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Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:48 PM

Chapter one- continued

The rabbit was dark blue, so dark that in the gloom it seemed to be black. It had a silver

gun conspicuously by it's side, which shone softly in the dimness. Coppertop had to

think for a bit. A rabbit... it could be an ally, so she should probably show herself, but if

it turned out to be a enemy, she would be in trouble. What if she used the holograph

projecter? That might work.

KRSplat nearly jumped out of his skin when a rabbit appeared infront of him. The surprise

was doubled when he realized that he could see THROUGH the rabbit, too. "What in the

world-how the heck-Holy smoke!" he spluttered. "How did YOU get here? Who are you?"

The rabbit looked annoyed.

"I should be asking you that," it said. "I live here." "Oh," said KRSplat. "Cool. I didn't

know anyone lived HERE." He looked around. "Good or evil?" "I beg your pardon?"

demanded KRSPlat. "I mean, are you with Devan," said the rabbit, looking irritated. "IF

you are, I'd suggest you leave in a zigzag pattern. I'm a dead shot with almost anything

and I'm watching you." "DEVAN? are you KIDDING? Why would you think THAT?" KRSplat

was mad. Here he was, minding his own buisness, and this rabbit appears, scares him

out of his wits, and then has the nerve to threaten him! "Very well. you may pass

through. I will not hinder you," said the rabbit, beginning to shimmer and fade. "Hey,

wait!" yelled KRSplat. The rabbit stopped and looked at him. "Your being watched," she

commented, and then disappeared. KRSplat turned around and looked. Two big,

blue-green eyes stared back at him. There were shots of electricity leaping about in the

form of another rabbit, and something flashed silver and green. KRSplat groaned. "Not

ANOTHER surprise!" The eyes sighed. "Yes, I guess so," they replied. The figure moved

into the light. A small, grey rabbit stood, sizing him up. She wore dark leggings and

boots, and a long sleeved white shirt with a black tunic over it. "I heard what you said

to the hologram," she said flatly. "I decided to show myself. I am called Ducky

Greyrabbit. Who're you?" All these rabbits were making KRSplat nervous. "Uh. . . I'm

KRSplat," he said. "Pleased to meetcha," Ducky said. "So'm I," said a voice behind him.

The disappearing rabbit was back, this time wearing a cloak, bow and sword. She led a

ugly, grey horse. "Oh," said KRSplat. "Your back." "Yeah," said the rabbit. "I'm called

Coppertop." She brushed back her wavy black hair. KRSplat could see that it was held

back by a copper colored ribbon, the only bright color on the bunny wabbit ( ). She

was dressed in dull greens and browns, and her horse looked mean. "Sorry for scaring

you, but I can't take chances," she said. Then, "Hang on." She disappeared, then came

back. "There's another rabbit coming, with a big bird with him. They'll be here soon."

KRSplat moaned. "MORE rabbits!" "Yep. They're almost here." KRSplat turned around as

the twosome entered the group.

"Yes, they are," said the rabbit. "NO, they're not," said the bird. "Are too!" "Are not!"

"Are too!" "Are NOT!" "They ARE, Kazooie! Whazza matter with you? It's as plain as the

beak on your face! COCONUTS ARE HAIRY!!!!" "Uh-uh," Kazooie said stubbornly.

"Actually," Coppertop said, "they are." "SEE, Kaz? I TOLD you so." "Where are your

manners, Grath? One does not kick one's companion." "Yes, your Beakiness," said Grath

sarcastically. Then, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Grath AR, and this birdbrain is

Kazooie." "Hey," yelled Kazooie, "I resemble that remark!" "I'm Coppertop," said Copper,

"this is Ducky, and this is KRSplat." "Pleased t'meetcha," said Grath.

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:49 PM

Chapter Two-Surprise

Grath and Kazooie crept along the path, looking for any sign of Devan. KRSplat and

Ducky were checking out an old fort they'd found, and Coppertop was waiting for them

back at the path. "Hey, Grathie, what's this?" said Kazooie. "It looks like a beanie, but

the whirlie on top is real big!" Grath looked at Kazooie. "That, Kazooie, is a lizard copter

hat. Y'know, the ones they fly with? There standard issue in Devan's troops." "Oh," said

Kazooie. "Cool."

A sound ahead made Grath freeze. He grabbed Kazooie and climbed a tree. Then he

looked for the newcomer.

A pretty white rabbit was walking up the path, humming a tune as she went. As she

walked by, Grath felt a nudge in his ribs. "Hey Grath, lookit this! I found a coconut that's

NOT hairy! I knew I was right! I knew it!" "Kaz, SHUT UP!!!" Kazooie subsided, gleefully

tossing 'the UNhairy coconut' in the air. "By the way Kaz, that's not a coconut," Grath

added. "That's a mango!" "WHAT?!?" Kazooie looked shocked. "Kazooie, watch that-" the

mango, forgotten, fell like a rock to hit the rabbit on the head as she walked under the

tree. "-mango. Lookit what you did!" Grath, grumbling, climbed down the tree. "Did I kill

her?" Kazooie flapped down beside Grath. "Dunno, birdbrain. She's out cold, though no

serious damage." "Except the poor little mango! Call the ambulance! Call the ambulance!

This mango has sustained a death wound! Help!" Kazooie picked up the mango, and

began running for the path. "KAZOOIE, GET BACK HERE NOW!!! The least you can do is

help me wake up the rabbit YOU knocked out!" Kazooie ran over and dumped a bucket of

cold water and ice cubes over the rabbit's head. "Kazooie, what are you doing?!?" "I'm

waking her up," said Kazooie. "See?"

Sure enough, the white rabbit was coming around. She groaned and opened her eyes,

and shook her head. "What happened?" she asked. "Who are you?" Grath grinned. "I'm

Grath Jackrabbit, and this is Kazooie. Sorry about the mango pancake that Kazooie

made, but I guess he couldn't wait to find a turtle to try it on." Kazooie looked mad. The

white rabbit grinned. "I'm Blacksheep," she said. Kazooie stared. "BLACKSHEEP??? What

kinda name is that?" "Shut up, Kaz," said Grath. "C'mon, I'll take you to the others."

Ducky wound her way through the shadows, keeping an eye on the fort. KRSplat had

taken the other side. Suddenly, a dark figure detatched from the shadow. "KRSplat?" she

whispered. The figure whirled, drawing it's sword and advancing. No, she decided, this

was definitely not KRSplat. Time to beat it. As she back-pedalled, she studied the

advancing shadow closely. It had other weapons at its belt, but she couldn't make

anything else out. Abruptly she felt rough bark behind her. There was no escape.

