AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, it has been quite awhile since I've updated. About a month or so, as far as I can recollect. Clearly, a good deal of you must've figured I had given up on this story. I can assure you that is not the case. Being a high school student, I can only work on this piece when I can afford the free time, which is why I finally resorted to gluing my butt to the chair and not getting out until this latest chapter was complete. It may be up to expectations; it may not be; but somehow the story must go on.

As always, commentary is appreciated.

Just one last note: the last part of the chapter may perplex some and strike a sensitive chord with others, so please analyze it carefully before considering writing a lashing critique.

CHAPTER NINE

Cree, Cree, Cree goes the crickets. Hooo, Hooo goes the owl. Whiii-oooo goes the carefree winds, flirting with the sensitive branches of ancient bark.
These and more are the constant bits of ambience within the confines of a virgin forest. This is especially so when the midnight moon and her legions of tiny soldiers provide a sanctuary for the usually nervous creatures- save for any nocturnal fiend waiting to earn itself a decent meal. Tonight, however, the usual hustle and bustle of the woods intermingled with wild gossip amongst the animals. Not that they spoke as humans do- it is a relatively unknown fact that the common forest species can communicate with their fellow comrades just as well as humans. The dominant species just doesn't have the capability to understand it, with the exception of a certain few.

"Have you seen, by any chance, the two humans by the Grand Tree?"

"Yes, yes…what are they doing here?"

"I don't know, but it looks like one of them got hurt."

"I'll say. I've not seen so much blood since poor Flower got shot to pieces."

"You don't suppose they're hunters, do you?"

"Good heavens, no! They are human litter. Mostly harmless."

"Mostly!?"

"Well, some of them do learn to use the boom sticks early-"

"Great, as if the local hawk wasn't enough trouble. We should drive them out!"

"Don't be paranoid! They are young humans; they are supposed to be with their mother- instead, they are alone. Hardly a threat, except perhaps for the foolhardy insect." 

"Humph! You speak as if you know these creatures. Yet I find that highly doubtful."

"This coming from someone who spends the majority of their time digging tunnels into the ground? You probably know less about the human race than a whole clan of herbivores!"

"Why, I oughta bite a hole in your wing, you arrogant know-it-all!"

"Bring it on, Fuzzy!"

"Prepare to taste the wrath of my enamel!"

"The same for my Beak of Merciless Death!"

The two quarrelers engaged each other in brutal, vicious combat. They pummeled and maimed whatever part of their adversary's body was left vulnerable to a critical blow. However, the fight proved to be short-lived, for an unexpected persona soon intervened and promptly bonked the two on their heads. Stunned, the two were now sprawled out upon the cool earth, rubbing the tender bumps newly conceived on their noggins.

"Ow! Hey, that's not fair!" Whined the fuzzy fighter.

"Who on earth has the nerve to-" Began the winged warrior, but he immediately cut himself off upon seeing the one who prematurely ended their battle. "Oh, it's you! The Protector! My apologies, ma'am: I did not mean to be so rude."

The Protector blushed from the bird's sudden gentlemanly behavior. "Aw, shucks, there's no need to be so nice and formal."

"But there is, since you do so much for all of us living in this grand forest." Continued the bird.

The furry mammal, fed up with the bird's antics, rebutted with a statement of the sad, sad truth: "Oh, for Pete's sake! You're only being nice to her so you can avoid getting the riot act!"

The lashing accusation elicited a soft, but vicious hiss from the beak of the bird, but the winged animal quickly hushed himself upon seeing the Protector's doubtful glance.

"Speaking of which," said the Protector, her tone more assertive, "Why were you two fighting? I thought you were best friends!"

The bird and the mammal up righted themselves. "Well, you know how we can get rough in the middle of a heated discussion," Said the feathered creature, attempting to remain dignified.

The Protector rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother…well, what was it about this time?"

"You mean you haven't heard?" Inquired the mammal, "There are two human children by the Grand Tree looking like they've been chased by a mountain lion all day! One's out cold and the other's seriously wounded. Everyone else is terrified of them, although my winged comrade here says that they're not anything to worry about. We had disagreed on that point and…well, you know the rest."

