"Comerade, what is it?" Exile cried, running over to her.

"It's Hunter,' she whispered. She couldn't explain how, but Hunter's presence suddenly overwhelmed her, as if he was standing right beside her.

"I'm alive!" Hunter seemed to be calling out to her. "I'm alive! Help me, Colleen, I need you!"

"Colleen!" Exile cried. "Colleen, tell me what is wrong?"

Colleen then turned to him. "Nothing is wrong," she said. 'I just felt Hunter.. Exile…maybe he's still alive."

Exile bowed his head. "What do you mean? I know how upset you are..but you saw his body! We just scattered his ashes, just now. He's dead. You know that! He's gone." Thoughts were filling up in her mind, like puzzle pieces she couldn't quite fit together. They were trying to tell her to dig deeper, then she would understand. Exile then pulled her gentily to her feet. "Come, Comerade. Let's go inside. You can have some tea."

Blitz then walked outside. "Colleen, how'd you get out here so fast? I swear, I thought I just heard you come inside!"

Colleen gasped, Groomer! She was there! She had come again, to try to get another one of them! Quickly she rushed back inside. "GROOMER!!!" she yelled. "GROOMER, WHERE ARE YOU, YOU COWARD?! COME OUT HERE AND FACE ME, DAMN YOU! WHERE ARE YOU?!" But she searched in every hiding place in headquarters. She was nowhere to be found.

Groomer was standing very close to the White House, something had told her to come back there. She had held her computer in her hand, still no luck summoning the Clone. Parvo MUST have reprogrammed it, he MUST have! "Well," thought Groomer. "Two can play at that game!" She would return to their hideout unseen, build her own Hunter Clone, she knew how to do it, let one Clone kill the other, and then use her Hunter Clone to get Parvo. In the end, only one could remain.

Colleen paced around her room, sweat glistening on her forehead and her hands. She had heard what she had heard, there was no question about it. Exile was right, they HAD just scattered Hunter's ashes into the ocean. But how could that be when she could feel him alive? She could FEEL it! She knew, she just KNEW he couldn't, just couldn't be dead. He called to her, she heard his voice. She went over to her mirror, trying to think things over, trying to fit the pieces together in her mind like a jigsaw puzzle.

She stared at her disheveled reflection staring back at her. Ordinarily a sight like that would have repulsed her and she would immidiately begin to brush her hair and wash her face. Ordinarily she HATED to not look her best. Now all of that seemed silly and unimportant. When WAS the last time she had brushed her hair? The last time she had washed her face? She just couldn't even remember now.

Heaving a sigh that seemed to come from the bottom of her heart, she grasped the dresser and bowed her head, who was she kidding? She had scattered the ashes herself, he was dead. But if he was, then why did she hear him, why did she FEEL him just now? Was she truly going crazy? God, how could she be expected to lead the team if she wasn't even sure of her own sanity. She raised her head and gasped...Hunter was staring right back at her from the mirror, his eyes as gentile and kind as ever, but he was weak and tired. He reached out to her. "Help me, Colleen!" he cried. 'I need you!"

"Tell me where you are!" She cried, putting her hands on the mirror. "Help me find you!"

"Find the key," Hunter answered. "The key to unlock the secret," with that he started to fade away.

"What key? Which key?" Colleen cried. "No, Hunter, don't leave me! I'll find it, I swear I will!" But it was just her own face staring back at her once more. She cried bitterly and pounded her fist on the mirror, leaning her face against it. "Hunter!" She sobbed. "Hunter!!" She raised her head at last. It had happened again, she had felt him, she had seen him. She was NOT going crazy, he was there, HE WAS ALIVE!

Mrs. Blair came down the stairs of Buckenham Palace the next day and went to Colleen's doghouse. She was still laying with her head on her paws but she didn't look quite so depressed now. Maybe Sophie was right, maybe she WAS just heartsick and in morning. Sophie had suggested that the only thing Mrs. Blair could do for Colleen was spend as much time with her as possible, hold her, and just be there for her...the same way she would do for a person in morning.

The Prime Minister and his wife managed to do that whenever they could find Colleen and whenever their schedules allowed, and it seemed to be working. Mrs. Blair was always worried now when Colleen went off on one of her "outings", and was always relieved when she came home safe and sound. She glanced over at the food dish and breathed a sign of relief when she saw it half-empty- at least Colleen was eating again, which was a GREAT relief. She knelt in front of the doghouse and stroked Colleen's reddish-brown fur. "Hello, baby," she whispered.

Colleen lifted her head. She stroked her right between her ears. "Oh. I wish you could tell me how you're feeling. But you DO look much better." She hugged her gently. "Lovely baby," she whispered. "You know I love you. Believe me, I'll always be here for you. If you want to do ANYTHING at all, Sweetheart, please don't hesitate. Just come into the house, no matter what I'm here."

