Disclaimer:  Nothin' to see here folks, ya seen it all before.

Flamingo1:  You're the first to say that about Kally.  I hesitate to ask about what law-breaking stuff you've been into.

Akai Kah'ghe:  He would, but unfortunately he's eating a burger right now.  *hands Akai a Herman pushie*  For you.

Laureate:  Doggy is in trouble because of the fire incident.  However, I believe my wrath has died down.   Indeed, we'll see.

Dragonet: Yes, yes they do.  Much trouble they see.

LemonPepsi:  Don't hurt yourself!  *gives side ache remedy*

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"I want to stop."

"Why?"

"Because we've been driving for six hours straight and we're still in Oregon!"

I hope no one lets it slip to Mr. McCoy that we can't read maps.  He'll make us stay with him two hours a day just for studying.  Not that I have anything against him, but I really don't want to study maps.   What else can send me to sleep so fast?

"Can't you guys read a map?"

"We were doing just fine until you started helping Lance!"

"I still want to stop!"

"Wanda, just deal with it- Oww!"

That was Lance getting hexed by Wanda.  Again.  She's getting really good at that.  The first time she hexed people, she almost hit me.  It was probably due to the fact that I was part of the problem, but I won't get into that.

"Oh look! A zoo!"

"Why would ah care about that? Why would we?"

"We could stop and get food and then get directions."

"That's the best idea you've had, mate.

They all congratulated Ray.  A zoo.  The perfect place to get a little extra exercise in.  The bus made an illegal turn into the zoo parking lot.  But there were no cops around to arrest us this time.

We all abandoned the bus like a rats abandon ship. Herman snuggled pretty deep into my shirt.  Doggy was whining and hopping up and down.  They were hungry.  Kally was asleep.  She could sleep on a clothesline if Ray let her.

Wanda passed out the money.  We had to hex another atm after John's problem.  Our last tribute to California.

"Alright, we'll meet back here in," Lance looked at his watch.  Six other wrists went up to show they had no watch. He glared at all of us. "How are we gonna come back here at the right time?"

"We're not exactly on the bosses money, mate.  We'll find each other."

Lance rolled his eyes and shrugged.  We all took that as a cue to wander off.  I payed my way and slipped off with Doggy before anyone could catch us.  I know I should have waited for someone like Sam, but I was a little tired of being guarded everywhere I went.  Well, guarded by mutants.  Doggy and Herman were family.

The zoo was really big, with even a nice dolphin exhibit.  I didn't go to the dolphin exhibit, I wandered over to the hyena exhibit, which was on the other side to the zoo.  There was a little stand with Hamburgers.  I brought three of them.  Whatever Herman didn't eat, I could.  I ordered them plain because I didn't know if Herman liked ketchup.

I sat on a bench, letting my two pals eat, looking at the hyena pen.  It was empty except in the cave.  There was a big female almost at the mouth watching me.  I left Doggy and Herman at the bench to eat and walked over to the fence.  The female saw me coming and came out of the cave to meet me. 

If one has never seen a hyena, allow me to describe it.  Hyenas are about the size of a large dog (indeed, they are dogs), with big paws and even bigger jaws.  Jaws that could take someone's head off without flinching.

She was pretty though.

And who might you be?

Her voice was amused, as if she didn't see me as a threat, but an oddity worth a little attention.

(I'm Danny.  Who are you?)

I am Hezibah.  Alpha female without pack.  Why are you not in cage?  Surely you are not human.

(I'm a mutant.)

Hezibah knew you were not human.  Humans do not smell like you.

(Should I take that as a compliment?)

Hezibah does not care how you take it.  But take offense from Hezibah, Danny need not.

(Then I'll take it as a compliment)

Very well. Hearkan!  Something in the wind has changed.

I raised my head to look around.  Sudden warnings like that make me wary.  I heard a deep low growling.  Doggy had left his sandwich and had his ears perked up.  Herman was sniffing the air.  They and Hezibah weren't the only ones.  All animals within the area had fallen silent.  It was like someone put a mute button on them.

I backed away from the fence.  The last thing I wanted to happen was to be trapped against a fence. 

(Hezibah, Herman, Doggy, what is it?)

Doggy only responded by deepening his growl.

There are things coming.  Coming.

Hezibah smells fear.  Hezibah is angry.

(Calm down.  When will they get here?)

They are here now.  Hezibah sees them.  They watch you Danny.

Which part of that statement scared me the most I couldn't say. Hezibah could see them.  I looked around.  I couldn't see anything.

