Previously:

*****

She stood still and stared blankly at the console for a full five minutes before disengaging herself from the system and carefully putting the wall section back into place. As she returned to the roof where she had hidden the hoversled, her face hardened with resolve. It seemed that history liked cycles. If this was someone's offer of redemption to her then she was going to grasp it with both hands, ensuring this time the cycle was going to come to a different ending than the previous one. She checked her internal clock and discovered that there were still a few hours left till sunset. Mounting the hoversled she gunned its engines into life and headed back to the dairy. There were still some preparations to finalise before she made her move.

******

Bypassing the security guards at the main gate to the Dominion research labs wasn't a problem. Especially as she wasn't intending to sneak into the complex. Doing that would have surely raised someone's suspicions. The best place to hide was right out in the open. Throwing her kit bag over her shoulder she paused before punching in the entry code that gave her access to the room where the two gargoyle females were being held. The thought that they may have moved the duo to another part of the complex crossed her mind but was instantly dismissed. If they had moved them, there would have been some mention of it in Dawson's personal files. Kahreen doubted that they would do that unless they believed someone would attack the complex, and there was no way that she would be so careless.

As the door slid slowly open, Kahreen half expected Dawson to be in the room and so was relieved when she laid eyes on the technician who had been talking to Dawson the night before. He was so engrossed at his work that he had not noticed Kahreen had entered the room until she lightly tapped him on the shoulder. The effect on the man was electric. Startled, he leaped from his chair, knocking a half-filled cup of coffee onto the floor and was about to trigger the alarm when he caught sight of the intruder. Seeing Kahreen he relaxed...but not much.

"I didn't hear you come in." He said when his breathing had returned to near normal.

Kahreen glanced at the computer screen and at the broken pieces of the coffee cup on the floor. "Yeah, but from the way you were working I don't think you'd have noticed if an express train had thundered in one door, did a circuit of the room and went out again."

"Indeed." The technician reached behind him and switched off the screen. "May I enquire as to why you are here? Mr Dawson is rather busy at the moment and...."

Kahreen cut him off. "Actually it wasn't Dawson I came back here to see." Noticing the technicians puzzled expression she continued. "I believe I may have located the group of Gargoyles which have been giving Harding so much trouble lately and I just need to pick up a piece of equipment that is required to 'acquire' them."

"Mr Dawson will be pleased." The technician looked pleased himself. "I can inform him that you are here if you wish to convey this good news to him."

Kahreen shook her head as she headed to one end of the room, bending down to pick up a small device which had apparently fallen to the floor from one of desks that were situated around the room. "That's not necessary. I'll inform Mr Dawson myself when he is available." She paused, and added almost as an afterthought, "Thanks anyway."

"Very well." The human motioned at the device that Kahreen held in her hand. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Yeah." She glanced at the small black box before returning her gaze to the human. "This little baby is going to going to be very useful tonight." With that she began to walk towards the door. As she passed the computer console she paused and turned to the human who had resumed working at his station, resting her hand on the access port of the console as she did so. "Oh by the way how is our friend Harding doing? I know Dawson has told him to work with me but I haven't heard a peep out of him in the past few hours."

The technician glanced at her, irate at being disturbed once again. "Mr Harding's activities are not of my concern, you'll have to ask Mr Dawson when you meet with him."

The door slid open and Kahreen walked through a small smile playing around the corners of her mouth as the door closed. She looked at her now empty hands. "I'll be sure to have a few words with ~ Mr. Dawson ~ when I meet with him that's for sure," she thought as she headed down the corridor and entered the lift.

Secured in its place on the console, the device began to blink.

*****

Within the lift Kahreen placed her kit bag on the floor and opened it, removing the headset. Putting it on, she first made sure all the wires and connections were in the right place. There was a hum as she activated the optitherm shielding and vanished from sight.

*****

Back in the lab, the technician was beginning to wonder why the creature had really come here. As far as he was aware it had never left any of its technology at the research facility. He didn't think it would be as careless as to leave such a vital piece of equipment behind. Chances are it would have accidentally ended up in one of the research and development labs within the building. He reached for the com system and was about to call security when something slammed into the back of his head, sending him flying over the top of the desk. He landed on the floor where he lost consciousness.

The room seemed to be empty save for the prone technician, yet a disembodied voice was heard to order "Computer, activate loop program 6." The small device began to hum and a beeping announced that the program had commenced.

Kahreen deactivated the shielding and phased back into sight. Checking that the technician would be out of action for some time yet she went to the stasis booths that held the two female gargoyles and began to feed instructions into the console that would deactivate the field.

The first thing that Llewelyn became aware of was the fact that she was staring at her own reflection. The second was that she was trapped in some kind of casket. Or was she? An experimental push at what seemed to be the casket's lid achieved nothing. Frustrated, she began to gather all her strength to hammer at the lid once again, when the casket began to vibrate and the lid slowly slide away. As she began to sit up and gather her thoughts together she became aware of a scent, a familiar and unwelcome scent. The last time she had come across it had been...when? She shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts. It seemed to have been only a few moments ago but another part of her mind told her that it had been longer than that. Maybe Sabrina knew how long....Sabrina! Llewelyn sat bolt upright fear and concern welling up within her. A groan to her right put rest to those fears. Glancing over to the neighbouring casket she was relived to see a rather groggy Sabrina sitting upright.

It was then that she became aware that there was another presence in the room. The owner of the scent. Her eyes flared crimson as she sought out and located the one who had hunted them. Tensing her body and gathering her strength Llewelyn prepared to strike.

*****

Kahreen raised the visor of her headset and glanced at the readings on the console that controlled the stasis booths. According to the readout, the two gargoyles were now awake, a muffled thump from one of the chambers confirmed this. Kahreen keyed in the commands that were required to open the booths. As the lids opened Kahreen glanced at the technician who still lay unconscious on the floor. He looked at peace...almost innocent. But was he? How many in the Dominion corporation were aware of what their C.E.O. and others were planning for the human race. Or were they, as she had begun to suspect, blissfully unaware that they were unwittingly assisting in the enslavement of their entire world? Her thought were interrupted as with a rising crescendo of a roar, Llewelyn attacked. The force of the first blow sent Kahreen staggering backwards and before she could regain her balance Llewelyn's tail snaked out sending Kahreen crashing to the floor.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Kahreen hissed at the gargess as she picked herself up off the floor. The noise that the gargoyle was making would almost certainly bring anyone within earshot running to the labs, surveillance blackout or no surveillance blackout.

"What ~ I'm ~ doing?" Llewelyn snarled. "Would you prefer I shake your hand for hunting us like animals, capturing us and taking us here against our will for some mad scientist to use us as lab rats?" The sarcasm and anger dripped off her every word.

"Well can't say I didn't ask for that one." Kahreen's voice was steady although her mind was racing. She'd expected the gargoyles to be angry with her but what she hadn't counted on was that they would make enough noise to raise the dead, or at least bring a group of very curious Dominion employees running. Time had just become a very limited commodity. "What I would prefer however is that you stop trying to rip my face off and listen to me." She said.

"Why should we?" asked Sabrina warily as she approached the duo. So far she had watched Llewelyn's attack on the cat-like creature without intervening, but questions welled in her mind, ones which could only be answered if the feliniod was in a fit state to answer them. "You haven't exactly proved yourself to be to be the most trustworthy or friendly individual we've encountered. How do we know you haven't awakened us only to sell us off to the next highest bidder?"

"I don't expect you to trust me or believe me, just to listen." Kahreen paused trying to work out how best to convince them. "But in a few moments this room is going to be filled with a lot of people who ain't going to be very pleased to see you out of those stasis booths." She looked at the expressions in the gargoyles faces: distrust, anger and puzzlement. Not the best result, but at least they had stopped trying to kill her. "Now you only have two choices: stay here and return to those oh so comfortable stasis booths and run the risk of never waking up again, or refrain from killing me long enough for me to help you get out of here and to safety." She took a step forward. "Whats it going to be?"