Colleen responded by giving her a tender lick on the cheek. She held Colleen's paw for as long as she could, until she saw the Queen's limo slowly begin to pull up. Quickly she stood up and brushed the dirt from her skirt. She curtsied properly to the Queen as Colleen came out of her doghouse and stood by her. She barked quietly. Mrs. Blair looked down at her. "It's ok, Sweetheart, she's probably the last person you want to see. She's mine too for that matter. Don't worry, you can go." Colleen barked and went back into the doghouse. She was right, Colleen was feeling a bit better, if only she knew the real reason why.

Hunter stared through a veil of darkness that surrounded him and threatened to swallow him up inside of it. "Find the key!" he begged. "The key to opening the secret!"

Colleen was frantic. "What do you mean?" she asked. "How do I find it?"

"Dig deeper,"Hunter urged. "You're almost there!" Immediately he was swallowed up in the darkness and the scenery changed into the beach lit by the light of the full moon. Suddenly, to Colleen's eyes, the entire peaceful silence of the beach was destroyed by the sounds of guns exploding and a huge orange ball glowing in the distance. To her horror she saw Hunter step out of the explosion, but she knew it wasn't the real one. She knew those unfeeling, robot-like eyes by now. This Hunter moved toward her carefully.

She began to turn and run but she ran into another Hunter, another one with cold, unfeeling eyes. She tried to move, but she discovered to her horror she had run into quicksand! She could not move, no matter how hard she tried, she just kept sinking. She could not move anywhere except downward. The second Hunter removed his face to reveal Groomer, her ebony hair flapping in the wind. She and the phony Hunter descended on Colleen, waving their pistols like glittering batons...

Colleen sat up in the doghouse, breathing hard. She rested her head on her paws again. 'I have to think this through rationally," she thought. "Find the key, the key must be in my dream. But what is the key? Why are there two Hunters?" Come to think of it, in her dreams there had ALWAYS been two Hunters. "Two Hunters? is that the secret?"

She blinked back tears of frustration. "Why can't I understand?" One puzzle piece was missing. That was Hunter's key. "Where is the key?" She thought. "How do I find it?" Suddenly part of her nightmare came rushing back to her.. Hunter tumbling from the cliff to the rocks below. Before long he would be crushed. Hunter was alive, but he didn't have much time. Colleen's heart quickened. She knew now Hunter would die again if she didn't find him...and this time it would be for real.

Later that night, the bells of Saint Paul's Cathedral were tolling the peaceful late-night chimes.. Colleen carefully stepped out of the shadows, after checking to see if anyone else was round to see her. Carefully she made her way up the stairs. She had gone here every Sunday with the Prime Minister to Church, and before then she had sat outside and listened to the service, but never before had she gone in alone, much less in Cano-Sapien form. But she felt she HAD to. So much had gone on..so much was on her mind, this seemed like she most common place to go, if only to try to get some help and guidence.

Quietly she opened the heavy door and went inside, almost forgetting how the lovely stained glass windows, unbelievable statues, and flickering candlelight always managed to take her breath away. It was so beautiful she stood there spellbound for a second before she went to one of the farthest pews, knelt down, and crossed herself. She looked up to Heaven.

"Dear Father," she began. "I know you've seen the events that have happened these past few days, so you probably know what's going on. Dear Lord, I have to confess to you...I know I must seem crazy to everyone else...but I know in your eyes I'm not. Dear God, I know Hunter's alive...I just KNOW it..I hear his voice, I feel his presence. Father..I don't know what it all means..I don't know if I AM going crazy. We've scattered his ashes, I saw it myself, I did it myself, so why do I feel him, Lord? But, whatever the case, I will leave it in your hands. I am the Leader of the Rovers now, Father, and I'm scared. I don't know if I could be as good a Leader as Huntie was..after all, I don't think I was born to do it like Huntie. I don't have his speed..I don't even have his Leadership Abilities. I've always been the Second, Father, NEVER the actual leader. Everything depends on me now, and I'm afraid. Especially with all of this going on. God, I don't think I'm crazy, I really don't. But I DO think maybe he should have chosen Exile to be Leader, he DOES seem far more strong willed. I don't know if he made his decision too quickly. But it was made, and I pray that I can do it. I'm really scared, Father, and I turn to you for help. Please, Lord, help me and give me the strength I will need as Leader. Help me to be brave so that I my guide the footsteps of my Team. Help me to keep my feelings in check and give me discipline I will need in my martial-arts. Help me to make the right decisions and steer clear of the wrong ones. Please, Father, help me find the Groomer and help me get her for this. I may not be sure of Hunter..but I AM sure she did kill him, because THAT I did see. Please help me get her and Parvo soon. Lord..also..if Hunter is in fact dead...please watch over him up there, take care of him for us. But I do pray that my hunches are right and he is still alive, and if he is, Lord, please give me a sign. Let me know that he is alive and trying to tell me something. I pray for this sign and hope it may come soon. Help me to be strong and please help me with the Missions I must lead. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

She finished the prayer and crossed herself. As she was standing up to go, she became aware of a presence. Her heart beat for joy, because now she knew what it meant. Hunter WAS there, he was all around her. He WAS alive, THIS was what she had prayed for.

