Reticence Saga

Severed Web

Chapter 12: Return to the Savage Land, Part 7

"Hey true believers. We're still down in the Savage Land, but now we're back together again. Although we've had some pretty weird adventures so far. Mutagenic flowers, energy vampires, and frost giants, not something I'd expect to find even here. We've even fought Omnirus and rescued Kala and returned her to normal, sort of. But we're not done down here. We still need to free Dr. Connors and Chloe from the clutches of Sauron and the lizard cultists. We've been delayed a lot from actually getting to them. I only hope they're not in serious trouble."


"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T ADD PLUMBING TO MY ROOM? I am installing a flushing toilet and some proper windows, dammit!" snapped Chloe, a literal thundercloud over her head.

"This fortress is carved out of living stone," snapped Sauron, "Does it look like there's room to put in any plumbing?"

"You won't even let me try!" snapped Chloe angrily.

"I'm not letting you wreck my lair for some frivolous luxury," snapped Sauron.

"LUXURY? IT'S BASIC HYGIENE!" screamed Chloe.

"There's a perfectly good waterfall and there's plenty of jungle to dig holes in," said Sauron.

"I...hole...what?" said Chloe in horror before her eyes glowed red. "You...you..." she managed.

"And another thing, clear all those drapes and flowers in my throne room," said Sauron, "It's supposed to be a seat of power, not a salon of pleasantries."

"They're pine trees and poison ivy...to throw minions in," snapped Chloe, a yelp heard with a snap. "And a few carnivorous plants," Chloe finished.

"Well, the carnivorous plants can stay, but everything else has to go," said Sauron, "The stench is reeking havoc on my sinuses."

"You know, my moronic husband, you could get more for your army if you don't scare them shitless. Another reason for toilets I might add," said Chloe, managing to control her temper.

"You don't get warriors out of lap dogs," said Sauron.

"True...but you don't get them by cutting the tribe leader's head off or mummifying them," said Chloe angrily. "My plan was going fine. If you'd let me go there to deal with that spider human you would have had two major factions under your control without firing a shot," she snapped, pointing a talon at Sauron.

"And I say you should have done a lot more than just giving them a bit of my abilities," said Sauron.

"It affected their minds, didn't it?" said Chloe smugly, "I'm getting better results than you. Maybe I should have that staff?"

"I think you're forgetting who's in charge around here," said Sauron before grabbing Chloe's shoulder.

There was a faint glow, the beginning of his draining ability, only for it to flicker out, Chloe smirking "That doesn't work between us, honey. But I think this will," she said, putting her hand on his and shocking him, forcing him down and letting her take his crown as he dropped his staff. "Hmm...nice fit," she said, slipping it on, its gem glowing and the shock getting stronger.

"You can do this!" snapped Sauron.

"You think you'll find I can, dear," said Chloe with a happy smile. "You know..." she said, shock blasting him back and picking up his staff, her eyes getting a golden glow, "I don't think Chloe suits me anymore."

"And what do you intend to call yourself?" asked Sauron sarcastically.

"Well, something that'll fit my new appearance," said Chloe, "The less I look like you, the better."

"You can't control that power. It took me years to master," sneered Sauron, getting up.

"I'm a fast learner," said Chloe, "And I've got more talent than you." Sauron glared and charged Chloe at that, only for two minions to aim crossbows at him. "I think they like the new management. Throw him out," said Chloe calmly, her form slowly changing.

"I am your king! You will obey my-" started Sauron before one of the minions punched Sauron in the gut.

"I think they prefer a new mistress," said Chloe calmly.

"Anyone's an improvement over him," said one lizardman.

"The people have it. Sauron, I won't say that I don't owe this new position to you...that's why I'll give you a 2 minute head start before I send people out to kill you," Chloe said happily.

"But I'm..." said Sauron weakly.

"Alone with no allies? Enemies who will want your head the minute I let slip of the change of power? Yes," said Chloe, a long tail growing behind her, "Now I suggest you leave before my generosity gives out."

Sauron glared, before tearing aside some drapes and flying out the window. "Send a message to the clans...open season," said Chloe, walking out to reveal her new form was more...raptor-ry then before, adding "Signed Queen Dakota."


It took a bit more concentration than Lana would have thought, but she had managed to get her body out of her elemental state. She wasn't completely back to normal, but her draconic form wasn't that much different from her Navaki body, just with added wings and horns. But for some reason, the effort had really winded her.

Matt, sat opposite, nodded. "Yeah, takes it out of you. Don't use it all the time," he warned.

"It seems more convenient for a lot of things," said Lana ,"Well, except for sitting down or eating."

Matt sighed, before saying, "Hey...come here...come on," reaching for his mechanical eye.

"What are you doing?" asked Lana, a little disturbed. After a bit of prodding, Matt's eye opened like a camera lens, revealing a glow blue orb of plasma inside his metal-lined eye socket. "What is that?" yelped Lana.

"A little payment from an eldritch knowledge demon in exchange for rooting around my head," said Matt.

"It's..." managed Lana, before saying confidently, "It's a trick." Matt dropping the mech eye into her hand, Lana noticing finally the eye had no power source. "Tha...that's?" she said weakly.

Matt finished, "What happens when you overuse your elemental side...and if you go too far, you… Elementals don't care about the physical plain," he said, taking the eye and replacing it.

"Does it..." started Lana.

"Hurt? Not really. The cybernetic's so I don't burn a hole in my head," said Matt.

"Er, I was going to ask if it did anything," said Lana.

"Oh, not that I've figured out," said Matt, "My...physician advised against trying to shoot beams out of it since I could melt the cybernetics or worse."

"But can it see anything your other eye can't?" asked Lana.

Matt concentrated, his other eye lighting up, a few cracks of light appearing around them before he winced, shutting his eyes, them turning back. "Ow...don't try that...and use elemental powers as a last resort," he winced, "And that concludes today's lesson. Now let's see how the battle plans are going."

Lana followed Matt out, shaking before Kala joined them, glaring at Lana. "Kala," said Matt happily.

"Matt," said Kala, less warmly.

"Kala...what's wrong?" Matt sighed to himself.

Lana guessed and said, "He was in a bad crash. I'm just a medic."

"Oh, a medic. Isn't that just Matt's type?" said Kala, almost growling.

