....Intentions Revealed Part One

*****

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.

******

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."

*****

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?"

"Reports are coming in tonight of an attack on..."

click

"Creatures known as 'Gargoyles' have made their presence felt..."

click

"...footage shows a prototype aircraft being attacked by..."

click

The television picture slowly faded as the set was switched off. In the darkness of his office Dawson smiled. From what has begun as a bad situation had turned into something which could prove to be most...profitable.

"Lights". On his spoken command the lights in the office turned on. Reaching for the communications console on his desk he opened a channel. "Emily, you can show Mr Harding in now. I think he's been waiting long enough." He settled back in his chair as the dark-haired mercenary entered. What was that saying they had on this planet? Of course. If you wanted something done right you had to do it yourself. One look at the storm clouds that were gathering in Harding's eyes made him smile inside. What that saying seemed to have failed to maintain was that that you could always use people as extensions of yourself. Then it didn't hurt so much when you lost that limb.

"I don't believe this!" A tan colored gargoyle stared in disbelief at the television screen. "New type of aircraft my ass!" The only 'new' thing they were testing was new and exciting ways to kill gargoyles!"

"What I want to know is where they got that film footage from." A female gargoyle with pale skin and raven hair stared intently at the television set. "I don't remember anyone with a video camera out on the rooftops that night. Thaylog's pretty worried about this isn't he Flynt?"

"Yeah." The tan gargoyle nodded. "But I don't think it's the fact that we've been portrayed in a bad light tonight." Flynt switched off the television set in disgust. "What he's more worried about is how long we were being filmed, if they saw us leaving the penthouse. Now if we were filmed leaving there it could really screw thing up."

"As if things weren't screwed up enough already." Dayia sighed. "Alien take-over of the earth and Thaylog's closest business rival is host to a..." her face contorted into a look of revulsion "...a slug."

"Well according to that biomech these 'slugs' have found enough stones to hide under." Flynt frowned, "What the hell is a biomech anyway?"

Dayia shrugged "Some kind of cross between a cyborg and an android as far as I can make out."

"Great, some kind of cheap rip off of the Terminator." Flynt shook his head "With the kind of life we're leading at the moment we've gotta be infringing on someone's copyrights."

Dayia grinned. "Well they do say that life is stranger than fiction."

Flynt stood and stretched. "Whatever." He walked across the room, pausing by an old antique sideboard upon which was a bowl of fruit. Deftly snatching up an apple he turned back to Dayia. "I'm going to check on our newcomers, who knows what they're thinking of all this."

Probably the same as us." Dayia picked up the book she had dropped when the news reports had first been screened. Thumbing through a few pages she managed to find her place. She glanced up as Flynt was passing through the doorway. "Oh by the way I last saw her up on the balcony."

Flynt froze in mid-step, the color in his cheeks deepening to a darker hue. "Oh..ummmm...right." He hurried off before he opened his mouth and made a fool of himself. 'Was it that obvious?

On the couch Dayia settled down and began to read, a smile still playing around the corners of her mouth.

Over the last few weeks the population of Thaylog's mansion had steadily increased, particularly in the past few days. Two of the latest additions to the clan were hovering outside the door to Thaylog's office.

"You go and ask him."

"No. You!"

"I though we agreed on this."

"Is there a problem?"

The two gargoyles jumped at the sound of Flynt's voice.

"Oh, Flynt hi." Sabrina grinned at the tan gargoyle. "No...no problem we were just going to ummm we were..."

"What Sabrina is trying to say." said Llewelyn "Is that we were wondering if it was a good time to ask Thaylog if we could return to our clan. What with those television broadcasts and everything there are going to be more people out there who are hunting gargoyles. We really need to get back there and let our clan know what is going on."

Flynt sighed "I don't think any time at the moment is a 'good time' but..." he paused and glanced at the door to Thaylog's office. "maybe it would do him good to get his mind off current events and get out of the mansion." He stopped, suddenly remembering the conversation that Thaylog had with the two gargesses the previous evening. "Actually he mentioned something about taking you two home yesterday."

"Oh yeah, I remember." Sabrina smiled "I forgot about that. I guess what with our TV debut and all it kinda got pushed out of my mind."

"Yeah." Llewelyn smiled ruefully. "I'm surprised they didn't show me throwing that fireball at the airship. Now that would have fit in so nicely with the media's preconception of gargoyles being the spawn of the devil or something."

"Guess for the general public that would have been a little too unbelievable."

"I don't know, the humans seem to be able to believe in aliens and abductions and stuff and well..." Llewelyn raised an eyeridge "we know that stuff like that really happens."

"Yep." Flynt glanced down the corridor, at the end was a flight of stairs that led up to the balcony and..."But standing outside Thaylog's door isn't going to make him open it no matter what you believe in." Flynt began to walk away from the duo and towards the stairs. "Personally I think he'll welcome the distraction."

"Yeah. Right." Llewelyn lifted her hand and prepared to knock on the door. "Well here goes nothing."

******

The crisp night air greeted Flynt as he stepped onto the balcony. Leaning against the balcony railing, with her back to him, stood Diamond. Flynt watched as the slight breeze ruffled the female gargoyle's hair. He was so enraptured by the sight before him that he forgot to take a breath.

'Wise words.' Flynt thought. Though the pain would always remain, he had accepted that was the way things were now. He smiled softly. Perhaps the time had come to let go, to get on with life. He stepped out onto the balcony. Diamond turned at the sound of footsteps and smiled when she saw who it was.

"Good eve Flynt."

"Hello Diamond," Flynt responded with a smile. "I was just wondering...well... how are you settling in? Any problems?"

Diamond shook her head. "Nay. I hadn't realized how wonderful it would be to be amongst my own kind. After being alone so long, I never imagined anything like this happening to me."

"I'm glad you decided to stay." Flynt leaned against the railing and turned his attention toward the star studded sky and the woods surrounding the mansion. The view was peaceful and serene. It almost made him forget about the recent chaos that their lives had been subjected too.

"What a beautiful night." he sighed.

"It is." Diamond said softly. She stood beside Flynt, their arms touching as they leaned on the railing. "And one that should not be spent alone."

Flynt smiled as he felt Diamond lean a little closer to him. He raised his arm and gently placed it around her shoulders as he looked into her eyes.

"Then lets share it together."

******

2

Thaylog frowned, rubbed his eyes and turned his attention back to the computer screen. The sheer volume of data that the biomech had downloaded onto his computer network was enough to keep him occupied for some time. Kahreen had pointed out the things that he should be looking at but to Thaylog that wasn't enough. He needed to know every little detail, every possible threat every...

A knock at the door broke his concentration.

"Yes?"

The door slowly opened and Llewelyn poked her head around the corner. "Are you busy because if you are we can come back later."

"No." Thaylog glanced back at the computer screen and then switched it off. "No I'm not busy." He could look at the files later. "Come in."

"Umm do you remember us mentioning that we wanted to get back to our clan?"

Thaylog frowned, many thing had been said the previous day but he recalled Flynt mentioning that the two gargesses might want to return home. "Yes."

"Well we were wondering if it would be possible to return to them as soon as possible...they'll be worried about us and well we're worried about them. If Dominion has already gotten to them." Sabrina looked at Thaylog leaving the sentence unfinished.

"I agree. Dominion is a great threat to both humans and gargoyles, your clan must be warned of this." He stood and glanced out of the window deep in thought. However it will not be possible to take you back to your home tonight. Gliding there would be impossible now, it would take too long and there are going to be many pairs of eyes watching the sky tonight."

"You mean the television broadcast?"

"Yes. But not only that." The ivory gargoyle caped his ebony wings and regarded the duo. "After last night Dominion is going to be more determined than ever to seek out and capture gargoyles."

"So what do you propose we do? Walk?"

Sabrina looked thoughtful "I don't know. Maybe Kahreen will take us."

"Kahreen?"

"Well she did take us from there I think she owes us a return trip.

"So where is she?