******

"I think we might have been better off with the stasis booths." Sabrina mumbled. She risked a glance around a doorway, made sure the coast was clear, and then dashed across the corridor, entering the room where Kahreen and Llewelyn were waiting for her. Even on the upper levels of the building the alarm still rang at a level that was painful for the sensitive hearing of the gargoyles. Earlier they had been on the main fire escape stairwell when the ear piercing scream of the alarm had filled the air. Sabrina's ears were still ringing. "What now?" she hissed under her breath at the feliniod. "This is a dead end and if the humans find us here we're done for. There's nowhere to run to!"

"And nowhere to glide to either" Llewelyn growled in frustration as she stepped back from the window. "What is this glass made from? It won't break or shatter and I can't see any way of opening it either."

"You couldn't physically, " Kahreen explained as she activated the computer terminal that sat upon a desk in the middle of the room. "Just about everything in this place is controlled electronically including doors and windows. You wouldn't be able to break through them even if you exploded a nuclear warhead right next to them."

"So what are you doing then?" Llewelyn glanced at the biomech's fervoured activity at the console.

"Accessing the controls for the windows and doors. They haven't locked the system out yet, so we're still one step ahead of them."

"Well you'd better hurry up," Sabrina, who had been keeping watch at the rooms door took a step backwards as the sound of running feet reached her ears, "...because we've got company!"

"Then I suggest we give them something else to think about for the time being." Kahreen paused and reached into her kit bag bringing out a device that looked very similar to the one she had left in the lab. Opening a small compartment on the top of the little black box she pressed the small button that had been exposed.

******

In the lab, the small black box began to give out a high pitched beep. The security guards who had gathered in the room looked up in unison as Kahreen's voice emanated from it. "For those of you who are a little bit on the slow side, this explosive device will go off in ten...nine...eight...seven...si..." One guard scooped up the still semi-conscious lab technician and ran out of the lab closely followed by the others in the room.

"...x ...five... four...three... two... one...zero." Kahreen finished as the explosion ripped through the lower levels of the building.

"There were people down there!" Sabrina exclaimed her natural instinct to protect humans momentarily overriding her desire to escape from Dominion. "You could have killed them all!"

"Relax would you? They were given a warning weren't they? And besides," she added, "I don't think you can classify the people in here as 'human' any more."

"You want to explain that?" Llewelyn demanded.

"If we have time," Kahreen said as a beep from the computer was followed by a humming noise as the windows slowly ascended letting in the late Fall night air. "First we have to get as far away from here as possible."

The two gargoyles didn't need to be told twice.

Llewelyn launched herself into the night sky. Sabrina prepared to follow but paused as something occurred to her. She looked over her shoulder at the feliniod. "How do you propose to get out of here, we're eight floors up."

Kahreen joined the gargoyle at the window ledge and smirked as her hoversled appeared from the darkness and approached them. "I've got that covered."

"And where are we supposed to go?" Sabrina asked as she launched herself into the night air.

Kahreen soon caught up with her. "I've got that covered too." She paused and glanced back at the Dominion complex to make sure that they were not being followed. Smoke billowed out of the ground floor windows indicating that the small black box had done its job well. No doubt Dawson or Harding was already preparing to hunt them down... at any cost. Kahreen turned and looked ahead as she brought the hoversled around and headed for the city. To her relief, Llewelyn and Sabrina began to follow her.

Ten minutes of uneventful flight brought them within sight of the Inter-Dimensional building. During the journey Kahreen had explained to the duo that a gargoyle sympathiser owned the company. "You'd be better off with him than me." She'd explained. "He'll either offer you protection or help you get back home, whatever you want."

"You know him?" Sabrina enquired still slightly suspicious of the biomech's motives. She cast a glance at Llewelyn as they alighted on the balcony of what seemed to be a penthouse. In Llewelyn's expression she saw her own doubts mirrored.

"I know ~ of ~ him" Kahreen admitted. "but I've never met him. However I've observed Gargoyles leaving this place and the penthouse itself shows signs of being regularly used by your kind.

"If you don't know him then how are you going to convince him to help us?"

"We'll ask him when he gets here." Kahreen walked up to the glass doors of the penthouse and ran her right hand lightly over its surface.

"And when is he going to get here?" Llewelyn asked sceptically

Kahreen withdrew her hand from the door. In a sudden movement she curled her it into a fist, drew it back and then drove it through the door sending shattered glass flying into the air.

She stepped back with a satisfied look on her face and turned to face the two startled gargoyles. "Any time now."

*****

Thaylog watched as Flynt paced irritably in front of him. Since awakening the pair had been deep in discussion, weighing up the options. So far things were not looking good. He gave the brochure he had picked up form the Dominion Building a quick glance. "Dominion Enterprises: Working for your Future." Thaylog gave a small snort.

Flynt stopped. "Keeping a low profile is one thing. What you are proposing is that we virtually become prisoners in our own home. Either that or relocate.....again."

The ivory gargoyle nodded. "I know. But for now we are in over our heads. Until we find out the hows and whys of Dominion, the best thing to do is to remain as close to the mansion as possible."

"Why don't we take a chance and visit the Dominion building? We could sneak through the roof and..."

Thaylog raised his hand. "No my friend. You can bet their security is as good as ours. They would know we were there in a matter of minutes."

"So we just sit on our tails instead." Flynt muttered.

Thaylog bit back an angry reply and sighed. No point getting into a fight over words. Things were strained enough without added worries. He sat back in his chair, tapping his chin thoughtfully. The ivory gargoyle did have with one idea. One that involved him taking on human form again. It wasn't an idea he was keen on using, but as things stood it was the only option open to them. He cleared his throat.

"There maybe a way Flynt. However it is risky and I am the only one who can pull it off."

A puzzled expression crossed the tan gargoyles face. "How? And why only you?"

"Trust me." Thaylog replied. " I have certain means at my disposal. I should be able to get in and out without arousing suspicion."

Flynt gave a low hiss as he tried to come up with another option. He couldn't. He looked at his ivory friend. "When do you plan to do this?"

"Tomorrow, perhaps the next day after. There is a few things I need to iron out."

Thaylog was about to elaborate when a shout interrupted the two.

"THAYLOG!! You'll want to see this!" It was Dayia. The pair ran down stairs. Dayia and Shaiya were in the living room. Dayia pointed to the television and turned up the volume as the two gargoyles entered.

"...... crews are battling to contain the fire resulting from an explosion at one of Dominion's research plants." The reporter turned her head as the camera panned right, showing fire crews surrounding the partially burning building. "Reports are sketchy at the moment but it's believed to have been deliberately lit. Once again, a short time ago an explosion rocked the Dominion research facility........"

Flynt grinned maliciously as Thaylog turned the volume down. "Good! That might keep the lowlives off our backs for a while at least. I hope the whole rotten place burns down."

Thaylog nodded slowly. "Interesting." If the fire was indeed deliberate, who would have a grudge against Dominion apart from them? Another rival company? He was ready to voice his thoughts when a buzzing sound filled the air. Shaiya looked up, puzzled at the sound, as the remaining three exchanged worried looks.

"That's the remote alarm!" Flynt exclaimed.

Dayia raised her brow ridges in surprise. "Someone has broken into the office?"

Thaylog swore in his native tongue and bolted up the stairs into the study. With the flick of a switch he silenced the annoying sound. He headed out towards the weapons rack. The others were already there. Flynt nodded and tossed him a laser rifle. Thaylog turned to Shaiya.

"You need not come if you don't wish."

The petite female shook her silver mane. "You came to my aid when it was needed."

Thaylog nodded and smiled slightly, watching as Dayia armed herself with a small laser pistol while Flynt gave a rather large particle cannon the once over. He looked up, feeling the ivory gargoyles eyes on him.

"Hey we don't know whats out there. Last thing I want is a repeat of taking on a bunch of goons with nothing but a piece of pipe."