The figure halted a couple feet from her. "Who are you?" The voice startled her. "I-I'm

called Ducky Greyrabbit," she stammered. "Who are YOU?" "I'm called Ninja."

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:50 PM

chapter two-continued

"Ninja? Cool. By the way, I don't really like being against a tree with a sword at my

throat," said Ducky. "Actually," the rabbit said, "I go by Shinyso. Your friend is coming

soon, so you might want to meet him. Seeya later." Then Ninja- Shinyso, she reminded

herself-slipped into the forest. "Ducky?" Ducky turned around to see KRSplat walking

towards her. "KRSplat! I'm over here. Let's get back to Coppertop; this place is creepy."

KRSplat nodded. "I saw an opening," he said. Ducky looked at him questioningly. "And a

troop of lizards. I got away b'fore they saw me, though." She sighed. So Devan was in

the area! "Grath and Kazooie should be done, as well," she commented. KRSplat began

walking faster. "KRSplat, what's the matter?" "I saw someone. A dark figure in the trees.

C'mon, Ducky." He was almost running now, and Ducky hurried to keep up. As she drew

even with KRSplat, she saw a black rabbit shadowing them. A black rabbit who called

himself Shinyso.

"You think you can walk?" Blacksheep nodded. "Where were you going? Our stop isn't

far." Grath looked at Kazooie wearily. The big bird had been throwing mangoes at him

and Blacksheep, yelling at them to hurry up. Bonk! Kazooie threw a mango in the air and

started running, but he wasn't fast enough; the mango hit him on the head and

flattened him. Blacksheep laughed at the dazed expression on Kazooie's face. "Quit

playin' around, Kazooie, for heaven's sake! We're SCOUTS, remember? Any turtle in fifty

miles is gonna know we're here!" Grath added, "And if Devan's as close as we think he is,

we're in trouble." Blacksheep whirled, horror on her face. "Devan? Here? You were

SCOUTS?!" "Weeellll. . .yeah. We'll take you to our friends, if you want," he offered.

Blacksheep jerked her chin nervously. "Lead on."

Coppertop waited until Grath, Kazooie and Blacksheep joined KRSplat, Ducky and her.

Then she asked for their 'reports'. After KRSplat had told about the dark figure in the

trees, she worriedly asked Ducky if she'd seen anything. "Ummm. . . well, yeah, I did. I

know who the figure was, but I don't know what side he's on, or what he's doing here . .

." She trailed off. "His name is Ni-Shinyso, and-" "Shinyso?" Grath looked up with surprise

on his face. "I know him! He's hanging around here?" "I guess so," Ducky said. "He left

just before KRSplat came along." Coppertop stopped her with a raised hand. "Over

there," she whispered. Sure enough, something moved in the shadows. "Shinyso," Ducky

murmered. "Correct. Your friend is extremely observant, Greyrabbit." Grath laughed

aloud. "Shinyso, you old hopper! What're YOU doin' here? I thought you moved to

Medivo!" "I did, Grath. But I decided to come back here. It's a long story. . . "

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:51 PM

Chapter Three-The Enemy

"Uh. . .SIR! Lizard Troop 5 is missing, SIR! The Tuff Turts are rebelling, SIR! The Helmut

Troop is refusing to leave fort, SIR! Help, SIR!" The nervous lizard saluted at the back of

the chair. Devan sat, staring at the trees. "Sir?" "Yeah, yeah, I heardja. Whaddaya

want, anyway? Not like I can change their minds! Only the Boss can do THAT. An' ya

don't want the BOSS to come HERE, do ya?" "Uh, no, SIR! We'll find them, SIR! Don't

worry, SIR!" "Good. I wouldn't wanna tell the Boss that your not doin' your job now,

would I? O'course not. . . DISMISSED!" The lizard fled thankfully, racing out the door to

tell the Tuff Turt League to behave or the Boss would come. Devan grinned. Who cared

about dumb lizards, anyway?

A blinking red light alerted him to the fact that it was time to go, to leave for the

SpaceBase over Medivo, which was now totally under his control. Those rabbits whom

had not escaped were enslaved, worked mercilessly at ship camps, where they built

space ships for the Troops. This place, Carrotus, was rich in able bodies, in the form of

hated rabbits, for the ship camps. Or so the Boss said. So far, Devan had only captured

a few, not the multitudes that he'd been promised. And he would complain.

"Ready the Slaver II. I go to Command Ship Deep Spacer, at sundown. Get to it!" His

minions scattered, working at various jobs. He sighed. Another thing to explain: the

missing troops. How was he going to discuss THAT? And he'd have to, too. "Sir?" The

lizard that poked it's head cautiously around the corner winced and shut its eyes as if

expecting to be yelled at. When no blast of angry curses met him, he opened his eyes

and sighed in relief. "Sir, the ship Slaver II is ready for your pleasure." Devan whirled,

eyes blazing. "Pleasure? PLEASURE? You think I WANT to meet the Boss?" "Uh, no sir,"

trembled the lizard. Devan turned and walked towards the hangar where Slaver II

awaited.

"So, my loyal Servant, how is your campaign going? I know your drive to exterminate all

rabbits, but I do need slaves." Devan glared at his Boss's back. "Sire, I have found few

rabbits to enslave. Why," and his reserve broke, "If you wanted slaves, did you not give

me a place WITH rabbits??? There ARE none!!" The dark caped figure turned. Devan

quailed before his master. The hood shaded his face, and all Devan could see was

narrowed red eyes. "You are a fool. You have met resistance, and now you wish to run

to me with your tail between your legs. No! Did you think that conquering Medivo was all

glory and no fight? Truly the foul inhabitants of Carrotus know what they are against!"

The figure was furious, unleashing his anger on the cowering Devan. "I should make you

work in the foulest ship mine I have, you idiot! But you may be of use to me yet. . ."

Energies were crackling around the angry figure. "Now, you WILL conquer Carrotus. No

matter the cost. If you do not, this will only be a taste of what you will suffer. . ." A

streak of lightning shot from the dark wizard's hands to Devan, bathing him in a red light.

Devan writhed and gasped, and suddenly the pain was gone. "Go to you troops, fool. . ."

The dark figure faded away, and Devan was alone. He stumbled to Slaver II and shot for

Carrotus.

