*All characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 3

Revenge

Confused, and unable to follow, Babe headed home. He needed to talk to Sarah about this...she and Bill might understand why he retreated like that, "What is he planning? Why did he run away? He MUST have known how much better he was than me...I couldn't find a single weakness in our encounter! What's going on...what--the..." Babe landed outside the front entrance. The lock to the door was broken off. The door itself was leaning against the wall, only half-hinged to the door frame! Everything INSIDE was a complete mess...Babe climbed over a small pile of rubble to get through the next doorway. His charging unit would be in there, and with all the energy he'd spent..."My charger..." It had been torn from the wall, broken into almost countless pieces, and thrown everywhere. There was a white, crunchy powder on the floor too. His sensors quickly identified the sugar for what it was, "He couldn't have beaten me HERE! He went the opposite direction! How could he have..." A cold fear slowly crept over him. He started searching through the wreckage. Little by little his searching became more frantic...he couldn't find a trace of them, EITHER of them! Half-way through tearing the lab apart he forced himself to calm down, "I haven't found a single trace of them. That means that he didn't kill them...at least not here. He took them somewhere." Another, much brighter idea came to him, "They might have fled before he came, and he could have destroyed the place out of spite." He hoped feverishly it was the second one. From there on he searched more carefully, going over every detail.

By the time he reached the second floor, he was ready to give up. They wouldn't be up there. It would be sheer stupidity. He searched anyway. Babe came to Bill's room, which had papers strewn all over the place. Most of the papers were torn to shreds...all were illegible.

Babe went directly to Sarah's room next. Her room was completely ransacked. Everything was on the floor and broken, almost as if whoever had done it had taken joy in just blowing things up. There was ONE piece of wood in the room that hadn't been blown to splinters...and there was a note on it.

Cleave. We still have a score to settle. You ruined my life. Now let me return the favor.

These two were just the first. There WILL be more. But by the time you read this note it'll be too late. I have some close friends of yours here. See if you can find me.

I think you know who sent this.

Babe fell right there...he had them...and more. Who else? Who else had he taken?! Did he--no..."Mom..." Without thinking, Babe searched for a phone. By the time he found one he realized that every phone in the building was beyond repair...and that he could just as easily call people. HE closed his eyes, tears already finding an outlet while he waited for his mother to answer...

"We're sorry...the number you have dialed is no longer available. Please check the number and dial again."

"What?!" Babe tried again, three times. It was always the same. The number was gone..."Mom...he got you..." Babe curled up and started crying. Who else? Babe was afraid to find out.

It took Ace, Don, Pik, James, and Alan to get Kia to stop crying. Kia hadn't wanted to be conforted..."But he's GONE! Ralph is gone..."

Pik held her close, "We'll find him, Kia. We'll find him." Ace, Don, James, and Alan were huddled together, trying to figure out what to do. Everyone jumped when Kia's cell phone rang.

She fumbled for it, almost dropping it twice before she was able to answer the call, "Who is it?" She couldn't keep ALL of the despair out of her voice, but she did a good job.

"Kia, it's Babe."

"BABE!" She shouted. Everybody got as close as they could to listen to the call, "Babe, you've got to help me! Ralph's been--"

"Kidnapped. So has my mother, Bill, and Sarah. I don't know who else just yet...and Kia? I'll get him back." Babe said quickly, then ended the call. Kia stared at her phone for a moment, then started bawling again.

Babe felt sick. Ralph too...how many? How many had this guy gotten?! Maik wouldn't answer HIS phone, making Babe even more nervous...though finally, after the eighth or so try, Maik answered, "H...hello?" He asked, sounding shaken.

Babe grimaced, "Why haven't you been answering?!"

There was a loud gasp on the other end, "Babe! Oh no...Babe, I have some bad news..."

"My mother's gone...I know. Her phone was DISCONNECTED when I tried to call her. Thats four people...did he grab anyone from the band?"

"You know?! But how did--never mind. No, he didn't get anyone else. He just grabbed your mother and left. We ran away...so we never saw him total your mother's house...but we found it barely standing when we came back. Babe, I tried to call you earlier...I tried to answer your calls, but I was so scared...I didn't know how you would take it."

Babe grimaced. His voice was edged, "It's okay...could you do me a favor?"

"Sure, what?"

"Check on my niece...I would be devastated if something happened to her...and I'm almost sure something did."

"How can you BE so sure?"

"Please...don't ask me..."

"Okay...are you gonna be alright?"