"His brain was scrambled eggs for 24 hours," complained Lana.

"How fortunate for you," said Kala.

"There really was nothing," said Lana and Matt in unison.

"Your wings say otherwise," said Kala, "And really, Matt? A water elemental?"

"I gave her a blood transfusion," snapped Matt.

"I suppose you were the only matching blood type," snarked Kala.

"No, I gave her a dose of nanites too. She stopped me from being a veggie...and she's hanging out with me cause..." said Matt, before saying something that sounded like small roars and snarls, Kala's expression changing.

"Ok, I can allow you a little slack for that," said Kala, "But still, you didn't put as much effort into finding me."

"Did you miss the part where his brain was scrambled eggs? His memory was shot to hell," said Lana before Matt could cover her mouth.

Kala gave Lana an annoyed look and said, "I was referring to before he crashed here in Lizard Land."

"What was I supposed to do? Omni had as good as a gun to your head. If I'd gone in, who do you think he woulda shot first, even if I coulda found you? You know he has a sensor scrambler," said Matt in a dark voice.

"But-" started Kala.

"And let's not overlook the fact that you were his willing accomplice at the time," said Matt, "Reprogrammed, yes, but would you have let me rescue you in your then-current state?" Kala tried to open her mouth as Matt snapped "You were practically hanging off his arm."

Kala glared and said in a strained voice, "Nothing...happened...at all."

"You sure about that? Can you remember what happened?" snarled Matt.

"Ok, ok, I think we've obviously got a lot of steam to work out here," said Lana.

"Steam? Really? Did you have to say that?" asked Kala.

Lana paused. "What do you mean?" she growled.

"Now you're rubbing in how you have elemental powers and I don't," said Kala.

"No we aren't," snarled Matt angrily as Lana's head fell.

"I don't even qualify as a dragon anymore," snapped Kala.

"SO WHAT? I wasn't a dragon when we met either," snapped Matt angrily, punching his claws into the wall before he leaned in and growled, "And you need to work out what happened with you and your experiment boyfriend." before he and Lana walked past her.

As they were walking away, a voice in Matt's head said, "As much as she needed to be put in her place, I do prefer Kala over the water lizard."

"Shut up..." muttered Matt icily.


"Ok, you got one last thing left, merc. After Chris explained, we sent some drones to check your target. His compound's pretty heavily defended. Impossible to hit...till now. Something went down this morning. Big energy discharges then their leader was seen rabbiting out," said the EGIS captain, pointing at a birds eye view showing a singed Sauron flying away, minus his usual garb of scepter and crown.

"If Sauron's fled his own lair, it could be a greater threat to whole Savage Land," said Ka-Zar.

"Not our job. Nothing short of a surface to orbit MAC'll damage those walls. That said, the drones found something more. The ground underneath is a honeycomb. Charge in the right place'll put you up in their basement," said the trooper, pressing a button and the hologrid shape rotating to show tunnels.

"Tunnels under Savage Land almost more dangerous than surface," said Ka-Zar.

"Of course they are," said Spider-Man in a tired tone.

"We can't spare any men. Your experiment friend put so many holes in the perimeter we need as many men as we can spare on guard duty," said the trooper.

"Omnirus is not our friend," said Chris, "Unless you're referring to Kala, who is very much our friend."

"All we can spare is equipment and the map of the tunnels," said the trooper.

"I've done more with less," said Chris, "So long as there aren't mole people down there."

"Wrong country, fortunately," said Spider-Man.

"What is down there? And I realise I won't like the answer...tell me anyway," said Chris with a sigh.

"No one's seen all of underground, but is said to be big bugs down there," said Ka-Zar.

"Centipedes?" asked Chris.

"And more...hunt at night there," said Ka-zar, Chris getting a distant look of terror.

"Yeah, I don't think Kala should be on this mission," said Chris. Unfortunately, he chose a rather bad time to say it as Matt, Lana, and Kala had just walked in.

Kala stared as Chris continued, "She's just human at the moment...and we don't have good track record. The marines back on the ship taunt us by painting newbie armors red."

Kala was about to snap at Chris when he said, "And I wouldn't want to pit her against giant centipedes, particularly in her state." Kala quickly shut her mouth at that.

"We have a few exo armors," said the trooper pointedly.

"I dunno. Those might be cumbersome underground," said Chris.

"It's advanced infantry armor. She'll be fine..." said the trooper.

Chris said, "She'd just get in the way..." before Kala snapped "Will I?"

Chris before turning towards Kala. "How long have you been standing there?" he asked.

"Long enough to know there are giant centipedes," said Kala, "I thank you for taking my phobia into consideration, but I'm not going to be seen as baggage."

"Hey, if I get you killed, Matt'll kill me," said Chris in a defensive tone.

"Also right here," said Matt, sounding more bored than angry.

Kala hung her head again. "Just give me the damn suit," she said angrily.

"It'll be only for this mission," said Matt, "After you've had time to rest, you'll be starting fires again in no time."

"No, I am not being left out," snapped Kala angrily.

"I wasn't saying that. I was saying the exo-suit is just for this mission," said Matt.

Kala glared, Matt returning the glare before Chris said, "Did I miss something?"

"Long story, not something to be repeated in public," said Matt.

"Boss...maybe Kala should stay here for the op?" Chris began.

"Oh, no couples for this mission? Fine. Then you don't get to come and rescue Chloe," said Matt.

Chris glared. "That's low. At the moment, Kala is the only one here who isn't powered," he snarled.

"That's not true," said Kala, "I still have my experiment powers."

"And I read your report from the doc," said Chris, passing Matt a copy.

Matt took one brief scan of the report and said, "Control nanite damaged, but self-repairing. See? Nowhere as bad as when Lucius depowered us."

"Check the mental part," said Chris grimly, Kala looking pleadingly at Matt, mouthing "No." over and over.

Matt only read it and said, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The only thing I'm questioning is three personalities."

"Oh, like you're one to talk," said Chris, "What's the current count in your head?"

"...2," said Matt to himself, the others smirking.

"Yeah, and I'm a French bulldog," said Chris sarcastically.

"Let's just go," said Matt in annoyance, adding, "I'm sure Chloe's fine and in control."


The raptor pack peered out of Chloe's room. "Maybe she's on a diet?" said one in a hopeful voice.

