Khalon bent down and tore open Walker's shirt. Buttons flew. And the radio... He found that the wire went down his side to a small black carry-along receiver in his inner coat pocket. He ripped it out and put the receiver against the side of his head. Where his 'ear' is, of course. He quickly stood up and said, "Yeah. Everything's all right. Just checking on... Uh. The subject and Simon."

The footsteps outside slowed down. Khalon got a worried look on his face. He handed the radio to Simon and picked up Walker's body. The adrenaline-syringe bottle dropped to the floor and shattered. With that, he gestured with his snout at Simon. "Use the radio. Tell them everything's alright. They don't need to come."

"They're coming? Great!"

"Yeah but try and keep them off until I can hide the body and jump back on the table. And get a towel or something. Something big and sheet-like."

"Ok. Uh..." He pressed the speaker into his ear and cleared his throat. "Uh. Hello?" A pause. "Ok. Yeah, everything's alright. You can- No, everything is under..."

Khalon had ripped open a metal cabinet and shoved the body in it. He quickly grabbed a sheet and rushed over to the table. Jumping onto it, he lay flat on his back and spread the sheet over him. Simon pocketed the radio and slid the gun into the far corner of the room past several tables with miscellaneous bottles and tubes on racks. Right as the gun clacked against the wall, the door opened.

Simon quickly turned around. He kept his hand in the pocket with the radio. Three men rushed into the room with one carrying a sub machine gun. Simon glanced uneasily at the weapon. "Uh, everything is alright."

The one with the gun made a step forward but the one in the middle stopped him with an arm. All three eyed the sheet. "Is it dead?"

Simon shook his head. "Still alive. Still tranqed."

The third one craned his neck to get a good look. "It was tranqed?"

Simon went over to the nearest table and extracted a disposable latex glove. He slipped it onto his right hand and smiled slightly. "Well then. Next exam..."

The sub-machine gun said: "Exam?"

A nod. "Anal probe."

All three looked at each other. Simon looked at them oddly. "What? Don't you want to stick around for that?"

They backed out of the room. "Uh... No thanks," retorted one. "We got rounds to do."

Click. Footsteps leaving. Khalon suddenly sat up and made a face. "Quick thinking, but next time make sure you don't have to go through with it."

Simon gave a slightly embarrassed shrug. "Dunno what else to say."

Khalon tossed the sheet aside and jumped off of the table. "Did you get the key?"

Simon checked his pockets. "Aw, shoot. No." He began to go over to cabinet but Khalon beat him. Open, search, close. He slipped the keycard into a pocket of his pants.

"Got it. Let's go..."

After grabbing the few belongings Khalon possessed the room, they opened the door. The footsteps of someone passing by sounded. But no person seen. Khalon was the first to peek out. He looked left and right down the hall. A metal corridor - very sterilized looking and brightly lit. But no cameras. He looked back at Simon, who was listening to the radio. Simon looked up. "Clear?"

A nod. Khalon gestured. "Lead the way."

Simon stood there for a moment. He looked uneasy. Khalon stepped out of the doorway into the corridor and gestured again. "Better?"

Simon just stepped out and quickly went down the left side of the hallway. "Yeah..." More of a to-self response than anything. He stopped short at the end of the hall and peered left and right. Nothing. Khalon trailed closely behind him, glancing often down the opposite end. "Ok. Next stop is down this hall, and then into the door at the end of the hall."

They went down the adjoining hall and came to the door. Khalon glanced left and right uneasily. "This seems too easy. I almost feel like we're being set up."

Simon smiled while huffing a laugh. He tested the handle of the door. Since it was unlocked, he opened it. "I was set up the day I was born."

Both entered the dimly lit room. Khalon shut the door quietly and strolled over to the wanted door. It was old and dusty looking, just as the room appeared to be. "Why would a lab need a morgue?"

Simon was busy with locking the door that Khalon shut. "Well. You never know if a subject might die in the middle of captivity. Or if a subject is dead when he arrives. Lucky you didn't end up here."

Khalon brushed off the old looking keycard lock. He looked over his shoulder. "Is that a wish?"

Simon hrmed. "I dunno. Oh wait - the pistol. Will we need it?"

Khalon shook his head and slipped out the keycard. "Too late to get it now, I'd say. No use going... Heh. Down the hall. But I don't care. As long as we get out here I'll be a happy dinosaur."

"Heh. Well you're in good company. I hate it here too."

Khalon tried the keycard. The LED light bleeped red. He tried it again. Simon pointed. "Turn it over." Khalon turned the plastic card over and slipped it into the slot. Green. Click, and a creak.

"Good." Khalon pushed the door open and peered out. A field with woods bordering close by. "What the heck. Where are we?"

"I don't know either. Stupid gov people kept me locked up here and never told me where I was. Just work, work, work. Your lucky we don't lock you up, so you might as well act like your grateful."

Both stepped out into the field. The door was framed in the side of the hill. Underground. "Heh. They really like to keep things low."

