The Fallen
The Battlefield looked like hell. Red tainted the sky as grey smoke rose
from the burning scrap metal that used to be great and powerful
BattleMechs. There was a deafening silence --- a silence that bores through
your soul, screeching and pleading, enough to make you go insane.
Everywhere you look, there was a picture of death save from the lone eagle
that circled around the battlefield, as if searching for any sign of life.
That was when a scream pierced through the silence, a scream of agony, pain
and anger. It sounded almost mad. Then it silenced into whimpers.
From inside the cockpit of his fallen and battered Kodiak, a young man,
just about 25, has woken up to find that reality was worse than his dreams.
He wished he didnt wake up-- somehow wishing that he was dead. His name was
Jaxon Cage, a young Nova Commander who once had bright dreams of victory
and glory. Now those dreams has been shattered and torn apart. He got out
of the cockpit slowly and took in the sight around him.
The afternoon sun beat down hard at him as he walked around the wreck.
"Hello?!" He called out to anyone that may still be alive and began to
search through all the fallen mechs. He saw only dead faces of the people
he had grown up with, friends, sibkins, Officers he had looked up to. He
called over and over again. Perhaps some of them were just knocked out. He
knocked into the windows of the cockpits, shook them hoping that everyone
was just in deep slumber. Still, no one replied. He was alone.
He sank to the ground. The strain of battle was already taking toll on him.
He looked down to the red earth and a gleaming piece of red gemstone caught
his eye. He picked it up. It was the Khan's pendant. A symbol of authority
and power --The Hellion. It stared up at him with red eyes. It was as if it
was talking to him, possessing him with a strength he doesnt know he has.
He closed his fist around it. And stood up. A few yards from him, a
remnants of what was a proud Cougar lay.
Jaxon Cage took steps towards it and found the slain body of Khan Asa
Taney. He put his hands over the the dead man's eyes and closed it. " You
will not be failed, Sir," he promised the dead man. "The Ice Hellions will
not be Dezgra. I will continue your mission. I swear, I will not rest until
I give you justice." The Ice Hellions were gone. Tears of rage streamed
down his cheek as he pounded his fist on the ground. He would rebuild the
glory--- no, the Ice Hellions will not be disgraced. Not while he has
breath in his body.
It was then that he heard something, a creak of metal...He stood up
quickly. Someone was alive.
"OH, my freaking head!" Matthew Rood said as he climbed out of his fallen
Timberwolf. At 18, he was the youngest Battlemech Warrior that the clan has
ever seen. He was a prodigy. He had shot up the ranks from the training
pool. Everyone also knows that Taney had his eye on the young pilot and he
knows it.
But now he didnt feel like such a winner. He groaned as he jumped down.
"Holy Mary, Mother of God... What on God's green earth?!" He exclaimed as
looked around him. Apparently, Clan Nova Cats had just wiped them out.
"Oh Geesh, what happened?" He said as he surveyed the damaged that the
battle has caused. "This cant be good."
"No, this is definitely not good," a voice said from behind him.
He spun around. Jaxon Cage stood before him.
"Jaxon, are we---?"
"I think we are the only ones alive. I checked the northern part of the
battlefield. No one was there." Jaxon shook his head. "I also found this. "
He opened his fist to show Matthew the pendant.
"The Khan..." He sighed then closed his eyes.
Jaxon put a hand on the young man's shoulder. " Its not over yet, Matthew."
Matthew opened his eyes and nodded. "No, its DEFINITELY not over yet."
Jaxon and Matthew went into a thorough search of the whole battlefield
hoping to find a mech that is salvageable to get them out of there before
the Clan Nova Cats return to collect their isorla (loot). They do not want
to become Bondsmen. Not for the Nova Cats. They would rather kill
themselves than serve those animals.
It was early evening when they found a Vulture that was salvageable on the
outskirts of the battlefield. Matthew climbed to its cockpit and opened it.
The pilot was still alive.
"Jaxon! He called from the cockpit. "Get up here! I need help up here."
"What?" Jaxon asked as Matthew pointed towards the cockpit. "This one's
still alive."
She was a bondsman, forced to fight with the Nova Cats. Her short brown
hair covered her face which was blackened by the smoke. She slowly stirred
and opened her eyes. Almost immediately, she woke up.