"Yeah." Babe said, feeling worse, "I'll--be fine." He ended the call, wondering how he could find the razor...and now with even more reason to do so.

"Sir? What are we supposed to do with all these people?" Someone asked. Kain turned around, hating every minute of it. The one who'd asked that question was the last remaining assistant who had helped build him. Tyler...something. Tyler glanced back at the containment area where they were keeping the five hostages, "It's going to cost a lot to keep them alive..."

"Well, we're going to until my creation gets here. I want him to watch them die...I want to see him suffer..." Kain glared at the people in the cell. They were huddled together...not talking, just staying together. The only ones who made noise every now and then were the two children, "Which one does Cleave care about the most?"

Tyler looked at the five, "Sir?"

"My robot! When he was a mountain dragon, which one of these five did he care for the most?! Don't you have any records?! Look for Babe Cleave! Find out everything you can about him!" Kain thought he knew which one, but he wanted to be sure. It would either be his mother, or his niece, but it WAS one of them. That girl...Sarah, would be after them.

Tyler blanched and ran off. Kain waited, watching the five figures. When Tyler returned, Kain had picked the one he would destroy first. Tyler, panting, pointed to the girl, "His niece...he...cared...about her..."

Kain nodded. That had been the one he'd picked. Michelle was going to die...soon. Kain pondered on it a little more, then spoke, "Send one of the copies out to find Cleave."

"Yessir."

Maik wandered around the city over the next few hours, keeping to himself and staying out of sight as much as possible. He knew where to find Michelle...if she hadn't been kidnapped. His wandering took him past the school grounds where she went to school. For a moment, nothing looked out of the ordinary...then he saw something. There was a small hole in the pavement...Maik got closer to look. His foot banged against something, hitting it into the bushes. Wondering what he'd kicked, he rumaged through the brush until he found it...or at least what he thought was it. He picked up a small can that had the look of getting blown open. He dropped it, fearing the worst. Instead of wandering, he jogged to Michelle's house. If she was there, he wouldn't have to worry.

Her parents looked overwhelmed. Maik stayed out of sight, peering into the wondows at a distance. Michelle was nowhere to be seen. He closed his eyes and walked away, "Babe?" He called from his cell phone, "She's gone."

"DAMN IT!" Babe wanted to shout as he flew. He wanted to fly low to the ground and blow something up. He needed to find a way to release his anger...but he didn't dare. Right now he was even more consious of the fact of what he'd been created to be. He wouldn't let that madman win. He couldn't, "You're going to regret messing with me. Taking them was going too far. Taking them..." Babe didn't have an answer. From the last encounter, he'd been easily outmatched. Without Bill or Sarah, there was no way to upgrade himself. He knew how to work his body...but he wasn't smart enough to understand how to improve himself. What was he going to do? He didn't know where to look! He was at a dead end...or was he? He smiled with grim satisfaction. There was his target, somehow completely unaware that they were so close. Babe dove down, slamming into the menace with as much speed as he could gain.

His adversary didn't even grunt. A quick backwards thrust from the wing rockets sent them going skyward again...against Babe's will. His opponent had reversed their direction without so much as a complaint! Babe let go, readying himself to face his opponent. The razor watched him. Strange...this time BOTH eyes were glowing red. The razor moved more stiffly, as if it was taking commands from someone. It was SLOW! Babe blasted it over and over, grinning fiercely.

Only after the robot was a pile of rubble did he realize it had been a fake. There was a static noise coming from the heap..."Cleave..." He listened carefully, managiung to filter out the static to listen to the entire message clearly, "In twenty-four hours, Michelle will die. I'm going to make you pay for what you did, Cleave." The message repeated itself over and over.

Kain laughed. This was too easy. The fake Babe had destroyed only helped further Kain's own goals. Now Babe had the message, and he would drive himself crazy trying to find Kain's base! The only problem was, Babe's sensors wouldn't be able to pick it up! Ah, sweet revenge.

"I wanna go home..."

"Shut up, girl." Kain jerked her along.

Michelle cried and dug her heels into the floor, even though it didn't do her any good, "Lemme go! You'll be sorry! When the Protector finds you he'll--"

"SHUT UP!" Kain pulled a little harder than necessary. That girl wouldn not be quiet! She was worse than the two year old!

Michelle opened her mouth to say something else, but quieted down when he pointed his arm cannon at her. Good.