A few minutes later they passed across the field and entered the thick, mature woods. The ground suddenly sloped up. Simon was struggling to keep up with Khalon's fast pace, so he offered they take a rest. "No. Can't stop," Khalon replied. He slowed his pace down. "If we stop its just that much shorter of time they can find us."

Simon caught up. "If. From my former hacker days, if your careful about erasing your trail you might get away unscathed. If not you'll have to move to another city. Or state for that matter."

"Really? Well then. I we got time I think. Those tranquilizers looked pretty lethal. I bet that Walker won't be waking for at least another ten hours. Mmm..."

"'Mmmm' what?"

Khalon rubbed his neck. "Bug."

"Oh."

The two continued on in silence for a while. The sloped crested up to the peak of the hill and the woods thinned slightly. The view of the valley was beautiful. Puffy, white clouds floated overhead, backed by blue sky and bordered with many mountains. Khalon signaled an arm to stop. Simon took a breather. "Wait a minute."

Simon blinked and looked at the valley. A slight smile formed under dark circles under his eyes. From his constant slight-frowning appearance, it looked like he hadn't seen much sun lately. "I know. Breathtaking, isn't it?"

Khalon's brow quirked. "Yes, but where are we?"

Simon scratched his head. "Tennessee mebbe? No. Not enough rocks."

Khalon continued onward. Simon followed after quickly. "Mmm. I wonder... No can't be."

"Can't be what?"

"Is this Colorado?"

"Well mebbe. Yeah I think so. Looks better than those pictures on the internet. I was thinking of movin' here just to get away from the govvies. You know... I heard that -"

"Mmm. I hope its still here,"Khalon said to himself. "Let's go..." He looked up towards the sky and pointed roughly westward. "That way."

Simon gave a questioning look. Khalon didn't catch it because his eyes were on the downward slope. "What's still here?"

Khalon stopped and looked around at the surrounding mountain range. More mountains, clouds, and woods. A pond off in some valley to the left, and an odd shaped mountain in the distance. Odd not that it is misformed - just the top doesn't look natural. The surface appeared to slope on the top at a near horizontal angle. "Lavadome Two."

Simon shielded his eyes from the filtered sunlight. "Lavadome what?"

Khalon glanced at Simon. He averted his jaw for a moment and sighed. "Might as well tell you..."

Simon continued to gaze out at the distanced mountain top. "I got time. I guess. Unless we want them to catch us. Tell me while we walk. No wait. ...Walk where?"

Khalon pointed. "Lavadome Two. If that's it. Hopefully it is... It's a lot different from the pictures."

The two continued onward. "Pictures? In a textbook or something?"

"Yeah. But on a computer. Since my relatives are prominent in the government back at home, I had access to a sort of database. Under supervision no doubt. I was just a meager child when they showed me photos of it... I remember it was smoother looking." He looked up from the ground through the trees. "And larger."

Simon sighed and chuckled. "That's because we're probably miles and miles away."

"No. I mean, it didn't look like it was crumbled."

"Oh."

The hill downward was a little more bearable due to its more flat slope; the end of the 'L' of the hill connected to the mountain turned into a low pass going into the open flat area to the north. A large lake was tucked at the end of the South-Westerly to North-Easterly valley. Miscellaneous rivers and streams flowed into the valley and into the large lake. Both continued downwards towards the floor of the valley/field area to where the valley lied. Simon looked behind his shoulder occasional while Khalon continued to look onward.

When they came onto the field, Simon could no long contain himself. Various emoted expressions had projected from his thin feature - mostly mixed emotions. Khalon hadn't looked back in a while so he did not notice. "Uh. Khalon?"

Khalon glanced back. The silence seemed to distract the alien and so the voice caught him off guard. "Yes?"

Simon looked to the thin grass and flowers for a brief second. "What is it like on your home planet?"

No answer for a moment. Simon often looked up expectantly at him. Khalon responded by the time they had crossed the field and entered the forest surrounding the valley again. "My home planet is very similar to this planet."

The slope of the hill was less steep than the preceding slope. This gave Simon a chance to talk more instead of trying to constantly catch his breath. "As in... Trees, hills, mountains... Flowers?"

"Something like that."

"Is it the same size as earth, though?"

Khalon frowned. "I think so. I've never really examined that really. Mostly because Earth isn't looked highly upon so my knowledge of it would be useless. Unless I would mysteriously wind up here for no apparent reason..."

"Like you did."

"Yeah."

Simon chose his next words carefully. "Khalon... When we get off of Earth... Will we go back there?"

Khalon looked back. The balding man, still clothed in lab coat with thick glasses, seemed to strike deeply in Khalon. Here he was with possibly no legally existing family - at least non that could care about him - no real home, and no future. Except for being stuck in a lab for who knows how long. "I think that question will be answered once we get to that mountain." Simon simply nodded and went quiet. Khalon looked back at the man. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties.

Now it was Khalon's turn for questioning. "Simon... why don't you like it here?"

He shrugged and looked towards the pond. They were heading around the beginning of the small mount that lied south-east of them. "The government hates me, really."

"Really? So you can't just make amends in any way?"