******

She couldn't help but admire the range of weapons that this Thaylog owned. From blasters with laser guided sighting to oriental blades, it seemed that the ivory gargoyle had acquired almost every weapon that mankind had conceived. Well almost, she grinned inwardly. The big five were missing, a pity that. If they were going to completely eradicate the threat that Dominion posed they were definitely going to need something bigger than a three-gauge blaster, maybe it was time to contact some 'old friends' maybe...

Someone coughed behind her.

"You know Thaylog some of the weapons you have here would go for a song on the black market." She turned to face the ivory gargoyle who stood at the threshold of the gym. "But I guess you already knew that didn't you?"

Thaylog frowned. "The door to this room was locked."

"It was?" Kahreen raised an eyebrow and began to walk towards him.

"Maybe I should rethink my security measures."

She halted three paces from him. "Might be a good idea. If little old me can get past this then there are certainly a few people on Dominion's payroll who can."

"In the future, if you come across a door that is locked it generally means that someone doesn't you want to go in."

"Really?" Kahreen followed Thaylog out of the gymnasium and watched as he locked the door behind him. "In my line of work a locked door is always an open invitation to enter. Guess it's just force of habit."

"Then we should be grateful that your 'line of work' doesn't include assassinations."

The smile faded from Kahreen's face. "I don't do assassinations."

The temperature in the corridor seemed to drop a couple of degrees. Thaylog almost took a step backwards, although she was facing away from him he still had the feeling that the expression on her face was not one he would want to see.

"It was only a figure of speech." The possibility that the feliniod might up and leave entered his mind. "If I offended you by that then I apologize. But you must know that I hold the well being of my clan above anything else. If you had done anything to threaten them..."

"Yeah I know..." Kahreen turned and faced him "Chances are that if I was in your shoes I'd feel the same. But if you want me to help you then I need to know if you're capable of holding your own against Dominion. A small group of gargoyles no matter how well armed they are, are not going to bring these beings down with a full frontal attack."

"Very true."

"Anyway this is getting off the point. "You were looking for me?"

Thaylog nodded. "Llewelyn and Sabrina wish to return to their clan to warn them about Dominion."

"And they want me to give them a ride back home yes?"

Thaylog nodded again. "You have transport?"

"Transport?" Kahreen laughed " Heh I keep forgetting that the old Dragon is supposed to be that." Thaylog looked puzzled "My home." she explained. "I find it's handy to be able to move at a moments notice and well I stopped calling it 'transport' a long time ago. Actually I was hoping to get back to it myself. My clothes and equipment are there."

"How far away is it?"

"Three hours walk." She regarded Thaylog "But only half an hours gliding as the gargoyle flies."

Thaylog sighed, in business he was the one that manipulated others. Lately however it seemed to be others who were manipulating him. "Very well."

Thaylog glanced in the direction that Kahreen was pointing in. Through the murk he could make out two buildings, one large and one small. The large building had obviously lost it's corrugated iron roof some time ago. The walls of the building had not fared any better against time. The small building had suffered the same fate. Through the tattered remains of it's roof grew a birch tree, it's silver branches almost like ghostly arms reaching out into the night.

Trees, buildings, there were many things still at this place but most importantly there was no sign of this 'craft' that Kahreen had been talking about. The words 'trap' rose in his mind. Was he right to come out here alone with the feliniod? He did not vocalize these thoughts. Like it or not the feliniod had information that was crucial to their fight against Dominion and so far she had acted in good faith. Mistrusting her now would only drive her away and that was something he could not afford. The safety of his clan, the world he called home was at stake as were the humans that inhabited it. They may mistrust his kind but they did have their uses...sometimes.

He landed besides the rusting remains of a car and Kahreen slipped from his arms. She strode towards the main building. "Well welcome to my home Thaylog."

"Home?" Thaylog looked around, his unease building "From the way you described it I thought this home of yours would be too big just to hide behind a bush." He turned to where he had last seen Kahreen but she had vanished. His hand went towards the small blaster he had concealed in his belt. This was a trap! He went into a battle ready stance, expecting Harding's mercenaries to burst from the bushes at a moments notice.

"Jeeze relax would you? Anyone would think you were expecting to be ambushed or something." As Kahreen's voice faded away Thaylog could swear that he heard traces of sarcasm in her final words. But if he could hear her voice then where was she?

"Where are you?"

"Right in front of you."

"What? There's nothing there but open..." The rest of his sentence was cut off as a low humming sound filled the air. As Thaylog watched in amazement the air in front of him shimmered, the same effect that a hot sun had on the tarmac of the highway. Through each pulse of the air the came visible the shape of a ship, but one he had never encountered before in his life. The front of the ship curved into an eagle like beak, a dark glass like substance formed a band around the 'head' of the vessel. Two long 'wings' curved from the front of the ship, forming an elegant point behind the ship. But the thing that struck him more than anything was that the ship looked old. What seemed to be laser burns criss-crossed it's outer hull and in places the dull red of the ship's hull was visibly contused with sections of newer grey metal that had been welded to it.

"Well what do you think of it?"

Thaylog started and searched for the location that Kahreen's voice was coming from, he soon found it. A creaking noise came form the underside of the craft and one of the newer sections of the hull descended towards the ground, forming a platform from which a ladder could be extended or if a person was able to they could jump onto. Kahreen's head appeared over the edge of the hole.

"Well?"

"It's..." Thaylog searched for an appropriate answer as questions raced through his mind. Where did she get such a craft and where did she get such technology as a cloaking device from? There seemed to be much more to this creature than just her technological nature. Once again his curiosity was aroused and once again he pushed it aside. Now was not the time. "It was well hidden." he finished.

Kahreen grinned. "Yep, never get any unwelcome visitors." The grin turned into a sly smile " Even better when you're the unwelcome visitor."

"It can remain invisible even when mobile?" As Kahreen nodded Thaylog suddenly realized that for the clan, getting around when the skies were being watched had suddenly become much simpler. "Where did you get such a vessel?"

"Someone owed me big time," She patted the side of the ship "and I got this in part payment."

"Who?" The thought that an irate owner may appear sometime in the near future demanding their property back crossed Thaylog's mind.

"Just someone." Kahreen's voice sounded irritable as she retreated back into the confines of the ship. "Are you coming or not? We haven't got all night you know."

As Thaylog jumped onto the small platform he glanced at the eastern horizon where the sky was beginning to lighten. "Will we get back to the mansion before dawn?" He looked up and saw Kahreen's retreating figure in the gloom of the ships interior. As he jumped up into the ship proper the hatch behind him began to close, leaving him surrounded by darkness.

"We'll be back before you know it." A door opened and light illuminated the section that Thaylog was standing in allowing him to get a better look at his surroundings.

"Did you say something?" Flynt turned to see Diamond standing beside him.

"Just talking to myself."

"I'm not surprised to hear that Kahreen had some kind of craft." Llewelyn called from the balcony. "Lugging two gargoyles about on that hovercraft of hers would have been hard work."

"You don't remember seeing this craft then?

"No." Sabrina shrugged "But then we didn't really see Kahreen either."

"I know you've already told this tale to the others but I wouldn't mind hearing what happened between you three the night you were captured."

"Ok." Llewelyn left the balcony and walked into the room where the other were gathered. "Like I said we never saw her...there was just the scent..."

"What?" It was true...although the breeze still came from the same direction, the scent it carried had changed it's location and now was so close that it didn't need the wind to carry it. Llewelyn raised her hand and a glow emitted from it. "I think it's time we put some light on the situation." The glow surrounding her hand became brighter and soon in it's place was a ball of fire. Still nothing. Both gargoyles gave out growls of frustration. "It's like someone's playing games with us!" Llewelyn turned to her clan sister. "Well I'm not going to play. We'd better go and find Llyr and let him know something's wrong." As she turned to head back the way they had come, Llewelyn noticed something about one of the shadows that the light from the flames had produced. It was human shaped and it was moving towards her...rapidly. Llewelyn opened her mouth to shout a warning to Sabrina but she never got the chance. The scent hit her like a brick wall...and then something else hit her and her world went black.

