-Chapter 3-

The camp soon settled down and became quiet as the camp started wide down for the night. There was a perimeter of guards all tense waiting for any attack, while those off duty moved to the mess tents, their tents or one group and set up a campfire with rounds of coco,with a tot of alcohol in it.

Dureena walked through the camp her limp a little more settled the firelight dancing across her skin. She had had time to think time to bring herself to some kind of peace, or she thought she had. Seeing Winn-rei in the firelight made her rethink of the words she had said earlier. She would not bow down to this, stealing herself she moved to sit beside the older woman and joined in the drinking and light entertainment.

The clouds rolled over the moon prompting a few of the group to head to bed. Dureena was sat beside Winn-rei they had been chatting with others and they started to relax, she was laughing at someone one of the others said and she turned to look at the Yune-dari and found her looking straight into her eyes. She was entranced by the swirling orbs in front of her and couldn't pull herself away.

She felt the older woman move forwards. Her mind was shouting at her to pull away, a small grin on Winn-rei's face. Dureena shuddered as her cool forehead touched her heated one.

"You intrigue me." The taller woman said a purr in her voice as she stroked a hand over Dureena's shoulder, enjoying the soft skin and the way the muscles shuddered. "Do I frighten you?"

The thief wanted to say no, a flicker of stubbornness ran through her honey eyes but her mouth would not obey her brain.

"There is no need. I would never hurt you pretty one. I've been watching you and just can't help myself; But i just want a small taste" she whispered huskily, her kanine catching Dureena ear barely reddening the skin.

The thief's breath came out choked, a shudder of fear curled up from her stomach and she closed her eyes waiting for her to do what she wanted.

Breath brushed over her lips before they touched briefly before there where sudden nothing. She slid her eyes open to see Winn-rei moved backwards.

Winn-Rei wretched her hands off Dureena stumbling backwards, scrambling to her feet.

"What?" She whispered as she looked at Dureena seeing the fear in those Amber eyes. Before the smaller woman fell to the floor. Caraus burst into blue flame to get her masters attention before leading her away.

"What is she?" The technomage whispered as she was stumbling as she followed the blue light of her familiar.

"I saw it too" the creature said as she lead her mistress to a safe place. "Fascinating"

"I have no information on her. I can not bring myself to be sorry; I had a little taste." Winn-rei said as she touched her lip and grinned darkly.

"you went you far, we-" The phoenix said voice laced with scorn

"Be quiet." snapped Winn-rei as she straightened up and brushed a hand through her hair.

"Do not take me as a fool. This is not the first time I have made someone forget my little touches." She gathered herself and walked back into Dureena who was still in her seat looking like she was dozing.

The taller woman walked over to her stroking her fingers through her hair and massaged Dureena's temple as she wove new memories through Dureena's mind. Watching as confused eyes opened and looked at her, she smiled softly.

"You should go to bed before you fall asleep again. I'm sure your bed is a lot more comfortable than my knee" the technomage said with a chuckle before she sits up straight as she felt the ground shift and her probes lite up with warning.

Just outside the camp the ground started to fall away, black claws sliced through the ground and a shadow rose from the ground. Winn-rei got to her feet shouting out orders.

"Get those lights on full power" She was running towards the creature. "Your peashooters will do nothing here. Dureena get out of here and into somewhere with light. I'll do what I can to keep it back"

She didn't even stop to see if they had done as she had ordered but the area did start to get brighter but it didn't help matters as now she could see the shadow pulling itself out of the ground wasn't a shadow but onix scales edged in blood red.

"Fuck" she whispered.

The creature stood up. Claws digging into the soil deeply as it stretch its neck and bellowed loudly. Long tail whipped out slamming against the crates next to it sending them flying.

This is the biggest King Reaper she had ever seen and it was towering over her. She threw out a message across her communications system, repeating SOS.

She needed more than just her now; She just had to make sure she survived until help arrived. Her heart sank as behind the creature who was happily screaming to the sky smaller creatures slunk through the dark. She may have shouted her SOS a little bit louder and faster before she ran into the fight.