The dark hooded wizard watched Devan go from the Command Center of Deep Spacer.

He turned and pulled back the hood, to reveal a face of cruelty. He had a beak-like

nose, and haughty, glaring, pupilless eyes. He looked like a vulture, or a buzzard. "Milord,

the new ship Conquerer is at your disposal." The wizard turned. "Very good, Commander.

Set a rendezvous point of Holodayous. I should like to examine the new ship." Mentally

he calculated how many Star Destroyers he had. The Deep Spacer The Terror, The

Fear-Striker, The Cruelty, and now The Conquerer. He would soon rule over the Galaxy!

". . .and then, Devan's turtle troops attacked. I barely got away, and I'm sure that not

many others did. I heard rumours, see, of these prison camps, and I had no desire to

experience that myself. The tales were bad enough," Shinyso said. He shuddered. "I

don't know, but it seemed like someone else was commanding. Devan was never THAT

organized." Ducky nodded. "It sounds like it, doesn't it," she commented. "I think we

should check it out. Does anyone have a spaceship?" "I do," Coppertop said. "It's called

the Avenger when I've got a job lined up, and the Assassin when I'm on my own." "Job?"

Grath asked blankly. "I'm a mercenary and professional assassin," she explained. "Right

now it's the Assassin." "Oh," said Kazooie. "Cool." "Well," said Ducky, "What are we

waitin' for?" She got up and gestured for Coppertop to lead on. She walked to the cliff

face, and rapped on the seemingly solid rock. A slab silently slid open, and the Assassin

was revealed in all it's splendor. It was painted black, with the name in blazing white. Its

door stood open, and she leapt in. "Who's flown before? I need a copilot." Shinyso

stepped forward. "I have," he offered. She smiled. "Good. Let's go."

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:53 PM

Chapter Three- continued

Coppertop sat back. "OK, I think we're on course. Rendezvous point: Sector #314,

Planet: Tubelectric. Right, Shinyso?" He nodded. "Copper, you're a pretty good pilot.

Does this thing have guns?" Coppertop grinned. "More than you'd think. The Assassin is

armed to the teeth!" Shinyso blinked. "It is?" "Yep. Quite inconspicuously, of course,

otherwise I'd never get through Customs on any planet! Why do you think I called it the

Assassin? Not because I thought the name sounded pretty!" She showed him the button

under the control panel. "This opens small side hatches and allows the blasters to come

out. This button," and she pointed to another one, "will let the 'escape' pods out. They

can be used for escape, but I never meant to escape from any situation. They have

hidden blasters, too, and are really little warships. Like I told you, this ship is named

well." Shinyso nodded dazedly. "I hope we won't have to use them," he murmered.

"Hold on, all passengers. We are taking off," the intercom blared. Grath, Kazooie, Ducky

and Blacksheep held on for dear life as the Assassin lurched and shook and eventually

took off. A roar filled the room and Kazooie flung himself flat. As quiet fell, Kazooie dared

to open one eye. "What happened," he asked Ducky. "Were in outer space," she replied.

"Cool. Lemme see," Kazooie exclaimed. He ran to the window and looked out as stars

rushed by. Grath looked annoyed. "Kazooie, you're standing on my head. GET OFF!!!!"

Kazooie jumped off of Grath's head and pouted. "But now I can't see," he complained.

"Oh, well," Grath retorted. "Now, back to our original discussion. Since we've solved the

problem of hairy coconuts with Coppertop's help, I say that TOADS HAVE WARTS!!!!"

Kazooie yelled. Grath smiled. "They do, in fact," he said. "YES THEY DO- what did you

say?" Kazooie looked stunned. "You-you AGREED with me! Whazza matter with you,

Grath? You NEVER agree! Didja hit your head when we took off?" Grath grinned, then

realized that Blacksheep was nearly doubled over in laughter. Ducky was grinning, and

Grath smiled in embarassment. Kazooie was indignant. "Why're y'all laughin' at me? What

did I do? Grath, it's all your fault! I never did any-" he was cut off by the com. "You may

unfasten your seatbelts. Providing you had any. Hang on, the divider's comin' down." A

portion of wall slid aside, and Shinyso sauntered into the cabin. "Hey, everybody. Copper

was just showing me all the Assassin's secrets! And Kaz, you were pretty funny." He

grinned. "Ducky, it's your turn. Copper wants everyone to learn to drive this

piece'a'junk." "Hey! That wasn't fair. Ducky, c'mon," Copper said, appearing in the

doorway. Ducky nodded and trotted into the cockpit and the divider slid shut.

"Here Ducky. Have a seat," Copper offered the copilot's chair to Ducky. She sat, and

grinned. "Shinyso was just joking, you know," Ducky said. "I know, but he wasn't fair.

The Assassin's gotten outta more trouble that any one person deserves to get INto. Heh

heh. Here Ducky, I'll help ya."

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:53 PM

Chapter 4-Capture the Flag (sort of)

Ducky sat back. She had persuaded Copper to go her bedroom, and to let her take over.

She loved piloting, and was good at it. "Ducky?" Grath poked his head around the corner.

"Y'want a copilot?" Ducky grinned. "I didn't know you could fly, Grathie," she said.

"GRATHIE? I can fly, though. Huh. Pretty sophisticated compared to some of what I've

flown before," he added. Ducky nodded. "Kazooie bein' difficult?" she asked

sympathetically. "Nah, just bein' himself," he sighed. He slumped into the chair. "Which

means ridiculous. Where're we headed?" "Tubelectric, Sector #314." "Sounds good to

me," he commented. "I hear they've got great Nuts and Bolts Snacks." "No, just

frenchfries," she quipped. Then he looked at her questioningly. "Really, though, Ducky,

why are we going there? I mean, what's there that attracts Copper and Shinyso so

much?" "No turtles, I suspect," Ducky said absently. "Tubelectric isn't under Devan."

Suddenly, Ducky and Grath were jolted as the Assassin jerked and bucked. "Whoa! What

the heck is goin' on?" Grath yelled. Ducky growled something in response. "Darn

turtle-spawn! They've swiped us again!" Grath stared at Ducky. "Wow, I didn't know you

were capable of such name calling, Ducky! Who is that?" Ducky growled again as she

fought to keep the ship under control. "Dunno, but buckle up! I need Coppertop!" Grath

nodded, and sprinted down the hall to get Copper as the lurching ship sped up. "C'mon,

Copper! Get out here!" Coppertop was strapping on her blaster and Shale when Grath

called. She raced out the door and motioned for him to lead on. The Assassin righted

itself suddenly, and they sped away from their attacker. "How fast can this thing go?"

