Chapter 10

"You're right about this whole nature walk thing," I said. "It's better than some graveyard, right?"

He chuckled and walked behind me. I was walking down the path with spins and twirls as if I was a small child on her first forest walk. I wished I was a small child right then. Small children don't have to worry about he things I have to worry about. They don't have to worry about anything. Lucky them. I stopped and fell down in the grass. Today, right now, I was free.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," I smiled. "For the first time in a long time, nothing."

He sat next to me. "You seem to have something bothering you, Rip Raptor."

I sat up. "I do actually." Sivly, before the gang, did you ever have a friend as a child?"

He looked up. "No," he replied. "Sense I was born they kept me in facilities. Unlike you and the others they could tell I wasn't of normal ."

"Oh, then I guess you wouldn't understand."

"You met a past friend?"

"Yea, we were getting along great, you know, then he all of a sudden became afraid of me," I explained.

"What did you do to make him...wait...you killed someone didn't you? I really shouldn't needed to asked that though. I should've known better."

"Yea, I did," I replied. "The guy deserved it though. Who knows how many woman he tried to rape before me."

Silverbolt narrowed his eyes. "He was treating you as a piece of meat then he did deserve it," he said. "The thing is. Myself and the others are used to this you, Rip. When you just decide to kill someone it's just something normal for us. Besides everyone you've killed has deserved it. I will admit that. It's most likely after seeing you after 4 years and you all of a sudden how would Rattap and Zane put it, "A total hottie." And also being the fact you killed someone in front of him Those are two things that aren't norm for him. He's not used to them."

"I tried explaining to him, that I changed," I replied. "But he wouldn't listen to me. He didn't want to here it."

"Of course he didn't," he replied. "He doesn't understand. Rip he hasn't been through what you've been through. You were dragged into war at 12 and forced to become an emotionless killing machine. How is anyone who's hasn't gone through or has seen come to understand it."

"I suppose you're right," I said. "But, Silvy, what am I supposed to do? I mean he's my best friend."

"That you have to come to figure for yourself, M'Lady," he replied. "I trust you can come up with the answer. You are a very smart and very loving young woman. You can do anything."

He stood up and stretched. He's gray toned muscles moved in every direction. He was a very good looking Everstin, I will admit that. He wasn't my type though. He was more like a big brother to me. That's how I saw him, nothing more. I believe all he saw me was as a sister as well.

I stood up with him. "Say let's go find the others and do something crazy," I said.

He smiled. "Why not."

We started to walk and then I stopped. "What is it?"

"Something isn't right," I replied. I tensed up. "It's him."

"Him?"

SWOOSH!

A net fell on him. It wasn't a normal net it had this aqua-like glow to it. "Silverbolt!"

I grabbed for the net, but a intense surge pushed me back. "Nani?!"

Silverbolt howled and roared has he tried to get out of the net, but to no avail.

Do you like my new little toy?

I snapped around. "Visser Three,'' I snapped.

The Sanalites invented them, he said. Ki ropes they're called. For you little Everstins who enjoy using you insides powers to beat on poor defenseless Yeerks. He snickered. They sustain ki power and if you try to use it, it absorbs it and shoots it right back at you.

I looked out of the corner of my eye. The nets were becomes shackled and chains now. "You monster," I said. "Let him go. He has nothing to do with this. This is between you and me."

As if I would, he said. You see, he would be an excellent addition to our people. I might even have the liberty of infesting him myself!

"I'd rather die!" Silverbolt growled.

That can be arranged as well, the Visser sneered.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Alright, Visser, what do you want?"

I'd though you'd never ask, he laughed. I want you my dear.
"I'm here."

I know, he replied. But I also know that you are not just going to let me kill you freely.

"So you're going to use a hostage situation to have me let you kill me," I grinned. "Oh, that's just a great plan, slug. How about this?" I held out me hand. "I just blow you to pieces right now."

If you do that, than your Hork-Bajir will kill your friend.

"I have two hands, Visser," I pointed out. "And deep in the forest there are no churches around."

You are quite right, he said. However, I have been paying many visits to Earth, and they have many of them there.

"And you tell me this why?"

He laughed as a being walked towards him. It seemed to be a human. No doubt a human Controller. He held a small bottle of water in his hands. Sense you are unwilling to compromise. I will kill you and take him. As well as all your other friends as well. He nodded the human. He opened the jar and threw the water on me.

"Water?" I questioned. Why would water.... It was starting to burn! "Nani?" Where the tiniest droplet fell on my skin it burned and hate away until I bleed there.

"Rip!" I heard Silverbolt yell.

