Disclaimer: I do not own Gargoyles. I think Disney does.

Betaed by: Zim'smostloyalservant, Storyseeker & a friend.


Chapter 20

Exile

(Part 1)

Samantha knelt to stroke Joshua on the head in the entryway to the Site B aerial training area.

"I need to go now, schedule can't be bent much more," she assured the Chimera boy who pouted, but he didn't try and grab her hand this time.

"Why not say goodbye for now, lil slugger?" Corey asked, stepping past them and pausing. The boy just shook his head.

"Chloe, tag in!?" Corey called. The Chimera teen swept from near the top of the chamber, twisting in the air before flaring out her wings to beat up dust just short of the ceiling.

"Drat, still hardly elegant at all," Chloe pouted, before settling on the ground. Joshua ran over and hugged her leg, purring.

"Hey there," she greeted, scratching his ears.

"Must you show off?" Samantha sighed.

"It's rehearsal. Just you wait, I'll be dancing through the sky before you know it," Chloe said, proudly puffing her chest out.

"Yeah, that will be useful," Alexandra said, landing next to her and pulling a bottle of water off her belt to take a drink.

"You're just cranky that not every woman here prefers punching to fancy stuff," Ben remarked, stretching his arms as he entered with Scott.

"Well, I for one think it has some practical value," the tall Chimera stated. "It seems flight has only been tested in purely utilitarian parameters. While I can't see much use for dancing in the air itself, it is pushing the boundaries of our flight in earnest, better determining what we are actually capable of."

"…Uh, so is he liking it or not?" Chloe leaned over to ask Alexandra.

"Let's just say he's the science nerd, you're the art major destined to be his eye candy secretary," Alexandra whispered back, before snickering a bit as Chloe blinked rapidly at that. The dancer stuck her tongue out at the other Chimera before turning her attention back to Joshua, escorting him off the floor as the next round of training started.

X X X

"Fascinating," Higurashi remarked, leaning on the counter as he watched the screen back-play the feed of the Chimera training room.

"What is?" Enrique asked. He stood next to and behind Higurashi, entering some data on the clipboard while Higurashi leaned close enough to a screen to almost touch it with his nose.

"The social dynamics. A bit of study of psychology and the subjects, and you assume you know how it will go. But people are delightfully unpredictable. For instance, I assumed Niobe would bond with Joshua, him without a parent and her bereft of her child. Two voids in need of filling. Yet the dynamic simply isn't there. Instead, it's the wallflower Samantha who takes him under her wing. And you'd think she would draw closer to her friend Alexandra for support, but instead they drift apart, and Samantha now draws closer to Corey. Similar to Alexandra in many respects, but a virile young man and one seemingly open to nurturing a kit."

He then point to the other chimera on the screen. "Then we have Chloe, focused on her art, but going out of her way to be close to the children. With Amal rejecting her in favor of Caroline, and your boys of course already spoken for, she now forms a third leg in this budding relationship. Oh, I could go on, but I'd rather you observe and reach your own conclusions, Enrique."

"Uh, aren't there others on the staff more qualified?"

"You mean with PHDs and other pieces of paper to prove they're smart? Please, you have something none of them do, real motivation to excel and grow in this project. The rest, they're here for money, because we took them from serious blacklists, or craving to pull themselves up a rung riding on the project's glory. Compared to the passion you and I can bring, they are tepid water and we are steaming fresh tea ready for the cookies and fancy little plates."

Enrique made to speak, but closed his mouth, staying quiet and just nodding along.

"Now, Derek has requested a full flight exercise over the city, the first one so far. The whole Pride, so either you can take the evening off from work and your boys, or you can get some overtime helping me with my new side project."

Enrique was not so naive as to not pick up on the offer being real, but that it was likely a test and taking time off would fail him. Then again, Higurashi was a strange one; there may be no hidden meaning at all.

Better not to take a chance.

"I will help you. Is it the cloning?" he asked.

"Ah, no. But we are getting close to decanting the three Reeds. Well, two and a half? The cybernetic division are quite excited."

"So soon?" Enrique asked.

"You haven't mixed up the numbers," Higurashi explained, snacking on grapes again. "Thailog was too greedy an endeavor, trying to skip past the developmental phase straight into the prime? No, no, no; small wonder he went rogue. A child factory may seem wasteful, but it's a matter of proper long-term planning. The cyborg will be mostly in that division's care, Wimbley will be overseeing the other two in day-to-day matters. This, though, is my baby, Enrique. With Mr. Xanatos agreeing that Project Wolfman is obsolete now that we can reliably produce full Chimera, he's allowing me to test my own special sauce to see how it compares."

"More Chimera?" Enrique asked, puzzled.

"Nope. I don't mind reinventing the wheel, but not this time. Still, no spoilers. You'll find out the details tonight. Oh, one question, are you allergic to goats?" Higurashi asked, opening the door.

X X X

Brooklyn let out his roar of awakening and stretched a bit before stepping down to the balcony.

"No welcoming committee? I was sure Maggie would want to give Madison the full awakening show," Broadway remarked. Brooklyn was a bit surprised too; Maggie hardly ever missed being here to greet the Clan waking up.

"Heh, come have a look, lads, and be quiet," Hudson said, stepping back out from the door. Lex was the first in, and gave his brothers the shush sign, smiling wide. They soon spotted the big deal, and joined the others walking down quietly.

It took a moment to spot Madison, Maggie's left wing stretching out to cover the smaller Chimera who was up against her side.

'Camera,' Lex mouthed, hurrying over to where they kept the gadget.

Brooklyn was sure his own look reflected the almost smug bit of sheer cuteness reaction. Maggie had been taking everything too seriously lately, and this might be quite good for her.

Hudson, though, almost looked sad in his smile, Brooklyn realized. It hit Brooklyn after a moment of thought, as Lex came back. The two looked like either parent and child or siblings, younger and older. And that was something the Gargoyles would never have again. Maggie's kind had a future, they really didn't.

He kept it all smiles when the camera flash woke up Madison, which woke up Maggie.

X X X

"This…is a lot of goats," Enrique remarked. The smell of the animals and straw brought his mind back to a county fair that he'd visited as part of a trip with his wife. She'd wanted to get out of the city, out of their rut as she put it, and see more of what the county could offer. And she figured, what better than a festival of all things rural and agricultural for the city couple? His favorite part had been the food, overpriced as it was. But she had adored the animals, especially gushing over discovering there were so many varieties of things like chickens. Though she'd earned the ire of more than a few by refusing to grasp that it was not a petting zoo.

The ache was there, it always would be, he supposed. Now he could smile though it; the small warmth of old memory while not banishing the ache, but perhaps putting it in its place.

"Twenty goats, to be precise. Though the number is going to nose dive soon," Higurashi said. Enrique was a bit stunned at the sight of the man petting a disinterested-looking goat over the rail of the metal pen. Of all the things for this weird scientist to have in common with his late wife…

"Do we have to kill them to harvest for genetic material?" Enrique asked awkwardly. He'd assumed a blood sample would do, but what did he know?