Kain growled and half threw her into a separate containment cell. She cried out when she hit the floor and scrambled back up to get out, but he'd already closed the door by the time she'd stood. He watched her through a one way mirror, grinning as she collapsed in a heap and started crying. He walked away, feeling in much better spirits.

Things were going as planned...but he still didn't have EVERYONE. He needed to rectify that. Tyler came up to him, "Sir? Are you absolutely sure this will work?"

"Tyler, send out a copy. I want it to go after..." He stopped. The CLOSEST people to Babe Cleave were in his possession. Who then should he capture next? He didn't want Kia Grey until her son was killed. Pik Rance would also have to wait...ah ha..."...make it go after Pik's mother. THAT should give our target a very nice scare...don't you think?"

"Certainly sir." Tyler left to program a fake for the mission.

Tyler walked briskly to the room where all the fakes were kept. He wasn't enjoying much of this...the kidnapping he could handle. Hell, even killing the adults was, in a sense, fine by him...but killing children...that wasn't right. The girl didn't look to be twelve yet...and the boy still with the adults was only two. He would follow orders, no matter what, but he didn't enjoy where this revenge was going. It was getting WAY too out of hand. He was ALMOST tempted enough to send out a fake to tell the Protector where to look! If that girl was really part of the Protector's family...well, there WAS one other reason. He was a mixed breed. His parents had been a mountain dragon and a water dragon, much like Kia and Pik...and the TDO had attacked him once. Kain wasn't part of that organization, but he had a strange...dislike for mixed breeds. The only reason Tyler thought Kain hadn't killed him so far was because of how loyal he'd been. He owed the Protector for saving him from the TDO...he could--and probably should--give the Protector at least a hint.

Right?..no. No, not unless Kain told him to. He was going to follow his orders...he wouldn't betray Kain...

Pik and Kia were done packing and had managed to get Player to come with them. It had been hard to do that on account of Player's animal instincts getting in the way, but Kia had managed it. Pik was going to haul all the luggage while Kia kept James in line. The three of them made it to Pik's old home without incident.

"Kia? What are you doing here?" Pik's mother asked.

Kia sighed, trying to keep her face hidden enough so that no one would see how desolate she felt, "We...need a place to stay..."

Pik's mother frowned at this, "What? Pik! I told you to stop sending me that money! Now you don't have enough to afford Kia a home?!"

Pik spoke up before he was accused of anything else, "No mother! We have plenty of money! We just...need to hide right now...and I wanted to keep an eye on you."

Piks mother sighed, but let them in. Pik was last, and she held him back, whispering, "Pik...stop sending me the money...you should be saving it for you, Kia, and your son...by the way, where is he? I'd like to see my grandson again."

Pik winced, "I'll tell you in a little bit mom...we've got bad news." He kept his voice low too. He didn't want Kia having another bout of tears like earlier. It was only a few minutes after he had finished setting down the luggage that he was able to tell her...and the news upset her pretty badly.

"Then he's...Pik, how are you going to get him back?"

"Someone heard us, and went to find him...You shouldn't worry about it mother, you know how bad your condition is."

She shook her head, "Pik, I don't care if I die. I've had a good life...you do not need to keep sending me money."

"But I want to! I love you mom...I want Ralph to at least realize you exist before you HAVE to die. I don't want you to go for as long as it's possible to stay here..."

"But the operations have been getting so expensive! You can't keep paying for them."

"If I ever run out of money, I'll find another way to get some. Don't you get it mom? I love you..."

She hugged him, "Well, thank you for that, dear. It is nice to know you still love me so much." She sighed and stood up, "Are you hungry? I was about to fix something to eat...and Kia looks like she could USE a distraction."

Pik nodded, "Anything to help her out of her depression would be appreciated."

She left the doorway with a sad expression on her face. Pik couldn't understand why she wanted him to stop helping her so much. She KNEW he wouldn't...why was she still so set on making him stop? Well, now that she agreed to let them stay with her, he could make sure her next operation went underway...it was about time for her next one. There was suddenly a loud crash in the kitchen. Pik dashed to it to find his mother, fainted, in the robot's arms, "NO!! GIVE HER BACK!" Something came over him...he would not have been able to explain it if asked...he ran forward and leaped up at the robot, wrapping his arms around the metallic monster, "Give my mother back, damn you!"

Kia and James got to the kitchen as well, but they were too late. With an irritated flick, the robot sent Pik back to the ground, then flew off with his next prize. Pik got up and ran out the door, "GIVE HER BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs...but the robot was already gone...