What kind of water was...

It's holy water, Rip Raptor.

I looked up at the Visser. He had this evil smile in his eyes. How dare he mock me! I wasn't going to let some of Yaweh's water stop me. I step toward him. A little blood wasn't going to stop me.

SWOOSH!

He had the whole thing rigged. The forest it was a perfect place to set a trap. Whole gallons of this water was poured onto me. I feel to my knees. How foolish I have been, again. "You cowardly bastard," I cursed at him. I tried hard to get to my feet, but the pain was overwhelming. I wasn't going to give up though.

Take them, he ordered hid guards. Both of them.

I felt the Visser's guards pick me up and secure the ki shackles to my wrists. I was fading fast. The pain was so severe that I felt as if I wanted to throw up. My vision was blurring. I was fainting. I could here Silverbolt say something to me. He was most likely trying to comfort me. I couldn't here him though. I couldn't here much of anything. Then it all went black.

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I had no idea how long I was out. I just know when I opened my eyes it looked as if I was in the blade ship. My skin wasn't burning anymore but I was bleeding all over. I looked around with my still blurred vision for Silverbolt. He was on the other side of the room. We were obviously in the Blade Ship.

"Silvy," I said, weakly.

I saw his head look up at me. "Rip, you're alright then?"

"If you consider being alive being alright," I said. "Yea, then I am. I feel as if I'm about to die though."

"You look it to."

"Well thank you." I looked around. "How long have I been out?"

"A few hours."

I yanked at my ki shackles. "We have to get out of here. They'll kill us."

"But if they wanted to, why haven't they?"

"Well, there are two possibilities," I replied. "Either they want to torture us before they kill us, or they want to infest us."

"I'm not looking forward to either choice," he said.

"Neither am I," I said. "How the hell are we supposed to get out of these ki ropes or whatever."

Before he could answer the doors opened and Visser Three walked in. I look of utter triumph on his face. I spat at him.

Good you're awake, he laughed. I wanted you to actually feel and see the pain I am going to inflict on you.

"Some war lord you are," I sneered. "You're nothing but a coward. You can't even stand up to your enemies without shivering unless they're tied up."

I have you don't I, he laughed. It takes more than brute strength to win a war. You need brains Ms. Raptor. Something you don't have.

I growled at him. "You lucky bastard," I said. "If I wasn't tied up here I'd show you a piece of my mind."

But you are tied up, he snickered. And you won't get out so 'make me pay'.

"Just you watch," I said. "I don't fall easily. I'm no ordinary Everstin lacky you can push around."

"Gee thanks," Silverbolt muffled.

Hork Bajir, begin the slow process, he told his soldiers. I'll be in my chambers, and keep the other one alive and well. I want him to witness her pain and afterwards, infest him, after she's dead.

"You don't even torture you own victims," I laughed. "You really are a coward."

You won't be laughing for long.

WHIP!.

The Hork-Bajir swung something at me. I think they're called Cat O' Nine tails. I didn't know, I just knew they hurt. He lashed at my entire body. Then he even stripped me down to get the parts he didn't get to whip to good. I could here Silverbolt's roars and cries. It must've not been a pretty site for him. I wouldn't have known. I kept my eyes closed the whole time. My imagination of what the pain looked like was enough. I was going to die. I knew it. What a life..uh?

Then it just stopped. I couldn't open my eyes, my vision was blurry and coated with blood anyway. I heard though. I heard The Hork-Bajir cry in pain and his body fall to the ground.

"You are you?" Silverbolt asked.

"A friend," the male voice replied. "Where the controls for these things?"

"Over there at the back wall."

The blurred image walked over and flipped the switch. The shackles on my wrists were opened and I feel to the ground. I tried to raise myself. "That bastard," I muffled, gritting my teeth. "Where is he?! I'm going to kill him."

The blurred figure walked to me and kneeled next to me. He helped my limp body to its feet. I was going to collapse again. I fell he caught me against his chest. Fur? Canine? It wasn't Silvy. "We have to get her to a doctor," he said. "My place is near. We'll bring her there and you can contact your medical specialists. It would be too dangerous to carry her any further in her condition."

"I can carry her there," Silverbolt offered.

"I will take her," he said. "You're in no condition to carry her yourself."

I stayed limp against his chest until I felt his hand pick me up by my legs and back. He cradled me. Who....

Silverbolt gruffed. "Rip, is that fine with you?"

"Hmm-mmm." I moaned. It was all I could do. Besides this guy smelled really good. I curled my tail to my body. It was all I had the strength to do. In the state I was in though. I did not feel afraid.