THE CYCLE OF AGES

A NEW WORLD ORDER

Part 3

Here lies a toppled god
His fall was not a small one
We did but build his pedestal-
A narrow and a tall one.

- Tleilaxu epigram


It was a small unassuming house in the middle of nowhere.

It was here that the fates of nations and peoples were decided, and it was here that forgotten truths remained recorded. Outside the house, it was brisk, and flurries of snow fell, adding to the thin crust of white that threatened to enshroud the world. Shielding his eyes against a brief gust of wind, a lone figure in a traveling cloak approached the humble abode, pushing open an old wooden gate attached to a small fence. He expected it to creak, but it was surprisingly well maintained, and made no sound.

Answering an unspoken summons, Nail pushed forward.

Holding his thick cloak tight against his chest, he stepped up onto the front porch. Behind him, a small brass-colored wind chime swayed and made little noises. Otherwise, it was quiet. There was a visible chimney attached to the house, but no smoke, and no lights or apparent electricity. He reached for the door knob, but reigned in his impatience, and knocked.

Only a few seconds later, the door began to open. What slowly revealed itself as the home's owner proved to be an elderly vulpine, in a dark blue cloak. He was wholly unremarkable in all physical aspects, for a mobian fox of his apparent age, from his coloring, to his snow-white beard. He wore an unusual rosary around his neck, but otherwise there seemed nothing truly unique to this individual.

Nail was about to apologize for the interruption, when the fox smiled, slyly.

"Come in. We have much to discuss, you and I." Something in his pale blue eyes unnerved the young echidna. "And… you want to know where your mentor is, don't you?"

Nail blinked in surprise. "How do you know…"

"You're letting in cold air. Please. Come in." The fox stepped aside, and motioned for his guest to do just that. Nail gave the old mobian a quick look, and took two steps forward. A doormat at his feet read:

'Cleanliness is Next to Godliness.'

Nail quickly removed his wet sandals, made of woven straw. They were largely heel-less, hand made in the 'ashinaka' style that the Lost Tribe of Echidna had picked up somewhere on their long exile. Next, he hung up his traveling coat, and felt firsthand the warmth of the cozy little cabin in the woods. And, though he had seen no smoke outside, a roaring fire in a richly fed fireplace snapped and crackled. Inside, everything seemed to be of well-carved hardwood, and an impressive library held a storehouse of written knowledge.

Moreover, there was something dreamlike about the place.

"You want to see Athair, don't you?" the old vulpine asked, and ail pivoted to face him.

"Who are you?" Nail asked, and his host just smiled amiably. "What is it about this place?"

"The reason you feel at ease here, Nail… is because this is the home your inner spirit is returning to. For the first time. As for myself…" The fox gave a polite inclination of his head. "I am Merlin."

"Merlin." Nail looked up at the ceiling, and took in a deep breath of air. It tasted cool, and sweet. Still, he could not let himself become so enraptured by the atmosphere and the palatable aura of the place that he forgot his reason for coming here. Or at least the reason he believed had drawn him here, out to the heart of nowhere.

"Where is Athair?" the echidna clone asked. "Is he alright?"

"Turn around and see for yourself." Merlin gestured, and Nail slowly turned. To his amazement, he saw Athair sitting in a large recliner by the fire, his eyes closed. Nail approached cautiously. He didn't know how the chair had suddenly become occupied, but it was. Athair looked as he always did. His simple sandals were off his feet, but his spines were still beaded, and his wrinkled face had a neutral expression. Nail watched, as his mentor took a deep breath.

"He's alive…" Nail reached out, and placed a hand on Athair's shoulder, as if testing the reality before him. "Is this really him? He looks fine, but what happened? And how did I know to come here?"

Merlin walked past him, and sat down on another chair, facing the fire.

"My old friend slumbers within the Master Emerald," Merlin said, and motioned towards the old style wooden sofa between the two chairs. "Please. Sit."

Nail seemed to think about it for a few seconds, before taking the offered spot. "Thank you. For taking care of him. But… what do you mean, he slumbers within the Master Emerald?"

Merlin closed his eyes and frowned in displeasure. He slowly leaned back, rapping his knuckles against the armrest. "The issue of the Angel Island Emeralds, including this new Master Emerald, has always been of deep concern to me. It is both the boon and curse of the Guardians, and it had caused them great joy and terrible sadness in equal measure. Now… is one of those sad times."

Merlin opened his eyes, ad looked right at the sleeping Athair.

"Athair always taught you that power corrupts. Power is also, unfortunately, the only means to perpetuate any cause, good or bad. The Master Emerald, tool for good and evil in the past, has returned to its true master and source. It is an extension of an evil and remorseless will, and it will corrupt all it touches, without exception."

"Then Athair is fighting this corruption?" Nail guessed. "Fighting it in the dream time?"

Merlin smiled a little more. "Yes. You have learned well from him. And he has taught you much While I tend to Athair's physical form, his Dream Body is in the Master Emerald as we speak, rallying and supporting its lone defender, its sole remaining champion. You see, it was I who sealed this evil away, and it was I who realized that, despite my efforts, it would return. Sooner or later, it would return, and reclaim its accursed throne."

"To that end…" Merlin sighed, sadly. "To that end, I enlisted the aid of those who could serve me in the preservation of the world against the endless hunger and hatred of the Devourer. The Emeralds would always be a threat, so I searched far and wide for some means to control them, and temper them. I found that answer in the heart of a young girl, who, surrounded by the ravages and depredations of war, maintained an innocence and purity of heart so rare even in the best of times. Her name was Tikal."