Hmmm…what would a couple of kids be doing by themselves so deep into the woods? Thought the Protector. If what the bird says is right, then they're not here to shoot anyone. And it doesn't sound like they're camping for fun, either. So what other reasons could there be?

"Alright, you boys, I'm gonna let you off easy today, but on one condition." Said the Protector.

"And what would that might be, Noble Guardian?" questioned the bird in a formal tone, the eyes of the mammal rolling as a result.

"Go around to the others and let them know that I'm going to check out the humans, and that they should get on with their business. The last thing we need is a panic the size of a Sequoia."

The mammal nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Sure thing, missus!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" added the bird, tossing in a military salute.

The group separated into their respective parties and began their trek towards their objectives: The protector, investigating the presence of humans, and the other two creatures, spreading the good word like faithful messengers. However, as the protector made her way through the maze of bark and branches, she suddenly remembered another little issue she wished to settle.

She halted and raced back towards the duo: "Hey guys!"

"What?" replied the mammal.

"One other thing: Stop calling me 'missus' and 'protector' and all those other fancy-schmancy names. Just call me Bullet! You sound like brown-nosers every time you do that!"

And with that, Bullet continued her way towards the resting place of the two human interlopers, leaving behind a guffawing mass of fur and a ruffling, bewildered stock of feathers.

*****

Bullet, to the naked eye, has the appearance of the typical woodland squirrel: chocolate-brown fur, a miniscule, four-legged body, a curvaceous, bushy tail, and a pair of buck teeth whose size is misleading to their bone-shattering talents (anyone unfortunate enough to be bitten by such powerful jaws can testify to this, albeit with much humiliation). Unlike the typical squirrel, however, she is not one to be mere fodder for the pellets of a child's bee-bee gun. In fact, the young creature is more likely to attain her own stock of acorn ammunition and unleash her own signature hail of ferocity upon the hapless, immoral little brat (hence her well-earned name).

Bullet, to be quite frank, is a squirrel with unrivaled superhuman- er, squirrel - traits. She has incredible muscle power, lighting-fast flying techniques, and the unusual capability to store items in her mouth nearly 30 times her size (meaning she could trap a full-sized human in her cheeks if she wanted to). And how does a little squirrel obtain such abilities? Why, give it a drop of Chemical X, of course!

Before Bullet had become the superhero she is now, the squirrel had a near-tragic run-in with the local eagle, her life spared only because of the sudden arrival of Bubbles the animal-activist Powerpuff. Because of her critical condition, Bullet was brought to the abode of the blonde, where she rested for the night in a small, cardboard box, although not very comfortably. Concerned for the squirrel's welfare, Bubbles had discreetly added a single drop of Chemical X into the creature's drinking water, hoping it would be enough to revitalize the young mammal; and the rest, as they say, is history.

Although the super squirrel enjoyed working side-by-side with the Powerpuff Girls as their cute little sidekick, the allure of her natural habitat proved to be too strong. With tearful farewells, Bullet and the Powerpuffs parted ways, and the versatile forest creature established herself as the guardian of her natural home. Of course, she took care never to forget the young, joyful, golden-haired little girl who had the benevolence to rescue her that faithful day. Besides, a child who is capable of fluently speaking "Squirrel" (mainly composed of words like "cheep," "cheep," and –what else? - "cheep") would be a staple in anyone's minds, human or otherwise.

Of course, now Bullet is heading towards that very person, whom is unconscious and restrained; the resulting events may prove for better or worse.

*****

Pathie Zimbogous, his energy expelled and his uniform in tatters, rested upon a branch and gazed upon the stars above. He was trying to see if he could pinpoint the location of his faraway home amongst the constellations of the night sky. Despite squinting, staring, and trying his absolute best not to blink, the pursuit soon came to be hopeless. Besides, the various scars left over from the previous incidents were still tender, therefore messing with his concentration.

"Sigh…well, I was never much of an astronomer." Said Pathie. "Come to think of it, I haven't been much of anything lately. Sure, I've managed to execute a real-life 'Damsel in Distress' scenario successfully, but I still have 2 billion other lives to attend to."