Grath hollered. "Just below lightspeed! We'll escape in good condition, but I wanna show

these dolts that no-one messes with me!" She ran down the hall to the cockpit, and

mounted the torpedoes and heat-seekers. Then she wheeled the Assassin around and

flashed back the way they had fled.

Claw gripped the controls in determination as the black warship turned. This was gonna

be harder than he'd thought, but the Vortex Crawler was pretty good. Kroys IS payin'

alot if I get this job finished, he thought grimly. But money ain't gonna do me anythin' if

I don't get back in one piece. His attention was snagged by the black ship firing. He

pulled the Vortex Crawler to one side, but the lasers followed. Heat-seekers! Darn, he

thought. He'd have to lose them, and if these were the caliber that he thought, he had

a job ahead. He peeled off, and headed for the Belt of Saghan, about 5 miles behind him.

The black ship persued, and now he could see the name-plate. Assassin! Not many had

tangled with that ship and lived. Another mercenary, the pilot Coppertop had a

reputation for hard play and no mercy. She'd follow him to the end of the galaxy and

further if he fled. Well, he had a knack of choosing his own fights, and he'd gotten

himself in deep. But he'd faced worse. A flash behind him showed that the ship had fired

on him again; torpedoes this time. He wrenched the Vortex Crawler around and returned

fire, but the Assassin dodged and sped down. She's a better pilot than I'd thought, he

reflected. Suddenly the Vortex Crawler shuddered, and he realized he'd been hit. A

glance at the damage bar alarmed him, for the ship had taken more damage than he'd

counted on.

A flash of green caught his eye, and Claw turned to deal with this new foe. That was a

mistake. The Assassin fired again, and the warning sign flashed. Enough, he decided,

money isn't as important as my own skin. Kroys can go to conquer the galaxy on his

own. He turned his crippled ship around and flashed the 'surrender' signal, and was

relived when the Assassin pulled off. Then the Vortex Crawler shuddered again, and he

saw the Assassin draw closer. He had been caught in a tractor beam!

A bay door opened on the side of the ship, and the Vortex Crawler was jolted as it was

drawn inside. Then it slowed and stopped, and a slight bump showed the landing. He

heard the sealed cockpit door open, and then he saw three rabbits standing by the

door, waiting. One could only be Coppertop, he could tell by the nochalant way she

leaned against the doorpost with her arms crossed, watching him. He didn't know the

other two, but he had a feeling he was about to find out what Copper had in mind for

him. . .

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:54 PM

Chapter 4- continued

Coppertop lounged in the doorway,watching the cockpit door open on the captured ship

with narrowed green eyes. Ducky and Grath were beside her, and they were joined by

Kazooie, Shinyso, and KRSplat. Blacksheep was driving. Copper's eyes widened only the

barest bit when she saw the pilot of the ship leap out, but she saw Ducky begin to

reach for her staff and KRSplat put a hand to his blaster. She shot them a warning look,

but she couldn't blame them.

He was around 5 feet, with short, shiny brown fur. He looked pretty young, but Copper

knew that he was probably older. He had a gun at his belt, and a small wrist computer

on his arm. When he turned around, Copper met his eyes and tried not to look as

shocked as she felt.

Claw glanced at the Vortex Crawler, trying to assess the damage. It looked pretty beat

up, but he figured he could fix it. Then he turned around.

He almost wished he hadn't, as he looked into those cold green eyes. He knew she

wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he tried any tricks. She looked like she could use that

sword on her hip. The rabbits (and other) ranged behind her didn't look too friendly,

either, and Claw knew he'd have to watch his step. "Your name, occupation, and

employer, prisoner." The voice was musical, but argued for a smooth talker. "None'o yer

buisiness," he retorted. Suddenly her blaster was in her hand, aimed at him. She held it

casually, but she was fast. Blindingly fast. "What did you say? I must of heard wrong."

The voice was commanding, but bored sounding. "You heard me. That info is

confidential," he snapped. Her eyes flashed. "Now." He was taken aback by her anger,

and decided that it might not hurt to tell her. "The name's Claw. Kroys wants you dead,

don't ask me why, I don't ask questions. Figure out the rest yourself," he growled. "I

know, I know!" A big bird hopped out of the group behind Coppertop. Claw shifted his

gaze to the new speaker. "Occupation: very rude pilot! Right?" Claw gazed at the bird

contemptuously. Copper's crisp voice broke the silence. "I asked you to tell me your

occupation. You will tell me on pain of death." Claw sighed. She had him there. He

nodded reluctantly, and looked at her. "Mercenary. Who's the bird?" She gazed at him

steadily, and he felt trapped by the dark eyes.

Copper felt her annoyance rise. "Claw, huh? I won't even ask. You probably know who I

am, and my rep. We're after Devan and his master. Got any news?" Claw looked relived.

"Yeah. Your after Kroys, and I'll lead you to him for a fee." Her eyes snapped with anger,

and she had trouble containing her temper. "Listen here, Claw. You are not a free

mercenary anymore. You are a prisoner of war, and be glad I am not torturing you for

information. I am TRYING to be civilized, but you are testing my patience. On this ship,

you are not free to state everything and anything that you want to. I will not hesitate

to kill you if you insult me, my crew, or my ship. Got that?" Claw snarled angrily. There

was really nothing he could do though; it was his choice to surrender, and that put him

under her authority. He glared at her, but she could read resignation in that look.

"Ducky," and she turned to her friend, "Go relive Blacksheep. KRSplat, go as her copilot.

You," and she turned her gaze back onto Claw, "if I decide you can be trusted, might be

able to act as navigator when we go for this Kroys. UNTIL then, and not before, you will

be under survelliance at all times. Dismissed," and she turned on her heel and walked

away.

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:54 PM

Chapter 5-Tubelectric

Grath and Copper were in the cockpit when Grath pointed out Tubelectric, just ahead.

"How're we gonna get through Customs? They're sure to recognise Claw and you," he

wondered. Copper stiffened, as she always did when anyone mentioned Claw's name.

She still hadn't forgiven him for his defiance. Then she relaxed and winked at Grath.