"Oh yeah. But only if I serve jail time. For what I've done I could be in prison about twenty years or so. Or more. But that's just my guess. I just don't wanna be cooped up in some cement and steel hell-house and come out when I'm past my fourties."

Khalon nodded. The surroundings were sure a good relief from an enclosed metal building in the ground. More like a hole in the ground, really. Both sunk into their own thoughts as they continued along.

Ethan made it successfully through that school day and had gone through pretty much unnoticed to his joy. He left the bus without looking back, and almost immediately went for the shed. Only with one problem though - it was locked.

"Uncle...!"

He barely had time to get the words out. His Uncle had followed him outside from the small ranch house. "They took it away. And whatever was in there."

Ethan blinked. "What? Where'd they take him? Is it OK?"

The Uncle raised both hands. "No, no." A sigh, and a thrust fo hands in pockets. "None of this happened. You didn't drag that craft back into me shed, and there wasn't anything in there."

"But there was! I saw it and him!" And he bit his lower lip.. "And... talked to him."

"No..." Uncle Henery shook his head and sighed again. More exasperated than last time; Apparently he could care less about it, or else because of other reasons. "None of this happened. It never did. Nothing landed in my field, and you were doing other chores the whole time. Got it?"

"Oh..." Ethan finally got it. "Well. What would they do if-"

"Ethan. You can't tell anybody. Not a living soul. If they do then..." He kicked a rock with his foot and looked from the house to the barn, and to Ethan. "They'll take it all away."

Ethan blinked again, and huffed. "Why though? They can't do that!"

"They will. And I'm already in enough trouble with those taxes on the house I wasn't able to pay." A condescending look. "Please Ethan. You can't tell anyone about this."

"Ok, but where is it?"

"The ship?"

"No. It."

"I dunno." He glanced past Ethan and nodded slightly. Reluctantly, though. "And I could give a dang."

The glance made Ethan look behind him. Two men appeared from apparently nowhere. Government people. They sported black slacks and sport coat, with a black tie and the trademark radio-in-ear. The one on the right was the first to speak. "That's right, farmer. None of this happened." Both approached Ethan. Ethan took a step back and look at his uncle.

"What? Who are they?"

The one on the left spoke for Ethan's uncle. "We're with the government. And-"

"I could tell. I'm not dumb. Where is it?"

The one on the left sighed and looked to the one on the right. The right one spoke. "It and the craft have been taken to a secure location. They're safe, don't worry." He stuck both hands in his pockets and walked around Ethan to Henry. "We need to take him in for questioning."

Henrey responded curtly. "You don' have t' ask me. Jus' don' hurt 'im."

"We won't. I promise."

Ethan took another step back and looked behind him. Apparently a car had been parked over on the side of the house from view, with two other agent-types over by the car. The sedan was fairly large and was colored black. How stereotypical. But his thoughts ran quickly to other things. Such as, literally, to run away. Before he had a chance to step away, a strong grip formed on his shoulder. "Come with us please."

Ethan looked over to the hand and up to the voice. He was pushed to walked and he responded wordlessly. The agent nearest to him by the car opened the passenger door in the rear and he was placed somewhat roughly into the car. Though he was outnumbered, spite grew up through his throat. "Gosh, you could just ask."

Three of the four agents got into the car. From what could be seen through the darkly tinted windows, the fourth walked around towards the front of the house. The car was quickly started - doors locked - and they were soon off onto the chip and tar road. Ethan constantly craned his neck to see where that one agent went to but he was lost from view. "What's he doing there?"

The driving agent looked into the rear view mirror at Ethan. "Tying up loose ends."

"Loose ends? Like what kind of loose ends?"

"If you were caring or a nephew, wouldn't you want to know where your nephew is?"

"Well yeah."

"There you have it."

Silence settled into the roomy sedan. The black leather seats were rather smooth; so much that Ethan had to keep sitting up. The agent next to him looked over several times. He finally had enough. "Can't you sit still?"

His remark made the agent in shotgun look back momentarily. Ethan grunted. "It's not my fault it's hard to sit up on these seats." The continued to look at Ethan. Ethan decided to simply stop fighting the seat and slouch. But though he did, the agent kept staring at him. "What?"

The agent sighed and glanced out the window. Ethan frowned and did the same as well.He watched the surrounding soft-wooded willows and trees roll by, occasionally flickered by a creek. And then he got an idea.

"Uh... Sir?"

The driver looked in the rear view mirror. "Yes?"

"I hate to bring this up now but..."

"What?"

"I have to use the bathroom."

"You can hold it."

He bit his lower lip and looked out the window. "But... I really have to go."

"Hold it."

"I'm serious. I think I might wet my pants."

The car suddenly screeched to a halt. Ethan was sure to play along and act like he was in pain from the sudden stop. "Woah, watch it!"

The driver stared back at Ethan for a moment and gestured to the agent sitting in the passenger seat. "Watch him."

Ethan blinked. "Your serious."

"That beast could be out there." He moved down his glasses and looked at Ethan. Both eyes were two different colors for a second until he blinked. The car doors unlocked and the other agent got out. "What?"

Ethan shook his head and got out of the car. "Nothing."