"Llew?" Sabrina turned at the sound of Llewelyn's body hitting the forest floor. She began to run towards Llewelyn, eyes riveted to the shadows and ears straining to hear any noise. This was bad... a movement of air to her left made Sabrina drop to her haunches and lash out with her right fist. The air whistled over her head and surprisingly her fist connected with something...hard. Sabrina yelped and rolled, coming up on her feet as something thudded in the leaf litter. Then Sabrina realized something, this thing whatever it was relying on stealth and silence. Taking a deep breath Sabrina began shouting as loudly as she could. She was still shouting when an unseen fist thudded into the back of her neck, and moments later a needle was pricked into her arm sending her into unconsciousness.

"And that's how it happened"

Flynt sat back and considered Sabrina's and Llewelyn's words. So as well as being a walking computer Kahreen can also make herself invisible?

Dayia looked up. "Well if I remember my Star Trek correctly they had cloaking devices which could hide a Klingon Bird of Prey so she's probably got something similar.

"Yeah she could have been watching the clan for some time...waiting for an opportunity to catch some of us alone, capture us and take us off to Dominion at a moment's notice. I wonder how many more like her are out there, watching , waiting."

"Don't even go there." Sabrina shuddered "If we start to think like that we're going to be jumping at shadows all the time, it would send us crazy. Besides...if there were others out there wouldn't Kahreen have already told us about them?

Shaiya looked up "I think she would, but all the same I feel that she is keeping a lot back."

"About Dominion?"

Shaiya shook her head. "No not about Dominion, about herself."

"Don't we all?" "There are a few things about me that I would like to keep to myself. Private things. It's no good being an open book."

"I agree." Diamond spoke up. " If people know everything about you, your actions become predicable, people know your weaknesses and how to exploit you and then ultimately destroy you."

The others nodded in agreement. That was something they had all learned, mostly the hard way. Diamond suddenly straightened and started towards the open balcony doors. Instantly Flynt was at her side, ignoring the knowing looks that he received from the others.

"What is it?"

Diamond frowned "Can you hear something?"

Dayia cocked her head. "Yes, it sounds like...engines?"

The clan looked at each other. "Thaylog?" They certainly hoped so.

What had just been discernable as an engine noise grew in volume and then seemed to stop. The clan filed out onto the balcony and were astounded to see the trees and grass moving as though they were being blown by the wind, but that night there had been nothing more than a light breeze. Llewelyn and Sabrina looked at each other and nodded. "It's Kahreen." They said in unison.

Inside the ship Kahreen looked through the windscreen. "Well so much for a surprise return." she grumbled as she turned to Thaylog. "You OK back there?"

The ivory gargoyle released his grip on one of the bulkhead supports. "Did you have to go so fast."

"Hey, you were the one who wanted to get back before sun-up. What are you complaining about?"

Thaylog turned his back on her and headed towards the hatch. "Nothing really, just the fact that I think that I left my stomach back at the farm and I'm not to sure the ship actually liked going so fast. Those groans and creaks didn't sound too healthy."

Kahreen frowned as she disengaged the cloaking device and disconnected herself from the ships computer. "Ok so she's not the newest and most swish looking thing to fly the skies. But she'll get you from A to B without falling apart from her." She paused by a control panel and flicked a switch that opened the hatch. "I know what she can and can't do and falling apart is one of the things she doesn't do, you can rely on her."

Thaylog looked back at Kahreen before jumping down onto the platform. "I certainly hope so."

The clan had now gathered on the ground. Flynt took one look at the ship and then looked at Dayia. "You were saying something about Star Trek?"

Dayia held up her hands in mock exasperation. "I'm psychic so sue me." They watched as Thaylog appeared on the platform which had descended from the ship and then landed on the ground. Flynt went to meet him.

"Well it's not what I was expecting."

"Kahreen assures me that it will be adequate for our needs."

Flynt stood and surveyed the ship. "Well I must admit that the invisible thing is useful and.." he stopped as he caught sight of the small particle cannon that was attached to the underside of the ship "..and if it can fire while invisible then all the better."

"Then I guess I'll have to keep the control for that away from trigger happy gargoyles then."

Kahreen had now appeared on the platform. "Besides, that cannon hasn't worked properly for twenty years now. If we want to use it then someone is going to have to point me in the direction of replacement parts."

The clan looked at each other. "Twenty years?" mouthed Dayia to the others. Particle cannons had only been in use for the last ten years. Flynt said nothing, he just looked disappointed.

"We can discuss things like that tomorrow night." Thaylog indicated the rapidly brightening horizon. "Right now I suggest we get some much needed rest.

"Phase two is completed." The words were spoken in a language unrecognizable to human ears. In fact if anyone had seen the image on the monitor they would have realized the language wasn't even of terrestrial origin. A brown skinned, slightly humanoid creature with large black eyes listened impassively as Dawson gave his report. "All tests show a 100% success rate on all subjects. I am downloading the information now. We are ready for the final phase."

"Excellent." The humanoid on the monitor replied. " We will begin mass production immediately. The colony will be here within the fortnight. By then this planet will be ready for processing. Also the items you have requested are ready and waiting."

"I will organize for their transportation immediately." Dawson said.

"What of the other sentient species." The humanoid inquired.

Dawson frowned. "They have proven to be obstinate and elusive."

"Very well." Dawson shut off the monitor and slid the wooden panel back into place. As he walked back to his desk, his eyes regained their normal hue. He pressed the button on the office intercom.

"Emily, contact Mr. Harding please. Tell him I wish to see him immediately."

Harding braced his legs slightly as the lift began its ascent. Fortunately he had been downtown when Dawson's message reached him on his cellphone and was able to get to the offices almost immediately. The mercenary rubbed his eyes as he thought about the information, or rather lack of it, he had discovered on Dawson and Dominion Enterprises last night. Harding still had a few friends in the right places, and had called in a couple of favors. It seemed Dominion Enterprises was just another corporation, similar to a multitude that had began to pop up at the beginning of the twenty first century. They specialized in government contracts and construction. That was until about 5 years ago. Almost overnight Dawson geared all of Dominions resources towards bioengineering and the workings of the human mind. Though everything seemed above board, something about this sudden change in direction made the mercenary feel uncomfortable.

'Five years ago.' Harding's mind began to wander as he remembered what he was doing at that time. Covert operations, military intelligence. A marriage on the rocks because of the time spent away. And...Guatemala. Harding sighed. What a disaster that was. A simple operation to take out some terrorists holding hostages. Trouble was someone had leaked the plans to the terrorists. Harding lost half his squad and the hostages were killed. Who it was who leaked the information was never discovered. The government denied any involvement and amid the cover-up that ensued, Harding was forced to 'resign'. The strain of it all was too much for his wife, who left, taking their daughter with her. He hadn't seen either of them since. He thought about his daughter. How old would she be now? Eight? The opening of the elevator doors snapped Harding out of his reverie.

"Hello Mr. Harding," Emily said as she activated the intercom. "Mr. Dawson... Mr. Harding is here."

"Thank you Emily," Dawson replied. "Show him in."

Emily led Harding into Dawson's office. The older man rose to his feet and smiled. "Mr. Harding, so good of you come quickly. Have a seat please. There is a favour I need to ask of you."

The mercenary sat down. " I saw the 'news report' you prepared. Very clever. Everyone is talking about the 'gargoyle infestation' now."

"Yes." Dawson laughed. "Now we can use the populace as our eyes and ears. It should make things uncomfortable for our winged 'friends'."

"It could cause them to go to ground." Harding said.

"Perhaps." The CEO answered. "But at any rate that is not why I asked you here. The recent explosion at the research facility, caused more damage than I thought. I want you and your men to go and pick up some important equipment from our primary research laboratories."

"The one near the mountains?"

Dawson nodded. "Yes. Normally I would not worry about such measures, but with the gargoyles about and more importantly Kahreen on the loose...well you understand. The shipment will be ready this evening."

Harding thought for a moment. It would be good to get out of the city for a little while. Away from Dawson. Looking at the CEO now, Harding felt a small chill go up his spine. Something wasn't right about this man. Something indefinable.

.

"Alright." He said. "I'll get on to it now." Harding rose from his chair. "Anything else?"

"No." Dawson said. "That will be all." The Dominion chief smiled as Harding exited. By tomorrow morning Phase Three would be completed. The final preparations had begun.