"Hmm, oh, guess I didn't spell it out, did I?" Higurashi said, as two white-coated assistants brought a wrangled goat into a small adjacent pen and snapped the gate in place. "They're not here to donate, these are the test subjects." He stepped over to a roll cabinet and entered a brief sequence in its code lock, popping the door open, revealing one of the injector guns and twenty vials in two rows.

"…What?" Enrique asked.

"With the Wolfman Project scrapped, those resources are reallocated to this little number. A binary Chimera of human plus one other genetic composition. But rather than another predator soldier, we are aiming for something a tad more utilitarian and support for the organization. Hence an omnivore herd animal, but one with enough aggression to be a fighter in a pinch."

"You mean these goats…"

"Ding! You are correct, sir. This serum I have cooked is primed to inject some humanity into its recipient. Dr Moreau, if this works, will have nothing on us, Enrique. Though to be fair, if even one of this batch is a total success, that will be quite fortunate. Though, as I told Xanatos, it's a lot easier to replace livestock than human test subjects."

"Wait, if you can make an animal more human, is this a cure?" Enrique asked, delicately picking up a vial. Higurashi plucked it from his hand and put it in the injector with a click.

"No, not even close. A cure would disentangle and eradicate the added Chimera DNA while repairing the human DNA to its original state. This won't kick anyone out of the party, just add another guest. In theory, it would likely make them look more human, but it would likely be in a very ugly mutant way. Might have a perfect human nose growing out of their back or some such Picasso nonsense. And while I am no saint, I find mucking up a perfectly good Chimera just to verify a greater than 90 percent certainty stupid. Also, it wouldn't be their human DNA in here either."

"What do you mean?" Enrique asked.

"Well, simply put; with the animal DNA, so long as its genetically sound, it works with the right species. But when trying to make someone human, you'd assume they want to end up close to what they started out as. If I used, say, Greg the intern's DNA to try and revert Derek; his emergent human traits, assuming all went well, would be greatly influenced by Greg's Irish-American DNA. He'd hardly look like Derek Maza. Servarius never bothered to keep samples of the OG DNA, but Cranley did. So, in theory, we could use Niobe or Joshua's stored DNA to revert them if we found out how. But each 'cure' would have to be tailormade for the subject. Unless they don't mind ending up looking quite different.

"But enough about the hypotheticals, we have something real here in front of us. One of the perks Servarius felt, it seems, for human test subjects was expediting the socialization process. Thailog's flash-learning system was still uncertain for how it would turn out, and Xanatos wanted his genetically-altered warriors sooner than later. But I'm not looking to cut corners. The carryover of the various issues from the Chimeras' time as human has, and I think will continue, to prove problematic. Derek Maza, for instance, shows some will simply never mentally accept the change, even if physically stable, and we might get hit with Chimera coming out with that disorder in the future, undermining the effectiveness. But with this process, my proposal is to raise them up into self-awareness, into the blossoming of proper soul, and with a combination of flash-learning and good old engaged mentorship, raise them up into loyal and capable followers of our oddly vague cause."

"…And where did you get this human DNA?" Enrique asked.

"Oh, nothing sinister there, actually. Mr. Xanatos offered a bonus to employees in exchange for donation toward 'medical research'. That's where five pieces of the cocktail came from. As for Number 6, that would be me."

"Wait, you?" Enrique asked as he joined Higurashi by the pen. The scientist nodded, stroking the goat's head and nodding.

"Yes. What can I say? Despite having no interest in sex or romance, I do feel a certain envy for those who leave descendants behind. And now, destiny had granted me a way to have my branch bear fruit on the family tree, no squeaky activities needed. In spades even. Now, let's see which of these kids has what it takes to swim in my gene pool, eh Enrique?" Higurashi smiled warily, before injecting the baby goat that bleated in alarm.

X X X

The Pride landed as directed on the roof, Derek taking a perch on the maintenance shed, letting him look out.

"Is this a rest?" someone called.

"I'm good for more flying."

"Speak for yourself, I could use a break."

"Anyone bring snacks?" Ben asked near the shed.

"Hey D, this wasn't in the schedule," Frank stated, putting a foot up on a vent.

"Everyone, listen up. There's something you need to know. We've been lied to," Derek announced, pulling the disk out from his pouch as he explained the purpose of the Chimera and the deception used by Sevarius and Xanatos on him, even using Reed as a patsy. The fact the Gargoyles were actually on the up-and-up from all he had determined, it was worse than having to fess up to his parents. He couldn't tell if he felt good or just too tired from cutting ties and facing his mistakes.

Silence answered the end of his speech, some of the Chimera standing alone, others drawing near to others they had been getting friendly with. A crunching metal sound drew attention, showing Frank having stomped in the vent.

"And?" Frank asked, looking at Derek straight on.

"And what?" Derek wearily asked.

Frank sneered and flapped, rising up to land on the small roof practically in Derek's face. "And what's your point, D? This supposed to change something? Come on Clarissa, explain it all!"

Derek straightened up, eyes wide. "It changes everything! We have to leave, we can't stay with this monster!" he objected.

Frank slammed a palm into Derek's chest, knocking him off the high ground. Derek twisted, landing well, and Frank landed before him, bearing some teeth. "Who do you think you are? Leave? To what, to where? And why?"

"Weren't you listening?" Derek said. "We're being used, prepped as super soldiers for whatever war that man plans to fight. This was never about saving our lives, and they have no cure coming. We've all been tricked!"

"You really didn't figure it out, Derek? I guessed what we were for back at Gen-U-Tech! Fighting Gargoyles? Keeping the public safe? What a load of crap. It's like politics – we know they're all liars, but we nod and go along. Least the boss gives us room and board, and most of this lot got out of their line to the cemetery. Come on, boys and girls, did any of you really think Mr. Megacorporation made us into furry robocops for peace, order, do-good government or whatever? Well, did you?!"

No one answered, the Pride forming a loose circle around the two. No one spoke up as Derek got up, dusting himself off.

"Thought so. Looks like your spoilers are a bit late, D," Frank said, chuckling.

"Okay, so you're saying I'm an idiot for not seeing through it. Fine, can't say I have a leg to stand on. But we can't just go along with this anymore," Derek replied.

"Why not? Seems we got a good deal going."

Derek's eyes looked ready to pop. He looked around at the Pride; some glared at him, others looked at him with worry, and then there were those whose eyes were downcast.

"What's the plan, D?" Frank snapped. "Fly off into the night to squat like the Gargoyles do? Hiding by day and dumpster diving for scraps at night? Been homeless, Derek? Can't say I recommend the lifestyle. In fact, fuck that shit!"

"So, you're fine being a slave?" Derek shot back.