A groan came out. "Oy, I feel absolutely terrible right now. Had I been a scout with some skill, I'd be blowing this Popsicle stand by now. Instead, I've had the worst day in the history of my entire life. Heck, this even beats the time Johan convinced me to dress up as an evil clone for the Halloween party."

He floated downwards to the base of the giant tower of bark. Here, a bare-bones encampment awaited him, consisting of a small, translucent dome on the ground (serving as shelter), a puddle of water that had cleansed his wounds earlier (along with assistance from the MPSD), and a square cube in the center emitting a faint aura of light and warmth.

"Now, where did I put the girl?" The soldier asked himself, scanning the area from left to right, "Oh, now I remember- She should be sound asleep in the portable resting pod. Well, I might as well join her. No point in freezing myself to death out here especially since my uniform got all torn up."

In moments, the soldier flew over to the dome and levitated above it. Mumbling a command to his disc, the top of the shelter peeled away at its own exterior until it split open like the mouth of a Venus fly trap. Inside, the young, blonde girl in a nightgown was revealed, her eyes closed and her back upon the ground. Yellow particles anchored her arms and legs like indestructible rope, assuring that she was incapable of movement.

Pathie couldn't help but stare in awe at the pure beauty of the lady. So youthful and innocent. If only she had not been covered in filth, the soldier would've probably treated her more kindly- then again, the soldier would've also died from a fatal laser shot. How ironic.

"Well, what's past is past. Now that she's free from the grasp of the indigenous life, the two of us should be able to get this mission over with in a jiffy. And if not…"

Pathie shuddered. He didn't want to think of the alternative. Not now. Not ever.

Lowering himself, the soldier soon found himself laying by the girl's side, his frame sinking into the soft, leather-like floor. He took care not to get too close to her; the last thing he needed was to have his hormones reach critical mass. Pathie twisted onto his side, and took another moment to admire his company's prettiness.

"This pod is actually designed for one person only," he said to the girl, "But as long as no one attacks us we should have ample space for the both of us. Of course, if someone does…well, let's just say I'm glad you're still under."

Gee, it's so much fun talking to a sleeping body. I'll be a ladies' man in no time! He thought bitterly.

Pathie turned his attention to his disc. "Computer, disable the heater and close up the pod. And let's hope nothing comes knocking on our door tonight."

The cube decomposed into a school of particles and swam back into the scout's uplifted disc, pitching the couple into the dark of the night. Then, the opening began to slowly clamp together, sealing the military man and the unknown survivor into a chamber of high-tech protection.

"I'll see you in the morning." Mumbled Pathie, as the faced his back towards the young woman and readied his weak body for slumber.

*****

Sleeping Pod. The name of the standard quarters for the ever-occupied planet inspector is simple, as the designers were never ones to come up with fancy acronyms (unlike the typically "holier-than-thou" contributors to the military's ever-progressing arsenal and gear.). Like any shelter, it comes with features to ensure maximum comfort: A floor layered with soft fibers, allowing the user to sink into blissful rest, even without a pillow; a protective shell formed from flexible synthetics, assuring easy access inwards and out while blocking off any invasion of severe weather conditions; and powerful anchorage that ensures the pod will stay in one piece.

Of course, considering the constant threat of danger inspectors have to endure with each second of their lives, some unconventional methods borrowed from military research had to be implemented to assure its appeal as a safeguard against imminent hazards. First (and this is not in any particular order of vitality), electric generators were integrated into the shell, for the purpose of fending off initial attackers with intense electrocution. Second, the thickness of the shell doubles upon electric discharge, morphing into near-indestructible armor, at the cost of having a comfortable amount of interior space. Because of this, having more than one occupant is not recommended by the manufacturer, unless, say, two lovebirds were looking forward to an intimate embrace.

