After Invasion

Chatper 3

Swift Freeman got out of bed and hopped into the shower. He was out in a few minutes and stepped outside so he could let his secretary/personal interest get one herself. A few moments later Arianna stepped out of the small home stretching her wings slightly. She was cute in the morning, one of the things that attracted Swift to her so much. He embraced her gently and her feline paws started to find hotspots of Swift�s ticklish side. After a few moments of laughing, Swift contained himself and gazed into her eyes. �How did you sleep?�

�I always sleep well with you.� She nestled into his embrace momentarily, purring contentedly.

�You keep this up I won�t want to go to work.� She ran a slender paw through his hair then pulled from the embrace. She smiled at him as she swished her tail, walking back into the building.

�I�ll be here when you get back. Don�t forget.� Swift smiled raising a hand waving goodbye.

�Couldn�t if I tried.� He started to walk to where his work vans were positioned. Swift was a bit early so he was surprised to see the door to the com van, the van that kept all his workers in constant contact with each other, left open. He looked in a saw the red vixen sitting looking at the board, thinking about something, a look of worry etched across her muzzle.

Scarlet had been with Swift a few months now, and yet everyday was still nerve racking. She twitched, both out of nervousness and the chill that had, and always seem to, find it�s way to her spine. She slid on the head set and did a few system checks. Although, not the navigation expert her sister was, by now, she could almost run the van by herself with the exception of driving it. She jumped slightly as Swift got in the van. The human gave her a friendly smile and a funny face, which no matter how many times she saw it she still had to laugh. Swift checked the board himself, being a bit knowledgeable in the equipment, then looked at Starfox, which she still enjoyed being called, out of the corner of his eye. �How ya feeling, Starfox?�

She shook her head, looking up at her current employer. �Useless and scared at the same time.�

�You had that nightmare again, didn�t you?� Scarlet nodded, wrapping her arms around herself. She closed her eyes and a tear slid down her muzzle as she did.

�I can�t do much about it, I would if I could.�

He kneeled down next to her looking into her eyes. She was by far and away one of Swift�s best workers. �I know, and I don�t mean to sound as if I�m blaming you, but, the longer I go without it, just feels like I�m getting weaker from it.� She shook her head and Swift put his hand on her shoulder.

�I do have something you might want to hear though. How would you like some time off?� Scarlet looked at him with an eyebrow arched, as if he had just said it in Martian. �Do you know who Conrad Mathyas is?� Scarlet nodded. He was one of the reasons they all had food to eat. Rumor went around that because of the invasion, Alden, or Earth as the humans called it, wasn�t fertile anymore. Mathyas was one of the few people that could get the soil to produce something, yet, nobody knew exactly how he was doing it, but nobody was complaining either. She looked at him again, sort of signaling that she had started to pay attention again. �Well, Conrad, myself, and Alpha Raye, make up the Triad council. We sort of miss each others company and we�re going to all meet up at Conrad�s plantation. I can take a few of you with me, I thought you�d love to chance to get out of here, at least for a month or so. What do you say?�

Scarlet nodded again, smiling. �That would be great. Have you told any of the others?� Swift shook his head.

�Arianna and I just got the message yesterday and you all looked too beat to take any news well, so I let you all rest. I intend to tell everyone before we head out today.�

�Well, Forcewave, Micro and Warfare are going to be up pretty soon. Titan is still asleep, as usual. As is Draco, that lazy lizard.� Swift laughed a bit.

�I could tell. He�s the only one among you that snores louder then Warfare..� They both had a chuckle over this as the back door to the van opened suddenly. Micro stepped in yawning a bit then stretching out his limbs slowly. �How did you sleep Micro?� The rodent shook his head.

�I sleep between Warfare and Draco, not very well. Could I get my walls sound proofed?� Swift shook his head.

�There isn�t enough of the stuff in the northern hemisphere.� Walice was the next one into the van. Forcewave was in uniform and ready for another day of demolitions work.

�Everyone�s up and ready to roll when you are Mr. Freeman.� Swift smiled as he stepped out of the van. The great gold wyrm, Draco, was still laying on the ground trying to catch a few more minutes of sleep. Warfare, the cybernetic simian, was adjusting something with a screwdriver on his cyber-arm. Titan was just shifting into his metal fur. Freeman smiled, his team was a bit odd at first glance but they were the best at what he needed them to do. Swift looked back into the van.