Within the cockpit of the ship Kahreen sat back in the pilots seat and on a small screen above her head watched the male human as he watched the effect that the cloaking device had on the clouds. "What the hell is that idiot doing out in the mountains alone at this time of year?" Kahreen shook her head and switched her attention from the small monitor to the holographic navigation readout. "We should be arriving in the last known location of your clan soon." she called back to the others.

The clearing was deserted as the ship landed. Sabrina was the first out of the ship. Once she was clear of it she stopped and breathed in the air. It felt so good to be out in the open again. Thaylog soon followed her. Kahreen and Llewelyn lingered in the ship a moment longer.

Kahreen disconnected form the ships computer and shook her head.

"Sorry but I'm not picking up anything that looks remotely like a gargoyle out there."

"Then I guess we do this the old fashioned way then."

"And that is?"

Llewelyn paused by the hatchway for a moment before jumping out. "We look."

Kahreen glared at the spot Llewelyn had recently vacated. "Score one to the fiery gargoyle." she muttered under her breath as she followed the others out of the ship. As she landed on the ground beside Llewelyn, Sabrina and Thaylog approached them.

"Sabrina says that the last site of their clan's camp is just a short distance for here. It would be best if we went there first. If we don't find them there then we'll head north." The three females nodded in agreement. On a ridge surrounding the clearing a bobcat watched them unseen and then it vanished into the undergrowth.

A female gargoyle sighed for what seemed to be the millionth time that night. She'd lost count of the nights they had waited here, for what she'd never been 100% sure on. For their lost clan sisters? Yes most definitely but there was something else, maybe a desire to move on. She had remained with the mountain clan longer than she'd originally planned. Vashkoda poked at the small fire with a stick and glanced at the small male hatchling who was playing with a gargoyle beast at the back of the cave. She allowed herself a small smile. Things like family and friends were always hard to leave behind, but to discover that some of them were willing to remain with her? In her travels and years of searching Vashkoda had rarely encountered such...loyalty since leaving her home.

Movement at the entrance of the cave made her look up. There in the glow of the fire stood a bobcat. Vashkoda looked back at the fire and stirred the embers once more. "Did you see anything?"

"It's them!"

"Them?" Vashkoda looked up at the young female gargoyle who stood in the bobcats place.

"Sabrina and Llewelyn," the gargess paused as the hatchling embraced her. "They're back!"

Vashkoda was instantly to her feet. "They are? Where Silver? Where?"

Silver put the young hatchling back on the ground. "Back in the clearing and Vash...they're not alone."

"Who's with them?"

"There are two others, a big ivory male gargoyle and a cat like creature."

"No humans?"

The brown gargoyle shook her head "No. And I couldn't smell any in the nearby area either."

Vashkoda thought for a moment. "We'd better go an meet them. Actually I'm surprised that they came back here. They would have known that the clan would have moved on."

"Maybe they thought that some would remain behind...in case they returned."

Vashkoda looked at her "Then it's a good job someone did."

Kahreen looked at the remains of the camp. It was obvious that it had been abandoned in a hurry." This place hasn't been used for a couple of weeks at least." She stopped and picked up a discarded cigarette butt.

"Correction. This place hasn't been used by gargoyle for a while. It looks like there were some humans here much more recently, within the last 78 hours anyway." she looked up at Sabrina and Llewelyn. "Unless a member of your clan took up smoking since you last saw them."

"Gargoyles don't smoke." Llewelyn said indignantly "That's a human habit!"

"Didn't think so."

Thaylog walked up to Kahreen. As he looked around the camp he felt sadness and was a little angered that his own kind had been forced to live like that. "Could there have been other mercenaries here since you took Llewelyn and Sabrina from this place?"

"Possibly but it's hard to tell. You have to remember that this is a national park, there will be other humans in these woods. Rangers, hunters, hikers, even day-trippers. But given the current situation it is most probably mercenaries who have been here."

Thaylog nodded. "Then if there are humans in these woods purposely looking for gargoyles then their clan would not remain in this area and neither should we. It would be better if we returned to your ship and looked further north."

Andrew extinguished his cigarette beneath the heel of his expensive hiking boots and contemplated which of the two paths before him to take. Under the light of his torch both paths stretched away into the darkness before him. Deciding against the path that ascended into the craggy ranges of the mountains he began his descent down to what his map told him was flat enough ground to set up camp for the night.

As time passed he became increasingly uneasy. About half an hour ago he had begun to hear the odd rumble of some kind of vehicle before it faded away into the night. Within the last ten minutes he had been overcome by the unmistakable feeling that he was being watched. Twice he had stopped, meaning to retrace his steps and take the other path and twice shadows on the path he had just walked on made him decide against it. He had the feeling that he was being herded somewhere. He had tried to use his mobile phone to call search and rescue but all he got from that was the angry hiss of a signal that wasn't going anywhere. The trees in this part of the forest were beginning to thin out and through then Andrew could make out the faint lights of some kind of building. He felt a weight fall off his shoulders. If there were people there maybe they could give him shelter for the night, protect him from whatever was stalking him through the trees.

"Maybe we should look around a bit more." Sabrina said.

"I don't know. It looks like they've moved on...we should head back to the ship and try looking a bit further north."

The foursome jumped when a voice spoke from the shadows of the trees. "I don't know if that would be a good idea. I'm not sure where they've gone."

"Vash!" cried Llewelyn and Sabrina in unison, the delight on their faces evident. "You waited for us!"

"Not just me." Vashkoda seemed to materialize from the darkness and went to embrace her clan sisters.

"Who?"

"Me." Silver alighted on the ground, soon followed by the blue hatchling and the gargoyle beast.

"What about the others?"

Vash shook her head. "They've moved on. Like I said before I'm not really sure where they went."

The duo's faces fell. "Oh."

A coughing behind them broke up the reunion. The four clan sisters turned to see Thaylog standing with a slightly impatient expression on his face. "I am glad you have found some of you clan but," he glanced at Silver and Vash "would you care to introduce us?"

Llewelyn gave an embarrassed grin. "Oh of course. Thaylog this is Vashkoda and Silver." she said indicating the two gargesses in turn. "And this is Chaz, Silver's son. The gargoyle beast is called Sirius."

Thaylog looked down at the small hatchling who in turn stared back up at him. The child looked at Thaylog critically for a few seconds before sticking out a slightly grubby hand. "Hello. Why you got red eyes?"

"Chaz!" Silver scolded "That is no way to speak to someone you've just met."

Chaz looked down at his feet. "Was just asking."

"Now apologize to him."

"Sorry."

Thaylog looked bemused for a moment before taking Chaz's small hand in his and shaking it. "Apology accepted."

Chaz then went and hid behind his mother.

"And.." Llewelyn continued the introductions. Vash, Silver this is Thaylog and Kahreen." Both nodded their hello's although it was obvious that Kahreen was keeping a discreet distance from the group.

"So what happened to you two?"

"Umm long story but we can tell you that later, right now we have a bigger problem on our hands."

Vashkoda and Silver looked at each other. The tone in Sabrina's voice told them that something serious was happening...or had happened. "What do you mean?"

Thaylog stepped forward. "What she means that your clan is in great danger. The humans and others who hunt you are much more than simple gargoyle haters."

Silver and Vash exchanged glances once again. They had the feeling that they weren't going to like what they were about to hear.

A few hundred feet and he'd be safe. Or would he? As Andrew had drawn closer to the building his anxiety began to grow. There was something wrong about this place. The others at his office had been right, he should have never gone hiking alone in the mountains by himself. And at night! What had he been thinking?

"Excuse me. Sir?"

Andrew wheeled around, his heart in his mouth and came face to face with a young man who looked like he had barely left his teens behind.

"Jesus Christ! Don't do that! The way I feel at the moment you could have given me a heart attack." Andrew began to laugh, relief beginning to wash over him. "Look, I'm a little lost. Do you know of somewhere I can stay till day break or..." His words trailed off as he got a really good look at his new companion. It wasn't just the young man's blank expression that stopped him in his tracks. It was the fact that in place of the young man's eyes were two milky-white orbs. "What the hell?"

"Sir?"