Durrena found that she was listening to Winn-reis orders as she ran through the camp, helping people get to the suttles, she could feel Cabarrus flying behind her, occasionally flashing brilliant yellow flame and a pained squeal would follow.

Dureena whipped around as a black shadow shot past her, the soldier next to her went down screaming. The smell of acid and skin rose up from him as he screamed. Dureena had to stop herself from gagging as she stumbled to her side and grabbed one of the large lights at shone in the creatures direction.

The thing screamed at her, orange flashed through its grey skin as its claws dug once more into the twitching body below it. Blank eyes flowed Dureena before the thief aimed the beam of the light directly at it. Snarling the creature took off into the shadows, slowly Dureena moved forwards, her hand reaching out slowly to the soldier, she could not find a pulse and looking at the wounds she was glad about that. She planted the light down securely to cover the area before she took off running to gather more lights and more people.

Leaving the Phoenix to circle the area, providing cover fire for those retreating to the shuttles.

Winn-rei was moving quickly as she put down as many of the smaller creatures she could, but she was glad when the lights started to be rigged up, shuttles slammed them lights on full beams to help drive the creatures away, which meant she only had the larger one to deal with who was currently tearing into the mess tent.

"I am starting to hate this place, with a passion" she muttered as she looked for the best way to attack the creature, she was glad to see that most of the crew had run for the ship, she darted forwards quickly hiding behind some crates, taking a moment to gather herself with what she needed to do. Taking a breath to calm herself she darted out, running up the tale of the creature, her claws digging into the armoured scales, her hands moving quickly when she hit it's shoulders forcing her claws deeper.

Holding on tightly as the creature bucked and arched, bellowing its discontent out as she drew on its scales, the pentagram was roughly done but it should be enough she hoped as she rammed her rod down. The scales behind the rod shattered and separated, clamping down the rod but the creature did not stop moving, in fact it seemed to moving a lot more.

"Shit" she cursed as she looked for the best way off the creature, but her eyes landed on the Captain, out of all the crew what was he doing here. "Run!"

She unhooked herself and jumped down off the creature as quickly as she could and ran towards him, shoving him forwards to run towards the shuttles. They had a few moments before the creature stopped being distracted by the rod embedded in its head.

"What are you doing here Captain?" she panted as she shoved the captain behind some crates as the large creature bellowed loudly, realising that she had disappeared from its view.

"Offering you a ride." the Captain pantead back, pulling his PPG out and aiming at one of the smaller creatures, shooting it before Winn-rei could stop him. There was a moment of silence before claws ripped the crates they were hiding behind away.

The King Reaper let loose a bone chilling roar before it launched forwards, the rod catching one of the lights and tumbling to the side, Gideon pulled Winn-rei out of the way and started to lead the way to the shuttles. Winn-rei snatched her rod up and grinned widely.

"I think I'll take you up on that." she ran after the human, she had a second warning before she felt the rush of the razor sharp tale slamming into some tents beside them, she shoved the human to the floor and a shield circled them. The contents of the tent shattered against the shield so Winn-rei took a breath, which stuck in her throat as the tale went through the shield like a hot knife through butter, slamming into her side and through her shoulder. She paled as she felt the bones snapping, gold blood pooled around the wound and splattered across the ground as the tale was yanked back out, she slumped to the side, Gideon the only reason she did not hit her head on the floor.

Gideon moved her to lean against his chest as he brought his PPG up leveling with the creatures eye. He pulled the trigger and the creature exploded.

Winn-rei's eyes closed for a moment before she started to smile, she might not recognise the words that she had caught on the air before the creature had died, but she had an inkling of who had shown up. She paused to start the healing process on herself, waving off Gideon's hand as she stood up.

"Took your sweet time, didn't you?" she checked her wound to watch the skin knitting together, before looking up at the cloaked figure in front of her

"Matthew" came a quick greeting before the figure removed his hood. "Winn-rei, I would say nice to see you, but you look like death."

