Author's note: Yay, I gots more reviews! ^_^ I feel all happy an' stuff! I'm glad you like it! Sorry so much for the delay! I have a bad procrastination habit… This chapter WOULD have been up, except half of it was lost a while ago and I had to type it all over again! Anyway, here's chapter 5, hope ya like it!
"Live life in the moment. Treat each moment as if it's my last, because it may never come again"-Ben John
I sat on the roof of Liberté's Abri and took a deep breath. It was just after dawn, the dew hadn't even disappeared from what little grass was on the ground below me. The ground was a mixture of emerald and russet that sparkled and shined like the sun itself. A morning breeze picked up and swirled around me, as if to coax me further into doing what I hadn't done in years. I approached the end of the roof and closed my eyes, concentrating hard on my spirit energy. Slowly, two bat-like wings emerged from my smoke-black fur on my back. They shined and glistened and seemed to enjoy being finally let out after five years. I moved them back and forth for a bit. It was like being reintroduced to an old friend. You haven't seen them in ages and you think they haven't looked better. But you've got this horrible fear that they changed somehow. But as far as I could see, my wings hadn't changed a bit, except for an increase in size of course. I took a deep breath, dug my claws into the wooden roof and flung myself into the air. I fell for about two seconds before the wind picked up beneath my wings and I slowly lifted into the sky. I flew straight into the clouds, taking in the swift cool air into my lungs. I hadn't flown in over five years, and I'd forgotten how good it felt. I did a few spirals, and some dive-bombs, and who knows what else up there. The sky was my canvas and I held the paintbrush. I felt truly free now, without the limitation of gravity holding me back. And if not even gravity could keep me in it's clutches, then what chance did Vetvix ever have of imprisoning me ?
I floated there for I don't know how long in a luxurious state of peace and calm. This was my personal Nirvana, my sanctuary. But my Nirvana was swiftly interrupted by a loud humming and a powerful blast of air that sent me sailing backwards. I crashed into something hard and light at the same time. I felt around with my claws and realized I was only in a tree., not an enemy's clutches. I'd have to be more wary next time. I stared up to see what had caused me to plummet from the clouds. The loud humming from before was leaving now and I flattened my ears and growled at what it was. Vetvix. Well, one of her helicopters anyway. Lately most of Vetvix's soldiers were either on the ground or in a ship somewhere, and not many of Vetvix's minions could fly to my knowledge. So, Vetvix had ordered flying surveillance machines (mostly helicopters and a few jets) to start policing the skies. Motoring prisoners and troublemakers, shooting down unauthorized flying machines, and capturing various flying creatures, mostly carnivorous bats, eagles, and pigeons. The word was that Vetvix had lately been experimenting with wing attachment for her soldiers.
That explained how I fell, but why hadn't the copter attacked me? After all I was a rebel and certainly didn't have the standard computer chip like all "loyal" citizens of the so called "Empress" Vetvix did. But there was no time to think about that now, I had work to do.
I spread my wings again and flew to the roof and into one of the hidden air shafts leading to the Abri's center of operations which we called Voya. It was busy as usual, but not as much as it usually was. But then, it was six in the morning. A lot were either still asleep or just getting to bed. Garland, Paris, and a bunch of other magic users of technology experts were up all night (or all day for the nocturnal folks) working on the portal to get Orion to our realm. The gateway was nearly done and now simply needed a couple test runs and a few last touches and we'd be good to go. Most of who was in the Voya that was still awake either had dark circles around their eyes from lack of sleep or had just awakened and was hard at work. Paris slept in a corner with a crystal orb in his paws. Among the few that were awake was KNiner who was talking with Macha, one of the five kittens that resided in Liberté's Abri for sanctuary's sake.
K-Niner had been in our leagues for a few days now and was doing fairly well, much better than some had expected. But then again, if both Ash and Shiva, who were not the most "understanding" of a suspicious strangers, excepted and trusted him then he had to be on the level. Plus, soon after he arrived Paris did a mind-meld to assure the remaining skeptics that the Doberman was indeed on our side now and was not lying nor playing a double agent. Of course there were still those who didn't trust K-Niner at all, mostly those who lost family members to Vetvix's cause and who could blame them?