"We'll make it," she assured him. "'Cause I don't have to turn on the visuals, I can use an

alibi. No-one's gonna wonder about Claw, though; he looks fierce enough to get just

about anywhere." Grath had to agree, because he could see Claw threatening the

Customs officer. "Speaking of Customs, it's time for Ducky's shift. I'll go get her." He rose

from the chair and sauntered down the hall to get Ducky. Copper turned back to the

console. She knew that she'd eventually have to put Claw at the controls, and she had

no doubt about his flying skills after she'd seen him fight in the Vortex Crawler. But she

had questions about his trustworthiness, and she knew she always would. Though I

think he's relaxing a bit; he's not so suspicious as he was. I guess he thinks that if I was

going to kill him I already would have. Footsteps in the hall alerted her, and she looked

up as Ducky walked in.

Claw leaned against the wall, observing everyone as they ingnored him. Voices down the

hall told him that Grath and Kazooie were coming; they were arguing about green

oranges this time. He did want to get his coat and hat but he didn't want to risk getting

in trouble. That shifty-eyed black rabbit-what was his name? Shinyso?-was sure to

report him if he looked suspicious. He slid through the shadows warily, and then decided

to go watch Blacksheep and Shinyso practice in the fighting ring. He heard them dueling,

and decided to keep out of sight.

"How many passengers on board, Greheli 1V?" "Seven," Copper replied. "Cargo?" "None."

"Your buisiness?" "Touring. Also I have some things I need that only your wonderful

planet sells," she purred. The Customs officer sounded flattered. "You may pass

through, Greheli 1V," he said. Then Copper was given the 'green light' and she moved

the Assassin aka Greheli 1V forward and began searching for an unoccupied landing pad.

When she found one she set the ship down delicately, and opened the main door.

"All passengers may disembark. We have landed," the loudspeaker blared. Blacksheep

looked up briefly, and was flattened by Shinyso. He helped her up and laughing,they

walked towards the door, past Claw. They didn't even see him. He slipped out behind

them and headed for the injured Vortex Crawler, hoping to fix it up if he had time. It

didn't take long for him to figure out that he was being tailed, and he glanced behind him

to see Grath walking down the hall. He didn't mind; it was better for Grath to see what

he was doing than to get in trouble. Get in trouble! The only time I'm left alone is when

I'm forgotten, he seethed. He was Claw, he didn't need to be watched over like a - a -

a turtle! Would they ever figure that out? Well, at least Grath was discreet, unlike

Kazooie. That one! Claw snorted. He wasn't as annoyed by the bird as he would have

been because he knew that Kazooie was just joking around. But he liked a little time to

himself! He sighed and kept walking.

By the time he reached the small hangar he knew that the others would be wondering

about him. Let them. He trotted over to his ship and started work.

"Where is that Claw?" Copper demanded. "Has anyone seen him?" Grath nodded. "He's

working on his ship," he called. Copper frowned. "What for? He's not leaving or anything."

Grath shrugged. She dropped the subject and grinned. "OK, everybody, I'm looking for an

informant. I need to know more of this Kroys's style, what he's done to take over, where

he's going. Spread out!"

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:55 PM

Chapter 5- continued

Grath pushed his way through the crowd, Kazooie beside him. "C'mon, Grath, hurry up,"

the big bird complained. Grath grinned. "Cool it, Kaz, we're not in a race," he laughed. He

felt happier than ever, since they'd taken off in the Assassin. Everyone had paired off,

Grath with Kazooie, Shinyso with Copper, Blacksheep and KRSplat and Ducky, who had

volonteered to stay at the ship, to make sure Claw didn't try anything funny. Grath

didn't mind Claw, and it was obvious that Ducky and Shinyso weren't bothered by him,

but Coppertop and Blacksheep were still suspicious. Grath knew that if Claw and Ducky

decided to pair up and look for info, they'd get alot further than anyone, excepting

Kazooie and himself. Well, Shinyso and Copper might do alright, he decided reluctantly.

He walked on, then realized that he was alone. He froze, and glanced about for Kazooie.

He was nowhere to be seen.

Claw straightened, then looked at Ducky. "Y'think she'll do?" he questioned. Ducky

grinned. "Definitely space-worthy," she replied. Claw decided he didn't mind Ducky. "Well,

we'd better get going," he sighed. Ducky nodded, and he smiled grimly. He grabbed his

coat and hat and headed for the door. "Hey, wait up, Claw," Ducky called, and he

paused, waiting for her. Then he slipped into the crowd.

"Mfff, mpf hm!" The turtle held the stuggling captive still and looked at the others.

"Mission accomplished. Now we go for the rabbit." One of the Tuff Turts scratched it's

head. "Duh, what rabbit?" "You dolt! The one the bird was with! Hand me that

sledgehammer, you," the leader demanded. He grabbed the hammer and hit the

struggling bird on the head. The bird slumped, unconsious. The turt tied him up and hid

him under a rock, then assigned another turt to guard. Then the rest of the troop

marched out to lay a trap for the bird's companion. As they left the alley they passed

two shadows, who watched the turts intently.

"Shinyso. Take out the turt, I'll distract him," one shadow said. It detatched itself from

the surrounding shadows and slipped up to the turt. Then it kicked a rock, which hit the

turt on the head. "Hey, stupid!" The turt started and looked around. "Over here," the

shadow said. A grey rabbit stood infront of it, wearing a sword and blaster at her hip.

She watched the turt contemptously, and danced aside as the turtle swung at her.

"C'mon, Shinyso," she muttered as she dodged the turt again. Suddenly the turt fell

over, a sword in its back. A black rabbit stood there, grumbling. "I don't like using my

sword this much," he complained. Copper shrugged and turned to free Kazooie, to find

another black rabbit cutting the ropes. She wore tight leather pants and a jungle-green

shirt. She had a gold-hilted sword out, and she was using it to cut Kazooie free. Copper

was surprised. "The name's Emerald Dragon" the rabbit said, turning around. "Who're

you?"

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:56 PM

Chapter 6-Attack

"C'mon, Kazooie. Don't get lost again," Grath yelled. "Huh? What? Oh, yeah, wait up,

Grath," Kazooie hollered. He ran to catch up. Emerald Dragon was just ahead of Grath,

and she smiled at Kazooie's reaction. Grath hurried to get next to her. "Hey, Emerald,

we're lookin' for a informant. Know any?" Emerald looked surprised. Then she turned

suspicious. "Why?" "Well, we need info on a guy named Kroys. As far as we know, he's

the big boss, and Devan's just one of his cronies," Grath explained. Emerald brightened.

"Yeah, I do," she smiled. Grath looked at her in surprise. "An old friend," Emerald offered.