�Everyone out, I have an announcement to make, before we head out.� Everyone piled out of the com van and gathered around Swift in a circle. Draco rose his head over everyone else so he could see his human supervisor. �I have good news, for all of you. You all know, I�m a member of the North American Triad Council correct? Well, The other two members and myself, have missed the pleasure of each other�s company. Therefore, Conrad has told us to meet him at his plantation for a little R&R. He said I could bring as many as I could.. So in a week, your all getting a vacation, and about a month�s worth of one as well.� At first it took a bit to sink in, but they all cheered a bit after it did, a few of them even hugged and Swift shook his head. � Have I really been working these people this hard?� Swift jumped into the com van. �Alright, Micro, Draco, Forcewave, into the other van, Warfare, Starfox, Titan, are with me in the com van. Micro, just follow me and we�ll get to the site. Let�s move out.�

They made there way to the first outpost, an abandoned fort for the human invasion. Swift glanced among the people that he had with him. Most of them didn�t appreciate having their failure thrown back in their faces, but for the most part, they didn�t mind tearing down the structures so others could be housed. Still, the hurt looks on their faces usually made Swift sick, but he couldn�t really do anything about it. �All right, demo team, stake out the area, make sure no one else is finding refuge in there. Keep in contact.�

�Yes sir, Swift.� He heard Warfare utter through his microphone. The demo team consisted of Warfare, Forcewave, Titan and usually Draco finished off the building. Having a great gold wyrm class dragon did wonders for dropping buildings..

Forcewave hummed a song he had heard on the radio. He usually didn�t enjoy this work but, in a way it was him getting back at the humans. That and with the good news he had just received he figured whistling while he worked was allowed. Another wall fell to his telekinetic wave, and he heard something. A gentle almost inaudible whimper. Someone was still here, but not close to him. �Swift, do you have the schematics of this place?�

�Yeah, Forcewave, right here. What�s up?�

�I heard something, or someone. Are there holding cells in this complex?�

�Yes, go through the next three walls in front of you, then two walls to your left.�

�Got it. Thanks.� He plowed through the walls with some ease. The dust didn�t clear for sometime, but he could hear someone still whimpering. He looked about and found most of the cells closed. As he walked past one, there was a despicable sight to behold. A corpse, Walice couldn�t even make out the species anymore, large chunks of fur were missing, as was a large part of it�s leg. Starfox turned away from the monitor, closing her eyes.

�By the maker.� Swift stepped over as Micro took a look at the screen, then bowed his head. Swift�s face hardened then he gritted his teeth. This was unforgivable, whatever it had been had tried to eat itself to sustain it�s existence, then something had found it and mercifully put it out of it�s misery. The missing pieces of it�s skull were enough to explain it�s death. Swift slammed his fist into the panel making a few pieces of paper and pens rattle.

�I hate my species sometimes. This is a disgrace, how we can be so much like the animals we thought you were, makes me sick.� Swift shook his head. �Walice do something for me, is there a cloth or something in there?�

�Yeah there�s one on the wall.�

�Put it over the body, and sprinkle some of the dust over the body.� This was the first time Forcewave had ever been asked to do this. When he was done, he looked around a bit, then looked under the sheet one more time.

�Couldn�t be her.� He smiled a bit, then replaced it. In the van, Swift sent a prayer up to the higher beings, hoping that the creature had found peace in the afterlife. None of them had ever seen him do this, so they all remained silent. Then he spoke again. �What was that, Walice?� He didn�t sound a great deal like himself but he hadn�t had the greatest experience so Walice let it go.

�That couldn�t have been the one I heard, Swift. This voice was alive.. I can�t say that about this one.� Out of nowhere he heard it again, a lot closer. It wasn�t a whimper this time either.

�....he...lp....... please......� Walice looked about and found the source a large steel door.

�Don�t worry, I�ll get you out. Demo team converge on my location..� A few walls later Titan and Warfare were looking at the door as well.. �I�ve looked everywhere, this is the only way in, and my waves aren�t even dinging.� Titan tried his paw or rather shoulder, the steel fox slammed against the door a few times and it started to give.

�I can get it down but not without help, help me comrades.� Walice, Titan and Warfare all pushed down the door and it hit the ground with a heavy thud.. What met their noses was the smell of feces and urine.

