Disclaimer: Was stolen.

Nova

Chapter 28: Leaving the Hidden City.

No specific POV

"This is it?" Dr. Kelis asked, as four men lugged the body of a dead Saskanoc into the pastel white room.

"Yeah." said Shane, as they dropped it onto a narrow table.

"Alright, thank you. You boys head on home. I can take it from here."

"See ya, Doc!" "Later!"

The doctor absently waved goodbye as he peered down at the dead beast, "Well, aren't you an ugly looking fella."

He pulled on a pair of surgical gloves and switched on a bright overhead light.

"Now buddy lets see what you are made of." Dr. Kelis muttered.

Just as he touched the scalpel to the creatures scaly skin the Saskanoc's eyes shot open, the black pools stared up at the doctor.

"What th- urk!" The creature's hand shot up and grabbed the doctors throat.

The Saskanoc slowly pushed it self up to is clawed feet as the doctor began gasping for air. The doctor began convulsing, kicking and trying to pry the steel-like grip off of his neck.

Then it put it's other hand behind the doctors neck. Needle like wires pushed out from under its claws and pierced into the back of the doctors neck.

Suddenly both he and the Saskanoc went limp, and they fell to the ground.

The doctor pushed himself up from the floor. And stared down at his hand, clenching it experimentally.

He barked out a laugh, "Now little simaki... you will not escape me."

Next morning

Vash

"We'll be going this way." Shane said, pointing to a very detailed map of the sandworm tunnels.

"Great." I said, "Underground again."

"Well it sure beats thee days trekking through and open desert." Wolfwood commented peering over my shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Vash? What going on?" Meryl asked, appearing in the doorway. Milly, Kestrel, and Knives, behind her in the hall.

"Oh. Shane is going to guide us through the tunnels to Lanoth."

Meryl nodded, "Lanoth? Great."

"Yeah, after Theo Redwinter spoke to us, Kestrel suggested that we should probably head straight for Lanoth now. She said their Governor might have some better idea about what to do about this Seldokas character."

Meryl nodded again, "OK, well, we're ready to go whenever you are."

"Great."

Kestrel

We were just about to leave the hidden city, when a woman's voice called out, "Please! Wait a moment."

I turned to see Theo Redwinter, being led by the young woman, coming towards us, "Kestrel child, where are you?" Theo asked.

"Here." I said and approached the old man lightly touching his shoulder.

"Ah. There you are. Kestrel, child, I have a request to make."

"Yes?"

He reached into his coat pocket an pulled out a fat envelope, tattered at the edges like it had been handled for quite awhile, "I would like to ask if you could... give this to my son in Lanoth."

He pushed it forward and I took it form him, "S-- sure. But couldn't you come with us and give it to him yourself?"

Theo sighed, "I would. But I am far too old to make that kind of journey. For so long I wanted to make the journey but I could never bring myself to make it. You see, after my wife died, I parted on bad terms with the both her and my families. That is why I never went back. But... years ago I wrote these letters to my son, in the hope that one day I could explain to him... well.. that I was sorry. But I waited too long. Now I.. am too old. And I fear my time here in this world is coming to an end."

I looked down at the heavy envelope, "Oh." Then I looked up at him and even though he couldn't see it, I smiled, "It would be my pleasure to deliver this."

"Ahh, thank you, child. Come give this old man a hug,"

I laughed and gave him a hug, "Good luck on your journey, child, the same for all of you" he said, "I see that it will be a long one."

As we headed back towards the tunnels I caught Knives, who was walking next to me only three feet between us, giving me a strange look.

I grinned at him, "What?"

He just gave me a blank look before turning his head away, saying nothing.

I shook my head, and tucked the envelope into a pocket of my cape. Weird man.

Seldokas

The vision. It has changed. It has become clearer. No longer is it just /her/.

No. Now... there is another. Walking side by side with the little simaki.

Ha ha ha ha. Do you think... little simaki... that by getting help you will succeed in destroying me?

Fool.

Now you both will die.

With my new pawn they wouldn't suspect anything until too late. Fortunately taking over the mind of the simaki had been no problem at all. Weak minds they had.

Quickly I moved the pawn after the troupe of humans as they trekked deeper into the tunnels.

Apologies all around my peoples! I had an unmerciful writers block. Luckily for you and me, my writer's block at any time will last only about a week. Along with headaches... uh... yeah.

Anyway I think I did wear myself out. Pushing myself like that with all the sleep problems I've been having... well you get the idea. Mea culpa.

Anyway I think I might slow it down a little. I won't set myself to ant definite update schedule, but I can guarantee you that it will be between every three days to a week! Lets say around four or five days. :}

Reviewer responses.

Desmonia: Thank you! I'm sorry this is soooooo late. ...please don't hurt me... THIE WORLD IS MINE MuWahahahahah!

Yam: this was kinda a lame chapter if you ask me... but maybe that's just my opinion. :) Thanks for reviewing!

Sepik: Nah, you're just being kind! but thank you, anyway! And thanks for reviewing!

KeNsHiNs GuRL: Hehehe. look like a lot of people are going to be after my head. I'm glad you liked it though!

pyroblader: Oh happy day! A new reviewer! XD Thanks, I'm glad you liked it, I hope the rest was good too.

Lord Hustino: Yeah I know. I tried to procure the truck, but Thorn has disappeared with it again.

Yah! Can you believe that the thought of threatening her never crossed his mind! hehehe. I have no idea when or what chapter it'll end at but I can guarantee it's not /too/ soon. And I apologize this is late. :)

Neptune Butterfly: All girl dorm? Oh horrors! No, haven't found the truck yet. Magnet-Thorn made off with it again. Thanks! I know it wasn't really fluffy, but they aren't quite ready for all that stuff yet. hehe.

Rosebud: That's alright! I am very happy that you think so! I worried that I might now be do it right! Hehehe, Wolfwood seems very cool-headed to me, but I think he might freak out. You know pace consistently, pull his hair out, smoke four packs in an hour. LOL. Oh boy, and Vash... oh hell, he'd probably run himself into a wall. A shiny sparkly suit?! hehhehe, That would be coooool.

Chris Cross: Thanks so much for the comments! I hope that it gets better throughout. Thanks for reviewing!

shadowneko003: Here's your update! Thanks for reviewing!