"Better than being a starving filthy stray. We're living better than a lot of people 'free' down there. Not that you'd know that, would ya? Yeah, never had to try and stay warm on a cold winter night under a newspaper, with stinking rags for a pillow. Scavenging and begging, hoping for a good haul and that no one bigger and meaner will take it from you. Being seen as a sob story or a piece of garbage. Nah, you were busy feeling persecuted because your big sis was a better man than you and daddy patted her head more than you, while mommy coddling you made you feel inferior. That about right? You don't know nothing about 'have to'. You weren't poor, you weren't dying. And as for a cure, plenty here are moving on. Whether they love being a Chimera or just accept it, they're living with it; yer the one whining about it. You going to tell these ladies how ugly and pitiable their kits are? Well?"

Derek made to speak, only for Frank to roar at him.

"Shut up! We've listened to your crap too long! And also, we can't be secret forever. Yeah, that's clear. Only a matter of time until the secret's blown, and will humanity welcome us with open arms? Just like people of all colors and whatnot that societies are quick to accept and embrace? Ha! Most everyone who might have cared from our old lives would hate and fear us now. We all know it."

"That's not true! They can still see us as human!" Derek objected.

"Oh? Have you told your people, Derek? Has mommy had a chance to pet her fluffy Tommy boy?" Frank demanded, his eyes narrowed.

"Derek, have you kept it secret from them?" Anna asked. Derek looked to the pregnant lioness standing there, her eyes cold and her hand on Giorgios' shoulder.

"No, I…" he trailed off.

Frank huffed before speaking up again. "Nothing to say? Cause you got nothing! You just found out you got conned out of your comfy little life, and acted like a fool when your sis showed you the writing on the wall, and you were too dumb to read it?" Frank said, walking toward Derek. "So, be angry. Heck, I would be too in your privileged little shoes. But leaving, turning on the boss? Going out into that big hostile world from this plush fortress we got with Xanatos? Nah, that's just you having a Derek Maza brand tantrum. And I'd say betraying the man who put you in charge amounts to a resignation. So, on the boss' behalf, give me that disk, I have reason to think he'll want it,"

Derek put a clawed hand over the pouch, baring his teeth as his fur rose.

"Right is right, even if it's hard, Frank. Maybe I'm not fit to lead, but I'll lead us out of this cage anyway. What we do after-" he cut off at Frank's swipe, stepping back.

"There is no after, traitor. I'm ending this madness now with my own claws and thunder," Frank said, channeling current on his arms.

"Fight for the Pride!" Caroline shouted. Anna took it up, squeezing her mate's shoulder. Followed by Giorgios, and soon the whole of them seemed to be chanting, with it reduced to one word.

"Pride! Pride! Pride!"

Derek's mouth hung open, looking around at the chanting Chimeras while Frank was wide-eyed and smiling, arms rising as if lifted by the words.

"Alrighty then! A throwdown to see who leads and who crawls away in defeat! Assuming you'll even be crawling." Frank chuckled. The chant faded and Derek spotted Dante; he'd not been chanting, and watched Derek, eyes fearful.

'They aren't all swept up in this," Derek thought. 'I can fix this. And if I have to stomp this punk to do it, I will.'

"Fine, don't think I haven't guessed you've been wanting a piece of me for a long time," Derek said, assuming a combat stance.

"Heh! I'm going to enjoy this," Frank replied, before roaring and charging Derek.

Derek swung out at him with a right hook, only for Frank to fall to all fours, go under it, and strike Derek with a shoulder, staggering him. Derek growled, left hand pounding down, only to barely graze Frank as he sprang away.

"Get him, Frank! Send that boy scout to the big time out!" Caroline called. One of the few Chimera not just chanting the word "fight", Ben laughed and gave a roar, pumping his fist. Derek couldn't pay attention; there was fire in Frank's eyes, but also coldness.

'He might actually try and kill me,' Derek realized.

Frank was back on his feet; Derek dodged closer to him, fists raised, ready to open them. As he expected, Frank charged up his arm and came at him swinging. The punk hit air, and Derek stepped in, kicking a foot out from under him. Frank didn't fall, catching himself, but it left his chin wide open for an uppercut. The other Chimera staggered. Derek didn't let up; two more jabs to his face and one to the gut, making him bend over, and then slamming his face into the knee.

Now, Frank went down. Derek had practiced for this, and quickly pinned him. Frank was still awake; he could take a beating.

"Give it up, Frank; I developed this pin to hold Chimera down. You're not going anywhere, the fight's over."

"Think so?" Anna asked. Derek looked to her, then gave a startled sound as he was hit over the head. His arms were grabbed, and he was hauled to his feet.

"Klaus? Giorgios?! What is this?!" Derek demanded as the two Chimera men held him by his arms. They answered by shocking him, making him cry out.

"…Democracy, D. You really aren't that popular. Anyone got a problem with this!?" Frank said, getting to his feet, wiping away the blood dripping from his snout.

Silence answered him, and Frank laughed, cracking his knuckles.

"You hit pretty hard, D. My turn."

When they let him go, Derek was jolted back to awareness by hitting the roof.

"Well, that's that. Looks like I'm in command now. And let's get this for the boss," Frank said, pulling the disk out of Derek's pouch. Derek's hand grabbed Frank's ankle, making the Chimera frown down at him.

"Pathetic," he said, kicking his foot free.

"Get him on his feet, Klaus," Frank ordered, jumping back on top of the shed, "Listen up! Derek Maza is banished, he's no longer part of the Pride. He's no longer welcome, and whether he lives or dies doesn't matter to us. But since he's a fool, we'll make an allowance – perhaps after he has a taste of real desperation, he will come crawling back, ready to accept the way things are for three hots and a cot. Or maybe I'll just kill him for daring to show his face again?

He sneered down at him. "Heh, anyway, for tonight, get out of my sight, Derek; you made your bed, go lie in it. But don't think treachery like this will be put up with so nicely in the future, people! So, let's get the crap all out right now! Anyone feels like D had a point, they can go with him now. Want to follow him down in the flush, fine; I don't need fools in my Pride. But like D, don't think you can just take back your choices. After all, can this dumb cat even stand on his own!?"

Klaus let Derek go, and after wiping away some of the blood on his face, Derek looked around on unsteady feet. Not much change in the crowd, few meeting his eyes, and most of those who did seemed happy about his situation. Then, he spotted Dante at the front of the crowd. The young lion was wringing his hands, looking around, while his brother next to him seeming to be trying to match Caroline in savage grins. Dante took a step forward, eyes meeting Dereks'.

'NO!' Derek thought, holding up a hand. The others seemed puzzled at the gesture, but Dante stopped. Derek met his nervous eyes and willed him to get it. Derek wasn't sure he was actually leaving alive, so no way he'd drag a kid with him. If Frank saw what was happening from his perch, he stayed quiet.

Derek didn't notice the steps behind him until the arrival was practically there. He almost swung his arm into Cranley while turning; she awkwardly stepped back to avoid it, then pulled it over her shoulders.