The four headed out onto the balcony, noting the heavy build up of clouds above them. Almost on cue a bolt of lightning flashed downwards, followed by a roll of thunder. A few drops of rain began to fall. Dayia grimaced at the night sky.

"Oh look." Flynt said sarcastically. "What a lovely night for a glide."

Thaylog turned to him as they took off into the night. "Hopefully my friend, bad weather will be all we have to worry about."

Neither of them thought they would be that lucky.

*****

Below, within the sanctuary of the trees, Diamond watched the four leave the mansion, heading in the direction of the city. Now would be the perfect opportunity to investigate the human dwelling they lived in. She looked over to the mansion and back to the flying figures. Even from this distance she could make out the weapons they were carrying. Curiously she wondered what was going on. They certainly weren't going hunting. Not judging from their weapons and the direction they were travelling in. It only took a moment to make up her mind. Giving the mansion a final glance, Diamond flared her wings and caught the strengthening breeze. Turning she followed the four as they disappeared into the darkness.

*****

Dawson's face was a mask of controlled fury as he watched the fire teams struggle with the blaze. The rain had begun to fall but did little to help against the fire. From the corner of his eye he noted Harding's jeep pull up nearby. The red glow accented the C.E.O.'s features as he faced the approaching mercenary.

"They escaped." Dawson's voice was cold, hard.

Harding nodded in response. "I already have teams out searching."

"It seems our feline friend has had a change of heart." It was fairly obvious from the technician's report what had happened. "I want those gargoyles found commander. Alive. I need not stress the importance of that. As for Kahreen..." The Dominion boss shrugged. "Use whatever means you see fit to see she doesn't trouble us again."

Harding tried hard not to smile he as climbed into his vehicle. He had warned Dawson about Kahreen. Now he had the chance to remove at least one potential threat once and for all. Starting the engine he reached for the two way radio as he drove out the compound.

*****

"How long before your friend gets here, eh?" Llewelyn glared at Kahreen, still not convinced of the feliniod's claim. The three figures huddled below the merge awning covering the penthouse balcony as the rain continued to fall. The occasional streak of lightning and clap of thunder echoed in the sky as the storm slowly passed overhead. Kahreen looked at Llewelyn. "I told you, I don't know him. And I don't know when he'll turn up." The biomech turned her gaze back to the cloudy heavens. Several minutes of silence passed. Kahreen rose and stretched. As she did so a movement off to the left caught her attention. She turned to the gargoyle pair.

"Heads up guys, we got company."

*****

Thaylog motioned to Flynt as the little group approached the building. The tan gargoyle nodded his understanding and veered off to the left, with Dayia close behind. Thaylog and Shaiya banked to the right. From the shadows of the balcony, Kahreen observed the ariel maneuvers. Llewelyn and Sabrina watched also, a glimmer of hope on their faces. Kahreen melted further into the shadows. No doubt the approaching gargoyles would be wary. Best let them get over the initial surprise of 'finding' two new gargoyles before she made her presence known. After that, she would have a lot of explaining to do.

*****

"Hey ease up." Llewelyn said. "We've had a rough night."

"Really. That does not explain why you are trying to break into my apartment."

"We weren't!" Sabrina protested. "We escaped..."

"Escaped?" Thaylog asked. "From where?"

"We don't know exactly." Llewelyn responded. "We came from that direction." She gestured with her talon. " The place sort of.. blew up as we left."

"The Dominion place!" Flynt exclaimed, "It has to be!"

"We were told you may be able to help us." Sabrina said.

"Told?" Thaylog repeated, shocked. "By who?"

"Umm.." The two newcomers looked at each other, the feliniod that had brought them here seemed to have disappeared. That in itself was going to make these circumstances harder to explain.

However that situation didn't present itself as the shadows that clung to the penthouse moved. "I did." Kahreen stepped out of the shadows much to the surprise of the gathered gargoyles.

The sudden appearance of this strange and unfamiliar being caused the clan to go on the defensive. Flynt leveled his blaster at the feline form warily.

"I also arranged that explosion at Dominion."

"She is the one who helped us get away." Sabrina explained.

"Yeah but don't forget she's the one that put us there in first place." Llewelyn added.

Kahreen inwardly winced at Llewelyn's last comment. 'Yeah let's get off to a good start here' she thought. Deciding that for the moment it was better to hide in the truth she turned her attention to the wary gargoyles.

"It's true." she said. "And you were meant to be next. I was brought in after Harding failed to capture you guys the first time."

"Harding?"

Kahreen gave Thaylog a quick description, one which the ivory gargoyle recognized as the human he had bumped into several days ago.

"Then it is definitely Dominion behind the our current 'problems'." Thaylog said slowly.

"I see you have been doing research of your own." Kahreen said.

The ivory gargoyle looked at her. "That's assuming you are not lying."

"This stinks." Flynt growled. "if she is with Dominion the whole thing could be a set up!" He scanned the skies.

"No." The feliniod shook her head. "Not since I discovered certain information about them."

Thaylog wasn't entirely convinced. "Assuming you are telling the truth, will you share this.... information that caused your change of heart?"

"Not here. Not now. You can bet Dominion will have people out looking for them..." She indicated the newly released gargoyles ...and me. Take me someplace safe. Then I'll tell you what you want to know."

Thaylog frowned. Flynt walked up and whispered in his ear, all the while keeping his eyes on the feliniod. The ivory gargoyle nodded. Kahreen didn't catch the exchange except for the word 'vaporize'. She could guess the rest. If she caused them any trouble, they'd make sure she would regret it.

"Very well," Thaylog finally said. "We shall go someplace more secure."

He looked at Kahreen questioningly.

"I have a hoversled on the far side of the roof." She told him.

"Then we'll collect it and be on our way."

*****

Several minutes later, the gargoyles', followed by Kahreen, took to the air. Unaware to any of them, high above, Diamond followed. She had watched the events unfold from a nearby building and though she could not hear what had been said, the gargoyles actions told her that something strange was going on. She was also the first to see two strange craft appear out of the night sky and home in on the flying forms.

*****

Dayia pulled alongside Flynt. "What do you think?" She motioned towards the new gargoyles and Kahreen.

The tan gargoyle shrugged. "I'm not sure what to believe at the moment. They seem to be on the level. We'll find out soon enough..."

A laser shot through the group, taking all by surprise. Thaylog saw two small ships bearing on their position. He glared at Kahreen.

"We've been discovered! Split up and try to loose them! Meet back at our home later!"

Flynt nodded his understanding. "I just knew it!" he grumbled as Dayia, himself Llewelyn and Sabrina shot off across the city. Thaylog and Shaiya went in the opposite direction, Kahreen following.

'Just great." The feliniod thought angrily. 'Now they'll never believe me.'

Behind them the two craft split up, one going after each of the little groups. Within one craft the pilot spoke rapidly into his radio.

"We got a damn convention up here! Get more units in quick!"

*****

Harding swung his craft around. "Finally! Another crack at the gargoyles!" he whispered before speaking into his microphone.

"More units are on the way. Status?"

His speaker crackled with the receiving message.

"They've split up, heading east and west. We are in pursuit of the westbound group. And sir...the cat like creature...she's with them."

Harding gave a predatory grin as he opened the throttle and headed west. "Excellent. Maintain pursuit. I'll rendezvous with you in 5 minutes."

*****

"This way!" Dayia called. The gargoyles weaved between the tall buildings, not giving their pursuer the chance to get off a clean shot. But the buildings were rapidly thinning as they left the city proper and entered the industrial area. Flynt fired a shot at the craft but missed.

"We're can't outrun it!" he growled.

"There's only one!" Llewelyn shouted as her eyes glowed angrily. "Let's take the battle to them!" She abruptly changed direction and climbed. Her right hand glowed brightly and seconds later she "threw" a fireball at the offending craft.

"Whoa!" cried Dayia in amazement.