*All characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 4

Kain's Plan

Babe was mortified when he heard the news. Pik's mother was delicate! That was it...Babe redoubled his efforts to find the madman's secret base...he had sixteen hours left...as he flew above the buildings, he called Maik, "Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah...something happen?" Maik sounded worn out.

"Pik's mother..."

"WHAT?! Babe, you've got to find them! Something like that could REALLY hurt her!"

"It's worse. She was supposed to have another operation soon. If this goes on, she'll die soon. Maik, I need help! I've combed the city three times already! I can't find them!"

"Well...you could ask the police..."

"THEM?! They'd rather get me into custody so the scientists at the goverment lab can dissect me and see how I work! YOU talk to them."

"And how would they believe me?! I need proof if I'm going to do it! The fact that you're YOU would probably make them believe you!"

"Look, I can't risk it...have Kia...or Pik talk to them. I just need some help!" Babe hung up, turning all of his attention to finding some sort of source...an electrical anomaly of some kind...It took a lot of power to recharge him...it had to take more for this guy.

Where WAS he?!

Tyler pulled his coat tighter around himself as he walked. Seeing Mrs. Rance had done it. She was sick! It wasn't fair to take someone like that! He scanned the sky...nervously watching for the Protector. At that moment, the Protector appeared, zooming high over head. Tyler gasped and followed him. After a small chase, he found a secluded spot and pulled out a radio transmitter...if he could tune it in right...there! He spoke into the micriphone hesitantly. Kain would not be pleased if he found out about this, "Protector...come in, Protector..."

Babe glanced at his reciever, confused, "Huh?.." He answered, "Who is this?"

"Someone who wants to help. I'll give you the way to Kain's hideout."

"Kain? Who's Kain?!"

"Your creator."

Babe growled..."I'm listening." He'd already gotten a fix on where the message was coming from. He swerved around, instantly spotting a lone dragon bent over a small transmitter, "You'd better be telling the truth."

The dragon looked up as Babe approached. He panicked and started to run, but Babe caught him, "Well?! WHERE ARE THEY?!!!!!!!"

The dragon shook with fear, "Please...p--put me down...I--I want to h--help."

Babe set him on the ground, but did not let go, "Where are they?"

The dragon gulped, "Kain's going to kill me if he finds out what I'm doing..." He took a breath, "They're at--augh!" He shouted as his hand darted to his neck, "What the..." He pulled out a small dart...his eyes went wide, "Oh god...They're at the plant!" He shouted. His pupils diliated. A small gasp escaped him as he started to fall.

"What plant?! What do you mean?!!!"

"They're...they're at the..." The dragon went stiff...he was dead.

Babe looked up. Kain..."You BASTARD!" He shot up after Kain, "Where are you keeping them?! TELL ME!!!!"

Kain grinned and flew away.

Babe was falling back...fast. He managed a shot at Kain before the robot got too far away. Babe watched as it sailed away...it grew smaller...it was going to run out of power before it hit. He cursed as the blast dissipated. He'd failed...again.

Kain scowled as he landed, "That traitor! I haven't gotten Babe back yet! That fool should have known better than to betray me." He did manage to get a little enjoyment though. This little incident was going to make Babe even more desparate. He'd start losing hope. But Kain wouldn't kill the girl until he found Babe again. He wanted Babe to SEE her die, "And I think I know JUST how to pull it off." He watched with satisfaction as his arm retook the shape of a hand. Unlike Babe, who's arm became a cannon, HIS arm became a dart gun or a shotgun, depending on which setting he wanted at the time. His OTHER arm became a cannon. Wait! The DART!.."DAMN!" It was too late now.

Babe bent down and picked up the only remnant of the fight. The dragon he'd wanted to talk to still held the dart in his hand. Babe had to pry his fingers away, but he got it. He closed the dragon's eyes and smoothed out his features...this anthro deserved a little kindness at least.

He scanned the dart quickly, wondering what poisons had been used, "Huh...the stuff in here is just a concentrated overdose of...lead." Babe dropped the dart and shot into the sky. He had his destination. Plants...there were plenty of power plants in Yann city, but only one with a large enough amount of iron to make ammunition for something. If this one wasn't the right place, he knew where the next best spot would be.