Derek sighed; he should object to this too, but it felt like his mind was a deflating balloon. He couldn't begin to find the words.

"Can you fly?" she asked him as they made their way toward the roof's edge, the circle parting before them. Derek nodded and hoped it wasn't a lie. The world wasn't spinning anymore, and his wings hadn't been part of the beating, but…

"Really, Lizzie? Well, I suppose nothing of value is being lost," Frank called behind them. "But just to let you know, Derek, as you aren't exactly Mr. Awareness; I've been riding that pussycat hard. So, any kittens that pop out of her, that wasn't you finally getting the lead out. But by all means, keep them along with her. I'll have plenty more of both where that came from."

Frank's laugh was enough motive to take the plunge. To get away from that sound, that man, and that silent condemnation from the Pride. Failure, he knew it would follow him, there was no escaping it, was there? But right now, he'd settle for silence, as he took to the air with Cranley flapping along to his left.

"Where to?" she asked, glancing back. Derek didn't look back, as he didn't have an answer.

And so, with no direction, she followed him into the night, with a few cheers for the new leader of the Pride at their back.

X X X

Frank led them back to the Eyrie building rather than Site B. The Pride landed in silence on the helipad, with Owen Burnett standing on the edge, his typical stoic expression in place.

Frank whistled, drawing attention to himself before grinning at the Pride.

"Okay, everyone!" he shouted. "Your new boss needs to go report to the big boss. But it's not too early to start celebrating a new era. Send the kids to bed, because the drinks are on me!" He held up his hands with two Vs for victory.

"Heck yeah!" Ben whooped.

"You do realize that food and drink are part of your compensation?" Burnett said, startling Frank.

"Man, you can be quiet when you want to be, buddy," Frank said.

"Don't call me buddy. Now, as you said," Burnett replied, stepping back.

"Yeah, yeah. Hey Anna, come along. You're pretty good at remembering details if the boss wants to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb."

X X X

The disk clacked onto Xanatos' massive desk. Xanatos glanced up from it to Frank, standing solid before him now, crossing his arms over his chest.

"There you are, boss man," Frank said. "Special delivery. And I took out the trash in the bargain. Not bad for a night's work."

"Owen, verify the disk please," Xanatos said, putting one finger on the disk and sliding it within the blonde man's reach.

"At once, sir."

As Owen stepped over to the wall terminal, Frank blinked as Xanatos returned his attention to him. The Chimera man looked to Anna, who had joined him for this, standing a few paces back. She just looked straight ahead.

"So, Derek is gone then?" Xanatos asked.

"Like a dog with his tail between his legs."

"A pity he couldn't be brought around. Still, if he comes back, he'll be ours for good."

"We didn't lose anything. We have more big guys now, too."

Xanatos said nothing for a moment. "And you let Doctor Cranley go with him, why?"

"Oh, Lizzie? Well, that was a surprise. But well, I figured it was a good chance to flush the ranks. Get any Maza sympathizers out in the open."

"Did you, now?"

"…Uh, problem boss?"

"Cranley knows too much."

"What?"

"Did I stutter? Derek, even if he went to someone like Reed, lacks any real detailed information that could be used against me. If need be, Site B itself could be repurposed and the Chimera relocated in mere hours, which we will have to do now. But Cranley? She was deep in this project, having the detailed data that can be used, and her memory retention is high enough that with enough equipment she could likely replicate the serum and the cloning facility on her own. As an innovator she is lacking, and her charisma is a trash fire, but in the right hands she could either allow someone to implicate my company in court or start their own Chimera production line. The only thing she doesn't have, I believe, is Higurashi's screening, and that is just a matter of how many losses you are willing to take."

"Uh, so you want her back?" Frank swallowed.

"Consider it your first major assignment as leader of the Pride, and it might be your last."

"Yessir, I'll get right on that tomorrow. I'll bring her back, dead or alive." Frank saluted.

"Alive, if you please," Xanatos said with a frown. "She still represents an investment, as do you. So, don't force me to take drastic measures."

Frank agreed and made his exit.

Anna smiled at the closed door before speaking. "Good bluff," she said, baring her fangs in a grin. "After he fails to deliver in a timely manner, he can be disposed of for legitimate reasons. And unlike Derek, no one will miss him. In fact, the new leader ripping his throat out would get points for washing the bad taste of Derek's beatdown out of the Pride's mouths."

"Not entirely a bluff. Cranley could be quite problematic, falling into the wrong hands. But if he thinks my position is weaker than it is, he's more likely to overplay his hand. And as that trickles down to the others, they will be more motivated to do their best."

"Because if you go down, we all will be at the mercy of the mob. Heh, good thing the serum can't work on you, sir. I doubt even I could compete if you wanted to lead in person."

"Why, thank you. Now, if there is nothing else, I have legitimate business to attend to, and you likely need your rest for your litter."

Anna smiled, stroking the growing bump. "Quicker than human pregnancy, it seems. I can't wait to meet them," she purred. Going on all fours, she went to the door, as Owen let her out.

"Where do you think Derek Maza will go now, sir?"

"Hard to say, Owen. Derek is a coward at heart. He can face anger, but not shame. If the Detective were still around, he might go to her. In fact, that would be most likely. But the rest of his family, and so-called friends? I daresay he has no one. And when he realizes Elisa has vanished, what will that do to him? How will he react to learning it may be too late to apologize for all that he put her through?"

"Unless the Gargoyles find him."

"Ah yes, they excel at bringing some light into the dark, don't they? The dice are in the air, Owen. I look forward to seeing how they land."

X X X

Frank entered the dining room and blinked. He'd expected a party, but what he got was hardly a get-together. Oh, they'd found a keg to put on the table, and Ben was drinking from a big mug, but the party atmosphere wasn't there.

Giorgios was working on a plate of some kind of beef dish. Klaus was pushing around food on his plate, while Caroline chugged from a mug of her own, a full plate in front of her.

"Where the heck is everyone else?" Frank demanded.

"They weren't ordered to be here," Giorgios said, "so they went their own ways. Carlos wanted to stick around, but you said to send the kids to bed…"

"Dang, since when do you need to order people to come to a party?" Frank asked, grabbing a mug from a cart piled with them and filled it from the keg. "Big D's buzzkill attitude must go deeper than I thought," he mused, snatching a piece of roast chicken from Klaus' plate.

Caroline hissed at him, baring her teeth, but Frank smacked her over the head, knocking her out of her chair. She rolled onto all fours, but she still growled at him.

Frank snickered, but then raised an eyeridge as Klaus got between him and the pregnant Chimera, baring his own fangs.

"Oh, what's this; finally grown some balls? Not to worry, just a little tap to remind her who's boss now." Frank laughed, waving it off.

Klaus took a step forward, fangs still bared, and raised his claws.

Frank narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, practically bumping into Klaus, posture still at ease. Klaus took a step back in surprise, closing his mouth as Frank casually took a big bite of the chicken he was holding and chewed before speaking.

