Disclaimer:  No Esca.  Don't Sue.

Author's Note:  There is none.  Read.

Sisters till the End

This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther.  Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent! 

Chapter Fifteen:  Sneaky, Sneaky, Little Mouse

Naru, Era, and Puck emerged from Tandor's study slightly beaten and feeling very bad.  Their Lord had just heard of their tremendous failure and had, as Naru predicted, not been at all pleased.  After two hours of yelling and punishment they were released and now dragged their weary bodies towards the Medical Bay. 

"That was horrible," Era muttered, throwing herself up on a metal bed as Puck started the Bio-Scan Technology on her.  "I've never seen him that mad," Puck agreed, starting the Scan on Naru and then preparing on for her. 

The Bio-Scan Technology scanned their bodies for any mutation in their regular structure, whether genetic, virus, or physical, and repaired it through its re-genitive abilities.  It was perfectly painless but took a long time. 

Puck laid down on a metal bed besides Era as the Scan started.  "He really hates failure," she mused.

"Wouldn't you?"  Naru replied.  She had been very sour since being released from Tandor's study.  "He rescued all of us and gave us new lives and this is how we repay him.  With failure."

Instantly Naru's words made Era and Puck feel like a hundred pounds of shame and guilt had been dumped on them.  There was a long pause of silence between the three.  "What should we do?"  Era asked softly.  "We must redeem our failure in his eyes."

"You are so naïve Era," Puck said, her voice still soft.  "We lost Scott so we'll get him back."

"How?"

A mischievous grin lit up Naru's face.  She understood what Puck was saying.  "Era, you have a connection with Scott.  We'll just use your powers to persuade our wonderful little hero back into our arms."

"We don't know where he is-"

"Era, this is no time to be that gentle soul!"  Naru shouted.

Era narrowed her eyes.   No one yelled at her for her nature.  "Fine, you want Scott?  I'll get him for you," she said with sudden vigor in her voice.  Closing her eyes, she let her mind free from the bonds that had previously held it.  She could feel her mind spread across the room and hear the thoughts of her teammates around her.  No, Scoot, find him, she reminded herself, focusing on a picture of the man that they were to find.  With a sudden jolt from somewhere inside her stomach she felt her herself being drawn like water down a drain to somewhere. 

Pictures and smells popped up around her as if she was really flying over the world towards Scott.  Pine and fresh stream water filled her nostrils and as she opened her mind's eye she saw the massive greenery of a forest and the thin stream that wound itself around the trunks of the trees.  Another tug and suddenly she was descending and standing aside a sleeping woman, man, and Scott.  She raised an eyebrow as Scott was gagged and silently releasing himself from his bonds.

Walking over to him, she kneeled at his side and reached out, gently touching his head.  She could hear his thoughts echoing through her head as he worked, totally unaware of her presence in his mind.  Scott, she called silently, closing her eyes.  When she reopened them she found herself looking out of Scott's eyes.  Perfect, her link was still strong with him.  Scott, you're free, get out of here.  You don't want to stay with Kat or Coran.  They don't want to help you.  They want to take you away from the people who will help you.

There's something…

Yes, something about them that is warning you.  Listen.  Run away.  Head West and keep going.  Run back to the Stars.  Run.

It didn't take more then that to get Scott to agree.  His mind was so soft and vulnerable to probing and suggestions that it took no more then a little push and a small tug to get him to agree.  Such a gentle mind, she thought as she slowly began to close up her mind and return to her body.  Too bad no one else will ever see it.

The night was filled with its usual sounds that had become a custom to honor.  Its steady rhythm was only broken by the choppy sounds of Kat and Coran's breathing.  That was how he knew that he had a chance. 

Honoring the silence of the night, Scott worked and worked and after much defeat was finally able to coax the bonds around his wrists off and take rest in the soft dirt that he had once occupied.  Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard a voice telling him something.  Part of him wanted to reject that voice and run far away from it, to hide in the depths of his mind, away and safe from the voice.  Yet for some reason he felt himself rise and sneak away from the sleeping forms of his saviors. 

Bushes, trees, and grass all blended together as he ran across the forest towards the voice, his insides turning as he ran.  He had to get to the voice.  Mind muddled and feet pumping, it wasn't very long before Scott himself was lost in the heavy breathing of him and the smell of the night air.  Maybe it was the night playing tricks on his dormant mind but… was he hearing someone following him? 

He stopped and looked around. There was a flash of black-where had it come from?  He had seen it but where was it?  A predator was stalking him and he couldn't even figure out where it had gone.  Panic began to take over but was soon soothed.

Stopping was not a thing he should have done.

Looking over to his shoulder in a slight daze he saw a thin wooden straw protruding from his shoulder.  Before he had time to think or react he felt his legs buckle and his body falling forward.  Mind falling into a cloud of darkness he felt his body hit the ground.  Something jumped out at him before he fell into a deep sleep and that was a glimpse of gold and black… 

Author's Note:  Oh!  Just when you thought things were predicable!   A new person comes out and bam!  They're got Scott.  Amazing.  So, review and you get the next chapter faster!

~The Shadow That Takes Form as a Kat~

~~ShadowKat~~