"Tikal?" Nail recognized the name immediately. "The spirit within the Master Emerald?"

"The same. Centuries ago, I sealed her within it, along with the Chaos Guardian I had originally constructed to discourage the abuse of the original Master Emerald. Her soul, her spirit, her purity remained within the Master Emerald for all the long years. When it split, she became split into seven versions, all weaker than the original. Whe, just recently, the Master Emerald was reformed…" Merlin shook his head. "She did not reform, as I hoped. She remained fragmented, and because of this unforeseen situation, she has no longer proven able to counteract the Devourer's influence."

Nail tried to grasp all of what his host had said. It bespoke of power, abilities, magics, far beyond anything he had heard of before. The somber, elderly face of the vulpine belied (if he was telling the truth), an ancient and powerful being, like nothing ever recorded. If even half of what this Merlin said was true, he sat in the presence of a creature of subtle and terrifying power… Nail knew, instantly, to tread lightly, despite the apparent frankness and gentility of his host.

"You… used… Tikal to keep the Master Emerald pure. Is that right?" Nail asked, slowly.

"I used her, yes." Merlin's smile faded a bit. "As I must. I am a being that can afford to do nothing out of charity. My purpose is to have purpose, to create purpose."

Nail tried not to frown. "So you and this 'Devourer' play your games, and use innumerable lives as pawns? If you used Tikal, then I'd be willing to bet you've done the same to Athair, to the other Guardians, to Walkers-knows how many others. Why not just be done with it? You said you sealed this enemy of yours before, right?"

"Yes. But I may not be able to do so again." Merlin explained, "Understand: I do not know if I can seal the Devourer once more, and the Devourer does not know either. That is what keeps him from acting more openly and personally. For creatures like ourselves, we must gauge our actions very carefully, for they may move mountains and the fates of nations. The risk of my failure, the risk of my undoing centuries of planning in the name of idealism, fairness, or honor… that is the height of foolishness."

"Athair knew," Nail said it, as fact, knowing in his heart the truth.

"Athair has a kind heart as well, but in time he understood my truth. I believe you will to, when he passes on and you succeed him." Merlin turned slightly, and reached for a metal rod near the fireplace. Taking it, he poked the flames a few times, creating a small cloud of embers that drifted down to the bottom of the fireplace well.

"Why am I here?" Nail asked, simply. "Do you want me to enter the Dream Time and fight in the Emerald, too?"

Merlin smirked. "No, Nail. That is not something you can do. Athair can enter the Emerald Realm because he is a Guardian. A guardian who has forsaken his Brotherhood for a lonely road, but one of that bloodline regardless."

"But… I'm part of that bloodline too. You must know that." Nail gritted his teeth. "I'm a clone of Knuckles… our DNA is identical! I've seen the tests!"

"The Guardian bloodline is about more than genetics." Merlin, finished with the fire, again turned his full attention to Nail. "Didn't you ever wonder why your creators considered you a failure?"

"I know why." Nail took a deep breath, and calmed himself. Remembering those times, that place, those faces, still brought back intense and unwanted feelings. "They wanted a weapon, a mobian who could use Chaos Energies. It was based off of the same experiment that created Shadow, I think. They knew about Knuckles and the other Guardians, and believed that a clone of Knuckles would have all his natural abilities."

"Mastermind… and Mya… they created me." Nail ran his hand over the headscarf that covered the scars and other metal remembrances that remained fused to his skull. "They installed knowledge in me, told me I was their tool. Their weapon for Revenge. Told me I had to obey."

"And you did, didn't you?" Merlin drove the point home. "But you never could harness Chaos Energy. Not like Knuckles. Not like Shadow."

Nail's hand fell to his lap. "No…"

"Then there was that last mission. But it took longer than anyone expected, didn't it? And during that mission to kill Sonic, Tails, and the rest of the Freedom Fighter leadership, you began to regain your free will, as your body developed an immunity to the submission agent you had always been pumped full of. You realized you couldn't go back. You realized that no matter what you did, you would always be the failure. Your conscience kept you from doing what they wanted, and your fear kept you from going back."

Merlin looked at Nail closely, as the emotions played across the echidna's face.

"You wandered, and wandered, until Athair found you, took you in, and gave you purpose. You have served him well since then, and through him, you have done as I wished as well. Please. Do not feel betrayed. Athair cared for you as a father cares for his son, and despite appearances, I care for all those who I grant… favor."

Nail felt something rise up within him, unbidden. He looked down, and saw his hands glowing. He willed it down, but the ethereal flames did not fade. Suddenly, he understood, and looked up at Merlin with wide eyes.

"Yes, Nail," Merlin said, his eyes half lidded. "Now you understand. You never drew your power from the Master Emerald. You never could, because that is a right passed down by both spirit and blood, down the Guardian lineage. You were not conceived by a Guardian, so you forever lack that essential spirit which ties you to the Emerald. The keys to the Emerald Realm are passed directly from parent to sire at the moment of creation."

"What lies within you…" Merlin spoke more loudly now. "Is my power!"

"Impossible…" Nail looked down at himself, for some sign, some indication.

"You will not find the Emerald tied to your body sticking out like some obscene tattoo. Give an old man more credit and subtlety than that. I have long since learned the means to mask the appearance of my gifts, so as to be almost invisible. Almost undetectable. In fact, you have already met another of my assistants in this noble enterprise." Merlin held out his hand, and the image of a black ring appeared, slowly spinning. "Does it look familiar, Nail?"