"I'm alive!" Hunter's voice came, loud and clear. "You're almost there, dig deeper."

"I'll dig, Huntie," she whispered. "I know now..I WILL find you!" She stared at the alter. "Thank you, Lord," she said. "Thank you so much." Just then, the all-too-familiar light shone on her.

"Colleen, come to headquarters." Master said. Taking a deep, breath, she started on her way, more sure of herself than ever.

Exile sat at the table in Headquarters, his head in his hands. He was listening with glowing alarm as Colleen was pacing around the room. "He's in danger," she muttered, 'I have to go to him."

Exile reached out and grabbed her hand to stop her. "What in the world are you talking about, Colleen?" He asked. "You are scaring me, and you're scaring the team. Come on, sit down and tell us about it."

Colleen shook her head. "I can't," she said. "You didn't believe me about Groomer, and you won't believe me about this, either."

"Comerade, believe us, we'll listen. Just sit down and talk to us."

"You have been acting strangely ever since we came back from the funeral," Blitz said. "Tell us what's going on."

Colleen finally sat down, but they could see her mind was still going a mile a minute, as if she was trying to piece together something. "Exile, Bitz, Shag, I know this is gonna sound crazy, but I could feel Hunter at the Memorial Service."

Blitz sighed. 'I know, Colleen. I felt him, too. You were absolutely right when you said the funeral should be held here. This was the perfect place to say good-bye."

"No, Blitz," Colleen shook her head. "That's not what I meant." Exile sighed. He was beginning to have doubts about Colleen's sanity. Had Hunter's death pushed her over the edge? Was she heading toward some kind of breakdown? He had thought the Rovers had hit rock bottom with Hunter's death. Were they going to lose their new leader before she even had a chance?

"What did you mean then, Comerade?" He asked. "describe how you felt."

"Well...it was like I was having an intuition. Like I felt that night, just before I went into Huntie's room."

"You mean you felt his spirit with you? I can understand that, as close as you were."

"No!" She said, pounding her fist on the table. "I didn't just feel his spirit, I felt HIM!! He was there, next to me. He was calling to me, he's all alone, and he needs our help!" She took a deep breath. "I believe Hunter is still alive."

Exile felt a prickling at the back of his neck. "This is exactly why I should have been the leader," he heared Blitz mumble. Exile responded by kicking him underneath the table.

"Hush up," he whispered to him before turning back to Colleen. "I know how difficult this is for you, Comerade. You haven't slept well in days, you barely eat, and you're not thinking straight. But you don't have to face this alone. We'll all help you."

"I'm not the one who needs help!" Colleen said loudly. "Hunter does. We have to find him!"

Exile grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her. "No, Colleen, you have to come to terms with reality, for all our sakes. Hunter is dead." Colleen raised her hands, and Exile quickly removed his hands from her shoulders. She bowed her head, there was no one who was going to help her. She truly was alone. Slowly she shook her head.

"I don't care what you say, or what anyone says for that matter," she said quietly staring at the table. "I don't understand what's happening, but all I know is that I felt Hunter. Several times these past few days, and I'm gonna find a way to help him. But you're right about one thing, I'm not thinking straight."

"No, you're not," Exile said as Blitz and Shag nodded their heads.

"That's why I'm gonna go to my room and practice my martial-arts for a while," she explained. "Hopefully by doing that it'll relax me enough to put the pieces together to help Hunter. And that's what I'm gonna do. Let me know once the Master gets here."

The hospital lights were blinding Groomer as she made her way across the lab toward the beakers of blood. She knew just which kind to get, which DNA to match and compare too. Once she had all the ingrediants together, she would sneak back to the hideout, make her own Hunter Clone, and let it sniff out Parvo's to destroy it, then he could turn around and immidiately destroy PARVO, too! Then Storm! She had the technology now, she could do it! Once she did, then she could begin her own master plan, and the world would be hers to rule, all HERS!!

Parvo and Storm stood near the entrance to their hideout, waiting for the megalomaniac friends of theirs to arrive in their stretch limos.

"Any minute now, they'll be here," he said. "We have to make sure and run the final systems check on our masterpieces before we can pass them off."

"Will do," Storm answered. "But..uh..what should we do with our problem down in the basement?"

"First things first," Parvo said. "We show off our inventions to our friends and get the money from them, then we go into the Headquarters to get at the Rovers..but this time we do it MY way, then when they're all together, we can kill two birds with one stone..or five birds as the case my be!" he started to laugh, joined by Storm. "After all, we've been instrumenting torture enough, I think. THAT problem should be the easiest one to take care of."

"Then we take care of HER?" Storm asked.

"As soon as we find her, I'd like to get THAT scolding out of the way as soon as possible."

"JUST a scolding?"

"I don't know yet, don't bother me with this now! Go into the Clone Control Room and be ready to summon the Clones when I signal you." Storm nodded and raced inside.