As for the kittens, who had a genetic distrust of dogs in the first place, stayed away from him, all except for Macha. For some odd reason, she took an immediate shine to him.
At that moment the entrance shoot rattled violently and everyone suddenly forgot their work and focused on the shoot. "Shadow, you were just outside, did you see any of our residents out there?" asked K-Niner. "I didn't see anyone and I'm pretty sure everyone's inside now." Shiva, Kitaro, and Strider then came running in, I assumed the loud banging had woken them up. Siva flattened her ears and sprung out her claws, flattening to the ground growling and Strider did the same (without the claws part I mean). "Do you think it's an attack?" I asked Shiva. She shook her head briefly "Don't know, but it's not one of ours and it's certainly not a refugee and that's reason enough to suspect the worst.". I nodded and crouched in the shadows ready for to fight if need be. It may have been nothing, but chances are it wasn't.
After the liberation on Casanova, the Shadowrunners were no longer so secret as they once were. Some of the former captives had been recaptured using the new P-chip Vetvix now implanted in her prisoners. Lucky for us only a few had them installed, when they were, the P-chip was still in it's testing days and a bunch didn't work or exploded (only causing the wearer a minor burn) plus only about 50 had the chip in the first place. But those who had the chip in correctly were tracked down. Captured and tortured to confess who had freed them, but they only knew who Goth was and where he was from and didn't know where we were or even what planet we were on. Just that we were in the same galaxy as Casanova. Our biggest worry was that Vetvix knew KNiner was on our side now, but she didn't; KNiner hadn't joined us until al the captives ere long gone. But the fact was that now the universe knew of our existence and that was very dangerous. We now had a price on our heads (which includes the praise of Vetvix and in these times, everyone was more than eager to get in her good spirits), so now we had to extra careful.
The entrance shaft opening rattled some more then slowly opened and out emerged a magpie. We relaxed when we realized who it was. "Halo! What are you doing back?" I asked. The bird narrowed his glassy eyes "I'm glad you find my arrival so invigorating" "Halo, we weren't expecting you back for another five weeks or so." said Shiva. "I finished early" responded the magpie hopping scratching the ground with h8s left talon. "Not much going on there except paranoia among all those idiot humans. They really don't trust anyone anymore, constantly going 'You're a rebel!' 'No, you're the rebel!' Most of them would gladly hand over their own child if they though it would get them in the Empresses good spirits." "Well it's good to have you back anyway." Speak for yourself I thought. The bird grinned( well as close to grinning as a magpie can get anyhow) and flew atop a high window staring down at me as I pulled back my ears. I despise being looked down at. All cats do. Not only that, unless I either flew or jumped really high (neither of which I was going to do) there was no way to reach him. His black eyes glistened with a higher superiority that said "I know something you don't know". He had the upper hand, it drove me crazy and he knew it. The most dangerous thing in the world is an adversary that knows something more than you do, and Halo definitely knew something that wasn't going to make me to happy. "Humph. Well Shadow, you haven't changed a bit. Still naïve and headstrong as ever." "What are you talking abut? You only just came back today, at least wait a few days before making judgments about my character." Halo shook himself, making several white under feathers fall around me. "Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that. I saw that stunt you pulled out there, almost got yourself killed no less. And flying right above Liberté's Abri in broad daylight too, you may as well carry a giant flashing yellow sign on your back that says 'Come find our secret hideout! Just follow the stupid little kitty!'" I turned away from him lashing my tail in annoyance so that it now looked like a leather whip ready to strike some unsuspecting victim and my ears were so flat against my head they were barely visible. This was partly because Halo was being even more of the arrogant jerk he always had been, and partly because I knew he was right. But I certainly couldn't do anything about either of the two and decided to go sit with someone who didn't have the manners of a sewer rat. Plus If I had stayed longer to hear his stupid chastising I certainly would have tried attacking him, and naturally judging from where Halo was, I would miss him and he would be left knowing that he had gotten to me and there was no way in Hades I was going to give him that satisfaction.