"Yeah, you're just empty calories," said another dryly.

"Oh please shut up," muttered the leader, the group cautiously heading down the corridor. "Ok, we'll go back to our territory and never speak of this again," the leader said carefully the group turning the corner and see an anthro raptor in front of them, wearing robes and holding Sauron's staff.

She looked very different from the other raptors they had seen. For one thing, she had that odd, curvy torso that humans had. Another was she had a large pair of feathered wings on her back.

That said, they were cautious, before hissing in unison. "Out the way, weirdo," hissed one of the two females.

"Now is that any way to address your queen?" asked the winged raptor.

"We didn't answer to that freak, Sauron and definitely not to you. What did you two freaks ever give us except a job as a repeatable lunch?" snapped the leader.

"Good news for you, you're in line for a promotion," said the winged raptor, "You see, I need an elite guard and I'll need one with brains."

One of the females stalked forward, hissing, "Not interested." before the packs' brains caught up with the situation and conversation. "Wait...you're not supposed to understand us," said the female who was closest.

"Obviously I'm scraping the barrel in the brains department," said the winged raptor flatly, "I just hope evolution will fix that problem."

"What?" said the female before gagging as the raptor woman grabbed her by the throat

"Now keep in mind, this may take a few tries," said the raptor woman.

The raptors backed up as the gagging raptor began to morph, her form morphing into a smaller clone of the one holding her, some tribal clothes forming round her.

"Well, that worked out better than I expected," said the winged raptor, putting down the transformed female, "But let's see if your brain's up to speed."

The newly-changed female shook her head and snapped in English, "What did you do to-" before she slammed her snout shut in horror.

"Ok, that's a start. But an awful lot of folk are able to talk without a brain," said the winged raptor.

"You turned me into a freak!" snapped the female.

"This is a vast improvement," said the winged raptor, "Have you noticed these yet?" She stuck out her thumb and wiggled it.

The raptor looked down at her new thumbs...a second later the winged raptor was rubbing her snout as the new mutate experimented with fists.

"I suppose that's a bit of a start," said the winged raptor, "I think we need to work on the pecking order."

She turned to the others. "Serve me and you will have the same power..." she said loftily, before when no response came, she added in a dull tone "And thumbs."

"What are we supposed to do with thumbs?" asked one raptor.

"Ever played a video game?" asked the winged raptor.

"I dunno. What's it taste like?" said another.

"I wonder if Sauron stashed a brain serum around here somewhere," muttered the winged raptor.

"You haven't evolved them yet, boss," said the evolved female.

"Fair point," said the winged raptor.

The other raptors tried to run before similar blasts of yellow hit them. "Ok, now that we're not all birdbrains, who wants to seize control of the Savage Land?" asked the winged raptor.

The confused mutates looked at each other before the alpha said, "What's in it for us?"

"Glory, power, and you get to wield the big sticks," said the winged raptor. The raptor mutates gave her level stares. "The 'big sticks' were a metaphor. I will be giving you real weapons," said the winged raptor.

"We have weapons," said one of the raptors, flexing his claws.

"But you have to get close to someone to use it," said the winged raptor, "Which isn't particularly fair, especially when they can pick you off before you can get to them."

"The boom sticks?" said another, remembering them watching another pack attacking the white-shelled humans.

"Yes, now you have the hands to use them," said the winged raptor.

"We could kill any prey we want," said one of the pack with a grin.

"It'd almost be unfair," said another.

The winged raptor rolled her eyes. "Yes...now, unless you want me to see if I can devolve you to goo, swear allegiance," she snapped. There was a long pause at that. "Well?" snapped the winged raptor.

"Who are we swearing our allegiance to?" asked a raptor.

"Queen Dakota," sighed the winged raptor, facepalming.

"Oh, you didn't introduce yourself before," said the raptor.

"JUST SAY IT!" screamed Dakota, her eyes crackling with lightning the group recognized.


"We're going in there? The cave that says 'feed me'?" snapped Kala.

"Oh don't worry. It's just a cave with a lot of stalactites and stalagmites that only vaguely look like teeth," said Spider-Man. The others glared at him. "Uh, at least there isn't anything above the cave that looks like angry eyes," he said.

"You go first." said Chris in an annoyed tone.

Matt sighed. "Can we save the scrabbling till the bugs turn up?" he said.

"There's no guarantee they'll show up," said White Tiger.

"Yes there is," said Matt, "Especially after we've said it."

"Its true. It's like clockwork," said Chris gloomily.

"Watch this," said Matt before firing at the cave's ceiling. There was a pause, Matt saying "Wait for it." before a spider the size of the Spider-Cycle fell from the ceiling. "Is that smaller than the one that had Kala's cocoon in its web?" asked Matt.

"WHAT?!" yelped Kala.

"Nothing," said Chris desperately, kicking Matt before they headed in. The inside of the cave was riddled with holes, slithering noises coming from each one, sometimes compound eyes staring curiously out.

"You sure you don't have any control over spiders?" asked Ka-Zar to Spider-Man.

"I wish I did," said Spider-Man, his mask's night vision showing that...the spider had friends, all of them watching silently.

"Let's go before the centipedes take their turn," said Matt. Almost faster than the eye could see, Kala was now clinging onto Matt's back.

"How much further?" whimpered Kala.

Chris looking at the datapad he'd been given. "We just got in sooooooo...30 minutes," he said.


Dakota jumped as the nearby half-built toilet seemed to scream 'NOOOOOOOO'. "Mental note: create plumbers in the Savage Land so they can check that," she said weakly.


The tunnels weren't quite so threatening the further you went. But you always got that feeling that something was lurking the shadows. "I swear, if there's a balrog down here, I quit," muttered Matt.

"Just spiders..." said Chris faintly before double taking, a tiny scorpion waving at him from a hole.

"Uh...hey, here's something to take our minds off them," said Spider-Man, pointing at a wall. This wall was rather smooth compared to the rest of the cave. That was probably why it was covered in cave paintings.

Kala walked up to it. "Nice, I only ever read about these on computer screens when I was young. What's it say?" she said cheerfully.

"It tells of ancient days in Savage Land," said Ka-Zar after studying it, "When people of Atlantis made this land what it is today."

"If it was the Atlantis I know, there would be more lasers," muttered Matt to himself.