"GET OFF ME!" she shouted as she pushed Jaxon off her. She reached behind
her and pulled out a long metal pipe. "Get out of my mech or die..."
"Hold on, girl," Matthew said as he grabbed the pipe from her. " We are not
gonna kill you."
She glared at them with her green eyes. She almost looked like a cat about
to pounce. "What? You're gonna capture me, bring me back to your base to
toy with, spit on and mock? NOSIREE! I have had enough of that from the
Nova Cats. I'm not gonna go with you even if you kill me." She said as she
clenched her fist.
Jaxon shook his head. "We're not gonna capture you. I'm asking you to join
us."
Matthew looked at him in shock. "WHat the-?!"
"Join you?" The girl looked at him suspiciously."Why should I?"
"Because we are all that's left of Ice Hellions," Jaxon said. "We want
revenge."
The girl looked from one man to another. Then she sighed, she was tired of
fighting. She had been captured by Clan Nova Cats when they lost to them on
Hector. She was roughly taken to their base to be mocked and abused. In her
mind, the faces of the abusers were clear. 'You're too pretty to be in a
mech.' they said. Those pigs. 'what are you gonna do now little girl? run
home to mommy?' They tore off her clothes, and that was when the torture
began. It had been a couple of months now and everyday, she hated them
more. She hated them with a passion. She was almost glad when they called
her up from her cell and ordered her to fight for them. She almost ran
away. But her pride kept her duty bound, she fought half -heartedly, only
shooting for survival. Someone rammed into her Vulture and she blacked out.
She looked at the man in front of her. He looked like he was telling the
truth.
"Alright," She nodded. "I'll join you for now..."
They journeyed together for the night only stopping to rest the damaged
engine for a while in the forest.
"So, what is your name?" Matthew had asked as they Jaxon built a fire for
them. The night was cold.
"Shin Kell," she said shortly.
"I'm Matthew Rood," he said extending his hand.
She brushed it off."Who's asking?"
"I was just trying to be friendly! Geesh!"
She looked away and bowed her head into her knees. She was crying and she
didnt want them to see her so vulnerable.
"Are you crying?" Matthew asked as he peered into the half-darkness trying
to see if the girl was actually showing a hint of human emotion. She was
one tough cookie, silent and strong. But he could see the pain in her eyes,
she must've had a tough ordeal.
"Of course not!" She immediately responded straightening up and looking
straight at him. "I was just resting my head."
Matthew nodded and stood up to try the Comm again. He had been trying to
contact base since they left and all he heard was static. He was starting
to get worried.
Jaxon joined them by the fire and looked over to Matthew. "Are you guys
getting along fine now?"
Shin shrugged. "Ask him."
Matthew shook his head. He wasnt even listening. "I still couldnt reach the
base." He declared. "Ive been trying the whole time. This comm device is
about to run out of power too."
"Oh, great!" Jaxon said. "That's just great!"
Shin looked at them. "They're not there anymore. The Nova Cats ambushed
your base the same time we were at the battlegrounds. The last I heard was
that your Comm Center was destroyed. "
"And you tell us this now?!" Matthew fumed.
"Hey, at least I told you," She said smugly as she toyed with her tail. She
was a half breed :half elemental, half-human.
Matthew glared at her. Jaxon pulled him back.
" What else do you know, Shin?" Jaxon asked calmly.
" What's in it for me?" Shin Kell looked him squarely in the eye.
"What do you mean?" Jaxon asked.
" I mean, I'm sharing some vital information here. Something that can make
you, or break you. I want to know what's in it for me."
Jaxon stared at her. 'She is just securing her place. Making sure of
herself. "What do you want?" He asked cautiously.
"My freedom, a command unit of my own... to restore my name," she answered.
"Done." Jaxon replied
"What?" Matthew stood up from where he was seated. " She isnt getting those
that easy!"
Shin Kell grinned. "Take it, or leave it, Matthew... You need me and you
know it." She stood up and stared at him straight in the eye. "Besides, You
wouldnt want me to be your enemy."
They stared at each other. Matthew knew she was right-- but he couldnt be
too sure of her loyalty.
Jaxon pulled Matthew away. "She is a woman Matthew. We respect them."
Matthew looked at Jaxon and walked away from the girl. "Jaxon, we do not
know if she's going to betray us. How can you trust her so easily?"