The third, most salient addition was not the decision of the original designers, but of the higher-ups in the armed forces who adapted the shelter for their scout units. Highlighting the glamorization of powerful weaponry typical of army officials, the shelter is equipped with particle-tech, the same used in the MPSD, for the purpose of mutating a tiny shelter into a lumbering, walking vehicle of mass destruction. Needless to say, it is a means of last resort, in the case of when a scout unit is hopelessly overmatched and is in need of serious firepower. Considering the various functions that particle-tech provides, the resulting armory proves more than sufficient for surviving a Scout's worse-case scenario. In truth, "sleeping pod" is as misleading a name for the shelter as "minigun" was for the devastating, automatic Gatling of old.

*****

"Hmmm…either I have a fly in my eye, or I just saw an albino kid, dressed up like a stalker, fly around like a hummingbird and take refuge in a giant metal rock, which just happens to open and close like a flower bud."

Now Bullet was beginning to understand why the other residents were on the brink of going wild. Very few, besides Bullet herself, had even seen such…unique specimens. Any creature able to fly gracefully without wings would be sure to shock the average forest animal. Something was still gnawing at her conscience, however: This particular human looks nothing like the trio of talented girls she befriended not so long ago. Yet, surely that creature must be one of them. Nowhere in the human populace did she spot anyone else with such prominent traits.

"If I'm going to find out what's going on, I'm gonna have to play detective." Bullet concluded.

The squirrel, suppressing her powers to keep her stealth, quietly infiltrated the encampment. Thanks to the usual forest chatter, the grinding of her paws against the earth as she dashed from cover to cover was inaudible to anyone besides Bullet herself. Once close enough to the bud-rock, Bullet lowered her pace to a near-standstill. She stared at the peculiar chunk, trying to pick up any opening that would allow her to get a peek at its inhabitants, while circling it with utmost prudence.

Nothing.

"Now what?" Bullet whispered to herself, "Hmmm…maybe if I look where the kid opened it…"

The squirrel began to rise effortlessly over the rock, much in the same way the albino child had done so, albeit not as speedily. Her path contoured to the surface until she was directly above the mysterious chunk.

"How did he open up this thing? It looks as smooth as a river pebble," Bullet pondered. "There's got to be some hidden tugger or clicker in there."

Her curiosity pushing her further, Bullet lightly touched down upon the smooth exterior…

…and was immediately greeted by a traumatic assault of dancing electricity, catapulting the shocked forest creature like a suicidal kamikaze into the tremendous bulk of the Grand Tree's tough bark.

*****

Oh no…dear GOD no! Not now! Aaagh!

Poor Pathie. For once, he was hoping that he would get a decent slumber. He hoped quite pitifully that no potential enemy would be coming to disturb his rest. Now he realized that it was simply too good to be true. Someone just had to come along and set off the defensive measures, therefore dramatically shrinking the interior to the point where he was forced, to his dismay, to roll right on top of the unconscious girl. His moral reasoning crashed head-on into his primal instincts, causing a feeling of nausea that melted his nerve like candle wax.

Get out, Pathie…you must get out…get out, before you lose your control!

But this feeling…this growing, pleasant feeling-

No! This is wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong! Where is your dignity!?

Oh, just for a little while, I'm not causing any harm…

Yes, you are! All it takes is one little spark, and then you'll destroy the whole foundation of your soul before you know it!

It's not like she's complaining-

Of course she's not! She's unconscious and restrained as well! Do you have any idea what you'll be committing if you continue?!

But…but-

You're a soldier, aren't you? Aren't you?! Or are you nothing more than just a soulless incubus, interested in nothing more than cursing all females with your unquenchable desire!?

Soulless?! I care for her! I don't want to harm her-

How can you truly care for her when you barely know her? The only thing you DO know is that her flesh entices you. You only know her as much as you'd know a doll!

But, I've never had a chance to do this! And I may not get another!

It is not worth committing an atrocity! Get out! NOW! Before it's too late!

The soldier, consumed in a conundrum of powerful emotions, frantically tore an opening with rippling strength. He exploded out of the shelter, crying out in a long, resounding, roar of ferocity, prepared to tear apart the cruel instigator of his psychological torment.

He found himself amongst nothing more than trees and shrubs.

Defeated, he collapsed to the earth, inconsolable, and wept.