Sword of Damocles: Chapter 4
Written by Tabatha Warner

-------- Tabby --------

I was in the kitchen making hot cocoa with Lynne. Our truth or dare game had fizzled out, which was fine by me, as I was growing tired of the lame truths and "kiss such-and-such" dares that I always received. Lynne and I stood there, waiting for the milk to boil and singing Phantom of the Opera songs. We had just started "Masquerade" when the milk boiled, so we stopped singing, added the cocoa and poured it all into mugs.

We placed the mugs onto a tray and walk out of the kitchen to the living room. It had been quite noisy in there a few minutes ago, but the din had faded down to absolute silence. For some reason, this frightened me more than the shouts that had generated from the room before we emerged.

"What was all the noise ab—?" I asked, and I was met with hissing shushes from all around the room. I glowered for a moment, wings drooped, then noticed the news broadcast.

"But if you are watching, you better run! RUN! 'Cause we're gonna getcha!" stated a male newscaster, who soon began laughing as though that was the best joke in the century. I almost fell over when I heard this, and the sudden appearance of Fanir, my crow spirit-familiar, didn't help the problem much. The big black bird perched on my shoulder out of thin air, which seemed to be his favorite entrance.

"Something wicked this way comes," he croaked silently into my ear. He's a fan of old poetry and prose, as you can tell.

"Get out of here before Red thinks you're a delicious chicken again," I growled back at him. Fanir's feathers became ruffled at this, and he disappeared again. Red was always trying to eat my familiar. I shrugged, ruffled the feathers on my wings, and disappeared into the kitchen to think.

The government and the press chasing after the Irkens was a terrifying thought. They would be caught and autopsied, or worse. I had this horrid picture in my mind of Red on a metal table, getting sliced into pieces by government officials. I was worrying about the Irkens, as I loved them all dearly, except maybe Zim, when I was struck with another terrifying thought. What about us? We were with the Irkens constantly, and we weren't exactly the most normal group, either.

Lynne and Aubri can project, sending out their spirits and minds into alternate worlds and dimensions. I am a Phoenix Avitor, which explains the wings, and I could "flip" between worlds with my physical body, and I have the ability to shape shift into any form I can acquire.

AF, Bast, and even JC were also in grave danger. AF is a Faslami, a descendant of old fire gods with the ability to control and communicate with flame. Bast is a were-cat, with the ability to shift into many different feline forms. And JC, although the true human of the group, would get tangled up in this entire horrible mess. Who knows what wicked tortures the government and the press would put her through to get her to talk.

I leaned against the doorjamb, watching the other's reactions. Jendai and Zim looked ill; he still had the sickening grayish flesh that frightened or worried Irkens got. Purple just stared at the screen in disbelief, and Ivy and Lynne looked about to pass out. Bast, AF, and JC stared wide-eyed at the screen, and Bast was holding Dai tightly. Aubri had his hand to his forehead, eyes shut, possibly sending out waves of calming energy, and Red cursed loudly in Irken.

I watched all this, my face expressionless save a deep frown. These primitive humans were going to harm the ones I loved more than anything else. I would not stand for it, and I vowed to myself that I'd fight to my death.

I was snapped from my thoughts when Aubri began to speak. "I don't mean to interrupt this silent moment, but I think we should do as the news man said and run." His voice brought about mass pandemonium.

"Foolish huuumans! They dare threaten ZIM?!" Zim shouted over everyone's worried ranting. "They have no power over the Irken Elite!" Oddly, his arrogant shouts calmed us, especially the Tallests.

I laughed coldly. "Oh, Zim, you have no idea what humans are capable of when they are in large groups." Zim just glared at me.

"Aubri's right," Purple took control of the situation. "We need to run."

"We'll need to pack stuff food and clothes and the like," AF piped up suddenly. She was with Purple, clutching him tightly.

Bast peered out the window. "No time. We have to get out of here as fast as possible."

"No time?!" Red shrieked. "No lasers? No music? NO NACHOS?!" He was positively flipping out. "AND THEY KNOW WHERE WE LIVE?!" This moment of relevance would had startled me, but I was too busy trying to get him to stop yanking at his antennae.

"Guys? We have to go. NOW. " I exclaimed.

"OK," Purple stated. "I'm going to go see if I can contact the Massive" Purple left the room. Everyone just stood there, silent, waiting for his return.

He came back a few minutes later. "I can't get reception."

"I think I saw something pink and brown on the satellite receiver" I remarked.

"That was my chocolate bubblegum Ice Sucky!" Squealed GIR. "I got a reeeally big one!!" I put my hand to my forehead.

"GIR!" Zim shouted. "YOU FOOL! How did you get Ice Sucky on the receiver?!"

"I was sharin' it with the pigeon!" GIR replied.

I shook my head. "We'll have to get in contact later. For now, however, we have to go."

"OK, let's head out."

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