"Different Atlantis," reminded Chris, "They're fish people here."

"Of course they are," sighed Matt, as Kala walked to the left.

"Hey, I think there's a spaceship on this one," she said, Matt walking up.

"I think I saw their handiwork. Me and Lana..." he began, Kala glaring and walking back to Ka-Zar. "I wasn't even trying to-" started Matt.

"Let her be," said White Tiger, "She needs time to heal."

"Yeah, you can't speed up a make-up," said Chris before pausing at what looked like a depiction of a robotic T. rex, Triceratops, and Pteranodon. "Hey, are those..." he started.

"No! They are not. It's impossible for them to have been here. And they never will be here," snapped Matt.

"But it's..." began Chris only for Matt to grab him by the collar and hiss "We saw nothing."

"So, how much further is it to Sauron's place?" asked Coldlahd.

"Not much further," said Chris, checking before looking up. "There. Matt, can you keep your foot out your mouth long enough to fit the charge?"

"Fine," grumbled Matt.

There was a crumbling noise down the tunnel at that, causing Kala to tense up. "Anyone hear that?" she said nervously.

"Would saying 'no' make it go away?" asked Spider-Man, though his spider-sense was starting to throb.

She turned in time for something to hit her on the head.


"Ok...charge is set," called Matt from the roof, flying down. "Everyone keep their heads down," called Matt, "Rocks to the face hurt."

A yellow blast shot out, knocking him into the wall. "Please don't blow holes in my floor," said Chloe's voice from the darkness, though it sounded an octave off.

"Chloe, you escaped from Sauron. That's good. I'm still annoyed about the blast to the face," said Matt.

"I didn't escape. I kicked him out," said Chloe's voice, several pairs of eyes appearing in the dark as well as a pair of yellow ones.

"So you overthrew him and liberated the people of the Savage Land," said Matt.

"Not exactly. More of a...change of management," said Chloe, walking into the light, five anthro raptors in tribal clothing and holding crossbows and swords seen with her. Chloe was more identifiable due to her plumage, her feathered wings, and the crown on her head.

Matt glared. "Chloe, cut this out. Let's just get out of here," he said, walking forward.

"I've grown to like it here," said Chloe as electricity started crackling her claws, "And you may call me Queen Dakota."

"Oh great...another Silvia." muttered Matt, readying a plasma ball.

"Dakota? You've never been to North or South Dakota," said Chris.

"As in Dakotaraptor," said Dakota in annoyance, "Queen Utah just didn't have the right ring."

"Guys, meet Silvia, Chloe's insane half," said Matt, calmly, Dakota's eyes narrowing.

"I hope that Silvia trying on a new persona," said Chris, "Oh, by the way, Matt, you owe me $30."

"I am not Silvia...and you are trespassing..." snarled Dakota, before murring at Chris, "You can stay."

"Not until you trim those toenails," said Chris.

"Dakota, I want to talk to my sister," warned Matt, readying a second plasma orb.

"I am your sister," said Dakota with annoyance.

"Yeah, yeah, Silvia, put Chloe on the phone," said Matt.

dishes

"I really am...just improved. I've got real power...and I could make a far better ruler then Sauron. He never understood how rulers work," said Dakota calmly, though sounding a little hurt.

"Why would you be better? Because you're British?" asked Zira. The others gave her a look. "Well, someone had to say it," said Zira.

"No, because I don't keep alienating the other clans and the world with some 'take over the world quick' scheme," sneered Dakota, adding, "As for Sauron, he still thinks the Pterons are on his side. He should find out he's wrong soon."

"But we haven't gotten to curing the Pteron Queen yet," said Spider-Man.

"Actually, EGIS sent some people to do just that," said Chris.

"It's a shame I will miss it," laughed Dakota. She walked forward to Chris and Matt, who backed up a step. "I'm still your sister/...significant other. I just have a new look," she said calmly, before saying, "Sorry I shot you. It's a bit dark and monster-infested down here...and then I saw some twit attaching an explosive to my floor." She gave Matt a pointed glare.

"We were getting ready to rescue you," said Matt annoyed.

"Do I look like I need rescuing?" she said, putting her arms round Chris.

His eye twitched before he said in a level voice, "Not exaaaactly...but you did shoot at us...and those look like minions." pointing at the raptor pack who all started whistling innocently, their arms behind their backs.

"We prefer 'professional go-" started one raptor before another raptor grabbed his throat.

"He meant 'professional guards'," said the second raptor.

One of the females nodded. "Yeah, ignore Zaris. His brain's water wheel fell off at birth," she said quickly. Dakota looked like she wanted to scream before she asked, "Could we please take this conversation where there are giant spiders and centipedes?"

She and her 'guards' were knocked aside as a Kala-shaped blur barrelled past them. "That'd be a big yes," said Matt.


Dakota led the group out into a courtyard. "That idiot, Sauron, practically set himself up for a fall...and his people didn't even blink when I took over," she explained, adding, "No agriculture, most of them are either used as cannon fodder and test subjects."

"Speaking of test subjects, where's Dr. Connors?" asked Spider-Man.

"And the rest of the temple caste?" asked Lana.

"I kicked them out on their tails. Last thing I need is such backward-thinking morons," said Dakota with a offhand wave, adding, "Connors...I'm not sure where he is. I never saw him while I was here."

"He has to be here somewhere," said Spider-Man.

"I'll send out scout parties tomorrow. If Sauron had him, maybe he escaped later on?" said Dakota calmly.

"A one-armed man wouldn't last long in Savage Land," said Ka-Zar grimly.

"There is one plus; Sauron had everything so scared that most of the lands around are clear...except for some firefight near the volcano," said Dakota.

"Right..." said Matt, "I'm sure Connors is smart enough to not go into hostile territory."

"I'll ask my people to look for him..." said Dakota with an award-winning (and deadly-looking) toothy smile.

"So...what about that climate machine?" said Matt cheerfully.

Dakota paused, "At the volcano? My scouts told me they tried to warn Sauron about some ruckus there."

"Is that so?" asked Matt.

Lana opened her mouth. "Actually there-" she began.

Matt said, "-was nothing but a ruckus." cutting her off.

"But-" started Lana before Kala stomped on her foot, harder than necessary. "Ow!" snapped Lana, hopping.