Ethan walked over to the lightly wooded area bordering the creek. The agent watched him very closely; every move didn't escape those eyes behind those black sun glasses. He glanced at the agent's attire and made a face. How typical. After he had finished his business he turned around. "I'm done."

The agent stood there with arms crossed. He just stared at him. Ethan shifted nervously and said, "I'm... done."

"Oh yes, I heard you."

"...Ok. So." He moved to go back to the vehicle but the agent blocked his way. "Um. Shouldn't I go back to the car."

The agent sighed and thrust both hands into his pockets. "Ethan. There's something that I have to tell you."

Ethan took a double glance at the car. He just nodded and looked over his shoulder. The driving agent was apparently fixing something in his eye. A contact mebbe? The agent's movements suggested apparent regard for the eye and he was conversing heavily with the other agent. "Ethan, do you remember... anything?"

That distracted him. "Remember what?" He looked at the car and pointed. "Are you talking about that agent's eye problem?"

The agent didn't look back. He kept his eyes focused on Ethan, as if knowing of other plans that Ethan had in mind. "Lets not mind that. He needs a new pair."

Ethan nodded slightly. The agent gestured to the car. "Let's go."

Ethan glanced back at the woods again. "And I wouldn't try that if I were you. I have a long-range tazor on me."

Once inside the car rolled onward quickly. The driver rubbed his eye and said, "What took you so long, Ethan?"

"Like I said, I had to go."

A smirk. Ethan could see it in the mirror clearly. That was an odd change from his normal bland expression. The agent quickly dropped the smirk, though, when he noticed Ethan looking. Ethan then sighed and looked back out the window.

Khalon stepped a little too close by the riverbed. "Drat!" His foot sunk into the soft mud and went up past his ankle. He pulled his foot out and shook it off. "Gosh, these are the only boots I have."

Simon hehed. "Let's travel nearer to the wall of this valley."

"Good idea."

The valley meandered in a shallow arc up to a junction where the trailing vein of the main river met up with a second vein. The woods continued to border several hundred yards away from the actual river; Khalon and Simon stuck to the shadow of the trees. "You never know who might be out here."

Simon looked behind his shoulder again. "I hope there wasn't anyone at that dam."

Khalon glanced back at Simon. "There was a dam by that lake?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Great. I hope there isn't anyone around here." Khalon looked up the side of the hill. "If this is some kind of park or forest preserve?"

"Possibly. I bet it is. If it isn't then Colorado must have a really bad way of preserving land."

"If they've got a dam then I bet they like to. And to preserve wildlife. What other way would you encourage the restocking of fish?"

"How do you know all this?"

Khalon smirked. "We in the Dinosaucer army are trained extensively. If we get lost or wacked out of orbit, its nice to know where your headed."

"Yeah..." Simon scratched his scalp. "So about these Dinosaucers... Didn't you say you were the head of some task force?"

"Yep."

"If you were in such an important position than why did they drop you?"

"You know how governments work."

"Yeah. That's true."

The followed the main path of the river. The canyon stretched on straight past the intersection of the rivers. The sun was raging overhead towards the west, and a cool breeze flowed through the canyon from the west and brought light, sweet scents from the woods and various plants growing in the area. The two conversed as they continued along.

Simon looked skyward and trailed his eyes to the top parts of the valley. "So what exactly did that task-force do?"

"It was the replacement for the one to deal with Ghengis Rex and his minions on earth. Lucky for us that was the end of the war. At least I think so."

"What do you mean? I thought that the original task force was to suppress the Tyrranos on earth. And the new team was for-"

"Those small pockets of Tyrranos uprisings, yes."

"But, the war."

"The war didn't actually end. Whoever was behind Ghengis Rex had other things in mind. As far as the clues I've picked up have."

"Like what?"

"From what I last remember the Dinosorcerer and Sorceress were really depressed for whatever reason. They seemed to withdraw well before any major events ended... Celebrations. The status promotion of an officer or other Dinosaucer man. Even their own birthdays."

"Them being the leaders of the Reptilians?"

Khalon shrugged. "Something like that. I think. Before I left for here, I vaguely remember details about my Aunt explaining to me about how things were changing for the worse. Something about conspiracy, and the newly developed system of Elders." He paused for a moment and sighed. "And something about a trusted official being quickly replaced. No. It was an Elder that was replaced. The old one was a good friend of my Aunt's and Uncle's... The new one was disliked greatly."

"And your Aunt and Uncle are whom?"

"Oh! Sorry. They are the Dinosorcerer and Dinosorceress."

Simon swatted away a fly. "So if your Aunt and Uncle used to have prominent positions, would that make your father and mother some high-ranking Reptilians too?"

Khalon hesitated in response. "I... I'm not sure." He waved a hand. "At any rate I've not been in the spotlight due to my Aunt and Uncle raising me part of the time."

"But this Allo. Could you ever think he's your father?"

Khalon responded before Simon could finish his sentence. "Allo isn't my father. I honestly don't who he really is, and as of right now I could care less."