Andrew began to back away from him. He stumbled and fell and had managed to pull himself to a kneeling position before he caught sight of what was in the young mans hands. It was some kind of gun and it was pointing straight at him.

"You're trespassing sir." The young man droned before pulling the trigger.

Moments later Andrew's body hit the ground. The 'possessed' youngster pulled out a walkie talkie and opened a channel.

"Main base this is perimeter patrol 01. Have located and disarmed the intruder. Now waiting for pick up of the test subject." He closed the channel and put the com device away. He regarded impassively the prone figure on the ground. "Not your night is it pal?"

"They're not 'little green men' They're a parasite and they could be hiding in any human body."

Vash turned and glared at Kahreen. She wasn't happy with the fact that the same person who had abducted Llewelyn and Sabrina and had finally forced her clan to abandon their home was now standing before her and asking for their help in stopping this unseen menace. But Llewelyn and Sabrina seemed to have forgiven this creature that fact and for now that was enough of a reason not to rip it's throat out.

"So where are these parasites now?" Vash couldn't help but notice that Silver had pulled Chaz closer to her. One mention of these aliens wanting to do experiments on gargoyles and the account of Sabrina's and Llewelyn's own experience in the lab had been enough to set the brown skinned gargess on edge and Vash knew why. It was in such a lab that Silver had been separated from her son and her mate. Vash couldn't help but feel concerned for her. Current events were enough to bring these hurtful memories to the surface. It was clear to see that that part of Silver's life was far from forgotten.

"They're mainly based in and around Newbridge city but I think that they will have another base of operations somewhere else, probably in this area. They don't seem to be the kind of people who will put all their eggs in one basket."

"Organizations like that rarely do." Vash ignored the puzzled looks on Kahreen's and Thaylog's faces. "So...you want us to help you stop these people from ruining the lives of every living thing on this planet?"

"We came here because these two wanted to return home and warn their clan about the threat to them. To be honest with you I didn't think that we would find you, never mind asking for your assistance with this. But." he paused "We would welcome your company and your help. But what of your clan?"

"There's nothing left for us here. The others have moved on to who knows where and if we can't find them then this Dominion corporation is certainly going to have trouble finding them." she looked at all those present "It would be better if it stayed that way. If we can help you stop them then all the better. Maybe then the clan will stop being persecuted and maybe then we can return to them." Although Vashkoda sounded full of conviction and certainty she had trouble believing her last sentence. Looking at the others she knew that they had trouble believing that too. As long as there were humans on the face of the earth then there would always be someone who would persecute gargoyles. That was something that they would never change.

" I would welcome your help but..." Thaylog glanced at Chaz "A confrontation with Dominion is inevitable. It will not be a safe place for a child."

"It would not be a safe place for any of us." answered Silver "But I will not be parted from my son nor will I allow anything to happen to him. You have my word on that."

Thaylog was silent for a moment and it was obvious to the others that he was coming to a decision. "Very well." he rumbled "The child may come along but if it looks like there will be a battle then you must take him to safety."

Silver nodded. "You have my word on that."

"If that's all settled now then I suggest we head back to the ship and get out of here."

"Ship?" Vash looked confused.

"Oh yeah." Llewelyn grinned "You're about to discover what it feels like to travel first class."

Kahreen just glared at Llewelyn. "Very funny." she said before heading back to the ship.

"Turn here." Harding indicated as he surveyed the map. " Five more miles and we'll be there." The Hummer bounced slightly as it left the bitumen of the highway and headed eastwards along a loosely graveled dirt road. The mercenary glanced behind him, noting the military truck and its two following Hummers followed suit.

"We're miles from anywhere," Sanderson noted, switching the four wheel drive's spotlights on and looking at the lightly wooded area. "What a place to set up shop."

"Guess Dawson wants privacy." Harding replied. He frowned slightly. Having a research base in the middle of nowhere was enough to pique anyone's suspicious. Harding didn't like all the subterfuge that had ended up accompanying this contract with Dawson. From experience the mercenary knew this could spell problems.

"The sooner this job is over the better." Harding muttered under his breath.

"You say something boss?"

Harding shook his head. "Nothing."

"You know, this job gives me the willies." Sanderson said, as if picking up on Harding's thoughts. "What with those gargoyles and all. I dunno."

"It's just another job, and the pays good." Harding replied without much conviction. " Don't worry yourself about it." He looked out the window. "We're here."

Sanderson groaned as he saw what was ahead. "An airfield! We could have flown in and out, instead of driving for 3 and a half hours?"

"No. Dawson was worried about the gargoyles if we were airborne. This way is better."

Sanderson sighed as the Hummer pulled up to the manned boomgate. "Yeah I suppose."

Meanwhile...

"The hoverships are ready to go sir."

Dawson nodded at the technician's news. "How long will it take?"

"Not long. Using air as the vector will allow the gas to permeate effectively through out Newbridge. We have discovered a minor drawback however."

"What?" Dawson responded. "This is not the time for complications."

"The virus will not last long outside the human body," the technician answered. "One hour at the most. But by then the gas should have done it work. All it will take is the slightest inhalation of gas for the virus to take effect."

"Very well, proceed," the CEO ordered. "If by chance a few escape the gas they can be easily rounded up later."

"What of the mercenaries sir? They will not be within target area."

"Never mind about them. I still have a use for Harding and his men." Dawson said. "I'll deal with him in my own time."

"The order is given, sir."

From the top floor of the of the research building Dawson watched as half a dozen hoverships crossed the night sky. From the rear of each trailed a long trail of thick, green vapor. Slowly the green fog enveloped the city until the buildings were barely visible through its insidious grip. Dawson smiled.

"Perfect."

The mercenaries stood around their vehicles, relaxed but alert, as the forklift driver and two of the airfield's personnel loaded the large crate into the back of military truck. The airfield crew worked silently, seemingly ignoring their visitors. Sanderson ambled over to the security guard standing nearby and tried to strike up a conversation.

"Hell of job stuck out here in the sticks. Must get pretty boring."

The guard ignored him, much to the mercenary's annoyance.

"Hey smiley! I'm talking to you."

The guard looked at Sanderson with a vacant expression, before turning and walking off. Sanderson shrugged. "Okay have it your way." He made his way over to Harding just as the commander was handed the consignment forms for the shipment.

"Sign here please." The airfield attendant asked in a strangely monotone voice. Harding signed the forms and handed them back. Without another word the attendant left the pair, heading towards the main hangar.

"Friendly bunch ain't they." Sanderson said sarcastically, as he and Harding climbed into the Hummer. " Bet they're the life of the party."

"They mustn't get many visitors here." Harding said, still watching the attendant's retreating form with a slight frown. "Lets get moving corporal. I don't want to spend all night on the road."

*****

"You sure this is a good idea?" Dayia asked as she came level with Flynt.

"No, I'm not." The tan gargoyle answered. "But with those news reports... we'll just do a quick pass of the city, check things out."

"Yeah ok." Dayia said. "Hopefully Thaylog will be back by time we return."

"Uh ha. Diamond and Shaiya can fill him in on where we gone."

Dayia grinned. "You two make a nice couple. She really likes you too."

Flynt flushed slightly. "Is it that THAT obvious."

"Only like a giant neon sign!" Dayia laughed.

Flynt mumbled and turned a shade darker. "Okay, okay. We got a job to do lets...."

"Flynt!"

The tan gargoyle started at Dayia's shout. The pale gargess was pointing straight ahead.

"What in the name of...?" Flynt stared at the city. It was covered in a thick green fog which obscured most of the skyline.

"What's happening?" Dayia couldn't keep her eyes off the scene.

"I don't know," Flynt answered. "But we're not heading into that!" He wheeled about. "Lets get back to the mansion."

All eyes turned to Sirius who was cowering in the corner of the ship. It was obvious that the gargoyle beast did not like traveling in this manner. Chaz however was having a whale of a time.. The young male had from the onset of the journey been exploring every inch of the ship.

Thaylog looked at both of them and thought "Which one?". However he remained silent.

Vashkoda grinned. She had seen the look on Thaylog's face when they had boarded the ship and it was obvious to her that the ivory gargoyle had not had much experience around children...human or gargoyle.