The fireball engulfed the ship, engulfing it briefly before dissipating. The ship was blackened by the impact and smoke began to trail from its engine ports.

"Now!" Flynt shouted, "while they're distracted!"

The gargoyles turned on the ship. Flynt landed on the right side of the cockpit. Dayia and Sabrina on the left. The co pilot fumbled for his pistol as the tan gargoyle drew his fist back and drove it through the Plexiglas windshield. He grabbed the pistol and copilots hand, crushing them both.

"Leave us ALONE!" He growled.

The pilot swing his ship from right to left, trying to shake the gargoyles loose. His vision was obscured by the faces of two angry gargoyle females.

"Need a hand?" Dayia plunged her fist into the control panel, pulling out a large handful of wires. There was a shower of sparks and the craft buckled and shuddered. The gargoyles leapt off, watching as the ship spiraled downwards. Somehow the pilot managed to bring it safely onto a rooftop.

"Well." Dayia said. "That is that!"

The celebration was short lived, however. The sounds of engines filled the air as a second craft came into view.

"Get these two out of here," Flynt told Dayia. She began to protest.

"Go! Now!" Flynt ordered, unslinging his blaster. "Get them home. I'll deal with our 'friends' personally."

*****

Lasers cut through the night sky as Thaylog cast a glance back. The original craft had now been joined by two others. 'Not good at all ' the ivory gargoyle thought as he scanned the ground. They had left the city, the terrain below now replaced with farmland. His eyes followed a winding road when suddenly he hit upon an plan.

"Follow me," he called out to Shaiya as he began to descend. Kahreen, flying a little way back, angled her hoversled downwards and followed also, trying to keep herself between the pursuing ships and the gargoyles. A quick look over her shoulder revealed that the enemy had seen the move and was still on their tail. Gliding to about thirty feet above the ground, Thaylog leveled out and pointed. Up ahead, within a large hill, was a road tunnel. As the gargoyles shot into the tunnel, Kahreen had an idea. She slowed up, allowing the first of the pursuing ships to gain on her, before suddenly speeding up and disappearing into the tunnel.

"Unit one, follow them in," Harding's voice crackled over the speaker. "We'll swing round to the exit. We have them trapped now."

"Roger that." Unit one's pilot responded as he watched Kahreen enter the tunnel.

"Do we have room?" His co-pilot asked.

"Yeah, plenty," the pilot said as he leveled off and lined himself up, "we've got them now."

*****

Halfway through the tunnel, Kahreen abruptly turned her little craft and hovered. She could see the pursuing ship rapidly approaching towards the tunnel entrance. Opening the throttle to maximum, she turned on her lights and accelerated towards it.

*****

"Oh shit!" the pilot exclaimed as he saw the spotlights coming towards him.

"Pull up!"

"We're going to fast!"

The lights grew brighter and larger.

"Pull up or we're toast!"

The pilot yanked on the joystick, bringing his ship up as Kahreen flew out of the tunnel. The feliniod had to duck to avoid hitting the bottom of the other craft.

"Phew, that was too close," she said, her voice a little shaky.

In the meantime the pilot struggled to clear the rise of the hill, but he was going to fast. The ship impacted near the top of the hill, digging into the earth before rolling end over end finally coming to rest near a group of trees. Two figures barely made it out in time before the ship was engulfed by a brilliant crimson explosion. Kahreen swung her sled around. So far this night was just a little too exciting for her tastes.

"Those gargoyles had better appreciate this." She grumbled.

*****

Harding turned at the sight of the explosion, just as Thaylog and Shaiya emerged from the tunnel's exit.

"What? Unit one respond." He called into the mike. He was greeted by the sound of static.

"Sir," his co pilot said as he pointed, "the creatures are getting away!"

Harding watched the two gargoyles glide away before turning his attention back to the fire on the hill. He noticed a form shoot by below him and after the gargoyles. It was Kahreen. With a feral growl Harding opened his engines and resumed the hunt.

*****

Thaylog looked behind him and saw Kahreen's sled racing towards them. He saw two ships a little further back and a fire in the distance. One of the enemy had been taken out. 'Perhaps this strange creature is speaking the truth.' He thought to himself. The feliniod had almost caught up to them when one of the ships opened fire, its lasers striking the hoversled. The vehicle slowed, smoke trailing from it rear. Quickly the ivory gargoyle changed direction and headed towards the stricken craft.

*****

Kahreen could hear the sleds motors screaming as she pushed them way past their safety limits, knowing the two ships behind her were drawing closer. She could see the two gargoyles a short distance up ahead. Now if only they could shake these last two craft. She was thinking of ideas when the sled suddenly lurched and began to stall. Smoke began to pour from the console.

"Oh terrific," She groaned. She fought the controls as the sled began to drop, "this is it," Kahreen thought to herself, when Thaylog suddenly appeared beside her.

"Jump!" he bellowed, closing the distance between himself and Kahreen's hovesled.

Kahreen didn't need to be told twice. She leapt from the falling craft. Thaylog caught her easily and glided erratically away. Up above Harding grinned. He realised was no way the gargoyle could use its manouverability against his while carrying a passenger. He was starting to enjoy himself. Now it was time to close in for the kill.

******

"You can't out fly them carrying me." Kahreen said. "We've got to neutralize their advantage. Oh and by the way... thanks."

Thaylog nodded. "For now you are worth more to me alive. And you are right. We have to even things up somehow." He looked about him, when Shaiya came along side.

"What about there?" she pointed. Down below was a railway yard.

Thaylog nodded. "Perfect! We'll take the battle to the ground. That place should provide adequate cover." He suddenly dived toward the rail yard, followed closely by Shaiya.

Kahreen's shriek of surprise at the sudden move echoed in the night.

*****

Flynt twisted in mid flight, letting off another shot. The laser bounced harmlessly of the front of the ship. A quick look around told him that Dayia and the others successfully got away. With luck they would be able to get back to the mansion without any more trouble. Or had they? Flynt momentarily thought he saw a gargoyle form silhouetted against the night sky. Then it was gone. The flash of a laser brought him back to reality. He grunted, catching a thermal and rising higher. Now all he had to do was loose this ship. He fired again, twice, aiming for the engines. The pilot of the craft dodged the shots, climbing towards Flynt's position. The tan gargoyle dropped sharply, firing his blaster as the ship passed. Nothing happened. Flynt squeezed the trigger again, then looked at the gun in disbelief.

"Oh just wonderful!" Flynt moaned as he looked at the gauge. The blasters energy cell read zero. He watched as the ship made a slow curve and began to bear on him. Flynt pulled in his wings and dived.


*****

Diamond watched as the tan gargoyle dropped earthwards with the strange craft in pursuit. So far she had stayed out the situation, hesitant to get involved. She was still not used to the idea there were others like her. Until a few days ago she had no idea other gargoyles even existed. She had resigned herself to a life all alone. Now she felt a wave of anger wash over her at the scene below. This tan gargoyle had shown her kindness, even offered her a place to stay. Now the humans were hunting him. The time for indecision was over. With a snarl, she dived after the ship, starting a hunt of her own.

*****

The wind whistled in Flynt's ears as he dived straight down, going as fast as he possibly could. Laser cannon fire flashed around him. As the earth spiraled crazily towards him he altered his angle of descent, shooting between two large warehouses. To his horror he realised he had entered a dead end. He opened his wings suddenly to avoid slamming into a brick wall, feeling a sharp tearing pain in his right shoulder. He veered suddenly off to one side, barely clearing the wall and landing unceremoniously in a heap on the roof top. From within the ship Rizzo saw the gargoyle's crash landing.

"He's down!" Rizzo shouted to the pilot. "Bring the ship onto the roof. We got him!"

*****

Flynt climbed groggily to his feet as the sounds of the ship's engines drew closer. Still seeing double, the tan gargoyle stumbled across the roof, ducking behind a water tank.