Simon went quiet for a moment. Khalon looked back and sighed. A bit irritated. "I'm not mad at you. It's complicated."

"Try me." A smile. "I'm a hacker."

"Somehow or another a rumor got out that I was the son of Allo since I took his place after he disappeared. By now most of the other original task-force members were long gone - some disappeared mysteriously too while one or two retired because they got fed up with the whole war. It all eventually boiled down to new members replacing the original task-force members. The rate at which most of them disappeared was enough to get the interest of the general public and the Elders. A thorough search was done and for some reason they pointed fingers at the new task-force members. And especially me. They claimed that I was 'Inciting hate against the matured members due to experience differences marred by jealousy.' My response was 'Me? Jealous? When have I ever been? I've worked long and hard for what I've gotten to right now!' Of course they ignored me." He frowns. "I remember now. I was put on trial... And after..." He rubbed his cheekbone. "I was thrown in the pod by someone and sent away."

While Khalon talk Simon listened intently. Even after he spoke Simon was silent. "Mmm, I see. And you have no idea who chucked you in a pod and sent you on your merry way?"

"Nope. I also have no idea why I was put in the pod and sent to earth." His pace slows down as thought creases his brow. "And before that happened... Vague, fuzzy memories. Of something. A lab room. No, a room that is black-tiled with lots of bright lights focusing over me."

"What kind of lights were they?"

"Kind of a crystal blue color."

Simon stopped. Khalon stopped short too, but in surprise only. "What is it?"

The corner of his lip twitched. "Wait a minute. Dark tiled room with bright crystal blue lights."

"I dunno." Khalon laughed. "It's probably just me... waking up in the hospital after I was born."

"No no no... I remember that too. Something like it at least. I was facing the ground and I could see reflections of lights on the dark... tiled... floor."

Khalon's eyes looked off towards the river for a moment. "Eh, just coincidence."

"You never know. You got a scar on your back?"

Khalon blinked and bit his lower lip. "I did but I think it was from a battle. I remember getting hit hard with a knife butt or something and was knocked unconscious." He shook his head and started to walk on.

Simon didn't start walking. He was looking up towards the top of the hill. Khalon turned around and said rather loudly, "You coming?"

Simon motioned with a finger to his lips and pointed up the hill. Voices. Of children and adults. Khalon began to search the forest line, the river, the opposite side, and where they were. The gradual rise of the hill was abrutly stopped by a jagged boulder sticking out of the wall. It was large enough to hide from view, and thus they went to it. "Let's hide behind that."

Simon followed. "Alright..."

The voices continued to get louder, and louder, and louder, until it almost sounded like they were right above that rock. The rock that was the only shelter between the surrounding peoples knowing about Simon and Khalon for the moment. Khalon pressed himself up against the cold stone with one knee and hand on the ground. His other hand rest over his crouched leg. Simon did something similar but he was standing. He tried to get a peek over the edge. Once he did, he immediately ducked low. "They're right there," he whispered.

"Teacher! Teacher! I hear somefin' whisperin'!"

A kindly voice responded. "That's just the wind, darling."

"No! I heard it! It said 'We're right here!'"

The adult voice did not respond again. The other voices, as it turned out to be children, faded. Khalon was the one who peeked this time. His eyes scanned the trail cut into the slope and discovered no one was there. And then-

"Boo!"

A child jumped out from behind a second rock on the boulder. Khalon lunged back in surprise and fell on his bottom, resounding with a gasp. They had been discovered.

The two year old pointed a finger at accusingly. "Yowsah arw a monthster!"

Khalon glanced over at Simon. Simon just lay huddled up against the rock with his jaw open. Khalon raised his brows at Simon. Simon finally moved... He stood up carefully and forced a chuckle. "Run along now, little one." Feeble attempt.

"No! Yousa monster. I'm gonna tell teach! Immagonnatell!"

Simon gestured. "It looks like teach is going to lose you if you don't find her soon! Quick! Go while you can still find her!"

"Kaly?" Female adult voice.

Khalon hurtled himself up against the stone. Simon jumped out and picked up a small stone, pretending to examine it. 'Teach' approached.

"I'm sorry sir... She's a little adventurous one." She picked the child up and chuckled. "Good day..."

Khalon muttered under his breath. "Close one."

"I 'eard dat, meestar monstar!" Came the reply, freakishly.

Simon really forced a chuckle. It was bland. "Heheheh. Funny. Kids..."

Khalon jumped out from beneath the rock when Simon had motioned. "She's gone?"

Simon nodded. "Yeah. Gone as good. That was close."

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Said what?"

"I said 'Close one' to myself. Didn't you hear that?"

"Well... No. What are you saying?"

"I'm beginning wonder if dark tiles and blue lights are more than vague memories."

Simon, confused. "Its not... everyday two different creatures have similar dreams. Or yet one lands randomly on another's..."

"That little girl somehow knew what I said. That's really creepy. And you were much much closer to me than her. She was at least seven feet up there and you were about four feet away from me."

"Turn around for a minute. I wanna see if you've got the scar too."

"I got a scar on my back but its from a fighting blade."