Dakota turned with concern. "What happened?" she asked.

Matt said, "She stubbed her claw."

"Say, does Sauron have a larder?" asked Zira.

"Second door on the right. Though it's mostly food for his army. He had...other foods," said Dakota with a shudder.

"Speaking of which, he didn't vampirize you, did he?" asked Matt.

"He tried..." said Dakota with a dark smirk to herself

"He tried to feed us to her," said one of the raptors, who looked oddly familiar to some of the group.

"You...didn't, did you?" asked Matt.

Dakota hissed at the male who backed off. "I hit them a few times...especially him," she snarled. Dakota sighed and pointed down a corridor, zira walking off, before she turned to the others. I'm sure you're all hungry."

"For something that's been cooked," said White Tiger.

"Sure there's something," said Dakota, taking Chris's arm and pulling him long. "I'd like a word with my boyfriend," she said, pausing at a guard. "Let the doctors out to play," she said quietly into his ear.

As Chris and Dakota walked away, Matt said to Spider-Man, "How much of a bad feeling are you getting? I'm getting one, but it may be tainted by my brotherly protective drive."

"A real bad one. For a start, where have the guards gone?" said Spider-Man, Matt looking around to see the sentries and Dakota's 'guards' had left.

"Well, that wasn't what I was going to point out, but now that you mentioned it..." said Matt.

Two sets of footsteps were heard at that, one of the pairs sounding heavy set. "Guys?" said Matt nervously, reaching for his blaster only to find it missing. He reached for his ion blade, but it was gone too. "Oh, I can't believe my own sister pickpocketed me," snapped Matt, "This is something I would have expected from NegaMorph."

The far doors shook under a blow at that, the group tensing up before a second blow knocked them over. What stomped through was a 10-foot tall lizard man with reddish-brown scales. He was clearly a Stegosaurus from the shape of his beak, the large plates on his back, and the thagomizer on the end of his tail.

What came in next caused Matt to twitch. "Well, I guess it was too much to hope that we'd find Dr. Connors still human," said Spider-Man as the Lizard hissed at them.

Matt, meanwhile, began to giggle faintly, his eyes unfocusing and more importantly, him shifting to anthro form. "The queen wants your heads, monkeys," called the Stegosaurus before pausing, looking at Matt, "Whats wrong with him?"

"I don't think we're going to be losing our heads...in the physical sense anyways," said Kala as she took several long steps backwards.

"What have I got to fear from some half-bree" began the stego before Matt, with an almost feral scream of laughter, jumped at him, latching onto the stego's face, the stego falling back with a 'Wraaah...get it off."

"Yeah, I think Dakota forgot to account for Matt's anti-Lizard rages," said Kala.

"Sssspider-Maaan..." hissed the Lizard angrily, stalking forward, his villainous approach slightly spoiled as his partner hopped past, trying to shake Matt out the armor he was wearing over his scales.

"Dr. Connors, it's me. You're not under Ock's control, you don't have to be under Dakota's control. We can help you," said Spider-Man.

"Go back to being puny Connorsss? Queen Dakota promised to make sure he never comes back," hissed the Lizard angrily.

The lizard glared back as Stegron finally fell over, his chestplate bulging before Matt popped out, his eyes spinning and still grinning like a loon...before Stegron grabbed him by the neck, Matty making a squeaking noise. "You take him," said Stegron before throwing him at the Lizard.

The Lizard smirked as the giggling projectile was thrown at him, clawing Matt as he passed, causing Kala to scream in shock and Lana to glare.

"Ok, I guess I'll have to knock some sense into you," said Spider-Man before hitting Lizard with his tazer-webs.

Stegron growled, tearing a pillar up to throw at Spider-Man, only for White Tiger to slash his leg and Lana to blast him in the face with a torrent of water. At Zira's command, vines grew up from the ground to entangle Stegron, but he snapped them with ease. "Idiot mammal..." Stegron laughed, grabbing Lana by the tail and throwing her at Zira.

Coldlahd was trying to freeze the Lizard, but he wasn't slowing down as much as she hoping he would. "I adapt," hissed the Lizard, lunging only for a dazed Matt to take a potshot at him.

"And I recover fast," said Matt.

"Not as fast as me," sneered the Lizard lunging only to be webbed.

"Sorry, Connors. I'm not letting you go that easily this time," said Spider-Man.

"You could not ssstop me then. You won't now," sneered the Lizard before lunging.

"I know you're in there, Connors," said Spider-Man, "Last time, you were able to resist the Lizard. You can do it again."

"The queen wants you destroyed," hissed the Lizard.

"You don't have to obey her," said Spider-Man, "You're your own person, not a monster." The Lizard paused at that, though he was still glaring. "You're more than a lizard," said Spider-Man, "You're Doctor Curt Connors. You're not a monster to be let loose, a weapon to control. You're a scientist, a good man."

Matt glared, walking forward only for the Lizard to grip his head in pain, Stegron snapping "Stop pausing and gut them." trying to keep Lana clear of him.

"Is this really what you want to be? Do you really only want people to use you to attack others?" asked Spider-Man.

Stegron glared at Spider-Man, swiping Lana aside and heading towards Spider-Man with stomping in mind. He raised up his tail, getting ready to skewer Spider-Man on the spikes. But before he could swing, the Lizard tackled him with enough force to knock him back.

"Hey, you idiot! The enemy's the other guys!" snapped Stegron, trying to get the Lizard off.

"Ok, didn't expect that to actually happen," said Kala.

"Who are we cheering for?" said Matt dizzily, one of his eyes swollen.


Chris yelped as he was pushed into a empty throne room, Dakota slamming the doors. "Now it's just us," she said happily.

"Uh, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this," said Chris.

"Oh please. I can cure your bat look and once the others are dealt with we'll have each other," said Dakota happily, a distant crash heard.

"Wait, what?" asked Chris.

"Well, they'll just try to 'cure' me. I'm happy like this. I've got real power here," said Dakota camly.

"Sorry, but that's not the Chloe I know and love," said Chris.

"No, I'm better. Silvia will never control me. I'll never be kidnapped, turned into some minion or monster, and we can do actual good here," said Dakota calmly.

"And you're having everyone else cut up for scrap meat," said Chris.

