Ranger James Davidson, Log Three, Morning of Day Three.

Operation was a success. Five slaves rescued, zero fatalities, one injury. My new companion, Mia, received an arrow wound to her lower right shin. Treated to the best of my abilities, but I'm no Ranger Brooks. Will require re-dress soon.

Mia is a vulpine keidran, female. Was captured and then brought to town of Maine by caravan. Has agreed to be guide on local customs. Thankful for the help.

Additionally, it turns out female keidran have longer fur, which hides anything... private, so she allowed me to briefly study her anatomy while she was armoring up this morning. As far as I am aware, subject possesses almost identical physiology to humans, though, according to Mia, they go into estrus like their smaller, our-world counterparts. She assures me it won't be for a few weeks, and that it'll be no trouble to overcome.

Managed to break the locks on her collar and wrist shackles with a thin rapier blade and my knife applying torque. Cut up remaining boot of her armour, and made it into plating for the top of her feet, as keidran can apparently walk better barefoot. During further conversation with Mia, have discovered that, wherever I am, there is an energy known as 'mana', capable of being harnessed through the ground by humans, and through unknown type of crystal by keidran, and used for various purposes, from controlling the elements, to healing. Will attempt to capitalize on this as soon as possible to mend Mia's wound.

Left Maine behind, heading south in attempt to link up with other rangers."

"Is that the recorder you mentioned? Strange, it's so small."

"I'll show your it another time, Mia. For now,

Log ends."

"So," Mia continued, "Where to now?"

"For now, just further south. Eventually, I want to find the other rangers in my team."

"What is a ranger?" she asked, sitting down next to me.

"Well," I replied, trying to think about how to word this, " a ranger is... someone who protects others from those that would do them harm."

"So you're basically a paladin then? That's very noble of you."

"Uh, thanks. I think." I replied, trying my hardest to remember what a paladin was.

"Not many humans even tolerate keidran, never mind rescue them. I am truly in your debt."

"Anyone from my world would've done the same thing. It's nothing really." I replied, shrugging.

"Well, your world sounds like a lovely place. I'd love to visit it." Mia said.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, we've got our bad spots too. Why else do you think I'm armed? There's always the sad story on the news about some person who's been murdered, or a terrorist who's blown up some place. I had always wanted to work as a ranger, I just didn't know that it would somehow lead me here."

"I suppose we're quite similar," she replied, stretching her arms, "I became a huntress because I wanted to protect people, and I never really expected to be anywhere else either. And yet, there I was in Maine."

"Well, that didn't turn out well for old 'Colliah' in the end. Glad to have you with me, Mia."

We packed up camp, taking a bedroll each. Mia carried only her rapier as a weapon. I decided I would teach her how to use the revolver at some point. We continued, trekking at a slow pace due to Mia's limping, for a good 90 minutes or so, breakfasting on an MRE each, before I noticed a bizarrely familiar sight ahead.

"Oh, no way! Yes! Hell yes! Woo-ho-ho-hoo!" I yelled, punching the air.

"What?" Mia asked, "What is that thing?"

"It's a quad bike! Hell yeah!" I cheered, refusing to believe my extreme luck. But there, turned on it's side but otherwise unharmed, was a Ranger ATV, the same one Ranger Jacobs had left riding two days before the rest of us. With some assistance from Mia, the two of us quickly had it over on it's wheels. There was a large pouch on either side of the rear. In one was an M1911 handgun, a cleaning and repair kit, holster, three clips for the gun, an odd-looking stone and a box of what looked like a few dozen, near enough a hundred, .45 ACP rounds. In the other was a medkit, a few bottles of water, a signal flare, a torch with a solar charger, six MREs and two sets of ski goggles. The ATV ran on an electric powerplant, with a range of a couple dozen miles from full charge.

"Hot damn," I noted, "Jacobs was sure expecting a fight, if he packed this much."

"I wonder where he is. Or why he left this behind." Mia wondered aloud. I tried to start the engine, to no avail.

"That's why," I replied, "It won't start. It's out of charge. Dammit."

"Wait," Mia said, after a moment's thought, "'charge'? It runs on electricity? Like lightning?"

"Yeah, it does. Why?"

"Let me see that stone for a moment." She told me, holding out her hand. I obliged, and she gripped it tightly. "Yes," she said after a moment, "I thought so."

"What is it?" I asked, not catching on.

"This," the vixen replied, holding it between her thumb and middle finger, "is a mana crystal."

"Oh, really? I wonder where he go- hey, we could fix your foot!" I realised.

"We could," she said, gripping it tighter, "But I don't know any healing spells. I do, however, know an electrical one. I suggest you stand clear."

Her eyes now glowed the same cyan as the crystal, and I backpedalled out of the way. She reached her empty left hand out, yelled "Electromentis!", and a five-second-long surge of electricity leapt from her fingers, connecting with the side of the ATV. The engine whined to life, then quieted to a low idle purr.

"There," she said after a few seconds, "I'd say that's much better."

"I agree. Here," I said, handing her a set of goggles, "put these on, and hop on the back." I mounted the four-wheeler with little effort, and it tipped back on it's suspension slightly as Mia climbed onto the rear.

"Hold on." I told her, revving the engine. She grabbed me with both arms around my torso, and her face leaned over my right shoulder, looking rather comical with the goggles on. I took off at a moderate pace, kicking up dirt as the tyres found their grip, and then I really put the throttle down, taking care not to hit any trees.

"A-ah!" I heard Mia yell, tightening her grip. Christ, she was going to crush my ribs, if she held onto me any tighter.

Eventually, we found an open track road, going south, and I steered us out of the trees and down.

We were off.

So, funny story;

I was sitting in me local library, minding my own business and reading Halo: The Thursday War (Good read, Thank you, Halo-fan/Librarian) and I looked onto some random guy's screen at a glance.

He was reading the opening chapter of Star Fox: Second Chances.

I swear to Christ, my heart skipped a beat or two, mostly out of shock. I didn't tell him who I was, but it's nice to know someone cares.

New chapter soon. Once I'm done here, Im going to finish Halo: Reunion and then Star Fox: Ghosts of the Past, in that order.

Peace,

Wing