Though reluctant, Khalon turned around. He unclasped his light armor and revealed his back. "Yeah. This looks very simular to mine."

Khalon: "Mebbe humans' and Reptilians' skin works the same."

"I dunno. But what I do know is that they are about the same size."

Khalon narrowed his eyes. He opened his mouth once but closed it instantly. He retried. "Implants...?" He shook his head. "No it can't be... They're outlawed on both Reptilian and Tyrranos sides!"

"You mean, chips implanted?"

"No. These are more than chips. Outlawed on both sides. Reptilians and Tyrranos!" He set his jaw. "Nah. Probably just a mere coincidence."

"Mebbe if we got an X-Ray we could find out for sure." He sighed. "No can't do that. Your not human."

"Yeah. That's one downside to falling randomly down on the last planet I would ever think would happen." He continued on. "Let's keep going."

Simon followed with a short laugh. "Alright."

The two continued traveling down the valley in the shade of the woods and the cool of the day. The sun was just beginning to set over the valley, adding colorful crimson to the already colorful countryside. Simon kept a slight smirk, shrugging off their previous conversation, while Khalon resided to himself in deep thought.

The four traveled in absolute silence as the car trudged on. The only noise that permeated the comfortable and quiet cabin was the soft hum of the electric motors and sound of rubber on pavement. But comfortable Ethan could not feel. He wanted to be resting where there was noise. Noise that he recognized, and though it might have been loud and annoying in those harvesting mornings, he at least could know that he was safe home. Reality came back and he jolted from a slight doze. An enclosed airport came into view, with a single eight windowed private jet ready to take off. A small white tower jutted up from the cleanly cut grass, tower having various lights and antennae. Across from the tower was a hanger and a sort of makeshift office made out of several mobile homes. Classy indeed. Tax dollars at its finest besides the goons who just occupied space in the car. The car passed through two checkpoints, two gates, and was homefree inside the air strip. The jet started as soon as the car touched airport pavement.

"We're here," Announced driver. The car was parked close to the doors of the jet. An agent open the door for Ethan. "Please follow me into the jet."

Ethan followed cautiously. The multi-million dollar jet engines whirred idly just feet away out on those wings. Lucky for him those handy steps in the door made it easy to get in. He was seated across from another agent looking character and was told to fasten his seat belt. "This baby's new. She can fly like no tomorrow and fly like your on a cloud."

The first kindly words Ethan has heard since before he left home. And a few at school, possibly, from piteous classmates who want to show him around. He did fasten his seatbelt, nevertheless, and made himself comfortable. Tried to. More leather? He gave up the annoying process of sitting up straight and just slumped in the seat. The engines outside the cabin whirred to life and various radio references were called up from the cockpit. The jet engine then took off. Once in the air the agent sitting across from him offered him a bottle of water. "You look tired. Long day?"

Ethan took the bottle hesitantly and fingered the paper label. "Yeah. I guess." This agent seemed different from the other bafoons. He was older, in his mid fourties, with greying hair and kindly grey eyes. He flipped a newspaper open and held it up for himself to read.

"So where are you from?"

Ethan unscrewed the cap from the bottle and sniffed the water. Ozone-y. "I was born in Colorado."

"Colorado? You like that state?"

"It's not as good as... Alabama, but hey. It's 'home'."

A hum emoted from behind the newspaper briefly, and he flipped down the newspaper. His southern drawl came out especially with his name. "I'm Mr. Karle, by the way. And you must be..."

Ethan fingered the bottle cap. Shouldn't this agent know the answer? "Ethan."

"Ethan. Well. I'll make sure your comfortable. Your ride here was fine?"

Ethan shrugged. It could have been worse. "Yep."

Karle examined Ethan for a moment. He did not wear any sunglasses. They were stashed away in that black sport coat somewhere. "I see. If you need anything just ask for me, OK?"

"Ok."

The plane continued to trudge onward. Like Karle said, the ride was pretty nice and adequate. Ethan kept his gaze outside at the clouds darting by. Like bullets. Bullets?

"What exactly is going to happen to me?" Manners. "Mr. Karle?"

"We're just going to do some simple questioning, that's all. Nothing big."

Ethan stared at the newspaper blocking his view. "If its just simple questioning, then why am I going to travel away... Isn't there just some-"

Though Ethan's tone was a bit cautious and concerning in the way of attitude, Mr. Karle interrupted him. "Security reasons, Ethan. Who knows what else is out there that might just want to get you?" He flipped down a corner of the newspaper and smiled slightly. "Don't worry. This'll be over soon."

He just nodded. He slumped deeper into the chair and stared out at the window again.

Note: Lavadome II is located in Cement Mountain, Colorado

"Have you checked that radio lately?"

Simon dug it out of his oversized labcoat pocket. He pressed the earpiece to his ear and frowned. "Nothing."

Khalon looked up towards the peak of the mountain. With a sigh, he adds, "This is it."

"Are you sure?" Simon stepped up onto a small boulder and looked out across the land. "It's been over twenty-five years since the Dinosaucers used this place."

"Mmm. What Earth year is it?"

"Twenty-fifteen."