"My brother? He's a half-insane mess," said Dakota offhandedly, before wincing, her head aching for a second.

"And Kala?" asked Chris.

"She was meant to be a bite-sized mammal," said Dakota with a laugh.

"Even Snowbell is in peril," protested Chris.

Dakota winced again. "That cat?" she managed.

"And you're letting those lizards have those kids even though they've never done anything to you?" snapped Chris.

"They'll just tell SHIELD. Can't have that,"laughed Dakota.

Chris glared. "You're not Chloe. I'm out," he snapped, turning to leave, only for Dakota to tackle him, hissing angrily.

"Then I'll just make you," she hissed, her hand glowing yellow.

Chris snarled and pushed her away. "I'm still stronger than you," he said.

Dakota laughed, before backhanding Chris flying. "Are you sure about that, love?" she laughed.

Chris got up and said, "I outweigh you by at least 50 pounds in human form and I have a lot more musculature than you."

"Then explain your flying lesson," sneered Dakota.

"Oh, that was when I wasn't pushing back," said Chris.

"Then by all means," sneered Dakota, giving a mocking bow.

Chris roared before lunging forward, swinging his fist at Dakota. To his great shock, Dakota caught his fist and held it there. "I'm still waiting," said Dakota with a smirk, before squeezing his wrist, his bones painfully grinding as her claws digged in before she tossed him over her shoulder, turning to face him.

"Ok, this time, I'm serious," said Chris before charging at Dakota. Dakota simply braced herself before catching Chris's arms. The two quickly got into a pushing match. "Chloe...you...gotta stop..." snarled Chris, Dakota being slowly forced back before her sickle claws anchored to the floor.
"I don't have to stop, for you or anyone," said Dakota. Chris tried to push harder before he felt a sharp pain in his leg, looking down to see Dakota had kicked out with her sickle claw, Dakota pushing him off balance, readying her spell again. "And I never will again," she said, before her hand began to shake.

"So you're just ok with lying to, using, and abandoning everyone?" snapped Chris.

"I'd never use you..." said Dakota in a small voice before growling, firing the yellow blast, Chris rolling to avoid it.

"You sure seem find with lying to me about everything," said Chris, "I bet Sauron is still in here."

"No, he really did flew the coop," said Dakota, "But I did lie about those lizard cultists following him."

Chris paused as something went click behind him. "Should we end him, my queen?" asked the cultist holding the blaster.

"No, he's a keeper," said Dakota, "The others, do with what you wish."

"As you command," said the cultist Chris turning to see a good dozen heading for the sound of fighting, Chris reaching for his own blaster.

Dakota's hand gripped Chris's wrist painfully. "Sorry, but you're not-" she started before she started shuddering, her hand slowly letting go.
"You can't fool me that easily," snarled Chris, aiming...


Mindscape

"Get...off me!" snapped Dakota, Chloe holding her in an armlock.

"No, I'm not letting myself become a tyrant," said Chloe.

"Are you mad? We have power...and we can do a far better job then that fool, Sauron, and without your brother holding you back," snapped Dakota, throwing Chloe off.

"Being queen of the dinosaurs isn't that appealing to me," said Chloe.

"Then one of us has to GO!" snapped Dakota, lunging at Chloe.

"We agree on that at least," said Chloe before hitting Dakota with a lightning bolt.

Dakota staggered back before blasting at Chloe who ran to the side into the maze of her mindscape, which resembled the Companions' headquarters back on Nirn. "Where are you going? You'll like being me," sneered Dakota, walking after her.

"When did you get that impression?" called Chloe's voice.

"Well, you won't have a choice," laughed Dakota, spotting Chloe and firing a blast that clipped her foot, which changed to a raptor one immediately."You won't be able to keep this up forever," called Dakota, "I'm stronger and faster than you and your electric powers won't keep you safe forever. So you may as well stop hiding."

"Not hiding," called Chloe, "I'm just getting my gear."

Dakota sighed, grabbing an arrow as it was fired at her, looking at it. "Please," she sneered.

Chloe called, "Not a normal arrow." Dakota examined the arrow head which beeped and exploded in her face.
Dakota coughed and said, "This kind of tricks are Matt's ploys."

"Good point," said Chloe's voice behind her. Dakota turned to see Chloe in werewolf form, wearing Nordic armor, and hefting a big mace. "Me, I'm the more up-close and personal type," said Chloe before swinging her mace.


Chris backed up as Chloe twitched, shifting rapidly between werewolf and raptor over and over. "Erm...go werewolves?" he said in confusion.


Dakota crashed into the dining room's table with a crash, getting up. "You little mammal freak. Don't you know this is better for us?" she snarled, rolling to the side as Chloe tried to foot stomp her snout.

"I get along perfectly well with this form," said Chloe.

"Though this isn't one your brother prefers," said Dakota, "He'd rather you'd be a dragon, wouldn't he?"

Chloe paused, only for a chair to hit her in the face. "Oh, did I strike a nerve?" laughed Dakota, walking towards her, her claws glowing yellow.

"No one's telling me what I should be, least of all you," growled Chloe.

"Then why did you pause?" said Dakota smugly.

"I don't have to explain myself to you," snapped Chloe.

"But I think you do..." sneered Dakota, Chloe snarling and lunging, only for Dakota to sidestep. "Aw...hard to think straight?" the raptor sneered.

"You know neither Matt or Chris will want me to be a dinosaur," said Chloe.

"Your brother, the dragon? The one who spent a year among then and hardly even spends time as a human anymore?" laughed Dakota, adding, "Or the bat man who went feral?"

"He is not a bat man!" snapped Chloe.

"Oh, you'd be amazed what our spies told me. He's most likely going to be just another animal" laughed Dakota. Chloe roared and leapt at Dakota.

Dakota smirked before stabbing her glowing claws into Chloe who paused, scales spreading like liquid from impact. "Aw, don't fight it.I'll look after Chris...well...we will," she sneered.

"Probably a bad idea for me to be this close," said Chloe.

"Why's that?" asked Dakota. Just then, Chloe grabbed Dakota's head and twisted it around with a loud snap.

Chloe walked back, sighing before looking down to see the transformation still spreading. "No, no, no," she muttered in panic, looking at Dakota's body, which was still sneering...a last laugh.


