Chapter Six

To say that Harlock was bordering on frantic was an understatement. Even though he kept his face neutral, Lightningtooth could tell that he was definitely worried about Young Harlock, Tochiro Jr. and Keikai.

"They seem to be all right, so far, but I can't be sure of where they are, at this point!" Lightningtooth shouted, trying to make himself heard, over the noise of the rifles and explosions going off all around them.

"Any idea which direction they might have headed in?" Harlock asked; gritting his teeth when one shot glanced off of the rocks in front of him, and a shard from one of them buried itself in his right arm.

"I can't really tell, from here…..All I know is that they're getting closer to Emeraldas' location." Lightningtooth replied, then froze when a howl came to his ears.

"That sounded like Angel, Captain!" one of the crewmembers shouted, desperately.

"Go to her! I'll be along shortly!" Harlock growled, his tone brooking no argument from the wolf leader.

"Don't die here, old friend." Lightningtooth said, before rushing out of the safety of the outcrops.

"I don't intend to." Harlock muttered, knowing that his promise could be sensed by his friend, even if his words hadn't been heard.

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As he ran, Lightningtooth picked up the trail his mate and Emeraldas had left behind; becoming enraged the further he went.

"That bastard has even dared to harm Angel as well! I will make him pay DEARLY for that!" Lightningtooth silently raged, as he stopped briefly to utter a fierce war howl; smiling grimly to himself when he heard Keikai's voice as well, just seconds later.

"Hope I get there in time to help them, since Keikai, Young Harlock and Tochiro Jr. seem to be even closer!" Lightningtooth thought, as he quickened his pace towards the imperiled woman and wolf.

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The sight that met their eyes boiled their blood, and froze it, at the same time. A man now stood before the badly injured wolf and woman on the ground; aiming his pistol at almost point-blank range at the wolf, as both Young Harlock and Tochiro Jr. provided him with some cover, as well. With rage taking over reason, Fang charged into the fight; moving faster than he ever had before, leaping up, and slashing at the man's arm with his fangs when he was close enough. It was when the young wolf had finished getting their enemy's attention that he nodded at them and motioned for them to get behind him.

"Keikai!" the wolf said, her voice sounding quiet with shock and disbelief.

"Lady Emeraldas, are you all right?" Young Harlock asked, worriedly, when he'd gotten close enough for the woman to hear him. Startled by his presence there, Lady Emeraldas turned her gaze to him and Tochiro and stared at them in some disbelief.

"Tochiro……" Emeraldas gasped, painfully, in response.

"Are you okay, Mom?" Tochiro Jr. again asked, worriedly; his question seeming to stun the Pirate Queen more than anything else. Even after having been 'abandoned' on earth, he was still willing to call her his mother?!

"What the hell are these kids doing here? Oh well. The sooner they're out of the way, the sooner I can break the woman down." The man sneered, reminding them that he was still there, and as he pointed his pistol at Young Harlock's head.

"Don't think we're gonna let you do that so easily. You're not going to hurt her anymore." Young Harlock growled, coldly; and as Fang bared his teeth in agreement.

"K-keikai……where…..is your father?" the white wolf behind them asked, her voice now barely a strained whisper. At this, she got a reassuring smile from Fang in response.

"Don't worry, Mom. Dad's coming……he isn't that far off, now." Fang said, comfortingly, and then added, "By the way, I've got a new name now! It's Fang! Young Harlock'd named me!"

"'Fang'…..It's a good name…..It suits you very well……And Young Harlock is the boy's name, then?" the white wolf asked, tiredly. Fang nodded.

"Don't worry and rest easy, Mom. We'll hold this guy off." Fang confidently stated; ignoring the man when he sneered at them and their seemingly diminutive strength. Seconds later, the man had again fired at the son of the pirate captain, only to have another gash opened in his arm by a now-enraged Fang. Soon he was firing at both; swiftly becoming angrier by the pup's swiftness in the face of the danger before him, and taking it out on Young Harlock, seconds later by opening some wounds on his shoulders and upper arms by a few stray blaster bolts.

"Blasted kids! I'll show you!" the man roared, as he aimed his pistol at Lady Emeraldas and Tochiro Jr., yet was stopped from drawing a bead on them when Young Harlock fired and hit his shoulder, and drawing his attention back onto himself……and managing to draw the man into the open just enough for some fire from overhead to nearly hit him.

"Dad!!" Tochiro Jr. shouted, relieved beyond words that his father had finally arrived to help them in the rescue.

"T-tochiro……" Lady Emeraldas gasped, painfully, also showing very evident relief at seeing her husband come in for a landing nearby; having defeated the enemy fighters yet still managing to be ready for whatever else the man had in store for them. Yet Tochiro Jr. could only feel intense worry emerge, when he saw and felt his mother shudder in pain, and when she started to collapse……her strength was failing.

"Hang on, Mother. Don't give up now……it's almost over." Tochiro Jr. encouraged; trying to keep his mother conscious long enough to find out what exactly was wrong with her. As the man leaped out of the way of the landing space-craft, Fang saw his chance to disarm him; he dashed towards the man, slashed into him with his fangs, grabbed his gun, and then returned to Young Harlock's side.

"Nice move, Fang." Young Harlock muttered, impressed by the young wolf's quick thinking, and smirking inwardly when he heard the man cursing vehemently about the new wound, as well.

"Stand back, Young Harlock, Fang. Help Tochiro Jr get Angel and Emeraldas into the Cosmo Wing…..I'll handle this." Tochiro Sr. growled, in a tone that could very well have frozen even Captain Harlock's blood, had he heard it. As it was, both children and the wolf cub shuddered at the chilling note in it…..knowing that the man who had done this to both Emeraldas and Angel would not be getting away from this battlefield alive.

"You're gonna pay dearly for this, yarou, mark my words……" Tochiro snarled, furiously, as he felt for the pommel of his katana; his voice laden with the promise of death for the man for even looking at his wife with lust in his heart.

Author's Note!

After a long delay, here's the newest chapter for this story! In order to fully understand what is going on here, please read Ligthingtooth's story 'Unbreakable Will of Love', as well! Thanks for reading!

Gemini14