"I was on my way to visit her, in fact, when I heard that fight." Grath nodded. "Name?"

"Wild Angel. Heard of her?" Grath shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. Wait a mi-

KAZOOIE!" Grath spun and stalked over to the big bird, who was trying to pick a fight

with a bunch of turts. "Kaz, we don't want trouble. GET A MOVE ON!" Kazooie saluted,

and marched over to Emerald. "Lead on, oh, great leader," he muttered. Grath glared at

him, then turned to Emerald and gestured for her to move on.

The band of evil turts marched past the sign for a shop and halted. "Here's the plan.

Kroys wants the bird and the rabbits brought to him. Then we go for that Claw thingy.

Kroys hates disloyalty. After we take him out, we round up those other rabbits, and

whoever they've got info from. We bring them all to command ship, and we leave them

to Kroys's tender mercies." The leader, a big grimy yellow lizard grinned evilly. Then he

marched his troop down a side alley. They never even noticed the caped figure leaning

casually against a wall, hat pulled down concealingly. They marched around the corner

and out of sight.

"Claw, did you hear that? We gotta warn Copper and the others!" Claw snorted. "I'm

pretty sure Copper and Shinyso can take care of themselves, Ducky," he smiled.

"Besides which, Kazooie's pretty trigger-happy, and I have no fear for Grath, KRSplat

and Blacksheep. No, I'm the one Kroys really wants, cause without me, Copper can't go

anywhere. I know where Kroys is stationed, so I'm the most dangerous. We had better

worry about our own skins. Back to the ship," and he turned and moved back. "Wait,

Claw! We haven't found our informant yet!" Claw snorted. "Whaddaya think those turtles

were?" Ducky suddenly laughed. "OK, if you say so," she smiled. Claw looked at her. "I

say so," he grumbled.

Emerald led Grath and Kazooie inside a small, well-kept shop. "Wild?" A black rabbit

(there seems to be alot of those around here) stood. "Emerald! Where have you been?

Who are your friends?" "I'm Grath and this is Kazooie," Grath swiftly said. "We need info

on a guy called Kroys." Wild Angel nodded. "I can help you," she said cautiously. "Have a

seat." She sat down in the worn leather seat behind the table, and sighed. "As far as I

know, Kroys is a human wizard. He's out to rule the galaxy, but he's smarter than some

others. Instead of building his empire out of nothing, he gathered people like Devan and

built from there. He captured alot of innocents, rabbits especially, and put them to work

in his prison camps and mines. He has a double objective there, because he gets

revenge and it keeps Devan going. I know his latest target is some rabbit named

'Coppertop' and another creature-I'm not clear on this-named Claw." Grath looked

puzzled. "Revenge?" "Don't ask me. I can only get so far with drunkies and low-life,

y'know," she smiled. "I'd like to come with you to your ship. I've made alot of enemies

out there, and I might be in danger if I stay." Grath blinked. "How did you-" "Know about

the ship? I'm a telepath." Grath was stunned. Of course. No wonder she hadn't asked

questions. He stood up. "Well, come on," he smiled. "Let's go find the others."

"Revenge? I wonder what for," Ducky mused once Grath had told them all he'd found

out. Claw shrugged. "Well, I got some more news for you all," he grumbled. "Kroys has

given orders for our capture, so we'd better leave. His troops are hot on our tail."

Copper whirled, shocked. "WHAT? C'mon, Claw, to the cockpit. Lets go!" Claw dashed

after her, and about half an hour later Assassin left Tubelectric to shake the persuing

turtles.

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:56 PM

Chapter 6-continued

"Did Copper just say what I think she said," Grath asked Ducky, wide-eyed. "She did,"

Ducky agreed. "I think she just realized how important Claw is to our survival." Grath

grinned. "Yeah, but he 'doesn't ask questions,' remember? Oh, well, I think if he'd asked

questions with those turtles he probably would've had a fight. Just as well he didn't."

Ducky agreed, then grabbed for a hand hold as the ship lurched and took off. A few

minutes later they were in outer space, heading for the planet Holidayous, where the

command ship Deep Spacer was docking.

"Lord Kroys, we have contacted the troops on Tubelectric; their quarry has escaped.

Sensors tracked their ship leaving Tubelectric Space Customs, and it is belived that the

mercenaries Claw and Coppertop are aboard. Last seen, they were on route to

Holidayous." The hologram wavered, and the turtle who was speaking shimmered and

then came back into focus. "They await your command, milord." Kroys was mad. Twice

the illusive Coppertop had slipped from his grasp and the last time, that traitor Claw as

well. He had heard of their companions, Ducky Greyrabbit and Shinyso, and he was sure

that, given time, he could turn their loyalties away from Carrotus and the captured

rabbits. If he could, they would prove to be great assets in his plans. "Try again,

Commander. Do not fail me again. If you do, I will punish you accordingly." The turtle

gulped visibly, then saluted and the transmission was cut. Kroys sighed. He wasn't in the

habit of punishing his commanders for circumstances that they couldn't help, but he

knew that in some cases, like that pitiful Devan, it was simply a case of laziness. He

snorted. Devan! That oaf was worse than a lizard,worse than a - than a - than a rabbit!

Kroys almost regretted recruiting Devan, but the turtle had seemed so promising. Oh

well, even a lazy dolt like Devan couldn't help but capture a few rabbits on a planet like

Carrotus. "Sir, the cruiser Hypernaught is at your disposal. The escort is scheduled to

leave for the planet below in 30 minutes." A nice way of telling him that he had to leave

in half an hour. He laughed evilly as he thought of the trap he was laying around the

planet. Hopefully there would be no bloodshed.

"Holidayous? Why there?" Coppertop was puzzled. Claw shrugged. "Kroys said that when

I was done my mission to go to Holidayous. He's probably there right now." Copper

glanced at him. "Oh." Claw knew what she was thinking. If Kroys was at Holidayous he

was probably thinking to capture it, and more rabbits would die in the prison camps.

They had to stop him.

