Halkrath was on his knees. He strained his arms but something hard bound his wrists together. Someone landed a huge blow between his shoulder blades, bludgeoning him to the floor again. He raised his head. That first blow had knocked his mask off and one jaw was hanging, useless. Blood seeped into his left eye as he coughed and retched, the harsh, polluted air of the planet almost as debilitating as his injuries. Through his swimming vision, he could make out three shapes looming above him.

"Not so defiant now, eh U'darahje?" Thrummed a voice by his right ear, "Your ship is ours and your companions will soon be ours, too."

Halkrath turned, trying to see out of his good eye, "I am not the Abomination." He said, flatly – blood drooling from his broken draw.

"Oh, really?" There was grating laughter, "But this is the Abomination's ship."

"Perhaps he is too afraid to admit it," Snarled another voice, "Better at carving up dead bodies than living ones?"

Halkrath spat out a mouthful of blood and squinted upwards, he was not afraid for himself. The main thing he wanted to protect was his research and he knew the best way to keep that safe was to stay calm. He did not want them to start looting the Chameleon, destroying the fruits of his work.

"I do not know what you are talking about." He said, "I was carrying out repairs when you ambushed me; a dishonourable way to treat one who is Sain'Ja."

"Sen'Jarrr?" The voice mangled his pronunciation and the three towering creatures broke into raucous laughter. A blade lifted his chin, a tiny point burning where it pierced the skin, "Tell me Sen'Jarrr, where is the one of your clan who calls himself U'darahje? Has he fled and left you to face us alone?"

"None has seen him these past ten cycles or more." Halkrath said, between clenched jaws, "He died an outlaw's death."

The yautja around him erupted in raucous laughter, "An outlaw's death?"

A hand seized his face and wrenched his head around. He looked up into the face of a huge shadow; a scarred mask, decorated with nodules and ridges that looked like bone.

"I am Tmogu'i, little one, and I say you are a liar." It hissed, "Either you know where the Abomination is and you are protecting him… or you are he."

Halkrath stiffened, "You call me a liar?"

"I know this is his ship – the Karrmeh'Lyon." The other said, "Or would you deny that too?"

"This ship is the spoils of war, taken after U'darahje was captured – and even if he were not dead, I would not protect him." Halkrath hawked and spat more blood onto the ground, "He is a traitor to the clan."

The three looming shadows burst into renewed laughter at this, the sound of it echoing inside their metal visors.

"This is not U'darahje," Said another, "I do not believe this midget could capture the one who killed our brothers."

"And the rumours say that where he goes, his sorceress slut goes with him – make him tell us where she is," Said the third, "I want to know what it is like to eat a witch."

The largest gave a droning purr, "Look on us, obedient servant of the clan. We are of the D'Kv'var. We are… outlaws."

There were hoots and jeers from the other two, "Would you die a warrior's death, little one?"

Halkrath exhaled slowly, "I do not fear death."

Tmogu'i pulled a long, curved knife and Halkrath could only watch, eyes slitted against the noxious air, 'If my arms were free, I could seize that knife – at the least he would be forced to dispatch me at once.'

"You clan time-servers pretend courage," The one called T'mogu'i continued, "But I never met one of you I could not break. You must think about which part of yourself can you stand to lose… or tell me where U'darahje is, that I may gut him."

Halkrath's face became a mask of indifference, "You are loudmouthed fools." He said, tonelessly, "My comrades have you surrounded. They are spreading around you now, ready for a counter attack."
A breath of silence broken only by the chatter and click of insects, then his captors broke out in harsh laughter once more.

"I think not, Sen'Jarrr." The hand held the flat of the knife before his face, stroking the blade up the side of his broken jaw, the point gliding upwards, resting on the lip of his eye socket "I think not."

Halkrath said nothing, steeling himself, knowing what would come next. There was a velvet sound; the hushed whisper of metal slipping through flesh.

Spyrro's jaws gaped. The room in front of her was huge; the giant space Mei'Savir had dragged her through, looking for a way of escape. Now Spyrro ran after Ito, dodging between the inert hulks of innumerable shuttles, flitting from one pool of shadow to another. In the shade of one ship, Ito halted and grasped her arm, holding her as a pair of guards prowled in the next row.

As soon as they were out of sight, the girl pulled Spyrro round the side of the ship, doubling back and away from the sentries, towards the back wall. There they crouched, huddling next to the stanchions of another shuttle for so long that Spyrro's knees began to go numb, locked in one position. She shifted, only a little and immediately, Ito gripped her wrist, "Be still."

