Hokay, so hopefully you all remember the character I introduce in this chapter. She didn't have much of a role in the last fiction, and she was rather young. She's more grown up now...


Ratchet breathed in deeply as he stepped out of his ship. Years had passed since the Lombaxes return, and he still felt a warm glow in his chest every time he looked around. The ravaged buildings were gone, replaced by new, sturdy ones. He glanced up at the sign on the building in front of him, thrilling at being able to finally read Lombax runes.

Fastoon High School.

At this time of day, the steps were crowded, as young Lombaxes left for home. Ratchet noticed one male was covered in scratches and bites, a disgruntled expression on his face, and a nasty suspicion began to grow in his head. He pushed it aside and followed the locker lined corridor down to the principals office. He knocked quietly on the door.

"Come in."

"You wanted to see me, Ms Harkan?" he said, stepping inside. Then he noticed the girl in the chair in front of the principals desk. She looked up, caught his eye, and looked away, ears drooping guiltily. Ratchet sighed.

"Not again..."


Half an hour later.

Shona slumped down in Aphelions seat, arms crossed and scowling at nothing. She remained silent as her adoptive father started up the ships engines, his face like thunder. She waited until they had been flying for some time before beginning a mental countdown.

Three. Two...

"I'm very disappointed in you, Shona."

One...

She snarled quietly.

"I regret nothing..."

"Fighting again! You know better than this!"

"He called me a monster, dad!"

"And what do you do? You go and prove him right."

"I wouldn't have to fight if they'd just leave me alone!"

"You're setting a terrible example for your brothers! You know they look up to you!"

"So?" She snorted. Frankly, Shona didn't care much what her twin brothers thought of her. They did too much damn thinking anyway. She was pretty sure ten year olds weren't meant to be that bright. It was as irritating as heck, especially when they built their devices using parts from her hair dryer. Again.

Ratchet sighed, looking sadly at her huddled form. He had never known Shona to be happy. There had been happy moments, yes, but even then there had been glints of pain in her eyes. He flashed back to her rescue momentarily. She had been taken from the Lombax dimension at a very young age, kidnapped by the walking embodiment of evil known as Kaos. In her dark stronghold, Kaos had used highly illegal gene science to turn the girl into the ultimate fighter. She had planned to use the procedure on her henchmen once it had been perfected, but Kaos hadn't reckoned on Ratchet. Him and his bond mate Jasmine had rescued her, and deleted the files on her procedure. When the Lombaxes had returned, they found themselves unable to see her go to an orphanage, and had adopted her.

It had been a rocky road since then. Teased and mocked by her class mates, Shona had begun to retreat into herself, emerging from her shell only when the mocking grew too intense. When that happened, she lashed out, inflicting nasty wounds on all present with her modified claws and fangs. Her outward appearance reflected her temper. Piercings dangled in her ears. A stud glittered in her eye brow. She had dyed her hair black, contrasting with her yellow fur. It was common for markings to migrate as Lombaxes grew, and in addition to the stripes on her ear and arms, two black streaks ran down from each eye, one running down to her nose like a cheetah, the other running down from the middle of her eye like a tear drop. Everything about her, from her short, spiky hair, to the studded dog collar around her neck, to the tattered punk clothes she wore, snarled at the world:

Back. Off.

"Shona, please..."

She turned to him, blue eyes flashing. Even her eyes were changed, pupils slitted like a cats.

"Just leave me alone, dad! I don't need your pity!" She huffed angrily, scowling.

"I know it's hard for you, Shona, but please let me help you-"

"You know nothing."

Ratchet's voice hardened.

"Now listen to me, Shona-"

They shot forwards as something slammed into them.

"Aah! What the hell?"

He glanced in the rear view mirror. A sleek black ship flew close behind them. Ratchet growled. "What's he playing at? There's plenty of room to go around!"

The ship hit them again.

"I think they're trying to run us down!" Shona said, claws extending automatically.

Ratchet hit the accelerator, groaning in disbelief as the pursuers kept up easily. Shona's heart sank as she recognised the bulky shape in the drivers seat.

"It's a Blarg!" she moaned, fear pouring over her. She knew only one Blarg that could have a reason to go after her...

No. Please, no...

Aphelions voice echoed through the cockpit.

"My thrusters have been damaged. I'm going down."