But then again, if I could see them it would defeat the purpose.

A sound caught my attention.  Grinding metal.  And I sincerely doubted Magneto had taken a trip to Oregon.  But anything would be better than what I was pretty sure it was.

I probably should have rephrased that.

Not one, not two, but five of my good robot buddies came waltzing out from behind different exhibit areas.  Sadly to say, I was gravely outmatched.  So I did what any mutant with five killer robots facing her would do.

I screamed and ran away.

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"How many of these things are there?"

Scott and Kurt ha managed to slip into an underground plant.  The right one this time.  Rows upon rows of droids, the ones that collected information, were lined up against the walls, ready to be used against mutants.

"Let's take zem out."

"I'm with you.  Let's do it."  Scott pulled off his visor.

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You'd think screaming and running from five killer robots would attract some zoo security, but no.  People these days.  So desensitized by modern television and violence.

I was lucky my knee was heeling so nicely.  Of course, after this was over I'd probably have to walk around on crutches but it would probably be better than the alternative six steps behind me.  All five of them.

I admit I am not the fastest runner.  But I'm pretty good when it come to endurance and agility.  Both of which were probably saving my neck.  Did I happen to mention that every time I passed an animal pen they were rooting for me?  At first I thought it was people, then I realized I could only hear them in my head.  

I had no idea where Doggy and Herman were.  Probably trying to get a hold of somebody.  Or eating the rest of their hamburgers. Either way, I was probably gonna run out of gas before they could help.

COME TO US.

That was a surprising development.  I looked ahead.

An elephant exhibit.  With three very big elephants.  Very big.   Right next to them was a guy in a trench coat, but he wasn't important. The nice, large, big and protective elephants were important.

The elephant exhibit had a wooden fence that would not keep a determined two year old out, much less a desperate fifteen year-old.  I actually vaulted the fence.  The first time I vaulted something over four feet high.  I twisted my bad knee when I landed, but I was too pumped up on adrenaline to care.  I darted in between the legs of one of the bigger elephants.  She ducked her head down so she could ward robots off with her tusks.  The other two trumpeted forward. 

Two of those robots didn't have a chance.  They didn't have the sense to jump away when the elephants stepped on them.  One got caught up in a trunk and was tossed over thirty feet.  The other two skirted them and tried to take on the big one that was protecting me.

I never quite realized how bad of an idea it is to tick of an elephant until that moment.  She barreled forward and met both of them in mid-jump (the robots were jumping, elephants are not big jumpers.) and took them right through the fence.  Then she rammed them into the sidewalk, breaking their poor robot bodies.  Never before have I loved elephants so much.

(Thank-you.  You're wonderful.)

WE WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO HURT ANYONE.

(Those are very noble sentiments.  Thank- you again.)

WE ARE NOBLE CREATURES.  THANKS IS NOT NEEDED.

(It makes me feel better to say it.)

VERY WELL.  YOU'RE WELCOME.

She reached her head down so I could pat it.  One of her buddies gave me a lift back over the fence.  I didn't want to walk over the crushed portion.  The adrenaline was wearing off.

Now the security started showing up.  Sure, an elephant beats up a robot and everyone gets over here lickety-spit, and a girl gets chased by said robots and it's no big deal.

LOOK OUT!

The thundering voice in my head got me dizzy.  I looked up to see the robot that had been tossed coming after me again.  And the elephants could do nothing.

I felt a deep sort of shock numbing me.  No way I could get away from it.

BOOM!

The cannon went off right next to my ear.  I through myself flat, trying to get my hearing back.  A robot head bounced past me.  Somebody grabbed my arm.  I think the elephants were trumpeting, but I couldn't hear all that good.  They pulled me off somewhere.  I was still dizzy from the elephants warning. 

I was pulled into some sort of alleyway between buildings. Whoever it was who grabbed me, we picked a pretty good hiding space, because I could see people running past us.  And I was getting a tad of my hearing back.  Enough to know they couldn't find us.

"Who are you?"

I looked up towards the voice.  It was a lot farther up then I was..  The guy in the trench coat.  It was long and black.  He also wore a black fedora, with copperish wisps of hair showing.  He had the cannon in the hand that was not at my elbow.  It was a designer piece, the kind custom made.

"Who are you?"  he repeated.  He looked down at me.  He had to be almost a foot taller than I was.

"Danny.  Who are you?"

"Call me Arcane."

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Told you guys he'd show up.  About time.  

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