Jaxon put a hand on his shoulder. " She cant leave us, Matthew. Right now,
we are all she's got. She wont run away. Believe me, we spared her life.
She owes us."
Matthew was still doubtful but he nodded.
Jaxon smiled at the boy and winked. "Besides, I think the girl likes you."
Matthew whirled around to glare at Jaxon, but he was already halfway across
the field towards Shin. "Im gonna get you for that!" He shouted back.
'Nav point Gamma, reached.' The computer declared as they approached the snowy hills which the Ice Hellions call home. It was unusually cold as heavy snow prevented them from moving fast and seeing far. They dreaded looking out the cockpit window. They dreaded what they were going to see. "We're home," Matthew declared as he stopped the mech and opened the cockpit. "Looks like, they didnt spread out the welcome Mat for you guys. No hero's welcome," Shin said as they looked around at burnt buildings, destroyed dropships and dead people. "The Nova Cats had a party here." "Shut up," Matthew said as he jumped down from the Mech. Jaxon was already down there surveying the damage. "Looks like the Comm Center is down, I see one Dropship that we can save..." Jaxon started and then sighed. "Looks like were starting from scratch." He looked at Matthew who nodded silently. They walked around the base. The Nova Cats didnt leave much for them to save, just a few Vendettas, some old damaged Mechs and a Daishi. Most of their Dropships were gone, or destroyed. They found pieces of a jumpship and several carriers around the area. Anger stirred in their hearts and their fury rose as they saw the dead bodies of the Ice Hellions. After a thorough survey of the base, they quickly went to the Command Center. The building was still up, except for a big missile hole smack right in the middle of it. The Main Computers were all destroyed along with the people who ran it. "Some of them mustve escaped," Jaxon thought aloud as he lifted up one of the mainframe computers and pulled out a young woman's body under it. "Maybe," Matthew said in a voice which was less than hopeful. "Who is that?" He asked he was recording all the names of the bodies. He was disgusted and angry as he wrote down another name. Jaxon turned the body over and gasped. "Its your sister," he said quietly. Matthew turned around slowly, as if dreading to see the fate that she had befallen. It was Lilith, her younger sister. She lay there with her eyes closed, as if she was only asleep. His tears fell. "And I was coming home a hero," he said as he remembered her smiling face as she waved him off to battle a week ago. He held her in his arms and kissed the dead girl's forehead. "Good Night, Cherub." He said as he lay her down again. Now, he was REALLY mad. "What is she holding?" Jaxon asked Matthew when he looked up at him. Matthew pried off a little recorder from his sister's limp hands. "Its her Diary," he declared. He pressed a little blinking pink button. Suddenly the room was filled with sounds of screaming, missiles, and lasers. Then there was a loud explosion. Finally, Lilith's voice was heard over the ruckus. "The Nova Cats attacked us today, June 25 at 1300 hours. Star Col. Marcus Wick and the rest of the troops tried to hold them off, to no avail. We were outnumbered. The civilians and the Princess was put in dropships and were headed for the exile Hellion Community in Londerholm. Loremaster Jonas Cage is dead. Please relay this message to the SaKhan or the Khan. Tell... Matthew ... I love---"Matthew stared at the recorder. She was gone. Jaxon put a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder. "She did a very brave thing, Matthew."
Meanwhile, Shin Kell was doing a survey on her own. What was she doing here? There is nothing for her here. They couldnt offer her anything. For her, it was time to go. She looked up at the men who were returning. 'Losers,' she thought as she climbed up the Vulture. "Where are you going?" Jaxon demanded and pulled her down. "You have nothing to offer me," Shin Kell said simply turning her back at him. "I told you she was nothing but a traitor," Matthew glared at the girl. " For all we know, she may be a spy for the Nova Cats." Shin Kell glared at him and whipped him with her tail. "I am not serving those Monsters. Do NOT associate me with them." Matthew staggered back and felt blood trickling from his cheek. "Oh you damned freeborn!" He said as he tackled her but she was fast and avoided him. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" Shin Kell's eyes glowed. Matthew looked at her squarely in the eye. " You heard me. No one but a freebirth would run away from her word. We shouldnt have trusted you in the first place." "OH!!" She screamed as she came towards him with a punch. "NO ONE CALLS ME A FREEBIRTH!" Jaxon pulled her back. "STOP IT!" He shouted. "Will you two stop acting like children?" Both parties were glaring at each other. Matthew stood up. "We're all we've got. Everyone else is dead. If you guys want to kill each other, fine. But right now, its between us and those Nova Cats. If you guys want to survive, you better learn how to live with each other," He said to both. Shin Kell shrugged Jaxon off. "Wrong. You guys live with each other," She said as she jumped up and quickly climbed up the Mech. "I'm out of here." She said as she turned the Mech on and left. "What did I tell you?" Matthew said as he turned away from Jaxon.