"It's okay," he told himself. "you'll heal up in a minute." He felt his shoulder. He hadn't been shot. It felt like he had torn the muscles at the base of his wing. He flexed the injured shoulder, wincing in pain. It was like someone had inserted a hot knife into it. He wondered why he wasn't feeling better yet.

"Great." He mumbled. "I can get shot and heal up in a matter of minutes, but rip a muscle..." it dawned on Flynt that maybe his supposed invulnerability had its limitations. He heard the sound of the ship as it landed. He shook his head trying to clear it. His impact with the roof had been hard and he still couldn't see straight, let alone escape. He was trapped.

*****

Rizzo jumped from the cockpit and gave the roof a quick scan. From the way the it crash landed, the mercenary doubted the winged creature would have gone far. He was certain it was nearby, probably injured. He signaled to his partner, the pair splitting up, going right and left, methodically searching the area. Rizzo started to think about how he would spend the big, fat bonus offered for successfully bagging a gargoyle. It was just a matter of time now.

*****

Flynt crouched against the water tank. His shoulder was still throbbing painfully but his senses had cleared somewhat. He cocked his head slightly and listened intently. One... no...two sets of footsteps. And they were drawing closer. He held his breath momentarily He would have to chance his wing and make a break for it. He tensed as he saw a shadow appear on the ground ahead of him. Moments later a figure appeared, Flynt charged, barreling into the human and sending him sprawling across the roof. Rizzo turned at the sudden commotion to see his quarry make a bee line for the buildings edge.

"Oh no you don't." he whispered, as he took aim and fired. The small projectile expanded rapidly. Flynt gave a grunt of surprise a net wrapped itself neatly around him. His surprise gave way to a roar of pain as an electrical charge coursed through his body. He toppled to the ground, semi conscious. The mercenary he had knocked down walked over, rubbing his head. He placed a well aimed kick into the gargoyle's ribs.

"Damn thing hits like a truck."

"Easy." Rizzo said. "We don't want it damaged to much. Not if you want get your bonus." He prodded Flynt with his rifle. "Its out cold. Lets get it in the hold an' back to base." The pair took a leg each and with some effort and cursing proceeded to pull their heavy burden towards the ship.

*****

Flynt was dimly aware of being dragged across the ground by the legs. He struggled weakly against his bonds, but soon gave up. He just didn't have the strength left to fight anymore. He felt his legs drop to the ground with a thud. As he drifted in and out of consciousness he wondered what all the noise was about.

*****

Diamond shot out of the night sky, eyes blazing crimson, a silent snarl curling her lips. The first mercenary didn't know what hit him as she flashed past, a taloned hand taking out his throat with a savage blow.

"What the hell....?" Rizzo dropped Flynt's leg in astonishment as the gargess landed, twirling instantly to face him. He brought up his weapon and fired as Diamond leapt forward. The shot missed. The gargoyle was on him in an instant, plunging her dagger deep into his midsection. The last thing Rizzo saw was red eyes and a fanged mouth as Diamond bit into his throat.

*****

"Uuugh," Flynt moaned as he tried to sit up.

"Be careful, your injuries may be severe."

The tan gargoyle opened his eyes. "You?!" He looked about, seeing the two bodies.

"They will not harm any gargoyle again," Diamond said simply.

"But where? How?"

"I will explain later," Diamond told him

Flynt nodded weakly and climbed unsteadily to his feet He tested his shoulder. It was feeling a little better. Probably good enough to glide on. "I must get back home. Find out if the others are okay." He took a couple steps before putting a hand to his head as a wave of dizziness overtook him. Diamond caught him before he fell over.

"My thanks," He replied with a small smile. "you undoubtedly saved my life this night."

"You are too weak to glide on your own." Diamond told him. Again she felt that strange feeling flow pleasantly through her at his closeness. "I will accompany you."

Flynt's smile broadened. "I would like that very much."

*****

Harding advanced cautiously between the lines of freight cars. He had split his squad into two groups to search the area. The gargoyles had gone to ground somewhere around here. Up ahead his co pilot, Evans, shook his head. This train was empty too. Harding spoke into his walkie talkie.

"Sanderson? Anything at all?"

"No sir." Sanderson's voice sounded tinny over the radio's small speaker.

Harding frowned. "All right. Just keep looking. And remember, call in any sighting immediately!" The mercenary replace the radio on his belt and signaled Evans to start on the next train.

*****

Kahreen poked her head around the corner of the railway car. She watched the two mercenaries heading up the line, their torchlights flashing in and around the cars. Just a few more yards and...perfect!! The feliniod stepped into view and coughed loudly before disappearing again. The mercenaries saw her duck back behind the car. Sanderson grabbed his radio.

"Sir, we spotted one!" He whispered. "Location, track 29."

Harding pondered the message momentarily. He was at track 8, the other side of the compound.

"Keep it in sight," He ordered. "ETA approximately 5 minutes." He waved to Evans. "Track 29! Lets go!"

*****

The two mercenaries moved towards Kahreen's last position, scanning for any signs of her. As they passed an open railway car, Sanderson's partner let out a yelp of surprise as he found himself being lifted off the ground by his shoulders.

"Burke?" Sanderson turned to see his partner dragged into the freight car by a large white gargoyle. As he raised his rifle to fire, Kahreen hopped off the cars roof, landing behind him. She tapped him on the shoulder.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She said before knocking him out cold.

*****

Thaylog threw the mercenary against the side of the freight car. Shaiya hissed at Burke, exposing her fangs for him to see. The soldiers eyes were wide as Thaylog picked him up by the scruff of the neck. He made his right hand into a fist.

"Time to say good night."

*****

Several minutes later Harding arrived at Track 29. He had been unable to raise Sanderson on the radio and from experience knew that did not bode well. He ran his flashlight over the cars, finally spotting two forms lying in a heap within one of them. Evans jumped up and checked them.

"They're still alive, but they'll be out for a while."

Harding was fuming. "Leave them there! We'll split up and continue searching. We have to stop those creatures before they get out of here. If they haven't already." The commander looked around. No, they were nearby, he could feel it. First he'd take down the gargoyles, then deal with Kahreen. His eyes glittered coldly with the thought as he resumed the search.

*****

"Now would be a good time to leave this area." Thaylog said as Shaiya, Kahreen and himself found themselves in a small open area between the train lines.

"Trouble is they'll see us." Kahreen told him. "We've been lucky so far, but I don't know if we can out run their ships again unless..."

Thaylog looked at her curiously. "Unless...?"

The biomech grinned. "No one said we couldn't 'borrow' on of their craft did they?"

The ivory gargoyle smiled briefly in understanding. That was not a bad idea and it gave them a better chance of escape. He suddenly gave Kahreen a look of suspicion.

"You have helped us so far so I will trust you on this. Do not give me reason to regret that decision."

Kahreen nodded. "C'mon. I think they landed a little over that way."

*****

Harding came around the corner, stopping suddenly. There they were! All three of them! He watched as they started to walk, Kahreen taking the lead. He sighted along his rifle, targeting the large ivory gargoyle. Take him out first, then the smaller one. Slowly he squeezed the trigger.

*****

The feliniod turned to speak to Thaylog when she spotted Harding.

"Get down!! Quick!" she pushed hard against Thaylog, knocking him to the ground as the mercenary fired. The laser struck Kahreen in the right shoulder, spinning her around. Yet she did not fall.

"Get out of here!" she ordered the gargoyles. "I'll catch up with you." Before either gargoyle knew what was happening, the feliniod took off, heading straight for Harding. The gargoyles ran, seeking shelter behind a nearby train. Harding shot at Kahreen but she dodged, he fired again, just as Evans appeared on the far side of the compound.

"Look out!" Harding shouted. The shot missed Evans, but struck the fully loaded gas tanker behind him. There was a resounding explosion, Harding was thrown backwards, his world turning black. When he opened his eyes again, Sanderson was leaning over him.

"How long was I out for?" he asked, his head throbbing slightly.