Eventually she could stand it no longer.

"What are we waiting for?"

Ito leaned closer, next to Spyrro's ear, "To get onto a ship." She breathed, "We must wait for an engineer team."

"But, what – "

A tightening of Ito's talons warned her to be quiet, so Spyrro waited. The girl had explained to her that Xala would expect them to sleeping. They would not be missed for several units, but in that time, they needed to gain entry to a ship, "We can slip onboard while they are working," Ito had said, "I hope we can open the doors from the cockpit..."

Spyrro frowned. She thought it had not been so easy when she and her Father had escaped – or had it? It had all happened so fast she hadn't had time to think and she had not really understood it. Hadn't he shot the doors with the guns on the ship? It was hard to remember anything but the relief of being back with him, trusting that he would make it alright. She searched her memory, trying to drag back the events.

"Ito – "

The talons on her arm tightened again and she fell silent. A female was opening the door to one of the ships nearby. They watched her press a control, a hatch yawning open. Spyrro's eyes drifted to the giant control centre at one end of the space. Mei'Savir had done something to it; had he used a bomb to blow it up?

But it was too late now, heavy feet tramped into the shuttle's belly. Ito jerked her head, indicating Spyrro should follow her. They darted across and into the shade of the shuttle and then up the gangway and into the ship, pressing themselves into the first alcove they saw. Ito's head flicked back and forth in a lightning sweep of the interior and she pulled at Spyrro's wrist. Further down the corridor, there was a door. It was shut, but Spyrro thought it looked like maybe a sleeping pod.

The two girls scuttled forward again, flattened against the wall, willing themselves to be invisible, small enough to escape notice. Ito touched the control on the door panel and they slipped inside like shadows into the darkness and hunkered down behind one of the beds.

"What if they come in here?" Spyrro whispered.

"They will not." Ito shook her head, "They are checking the engines and weapons. We must wait."

"What for?"

"For them to finish."

Both of them froze at the sound of heavy feet approaching on the metal deck outside but they stomped past quickly.

Spyrro waited until they had faded before she spoke again. Something was preying on her mind.

"You are coming with me…?"

The girl did not answer right away, "Ito," Spyrro's brow puckered, "Will you not be punished? They will know you helped me."

Ito's jaws spread slightly and she shrugged "I think I must come with you. I have never imagined myself a deserter, but I think I have no choice – "

She tailed off as footsteps came again, thudding angrily, getting louder, getting closer... then suddenly, they halted, 'Whoever it is, they must be right outside the door."

Spyrro held Ito's hands tight, as the door hissed open…

Selim landed on a branch, Isaac coming to a halt beside him. They stayed motionless, ears straining for the sounds of pursuit. The D'Kv'Var (if that really was their name) did not slip noiselessly through the jungle like the Rough Skulls, but they did not need to. They yelled and laughed, secure in their greater size and numbers, evidently enjoying the hunting of a weaker, smaller quarry. Selim's senses were sharpened by hunting every day of his young life, and his ears pricked now at the sound of their discord, coming closer. Next to him, Isaac's chest was heaving and Selim knew he must be gasping for breath, just as he was. They had climbed and leapt and run until both of them were near collapse.

"We cannot keep this up," He hissed, his voice just a thread, "We must find a hiding place."

His twin was quiet for a moment. Then, his head tilted down to the murky water below them. Selim understood at once, a little sliver of memory coming back to him as if from a different lifetime, 'Water hid the Avissa from our thermal imaging, maybe it will do the same for us… and I hope to the goddess that their heat vision is as ineffective as our own.'

By unspoken agreement, they half climbed, half slithered down the trunk, hearing the approaching clamour getting closer. Wordlessly, they lowered themselves into the warm, algae-laden water, feet touching soft mulch at the bottom. Selim tried not to think about what might be hiding under the surface as they pulled themselves further into the cage of tangled, black roots of the tree. He dug his claws into the slippery roots, submerging himself to his chin. Willing himself to keep still, he hoped against hope that the darkness would mask the sight of them, that the ash would mask their scent and that the water would hide their heat signals. Next to him, only the top half of Isaac's mask showed above water.

For a few minutes, the forest was silence. The noise and laughter had died away. Selim almost sighed with relief, but it stuck in his throat. There was a quiet rustle, only a tiny sound. It could have been just the noise of an insect scuttling on the forest floor, but he waited, straining his ears, hyperalert for any sound. Then a red light flashed in the darkness – a firefly dancing over the water. Selim froze, 'One of them must have seen us come this way – or guessed we have come down from the treetops. Now it is searching for us!'