"Galen." Muttered Gideon as he saw the cloak be removed before he sat down on a rock, his side was hurting a little from where he had been thrown down by Winn-rei.

"Very funny Pip-squeak." laughed Winn-rei breathlessly. Her shoulder was not healed completely at the moment. She appraised Galen and purred slightly. "Well you grew up nicely."

Galen nodded slightly as he moved to check on Matthew who gave him a dark look to stay away, knowing not to bother with that fight he moved to help Rei, helping her sit on a rock.

"You killed a King Reaper on your own?" She questioned a little in shock as the events played back through her mind. She took a breath and let it out slowly as she checked her over, the tale had not hit any of her tech luckily, so she was able to shut down her pain receptors. After a moment she rose and was surprised to see she had to now look up at Galen. "And you've grown."

"Yes Rei, that is a fact of life." Galen chuckled lightly as he turned to look back at Gideon who was getting to his feet.

"I believe Matthew that I told you about these kind of places, and to avoid them."

Gideon kept the dark look on his face before he started to move towards Winn-rei. "That wound looked nasty, we should let the doctor look at it."

"Really there is no-need." she said happily as she showed where it had gone in, all that was left was a yellowing mark and bruising. "I can deal with it myself."

Matthew nodded and stood up to his full height before turning to leave. "Let's get to the shuttle then."

"Oh! Galen?" Winn-rei said as she stood, placing a hand on the Captain's shoulder. " Do you wish me to leave, so that you can lecture your charming charismatic captain friend.? or may i; watch you scold him?" She grinned darkly as she decided that she wanted to see how different Galen reacted.

"Not right now, what I want is to know why you are here of all places Winn-rei?"

"I have my reasons. Not that it's anything to do with you." Winn-rei stood straight her tail flicking a little in annoyance, she had hoped to move Galen's attention onto his friend and not her, she grinned darkly. "For my research nothing more, though there is a sweet thing here that could be uncovered a lot more, Dureena was it?"

Galens eyes flashed a little at the name and he frowned as he looked at her. She took this as a que to try and leave but a fireball brushed passed her head, it had been small and a warning, she narrowed her eyes and fixed him with a glare.

" Are you trying to challenge me?" She hissed, she was tired and was still healing.

"Really Winn-rei?" Galen shook his head as she looked at him " There would be no challenge at the moment. What I want is answers to my questions."

Gideon sighed and got up from his rock. "I'm going to leave you to it, I have a ship to check on." he couldn't believe that in a field of battle these two decided to squabble like children. The techno mages didn't seem to notice him leaving as they were eyeballing each other.

The night moved on and the dawn chill moved across the land, seeing Winn-rei shiver a little, Galen suggested they moved this talk to his ship. They had been going over the time that they had been apart, being alone with Galen, Rei felt a little more secure to speak about things she had been keeping back and only what he wished to tell her.

" I wish i had stayed in the order" she confessed as she hugged herself, careful of her still healing arm. " things may not of gotten this bad."

" You could not of changed anything,winn-rei." Galen said as he put a blanket around her, he looked her over critically. " when did you last feed?"

"Haven't had time to have more than a taste." she tried to grin to push away his worry, but she knew by the look in his eyes she had failed.

"Who?" Galen asked, his voice calm as he moved around his ship making them both a hot drink.

"Dureena." she looked at the star scape outside the cockpit window. "I made her forget. Something-"

"She had a bad life before meeting me." Galen passed over the tea as he sat down opposite her. "I'm not glad you tried to feed from her, but i'm glad you stopped."

Suddenly angry she growled and glared at the younger Technomage. "I have never been responsible for breaking anyones spirit when i feed. I always go for those willing."

Casaarus squawked loudly ending the argument before they started, she turned her attention to him quickly. "Your human have a death wish"

"They are not my humans," Galen corrected before moving to his controls. "You stay here i'll go and get them."

"You only killed the king, The Queen is bigger and a lot more dangerous. You can't go alone." She said as she got to her feet wincing as she moved. She brought up her probs for them both to see.