"About ten minutes I'd say. We just got here a couple minutes ago ourselves. And Evans...well there's not much left of him sir."

"Damn!" Harding got to his feet. "The gargoyles? The feline?"

Sanderson shook his head. "Haven't seen them anywhere sir. What happened here?"

Harding looked at the destruction in front of him. The last thing he saw was Kahreen caught by the explosion. Now there was no sign of her. And the gargoyles were gone too!

He let out a howl of frustration and turned to his men, his eyes full of hate.

"Lets get out of here," he growled "MOVE!!"

*****

Flynt landed on the balcony of the mansion, wincing slightly as he caped his wings. He couldn't see anyone around.

"We better head inside, see if anyone's back yet." He turned, just in time to see Diamond climb onto the railing. "Hey wait!" he reached out, grabbing Diamond by the wrist. She turned, eyes glowing and raised her talons ready to strike. Flynt held his ground.

"Please...don't go." He said gently. Diamond looked into his eyes and felt the last of her doubts fade away. The glow in her eyes faded as Flynt released her wrist, instead softly taking her hand in his own.

"I'm...sorry." Diamond replied, lowering her head. "I am not used to the thought of company. It makes me feel ...uncomfortable."

Flynt nodded in understanding. "You are among friends here. You don't need to live a solitary existence." He took a couple steps towards the balcony doors. Diamond only hesitated only for a second before following. Flynt smiled at her. "Lets see if the others got back safely."

*****

"There's something wrong, something must have happened." Dayia's talons dug into the balcony railings. "Thaylog should have returned by now or at least contacted us." Her tail twitched in agitation.

Flynt stood beside her and scanned the night sky. The storm clouds which had filled the night sky had dispersed and the stars once again reigned in their inky kingdom. But that was all that filled the night sky, stars. There wasn't the slightest sign of a winged figure among the pinpricks of light. Flynt's grip tightened on the ice pack that he held to his shoulder.

"It may be that he is waiting for a safe moment to return. Remember, even if he and Shaiya did evade those hunters they may still be looking for them...for us. Tonight they suffered a blow, lost some of their own. That's a fact that they will not forget in a hurry."

He glanced over his shoulder at Diamond. "But if something has happened to him. If that ~creature~ has betrayed Thaylog and Shaiya to them..." His eyes glowed briefly "Then she will not live long enough to regret her actions."

"Umm I don't think you have to worry about that." Sabrina started forward, her eyes focused on a point on the western horizon.

Flynt squinted until he was able to make out two figures approaching the mansion. 'Only two?' he thought. Where was the...? As Thaylog and Shaiya made the final approach he was able to see the limp figure in Thaylog's arms. Then he didn't need any other explanation.

******

The force of the explosion rocked the railway car they were sheltering behind and for a moment it seemed as if the vehicle would topple over, crushing them with it's weight. With one final groan the car settled back in it's place. With that threat gone Thaylog peeked around the corner...

...and was greeted with a sight of destruction. The rail yard had been transformed into a scene that hell's retainers would have been proud of. The gas tank had all but vanished, all that remained of it were the twisted and blackened remains of it's support structure. But even that was hard to make out. The flames that wrapped themselves around the steel girders had spread to some of the remaining trains and now flames licked around their now empty window frames. The ground where he and Shaiya had been standing only moments earlier was scorched. And the ground where the feliniod had been was... the feliniod!

Thaylog's eyes widened as he realised that his only link to what was going on with Dominion had been in the direct path of the explosion. If she was dead then valuable information would be lost and, he frowned slightly, they had lost a potential ally. As his eyes adjusted to the eye-watering glow of the flames he could make out three...no four forms lying on the ground...or was it?

"Do you think that they survived?" Shaiya's question brought him out of his reprieve.

"I do not know..." Thaylog started forward his eyes scanning the nearest body. This was definitely not the feliniod. This was one of the hunters although what was left of the man could hardly be recognised as human. At the far end of the blast zone lay the leader of these hunters. Harding, that's what the feliniod had called him. Thaylog wondered if he was still alive. From what he could see the human was unscathed but still very vulnerable...it would be so easy to just go over there...to end this once and for all. His eyes narrowed and he started forward, his stride only broken by Shaiya's exclamation.

"There she is!"

Slightly to his left was a pile of debris which had been blown up against the side of a railway car. In the midst of this was what Thaylog had first taken to be a pile of rags. As he drew closer it became evident that within these tattered remains was an intact body.

Although her body armour looked worse for wear she herself seemed to be unscathed. The fur around her face was matted with what he could only describe as blood. He reached to take her pulse and drew his hand back rapidly as he touched her arm...she was stone cold. As for a pulse there was none to find.

Shaiya looked at his expression and understood. "What now?"

Thaylog gathered Kahreen's limp body in to his arms and stood. "We return home. Dawn is near and there is one more thing we need to do before the sun rises." With that the pair scaled a nearby water tower and catching an air current began the glide back to the mansion.

******

"So she died trying to save you guys from the hunters." Llewelyn's voice cut though the silence that had descended among the small group that had gathered by the grave in a small clearing some distance from the mansion.

"Yes." Thaylog glanced at the soil which still stained his hands. "Although in the beginning she worked for those who sought to capture us it was at the end that she proved herself to us."

"I wonder who she really was and what made her turn so suddenly against Dominion?" Sabrina's purple eyes showed a mixture of emotions, sadness, puzzlement and a feeling of guilt that she had not taken the feliniod on her word sooner and trusted her, for now that chance to say 'thank you' had passed. It was that more than anything that weighed on her mind now. She and Llewelyn lingered at the graveside a moment longer as the others turned and headed back to the mansion.

"Tell you one thing though." Llewelyn's eyes narrowed as she looked at the mound of earth.

"What?" Sabrina looked up.

"Dominion's going to pay big time for this, they hunted our clan...forced some of them to leave and still pursued those who remained behind. And then when one of their own turns against them and shows us some kindness they destroy her. People like that do not deserve to live in peace."

"I agree with you there but is now the time do that?"

"What do you mean?"

"There are not enough of us here to take them on and...I want to return to the mountains. Vash and the others should know what's going on and this place may be a lot safer than there." She turned and began to follow the others.

Llewelyn caught up with her. " What, you mean bring the whole clan here? Would he let us?" She said indicating Thaylog.

"I don't know." Sabrina caped her wings around her shoulders. "But what have we to lose by asking?"

Llewelyn considered this for a moment before finally turning to Sabrina. "Absolutely nothing."

******

Something wasn't quite right. Her location for one thing. The last thing she remembered seeing was a wall of flame rushing towards her...then a bright light as her nanophages overloaded and then darkness. She tried to open her eyes but the darkness remained. The systems were working now, so what? She groaned inwardly as her brain finally registered the information that was being screamed at her by her sensors. She wasn't buried under a pile of debris as she had first thought. Someone...probably the gargoyle had found her and thought her dead, brought her somewhere and buried her under what seemed to be six foot of dirt. Not the most ideal of outcomes but a hell of a lot better than being found by Harding's men and carted off to some Dominion lab. She pushed against this enclosing tomb and found to her relief that it gave way slightly. The prospect of being trapped down here until all her systems gave out was not one she wanted to contemplate. Manoeuvring herself into a position which would make it easier for her to pack the soil in behind her Kahreen began to dig her way to what her sensors told her was the surface.

******

Thaylog's face was unreadable in the glow of the monitor screens. His concentration so great that he didn't hear Flynt enter the room.

"I don't think they'll make any move tonight my friend"

Thaylog didn't turn but moved his head to acknowledge the tan gargoyles presence. "True but after the loss of..." He frowned and turned to Flynt "..did she have a name?"

Now it was Flynt's turn to frown "I think the two newcomers called her Kahreen."

Thaylog nodded and turned his attention to the monitors. "After the loss of this 'Kahreen' these hunters are our only link now to finding out what Dominion's intentions truly are...and it would make things much easier if what remained of their group came to us so that we could take what we need from them...whether they liked it or not."