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:57 PM

Chapter 7-Holidayous

"I hate snow," Claw complained. Ducky rolled her eyes. "I know Claw, you've said it a

million times already. It's not a favorite of mine, either, but you DO want to catch Kroys,

don't you?" "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but why do we have to be captured? It's not like Kroys is

gonna LIKE us or anything." Ducky sighed. She'd already explained it several times, but

Claw still wasn't in favor of the plan. KRSplat saved her. "Look, Claw, we gotta get IN to

the mother ship before we can get at Kroys. Otherwise we're like a bug on a windshield:

we haven't got a chance." Copper snorted. "Well, I wouldn't have put it THAT way, but

you have a point," she choked back laughter. "Bug on a windshield, indeed. Where'dja

hear THAT one, may I ask?" KRSplat shrugged. Ducky rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"Claw, you and Copper stand the best chance, so maybe you should go for Kroys. Ka-"

"IwannagotooIwannagotooIwannagotoo!" Grath and Shinyso were chanting. Wild Angel

arched her eyebrows at the pair, and laughed when Shinyso started jumping up and

down in frustration. "Hey," Coppertop suddenly said, "Try figuring this out. How many

pears in a dozen pair, six or twelve?" Immediately the two rabbits sat and began figuring.

"Uh, six," Grath offered. Copper grinned. "Then I wouldn't ask you to buy pears," she

replied. Shinyso did more figuring. "Then twelve!" Copper's eyes twinkled. "Twelve pairs

of pears? You're sure?" Shinyso nodded. "But that's twenty-four pears," she laughed.

Grath looked perplexed. "Then I'm stumped," he wondered. Suddenly Shinyso stared at

Copper. Then he threw back his head and laughed. "Hah! You couldn't figure it out

either!" Copper looked astonished. "How did you know?" she asked. Shinyso grinned. "Im

a psychic, I can read other people's minds," he grinned. Then he jumped up. "Claw. Is

that the Deep Spacer thingy you were talking about?" Claw looked up in surprise. "Well, I

think we have company," he said. Warships fell from the mother ship, zinging towards

the planet. As they had arranged,the friends acted as if they weren't expecting the

attack, and they fled. Claw and Copper had simply disappeared with the sword Shale's

help, and they followed thier freinds also. "How's Copper going to open the command

room door," Grath gasped. KRSplat answered. "She's got a *gasp* key amulet *gasp*

that allows her to open any door," he shouted. Abruptly the ground seemed to explode

beneath their feet, and all was merciful, merciful blackness.

KRSplat opened his eyes to see bars. He closed his eyes again, than realized that he

was probably ontop of everyone else. He sat up, and saw Copper talking quietly to Claw.

He blinked in surprise. "Hey Copper, did you get blown up too," he asked. Copper

laughed. "No, they didn't find us. We snuck on board ourselves," she explained. "I was

just about to open the doors and let everyone out when you woke up." Beneath him

someone groaned, and he didn't blame them. He jumped off of the pile, and Blacksheep

gratefully followed. As if that signaled a mass wake-up, everyone began sitting up until

the tangle of bodies separated into separate, recognizable rabbits (and other). Grath

rubbed the lump on his head ruefully. "I feel like I got bombed," he said apologetically.

Shinyso rolled his eyes. "Ha ha, very funny," he grumbled. "Ouch. What am I sitting on, a

spike?" "No, just my head," Kazooie mumbled. "Gerroff, you lump of concrete!" Shinyso,

wearing a very injured expression, stood carefully up and glared at Kazooie. "That spike

was my beak," Kazooie growled. Shinyso shrugged apologetically and moved towards the

door just as it swung open and Copper stepped back. Then she moved to each cage and

opened it, until she had a veritable army behind her, armed to the teeth from knocked

out and destroyed guards. "OK, you guys go free the other rabbits and my group will

take Kroys. Get to it!" The freed prisoners willingly began systematically demolishing

guards and opening cages. Claw, who had been on the Deep Spacer before, moved

swiftly through the halls to the front of the ship. Copper shrugged and followed.

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 12:58 PM

Chapter 7- continued

Copper and her friends had to run to keep up with Claw as he moved through the halls of

the Deep Spacer. Copper was beginning to wonder if Claw was lost when he paused

infront of a door and growled a password. The door hissed open and they were off

again. Kazooie took to the air so he could catch up, and Shinyso and Angel flew after

them. Copper still was annoyed with Shinyso for hiding his abilities but she couldn't

blame him. Abruptly Claw stopped and she nearly ran into him, then she saw why. A wall

of mean looking turts blocked their way, and were driving the friends back. "Oh, if

Ironheart was here," she muttered, and Claw looked at her questioningly, and she drew

her blaster. "Shinyso, take the rest and try to find another way out," she called.

Shinyso's reply startled her. "No. Ducky, Grath and I are staying HERE. Kaz, KRSplat and

Blackie can go." Claw nodded. Then they backed up and began firing.

"Lord Kroys, the prisoners have escaped! We are suffering heavy losses from the

intruders and we beg your permission to retreat!" The turt was trembling as he waited

for Kroys's answer. "No! I will not stand defeat! Kill them, ensnare them, capture them, I

don't care! You may NOT retreat now, do you hear me!" The turt gasped out a "yes

milord" before the transmission was cut, and Kroys was left trembling in rage. How dare

they! He should have expected it though; the traitor Claw had a quarrel with him

obviously and he had traced that Coppertop's origin to a small villiage on Carrotus; he

had just finished giving Devan orders to destroy the villiage when those infuriating

infedels had infiltrated his stronghold...

"Stand back," Ducky shouted. Angel had joined her and was pulling out a wand. Copper

blinked in surprise as Ducky's staff seemed to glow with a blueish light, which intensified

till the turts had to look away. Then Angel added her power to the staff's, and suddenly

the green stone in the top let loose a blinding streak of electricity, enveloping the turts.

Then with a brilliant flash the light and turts were gone. Ducky nearly collapsed, the

transportation spell had taken a lot out of her. Angel didn't seem to be affected, but

then, it hadn't been her who had been the original spell-caster. She had merely shaped

the power that Ducky had supplied and focussed it onto the turts. Within minutes

though Ducky's leaping electricity was back bright as ever, and she had recovered

enough that they could continue. "Can't do that again," Ducky sighed. "But there won't

be as many." Sure enough, the halls rang with the footsteps of approaching turts. Ducky

raised her staff again as the band rounded the corner and let loose a stream of power

again but this time it wasn't nearly as much. The turts went flying, and Copper drew

Shale. Shinyso readied himself, but Angel decided she would hover above and pick her

targets. Grath pulled his gun out and started shooting, but Ducky kicked him so he

decided to use something else. He pulled out a long staff from a pocket and began

shooting electricity, kind of like what Ducky was doing.Chapter 8- The Taste of Victory

"Yaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!! Death to the enemy!" Kazooie was bellowing as he joined into the

fray. Stabbing with his beak, shooting blindly, he was actually doing pretty good.