"From the photos I've seen this is it. It has to be. If it isn't then we might as well go back."

"You said you had extensive training?"

Khalon began to walk around with careful eyes looking at the slope of the mountain. "Yeah. More than the average because I was in the task-force. I learned about what the original task force actually did, and where there base of operations was. The more and more we walked on the more I recognized this place and I knew it to be Colorado."

Simon smirked. "Surprising isn't it? We just crash landed in the same state you wanted to get to."

Khalon walked on towards the tree line and entered the woods. He clicked the flashlight he had taken from Simon. "Yeah."

Simon followed Khalon. Since he obviously did not know the area, he just kept to keeping an eye on where Khalon was and an ear on the radio. Khalon searched on for quite some time even until the last faint rays of the sun had dissipated. Simon looked towards the west and remarked: "Beautiful. Last time I might see it."

"Not if we can't find the stupid entrance." Khalon grunted and kicked a lone pebble on the needle-infested ground.

A grin. "Heh. Wouldn't that be dandy if you could just kick some random rock like in the movies in anger, and it would all work out?"

"Heh... Yeah." They walked on for a few more yards until they came upon a large stone. The stone was very tall and acted as a foundation to keep the overhanging trees, roots, and dirt from sliding and possibly causing a mini-landslide. "Now this looks familiar. I never got to see a photo of the entrance but I got to know what the heck the door looks like."

Simon approached the almost flat stone. "Press something?" He pushed his palm against the surface of it. "Or mebbe..." He kicked his foot around the bottom but ended up with nothing. "Is there some kind of identity check system to get you in?"

Khalon stood there with arms crossed. "Mebbe. Worth a try." He placed his hand on the flat surface. It was cold and hard. Nothing happened. "Great."

"Try it in different spots."

Khalon tried putting both hands on the rock. Every time was unsuccessful. "I don't think a security system would feel that naturally real..." His eyes wandered. At the bottom edges were various small jutting rocks sticking up from the ground. "Mebbe if I stomp around it'll work." He tried stepping on one stone. Nothing. And the next. And the next one to that. Soon enough he came to the end, and was about to give up when Simon started to place two feet on two different stones. Khalon then idly pressed two other stones in a vain attempt... All the stones moved slightly and a creaky sound came from what it appeared to be inside the stone. Khalon took notice and pressed hard square in the center of the rock. A door suddenly gave way slightly. He had to lean with his entire body weight on it plus pushing with his feet to get it open. The door swung open and the anthrosaur stumbled inside. Simon followed after quickly. "Was it an order we pressed it?"

"I guess so. I dunno." Khalon shut the door and the rusty locks and mechanichisms sealed the door. Now they were in total darkness. "Flashlight." Click. The dim light illuminated the large passageway. The passageway had been cut into whatever rock and dirt was there evidently. There were chisel marks along the entrance passage; this eventually was covered by braces and supports to hold the dirt and rock in place as the tunnel went on; and finally the braces were plated with metal for walls. The passageway opened up to a second passageway circling around the main cavernous room; That passageway opened open completely in three areas to the main cavernous room. They went through the second passageway and into the main room. The flashlight could only shine so far. Darkness prevailed at the end of the flashlight beam. Upon entering, the two were met with a short and wide cylindrical structure in the center of the room. This structure was about two feet high and concrete colored. A smaller whiteish circle rested in a frame in the larger cylindrical structure. The center white circle was raised with a large number of small permanently mounted clamps along the tip of the edges. The white circle had walls of metal. Directly above this object was a sort of pod that appeared one could sit in. A control panel with dust-coated screen lie on a post connected to the chair in the pod. The pod was connected to a sort of arm and had all sorts of hydraulic tubing running from the forearm to the main arm and eventually up to the spherical shaped object up high above.

Khalon shone the flashlight but the distance was too much. He then aimed it to the surrounding area on the floor. Dozens of screens connected to even more equipment ran about the inner circumference of the enormous room, save for those three entrances connecting from the circular passageway around the main room. Several doors branched off from the circular passageway to who knows-what. The air was thick, old, and stale, and in some places there were rocks and dirt on the floor from the ceiling up high.

"Tidy looking bunch, eh?" Khalon commented. Simon just shrugged.

There were two groups of metallic doorsways; One had about four doors, and the other three. The doors were evenly spaced apart except for the three other doors. Those doors were located on the opposite side of the passageway across the main room. Two of the doors were placed normally like the ones opposite the large room, but the third was offset. It was placed as if the passageway continued on in a straight line, and was angled in perspective to the circling passageway. This door was also slightly smaller than the others and had a power bolt symbol on the door, and a manual crank of some sorts.

"Must be power," Simon said, tapping the symbol. He tried the crank but it didn't budge. "You try it. I'm not too good in the muscle department."

Khalon handed the flashlight to Simon and approached the slightly rusting door. He grabbed firmly on the two handles and turned the crank forceably. It creaked and groaned like it hadn't been used in many, many years. The two bars running in opposite sides of the door moved when the crank was turned. The door suddenly moved inward a few inches, creaking always, and Khalon was able to slide it into the wall. It slid with great effort. "I hope they got oil around here. Don't know if I could do that that much."