"Tempest's Ring!" Nail gasped. "Then he was using it all along?"

"Huh." Merlin closed his hand, and the ring disappeared. "Hardly. The ring binds him to me, and to my will, but that one has no idea how to use it, or its power. The kitsune were created to be both ignorant of and alien to the notion of Chaos Energy. They are not wholly immune to its influence, as are the humans and overlanders, but their disbelief and inherent rigidity serve just as well."

"You used us to train Tails… Miles. You used us both," Nail said it, and didn't hide his ire.

"I did what was necessary. You are and were Tempest's counterpoint. I would use him now, too, but he is already occupied by my Two Legacies. You will do. And as for Miles, things with the Chosen One did not go exactly as I had planned, but for the most part, they went well."

"Well? They went well!" Nail replied, and balled his fists. "How can you say that?"

Merlin sighed, a little loudly. "This is not the time for debate. I have clarified the situation and explained why you are as you are. If you no longer wish this gift, I understand… and if you desire it, I will remove my power from your shell of a body. You will then be able to go about your life without it, and without the purpose it brings."

"I can see why you approve of how Miles turned out." Nail said, after a few moments silence. "You two are so alike, now."

"I won't deny it," Merlin replied, quickly.

Nail fumed for a few more seconds, and then relaxed. "If I cannot enter this Emerald Realm, then why am I here?"

Merlin looked over at Athair, and then back to Nail.

"Six of the Seven Tikals have been killed. The last one, aided by Athair, fights on in the Emerald Realm. They delay the inevitable. Soon, the Master Emerald will become wholly corrupted." Merlin paused, let that sink in, and then continued. "So, finally, the Master Emerald must be destroyed."

"Destroyed?" Nail asked, trying to imagine that. "But Angel Island…"

"Will Fall." Merlin nodded. "Yes. However, its location out at sea will minimize the damage. Angel Island has fallen before. This will be the last time. It will never fly again."

"And the Guardians?" Nail asked.

"The Guardians… can not be worse off than they are already." Merlin watched Nail as he mulled over all that had been said. "This must be done, before the corruption infects all of Angel Island. Before it becomes a permanent outpost of the Devourer."

Nail saw a remarkable thing then: he saw desperation in Merlin's features. That, more than anything, sent a silent chill down the echidna's back. He did not know who or what this Devourer was, but it put fear and disgust into the heart of this Merlin, and the thoughts of a creature capable of that was truly terrifying. Nail then looked over at Athair, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

He faced Merlin. "How do I do it?"

"The Master must be taken to the Grand Aurorium," Merlin explained. "The Church worships… an old lover of mine. A wife I had, for a brief century. She was a great and kind soul, a being of empathy, understanding and power. She bore my gifts, and became well known as a Priestess. After her death, the echidna took to worshipping her. She walks in the beyond, in the Deepest Dream Time as Athair calls it. Not the nothingness of death, but the spirit realm where the greatest Chaos Adepts linger."

Merlin spoke with a sense of urgency. "Take the corruption to the heart of her influence. There, I believe she will empower Tikal and purge the taint. I expect the Devourer will do everything short of showing up himself to stop this, when he realizes what I have planned. Fortunately, his sealing was long before Aurora herself was born. He will not realize the danger before it is too late."

Nail stood. "If you have pawns in this little game, I expect this Devourer will, too."

"Yes. But they have already suffered losses. And…" Merlin smirked again. "And I have stronger pieces still on the board."

Nail frowned. "I can't say I like all this. But… I've been thinking about what Tails, no: Miles, said. He told me I was a coward for not using my power. In a way, he was right. I don't want to be known for the power, and for the destruction, I can unleash. I don't want to have to fall back on it time and time again. I don't want to become like you… or Miles. But at the same time, I have a responsibility to use the power I have, this so called 'gift' you've given me. So I'll do this. I'll do what has to be done."

"Good boy. I knew you would." Merlin also stood, and the two walked back to the door. Nail quickly slipped on his sandals, and then his traveling cloak. He reached for the door, and quickly opened it, but instead of a blast of cold wind, and a snowed in countryside, he saw a busy metropolis. Buildings reached to the sky, and aircraft flew high overhead.

"Echidnapolis…" he whispered. He looked over his shoulder, where Merlin wore an amused smile.

"I thought you're appreciate being close to the action." Merlin gave him a gentle push, and Nail stepped out into the world. He still had difficulty grasping his sudden change in location. By the outside, it looked like the door led into the side of an otherwise mundane apartment building.

"Remember…" Merlin spoke up. "The Master Emerald must be destroyed, in whatever form it has taken!"

Nail nodded. "I understand."

"Do you?" Merlin pivoted, and closed the door behind him, as he disappeared back into the house. "Of that, we shall see…"


Far from Echidnapolis, on the opposite end of Angel Island, beyond the Ice Cap Mountains, Prince Charmy of Goldenhive watched as his engineers swarmed over the beached hull of his newest prize. They were back behind friendly lines, and while the echidna had cruise missiles that could reach all the way into Goldenhive territory, the regional point defense barrier shield offered effective immunity from attack. Yes, here he could allow himself to smile, and savor his victory.

