to either rescue those in the Pollicle Zone, or better, make more ships, clothing, possibly even stuff to use and make this place as homey as possible. Possibly even food" Tanith said to him.

"I feel like we are just weasting time chasing fairy tales" Munkus said to her as I stepped into view. "Good morning I was not aware I had woken you up." He said I waved him off. He took it as a dont worry about it we were awake anyhow and then said "Good job on the hunt, I heard you got more than a boar ?"

He must have meant Agustus. I simply nodded.

Tanith spoke up. "Tharon and Zane rescued a Furling, one of us, a kitten, a boy named Agustus while they were on their hunt." She said. Nice save dear.

Munkus took her words at face value and nodded. "I see," He said, "Is the kitten alright now ?" He had concern on his face and in his voice.

I nodded as my wife spoke "He is, the healers, Jenny and Jelly, checked him out last night, he's now just really hungry hungry" Tanith replied, Munkus nodded. He took it better than hoped.

"Where did he come from ?" Munkus asked, how could a six yhear old suddenly show up on Ascretta as a Furling ?

I figured it was best that I spoke up. "Before things went south out there on the hunt. And before I came here, there was a news report, a day care center in Ohio was hit by lightning, of everyone in the building, only that boy, Agustus, was missing." I spoke up.

Munkus stared at me, as did Tanith, though I had told her of it already, hearing it again meant that it was true. Munkus whistled. "I cant imagine what his parents must be going through right now." He said in thought.

"The media went crazy with it. Some UFO nuts are going berzerk about it too" I said, it was all over the news for about a week, a child disappearing in a lightning storm, people disappearing from Miami. Egypt apparently had a huge electrical blackout in Zagazig too. I had no idea that was where Tunia was from.

"Anyway, I was thinking about going on another hunt, Boar is to the south east, but we dont know what is directly south" I spoke up. I was itching to spy out the next Pollicle camp with another Furling, not make a rescue unless it was another child "If it is alright with you I'd like to take Zane again and go on another hunt, see what we can find."

Munkus thought a brief moment then nodded. "Go ahead, good luck, see what kinds of game is around. Even with the resources Ben is harvesting, it looks weird to look out onto the meadow and see... steel and cement instead of grass" Munkus said. Even with the harvesting of those resources, which amazingly, Ben could make into a Puddlejumper easily. Was really currently going to become drone defense weapons and possibly a jumper or two. But apparently Ben had a different idea in mind.

I was actually kind of surprised, Munkus allowing me to go on another hunt, I would have gone with Zane again regardless. But again this time the goal was to actually go hunting, not spying out the Pollicles, Ben could do that for us as well as harvest resources. The entire meadow was a huge mountain of resources alone, which made it perfect. Just using the resources harvested and stored safely on a molecular level meant that Ben was coming through. on his end

We later found out that Ben replicated twice, meaning he made twenty replicator harvesters, little drone like things about the size of a common housecat, a hovering drone that would harvest and then store everything required safely in the proper storerooms.

Tanith I knew wanted to take a look, and fast, but there was also a minor issue she had to fix. Namely. Telling Munkus the truth. And if Cassie found out, all hell would break loose. It was an interesting venture however. Munkus once told exactly about the hunt Zane and I got the Boar on, was proud we brought the child home safely.

Though he was also worried "That one Pollicle you left alive, the bulldog and his fellow thugs I understand killing, but the Golden, I am not too sure about leaving her alive" He said, I could understand his concern. I had to really think on my actioins and pray they werent going to come back and haunt me

"She was more concerned with making sure Agustus was healthy and properly fed, and from what I could tell, didnt want her other... squadmates is not the right word for it but its what we'll go with, near him if she could help it." I explained as I leaned agianst the counter top, "With how I took down the bulldog alone, it made more then enough sense to let her go back to the others with a warning that there is more where it came from"

Munkus thought briefly on what I told him, then nodded. "Alright, you did good in bringing Agustus home." He said, then he asked, "Were you able to get a good night of rest ?" He then seemed to be a bit haggard, as if Bens harvesting work kept him up most of the night.

"We did yes" Tanith spoke up, she wanted to talk to Ben and see if it was possible to have more ori staff weapons as a weapons type for more puddlejumpers. And also if he could safely augment her own puddlejumpers sensor package. "I also told Ben to begin harvesting resources. Like I mentioned, we're going to need more then just my puddlejumper for search and rescue, or even defensive needs." She explained once again.

"Yes, I agree, you're right, having resources harvested is a good thing, but perhaps we could figure out a time when he can do it and when he cannot ?" Munkus said with a yawn, he was tired I could tell. "In the mean time, Tharon was it ?" I nodded "You and Zane can go on another hunt, maybe take some of the others with you, the three Zane was training the day before yesterday for example."

It was a good suggestion, but it wasnt something I wanted to focus on just yet. There was still a few things left to do before going on the hunt. Thankfully the food systems worked in the penthouse. "If you need a place to crash for a nap..." I started to say, but Munkus waved me off.

"It isnt that big a deal. If I must I can sleep at my desk." He said. He didnt like being the leader, he was used to Old D being the leader of the tribe more then likely. "Its tough being the boss" he said

"Dont you want aid of any kind ?" Tanith offered.