"I think there are others here who would be all to keen to get their hands on those low lives myself included but, " Flynt paused wondering whether or not this was a good time to bring up this evenings conversation again. "But we have discussed another line of action."

"Going to Dominion itself. Yes I have considered it but after the events of tonight it will be more of a risk than before. I do not want to endanger anyone on such a task but.." he turned to Flynt again "That may be something that we cannot avoid."

"But that is for another night, tonight we have to decide what we are going to do with the two Kahreen helped to escape from Dominion.

"Have they expressed a desire to return home? To their own clan?"

"Not in so many words but I have a feeling that they will want to contact them at the very least."

Thaylog stood and took one last look at the monitors. "Sometimes I wonder if there is something more than just coincidence behind this."

"Behind what?"

"Our clan, the events at Dominion." He turned and began to head out of the room, Flynt following. "Before this all of us were either loners or had lost our homes, for all of us to come together at this time, this place. It cannot be just coincidence."

"True. But I don't think we'll need to go looking for a reason. If someone or something is behind all this then we'll find out soon enough. Although I must confess I do not like this feeling of being someone's puppet."

"Or pawn." Thaylog pushed open the door leading to the Drawing room. "I wonder if all the pieces are truly on the board and if so who's turn is it to make the next move?"

******

Her hand broke through the surface, soon followed by the rest of her body. For a moment she just lay there, not catching her breath as there was none to catch. But still lying there and listening. Gone was the drone of automobiles or the hum of the city. Instead she was greeted with almost silence, only the rustling of the few leaves which still clung to the trees broke the silence...

She stood and took a good look at her surroundings. The hole...no grave was in the middle of a small clearing around it was as far as she could see from this angle, forest. She then looked down at her feet. Footprints of various shapes and sizes led away from the clearing towards...there in the distance between the trees was a source of light. And where there was light, she told herself, there was habitation and if the footprints were anything to go by she didn't think she'd find humans living there.

"As if those gargoyles didn't have enough to contend with tonight now they're gonna have to deal with the dead rising from the grave." She muttered. This wasn't the first time she'd pulled a Lazarus stunt and she didn't think it would be the last. But there was going to come a time when the nanophages stopped repairing the damage inflicted on her body had when that happened she knew she wasn't going to wake up.

******

"...and then the next thing we knew we were waking up in the Dominion lab and she...." Llewelyn trailed off... "Well you can guess the rest..."

"Indeed we can."

The clan looked up in unison as Thaylog and Flynt entered the room.

"They were telling us about what happened." Dayia explained. "I had no idea that another clan of gargoyles were living in this area."

"Yes that is news indeed". Flynt mused "I never thought that there were so many in this area, in clans..." he paused and glanced at Diamond. "Or alone. Maybe we should think about finding them."

"Maybe." Thaylog said. The prospect of being surrounded by other gargoyles after so long in solitude was a welcome but inviting thought. "But for now we have more pressing things at hand. Namely what Dominion's intentions are."

There were nods of agreement from all gathered. Thaylog turned to Sabrina and Llewelyn "Do you have any idea at all what their intentions were?"

"None." Llewelyn shook her head.

"All we know is that they were pretty keen to capture Gargoyles alive and then cart them off to their labs. For what I have no idea. Kahreen seemed to know more about it but she kept saying that she would tell us later but apparently for her there wasn't a later.." She looked at Thaylog "I'm sorry but that's all I know."

"You say that they were pursuing your clan?"

"Yes, but I don't see..."

"From what you have told us it may be possible that Dominion has another base in this area, one that isn't listed in their records. What ever Dominion has planned it certainly isn't a small scale operation..." Thaylog paused, trying to bring together pieces of information that seemed to have no connection whatsoever. His thoughts however were interrupted by an alarm going off.

"What the hell is that?" Llewelyn said as she covered her ears.

"The perimeter alarm!" Thaylog exclaimed as he raced off towards the security room.

"The what?"

"Thaylog is very security conscious." explained Dayia as she followed the others. "He's got motion sensors and security cameras all over the place and after what happened tonight I don't think I blame him."

"Do you think it's the hunters?"

Dayia frowned as they entered the room filled with security monitors. To lose another home to Dominion in such a short space of time...no, that was something she wasn't going to even consider. "No...more likely a poacher or a rabbit." She looked at the others...I don't think we were followed and if what Thay says is true then they weren't in any condition to come after us for a while yet. The chances of them coming here are very remote."

"I don't believe this."

Everyone's attention was focused on Thaylog who was staring at one particular screen. The camera, wherever it was focused on the clearing in the forest where they had buried the feliniod. The scene itself was tranquil and there was no sign of an intruder. But wasn't the presence or absence of anyone that had caught Thay's attention. There in the middle of the screen was the grave...empty. Soil was scattered about the clearing and there was a hole big enough in the centre of the grave for a body to be pulled from.

"They did follow us!" Flynt exclaimed. "But why would they...?"

"I have no idea." Thaylog answered as he strode out of the room and towards the balcony. He did not pause but leapt straight onto the railings and catching an air current began to glide towards the clearing. Flynt went after him but motioned the others to remain behind. "If this is a trap." He explained "We do not want to send everyone out." They agreed but the expression on some of their faces made it clear that they weren't happy about the fact.

As Flynt glided away Dayia turned around and began to head for the security room. The others followed her. Diamond lingered on the balcony a moment longer watching Flynt's rapidly diminishing form and then she caped her wings around her shoulders and followed the other Gargesses into the mansion.

******

The silence in the clearing was in stark contrast to the blaring alarm that filled the mansion but of the two the silence was the most unsettling. Thaylog was the first to land, his feet making an almost inaudible sound as they struck the earth. Flynt followed suit a few moments later.

"I can't smell any humans my friend." Flynt stood and surveyed the area, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. There was no answer. Flynt looked around and found Thaylog at the edge of the clearing. His attention seemed to be focused on something on the ground. It was a piece of cloth.

"Wait a minute." Flynt crouched down beside Thaylog. "Isn't that the ..."

"Same material that the feliniod's clothing was made of yes." Thaylog straightened up and pointed to a number of deep footprints in the dirt. They were too small to be a gargoyles. In fact in form they were more akin to a humans. "The weight distribution of this is all wrong. Either this person was wearing some kind of heavy armour or was carrying something away." Flynt opened his mouth to speak but Thaylog raised his hand and motioned for him to let him continue. "But if someone dug her body up and took it then why are there only footsteps leading away from this place...wouldn't there be footsteps leading to?"

Flynt frowned. "We can worry about that some other time." He stood up and glanced in the direction the footprints were leading to. "The important thing now is the fact that these footprints are going towards the mansion."

"Then we'd better catch up with the person who made them before they get to the mansion." Thaylog turned and caping his wings began to follow the footprints.

******

She heard the footsteps long before she heard the voices. Silently and in one fluid motion she ducked behind a tree and waited. Taking a chance she peered into the darkness and in the direction the noises were coming from. She frowned as she tried to access her night vision but all she got was the same murk that her normal vision gave her in these conditions. "Damn." She silently cursed herself and withdrew behind the tree again. If that part of her optical system was still down then what else was? Her hearing? True the voices she heard were muffled, sounding as if they were coming through several layers of cotton wool...or soil. Yeash, didn't those gargoyles ever hear of burying people in boxes? It was going to take hours to get that stuff out of her ears.

As the footsteps approached she flattened herself against the tree and hoped that it was only the gargoyles that were in the woods this night.

******

"The tracks stop here." Thaylog stopped and ran his hands over the depression in the ground.

"And the scent." Flynt began to drop into a defensive position as he scanned the shadows between the trees. A small noise off to his left caught his attention nodding to Thaylog he began to move towards a gnarled tree.

******

Bloody twigs! Kahreen began to tense, she still couldn't make out who it was. But why wonder? Sooner rather than later she was going to find out.