Shin Kell stopped as she reached the outskirts of the Southern hills of Huntress. It was nightfall and she was tired. She still couldn't believe he called her a freebirth. No one knows her. No one really understood her. She was the only good product of a eugenics experiment that mixed the genes of an elemental and a human. Most of her sibkins either were too dumb or too violent for battle. She was the only one who came out right. Yet she didnt feel special... she felt alone. In training, she was mocked, teased for her unusual appearance and for being a girl. She never had anyone believe in her -- until that day when she had her Trial of Position. She had shown them what she was made of. She had defeated all three of those she faced. That was the only time she felt triumphant-- when she was named Nova Captain for Clan Wolf. She was respected, known and wanted. Her unit was one of the best in the clan. She felt important. But that was all gone now. After she was captured by the Nova Cats in Babylon, she was back to being what she was before. A toy, a clown-- a nobody. Why did those Hellions spare her life? Why did they let her go? Why didnt they just torture her to get the answers and then kill her? Why were they so nice to her? Those were the questions that ran around her head. Suddenly her radar blinked. There were four Nova Cat Mechs going towards the Ice Hellion Base. They were going to collect Isorla. Those two hellions will be powerless against them. She started up her mech and quickly went back. They do need her.
At the base, Jaxon and Matthew stood in front of the huge grave where they had buried the bodies that they found, except for Lilith, who was buried in a little grave next to it. They stood there silently, mourning over their losses and thinking of how to start again. "I guess we have to see if the others made it to Londerholm," Jaxon slowly said. Matthew nodded and turned away from the graves."That other dropship's Communication and Tracking Device is still working. I'll see if I can contact anyone tonight." He said as he started towards the dropship. "That can wait until tommorow, Matthew. We rest tonight," The older man said. But Matthew wasnt listening. His ears strained to hear what he thought were the sound of several Battle Mechs. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" Jaxon asked him. Just then, Matthew pointed out 2 Osiris, a Raven and a Mad Cat coming down from the hills. The Nova Cats were back for their isorla. They rushed towards the MechLab where the Daishi stood. Jaxon and Matthew worked as fast as they can loading the Daishi and a vendetta with all that it can carry. It was now or never for them. The Nova Cats were approaching fast and they looked at each other and saluted as Jaxon climbed up the Daishi and Matthew went in the Vendetta. This might be the last time they'd see each other. It was the fight to the death. "This is for Lilith," Matthew said as he started the Vendetta and moved out slowly behind a blown up Dropship and waited. He locked one of his few Clan Missiles in at the Osiris was about 500 yards from him, it was turning towards him and was getting ready to blast him with a Medium ER Laser as he pressed the button to launch it. At this point, it was two on two, the Nova Cats in their large Mechs-- Jaxon and Matthew, powless in a Daishi and a Vendetta. Yet the men fought hard. They held up the enemy with a passion. Jaxon screamed as the Raven blasted his Daishi's left leg and he fell down. He knew that he was in for it. He closed his eyes waiting for a laser to finish him off. But it didnt happen. He opened his eyes to see that a Vulture had just taken down the Raven and was headed for the Osiris that was attacking Matthew's Vendetta. Shin Kell came back. He watched as she skillfully blasted and avoided the Nova Cat's Mechs. The Vulture moved swiftly as she finished off the last Mad Cat with a grand assault that made it explode into pieces. Then, there was silence as the Vulture emerged from the smoke. She just saved their lives. Matthew quickly got out of the Vendetta to meet Shin Kell who was standing silently by the Vulture with her head down. Jaxon rushed over from the Daishi, clutching his right shoulder as it was bleeding. "You came back," Matthew started to say. "I had a duty," Shin replied. "You spared my life. Now its time for me to pay you back." "We are grateful, Shin Kell," Jaxon smiled at the girl "How can we repay you?" Shin Kell smiled. "By making me an Ice Hellion." Matthew nodded. "You dont have to ask. You already are."
