Chapter 1 – Conclusions

An orange fox slumped into a heap at the base of a tree. He sighed heavily and then yawned before looking at his hands. They were covered in a thick layer of oil and dirt. He turned them over and wiped them on the grass leaving large black streaks on it. He sighed again.

"Boy what a day." said Tails to himself as he rested his head back on the tree.

He started to think. How long had it been? Seven, eight days? At least a week without a doubt. He was just glad everyone was coping well with the situation. Well almost everyone. He looked at his hands again. He had found himself doing this a lot recently and he didn't really know why. He looked up at his latest project. A large single seater Earth Alliance fighter craft sat covered in leaves and tree branches. The camouflage wouldn't help against scanner but it shielded the craft from view. He had been hard at work for the last week rebuilding it. Ever since the Hurricane had been shot down during the initial take over, he had been working to restore a fighter he had shot down during his battle with parts from the fighter Jet had arrived in. It was a hard job but he was nearly finished. He was proud of his accomplishment but he also knew it had cost him a lot. Maybe night he had stayed up late working on it to such a degree that he had become irritable and very tense. In recent days he had started snapping at the others and shouting at random objects if they annoyed him. He shook his head and shut his eyes tight.

"I know this will help us along the way…but is it helping us now?"

He looked straight up at the sky.

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Lavender wasn't having a much better time. At the moment she sat next to Jet thinking. She had been debating with her mental self for quite some time now and had come to the conclusion that she wouldn't find any answers to her questions anytime fast. It was now the ninth days since the Earth Alliance had invaded and as of yet they had heard nothing from their friends. Saying that they hadn't made any moves to find out about them. They had remained hidden in the forest for the best part of that time, only leaving to find food or firewood. The small dell they had found had become home for the most part but Lavender wasn't satisfied with sitting around. She sighed heavily.

"Something up?" asked Jet turning to look at her.

"Huh? Oh it's nothing I guess." replied Lavender turning to look at him.

As she looked into his eyes she could tell there was something about him. But however much she tried she couldn't put her finger on it. It almost felt as if she should know him but she didn't know where from. There was a connection somewhere but she couldn't see it. She screwed her face up as she looked at him. Suddenly Jet laughed.

"Why'd you keep doing that?" he asked chuckling.

Lavender suddenly blinked and shook her head quickly.

"Oh! Oh I'm sorry! I was staring again wasn't I?" she replied.

"Yes you were. Why'd you keep staring at me like that?"

"I dunno really."

Jet leaned over and nudged her grinning broadly.

"You like me?" he asked.

"Aurrrr!" moaned Lavender.

He had asked this before a few times over the last week because of her staring. At first Jet had been serious and Lavender still felt slightly bad for saying it wasn't that. However, Lavender had continued to do it so much that Jet now teased her about it continually. She had to admit though that Jet was pretty handsome. If her interest hadn't been elsewhere he would definitely be top of the list but she knew who she wanted. She could feel his love for her through the ground itself and she was convinced that he didn't know about it. Saying that she couldn't feel him right now, he wasn't on Mobius. Mind you I am only seven she thought to herself. And he's twice my age! A groan brought her back to reality. She blinked to find herself staring at Jet again. She suddenly blushed heavily and the yellow tips of her tails went a matching colour.

"Oh god I'm sorry Jet!" she said quickly.

Jet waved his hand at her and grinned.

"It's ok Lavster! I'm use to it." he replied.

Lavender suddenly dropped her shoulders and starred at Jet again. This time however it was an irritated look rather than a thoughtful one.

"I've told you not to call me that." she said.

Jet just whistled and looked away innocently. It was Lavender's turn to groan now.

"If mother was here she'd…"

Lavender stopped quickly. It was too late though. She gulped as she looked at Jet. His face had drooped and he looked away to one side at the ground.

"I'm sorry Jet. I didn't mean to bring it up." apologized Lavender.

"I know. Its ok." replied Jet.