The struggle seemed to finally come to a stop, but Chloe's body was in raptor form. Chris got his blaster charged and aimed at her. The raptoress opened her eyes before noticing Chris aiming, and jumping back. "Chris, NO! It's me, it's me!" she said in a panic.

"That's not a convincing argument," said Chris.

"Really, it's me. Dakota's gone," the raptor said desperately, backing up.

"That's what Dakota would say," said Chris.

"Chris, please, she's gone," said the raptor desperately.

"Why should I believe you?" asked Chris.

The raptor hung her head. "You don't have any reason to..." she said softly.

Just then, they heard some screeching outside. "What's that?" asked Chris.

"Oh no," said the raptor, "I don't control the reptiles anymore." Two lizardmen smashed through the door at that, charging. PUT THOSE DOWN!" roared Chloe, the lizardmens' guns shaking, before they started to take aim...

Chris decided to end this quicker by picking up a chair and throwing it at the lizards.

"I almost had them!" snapped Chloe as the lizards crumpled before the far door opened, her 'guards' running in.

"Queen Dakota, they beat Connors and Stegron," gasped one of them, Chloe mouthing 'sorry' at Chris before punching him.

"We're too outmatched," said Chloe, "We have to run now."

"My queen?" said one of the others in confusion.

"I said run, take Stegron and run," snapped Chloe, thinking fast.

"But Connors-" started another.

"What about him?" snarled Chloe, the raptor saying "He's fighting with them."

"Then he's of no use to us," said Chloe.

The raptors looked at one another before running, Chloe sighing, before shuddering. The new body she had felt very weird, a constant dull hunger in her stomach as well as a feeling that she could snap any one of the raptors in half. Not to mention the feathers felt weird, particularly when the wind was blowing the wrong way.

Chris, rubbing his jaw, came up. "We'd better go help." he said, as Chloe took the crown off and peered at it. She couldn't admit it hadn't been tempting...power always was

"I'm not sure if I'll be able to get the cultists to stop," said Chloe.

"Then we stop them another way," said Chris kindly.

"Ok. So...I might be stuck like this for a while," said Chloe, "Do you think you could live with this?"

"I can get used to it, but we'd better save Matt," sad Chris.


Stegron finally got a grip on the Lizard, squeezing with an angry look. "You're a traitor to your species," the stego snarled, as what was left of the cultists ran in.

"Aren't you forgetting that you were human a few days ago?" asked Spider-Man as he was webbing up Stegron's legs.

"A weak, feeble human," snapped Stegron, tearing his legs free as the cultists opened fire.
"Lana, do we need to take them in alive?" asked Matt.

"It's not his fault," snapped White Tiger, the cultists reloading.

Matt shrugged, "I don't think the cultists count...Lana?"

Lana glared and snapped, "They'd be executed at home anyway."

"All I wanted to know," said Matt before his hands started glowing blue.

The cultists turned, one blast turning one of them to ash before they seemed to panic. The cultists parted to let one point at Matt, "Destroyer...you dare rise again and threaten our people?"

"'Rise again' isn't the phrase I would use," said Matt.

"Well, you think the Navaki are not ready for you?" laughed the leader, another cultist reading some sort of shoulder weapon.

"What's that do?" asked Matt, before a yellow blast hit him, knocking him flying on a trail of smoke, and more pointedly, a singe on the wall behind him.

"MATT!" screamed Kala before rushing over.

"Destroy them!" yelled the leader, the shoulder cannon turning to aim.

A furious reptilian screech was heard at that, the last intact double doors being thrown open, Dakota walking through "What the hell is going on?" she yelled, the cultists pausing in shock before falling to their knees. Spider-Man quickly shot a pair of web blasts into Dakota's face. "Get this stuff off me!" she yelled.

Dakota staggered back at that, snapping something in a muffled voice, before Stegron shielded her from several blasts from Lana. "My queen...are you ok?" he asked. Dakota snapped something muffled. Stegon tore the webbing off before asking urgently "Queen Dakota?"

'Dakota' snapping, "Wrong" before Stegron's skeleton was lit up. Stegron twitched before falling backwards, his back plates sinking into the ground. 'Dakota' jumped down, the cultists looking surprised before she snapped angrily, "Just put the guns down and I'll not kill you for trying to kill my brother."

The cultists looked hesitant. This did not sound like the Queen Dakota who promised to help them claim this planet for their own. "Dakota checked out," 'Dakota' said angrily.

The cultists hissed before aiming at the winged raptor. "You dare betray your kind?" snapped the leader, the cannon cultist aiming.
"You are not my kind," said Chloe, rubbing her hands together as electricity crackled around her. At that, a blast of lightning shot out from her hands, arcing between the cultists. The cultists shuddered, many of them blackening. Chloe finally released her blast, the cultists falling down, sizzling and out cold. "That should...keep them down..." she said, suddenly feeling exhausted. She was too out of practice.

Lana nodded weakly. "So...what do we do with them? Our ship's half-broken," she said, poking one of the cultists who made a weird bubbling noise.

"I'm sure we can persuade EGIS to give you a ride home," said Chris.


"Not a chance in hell," snapped Karisa, crossing her arms.

"Well you can't just leave them here," said Matt, who had recovered but was very sore from where he was shot.

"Urgh...we can at least provide some repair nanites," sighed Karisa.

"That could take months," said Matt.

"Not the new models," said Karisa smugly. Matt glared, realising it had been a while since their ship had gotten a refit. "Though you realize the elementalized one can't go with her brethren," said Karisa.

Lana paused at that, before Matt agreed with a nod, "Not till she learns some control."
"And there's only one place where she'll be able to learn it," said Karisa.

"Avalar...and McNeil can't get her there either," said Matt.

Lana snapped, "Do I get a say in this?" before she collapsed into a puddle, saying "Not...one...word."

"In the meantime, perhaps an enrollment at SHIELD Academy may be to her benefit," said Karisa.

"Hey, I'm 89!" snapped Lana.


"I shouldn't have to do this," said Lana in a sulking tone.

"Hey, I got attacked on a regular basis every day before I even got dragon powers. Least these guys have safeties," called Matt over the intercom, before looking at Cho, "They have safeties, right?"
"Well, I've never had to design a training program for an elemental before," said Cho, "I mean, I've done a theoretical one with Sandman, but water has a different molecular-"

"Can you shut it down before it gets out of control?" asked Matt bluntly.