"Oh he'll be alright and besides, you said we'll be at Thaylog's mansion in half an hour."

"Umm I'm not too sure on that one." Kahreen's voice had become serious. "We might have to make a detour."

"Why?" Thaylog left his seat in the main section and made his way up to the cockpit. The console in front of Kahreen was a blaze of activity but the thing that caught his attention was the small 3D holographic image of the ground beneath them. Just coming into view was a group of small buildings and what seemed to be a little used runway.

"An airfield?" he thought for a moment. "Hmmm maybe this is where the mercenaries that have been hunting the mountain clan have been based."

"Yeah that's a definite possibility." Kahreen pulled on the controls and the ship began to go into a wide arc. "But I don't think it's just the mercenaries that are based here."

"What do you mean?" Thaylog looked at the image once again. At first glance there didn't seem to be anything more to the airfield than just that, somewhere where someone stored planes. But there was something else...Thaylog could feel it, something that didn't belong there.

"The surface image shows nothing more that a couple of single storey buildings and a couple of hangers yes?"

"Yes..."

"Well get a load of this." The image shifted and changed, now it showed the area both above and below the ground surface. Thaylog stared in amazement.

"An underground base?" He became aware that the others had fallen silent behind him and had all gathered around the entrance to the cockpit.

Llewelyn spoke up "Who? Dominion?"

Kahreen's eyes narrowed as she scanned through her brain, trying to bring up any information she could. There seemed to be no mention of an actual base but there were several mentions of operations in the area.

"Thaylog you said that you thought that there might be a Dominion base in the mountains?"

"Yes."

"Well it seems you might be right but we need to take a closer look."

"She looked at him "This is your call Thaylog. "You want to check this place out now or do you want to get back to the mansion first?"

Thaylog stared at the computer image before him "If this is a Dominion base then we need to know everything about it. But I would not endanger the others by taking them in there."

"You wouldn't have to." Thaylog looked over his shoulder. It was Sabrina who had spoken. "This ship has a cloak remember? Dominion wouldn't see us if we stayed in here. And if things do become a little rough, well we can always fly out of here."

"Well?" Kahreen looked at Thaylog.

After a moments pause he spoke. "Very well. We will look now."

Kahreen nodded." Okay. Ladies and gentlemen please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts. Breaking into a high security compound 101 is about to begin."

They watched as the duo vanished into the darkness.

"What is it they hope to find in there?" Silver was looking out of the small window in the main part of the ship.

Llewelyn shrugged. "More information I suppose."

"Are you sure that no-one can see us?"

"Yeah. Well put it this way...if that was a Dominion base and they did detect us we would have been blown out of the skies a long time ago."

Vash nodded her agreement. "She's right but still...this is happening so fast. We haven't truly had the time to sit down and think things through. For one thing, can they be trusted?"

Sabrina spoke without any hesitation whatsoever. "Yes they can. And you'll love it at the mansion. There are other gargoyles there and more importantly it's safe. It's far enough away from the city so as not to be bothered by humans, and the security they have there will keep us safe if humans do come near. And honestly Vash, even if half of what we've discovered is true then it's not going to matter where we are...we'd still be at odds with Dominion and always living under the constant threat they'd pose for us. At least with Thaylog and the others we'll have a fighting chance at beating them."

"And speaking of safety." Llewelyn's voice came from the cockpit where she was trying to stop Chaz from pushing buttons. "Kahreen said that if the worst came to the worst then she'd send a signal that would put the ship on autopilot and that it would take us out of here and back to the mansion." She shooed Chaz out of the cockpit. "However I'm not to happy about the fact that we're left behind to play damsels in distress till they get back."

"They seem to know what they are doing. Besides think about it...a large group of gargoyles sneaking about the base is going to attract a lot of attention, and we'd only get in each others way."

"True. So what do we do now?"

"Keep an eye on that alarm thing Kahreen left behind...if it goes off then we know there's trouble."

They moved through the trees like ghosts, both used to avoiding detection. Security cameras seemed to look the other way as they vaulted over the fence of the airfield. Landing silently on the other side they moved rapidly to a small group of outhouses.

Kahreen glanced around the corner and looked in the direction of the main building. The place was heavily guarded, there was no doubt about that. On first impression the exterior seemed to be deserted but Kahreen was picking up several different heat signatures. That meant that there were a number of guards out there. Concealed in the darkness and waiting.

"I'm guessing there are at least ten guards out there."

"I know." Thaylog said peering into the darkness "I can smell them." He caped his ebony wings around him, making part of his body seem to melt into the shadows. Kahreen had worried that the pale countenance of the gargoyle would instantly give him away in the darkness but on their journey from the ship to their present location he had been as invisible as she.

"Why have we stopped?"

"Time to take stock of the situation." She said as she opened a small compartment in the back pack she had brought with her. Reaching into it she brought out a head-set and visor. "We need to get in and out of there as quickly as possible." There was an audible click as she fitted the headset over her ears and brought the visor down over her eyes. "And all that depends on what you want to do in there."

Thaylog looked at the building for a moment. It would be so easy to go in there and destroy that place, probably getting himself killed in the process. The idea was tempting though. To deal those that threatened his kind and the world that he had planned for them, a blow so savage that Dominion would never be able to recover from it. But life had taught him that you never got what you wanted, not immediately anyway. His eyes flashed darkly for a moment. "We go in there, we get all the information we can on them, we get out of there, then we learn their strength's and weaknesses and then we destroy them."

Kahreen grinned. "Sounds like a plan to me."

He came around but didn't want to open his eyes. Not because he knew the bright lights above him would blind him, but because he was afraid. Afraid of what he might see, afraid of what might not be there, a fear that ran deeper than anything he had experienced before. However he could hear voices."

"Is this necessary? We have tested the virus and found it to be adequate. Would it not be better just to dispose..."

'test? Virus?" Andrew lost his tentative grip on consciousness and the voices and the light faded away into the darkness. He surfaced again but this time there was no clarity of thought. There was only a haze and underlying this there seemed to be a voice, a voice promising him safety, telling him to remain here in the haze where nothing bad could happen to him. To Andrew that was an offer he couldn't and wouldn't refuse.

Getting past the guards at the door to the main building had proved to be a bit more difficult than bypassing those at the outer perimeter but not impossible. They had only paused once while Kahreen searched for the location of the main computer or any abandoned room that would give them access to the facilities main database. Thaylog reasoned that while they had stopped she had also done something to the security cameras and motion detectors that were placed around the building. For she walked down the corridors in a manner that seemed to suggest she wasn't to concerned by them. He had to admit to himself thought that the level of technology she possessed seem to be extremely advanced but at the same time very old and worn. Even his own research and development labs had not come up with anything even remotely resembling what she had. There seemed to be a new black magic in town, and he was standing next to it.

"OK this should be it." Kahreen paused with her hand on the handle of the door, she turned it, it was locked. Kahreen swore under her breath "Damn, haven't got time to be playing the locksmith tonight". She backed away from the door. "Can you hear anyone coming?"

Thaylog shook his head. "No."

"Good." From somewhere up here sleeve there fell a small pistol. She aimed it at the door and fired. It's effect on the lock was soundless yet what Thaylog saw sent a chill through him. The lock and part of the door that had been struck when Kahreen fired glowed red for a moment and then...dissolved. No bang, no explosion, just a soundless demise into oblivion. The pistol disappeared back up her sleeve and Kahreen walked up to the door and gently pushed at it. It slowly swung open and the duo entered the room.

Thaylog closed the door but left a small fraction of it open so that he had an unobstructed view of the corridor. Meanwhile Kahreen had approached the computer while slinging the small back pack off her back. Placing it on the floor she opened the main compartment and pulled out a small device, very similar to the black boxes Thaylog had noticed in the ship. Curiosity got the better of him.

"What is that?"

"Filtering device." She said pulling up the sleeve of her coat and connecting a small wire from the device to the access ports in her arm. "Chances are that these guys have some pretty heavy ICE and I'm not in a mood to have my brain fried tonight." She paused as she attached the

box to the back of the computer terminal, her eyes switching from their normal feline yellow to the opaque orbs Thaylog had witnessed a few days previously.