"Oh no..." Ratchet fought with the controls as Aphelion soared inexorably downwards. They were being forced down over a rocky expanse, barely a mile from their home. Ratchet gritted his teeth. If they could make it home, the pursuers stood no chance. Other ships had joined the chase now, seeking to cut them off from safety.

Aphelion barely managed to get her landing flaps down before they hit the ground, skidding along slightly before she got herself under control.

"Get ready to defend yourself!" Ratchet snapped, grabbing his wrench and drawing a pistol in one swift movement. They burst out of the ship, and right into the middle of chaos. Shona swiped at a Blarg with a snarl, part of her deep inside howling with satisfaction as her claws ripped through skin and flesh like a hot knife through butter. The Blarg dropped back, swearing and clutching his arm, and she turned to the other one sneaking up behind her, shredding the net he was attempting to drop over her head. Ratchet was right in the thick of things, holding his own against the seemingly never ending hordes. Clouting one over the head, he shouted over at Shona.

"Get to the house and contact Jasmine! You gotta protect your-"

He never finished the sentence, scrabbling at the dart embedded in his neck. His eyes began to glaze over, and he swayed, still pulling uselessly at the dart.

"Dad!"

"Go...Leave me..."

"No!"

"Got to...no chance...Protect Kaden...Alister...they need you..." He slumped to the ground, sinking into unconsciousness with a sigh. Shona sized up the odds. With Ratchet down, the remaining Blarg were going after her. Hating herself for leaving him, she turned and ran, hot tears streaming down her face. Her house appeared in the horizon, just as the sound of screaming reached her ears.

"Kaden! Alister!" She redoubled her efforts as her brothers screams grew more desperate. She reached the house in time to see a burly Blarg barge out of the front door, her twin brothers wriggling and kicking under his arms. Their black fur was dusty and streaked with blood, their bottle green eyes dull with terror. Kaden saw her first.

"Shona! Help us!"

She hissed, crouching down in preparation to leap. The Blarg merely laughed.

"Don't you go anywhere, sweet heart..."

Shona sprang...

And landed flat on her face. She scrabbled to her feet with a cry of anger and frustration. The Blarg had been teleported away at the last minute, taking her brothers with them. She could hear more approaching, and knew she had to act. Pausing only to take a gun down from the weapons cupboard, (The cupboard door was locked. It didn't even slow her down) she bolted out to the garage, ripping the sheet off a covered shape. A blue ship gleamed in the early evening light, all sleek lines and tinted glass. Her and Ratchet had been restoring it from its rusty, broken down beginning for years, a father-daughter project. She reached inside and hit the ignition.

"Come on, come on, turn on already!"

The ships engines began to hum, and it rose up gently. A pleasant male voice issued from inside.

"Is there a problem?"

"You bet your exhaust pipes there's a problem, Epsilon! It's time to go!"

"But my grav-o-metric stabilizers are not yet fully calibrated..."

"Screw the stabilizers! We gotta get moving!"

"All right then. Will you select a destination?"

"Away from here!"

"Very good."

Shona scrabbled inside just as she heard voices.

"Where is she?"

"I hear an engine. She's out by the garage!"

"Don't let her get away! The boss'll have our hides!"

Frantically, she hit the engines roared into life.

"Preparing for take off in three-"

Three Blargs charged into the garage.

"-two-"

One levelled his gun, grinning nastily.

"-one!"

The invaders were knocked down like nine-pins as Epsilon engaged his hyper thruster, streaking into the sky. In moments, they were in the outer stratosphere of Fastoon. They were safe. For now.

"Epsilon, contact the Praetorian Guard Lumos outpost. My mothers on duty there."

"Patching you through now."

For a moment, the screen showed static, then:

"Lombax Praetorian Guard, you're speaking with Sergeant Kyzel, can I help you?"

"Um, is my mama there? She's Liutenant Cain."

"Cain? She's out on patrol at the moment. Funny thing, though, she should have been back by now, it's not like her to be late."

Shona's heart sank. They had her too...

"Is there a problem, kid?"

"Yeah! I've got Blargs on my-"

The screen cut to static.

"Huh?"

"Something is jamming my radio. I believe our pursuers are on our tail. Might I recommend going somewhere safe?"

Shona nodded grimly. She knew only one person she trusted, only one place that had guaranteed safety right now...

"Epsilon, set course for Reepor..."