"Max." breathed Galen. "Out of all those who would have gone down again."

"I say leave him to his fate" Winn-rei said darkly once she realised who it was. "One less obnoxious idiot to deal with."

"Maximillion might be obnoxious, and sometimes forgets to think before doing something, but he's useful. Also if we have noticed him going down, Matthew will have noticed and will follow him"

"Really now? This captain Gideon is very important to you then?" she smirked. "Just to make sure they are safe, i'm coming with you. Darling….."

Galen froze for a moment at remembering her using that word in the past, it gave Winn-rei chance to open the door of the ship and step back out onto the planet, as she had timed it with him landing. The Woman had run to her ship which she had called to the same place and shut the door before the other Technomage could follow.

Once she was settled in her seat, her arm supported by the arm of her chair, she sent a message to Galen.

I thank you for killing the King, but I have a Queen I really want to dethrone. I have information for you on these creatures for you to study later, I need authorisation to connect to your systems.

She waited for him to respond, tapping her foot in annoyance as he didn't respond, she sent a second message and was ignored again.

"Caseras start hacking, Galen is being boring and I do not like being ignored." she said, the interface flashing up in front of her, her phoenix landed on her shoulder and linked with the ship, orange tail wrapping around Winn-reis uninjured arm.

"Commencing hack" the bird said as he put his wing over his head, muttering how the security was very complex."

" He always did have a knack for equations. Do your best my partner." she sat back waiting, she used the time to focus on healing the bone in her shoulder. About fifteen minutes later Cabarrus ruffled his feathers to let her know he had gotten in. "Excellent" dropping off her information she stopped as she saw a folder she was curious about.

"Download copies of those." she said motioning to the documents marked Shadow Tech. The download started before stopping at 2% before her ship shut down. Galen had found her. " Fuck me, Cabarrus you ok?"

"Yes" came the curt reply as the bird unwound himself from her arm. "He has shut down 90% of our systems"

That was a very foolish thing you did right then, you're lucky it didn't shut everything down. How much did you obtain?' Winn-rei now knew there was something that he was hiding.

Winn-rei bristled at the way he spoke to her, he was hiding something in that folder and she was going to find you.

"What are you hiding Galen, what information have you got on Shadow tech?" she demanded sitting up straight ignoring pain through her shoulder as she glared. "If you are messing around-"

"It is none of your concern Winn-rei, purely research which I have not put in order yet." Galen said smoothly, but the female had known this boy growing up, she knew he was hiding something.

"Your lying" she whispered as she realised, she looked at the percentage she had been able to download. "I don't know what about but you are messing with something you should not be touching. Do you not remember any of the mistakes which happened before?"

Galen read her message again, yes he knew that there had been issues with his quest, and with Shadow tech, but surely she must realise it was better to have information against your enemies as well as your allies.

He had a folder where he stored information on all of the people he met, including Winn-rei. She had been so alien to him that he had been especially fascinated by her, and the way she learnt from the same teacher as Ty. He had been brimming with questions when he had first seen her, but had unfortunately been too shy to ask any of them. Maybe one day he could do that, get her to sit down over a cup of hot tea and he could ask all the childish questions he had wanted to know.

Though would that mean giving Winn-rei the chance to ask him questions, questions that maybe he was not ready to answer. Ones that may dig up guilt that he had not yet been able to put to rest.

Isabella. his dear Isabella, he had put all he had into being with her, and he had let her dei because he was week. He fort with his mind to bring up a happy memory of her, it didn't hurt so much now, remembering her those eyes, her flushed skin, her silken hair befor there inisiation and skillful hands, his stomach twitch slightly as the blue eyes morphed into passionate Amber ones. He gasped as he pulled him back to the matter in hand. A certain Red head trying to once more attack his security.

He let out a frustrated sigh before smiling, letting her get the full file, though he had hidden all he wanted hidden with in the code. He was not sure if he wanted Rei to find it all, or just trust he had given her all there was to know.

TBC