"Is the coast still clear?"

Thaylog glanced around the corner almost expecting uniformed guards marching down it but there was nothing, the entire corridor was deserted. "Yes." he frowned "But it should not be like this."

"Why?"

"There should be security guards patrolling these corridors. As it is I don't see anyone."

"Accessing database."

Thaylog looked up at the sound of Kahreen's voice, it had sounded...artificial. She turned and looked at him and now spoke to him with the voice he had become used to hearing.

"Yeah I have to admit that is pretty strange. But hey, this place is pretty automated, maybe they don't feel the need for actual security personnel on the interior." She broke off as a light on the small black box began to flash red. "OK we're in. I take it that you want all the information they have in here?"

Thaylog nodded "But especially the information on their plans and the complete information on the virus they are using to control the humans."

"Gotcha." Kahreen returned her attention to the computer before her. Thaylog continued to watch the corridor and to listen for the sound of approaching footsteps. A part of his mind was a frenzy of activity. Measures and counter measures were formulated and mulled over but what Thaylog thought most about was the virus. That was to be his trump card.

If they could find an antidote or cure for the virus then Dawson could not control the humans on the planet and he would be faced with a greater number of foes. Perhaps there was a way that they could alter the virus so that it affected the parasites, perhaps...there were so

many possibilities.

"Hey Thaylog."

Thaylog broke out of his reverie. "Hmm?"

Kahreen pulled the wired out of her arm. "We're done here."

"That's it?" Thaylog looked at her. "Well?"

Kahreen sighed. "If you want to know what's in there you'll have to wait. I need to review the data and crack to encryption codes they've got on it."

He nodded, a little frustrated. "Then we'll return to the ship and get out of here." He glanced around him "This place makes me uneasy."

Kahreen stood and slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Yeah, it is a little too quiet. Wonder where everyone is?"

"As long as they are not here then I don't care. I'm sure that we'll run into them again before long."

"Yeah." Kahreen agreed "I would say that that was a certainty." They left the room, closing the door with it's non existent lock behind them. Thaylog turned to retrace his steps to the outside when Kahreen stopped him. He turned, surprised that. "What is it?"

"Look I know that you want to get out of here but I got a look at the schematics of this place. There is a large area not far from this location. It's big enough to be a storage area or something and..." she trailed off

"What?"

"Well from the layout of the place it seems to me that they're using it to store vehicles, weapons." She raised the visor of her headset. "It might be a good idea to check it out."

Thaylog looked thoughtful "Do we have time to look?"

"It would only put an extra couple of minutes on our return journey back to the ship and we wouldn't be going too far out of our way." She looked him and saw the conflict in his eyes. She knew that he wanted to get back to the mansion, but he also wanted to see more of this place. Apart from a couple of computers they had seen nothing that gave a hint of Dominion's abilities. And that was something she knew he wanted to see with his own eyes.

"This goes against my better judgment but very well. But at the first sign that we might be discovered we are out of here. Agreed?"

Kahreen grinned. "Hey, you're the boss."

"Indeed." It was a strange feeling. He had been alone for so long but now that he had come across others of his own kind they looked to him for leadership. It was a new feeling but one he told himself he could get used to. "Which way?"

"Down here." Kahreen said as she began to move rapidly down the corridor.

They came across their first human shortly after this. Footsteps became audible as they came up to an intersection of four corridors. Thaylog and Kahreen looked at each other. All doors in the corridor were closed and there was no way to tell if there were people in them.

"Ah, small problem." muttered Kahreen under her breath.

The human passed through the intersection and walked where moments earlier the gargoyle and biomech had stood. If he had noticed anything amiss in the corridor it didn't show. As he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight one of the air vents moved aside and a figure silently dropped to the ground.

"Coast's clear Thaylog. You can come out now."

Around the corner the air seemed to shift and fold like clothing. Thaylog emerged and looked at what he was carrying in his hands. There seemed to be nothing there but as he moved his hand the air around and below it moved in response to his actions. "What is this?"

"Camouflage." Kahreen replied taking back the object in Thaylog's hands, as soon as she touched it became visible as the coat she had been wearing before. Stowing the coat in the backpack she turned to retrace their steps to the outside.

Thaylog looked up. "Where are you going?"

She paused and looked back at him. "Hey we were almost discovered back there and you did say that if that happened then we were out of here."

"True but." he glanced in the direction that the guard had gone. "I don't think we were in any danger from him."

"No? Well what if he saw us and alerted the entire security personnel on site to our presence? We'd probably have to fight our way out of here. Even if we were armed to the teeth," She waved her arms in the air to illustrate her point. "we'd still be hard pressed."

"You didn't get a good look at that man's face, I don't think he was aware of anything that was going on around him."

Kahreen frowned and looked thoughtful. "Blank expression?"

Thaylog nodded "Yes."

She walked back towards Thaylog. "Any human in here has either got to be controlled by the slugs or.."

"Infected by the virus that Dominion were developing." Thaylog finished.

"OK then, the entrance to that storage area is at the end of this corridor. Let's hope we don't run into any more of Dominion's 'zombies'."

Llewelyn sat upright as the sensor screen on the ship gave a small blip. "Hey it looks like something is going on at that base!"

Vash ran into the cockpit. "What? Is it Thaylog and Kahreen?"

"No." Llewelyn answered." Looks like a small convoy or something leaving the base."

The pair stared at the greenish tinged images on the screen. Three large four wheel drives and a truck rumbled past on the dirt road barely 100 yards away.

"I hope this ships cloaking is as good as Kahreen says," Llewelyn muttered as Silver joined the pair. "or we are going to be in big trouble."

The three gargesses watched tensely the small convoy, giving a collective sigh of relief as it passed them by and disappeared into the night.

"Its all clear now." Llewelyn said.

"How do you think Kahreen and Thaylog are doing?" Silver asked.

"I dunno." Llewelyn answered. " But I hope they hurry. This sitting around is making me edgy."

"You and me both". Silver responded.

"Give them time." Vash said. "They have no idea of what's in there. As long as the ship stays here, we can assume they are all right."

"And if we take off?" Llewelyn asked.

"Then we can start to worry."

"What is this?" Thaylog peered over the top of a number of crates and felt his heart sink. Never before had he seen such a sight. He looked over at Kahreen who was a couple of feet beyond him, the expression on her face was...unreadable.

"Well what do you think it is Thaylog?" She glanced once again at the scene before her. Waving her hand before her to indicate the main section of the hanger she turned so that her back was to what was before them. "That is humanities fate Thaylog, if we don't stop them."

Thaylog once again turned and looked at the main section before him. It looked like it had come straight out of a science fiction film.

Ships of several shapes and sizes took up most of the floor space. Between them moved what Thaylog could only describe as Aliens and not just one race either. One or two seemed to conform to the classic 'Grey' build but there were many others, some looked almost human while others...well Thaylog had trouble deciding which part of them was their head.

However they all had one thing in common. Their eyes, all had the same milky-white hue that signified that the host body was being controlled by the parasitic alien. But faced with so many different representatives of so many races Thaylog began to wonder just how many worlds had fallen and been enslaved.

"This has to stop here and now." he growled. "I will not permit it to continue."

Kahreen looked at him and then turned and looked at the ships. "Easier said than done. " she muttered. "At this moment in time we have no idea how many of the guys are out there and more importantly," She looked back at Thaylog. "How far away are the others? Because whatever it is you aim to do we have to do it before their 'friends' get close enough to join the party."

The ivory gargoyle seemed to be deep in thought, suddenly his eyes glowed red momentarily and then he began to move towards the exit. He looked over his shoulder at Kahreen who had followed him. "Then I suggest we get out of here and make a start."

"Just like out of a spy movie." Llewelyn said as she looked at the sensor screen before her. The monitor before her gave of a glow that was tinged with green, giving her face a slightly demonic cast. The image on the screen also looked unreal, an effect much like night vision. The area outside the ship although pitch black showed up almost as bright as daytime on the monitor.

Silver laughed "Well if you see James Bond vaulting over a tree stump you let us know OK."

Llewelyn looked at the monitor a moment longer and then cleared her throat. "Well it's not exactly James Bond coming but would our two explorers do you?"