I jumped up to the bench and sat next to K-Niner and Macha. "So I assume you and the bird are not on good terms, eh Shadow?" "No" "I recall him saying that he spotted you flying am I right?" "Yes" "Hmmm. Very fascinating indeed." I gave him a small grin "Would you like to see them?" Macha sat up grinned with the interest and eagerness only a child can give "I want to see! I've never seen a cat with wings before!" I nodded ant let out my bat wings just a bit so that they could be seen, but wouldn't attract attention. I then let the wings slowly seep back into my body. K-Niner had watched with notice behind his steel helmet and I could see that he was very impressed. Macha placed her amber paws on my back where the wings had been. "Where do they go" I flipped my tail thoughtfully "I don't really know exactly. They just kind of melt back into my being and come out again when I need them". "Convenient" remarked K-Niner. Halo rolled his beady eyes. "And I suppose you've got something to say about this as well bird?" Halo cocked his head innocently "Me? Why I've got nothing to say" That was a miracle. "Except" I flattened my ears I KNEW it! "Except that you had better enjoy those leather wings of yours, because they certainly won't do you much good when you're no longer alive and judging by what I've just seen that could be very soon indeed." "Halo that's enough now!" snarled someone.
I glanced around to see who was so kind enough to defend me. To my surprise is was none other than Kitaro! The fox's grayish brown fur shined a bit in the florescent light as he stood firmly on the ground staring the magpie right in the eyes (ant that is a very hard thing to do with someone with black eyes). "Shadow knows very well she took a big and foolish risk, but at least she took the time to enjoy it. That's more than a lot have done in the last nine, years, for some their whole lives. It's not exactly all sunshine butterflies you know and if you can find at least a bit of happiness in this sordid world of ours, and if it has the risk of dying, then by all means take the risk! We must take what little joy we can out of life before it's too late. Shadow got her joy not only from just flying, but from life itself. For that one moment she could live life as it was meant to be: free, delighted and to the fullest. That's something I'm sure you've never done." Halo sat a bit speechless for a few seconds, for no one had spoken to him in such confidence before. That and I think that deep down, he knew that what Kitaro had said was true. Usually everyone else he scolded either ignored him or went elsewhere and grumbled about what a creep he was. Halo puffed his blue-black and white feathers in frustration, then let them settle in an effort to hide his discomfort. "Just who are you anyway fox? How do I know you aren't a spy of some kind?" Kitaro swished his tail around his feet confidently, quite more unfazed as I expected him to be. Unlike Halo, he was much better at keeping his cool. "I wouldn't be so snappy to me if I were you sir magpie. It is not wise to speak so harshly to a friend of Master Fenros." Halo's ebony eyes widened "Fenros? Surely you can't mean Packmaster Fenros of the Nerishen forest, head of the Ivryfang guild?" "The same." "Why in heaven would the head of the forest gods( the gods part is a very long story, I'll explain it later on) would favor such an indignant fox such as your self is beyond me." "Somehow I'm not surprised. Almost Everything's beyond you." scoffed the fox.
Halo puffed his feathers again but said no more except "Shiva I will meet you later tonight at the Track to see the new recruit yes?" My friend concealed an amused grin "Yes. We shall all meet at precisely tem pm sharp. Don't be late." "I am never late" "Good. I'll see you there. It's good to have you back with us Halo." "Likewise" and with that (and a brief glare at Kitaro and I) the magpie flew off into the far reaches of the Abri, probably to sleep. Strider wrinkled his nose and sneezed from the various black and white feathers Halo had left behind. Macha grinned "I think he's allergic to grumpy feather dusters". Shiva, no longer having to conceal her amusement for the sake of tactfulness, began to laugh heartily, which inspired the rest of us to do so also. When we all finally calmed down I noticed something. "K-Niner, I do believe that's the first time I've EVWER heard you laugh." He shrugged "Well there isn't exactly much to laugh at is there? But yes, it has been a long while hasn't it? I believe that last time I truly laughed was I believe four years ago when Chameleon painted Pie-Rat's head neon orange when he was asleep. It's nice to hear myself laugh again."