He hunkered down lower, clamping his mouth shut, only his eyes above the water now. The red firefly danced again, flickering over the trees opposite them. Selim drew in a breath and sank beneath the surface, gripping Isaac's arm to make sure he did the same. They stayed down, using the roots to anchor themselves. Something sinuous and slimy slithered past his legs, and he shut his eyes tight for a second, willing himself not to shudder 'If we are bitten by frondwyrm, we will die anyway,' He told himself, 'Their venom brings insanity and then unconsciousness. At least we would insensible before they can dismember us. Maybe that would be better...'

The red sparkles grew brighter, lighting up the network of roots just visible through the shimmering refraction of the water…

Halkrath felt something hot spill down the side of his face. He waited for the explosion of agony, but there was nothing. Through streaming eyes, he saw the giant shape in front of him stagger, then topple headless to the ground. The D'Kv'Var beside it was already turning, blades shooting out to meet the enemy, when its stomach burst open in a shower of vivid green blood and entrails. As it bent double, hunched over its ravaged thorax, a long blade emerged from between its ribs, slick with blood. The D'Kv'Var crumpled to reveal a yautja attacker in the act of yanking his sword free, one foot on his victim's back.

Tmogu'i gave a deafening bellow and extended his own blades. Halkrath turned towards the noise in time to see the D'KV'var hit by a bright blue spark and thrown across the clearing, landing against the trunk of a tree where he collapsed in a heap.

Halkrath blinked. At his feet lay the huge, masked head of one aggressor and next to it, like statues struck down by lightning, two giant bodies. Blood was still pumping in weakening spurts from the ruined stump of one neck and from the slit belly of the other. He squinted up at the newcomer, trying to focus, but then the shadow leaned down, bringing its masked face close to his own. Halkrath reared back for a moment, thinking he was another enemy, but even half-blinded by blood and ash, the shape of the visor was one he had seen somewhere before. His mind frantically searching its data banks for a matching image.

"Halkrath? How did you end up on this primordial shit-pile…"

The scientist's jaws fell open at the familiar voice, "S'Kia?"

Halkrath had not seen his former squad mate for twelve solar cycles, but he could not forget that voice, nor the insolent manners. Other than the mask, this apparition bore little physical resemblance to the quick-tempered adolescent Halkrath had known. The S'Kia he remembered was young – only recently blooded – but the male standing before him was grim and forbidding; heavily muscled and heavily scarred, decked out in strange armour and weapons that must have been looted from other clans. S'Kia had always been big for his age, but now the renegade loomed over him, almost like a Bad Blood.

In answer to his question, S'Kia grasped his upper arms and hauled him to his feet.

Then he put his head on one side, "What are you doing with my ship?"

A soft voice behind him made them both turn, "Halkrath?"

Where Tmogu'i had been a moment before, stood a short figure in yautja armour. In one hand she held the krei'ithala that she had used to take down T'mogu'i. The angular armour made a strange contrast with the soft, exaggerated curves of her female body. Her face was masked but there was only one of the pyode amehde with the gall to wear yautja gear and weapons.

"Lexsss?"

She folded her arms, "S'Kia asked you a question: why do you have the Chameleon?"

Even though he could not see her eyes, Halkrath shifted under her scrutiny. He had a strong instinct that if she did not believe him, he would die just as surely as he would have done at the hands of the D'KV'var. The hybrids said they had managed to contact S'Kia and Lex but he had no way of knowing if they had related his part in their rescue, "I came here with Selim and Isaac," He said quickly, "I helped them to escape from Nar'Jat."

"Why would you do that?" She asked.

"I could not allow anything to happen to them," He told her stiffly, stung at having to explain himself to an ooman female, "They are unique biological specimens. They have been invaluable in my hunt for a treatment for the contagion that is cutting down our people."

"Invaluable in what way?" She said, arms still crossed.

"As test subjects! Their hybridised biology is an unprecedented – "

At once, he felt the cold metal of Scar's wrist knives pressed against his throat.

"Test ssssubjects?" The larger male growled in a way that raised sickening sweat all down Halkrath's backbone, "You used my sons as test subjects?"

Ito was knocked backwards by a terrible blow, crumpling against the wall of the cockpit.

"You dare!" The GhaRan-S'i'Ka bellowed, "You dare try and take her from this ship without my express permission?"