Vashkoda was instantly at her side and looking at the screen. "They're back?"

"See for yourself." Llewelyn said indicating the monitor.

At first the image seemed to consist of nothing but trees and shrubbery but as Vashkoda continued to watch there was a rustling of the bushes and two figures emerged from them and made their way to the cloaked ship. Vash let out a small sigh out of relief, finally they could leave this place. She had become very wary since seeing the convoy of lorry's which had passed close to the ship a few minutes earlier. "Wonderful, now maybe we can get out of here." She looked at the numerous buttons and dials on the control panel before looking at Llewelyn. "So which button opens the door?"

Harding's convoy drove slowly through the streets of Newbridge approaching the research building. Though it was late in the night there was large amount of unusual activity on the city's streets. The mercenary recognized the uniforms of the Dominion security personnel as well as that of the local constabulary. They seemingly were 'rounding' up the populace into small groups and loading them onto trucks.

"What the hell is going on here?" Sanderson said in amazement.

"I don't know." Harding answered. "Pull over here." The mercenary leader jumped out the Hummer and made his way to the truck. He returned a few moments later.

"Sanderson, I will deliver the goods to the lab. Take the men to head back to the warehouse."

"Ah... yeah boss, okay."

"And corporal. Condition yellow."

Sanderson frowned. Condition yellow... be ready to move out at a moments notice. He looked at the scene on the streets and back to Harding.

"Good idea boss. Damn good idea."

"A big green cloud?" Shaiya asked.

Flynt stopped his pacing. "That's right. A 'big_green_cloud'. The whole city was covered. I've never seen anything like it before."

"Perhaps Dominion is behind this?" Diamond suggested.

"You can bet your life Dominion is behind this, but what are they..." His eyes widened as a sudden realization hit him. "That virus the biomech mentioned! You don't think those damn slugs have finally..." His theory was cut short as Dayia ran in.

"Something weird is going on. I tried the TV and radio, to see if there was any news on that green cloud..."

"And?" Flynt prompted.

"Nothing." Dayia replied. "They're both dead. Nothing but static."

"Flynt thinks Dominion may have released the virus in that cloud you saw." Shaiya said.

Dayia looked shocked. "Surely not!"

"Aye." Diamond looked at her three companions. "Kahreen did say it was almost ready. It appears that our foes have perfected their poison."

Dayia cocked her head to one side. "Listen! What's that?"

Silence fell over the room. Slowly a sound could be heard from outside, the sound of engines. The four ran out onto the balcony as the sound grew louder. The air in front of them began to shimmer and solidify, revealing the shape of Kahreen's ship as it gently touched down in front of the mansion. They watched as the hatched opened and Kahreen emerged, followed by Thaylog, Sabrina, Llewelyn and the remainder of the mountain clan

Dayia smiled "They're back! With more gargoyles!"

"Excellent." Flynt said with a grin, "C'mon lets get down there. I want to meet our new guests..." His face turned serious. "...And tell Thaylog what we saw."

The area within the compund was a hive of activity as Harding pulled the truck up alongside the boomgate and waited for the guard. He watched as Dominion security rushed about between the town's citizens, herding them into small groups and leading them into the building. The townsfolk seemed lost, aimless. But it was there faces that drew the mercenary's attention the most. Blank, almost trance like, as if they were sleepwalking. Harding's eyes narrowed. It was similar to the look of the personnel at the air field. His thoughts were interrupted as the boomgate guard rapped on his window. With a frown Harding wound the window down.

"I have a shipment for the lab." He told the guard. "It's authorized by Mr. Dawson."

The guard regarded him a moment and checked his clipboard. "Yes Commander Harding. You're cleared for entry. Dock "A". The guard turned to open the gate.

"Just a minute." Harding said. "Is Mr. Dawson here? I want to see him."

Mr. Dawson is here, but he is very busy. As you can see we are...have a situation here. I don't know if he will have the time."

"Then I suggest you get on the phone and find out," Harding growled. "I want to see Dawson and I want to_see_him_now."

The guard opened his mouth to say something but apparently changed his mind. He walked to the gatehouse and picked up the phone. He was in conversation for several minutes before returning to the truck.

"Mr Dawson will meet you at the dock." The guard turned raising the boomgate and allowing Harding to pass. He watched as the truck entered the compound. There was a movement at the base of the guard's neck, just below the collar of his uniform. As the guard re entered the gatehouse his eyes were a milky white.

"Disgusting humans." He hissed.

Dawson was waiting at dock 'A'. Harding climbed out of the truck, as a forklift came around to retrieve the load.

"What's going on around here?" the mercenary demanded.

The C.E.O.'s face was a mask of worry." Something terrible has happened. About three hours ago the city was enveloped by a cloud of gas. When it lifted..." he spread his arms, indicating the surrounding area. "...this is what happened."

Harding looked at the townspeople. "What's wrong with them?" he decided not to mention the similarity between the townspeople and the airbase attendants.

"We don't know. We are bringing them in here in an attempt to find that out."

"Why weren't you affected?" Harding asked suspiciously.

Dawson shrugged. "I was here at the time. No one in the labs were affected thank heavens. As you know the buildings climate control is fully independent to the outside environment."

"How convenient." Harding muttered.

The Dominion boss continued, not hearing Harding's comment. "One thing we do know for certain though. It was those gargoyles that are responsible for this."

"What?"

Dawson nodded. "Two of them were spotted leaving the area just after the cloud appeared."

"Did you get them?"

Dawson smiled. "No. Something better. We have pinpointed their location."

"Where?"

"I'll relay that information to you shortly. But for now..." Dawson indicated the now empty truck. Perhaps you should return to your men and get ready. We will make those creatures pay for what they have done soon enough."

Harding nodded. "Alright then." He returned to the truck, keeping his face neutral. As he drove out the compound he thought of what he had just been told. Dawson's story didn't add up at all. Just what was Dominion up too? Harding wasn't entirely convinced that the gargoyles were responsible for this mysterious 'gas cloud' either. In fact he wasn't sure of anything anymore except for one thing, the rules of the game had radically changed. He would have to watch his back if he was to see this through.

'What the hell am I thinking!' he thought. Better to cut his losses now, but surprisingly he found that that option didn't sit well with him. This had become more than just an assignment to him now. He needed to get to the bottom of this, to see this through to the end, no matter what that would be.

Dawson laughed mockingly as Harding's truck left the compound. "Thank you Commander, you have performed a great service to us here." He turned to the attendants who were preparing to open the newly delivered crate.

"Get that signal beacon fully operational within the hour! We must prepare for the arrival."

"Agreed." The ivory gargoyle looked worried. "Now Dominion has control of the people in the city things are going to become much more difficult for us."

"Can't we go to Dominion and destroy all the work they've done on the virus?"

"It wouldn't work." Thaylog shook his head. "We would still be faced with the problem of what to do with several thousand people still under the virus' influence. "What we have to do is find a way to render the virus useless and to release those infected by it. And..." He looked at Kahreen. "...if our 'information gathering' expedition into the Mountain base was as successful as I hope it was, we may have the means to produce a cure for it."

Kahreen nodded. "I've de-encrypted most of the files on the virus. I just need to download it onto your computer and we can go over it but I've got to tell you now Thaylog...you're not going to like what you see."

"It is not a case of whether I 'like' or 'dislike' the information I'm about to see but rather what we can achieve with what we see. We did not risk everything by going into that base unprepared for nothing."

Flynt spoke up. "Yes that base. Do you think that the entire city will now be acting like those humans you saw there?"

"Its a certainty." Kahreen said as she connected herself to the computer and began to download the information she had pulled from Dominion's computers.

Thaylog walked up to the screen and watched as file after file scrolled across the scene. "So what information about the virus did you say that I wouldn't like?"

"It wasn't about the virus Thaylog." Kahreen said as the information on the screen slowed down until a single file was visible. "This is a communications log between Dawson and the base."

Flynt glanced over Thaylog's shoulder and his eyes widened. "Does that say what I think it says?"

"It does." said Thaylog his eyes glowing red. "It would seem that the time we have to stop Dominion just became very limited."

Epilogue.