Shadow Raiders - Episode 3.5:

TRUSTING THE WOLF

By: Elektra

BEAST PLANET

Lamprey knelt before the Beast, "Forgive me, my master. I did not realize the mind link would work both ways. I did not realize Princess Tekla would be able to sense MY whereabouts as well."

The Beast leaned forward. It sat in shadows. Lamprey had yet to see it's face, "Your mistake cannot be forgiven, servant." It spoke. Its voice was painful to hear. It was not one singular voice. It was not a male voice, nor a female voice. It was an unemotional voice. No. It was MANY unemotional voices.

Lamprey dreaded the punishment it would dish out. Perhaps it would finally kill her! But then death would be too easy an escape. She could only WISH it would kill her. The alternative was too painful to bear. "Please, Master... show me mercy." Lamprey began.

"You ask us to show mercy? We have not the capability of such a thing, servant."

Lamprey closed her eyes, and waited for her punishment.

Her tormented screams echoed throughout the Beast planet.

***

PLANET ICE

"It's coming, isn't it?" Jewelia asked Sternum as she watched him from behind the bars, "It's coming to kill us all!" she laughed, "How wonderful!"

"You revel in the destruction of others? Of YOURSELF?" Sternum asked, incensed.

"That's what you could never see, Sternum! The beauty of---"

"Stop this madness, Jewelia!" Sternum interrupted. He shook his head, "I do not understand why I cared for you once."

"The same reason you cared for the Rock Queen once," Jewelia answered, "She is a lot like me, isn't she, Sternum?"

"No, Jewelia. She is SANE! Unlike you." Sternum answered.

"And she is spoken for... unlike me," Jewelia answered with a sly grin. Sternum walked up to the bars. He reached his hand through and grabbed her wrists, "Oh Sternum! I didn't realize you still cared-" she smiled.

Sternum let go of her wrists and stepped away, "I don't..."

Jewelia looked down at her wrists, only to see them shackled, "You sneaky TOAD!" Jewelia hissed, "How DARE you!"

"It was Graveheart's idea. He wants to free you for a little while. He feels you might be useful in the battle against the Beast,"

Jewelia held up her shackled wrists, "Like THIS?" she asked.

"You are to be restrained... for now." Sternum answered. He motioned to one of the Ice guards.

The guard shook his head and slowly unlocked the cell door, "Graveheart is committing suicide by setting her free..." he muttered.

"That is GRAVEHEART'S decision, not YOURS!" Sternum replied. The Ice guard opened the cell door and backed away. Before Jewelia could run, Sternum grabbed her, "Come now, my dear... we are going to talk to our friends,"

Sternum dragged a swearing, struggling Jewelia to the Alliance meeting room.

***

Jewelia was forced to sit beside Sternum as the Alliance gathered, "Now, Jewelia... we freed you because we thought you'd be useful to us in fighting the Beast. We know it's as much your enemy as it is ours." Graveheart began.

Jewelia said nothing.

"Listen, Crystal witch! Either you agree to help us, or you can rot in prison for the rest of your miserable life!" Jade snapped.

Jewelia smiled slyly, "You ARE my type..." and laughed, "Or... are you more Sternum's type?"

Jade shook her head, exasperated. Sternum did not look amused.

"Ok... enough petty bickering!" Cryos spoke, "It is YOUR life on the line too, Jewelia!"

Jewelia shrugged, "Then I have no choice, do I?" She smiled, "Think you can take these off...?" she looked at Graveheart, "Unless, of course, you like that kind of thing..."

Femur raised his eyebrows, "Wow... sounds like MY kinda woman!"

"Shut up, toad!". Jade and Jewelia both replied.

***

BEAST PLANET

Lamprey lay in her quarters. She silently cursed the Beast and it's heartlessness... but then put the blame solely on herself. If she hadn't let it down, it would not have punished her! No. It wasn't HER fault. It was TEKLA'S fault! If TEKLA hadn't caused the problem in the first place, then Lamprey would have never been punished.

Just one more week. One more week and they'd be upon the Alliance. THEN she could show the Beast her loyalty! Show the Beast her competence.

"They will pay for all the punishment I have had to endure at the hands of the Beast." She thought, "The Alliance won't know what hit them!"

***

PLANET ROCK

"You know how to pilot an Arrowhead, don't you, Jewelia?" Sternum asked as they sat in one of Planet Rock's Arrowhead Assault Vehicles. "You have stolen enough from the Prison Planet guards!"

"YES, I know how to pilot one of these things!" Jewelia hissed. "But why are YOU here watching over me?"

"Because I am the only one who can keep you under control!" Sternum replied.

Jewelia laughed, "You didn't show much control on the Prison Planet, did you?!"

"But then you are forgetting... you had 80 men to back you up. But one on one, I can DEFINETLY handle you!" Sternum answered.

Jewelia scowled, "Fine! But don't get in my way!"

"Oh, I PLAN to get in the way, my dear Jewelia!" Sternum replied. "I plan to get in the way of any OTHER motives you may have floating around in that deranged mind of yours!"

***

BEAST PLANET

Lamprey directed the Beast to where the Alliance was hiding after she had recovered. It did not offer her congratulations or a thank you. But then, it never did. It merely allowed her a break from punishment - THAT was her reward.

***

PLANET ROCK - ARROWHEAD DOCKING BAYS

"How are things going with Jewelia?" Graveheart asked Sternum as he watched Jewelia being led off to her 'quarters' - the nearest Prison. It was more convenient to keep her locked up on planet Rock for now.

"I do not know if we can trust her! I will stay with her when she is not locked up. I will make sure she doesn't turn on us. Hopefully she is smart enough to realize this is more important then a petty rivalry."

Graveheart nodded, "I think she is. If we show her trust, she'll return it."

Sternum raised an eyebrow, "I would not be too sure of that, Rock man." He shook his head, "I hope you know what you are doing. For if Jewelia turns on us, it could leave an opening for the Beast - and lead to our destruction,"

***

ONE WEEK LATER

The shadow of the Beast planet loomed over the Planets of the Alliance. It was here. Now, the real battle was about to begin.

EPISODE SIX

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