Lavender could have kicked herself. She had to mention her mother when Jet was about. It wasn't her mother that was the problem, it was his. Lavender had eventually managed to get Jet to tell them about what had happened a week ago after a lot of comforting and hard work. She could tell Jet was still sad but he had brightened up slightly after telling them. Of course the news that Tails was busy rebuilding a fighter in order to get them up to the ship in order to rescue their friends had helped too. He had been a lot perkier since then but he still went glum at the mention of mothers.

"Jet don't worry." she said.

"I try but I can't help it." replied the cat, "I don't even know if she's still alive."

"We don't know if our friends are alive either but…" Lavender stopped and looked upwards, "….but they have to be. They just have to be."

She looked at Jet again and then planted her hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks Lavy. You've been so good to me since I got here. When I first escaped I knew nothing of this world. I was all alone and scared."

"I know Jet. If we hadn't found you could have been in serious trouble but we did."

"Aye true."

Jet sighed and closed his eyes.

"I still can't truly believe what Jeremy told me." he said, "But I know it's true."

"He was a good friend wasn't he?" said Lavender.

"Best I've ever had. He was so knowledgeable and friendly. And he…he a…"

"Shh Jet. You don't have to tell me again. I know."

Lavender's older personality had come out and even though she was smaller and younger than Jet she felt compelled to comfort him. They both sat down on the log from earlier and fell silent again.

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The metal against her back was making her shiver slightly but at the current time Sarah wasn't bothered about it. She looked down at the tray of "food" in front of her. Just like yesterday it was the same colourless mush. She prodded it with her spoon and then set it down beside her. As hungry as she was she couldn't bring herself to eating it. She looked up at the cell. Away in one corner the children, Miles and Alicia, slept together in a huddle. Wrapped in each others arms they dozed happily. Their faces were relaxed and Alicia was making soft whistling moans as she slept. An empty tray of food lay beside both of them. Sarah was amazed that they had been able to finish it all. She slowly moved her head to the side. Petya was pressed up against the bars in an attempt to slip through them. Somehow she was not being affected by the repulsion field surrounding them. Sarah had figured it must have something to do with the stone in her hand. As she watched Petya stepped back from the bars and growled quietly.

"Cursed things." she said to herself and walked over to where Sarah was.

Petya sat down against the side of the cell and sunk her head into her knees. Sarah reached over and squeezed her shoulder.

"It's ok Petya." she said.

"Yeah I guess." replied Petya, "Looks like whatever I try I won't be able to get us out of here."

"The important thing is you've tried."

"Uh huh."

Petya still looked a bit defeated. Sarah took a moment to glance around the cell again.

"I wonder why they are keeping us all alive still. I mean they have the information they wanted from you and the children and what good am I?" she said

"Well they probably want us as hostages now. They still probably think we are holding back stuff, to tell you the truth we are, and they probably want you for your son."

"What interest would they have in him?"

"If I understand what you've told me he knows a bit about the Alliance and they probably see him as a threat to security."

"I suppose so."

Sarah looked at the floor and then at her tray of food. Petya saw this.

"You going to eat that?" she asked.

"I hadn't planned on it." replied Sarah.

"I suggest you eat it."

"Why?"

"You gotta keep your strength up. Even that will help. Can't have you going all weak if I find a way to escape."

"I suppose you're right."

Sarah picked up her tray again and prodded the contents. Petya chuckled slightly.

"If it helps, it tastes better than yesterday." she said.

"What? Better than wet towels?" asked Sarah, "I think my dress would be more appealing sometimes."

"Probably more flavour in it." chuckled Petya, "Try and get it down you anyway."

"Well I'll try."

Sarah scooped up a small amount of the grey substance and tasted it. She rolled it around her mouth, smacking her lips as she did. A disgusted expression crossed her face.

"Tastes like dry towels today. Oh well it's an improvement." she said before swallowing.

Petya smiled slightly and then looked back at the bars.

"We need to get out of here. For there sake if no-one else's." she said nodding at the sleeping children.

Sarah just nodded.

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Bunnie pushed aside a low hanging tree branch and smiled.

"Finally ah've found you sugah." she said.