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It was about eleven forty at night now, The members of the Shadow runners, along with some of the other refugees that lived at Liberté's Abri sat out at the Track. Garland and Tavos (a friend of Paris that owed him a favor) had put another shield around the Track's dome so that it was completely shielded from the world so that the only outside light would be from the skylight in the shape of a 10 pointed star at the exact middle of the top of the shield. The moonlight shone brightly on the exact center of the track where the portal would be opened. If all went well Orion would arrive in the next twenty minutes. The plan was right after he arrived he would be given a quick briefing (because if what Kitaro had said about my counterpart was true, she would have already explained this stuff to him about a hundred time already) then he would be placed on the Space Farm Commandos' ship. As for the Commandos themselves, they were supposed to be here 20 minutes ago, but according to Garland, they'd run into a meteor shower and would have to wait it out for a few seconds. I sat on a hanging beam high above everyone else and right next to the emergency lights. This was partly to get a good view, for there was a rather large crowd below me wanting to see the outwardly for themselves, and also because I had a job of my own to do. If anything went wrong I was to activate the emergency cord, which re-activated the magic shield (so that in turn would close the skylight) making the Track invisible again. This was for incase someone overhead had spotted us, for although we were hidden the skylight was not and anyone flying could easily see what was going on. All you had to do was see the little hole in the sky and then the entire resistance would be in ruin. Shiva had foreseen this of course Halo and Lira, who was one of the scout bats, on patrol around the Abri's Track. Halo was perched on alight post nearby as Lira circled inconspicuously above us. If anyone spotted an incoming enemy Lira would surely be the first to see- or rather hear- it, then she would send a sound-message to alert Halo, who would alert me and I could pull the emergency cord.
The cool night air drifted through the gap of the dome and ran quietly through my ebony pelt. Macha sat near me staring at the starlit sky above us and shivered with anticipation, although she didn't know the fine details of what was about to happen, she most certainly sensed it was important. Below I could see Paris place his head and paws on the portal device. It had begun. The ferret's tail lashed fiercely in odd directions and I knew he was searching for the link to the other dimension. You see opening a portal to another universe with your magic alone is very hard to do especially when you don't have thumbs or a cauldron to work with, therefore animal magic-makers must use their own natural skills to do so. For instance, when a ferret is searching for something it's tai twitches and increases the rate at which it moves depending on how hard the ferret's concentrating. After about five minutes or so Paris' tail ceased moving and settled around his feat. His claws slightly, a sign that he was opening the gateway to the other world. Very, very quietly, if I strained my ears I could hear voices from the other side. It was obviously a male and a female voice. Gradually, it grew louder until not even human ears couldn't miss it.
"Are you sure you're ready?" asked the female voice
"Yes, yes already! You've asked me that like a million times today" said the second
"I know, but it's a dangerous place; it's not like you can jump in, say hi and jump out again"
"Right."
"And remember be on your toes at all times…"
"But I don't have any toes…"
"You know what I mean! Just be alert and keep your weapons handy"
"I know."
"All right, go on then. Be careful and for heaven's sake try not to die!"
"Well you're very supportive"
"Thank you"
I was being sarcastic"
"Don't care!"
"Whatever. And if I do die- and I won't- will you do that favor I asked?"
"No"
"Why not?"
"Because it's stupid that's why!
"It is not!"
"Is too"
"It is not!"
"Is too"
"It is not!"
"Is too"
"It is not!"
"Is too"
"Is not"
"Is not"
"Is too- hey!"
The female's voice laughed
"So why won't you do that teeny favor for me?"
"Because making George Lucas eat his own head is idiotic and a waste of magic that's why!"
"But it would be soooo coool!"
"It's against the laws of sorcery anyway"
"Not if it's a wish"
"Yeah but.. How about this? If you die- and you had better not- I'll make him eat his hat. Happy now?"
"Yes."
"Darn"
"So here I go…."