Sitting to overflowing in one of the drydocks adjacent to the mazelike arcology that was Goldenhive itself, the EDS Manifest Destiny awaited refitting and rearming. He did frown when he remembered how the crew had fought to the last man, despite his orders that any who surrendered would be kept honorably as prisoners of war. In the end, they had fought and died. Perhaps, Charmy realized, they had panicked at the apparent ferocity and brutality of the Goldenhive warrior caste. To his sadness, he realized that it would be difficult to foster an image that would encourage the enemy to surrender, instead of fight.

It didn't help that all the other Hives indulged their warrior caste, and let them run amok. There had been much loss of life both at the Shipyards, and among the townships in the path of the Xialjyet Armada. Charmy did not wish their deaths in any way, and he had been careful in his wording to his troops, knowing that they took everything their Prince said literally. Even after telling them to be lenient and only defend themselves and their mission objectives, the civilian death toll had been rather atrocious.

Charmy exhaled, and shook his head in sadness.

He was sorry that things had to be that way, but at the same time he tried to comfort himself with the fact that, in time, the war would be over, and there would be peace. For both Xialjyet and Echidna. If his plan continued on course, he would be the architect of that peace, ad maybe some of his peers would even come to understand why he did what he did. However, Charmy did not hold out much hope in that particular department.

A breeder in a hardhat approached. As usual, she did not bow. She knew her place in the Hive, as did Charmy, and never deviated from that purpose. While the royalty of the Hives did dress extravagantly, compared to their subjects, displays of wealth and power were wholly different than displays of submission or dominance.

"We have completed our examination of the ship and her systems, Prince." The breeder who spoke was of particularly high standing within the Hive, and so they both felt comfortable with her calling him by his title.

"Go on," Charmy prompted.

"Well, as expected, her electronics are very advanced. The control interfaces are strange to us, but as you demonstrated in flying her here, my Prince, we can adapt and learn to use them. It will be some time before we are able to fully secure and bypass all the echidna control locks, to free up the weapons systems and the incomplete shield. Much of the armor is also missing, so we will have to manufacture and add that ourselves."

Charmy nodded. "Good. Good. Based on the output of the engines, can we graft our newest tank armor onto the hull?

"I believe so, my Prince." The engineer offered a small smile. "Our organic-crystalline lattice armor is much lighter than the layered metal-ceramic armor the echidna and dingo prefer. Grafting the entire hull with a mesh skin will take some time, however, at least two weeks. Then we will need to feed the armor, and let it grow in. That may take as long as three weeks."

"You have a month," Charmy replied, and the engineer bowed her head in acquiescence.

"I… will assign more drones to the grafting procedure," the breeder explained, though Charmy doubted that was all she'd have to do to meet his demands. Still, she would do her utmost to meet his deadline, and that was what mattered. Even if it was not met, it would be close.

"And the weapons?" Charmy asked. "Please do not tell me we will have to reinstall our own."

"The missile bays and hanger are all empty, my Prince. We will have to stock them with our own devices. The main weapons, the plasma cannons, we can charge, outfit, and have ready within two weeks. The laser interceptor grid, however, is incomplete. Only three out of the nine emplacements are operational. The others are incomplete, and I believe it would be best to remove them entirely and put in some of our own weapons systems: perhaps two rotary organic missile launchers and four heavy flak cannon. This will also free up more power for the shields and main guns."

"Do it. As I said, you have a month. By then, I want to be able to take it anywhere on this Island." Charmy crossed his arms and turned his head to face his hard won prize. "The Manifest Destiny is the key to our victory in the war. Use whatever resources we have available to get it ready. Without that ship… we have no future. This island has no future."

"It will be done, my Prince!" The breeder turned and quickly went back to work supervising the drones. Charmy closed his eyes, and imagined his ship. His Armada. With the heavy airships Manifest Destiny, the Spirit of Gold, the Golden Way, the Gold Prince, and soon the Golden Chariot all under his direction, supported by the smaller escort craft, he would be the undisputed master of the skies. He would dictate fair terms to the echidna, and he would oversee the creation of a fair and lasting peace on the island. With his all powerful air fleet, the finest in the world, even the other members of the Quaz Xialjyet would dare not oppose him.

If he had to cut the heads off the echidna government to save the echidna people, then it would be done. If he had to decapitate the leadership of the other Hives, then it would be done. He even dared to hope, to dream, of a United Angel Island – Xialjyet, Echidna, and maybe even Dingo along with all the other minor races, all working as members of a true Pan-Island Super State! What better way to atone for the lives lost in an inevitable war, than to create a long, lasting, and orderly post-war peace?

"Yes!" Charmy felt confident, and full of energy. "By the gods… it will be done!"


To most, the northlands seemed an endless expanse of forest, tundra, or ice, depending on where you looked. In one particular stretch of thick forest, miles from any apparent sign of civilization, a small cluster of buildings rose in contrast to the woods that extended in every direction.

Thandothane, Ephor Anthal Tukaido, sniffed distastefully at the air.

"This place smells too new, I think." He crossed his thickly muscled arms over his chest, a perpetual scowl on his face. He was fairly old for a kitsune, having seen over forty summers and winters. Like most kitsunes, he wore thick leather and hide boots than reached up to his knees. He also wore, in addition to a leather belt, a thick bandoleer up and over his left shoulder. Looking around, Thandothane's nose twitched, and the long braids of hair that trailed down to his shoulders swayed, accentuating his smallest movements.

"I agree, my lord. It is a shame the Jel'Arah had no adequate facilities already constructed for this task," one of Thandothane's aides agreed, eagerly.