Walice looked about the room and found a nude grey fox, huddled against the wall. He stepped over to him kneeling. �I�m gonna need meds soon for this one. He looks like he�s been down here a while.� He turned and looked at the rest of the team. �Any of you recognize him?�

Warfare and Titan both shook their heads. Walice turned back to the fox, wanting the vans to get a good look too. Starfox winced at the screen trying to get a better look.. Swift looked at the poor vulpine as well, but he wasn�t familiar with him either. Scarlet took the microphone. �Forcewave, can you bring him up? I doubt the meds are going to get down there anyway.�

�Can do, Starfox.� Titan and Warfare carried the limp, frail body up to the surface and they were met by Starfox, Swift and Micro along with Draco who lifted his head to see over everyone. The wounded, starving fox drank the water like he hadn�t had any in a while when they offered him food, he took it but his eyes never left Swift. There was obviously a lack of trust towards him so he stepped back into the van, not wanting to startle or irritate him further.. Scarlet looked into his eyes, and the grey tod looked back.

�Erica?� Scarlet�s eyes widened so far the others feared they would�ve dropped out of her head.

�Sly? It�s me, Scarlet. Erica�s sister?� Sylvester's head bent forward as if trying to remember.

�Scarlet? Is that you?� Sly weakly put his arms around Scarlet�s neck and began to cry. �Scarlet, I�m so glad to see your okay.� He released his hold and everyone now noticed what Scarlet had mentioned. �I�m sorry for the mistake in identity, but I haven�t been in the light or fed or gotten a decent drink of water for a while..� He coughed a bit his insides still messing with him. Scarlet let his body down and smiled as she regarded him, he fell asleep very calmly. Scarlet closed her eyes, then glared at the fortress, and screamed in a rage. She flew around it slamming her fist into it, determined to level it herself. The top fell in after a few minutes of her barrages, then she was pounding at the stones that were left when Titan wrapped her up in a bear hug with his metal fur up.

�Scarlet, stop this please. Dere is no point to dis.� Her eyes were set into the rubble and her fangs were barred like she was ready to turn the place into to dust. After a few moments, she stopped struggling against Titan. She closed her eyes. �Dere now. I bet you feel much better, yah?�

�They�ve taken everything from me, Kale. I can�t do anything about it, I feel so helpless.� The big fox let her go then she turned and started to cry into his fur. �Why do I feel so helpless?!?� Kale looked down at her and then kneeled so he could look her in the eyes.

�You aren�t feeling anything none of us haven�t felt, Scarlet.. At least now, you have some family left. You have Sly now. Dat is more den most of us. Walice has not heard from CeeCee, I haven�t seen my team since the final battle. Warfare hasn�t seen his team eider. Be happy, Scarlet.. You have someone you can be with.� Scarlet smiled at Kale. He didn�t look it but he had a big heart at the times people need it the most.

�Thanks, Kale.� She walked back over to Sly, whom was still sleeping.. � I just wish I had some good news to tell him. I wish I knew where Erica, Red, hell, I�d be happy to see Artica alive, not too happy but I�d feel better.� She lifted Sly and into the van. Swift stepped out as she did.

�Draco, torch this place! We�re done for the day.� The great dragon smiled broadly.

�With pleasure.� The dragon lifted into the sky and circled once and then unleashed his fire breath into the complex. Warfare fired his ion cannon into the blaze, Forcewave sent the greatest telekinetic wave into the rubble. Titan got into the van when it was done, as did everyone else except Swift, who kneeled in front of the rubble.

�Rest in peace, whoever you were. I�m sorry, you were treated so horribly..� He shook his head raising, and stepping into the van. Micro came over the CB radio.

�Where to now, Swift?�

�Home. I�ve had enough today to last me a lifetime.� The vans made their way to Swift�s complex.� At the complex, they all disembarked, when Swift and Micro parked the vans. The group gathered in what had been called the briefing room, with the exception of Starfox and Sly. She had taken him to get a little more food and a lot more rest. �Nice work today team..� He looked out the window, at the gray clouds starting to roll over the horizon.

Walice looked at him as he did this, curiously. �Something wrong, Swift?�

�How many of you can�t stand the fact that your working for a human? I�d also prefer an honest answer. I�m just curious.� Walice thought about it, then he heard Titan speak up.

�Because, I have no where else to go, and if I may add, I don�t think I�d want to go anywhere else. You are a very good organizer, a skilled leader, and one of the most compassionate humans I�ve ever seen. Serving humans does irritate me slightly but, I don�t think I could�ve selected a better human, myself. Agreed comrades?� The whole room unified in one big �Hell yeah!� and Swift turned to them.