'Nav point Gamma, reached.' The computer declared as they approached the snowy hills which the Ice Hellions call home. It was unusually cold as heavy snow prevented them from moving fast and seeing far. They dreaded looking out the cockpit window. They dreaded what they were going to see. "We're home," Matthew declared as he stopped the mech and opened the cockpit. "Looks like, they didnt spread out the welcome Mat for you guys. No hero's welcome," Shin said as they looked around at burnt buildings, destroyed dropships and dead people. "The Nova Cats had a party here." "Shut up," Matthew said as he jumped down from the Mech. Jaxon was already down there surveying the damage. "Looks like the Comm Center is down, I see one Dropship that we can save..." Jaxon started and then sighed. "Looks like were starting from scratch." He looked at Matthew who nodded silently. They walked around the base. The Nova Cats didnt leave much for them to save, just a few Vendettas, some old damaged Mechs and a Daishi. Most of their Dropships were gone, or destroyed. They found pieces of a jumpship and several carriers around the area. Anger stirred in their hearts and their fury rose as they saw the dead bodies of the Ice Hellions. After a thorough survey of the base, they quickly went to the Command Center. The building was still up, except for a big missile hole smack right in the middle of it. The Main Computers were all destroyed along with the people who ran it. "Some of them mustve escaped," Jaxon thought aloud as he lifted up one of the mainframe computers and pulled out a young woman's body under it. "Maybe," Matthew said in a voice which was less than hopeful. "Who is that?" He asked he was recording all the names of the bodies. He was disgusted and angry as he wrote down another name. Jaxon turned the body over and gasped. "Its your sister," he said quietly. Matthew turned around slowly, as if dreading to see the fate that she had befallen. It was Lilith, her younger sister. She lay there with her eyes closed, as if she was only asleep. His tears fell. "And I was coming home a hero," he said as he remembered her smiling face as she waved him off to battle a week ago. He held her in his arms and kissed the dead girl's forehead. "Good Night, Cherub." He said as he lay her down again. Now, he was REALLY mad. "What is she holding?" Jaxon asked Matthew when he looked up at him. Matthew pried off a little recorder from his sister's limp hands. "Its her Diary," he declared. He pressed a little blinking pink button. Suddenly the room was filled with sounds of screaming, missiles, and lasers. Then there was a loud explosion. Finally, Lilith's voice was heard over the ruckus. "The Nova Cats attacked us today, June 25 at 1300 hours. Star Col. Marcus Wick and the rest of the troops tried to hold them off, to no avail. We were outnumbered. The civilians and the Princess was put in dropships and were headed for the exile Hellion Community in Londerholm. Loremaster Jonas Cage is dead. Please relay this message to the SaKhan or the Khan. Tell... Matthew ... I love---"Matthew stared at the recorder. She was gone. Jaxon put a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder. "She did a very brave thing, Matthew."
Meanwhile, Shin Kell was doing a survey on her own. What was she doing here? There is nothing for her here. They couldnt offer her anything. For her, it was time to go. She looked up at the men who were returning. 'Losers,' she thought as she climbed up the Vulture. "Where are you going?" Jaxon demanded and pulled her down. "You have nothing to offer me," Shin Kell said simply turning her back at him. "I told you she was nothing but a traitor," Matthew glared at the girl. " For all we know, she may be a spy for the Nova Cats." Shin Kell glared at him and whipped him with her tail. "I am not serving those Monsters. Do NOT associate me with them." Matthew staggered back and felt blood trickling from his cheek. "Oh you damned freeborn!" He said as he tackled her but she was fast and avoided him. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" Shin Kell's eyes glowed. Matthew looked at her squarely in the eye. " You heard me. No one but a freebirth would run away from her word. We shouldnt have trusted you in the first place." "OH!!" She screamed as she came towards him with a punch. "NO ONE CALLS ME A FREEBIRTH!" Jaxon pulled her back. "STOP IT!" He shouted. "Will you two stop acting like children?" Both parties were glaring at each other. Matthew stood up. "We're all we've got. Everyone else is dead. If you guys want to kill each other, fine. But right now, its between us and those Nova Cats. If you guys want to survive, you better learn how to live with each other," He said to both. Shin Kell shrugged Jaxon off. "Wrong. You guys live with each other," She said as she jumped up and quickly climbed up the Mech. "I'm out of here." She said as she turned the Mech on and left. "What did I tell you?" Matthew said as he turned away from Jaxon.