"You really want to throw down? That's fine, but you're no Derek, so we both know how that will end. And if I need to make an example, you know I won't hesitate."

Klaus frowned, making fists, then one of the fists was covered by Caroline's hands.

Caroline hissed at Frank again, but pulled Klaus away. Frank finished the piece of chicken as the Chimera couple left the room. Scowling, he took Klaus' seat and combined that plate with Carolines', before starting to eat.

Anna watched him for a moment from the doorway, having followed him shortly after he left Xanatos's office, before she spoke up. "You should have given them some time before trying to celebrate. Maza's overthrow is a big upheaval, and they've had plenty of those already. They will want to process that a bit before leaping into celebrating anything. Besides, for many of them, that was probably the first real fight they saw."

"And you're mentioning this now? You're supposed to be advising me in exchange for being my right-hand woman," Frank snapped, getting to his feet.

"When would I tell you? You leapt into this, and correcting you in front of the others would have undermined your position. Is there more food?" she asked.

"Yeah," Giorgios said. "I didn't have time to make anything, but there's plenty of re-heatables if you don't mind, and fresh produce washed and ready, all in the kitchen." He pointed the way.

Anna smiled and stepped behind him to scratch behind his ears. "Anything you'd recommend?" she asked.

"The beef is good, but maybe a bit too spicy for your condition."

She stroked her bump. "I'd rather they get used to spicy early on. Never too soon, am I right?" she asked. She went through the doors to the kitchen, while Frank took a seat, sullenly drinking his beer.

Ben plopped down next to him.

"Don't worry, boss," the stout Chimera assured him. "They'll get with the program soon enough. You have the power now, and unlike that wimp Maza, you aren't afraid to really use it."

Frank said nothing, staring off with a frown before draining the mug.

X X X

"Broadway, we need to talk," Brooklyn said as they glided through the night.

"I figured, since you asked to be paired with me for the night. What's up?"

"I got a big problem."

"Trouble in paradise?"

"No! Well, kinda?"

"Let me guess, she's angry and you don't know why?"

"She's not angry."

"…What was the question?"

"I think…Maggie wants to kiss me."

Broadway gave him a look and swooped down to land on a roof. When Brooklyn joined him, his arms were crossed over his chest.

"Kissing?! That's the problem?!" Broadway demanded.

Brooklyn glared at him, and then tapped his beak.

"Oh…right," Broadway admitted, uncrossing his arms and scratching his head.

"Oh right is right. I'm not exactly built for kissing. I'm the only one in the Clan not built for it."

"Well, yeah; we're Gargoyles," Broadway said. "Kissing isn't really our thing, remember?"

Kissing had always been a human custom. A lot of gargoyles were born with beaks, like Brooklyn, so the art of pressing ones lips to anothers' had never really been adopted as part of their culture. Not that there weren't some gargoyles who didn't do it, as it wasn't taboo or anything. Coldstone had often done it with his mate in the past, but traditionally; the gargoyle equivalent for a kiss was stroking their mate's hair and/or their brow-ridges.

"Well," Brooklyn said fidgetily. "Maggie was human, and grew up expecting that kind of romance. I don't want to disappoint her with no or terrible kissing on top of everything else that has happened."

"Huh okay, I see your point," Broadway conceded. Thinking for a moment, he started to wonder aloud. "Well, Hudson has lips, but his mate didn't. And I don't see Hudson really experimenting like that even if she had had them. He's always been pretty Gargoyle way all the way." He frowned as he thought. "Hey, did Goliath and Demona kiss?"

"Even if Goliath was here, we would not ask him about kissing Demona," Brooklyn stated firmly.

Broadway gave him a look of mild annoyance before shrugging. "Well, Maggie's got a bit of a muzzle, so maybe you two could bond over being bad kissers?" he mused.

"I knew I should have gone to Lexington." Brooklyn groaned.

X X X

Meanwhile, at the Clocktower:

"Ha! So that's why ye sent Maddie off with Lexington? To talk about yer lad?" Hudson laughed, flipping channels in his chair.

"Hudson, this is serious. Things have been going well, but we haven't kissed yet."

"Well, with how you two are built, that would be quite the trick." He glanced to Maggie and flinched back at her expression, before clearing his throat and assuming a serious expression. "So, kissing is it?"

"Yes, I think we are past that point where we should do it, but I'm not sure how we can. My muzzle is a lot smaller than his beak. We just don't fit, I think, as, uh, faces?"

"Well, this is a chat for the books," Hudson remarked, before holding a claw up defensively. "Donnae worry, lass. The Gargoyle way may be just what you need."

X X X

Chloe sighed after sipping her juice. She had read the same page how many times now? The book was only mildly interesting, but her tapes and most of her books and other distractions were back at her room in Site B.

She wasn't tired enough to try and sleep, and even then she could only practice so much in this limited space without getting too bored.

It would have been better if she had shared a room with Samantha and Corey. But the two had said the room was too small for four with Joshua with them. Now she wished she'd pressed; sleeping cramped on the floor would have been better than this.

Unless they just hadn't wanted her around, she thought. The panther Chimera shook her head; those thoughts never went anywhere good. They'd take her back to her father's death, her declining health, and the empty spaces around her once held by people she thought were her friends. Dwelling on that was pointless, and dragging it into the present dangerous.

Still, it would be nice if she had a deck of cards for a game of solitaire.

Going to the training area on her own was a no-go. Frank was in charge now. She'd joined the chant to not stand out, but the whole thing had been terrifying. Poor Derek, he hadn't deserved that. She wondered what he and Elizabeth were doing now? The world could be very, very cruel to those not deemed useful or normal.

She'd wanted to bunk with Samantha's family because who knew how Frank would celebrate his rise to power after he got drunk. And of course he'd get drunk. But she couldn't say that, and so was gently but firmly turned away. Alexandra hadn't even opened the door the full way, telling her to not bother her.

She'd considered the other men of the Pride, but that had been hastily dismissed.

And now here she was, not relaxing in a room with no locks. Aside from being able to pace, it was making her think of hospitals.

The knock made her jump. There was no peephole, but the Chimera could hear through the doors. So, ear pressed to the smooth metal, she called out.

"Sammy?"

"Scott. Are you alone?" the other Chimera asked.

The "no" almost slipped out before she caught it.

"What is it?" she asked, instead of answering. She could practically hear him roll his eyes; he had a thing about people not actually answering questions asked, she'd learned.

"Allen and Running Rock are with me. May we come in?" he asked.

That was… either good news or very, very bad news. There was a phone on the counter that could call room service or the lab security. But they were asking, which meant they were letting her say no, right?

The night offered nothing good if they left. So, trying to draw on the kind of presence her father had shown when conducting business, she stepped back and opened the door.

Sure enough, behind the lanky snow leopard were the other two Chimera he had mentioned.

"What can I do for you three?" she asked. She did not step aside to invite them in.