"Ciao Orion, I'll keep your Star Trek collection warm"
Then there was an eerie silence for a while, Paris had backed away from the portal twitching his ears toward in anticipation. Macha gave me a questioning look and I responded with a shrug. A brilliant flash of a bluish light filled the Track brighter than the sun, moon, stars, and novas combined and I had to hide my now slitted eyes before I went blind from it. Above me I heard Lira cry out in either surprise or pain I couldn't tell. The light disappeared as quickly as it came. I could now feel to more presences added in the room. One was Lira's who had flown into me blindly in a panic, now hiding behind me. And the other…had an aura I hadn't felt before. Garland deactivated the star-shield, leaving us exposed for a nanosecond before the normal shield hid us again. The lights came back on also, but they came on dim since we had to regain our sight again. Lira leaned against me weakly and shuttering. That was odd.. not even a bat should have been effected that badly by even the most blinding light.. But no time for that now. Besides Lira was asleep now anyway. The portal was gone now and in it's place stood a Siamese cat, who I guessed was Orion.
He stood on two rather tall legs now fitted with a emerald green cybernetic suit with a silver belt that held a couple a small dagger and a flade, which was basically a sword, except it's made up of magic flames instead of steel of silver that can cut/burn through just about anything it's user willed it to. That was held in a golden scabbard where it would be safe, although a flade can be immediately concealed in it's handle, it was still dangerous if left in the open. He wore two black gloves that cut off at his fingers (or paws depending on how you look at it..he had a combination of a paw and a hand) so that his claws could come out. The reflective ivory colored boots also allowed use of back claws (but the front of the boots were still covered..so I'm not sure how that worked..) plus they had a sharp crystalline spear at the back of the heels for tight spots. Around his neck was a piece of amber in the shape of three interlocked crescent moons. Orion blinked his large azure eyes and looked around as Siva briefed him. Halo, who had flown in just before the shield was back up, cocked his feathered head. "So this is the one who is supposed to help us? Doesn't look like much to me" Orion twitched his whiskers confidently "Well I can't say much for you either hammer beak." "Halo don't you have some reports to file or something?" I asked. The magpie grumbled and slunk off.
By now several of us were crowding around trying to get a good look at this out-worlder, but keeping their distance, just in case. As for me, I was checking out those killer boots of his. That and the fact that he didn't seem confused about any of what he was going through, it was like this happened every day to him. That was probably because he'd seen and read this kind of thing hundreds of times in his Sci-Fi stuff. Plus the fact that my counterpart had lectured him about what to expect. Orion was well chosen. Although he certainly knew the danger he'd be putting himself in, he was truly adoring this and I could feel the pulsing excitement in his aura. His eyes were filled with both eagerness and nervousness and his long tail swished in anticipation. Kitaro gave a small grin "As a very good friend of mine would say 'If you're going to do something important, you may as well love what you're doing.'" "That's good advice" I said. "Yep. Caliph said that right before her biggest hunt. Of course she did get kicked in the face by the gazelle she was chasing"
"See? Getting distracted like that only brings trouble. Isn't that right Shadow?" "Will you forget that already Halo?!" I snarled "Don't tell me what to remember!" he snapped back.. "Well someone's a touchy birdie" observed Orion. "Whatever. I need to catch up on my sleep anyway." and with that Halo left. "there's something about that guy I don't like.." "Yeah that guy's a real jerk sometimes" "No..it's something else..but it may just be warp-lag." At that time Strider came running in from the Abri's front entrance. "Shiva. Orsolon's here, has Orion come yet?" The Siamese stepped out in frond of Strider "I certainly have" "Good. I'm assuming you're ready.." "I sure am!" Strider laughed "Enthusiastic isn't he? Well let's go, the Commandos are waiting" We watched as the two of them disappeared into the dark tunnel out of the Track.
"You know what?" I said "I like that guy. He's truly living out his dream, that's a big burst of morale." "Let's just hope that dream doesn't turn into a nightmare" said Shiva
*quickly reads the chapter* Hmmm. I seen to be doing that thing again with adding to many characters… I promised myself I wouldn't do that anymore! Bad me! Anyhoo, what about that Halo eh? But every story needs an all-around jerk (that isn't the villain). I read somewhere that no author can truly hate her own character and I suppose that's true. But if I ever actually met someone like Halo, I'm sure I'd hate him as much as Shadow does ^^.
So that's it for chapter five, took quite a long time didn't it? I promise to try and get these things up faster, I know all too well the agony of waiting an author to update fanfics (and 3 months is WAY to long to wait. Again, bad me!)
So keep an eye out for chapter six of Dark Future! *runs off to do authorly stuff*