*****

Flynt listened carefully for the sound of breathing but there was none. Just that scent which was so like the smell the computers in the mansion gave off when they had been used for a while.

Whoever it was was only a couple of feet away. Something in the back of her mind screamed at her to attack but she held back. She'd listened to that voice before and every time it had caused her grief. She froze and only allowed her eyes to move as her company passed the tree. It was one of the gargoyles! She relaxed.

"Been quite an evening hasn't it?" she remarked.

The effect on the tan gargoyle was electric. His eyes opened wide in surprise and began to glow as he faced her in a defensive posture. "You!" he exclaimed.

"Who is it?" Thaylog raced to his clanmate's position and his own eyes opened wide in surprise. There standing before him obviously alive and covered in mud was the feliniod they had buried only a couple of hours previously.

"Hi." Kahreen gave an embarrassed grin.

Flynt and Thaylog exchanged puzzled glances. Was it possible that this creature was also an immortal?

"I think an explanation is in order, but not here." Thaylog turned and began to walk back to the mansion, Flynt following, but not before he gave Kahreen a very dirty look.

Kahreen nodded as she followed the two gargoyles. "Yes, an explanation is needed...but not only about this."

Flynt and Thaylog again exchanged puzzled glances as the trio disappeared into the shadows of the trees.

*****

Flynt caped his wings as they entered the mansion, the shock of Kahreen's apparent 'resurrection' put behind him.

'So how do we know this isn't a trick too," He said hotly, "those humans appeared right after we found you!"

"Yeah...right." Kahreen replied irritably as she took a seat and began removing clumps of soil from her hair. "Like I'm going to let them kill all you guys. Look I brought these two to you for protection, you think I'd let Dominion take them back again after all the trouble I've been through?"

"She did risk herself to help us escape." Llewelyn said

"And she took that shot meant for Thaylog," Sabrina added.

"Hmm... but still." Flynt began, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Kahreen looked at the gargoyles in turn. "Look. Dominion is after my hide too now. And besides...the price they were asking for my loyalty was a little too high."

"What do you mean by that?" Thaylog asked curiously.

"Lets just say that Dominion's company policy isn't all it you think it is." Kahreen answered, standing up and knocking more dirt from her fur. "But hey," she added sarcastically, " your company seems to want to bury the living!"

"Well you looked dead," Flynt retorted.

"Believe me, looks can be deceiving."

"My thoughts exactly," The tan gargoyle replied, staring at the feline form before him.

Kahreen met his gaze levelly. "And what do you think is beneath this exterior?"

Before Flynt could answer however, she turned to Thaylog. "Hmm I think you should convince your second to be a little less stiff."

"Enough of this!" said Thaylog, raising his hand and cutting off any further protests. " I want to know what you meant about Dominion's policies."

Kahreen faced the ivory gargoyle. "Seeing is believing. I take it you have a computer console?" She paused and gave a short laugh. "Why am I asking that? Of course you do. How else could you control your company?"

Thaylog eyed her curiously. "Yes its over here." He answered, leading the way into the study.

Kahreen stood in front of the computer. "Tell me gargoyle, how open minded are you?"

"I have seen enough in this life, not to be surprised by much." Thaylog replied, growing some what impatient. "What is it you mean to show us?"

The biomech pulled up her sleeve and pushed on her right forearm revealing a small access panel. Amid gasps of astonishment, Kahreen pulled out a small wire, jacking it into the computer terminal. Almost at once, files began to flash across the monitor. She turned to Thaylog, her yellow eyes now opaque orbs.

"Really? I hope so." She said before looking back to the screen.

"These are files pertaining to Dominions 'other' business interests...why they want you gargoyles so badly."

Thaylog looked at the images on the screen, his red eyes narrowing in anger.

"That is why they hire people like Harding and me to capture you." Kahreen continued." They are more than just business rivals, gargoyle."

"What is it?" Flynt asked, an edge to his voice.

Thaylog looked at the little group. " They plan to use gargoyles for biological experiments."

"WHAT?" Dayia responded in shock.

Thaylog nodded grimly. "And there is more."

"What else?" Sabrina asked.

The ivory gargoyle turned to Kahreen once more. "Perhaps it would be best if you explained."

The female biomech disconnected herself from the computer and faced the gargoyles.

"About five years ago the head of Dominion Enterprises stumbled across something that was to change him totally...."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Flynt whispered.

"Me too," Dayia added quietly.

"..... he encountered a creature...a kind of extraterrestrial parasite."

"EXTRA terrestrial." Flynt said. "As in...aliens?"

"Yes." Kahreen continued. "Aliens. They merge with their host's, typically the most advanced life form that can be found, totally placing them under their will. Once the population is under their control, they use them to strip the planet of its resources before moving on to the next. They have no technology of their own, instead using and accumulating the various technologies from different hosts. And Earth is next on their list. In fact most of Dominion has already been infected worldwide. "

"Great." muttered Dayia. "Someone call Mulder and Scully."

" But there is a very large number of humans on this planet." Sabrina said. "How can they hope to contain them all?"

"And why hunt us?" Llewelyn asked. "That's what I want to know."

"I was getting to that." Kahreen answered. "No. There isn't enough of them to 'infect' the entire human population. They began to look into other methods of control. Recently Dominion's research began focusing on the workings of the human mind. They have developed a virus." Kahreen shuddered at the word. "One that would control all the humans. Its almost ready to be released. Unfortunately they'd overlooked Earth's other sentient species." She cast a glance around the room.

"Our kind?" Flynt said. "Gargoyles?"

Kahreen nodded. "As the virus stands now, it won't affect you. Dominion has tried to resolve this matter by detaining gargoyle specimens and working out where the virus failed."

Thaylog looked at the information flashing on the computer screen. "It seems we are both immune to the aliens themselves and the virus."

Kahreen nodded again. "True" She turned to Flynt. Now do you understand Gargoyle? Why Dominion wants to capture you."

Flynt growled in disgust. "I see all too clearly."

"Then believe me, I have no desire to allow them to gain control of this world." The feline biomech laughed softly. "I've grown too fond of this home."

Thaylog gave her a puzzled glance. "What do you mean 'this home'?"

"What do we do now?" Dayia said. "This is far worse than simply having humans after us."

Thaylog frowned. "The issue is much greater than just us. It is the planet itself. If these creatures are successful, there will be nowhere safe. There will be nothing left."

"This is OUR home." Flynt growled. "Humans won't drive me away much less some bug eyed monsters!"

"Actually they're more like large, flat slugs," Kahreen said. "Giant trematodes for lack of a better description."

"Well I'm not budging for these...these Trematodeans." Flynt responded.

"Dominion forced me out of my home once before." Dayia added. "Now they threaten this one...I will not run, I say we fight."

Kahreen whispered to Thaylog and slipped from the room, eventually finding the guest bathroom nearby. She regretted not having time to get her kit bag off the hoversled before it exploded. A change of clothes was definitely in order. All her belongings were back at her ship. She made a mental note to retrieve the craft as soon as possible. She could hear the gargoyles weighing up their options as she cleaned herself up.

If we do not run then we must stand and fight." Llewelyn said. She turned to Sabrina. "Our clan has no idea of how grave this really is. We have to let them know."

Thaylog eyed the group. "Then its settled then. We stay and defend our home."

"Home." Diamond whispered to herself. Flynt turned to her smiling.

"Yes, it's your home too now. If you want it to be."

"And what do we do about our guest?" Thaylog asked.

"She knows much about Dominion." Flynt answered. "She would be a valuable ally. I think we will need all the help we can get."

"Yes. You will" Kahreen said as she appeared in the doorway.

Flynt grumbled. "You know, maybe one day we'll get to live normal lives."

Kahreen raised an eyebrow. "Normal? Whats normal? Believe me, from experience *nothing* about life is normal."

******

A taloned hand passed over the water that shimmered in the large bowl. Within the misty half light a male voice spoke.

THE END