"Apparently you won't have to if we get any power online." Simon took the lead this time with flashlight. The narrow corridor led to a small but surprisingly clean room. No dirt or debris on the ground. Facing opposite to the entrance was a large cylindrical object tucked partially into the wall with it laying parallel to the wall. Two large hatches were locked down on it, and several lines of vents ran about it and on the hatches. Simon shone the flashlight elsewhere in the room. A large electrical-looking box was mounted in the wall. It had a large switch, with a sort of screen on the wall next to it. A single button lie next to the screen.

"This stuff is waaaay outdated." Khalon motioned for the light to be shown on the screen. "I remember talking to a tech officer... He said the little red button next to the screen always did the trick."

"You do the honors."

"Alrighty." The button was pressed. The screen suddenly flashed a dark green and a small meter popped up in the upper right corner. Some text in Reptilian popped up next to it with an outline of a battery. "Here we go. Should come up soon, mebbe." The meter fluctuated from empty, to full, and went still at the last bar. "Great. I hope that's enough to start the power system."

"What kind of system is it?"

"Fusion. Old fashioned kind. Apparently they must have rigged it from an old spaceship engine... That," Khalon said, pointing to the greenish cylindrical object. "Is definitely Dinosaucer space-ship grade."

Simon moved the flashlight beam to the electrical box. "So you just move that switch and the baby comes to life?"

"Mebbe." Khalon moved the switch to apparently was the 'on' position. Lights suddenly shone through the vents in the cylindrical object. The whitish-blue haze was enough to lighten the room. Simon pocketed the flashlight and grinned.

"Behold, its alive!"

The screen flickered again and information started to scroll on the screen. Khalon looked at it oddly. "Been a loong time since this has been run. It'll take a while for the batteries to charge up... If they work. Otherwise we'll just have to hope the generator stays online." He tapped a claw on some lettering on the lower part of the screen and a window popped up. "All these boxes represent... The different circuits."

Simon examined the screen. "Is this in your language?"

"Yep. Reptilian. Old-style though. The new Reptilian is what gives those on my home planet their distinguishing accent... Kinda annoying if you ask me."

"You mean it's been changed ever since the original task-force left Earth?"

"Apparently so." Khalon pressed some button on the screen. "That one's to turn all the circuits on. Should mean there's lights now."

And lights indeed were turned on. Something in the electrical box clicked, and emitted a constant whirr with the end result being lights turning on in the room. Both Khalon and Simon had to cover their eyes.

"Gosh that's bright!" Simon shut his eyes hard and felt for the wall. "I guess that's what you get for being in the dark."

Khalon was squinting. "Yeah. I guess."

It took the two a few minutes to actually be able to open their eyes partially. Once they were able to really see fine they left the room and went to the cavernous room. The lights revealed that the ceiling appeared to be open to the outside; but no air or whatever blew into the room. Just an array of stars and the moon shining overhead. Khalon looked up and around. "I hope that thing isn't really open."

Simon climbed up onto the whitish circle in the center of the room and hopped up into the small pod. "Guess there's only one way to find out!" He jiggled the joystick on the control panel and the arm connected to the pod moved. "Woah. Neat." The pod was maneuvered around some catwalk and up to the ceiling.

Khalon, on the other hand, was busy with the computers. He went to the largest screen in the room and reached underneath the large keyboard. Click. The screen glowed to life. "What's up there?"

"Just a giant screen." The 'screen' was actually a series of smooth metal plates connected in a wide semi-hemisphere shape. But some of the plates were missing, and dirt and rock showed through. The shadow of the small pod and arm was cast onto the ceiling. He looked over the edge and was met by a bright streaming light. A bright light emitted from the spherical object above where the arm of the pod connected to. He began to move the pod down. "It must be some kind of way to view the outside."

The large screen went black after the first glow and suddenly scrolled text like the small screen in the power room. The text was in Reptilian and was a glowing green. "Ancient technology." The text stopped scrolling and some sort of menu screen came up. "Sort of."

Simon was having a little trouble, on the other hand. The pod suddenly jolted to a stop. He tried moving the pod again with the joystick. "Hrmm. This might need some work." He tried again. It finally jolted free with a trailing of dust falling from the joint in the arm. "That doesn't look good..."

"Woah." Khalon was typing something on the computer. "A whole record log of what the original task-force did."

Simon hopped out of the pod once aground. "Really?" He approached the screen and frowned. "Still in Reptilian. I'm gonna have to learn that some time..."

Khalon pressed a button on the keyboard. "Here." The screen flickered into English. "That better?"

"Much. Go to the end of the logs."

"Alright." Another button was pressed. The last log opened up. Khalon scrolled through it and went to the bottom. "Looks like Teryx wrote this one. I thought Allo did all the log keeping since he was the head of the group."

"Teryx? Who's... he?"

"She. She was a tech officer. One of two I believe... I think she worked more with the computer systems than mechanical stuff." Khalon skimmed through the text and frowned. "Hrm."