"Eh." The Tukaido Lord snorted, and kept walking. "I do look forward to when we take our leave, prizes in hand. Hopefully we can do so under the noses of the Vidar, as well."

"The Vidar are short sighted. Their Ephor dallies without a care…"

"Be silent, you worm." Thandothane never raised his voice, but the other kitsune immediately bowed his head and backed away. The leader continued walking, at a leisurely pace. "You do not know Tempest, so do not speak as if you do. He is… curious. And that is a dangerous and unbecoming trait in a Vidar. Just as bad as all that, he is strong. Stronger than any other Ephor Anthal save myself, or possibly Tae-Uhl."

"My Liege?" The other kitsune, large and well built as he was still cowered at a respectful distance.

"Yes. I have a feeling Tempest will start sniffing around and interfere. Especially if our prizes are not ready by the next moon. He will come here and investigate, or worse: attempt to waylay us on the trip back to Tukaido territory." Thandothane paused, and looked around carefully. "There are too many kitsune here. Too many we do not know."

A patrol of female kitsune, wearing full armor and war gear, marched by.

The two males watched them with some wariness. Kitsune typically dressed for the hunt, not for war. Each of the females moved with balance and precision, making hardly a sound in their chain mail and polymetal plate, called Afet or Female Armor. It was a rather rare sight, even for a clan leader of twenty years. Females practiced in it, but rarely around males, drilling and training amongst themselves.

It consisted of a full-length mail hauberk, worn beneath a sleeveless linen robe, which ran from the shoulders down to the calves (where they extended just over soft leather traveling boots). A single sheet breastplate (or cuirass) further protected the torso, and was molded to replicate the covered curves of a female body, in addition to being decorated with brass inlays around the collar and abdomen. In this lone respect, the armors were different, reflecting individualized styles and tastes. Flanged pauldons covered the shoulders and protected the neck, while forearm and hand guards, simple leather bracers with metal on the outer facing, did the same to the arms. Weapons were tied securely to leather belts around the female's waists, but remained partially obscured by the camoflage pattern cloaks attached to the armor at the shoulders. The females were relaxed but alert, and went about without helms of any sort.

All three carried both polearms, compressed and attached to the belts at their waists, and their leader also carried a single Al Hasad: it was a firearm, almost five feet long and twenty pounds in weight: large and heavy, but extremely powerful. Outside races would have referred to it as an anti material rifle, but the kitsune used it as their standard weapon in times of real war.

As powerful as Thandothane knew he was, as he had to be as Ephor Anthal of an entire clan of warriors, he held no illusions. A single shot from an Al Hasad would end his life, along with that of virtually anything else on the planet it happened to hit. He knew how to use one, but it was generally considered to be a female weapon. It was not in any way a tool of the hunt.

"Do you suppose they know what is happening here, Ephor?" Thandothane's aide asked, a little timidly.

"Doubtful," the older kitsune replied. "El'Arah just has them marching around protecting the place. He wouldn't have them knowing that they are guarding their… well, suffice to say that it would be far too ironic for a toddler like Jel'Arah's Ephor Anthal Enir."

"Still. I worry, my Liege," the aide walked a little faster, catching up to his leader. "What if they found out?"

"Even if they did, there is nothing they could do about it. It is not their place to question their Ephor, and… if they are so weak as to be fall by the wayside then they deserve to fade into extinction."

"Will it really come to that?"

"No… not for many lifetimes. After all, there are only so many Newtypes and that is assuming they're all equally viable. But in the end, strength is all that matters. And the boost in strength this will bring my blood… I do not believe the throne of Siphir, of Emperor, is beyond reach."

"As you say, my Liege."

The two walked on, paying no heed to two other armored females that seemed to also be having a quiet conversation at a duty post. The two females watched then with both eyes and ears, and became quiet. Thandothane and his assistant disappeared around the bed of one of the larger structures, and one of the females made as if to follow them. The other held her back.

"Not yet," she whispered.

The other didn't seem as composed. "Didn't you hear what they said about my Ephor Enir?"

"Feh! Don't be foolish. That quip about your leader's son is hardly what has me worried." The calmer of the two let go of the other's shoulder. "They mentioned a 'Newtype,' whatever that is. By what they said, it seems almost as if they are conducting Blood Research."

"Blood Research is forbidden." The other returned. Her red hair, tied back into a braid, swished behind her armored shoulders. "My Ephor would not be involved in such a thing!"

"I wouldn't think so either. I have met Tae-Uhl, and this is not his style… however, they did not mention your Ephor Anthal, did they? They spoke only of his Heir, of El'Arah. And I cannot speak for his tastes or schemes."

"But…"

"Take off those rose colored glasses, would you, Kae'a? Ephors and the like are strong, but not infallible. Being the sister of one, I know firsthand about this sort of thing."

"I… suppose. You may be right, Chara." Kar'Arah furrowed her brows at the thought of her leaders, as strong as they were, behaving in a way contrary to the best interests of the Clan. "Still… Shouldn't we follow them? Try and hear more?"

"I wouldn't risk it. Thandothane was looking around like a wary rabbit. He's never met me, personally, but I don't want to risk his connecting my scent to Tempest's. And I don't want him asking the Lady of the Guard about the strange Vidar in their midst."

"But your cover story? About being mated to one of the Jel'Arah in my village…" Kae began to argue, but Chara cut her off.

"Will not hold up if they actually contact the village to confirm the fact. Your mother and father will have to tell her the truth, and then.. I don't even know what then. Just keep a low profile for now. We'll find out more in all due time."