Shin Kell stopped as she reached the outskirts of the Southern hills of Huntress. It was nightfall and she was tired. She still couldn't believe he called her a freebirth. No one knows her. No one really understood her. She was the only good product of a eugenics experiment that mixed the genes of an elemental and a human. Most of her sibkins either were too dumb or too violent for battle. She was the only one who came out right. Yet she didnt feel special... she felt alone. In training, she was mocked, teased for her unusual appearance and for being a girl. She never had anyone believe in her -- until that day when she had her Trial of Position. She had shown them what she was made of. She had defeated all three of those she faced. That was the only time she felt triumphant-- when she was named Nova Captain for Clan Wolf. She was respected, known and wanted. Her unit was one of the best in the clan. She felt important. But that was all gone now. After she was captured by the Nova Cats in Babylon, she was back to being what she was before. A toy, a clown-- a nobody. Why did those Hellions spare her life? Why did they let her go? Why didnt they just torture her to get the answers and then kill her? Why were they so nice to her? Those were the questions that ran around her head. Suddenly her radar blinked. There were four Nova Cat Mechs going towards the Ice Hellion Base. They were going to collect Isorla. Those two hellions will be powerless against them. She started up her mech and quickly went back. They do need her.
At the base, Jaxon and Matthew stood in front of the huge grave where they had buried the bodies that they found, except for Lilith, who was buried in a little grave next to it. They stood there silently, mourning over their losses and thinking of how to start again. "I guess we have to see if the others made it to Londerholm," Jaxon slowly said. Matthew nodded and turned away from the graves."That other dropship's Communication and Tracking Device is still working. I'll see if I can contact anyone tonight." He said as he started towards the dropship. "That can wait until tommorow, Matthew. We rest tonight," The older man said. But Matthew wasnt listening. His ears strained to hear what he thought were the sound of several Battle Mechs. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" Jaxon asked him. Just then, Matthew pointed out 2 Osiris, a Raven and a Mad Cat coming down from the hills. The Nova Cats were back for their isorla. They rushed towards the MechLab where the Daishi stood. Jaxon and Matthew worked as fast as they can loading the Daishi and a vendetta with all that it can carry. It was now or never for them. The Nova Cats were approaching fast and they looked at each other and saluted as Jaxon climbed up the Daishi and Matthew went in the Vendetta. This might be the last time they'd see each other. It was the fight to the death. "This is for Lilith," Matthew said as he started the Vendetta and moved out slowly behind a blown up Dropship and waited. He locked one of his few Clan Missiles in at the Osiris was about 500 yards from him, it was turning towards him and was getting ready to blast him with a Medium ER Laser as he pressed the button to launch it. At this point, it was two on two, the Nova Cats in their large Mechs-- Jaxon and Matthew, powless in a Daishi and a Vendetta. Yet the men fought hard. They held up the enemy with a passion. Jaxon screamed as the Raven blasted his Daishi's left leg and he fell down. He knew that he was in for it. He closed his eyes waiting for a laser to finish him off. But it didnt happen. He opened his eyes to see that a Vulture had just taken down the Raven and was headed for the Osiris that was attacking Matthew's Vendetta. Shin Kell came back. He watched as she skillfully blasted and avoided the Nova Cat's Mechs. The Vulture moved swiftly as she finished off the last Mad Cat with a grand assault that made it explode into pieces. Then, there was silence as the Vulture emerged from the smoke. She just saved their lives. Matthew quickly got out of the Vendetta to meet Shin Kell who was standing silently by the Vulture with her head down. Jaxon rushed over from the Daishi, clutching his right shoulder as it was bleeding. "You came back," Matthew started to say. "I had a duty," Shin replied. "You spared my life. Now its time for me to pay you back." "We are grateful, Shin Kell," Jaxon smiled at the girl "How can we repay you?" Shin Kell smiled. "By making me an Ice Hellion." Matthew nodded. "You dont have to ask. You already are."