"Frank is in charge of the Pride now," Scott said bluntly. "We're not pleased with this, and I do not believe you are either. The sooner we start talking about it, the better. We can use this room or another."

"Come in," Chloe said, stepping aside. They did, with Scott walking to the back wall before turning around. Running Rock leaned against the wall by the door, his lion mane practically touching it. While Allen grabbed the chair she'd been using to sit in backwards.

"…So, you guys want water or anything?" she asked, pointing to the mini-fridge.

"No, this is not a social call," Scott said.

"Heh, can't believe you're single with that way with women, Scotty," Allen remarked. That got him a small glare from the snow leopard, but he moved on.

"We all agree Maza had to go. He was already a failure as an authority figure, and his plan was suicidal. But Frank, while sane, is a brute and probably a fool. The Pride needs real leadership, for all our sakes."

"And you nominate you, right?" Chloe said.

"Yes," Scott said, matter-of-factly. "I am not an elitist or a self-important hedonist. I even have experience as manager; I spent years as one of the top managers in my company, keeping the peace between the chronic complaints of my subordinates and the erratic, even nonsensical demands of the higher-ups. I'm not asking you to like me, but do you really feel there is a better option?"

"I don't really care much who is in charge," Running Rock admitted, "so long as they aren't trying to drag me into more than is needed. But I don't trust Frank, for the same reasons I didn't trust Maza. Fine, you might be the best bad option."

"…Sure, why not? Better than just doing nothing, isn't it?" Allen said.

They looked to her.

"What about the others?" she asked, and Scott answered her.

"Niobe didn't answer her door. When we went in, she was just lying on her bed, awake but ignoring everything. She's useless. Alexandra heard me out through the door, and laughed. So, she's either sitting out or siding with Frank, it seems. Ben's with Frank, and Klaus and Giorgios don't have any thoughts those women of theirs didn't have first. And we're more likely to sway the couple with a position of strength."

"What about the kits?" Chloe asked.

"Kids, don't get weird. And what about them?"

Chloe opened her mouth to speak, but then stopped, realizing he was right. After all, even normal human kids weren't allowed to vote until they were 18. But there was still something bothering her, which Scott might be able to help with.

"I have a condition," she stated.

"What?" Scott asked in that same blunt clipped way.

"If you become leader, and Derek and Elizabeth come back, let them in."

"…Done, unless Mr. Xanatos forbids it," Scott said, extending a clawed hand. Chloe considered the pale-furred hand, and then reached out, taking it with her own black-furred one.

"Very good, you will not regret this investment," he told her.

"Do any of you have a deck of cards I can borrow?" Chloe asked as the trio made to leave. Solitaire was better than being alone with her thoughts.

X X X

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Matt asked, freezing in the act of opening his fridge. The two Gargoyles had tapped his window, and he'd figured his night off was going to be a lost cause, but this was unexpected to say the least.

"How many times are you people going to make me say it? Kissing, I need some knowhow," Brooklyn laid out.

Broadway nodded. "With his luck, he'll fail and then some on his own." He paused at the glare Brooklyn was giving him. "What? I'm just saying what you're thinking," the green Gargoyle defended himself under the glare.

"…Why are you not having this chat with Hudson?" Matt sighed, closing the fridge, having quite forgotten what he was going to get from it anyway.

"He wouldn't know either, as kissing isn't a Gargoyle custom," Broadway said.

"Really?" Matt mused, leaning against the fridge as he thought on it. "Huh, well, we are different species, so it's probably unusual our customs align as much as they do. Still, odd thing not to pick up. Though I suppose if beaks like Brooklyn's were common, it would be a tad exclusionary."

"Well, beak or no beak, I need some tips," Brooklyn pressed.

"Why, exactly?" Matt asked, taking a seat.

"Maggie, of course. Didn't anyone tell you they're dating now?" Broadway asked, as if it were obvious.

"She's not well-equipped for kissing these days, either," Matt said with a chuckle, but realized he was the only one amused.

"Listen, Matt," Brooklyn said, pointing a finger that practically poked Matt in the chest. "Maggie has had to put up with a lot since coming to New York. The least I can do is be able to kiss her like a normal boyfriend, okay? She doesn't need another disappointment."

Matt held up his arms in surrender, but he was still smiling.

"Well, ask any of my exes, and you'd find I'm hardly Casanova, Brooklyn. But you're assuming that Maggie is expecting something 'normal' like a kiss. Take this bit of advice at least; one of the worst things you do with women is run yourself ragged on something you think they want, without bothering to get to know what they want. And since I'm clueless how you could kiss with that mouth of yours, that's really all I have got for you in dating advice."

X X X

Anna entered the room to find her mate sitting on the bed. She really wanted to get some sleep. She put on a strong showing, but carrying a litter was draining, and it had been a long night. But she owed him some time after what he'd been through.

"Asking how you're doing would be lousy. I'm sorry you had to do that," she said, sitting next to him. She stroked his shoulder, working her way down to the hand. Her tiger man gave a deep sigh.

"He trusted me, Anna. We weren't quite friends, but I did want to be."

"And he pushed you away because he couldn't accept this, you, us. I know all about making tough calls; you have to make them, but it doesn't mean they aren't tough," she assured him, rubbing her cheek against his. He didn't return it, but she felt him relax a bit.

"He didn't try to break free, really. After the first few tugs, I just felt him give up."

"Yes, he gave up, which a leader can't do. And I know you feel worse doing it for Frank. But remember, he's only a patsy. You saw how he's acting already. When I take him down to take control, they'll cheer; we'll have unity and a real leader. A future for us, for our kits. You did the right thing, you know that, it's just the heart is a bit dumb about recognizing it. Take it from me, it will learn in time."

"Is that a lesson worth learning?"

She gave him a lick on the cheek.

"For a leader, yes," she said, "but you don't have to worry. You said it yourself, you want your kitchen and the kits to raise, unlike your father barely knowing you. Once this is done, you will have the most peaceful life I can win for you. Just trust me and stay the course."

She worked her claws to undo his belt.

"Aren't you a bit far along for that?"

"Tell that to my hormones."

"Well, I'd rather sleep. I'll need it for when Frank starts really throwing his weight around. After all, you're not going to stop him from laying out enough rope to hang himself, right?" Giorgios said, pulling her fingers out of his shorts.

Anna pouted, but got up.

"Alright then, I want to take a few notes before turning in," she told him as he rolled over, adjusting the blankets for more comfort.

'It will all be worth it. You'll see; our family will stand on the top of a new era and a new race,' she promised silently as her mate settled into an uneasy sleep.

X X X

Enrique had retreated to the momentary sanctuary of the men's room toilet stall. He didn't pull down his pants, as he took the seat. Rubbing sweat from his brow with one hand, he reached under the lab coat he was wearing with the other to work his rosary.