Kae'Arah seemed to find this convincing, and she stood down, her lithe frame relaxing visibly. She looked around quickly, making sure no one else was close enough to be eavesdropping. She couldn't believe she was even doing this. Tempest and his sister had convinced her to help them investigate possible 'overlander infiltration' of the area, and she agreed after a fashion, but it still felt wrong.

Even after some of the other females set to guard the place began mumbling amongst themselves about strange goings-on, Kae resisted the very thought of placing blame on her honorable Ephor and his son. Surely, it would be the plot of some highborn nobles or the like, but not the highest power in the land. It was worrying.

She and Chara had arrived three days ago, and informed the Lady of the Watch, one Tania-Uhl Na' Jel'Arah, that they had heard of openings within the local guard from nearby villages. This was believable enough. Nearby villages had been stripped of many females to guard this new complex of buildings, and while there were was no more need for guards, the Lady let them stay ad serve their Clan. It was the duty and honor of all kitsune females to defend their territory, and turning them back, when they were obviously qualified and not needed elsewhere, would have been an insult.

The population here was of mixed genders, but it was no village.

There were no youngsters or children, nor did the buildings follow the Traditional and typical organization of a kitsune village, large or small. The game in the region was not plentiful, so the complex actually imported food from elsewhere – something almost unheard of among the normally self-sufficient kitsune communities. The buildings, too, were of permanent construction, being made of metal, concrete and mortar. Kitsune had permanent buildings, of course, usually temples, shrines and meeting halls, but not many, and almost never so many in a single place.

At first, Kae had thought this to be a new temple complex of some sort. The Fa'Rah, far to the north, were very fond of temple complexes in which to explore their spirituality, and all the Clans had a handful within their lands. However, the Elders here did not seem to be priests and the buildings had none of the Traditional trappings of kitsune holy places. This place was something different altogether and two days ago there had actually been rumors of a male war party (within Clan lands, no less!), leading hooded prisoners in under cover of darkness.

Kae let out a soft sigh. "I always wanted a little excitement… but this was not quite what I meant."

Chara looked back at her, and brushed aside a lock of dark hair. She reached back, and fiddled with her makeshift braid. It was a hairstyle popular in most clans' female population, but Chara preferred to keep her pitch black hair free. Still, here, keeping it braided helped her blend I more, so that was how it was.

"We'll have our chance for some real fun soon enough," Chara promised.

"When Tempest arrives?" Kae asked, even though she knew it was the answer. "I feel some shame in admitting it will be a relief when he does."

"No shame in it," Chara replied. "No dishonor. With him here, we at least have something to fall back on. And for all Thandothane's bluster, I know Tempest can defeat him, should it come to a challenge."

Kae was somewhat torn between her instinctive desire to defend her own clan leader, who Chara seemed to have written off as a non-factor in any coming fight. Her tails bristled a bit, and she smirked. "I would not underestimate El'Arah, either. Tempest spoke highly of Tae-Uhl, and El is his father's son."

Chara didn't reply right away, but waited a few seconds before answering.

"Tae-Uhl is very strong. I have seen him spar with my brother. Tae also has the memories of eight generations of his forefathers within him, if I remember correctly. Have you considered that maybe he is… too strong? You El'Arah, I mean."

"What?" Kae did actually grasp what Chara implied, but didn't like the conclusion it forced her to draw. "You can't mean that!"

"Keep your voice down." Chara hissed. "I'm just speculating. That's all."

"You call my Ephor Anthal Enir weak…"

"No. I call your Ephor Anthal too strong. Do you know what happened to Thandothane's heir? Did Tempest ever tell you?"

"No… Why? What does that matter?"

"Kae – you're almost too provincial for your own good." Chara sighed. "Listen. Thandothane is old, isn't he? Old to be unmated?"

"I… I suppose so." Kae agreed.

"He has not been a bachelor all his life. He had a mate and an heir, up till five years ago. Tempest tells me that they mated during his Turan'Ha, and seemed quite close, though he only knew her in her later years. Her name was Miranha, and Thandothane's son was named Thayen. I never knew her, but I did know Thayen, because he was one of my suitors back then. He was a good male, and very strong. He could have Claimed me, back then, but he wanted to become Ephor Anthal first. He trained hard, and went home to challenge his father."

"He should have waited. He should have trained harder." During the story, Chara took on a hurt look, and lowered her eyes. "Thandothane killed him. Tore out his throat at the first opportunity."

Kae was shocked. It wasn't unheard of for fathers to kill sons in the duels that typically ended the other way around – it was the risk all children took during the sire killing ceremony. But if the child was still too weak, the parent was expected to spare him or her, so that they could grow stronger for the next attempt.

"By your tone…" Kae cautiously began to ask, "Were you thinking about him?"

"I was. At the time." Chara shook her head, and ran a hand through her hair. "He was strong and honorable. There was no reason to kill him. Not like that. Not so suddenly, as they tell it."

"I'm sorry," Kae said it, and meant it.

"I've hated Thandothane since then… and so has Tempest. He's a devil in kitsune skin. Before his son's corpse was even cold, they say he blamed Thayen's weakness on his mother. He killed her, too. But… while I know Tae-Uhl is an honorable Ephor, he is strong. As strong as Thandothane, if not more so. If, like Thayen, El'Arah is not strong enough to defeat his father, as some kitsune sires always are, then maybe he has decided to find some other way? A way forbidden by Tradition, and the Council of Elders?"