"That I can do," said Cho.

"Then let's get started," said Matt.


After returning to the Triskelion, Connors soon cloistered himself in his lab. Spider-Man was a bit concerned about how the experience could have affected him. Spider-Man landed in front of Connors's door before knocking. "Doc...you ok in there?" he said through the door with concern.
"Spider-Man, come on in," said Connors's voice.

"Ok, that's a good sign, right? When a scientist becomes unhealthily obsessed with something, he tells everyone to go away, right?"
Spider-Man opened the door before peering in. "Doc? What have you been working on?" he asked.
Connors was working at a computer, going as fast as his one hand allowed him. "It really was a marvelous experience, wasn't it?" asked Connors excitedly.

Spider-Man nodded. "Yeah, it was fun...apart from the feral dinosaurs, mutant dinosaurs, and everything else trying to kill us," he said in joking sarcasm.
"Oh, yes, that would be unpleasant," said Dr. Connors, "But the Navaki were a fascinating race, weren't they? They were the pinnacle of what this Lizard serum could really do."
"Yeah...except they're aliens and half their crew tried to help Sauron," said Spider-Man.
"But the other half were fully in control of themselves," said Connors, "They weren't driven to infect more people. How much I could learn from them. I may finally be able to help people with this serum. Maybe even control my transformations."

Spider-Man paused at that. Matt has explained the lengths the NSC had gone too to stop the Navaki when they were still feral, something still in living memory. "I don't think Matt would not be a fan of that idea. He seemed terrified of them."

"He's only see the bad side. If I can make them see-" started Connors.

"Listen, Curt, no one would be happier than me to see you get full control of the Lizard. But there are still a lot of risks. You need to take this slow and be careful," said Spider-Man.
Connors opened his mouth to no doubt protest the plusses before pausing, remembering how the Lizard had been created in the first place; by rushing. "You're right. Rushing ahead was what created the Lizard in the first place."
"Right. Maybe the Navaki can help you iron out the problems with the Lizard. But take your time with it. Doc Ock's not about to capture you again," said Spider-Man.


Ava meanwhile was in her room, looking at the amulet. Her mind was fully occupied on what she'd seen in there. She had thought she had learned as much of the amulet as she could, that she had tamed the tiger spirit more than any previous White Tiger. But she's barely scratched the surface. There was so much more hidden in the amulet. How old was this thing? Who made it and why?
Her thought went to the vision she saw of K'un-lun while in the amulet. Maybe Danny could fill in some of the gaps.
But that tiger spirit, it was so powerful, so savage. The fact that it overwhelmed her frightened her. But that was only because she had been exposed to that savage wildflower, right?
No...sometimes the old saying, 'let sleeping tigers lie' was a good saying to follow.


"Scanning subject," said a small medical drone, bathing Chloe in a blue light.

"Is this necessary?" she said calmly.

"It's standard procedure to have a full examination after every major transformation or shift in powers," said the medical drone.

Chloe said dryly, "Blah, blah, blah. Heard it all before." before the drone said "Mutation gene's detected...local variety. No current cure available."

"In other words, I have to wait for the Bladestorm to arrive so I can receive gene therapy. And until then, I'm stuck looking like a refugee from a pulp magazine," said Chloe dryly.

Kala raised a hand at that, "Erm, actually pulp magazines were printed before evidence that raptors had feathers...aaand you're not in the mood for constructive criticism."

"I'm so glad that you're back," growled Chloe.

"Hey, at least you get to stay in the superheroine business. I'm benched until I can get my fire back," said Kala.

Zira raised a hand, "Hey, not all heroes have powers. You could still do some damage."

"Except Matt will think I'm made of delicate silk," said Kala.

"Prove him wrong then, sis," said Zira innocently.

"In the meantime, I have to go with a new identity for my new form," said Chloe with a groan, "I can only imagine how much SHIELD paperwork I'd need to fill out for that."

"Scanning...the timeline indicates the Superhero Registration Act of M-616 does not exist in this verse. No paperwork is required," said the drone.

"Oh, thank goodness," said Chloe, "I did not want have to deal that drama. I still need a new name."

"You can still go by Dakota," said Kala, "No one else saw you being a villain and, well, it suits you better than Utah."

"Hmm...I like it," said Chloe happily.


However, not everyone taken to the Savage Land had returned. Stegron had managed to slip away while the heroes were dealing with the remaining Navaki cultists. And he wasn't alone...though he was starting to wish he was.

The uplifted raptor pack had decided to follow him around. "When are you gonna turn us back?" said one of the females, wearing some rags she'd nabbed from a dead cultist.

"I don't know how," snapped Stegron, "And why would you want to be turned back? Don't you realize there are so many advantages to being like this?"

"Like what? This sucks. We were never bothered by modesty before," snapped another raptor, all of them in some form of looted clothing.

"You are missing the bigger picture," said Stegron, "You are smarter, stronger, and more versatile than ever before."

"Oh, you mean those human blasters and flying machines that all left?" said another sarcastically.

"They learn too quick," muttered Stegron before saying, "But do you not see that now we are superior over dinosaurs and humans alike?"

"Hey...didn't Sauron say the same thing to that female? And she kicked his butt off his throne," laughed one of the other raptors.

"Sauron was short-sighted and arrogant," said Stegron.

"And you're not?" asked a raptor.

"This power we have would be accepted by all if it was given, not forced," said Stegron, "All humanity would want to become more than what they are and we can give it to them." One raptor, with wall eyes, raised a hand. "Yes, the idiotic-looking one at the back," sighed Sauron, pointing at him.

"Erm...vy ve make prey stronger?" it asked, the other raptors nodding in agreement

"There are better things to eat than humans," said Stegron, "Once you've had beef, you'll never want anything else."

There was a pause before another raptor asked "What beef?" Stegron facepalmed. This was gonna take some work.


And there's the final chapter of the Savage Land arc. There will be a few things that will be carried on the rest of the story. Namely Chloe's new form and powers that come with it. There's also a bit of unfinished business with White Tiger. I'm not sure when we'll see Stegron again though. After a busy week like that, I need to work on some more chapters so there's going to be a brief hiatus as I get things ready. Keep an eye out for when chapters start posting again and please review.