�The sight you all saw today, didn�t anger you, at least towards me?� Warfare shook his head.

�Of course not. You didn�t put Sly and that other poor creature in those holding cells. You didn�t keep them from eating anything and having to feed off themselves. We were all angered and shocked by the cruelty of the moment, but I feel we all took it a little better, thanks to your reaction. As Kale said, you are caring. We all know that wouldn�t happen to us, as long as we stay with you.�

Swift smiled as his head bowed slightly. A Draconic hand set down on his shoulder. �You saved my life Swift, if I hadn�t been sold the day you bought me, the captor said he was just going to drag me to the back and kill me. As what we are, dragons don�t sell, well because most of us are too big or, too wild. I was an exception. I thought I�d never see the sunrise again.....�

�You sleep through sunrise, dragon boy.� Micro spouted from the back..

�Hush, bite-size. As I was saying, until you bought me, I was dead. None of us hate you, we�re all thankful that you give us the opportunities you do.. A different human might not have even had us doing this job, or would have shot Sly, just because he was too weak to work for him. Your species has it�s definite character flaws, but you, even as a human, are good. We wouldn�t have changed what has happened so far for anything.� Swift lifted his head smiling brightly, looking as if he was even about to cry himself.

�Alright, enough of the mushy stuff. You all got a week to get ready then we�re going on vacation. I�m not taking anymore demo. jobs till afterward..� Warfare high-fived Titan, and Walice punched Micro gently on the shoulder.. �I�m going to see how Sly and Scarlet are doing, if you need me I�ll be there or in my room.�

Swift stepped to the door, Scarlet had laid her head down on the bed and Sly was asleep.. He turned a chair and sat down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him with heavy eyes. She�d been up the longest and was starting to feel the effects. Swift leaned forwards on the back of the chair he was sitting in. �How is he?�

Scarlet shook her head. �He ate again, and he should sleep decently now. I can�t imagine what he�s been through. I don�t want to.� She rubbed the back of her neck closing her eyes. Swift looked back at Sly.

�Look, I�ll look after him you go get some rest. Your going to need it to pack tomorrow. That and you can take over in the morning after breakfast if you want. I need to talk to him. He�s needs to understand that not all humans and humanimals are on combat terms only.� Scarlet stood stretching her back. She patted Swift on the shoulder and started out the door.

�You�ll wake me if anything happens right?�

�Of course.�

Scarlet started her trek back to her room, as she did she sort of checked up on the others.. Draco�s and Warfare�s rooms she didn�t even have to go in, they were already snoring. Micro, the poor thing had managed to fall asleep with three pillows, one to lay his head on the other two to hold to his ears. Titan was a room down from hers, when she glanced in he was reading an art history book that Swift had gotten for him. She glanced in on Walice, who was listening to his radio.

�There�s another world inside of me, that you may never see. There�s secrets in this life that I can�t hide. Somewhere in this darkness there�s a light that I can�t find, or maybe it�s too far away yah... or maybe I�m just blind.....maybe I�m just blind.. So hold me when I�m here, right me when I�m wrong, hold me when I�m scared, and love me when I�m gone. Everything I am and everything in me, wants to be the one you wanted me to be. I�ll never let you down even if I could, and give up everything if only for your good. So hold me when I�m here, right me when I�m wrong. You can hold me when I�m scared, but you won�t always be there so love me when gone.�

She listened to the song intently. Walice saw her leaning in the doorway, and waved her in. She waited till the song was finished her head still nodding slightly even when the song was over. �Who sings that? It sounds familiar.� Walice held up the CD and handed it to her. The artist was a band called a �Fiery Last Ride.� It didn�t show any of the band members but Scarlet did like the sound of the group and Walice noticed it all to easily.

�You can borrow it if you want. I have another copy anyway.� Scarlet sat up and smiled at Walice.

�Thanks.�

�Don�t mention it. I�m turning in. See ya tomorrow.� Scarlet stepped back to her room and laid down on her bed, putting the CD in the player and sliding her headphones over her ears, so she wouldn�t disturb anyone else. At one moment in the first song, the lead singer half sings, half says one of the lines in the first verse and Scarlet listened to that part again..

�Red!?!?!� She looked to the ceiling, smiling. �It has to be him, I�ll find you Red, I swear it. I still love you.� She fell asleep, having her mate serenade her to a blissful slumber.