"Blood Research…" Kae used the kitsune phrase for genetics, a science forbidden by the most ancient laws. Not to say that all genetic research was forbidden, but only that which involved the kitsune genome. That, almost above all else, was taboo. Kae, like all good kitsune, never wondered why, or who had thought up that Tradition. She just obeyed it, as her ancestors had for thousands of years.

"I know. The thought that they may be… experimenting with kitsune in there… it turns my stomach. It violates Tradition. And if they are, then I swear, I will help my brother burn this accursed place to the ground." Chara still spoke softly, even then. A few seconds later, but a respectable distance away, three more females marched, weary of any potential intrusion, but ignorant to the one (or two) already in their midst.

Kae saw the patrol, too. "Let's go. We've lingered here too long."

Chara nodded in agreement, and the two quietly moved on.


Station Square was noisy.

And so was GUN headquarters.

Rouge's ears flattened slightly, just as much as they could, while she waited in line. She was a loner by nature, by preference, by design. She liked the city and all its conveniences well enough, but sometimes the sheer number of conversations and noises overwhelmed her. This was especially acute among the humans that surrounded her, with their own poor hearing and loud voices.

"Rouge?"

Rouge smiled at her partner. "Sorry. What was that?"

"I was just saying, you should consider a commission. I know you like being freelance, but the higher ups want to see a commitment before they make a serious investment." Topaz took a few steps forward in the lunch line, and picked out a salad prong under the buffet's sneeze guard. There was a wide variety of foodstuffs available for GUN agents and those who worked with them. Rouge watched as Topaz selected the seaweed salad, and doled some out onto her plate, next to a small side of baked fish. Rouge's own plate had several slices of what the humans called sashimi.

As a general rule, she had to avoid leafy matter. Later at night, there was always the temptation of a bloody steak, but that was indulged infrequently. Though, Rouge did wonder what salads tasted like, she knew from personal experience it would upset her stomach, so she stuck with her Source-given dietary needs. Topaz had no such restrictions, and Rouge had, over the months, seen her consume an amazing variety of foods.

It was one of the benefits of being a human, she supposed.

"I think I've done enough for this city to be given a better place to live, Topaz," Rouge replied, as they moved down the buffet line. Topaz was her partner in whatever GUN handed down for her to do for them, partly because they felt Rouge needed a liaison, and partly because they didn't trust the batgirl. "I'm not asking for a mansion or anything. Not even a lousy Workshop in the Jungle."

"I know. And I think it's a reasonable request. But I'm telling you that it would be looked favorably upon if you just signed a few papers, and took a commission. Even a junior one, for just a few months."

"I'm not going to do that," Rouge said it a little more harshly than she intended. "You know what I mean. I don't want to tie myself down."

"That friend of yours, the one with the two tails. He signed up." Topaz countered. "Do you think he's tying himself down?"

"Don't know. Don't care. Whatever Tails does is his business. It doesn't affect me." Rouge sighed. "I just want to stay free. To leave and do my own thing, whenever I want."

"Sometimes you have to sacrifice for your career, Rouge," Topaz said, and picked out a small little pastry, as they neared the end of the line. These, at least, Rouge knew she could eat without trouble – they seemed to be mostly sugar anyway, so the mobian took two. They poured out drinks, a sugary soda water (called "Gold Cola") the humans seemed to love, and walked over to their usual table, an odd pair indeed.

Topaz, despite being the taller of the pair, blended into the sea of like dressed officers that made up GUN's paramilitary arm. With short sandy colored hair, and small blue earrings the color of her eyes, Rouge had heard that Topaz was quite beautiful as far as human females went. In other circumstances, the handful of people looking in her direction (with a veiled mix of expressions and intents) would have probably been 'checking her out' (as the expression went). But it was Rouge, the only mobian for miles, who stuck out like a sore thumb and garnered the attention. Her manner of dress alone was both exotic and unconventional, in color and in scheme, not counting the creature that wore it.

Rouge had liked the attention at first, but it had gradually lost its appeal.

The two partners sat down by themselves, as usual. A large window, facing out over the city and offering a majestic view as far as the eye could see, dominated the cafeteria. Station Square was a true marvel, utilizing the first and most powerful City Cloak Rouge had ever seen (it not only hid the city, but projected a hologram of a fake countryside for miles as well), though after the city's location became a secret, it remained off line. It was a true metropolis, like her father had told her about when she was little. It was hard to believe that, just a decade earlier, the humans had not just once city like this, but dozens.

Even if she weren't being paid, she would fight to protect it.

Or at least, she liked to think she would.

"Hey, Topaz!"

Rouge looked at up the voice, not used to people intruding while the two partners ate. Most pointedly ignored them, but this time a man approached. He was taller than most of the humans Rouge had met, and wore the same uniform as Topaz, but with the combat vest open at the front. Dark brown eyes and a roguish smile (Rouge thought was directed at Topaz) gave him a disarming appearance.

"Tom?" Topaz gasped and smiled at the newcomer. "Is that you?"

"Sure is." He inclined his head towards the table. "Room for one more over here?"

"Of course!" Topaz seemed to know the man quite well. Rouge hadn't seen her act like this before, not really. "It's been forever, hasn't it?"

"Two years. You look just like I remember, Topaz…" He sat down, and his eyes drifted over to rouge. "And who is this pretty new partner of yours?"

"Yes, Topaz. Do tell." Rouge leaned forward, and batted her eyes at the man. Given the particulars of her catsuit, and her current position, it was usually more than enough to send most men into an embarrassed or discomfited fit, depending on just how prudish their human sensibilities were. "Who is this handsome friend you neglected to tell me about?"