"No, I can manage, for now." He then smirked, "Did I mention that Cassandra keeps trying to butt in and take the post of leader ?" He had a funny look on his face as he spoke.

I chuckled loudly. "What did she try for this time ?" Tanith smirked as I asked the question, the catwoman had given me the evil stink eye on more than one occasion since I had arrived. But I didnt care too much if at all.

"She tried to lock me out of my own office." Munkus said, He chuckled. "I told her that I would accept the help, but not just yet. Right now its bad enough keeping the younger members of the troupe in one sane piece as it is." He said to us as he headed for the door. "See you when you get back from your hunt" He said

As he was gone, Tanith asked me, "You do plan to take the guys along right ? Pounce, Tumblebrutus, and Alonzo are their names" I smirked in thought, but nodded, yeah, we could teach them to hunt.

A few minutes later and I found myself talking with Pouncival, the youngest of the males of the troupe. Whose character, he said when the musical was running, was named Bill Baily at some shows, Pouncival at other shows. His original human name was Tony. But somehow Pouncival stuck and it worked. He was the youngest male member of the show at twenty one

Pounce and I went over some of the team drills that Zane had taught him, Tumblebrutus, and Alonzo so far. From how I heard it from Pounce, Alonzo, along with Quaxo otherwise known as Chief Wallace, and Tantomile had drawn the short straws and were the first three of the troupe to meet my wife and Zane in the first place.

There was a bit of a Mexican Standoff in terms of where things were going. And how things were going for that matter at that time. But somehow, things worked out, and everyone ended up being more friendly than expected. Tantomile had even shown Tanith some of the shipyard.

"Is that supposed to do that ?" Pounce asked me, pointing at a buglike thing floating just off the ground, it was moving like a sod cutter at a sod farm, him and its fellows, going in straight rows down the meadow, sucking in the resources. Stacking the sod in neat stacks two feet by three feet in length. Then stacking those inside a slightly larger replicator drone, when it was full, like farm clockwork, the full drone went back to the city, deposited its resources, and then went for more.

We watched facinated as the meadow slowly became dark brown dirt. The grass I later learned could be used as a outer shell of the puddle jumpers. Or for clothing, or for furniture, the dirt was the main focus.

"I believe so, Tanith did give the green light to Ben to begin the harvesting of resources." At one row I saw there was steel and cement under the dirt. So what Ben looked to be doing was clearing the resources that had overgrown the shipyard proper. The south peir that connected our small outlaying minicity of a sort with the rest of the centeral zone and the other six peirs was soon becoming more and more visible, and he'd started around nine the night before!

"Dont worry" I smiled, "I believe that if we ask for the drones to keep sod somewhere it could make nice coloration for some courtyards" Pounce just looked at me confused. However he did smirk

"I remember when I woke up here" He said after a moment of us walking, we'd gone over the drills twice already, but now we were going over when we first woke up on the planet. "It was weird. One second we're getting a standing ovation on the stage, and then the next thing I know I'm diving for cover with Skimbles actor, and then, BOOM! !hiteness."

He made a explosion motion with his hands. "No more theater" He said, "Somehow that whiteness brought us here, and we've become our characters. But everyone calls me Pouncival, and not my real name of Tony anymore. So at this point I am used to it"

"The good news, kid, is that you're safe, we're safe, this place, Ascretta, this is where we were originally from. And apparently, we're smart soldiers too. Very Samurai feeling too" I said to him.

Pounce looked at me as Tumble and Alonzo showed up. "You look more like Puss in Boots actually with that get up" It made me start laughing crazily, it was true, the tunic, the breeches, the boots, my swords, I just needed my hat! Maybe I could ask Tanith to get it ? Or maybe ask Ben to ask Rodney to get it ? I could give my address for it.

"Whats is funny" Tumble asked as he and Alonzo showed up

"Oh, just saying he looks more like Puss in Boots instead of a Samurai" Pounce said, as I chuckled again.

"I can see the resemblence" Alonzo said thoughtfully, he turned to me. "Munkus said something about going hunting. Whats the plan ?" Alonzo had never been hunting before, more then likely never had a chance to go hunting.

"Always a first time to learn." I said, After planning things out with Tanith, Ben provided us with the desired means of transportation. I pointed at the replicator drones harvesting ther meadow. "Soon as we come to the edge of the meadow, we will easily get their attention, they will bring our hunting spoils back to this location instead of putting it all with the harvested resources for ship and weapons building." I said to them

"Yeah but hunting ?" Alonzo said, it was clear he never did go hunting

"What you've never been hunting before ?" I asked him,

Alonzo shook his head "Nope, my uncles and cousins had tried to get me involved, but I never found interest in it." Alonzo replied, he was always used to cooking his own food.

I smiled at hime "Like I said, there's a first time for everyone, come on, soon as Zane gets here we can go and you guys can learn first hand how to put those team drills to work." I took them through a quick drill on how to march fast, or set an even pace that was still quick yet long enough to be an easy walk. We didnt want to burn out on the way, or the way back.

Ten minutes later and Zane showed up and we were off. Our hunt proved to be a huge success because we found some six legged moose that were grazing directly south of the Peir.