They were still on board the shuttle they had been planning to steal but they were trapped, powerless to escape. Ito was trying to rise, trying to speak but all she could do was scrabble against the metal floor. She opened her mouth but no words came. Spyrro struggled as Xal'Uate held onto her, the combat master's hand like a steel manacle around her arm, 'I have to do something, say something to distract the GhaRan-S'i'Ka,' She thought, 'Or she will hurt Ito even worse.'

"Leave her alone!" She bawled, "It was my idea!"

She twisted so violently that she managed to break Xala's hold and stumble forward. Then she planted her feet, facing up to the looming matriarch, as she turned from the other girl, "I wanted to escape." She said, "Ito was stopping me. She was about to bring me back!"

The huge female eyed her narrowly, "Why do you defend her?"

Spyrro cast a panicked glance at Ito, who was still on the floor, "Spyrro – " Ito gasped.

"GhaRan-S'i'Ka, she may be telling the truth," Xala said behind her, "Ito is a brave fighter and she is loyal – "

"I wanted to escape." Spyrro said loudly, "I wanted to escape and get back to Mei'Savir."

At the mention of her Father, the yellow, burning eyes flared as Spyrro had expected, "Do not name him to me – he shames both of us!"

"He does not!"

The need possessed her to say something – anything – that would draw the elder female's attention away from Ito, 'If she is angry with me, she will stop hurting her – '

"Do not contradict me." Snarled the Matriarch, "You may be your father's only purebred child, but the soft-meat bitch and her hybrid bastards have taught you corrupt behaviours. Your lack of discipline, your uncontrolled emotion – all down to her shameful presence!"

Spyrro remembered all the times she had denied her human blood; now that same blood was flowing fast and hot in her veins, rushing into her face. She clenched her small fists, trying to hold her temper down, trying to clamp her jaws shut… but it was no good; a river of red rage thundered through her head.

"Neither of them could ever make me feel shame!" She spat, hurling the worst word back at her tormentor, "It is you who should be ashamed of how you treat your children – "

There was a sharp moment of pain. The world swam away from her and when she came back to herself, she had staggered back against the wall, the GhaRan-S'i-Ka stood over her, blocking out the light.

"Nobody speaks so to me."

Spyrro faced the towering figure, teeth bared, "Nobody speaks so of my family!"

"I am your family, now." The Matriarch's huge and menacing shadow fell on her and her voice had all the gravity of lead slabs, "And you will learn your place."

There was no room for anything inside Spyrro now but rage; a hissing, seething white rage that was burning away all pain and all thought, "I already know my place!" She screamed, "My place is with my family – my real family – and it will never, never be with you!"

The next blow knocked her to the ground. Spyrro was almost gasping with anger but she pushed herself to her feet until she stood, jutting out her chin, feet planted. She stared up into the twin yellow flames as the elder female glared back, jaws clenched, her hands curled into fists, eyes wide and incredulous.

Another blow hit her in the stomach and she felt the cold floor against the side of her face. She tried to rise but the ground seemed to rock like the deck of the Chameleon during a rough landing. She pushed again and managed to only raise her head enough to see the GhaRan-S'i-Ka, watching her. She seemed a long way away and Spyrro could not understand where she was. Blearily, she rolled onto her back. Now, the ceiling swirled in front of her eyes. A square of dim light fell across her and then another shadow, blocking it out. She saw the dark shape and golden eyes of the combat master.

"Get her out of my sight, Xal'Uate." She heard the deep, rasping voice, "I do not wish to look at her."

"Shall I take them back to their quarters?" The D'Tai Nas asked.

"No. Lock them in the cell of the prisoner transport, I will take them with me."

"Yes, my commander. But… why?"

"Spyrro wants to see her father." The elder female said, "She will see me destroy him. Then, she will understand where she belongs."

Updating a bit later than usual as it's been a bit of a busy weekend - with multiple childrens' parties to negotiate (a perilous battleground in their own right!). Enjoying the first bit of sunshine in weeks though.

Miko Uchi Queen - the family reunion gets ever closer, but family reunions are where the biggest bust-ups happens. Hope the weather has cooled down for you.

lexia the beautiful wolf - sorry for the delay. Will have to wait and see about Varrik and Rika are really in a bad place right now.

LovyDovy7 - Always like to keep readers on the edge. Spyrro is finally waking up to how lucky she is to have Lex as her mummy, but is it too late? The boys are in deep trouble as well. Halkrath too if he doesn't think of a really good justification.

Tenjp - No, I don't think Spyrro wouldn't survive if her grandma knew the truth, given what she did to her son (who's definitely not a hybrid). Think it's safe to say all the kids need some hugs right now.