Topaz chuckled, and the man just smiled a little more.

"Rouge. This is Thomas Stone. We went through high school together…" While Topaz talked, Rouge watched her friend's friend closely. He didn't seem put off by Rouge's flirting in the least. That was new, at least among non-mobians. After a few seconds, she even found herself blushing.

"Would you look at that?" A voice came from behind, one that shouldn't have been there. Rouge turned, and saw Tails, not the one she knew so intimately, but the one from Station Square, two years ago. Despite his small stature and apparent youth, this Tails still had Miles' voice, and Miles' mannerisms.

"Thomas, was it?" He crossed his arms, and looked at her with an expression of displeasure. "It seems you have strange taste in men, Rouge."

Behind him, Fiona appeared, coyly smiling. "Mmm. I'd have to agree, Darling Miles."

And behind her, Amanda appeared, also looking smug. "Not normal at all."

And behind her, Sally of all Mobians walked out. She waggled a royal finger in disapproval. "And would you look at that?"

Rouge heard her voice, and turned again. Her eyes widened, and she gasped in shock and embarrassment. There, for all to see, were the two of them, together. Rouge tried to move, tried to prevent them from watching, as it went on. The other Rouge clawed at the bed, and moaned, her wings tangling in the twisted sheets.

"How perverted!" The Dream Sally chided, from behind her.

"Rouge! How could you?" The Dream Amanda added.

"He does seem well endowed… And it does look like she's having fun, right Darling Miles?" The Dream Fiona commented.

"What do I care for such a stupid thing?" Miles asked. "My concern is that her shame is her weakness."

Rouge wanted to smile at his words, though they were a typical mixture of callous aloofness and encouragement. Still, she wanted to hide what was happening from them. She tried to move again, but her body refused to respond. In front of her, the two unlikely partners switched positions, with Rouge on top. Thus exposed, Rouge felt even greater embarrassment well up inside her. She struggled harder, but to no avail.

"A secret has power over you." Miles continued, from behind her. "You must be stronger than it, or it will doom you, loom over you, threaten you until the end of your days. I know this well."

"You… you don't understand!" Rouge yelled back, but couldn't turn her head more than a few degrees. "Please! I don't want to see this! I don't want anyone to see this!"

"Would you rather see something else?" Miles asked.

"Oh yes, Darling Miles!" Fiona cheered. "Let's show her that! Show her that!"

The image of the two, on that bed, doing the forbidden between their races, faded away. For a moment, Rouge was relieved. Then she began to see what replaced it. A body, slumped against a wall, in that same room, the sheets draped over the shoulders like a cape - the head at a lifeless angle, a pool of blood spreading all over the floor, staining the world red. And then the wall, already splattered with bullet holes, still having crimson words on display for all to see.

A N I M A L

"All your fault!" The Dream Sally yelled. "You goaded him on! You killed him!"

"I didn't kill him!" Rouge yelled back. "They did! They killed him!"

Topaz slowly walked into the picture, a smoking gun in hand.

"Look! Look!" Dream Fiona cheered eagerly. "Let's watch it again!"

"No!" Rouge yelled, and strained even harder to get free. "It wasn't her! Get out of my mind! Damn you! I want to wake up!"

"Don't you see, Rouge? She wanted him, but you got in the way. You were just an animal!" Dream-Sally screamed. "Just an animal to her! To all of them! A pet dog to lead around!"

"Find a truth and seize it, Rouge." Miles' voice was soft, the calm in the storm.

"You… Damn you. I know what happened…" Rouge let her dream body relax, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw not Topaz, but three men. She knew their faces, but not their names. She had sat in on their trial. Sat there and listened as they ranted and screamed and howled obscenities at her, and at what she had done. She had sat there, with a straight face, as the gas rose up past their chests. She had sat there, and saw the frantic last look in their eyes – eyes full not of fanaticism and hatred, but fear.

Pure abject fear.

"How… dare you… use these memories against me…?" Rouge was calm now, but it was a deadly focused calm. She turned, and there was nothing holding her back. Miles stood before her, in his adult body, arms crossed and looking pleased. The others, the Dream Sally and Fiona, looked furious. The Dream Amanda had a different look, one that approached respect.

Miles glanced in the rabbit girl's direction.

"Oh?" he intoned. "I see. I think you should wake up now, Rouge. You have company."

Rouge was about to ask what the hell he meant, and what on Mobius was going on, when her eyes opened for real. The room was dark, save for a trickle of moonlight from outside that partially illuminated the area near the open window. Open window? Rouge quickly searched the room with her night keen eyes. While she had not lived in the secluded ranch house particularly long she could still easily identify the most notable features in the room: the slowly spinning ceiling fan, the dresser, the walk in closet, the personal computer workstation, the shelves full of books and assorted knickknacks.

And one other thing, out of place: alien, sitting on a chair by the window, partially obscured by the billowing drapes. Rouge reached behind her, felt along the wall, her hand almost at the panic switch…

"Please… don't do that." The figure stood, and walked forward, her face and body slowly becoming clear. Along with the weapon in her left hand: a rifle, of mobian design. The same design that Miles, or Tails, had organized mass production of years ago.

"Don't do it," the figure repeated. "Or…. Or I think I'll have to kill you."

"By the Source…"

Rouge saw the face, but almost didn't recognize it.

"Amanda?"