Babe landed outside, hoping there weren't any cameras watching him. It made sense that this was the place...there were so many different electrical signals coming from here that he had to turn off his tracking system or risk having it get fried. With a determined scowl, Babe went inside. The first step inside was like walking into another world. Outside there were people all over the place, there was always some kind of activity. In here...everything was so quiet it was impossible to move without making a sound. Old, rusted machinery littered the floor, used for who knew what...Dust lay thick on the floor as well. Babe left behind a very clear footprint wherever he stepped. He had been hoping he would find somebody this way, following their footprints to wherever everyone was being held. No such luck...it seemed as if no one had been in here for decades. Babe scanned the entire area, but the place held no secrets. He left the old factory, thinking he knew where to go.

Kain couldn't stop laughing. He watched Babe leave...he'd been so close! Babe had literally been WALKING RIGHT on TOP of them! If he'd had enough sense of mind to remove the dust on the floor, or even to check physically instead of with his sensors, he might have FOUND them! It was especially good, since he'd walked directly over the containment cells. Those cells had had one way mirrors installed, and each captive had seen him walk above them, then leave. The only one who hadn't quite realized this was the two year old...the rest looked so depressed they might WELCOME death!

"Tyler...looks like you were a bigger fool. You practically told him where to go, and here he walks right over us without a clue! I'm almost glad you DID try to help him!"

Maik found Pik and Kia. They were both so...hopeless that it was almost impossible to get them to help! James had to start the call for them, "Hello, police?.." He asked, nervous, "This is James Elias...Pik Rance and Kia Grey need to speak with you."

"Well, why aren't they the people talking then?"

"They were too depressed to make the call. I'll put Kia on first..."

Kia took the phone, but only after James forced it into her hand. She held it up to her head, a sob threatening to escape her, "O--off...officer...m--my son..."

"Ms Grey?" The voice on the other end sounded surprised.

"Shut up...Yes, my son. Ralph...he's been kidnapped..."

Pik grabbed the phone from her. His face had gone from despair to a wild, desperate, almost crazed look, "Not just Ralph...My mother too!"

"Excuse me? Who is--"

"Pik Rance. My mother's been kidnapped! You've got to help! PLEASE!"

It was hard to give out the details...the office didn't really believe them when they said a robot had captured them...of course, once they mentioned the paper, the police offered to investigate. It was hard to say they were lying when part of the evidence had already shown itself. Maik took the phone, "They weren't the only kidnappings. Sarah Jovi, Mrs. Cleave, Billy Brown, and Michelle Cleave were also kidnapped."

"We're on it."

Don was with Ace at Mrs. Jackson's apartment. Ace hadn't left his mother's side since this whole thing started. Vitara and Razor Jr were with them, keeping everyone quite busy. Don declined the offer when they said he could stay. He said he had some other business to take care of. In truth he didn't want to keep Johnny here for long. Johnny and his family had hidden inside one of Don's pockets. Don was a bit anxious to get to his home.

Ace's mother had turned on the television earlier...it was still on right then. Don, Ace, and Ace's mother were sitting at her table, having something to eat, when they heard the news come on. Mrs. Jackson looked at the TV, "That's odd...The news isn't supposed to be on for another three and a half hours. I wonder why it's on now." The three of them went to see what the news had to say.

"Only a short while ago the police recieved a call stating the kidnapping of six individuals. The police are currently searching for Billy Brown, Sarah Jovi, Michelle Cleave, Mrs. Cleave, Mrs. Rance, and, in a sudden revelation, Kia Grey's just revealed son, Ralph Rance. Of the six, two are children. The police have no idea what the connections are except for family relations between Mrs. Cleave and her granddaughter, and Mrs. Rance and her grandson."

Mrs. Grey heard only a few bits of that news flash..."My daughter...had...a...son?..With PIK?! She's ruining her heritage! I have to stop this!" She checked through the house to make sure her husband was not in, then went to the phone. For a moment, she held her fingers at the buttons, thinking of calling someone to set things right. Kia was having children with that...that mongrel! An amphibian! She shouldn't allow this!..but...right now...right now there was too much going on. She'd have to wait for things to calm down...With luck, this little fiasco would get rid of the illegitimate grandchild. She could worry about Pik later...damn...she'd known he was bad news since that first visit. Kia had always been hanging with those bastard half-breeds. She never paid attention to her own kind...well, except for that Babe Cleave. He MIGHT have been alright...Babe could have been taught right...it really was a shame he'd been killed. Of course, she had some other candidates for her daughter, but Kia had already known Babe. It would have worked better...A real dream would be to have Kia fall for that Protector. He was..or at least had BEEN, a mountain dragon. If they couldn't have children, so what? That match would work for her...she put the phone back and finished watching her program. She'd make the call later.