He'd been raised to be a good Catholic, but growing up, he had drifted away from Church, more through busyness than any conscious choice. His wife had been much the same, and his kids spent more Sundays than not out of Mass until the disease had reared its head.

Faith had done little better than science for years, as he dealt with his grief for his wife and fear for his boys. He did feel guilty, thinking back to Father Roberts, the priest of his church for years. The man had been honest with him, that he should accept the end and prepare himself and the boys for it rather than waste what time was left chasing false hope. Far more diplomatically put, but he'd torn into the old priest over it.

The old man ironically had died not long after. The fact Enrique had never gotten to apologize had stuck with him. He'd taken to carrying the rosary with him everywhere as both a gesture of thanks to God for having found, or been found by the project, and an apology of sorts to the memory of the kindly priest.

It is usually better to live, Father Roberts had often said. In regards to the dark compromises people often had to make to survive in life, he had not been one too bandy about threats of fire and brimstone, preferring stories of redemption, of how if one hung on then the storms and winters could pass. Enrique thought the priest would have approved of the Chimera as a way to escape death. After all, they remained human in the ways that mattered. But this business with those poor goats…

It hadn't taken long for Enrique to discover what his job really was tonight. Was it still night? His job was to monitor and document goats that took fatal turns in their transformation, along with other low-ranked assistants. So, Higurashi could focus on those that still had potential.

Some of the deaths were simple organ failure. Others, he knew he'd never forget, ever. The one that tried growing a second, human, head had been terrible. He could swear the new head had been screaming even after the goat head seemed unable to. This last death though, of those arms. That poor, poor thing!

He wasn't versed enough in such things to know if the final outcome would be blasphemy or something, but was this the road to it? This was evil. It was vile that they weren't allowed to put them down for the sake of a bit more data. And he now had no doubt how dangerous Higurashi really was. The man was all smiles and an imitation of paternal pride until a goat proved to be terminal. Then he did little more than shrug, write it off with good-natured humor, and leave it to Enrique and the others.

The man's kindness, his humanity, was like a vast beautiful lake, but when you stepped in it, you realized it was not a real lake but just a giant puddle that barely reached your ankle. Enrique, his boys, all the Chimera… Higurashi's affection and friendliness for them he was certain was real, but it had no grip on his actions, and his conscience probably didn't exist.

Dr. Cranley was bad. This manchild though, he was dangerous.

For the first time, Enrique could not help but wonder if Father Roberts had truly been right. Maybe it would have been better for his boys to die innocent, rather than fall into the power of this monster and the evil man who now ruled all their lives.

They needed to get out of here, but there was nowhere to go. Nowhere at all.

Putting the rosary away, he unzipped to actually use the toilet. He needed to get back; he could not afford to displease the madman who acted like a friend.

X X X

Madison reached into the toolbox and grabbed what she hoped was the right tool, and held it down through the hatch. She looked away as the flashlight on the helmet that Lexington was wearing shined in her face. He took the tool, while she couldn't help but growl. She hadn't had the goggles on!

"Sorry, Madison; and thanks. This is a big help," he said, working his way back down into the inner workings of the Clan Cave.

"It doesn't feel like I'm doing much," she admitted, looking down into something that seemed too big to be a crawlspace.

"It is. As a Gargoyle, I've got a strict time limit on how long I can do long-term jobs. I'd hate to turn to stone in a place like this. Who knows what I might damage waking up. So, you handing me what I need or going to check something or flip a switch saves me time, and let's me make more progress."

"What exactly are you doing? I mean, this place is already working, right?" she asked.

"Well, part of it is making sure it keeps working. A whole lot goes into making those lights turn on with the flip of a switch. Add in running water, ventilation, even running this place on a minimum and only part of it, we have a lot of moving parts that haven't seen any check-ups, much less repair or replacement, for over a year. So, everything is working okay now, and I'm making sure it stays that way."

"Cool," Madison said.

Lexington switched his helmet off and climbed back up onto the floor. "You really mean that, don't you?" he said, setting the helmet aside and returning the tool to the toolbox.

"Well, it's interesting, isn't it?" she asked.

"Well, it's important, but the other guys, I need something very clear as a goal before they want to chip in. Like the motorcycle."

"You have a motorcycle?"

"Had, it got blown up on the first night."

"That sucks."

"It did, haven't tried that again," Lex admitted, picking up the toolbox and checking a checklist. "Anyway, it's not like they won't pitch in, but it's all about an end goal for them. Machines and computers are kind of only my thing."

"Well, I'm not really a fan of the computer lab, but this is cool," the jaguar girl said, gesturing to the trap door as Lex dropped it back in place.

"So, an electrician in the making, then?" he asked.

"Uh, I don't know," she said, looking away.

"Hey now, I'm not asking you to commit to anything," Lex said as they left the shelf-lined room and entered the hallway. "But I wouldn't mind someone who was willing to help, and not chomp at the bit just to be done already. I kind of figured you'd be chasing after Maggie for magic."

"Well, yeah, but this is cool, too?"

"Nothing wrong with wanting both. I gave it a whirl, but the spells just don't have much punch for me. Guess I'm just not the type."

"…I asked to come along because Maggie was talking about combat training," Madison confessed suddenly.

"Oh," Lex said, stopping for a moment.

"I wasn't lying about it being interesting. It's just… I've never fought before."

"I'm pretty sure Maggie hadn't either before she was turned."

"Well, she's great though, and I'm, well, me. I got conned by Radar for how long?"

"Maggie is great, but so is everyone in the Clan. You included, Madison," Lex assured her as they reentered the main chamber. "And Maggie was pretty nervous about everything. It still surprises me how far she's come from the cat girl rushing to try and meet some standard no one, but being too afraid and mopey to do it, and feeling ashamed of it. There's no need to rush; if you're not ready to train for fighting, Maggie will understand, I promise. And maybe you're just not the fighter type. The Clan looks out for each other, and that means being able to defend each other in a fight. But you don't have to go on patrol looking for a fight, Madison; okay?"

"Okay," she sighed, looking up at the high ceiling.

She heard him, but it was still hard to believe. Could it really be so simple? Could such kindness not come with some big "but" or charge down the line. Bobbi hated thinking that way, and she'd hoped she realized now how Madison wouldn't think that way. But even with her past cut off in almost every way imaginable, the streets and that broken home still reached out to touch her back with ice cold fingers.

She jolted as Lex declared it time to head back. Everything was put away and turned off.

'I zoned out? Crap, that's not good. Keep it together, don't blow this chance. You're Madison, not Bobbi, you can do this,' the young Chimera told herself as the massive door slid shut behind her and Lexington.

X X X

"There you see, lad," Hudson said, smiling wide as he and Broadway looked down from the clockface. "Sometimes we old bone-bags know a thing or two. No need for you young wings to go complicating things."

Maggie and Brooklyn were seated on her bedding… Well, Madison's bed officially now. Maggie was stroking the hair on the back of Brooklyn's head, and Brooklyn was scratching deep into her mane to the back of her head and neck.