Up ahead a blue fox looked up at her out of the corner of his eye. His expression was like someone who didn't want anyone around but wasn't about to turn then away either. He grumbled slightly and looked up fully.

"Hello Bunnie." said Links not really looking at her.

"Hello to you too Links." replied Bunnie sitting down next to him, "So what you up to?"

"Not a great deal."

"Oh….well that's good I guess."

"Hmm."

"Links?"

"Hmm?"

"Links what's wrong sugah?"

"Nothing."

Bunnie's hands went to her hips.

"Don't give me that again Links." she said sharply, "Ah can tell something is wrong. You've hardly spoken to anyone except Lavender for the past week."

Links turned towards her. He looked over her and then turned away again.

"Links! Dammit why do you have to be so stubborn?!" cried Bunnie jumping up, "We are all friends here you know!"

"I know Bunnie!" growled Links, "I'd just rather not talk about it."

"You'd rather not talk about anything at the moment! I don't think you've said more than five words at once to me in the last week. Come on Links! Tails has been snapping at everyone, ah'm worried sick about what's going on, Jet's been gloomy as ever and you just seem to spend all your time alone! Is Lavender the only one amongst us who is normal?!"

"I have my reasons."

Links looked up at the sky and then sighed.

"Alright!" he said spinning towards Bunnie, "Ok fine! So I've been a bit distant! That's my problem not yours."

"Our situation makes it my problem." replied Bunnie screwing up her fists, "Can't you see that Links? Can't you see what you are doing? We need you now more than ever."

Within a second Links had spun and was pointing his staff at Bunnie.

"Can it Bunnie! I'm sick and tired of you trying to screw information out of me! You hear me! Sometimes I don't know why I haven't left already!" he screamed at Bunnie.

As Links yelled the ring substance at the end of his staff started to glow brightly and rings of energy started to build up around it. Bunnie looked down the staff. It was no more than a couple of inches from her neck and she could feel the heat of the energy around it. She gulped slightly as she looked down the staff and then slowly up at Links. His eyes burned fiercely as he stared up at Bunnie, his breathing coming in deep drawn out breaths.

"Links sugah." said Bunnie nervously, "Links a….a…..ah'm sorry. Ah didn't want to upset you, I was just worried."

Just then Bunnie noticed a tear forming in Links' eye. He stayed as he was for a moment longer and then dropped his head to his chest. As he did the end of his staff fell away from Bunnie's neck and clattered to the floor. A moment later Links collapsed to his knees and started to sob quietly. Bunnie relaxed and slowly took a step towards Links. She knelt down in front of him and slowly put a hand on his shoulder. Links quickly put his opposite arms hand on top of Bunnie hand and held it there. He chocked back his sobs and looked up at Bunnie. Her eyes were wavering slightly.

"Damn I'm sorry Bunnie. I…I don't know what came over me?" he said slowly.

"Its ok sugah." replied the rabbit squeezing his shoulder slightly, "Tell me what troubling you."

Links sighed and got up. He walked over to a large flat rock and sat down. He looked up at the sky as Bunnie sat down next to him. He gave her a small glance and then spoke.

"Firstly understand Bunnie that I've been alone for most of my life. I was alone for most of my childhood, I was alone while I was in Pholon and I've truly been alone since she died."

"She?" asked Bunnie.

"Her name was Alindel. After I was kicked out of Pholon I met her."

"Oh I see. Where is she now?"

"Dead Bunnie."

"Oh ma! Ah'm sorry Links I didn't know."

"It's ok Bunnie. You didn't know because I had not told you before." replied Links looking over at her, "Well anyway, when I was with her I felt as if a warm energy was surrounding me. It was as if something inside her was reacting to my powers and forming a bridge between us. I don't think I've ever felt such a strong sense of belonging than when I was with her."

"So what has this got to do with now?" asked Bunnie cautiously.

Links looked back at the sky with an irritated look on his face.

"I dunno. Maybe it's nothing. But in the last week and a bit I've been feeling the same thing I did when she was with me. But that's not possible is it? She's dead."

"So that's why you've been looking at the sky so much."

"Yes. It's coming from out there. I just wish I knew where."