"So, that feel okay?" Brooklyn asked nervously.

Maggie averted her eyes, making a strange cough. "It feels a bit weird," she admitted.

"Oh, right then," Brooklyn said, pulling his claws away.

Maggie narrowed her eyes at him. "Brooklyn, I did not say stop," she said flatly.

"Right! Okay then," Brooklyn said, resuming with a greater vigor, and a bit more and a bit more.

Maggie's head tilted back, and a purr started to rise deep within her throat.

"High five," Broadway said, lifting his hand to Hudson who just raised an eyebrow and grabbed Broadway by the belt-buckle to drag him out the door.

"A bit of discretion, lad. Heh-heh," Hudson said, chuckling.

X X X

Higurashi entered the observation room where Enrique was resting, carrying two brown glass bottles with him. The not-doctor was still dressed in his lab coat and scrubs, while Enrique had stripped his off after being cut loose from the procedure, as he sipped water in his civvies.

Higurashi pulled off his medical mask, revealing a wide smile after handing Enrique one of the damp bottles.

"Cheers! To our winner!" he jovially exclaimed, raising the bottle toward a screen depicting the sole survivor of the procedure. The goat girl was petite, and more so curled up in the corner of the room Higurashi and Enrique had put her in after removing the IVs. Though her brownish fur and short hair made Enrique think of her as more of a deer.

Numbly twisting the bottle cap off, he clinked glasses with Higurashi. A sip surprised him.

"Root beer?" he asked the scientist.

"Very fine root beer," Higurashi said. "Ah, tastes like success. If you want beer-beer, you'll have to go elsewhere. It's always tasted terrible to me. Blegh." He wrinkled his face in disgust.

All that and he doesn't bat an eye, but the memory of the taste of beer disgusts him, the widower thought wearily. "Have you come up with a name?" he asked, sipping the soda.

"Of course," Higurashi said. "Elora, after the princess from Willow. We never got to see her story unfold. This faun that carries my blood, I look forward to seeing her story unfold." Turning back to the screen, he stroked the image of the shivering child in her corner. Enrique supposed it was meant to be fatherly and affectionate, but the sight sent a chill up his back.

'Don't rock the boat, think of the boys,' he told himself.

Sound advice, solid priorities. But the image of the goat girl in her corner and the one time she met his eyes during the transfer, it stuck with him. Haunting eyes, full of confusion and pain.

X X X

Maggie knew she was purring a lot, but she just couldn't care. It was like she was having soft warm linen poured into her.

'Ah, why should this stop?' she thought.

"What are you two doing?" Madison's voice cracked her bliss like a baseball through a window.

"Mrah!?" Maggie yowled, going rigid.

Brooklyn pulled his hand back like it was burned, turning to see the jaguar Chimera girl sitting on her haunches, tilting her head as she watched them.

"Nothing! Nothing to see here, kid," Brooklyn assured her, getting to his feet. Maggie followed suit, clearing her throat.

"Just some… grooming. Yes, perfectly normal grooming. Always lather up so you don't have to," Maggie said.

"Why not use a brush then?" Madison asked, frowning a bit.

"Oh my, look at the time, need to get out and prepare for the dawn," Brooklyn said, quickly walking past Madison, her eyes on Maggie. Brooklyn mouthed an apology to Maggie for ditching her, with her rolling her eyes in answer.

Outside, Brooklyn glared at Lexington.

"What? How could I know? Maybe you should tell me things, and stuff like this wouldn't happen," Lexington defended himself from unspoken accusations. Hudson, for his part, just threw back his head and laughed, wiping away a tear before speaking.

"Oh, how I missed this kind of nonsense," the elder said with a chuckle.

X X X

Cranley peeked out between the boards on the window, looking out on the dreary winter day in a rundown part of New York.

She had no idea where they were; she'd only arrived in the city for the Project, and memorizing the layout had never been needed.

The building was tall, deserted, and the upper floors seemed clear of homeless for some time by her nose, so she'd chosen and decided to fetch Derek for it from the rooftop he'd been resting on. The one staircase she'd found had partially collapsed, so that explained the privacy, she supposed.

Walking back into the building's depths, she was grateful for her Chimera eyes. The lights were of course inoperable, and were so far from the windows that darkness quickly took hold. Derek was where she left him, propped against a wall. Though she noticed his water bottle was not on the floor next to him. So, he'd had the presence of mind to get a drink; that was something.

Kneeling in front of the battered panther man, she confirmed he was out like a light. He really had been roughed up. And his injury over his eye had not quite finished healing yet.

'Too much to hope there's a first aid kit buried in here somewhere. For that matter, how are we supposed to get water after our bottles run out?' she wondered. It occurred to her that even homeless could go into a library or something to use a water fountain.

He had not asked her yet why she had gone with him; she wasn't looking forward to that conversation. And did she even owe him an answer? She was all he had right now. Unless he had a plan.

She hoped he had a plan.

But for now, she was too anxious to sleep, and there was nothing here to occupy her. Well, except for the panther man. Poking his cheek with her finger, he grumbled slightly, but didn't even come close to waking.

'Dead to the world? Well, the battered look isn't appealing, but he is still a fine specimen,' Cranley thought, kneeling by him and starting to nibble an ear.

A pleasant distraction as he was, she stopped soon enough to sit next to him. It was tempting to try and sleep, but her mind was whirling again, after the muffling effect of pleasure passed.

She was away from Anna and the others. Very good. And potential threats in the new Chimeras. Derek had proven safe, so leaving with him was sensible. She'd come to realize even by existing, the other Chimera could be threats; as she herself became less valued, she might end up under Higurashi's operating lights.

But what now? Cranley had no idea how to survive homeless as a human, much less as a Chimera. It wasn't like it was a jungle or plain, where hunting could be useful for surviving. Not that she knew how. And Derek seemed at a loss, too.

So, what now?

There existed a population that had proven they could survive on Manhattan, secret from humans. The Gargoyle Clan.

Less than ideal; judging by her reception by the Pride, she could not expect to be welcomed by the Clan, having been a part of their enemy organization. Maza was dubious in value there too, as his antagonism to the Gargoyles, Goliath in particular, was significant enough it had been cultivated as an asset.

Firstly, would Derek be willing to reach out? Secondly, would they get anything besides hostility from the Gargoyles? Thirdly, how would they find them in the first place?

Answer for third – Derek's sister, Detective Elisa Maza, NYPD. A human with an address and phone number, doable to make contact with. So, convince Derek to reach out to her.

With a plan in hand, Cranley scooted up next to Derek, as she leaned into him and tried to sleep the day away.


AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Ah, there it is. I have waited so long to reach this point, one of the major junctions in the story. And now it finally gets published; shared with the audience.

So I do hope it proved satisfactory to you, my dear audience.

The next update may come later than scheduled due to RL matters. Thank you your understanding and support.

Long days and pleasant nights to you all.