Claw flung himself into the fray, claws extended. In a fury he began slaying the

shellians, eyes aglow with battle light. The transformation in him shocked his friends,

than Copper joined him, Shale flashing through the air. Turts fell before them, as Shinyso

began wielding his sword. Together they forged ahead, and time seemed to stand still. It

became a type of rythem, slash, parry, duck and block, drive forward and then turn to

find a new foe. The turts were not prepared, they only had blasters that wouldn't work

short range. The friends were winning, but only until reinforcements came. And, as Claw

pivoted and slew a turt behind him, the foe swelled with fresh troops. Levin-fire from

Ducky and Grath's staffs flashed and more fell, and were trampled by the enemy who

pressed ahead to take the fallen ones positions. Claw seemed to be looking through a

haze as the battle-lust took over, and he fought for what seemed to be forever. Then

the red mist lifted, and he turned to find there were no more. He looked over to see

Copper carefully wiping blood from her sword on a fallen turt's tunic. She stood and

grimaced, then sheathed Shale and looked at the others. There was no need to speak.

They turned and left the battlefield with new determine, to somehow destroy the tyrant

who would so callously send his people to slaughter.

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 01:00 PM

Chapter 8- Kroys

"C'mon, I'm sure it was this way," Claw grumbled. Coppertop nodded. Then she looked

stricken. "I'm coming too," she hissed defiantly. Ducky looked surprised at the change in

her friend. "Whazza matter, Copper?" she asked. Copper glanced at her. "My villiage.

Kroys has given the command; they have been slaughtered." She said this in a

matter-of-fact tone. Ducky gasped. "How do you know?" Grath was wondering. "Shale.

It's spelled to alert me to any danger; I've been alerted." Claw nodded. "If you want," he

said coolly. "Then we'll get rid of any troops who'll aid this dork," Shinyso offered.

No-one refused his offer,so they headed for the control center.

"Milord, we-bzzzzzzzzzzt-decimated! Per-bzzt-ion to draw-bzzzzzzt-No hope! We must

with-bzzzzzzzzzzzzt-" Kroys ignored the static. "No. How many?" "Eight-bzzzzzzzt-bits, a

bird, a-bzzzzzzzzt-law. No hope, sir! We mu-bzzzt-treat!" Kroys had no problem reading

in between the lines. Eight rabbits, one bird and that Claw. No problem, he mused. Of

course, if Claw and Coppertop decided to gang up on him, they could do a considerable

amount of damage. If it was hopeless he could always use his more formidable powers to

overrun the group. Then he could take their more powerful weapons and warp to one of

his lesser warships. He sat back and waited.

"You're sure he's there, Copper," Ducky called. Copper nodded and looked pointedly at

Angel and Shinyso. Angel looked up. "Aye, he's there. Shinyso and I can sense that dark

magic from a mile away." Shinyso nodded grimly. Grath interupted. "I can help! See my

staff? I can, with its help, warp to any place I've already bee-" "WHAT?! YOU CAN

WARP? Why didn't you tell us, flop-ears?" Grath looked indignant. "Flop-ears? Fine words

from you, feather-bottom! Sit on him, will you, Shinyso?" Shinyso grimaced. "I already

did, if you'll remember," he reminded Grath. Kazooie nodded. "Well, do it again. Kaz

shouldn't be allowed to say things like that." "I concur," Angel laughed. "That was rude,

Kazooie. Apologize." Kazooie scowled. "Sorry. No-aauugh! My tail!" The big bird whirled

to come face to face with. . . "Tuff turts! Ataaack!" Coppertop and Claw turned, and,

seeing the enemy about to trounce the others, did just that. Shale came up in a blaze

of light, as Copper gave voice to a chilling warcry. "Yaaaylaaahooooooo! Die, enemy,

scum of the sewers!" Claw looked startled, then his claws extended and he threw himself

into the fray. The fight was over quickly. In one move Coppertop destroyed the last foe,

turned on her heel and continued as if nothing had ever bothered her. They calmly

continued down the hall to reach a door in the end. The last password, Sjalax, opened

the door and Copper and Claw stepped into the room. A cloaked figure stood there, and

did not seem surprised to see them. "Kroys," the word was hissed by Copper. "Ah, yes.

I've been expecting you. . ."Coppertop's form shimmered and faded. Kroys was shocked; even the smallest forms of

white magic took energy, yet this intruder seemed not to even notice. He quickly cast a

spell to see how powerful she was; it was blocked. HE didn't have to worry about his

energy, the slaughter of Copper's village and the capture of Holidayous had supplied him

with enough blood-magic, the energy of dying creatures, to supplement him for a couple

of weeks. But if the mercenary was that powerful he would be drained if he didn't finish

her off quickly.

He became aware of movement near the door; the creature Claw was advancing. No

problem. He cast a spell of destruction at the angry Claw to find it devirted, he hadn't

noticed the black rabbit who had just come in. She held a wand, and her sparkling

golden headdress had a blazing diamond in it. The entire rabbit seemed to be alive with

power, as did the one who stood behind her. He would recognize that figure anywhere.

It was unmistakable: Ducky Greyrabbit. The odds suddenly took a turn for the worst.

Grath had been informed by Ducky that he would be needed, for if Ducky's power failed

he would have to warp them all to safety. Angel, she had crisply told him, would be far

too busy to help, for she had to keep Kroys at bay. He reluctantly agreed. Now he stood

behind the door, watching.

Coppertop had felt the questing spell and had blocked it, now she knew she had to rely

on Angel and Ducky to do the blocking. She circled around behind Kroys and into a dark

corner, where she shimmered back into existance. At first there was a blue outline of a

rabbit; then the form was filled with tiny blue comets. It looked like a new forming

galaxy, and then the figure solidified. She lunged forward, to find Shale intercepted by a

wizard's staff, a tall silver thing with a sharpened spearhead on the end with a hook

branching off. A very nasty weapon, but she had faced worse. As the dark wizard

turned to intercept her he left his back unguarded; Claw leapt up and raked Kroys with

his razor sharp claws. Kroys whirled and fired a red bolt at him; he dodged and rolled

under the smoking levin-fire. Copper attacked again to find herself countered, Shale

caught between the hook and spear part of Kroys's staff. Thinking quickly she pulled her

blaster out and fired. Kroys, distracted, let his grip loosen; she whipped Shale up and

out of the trap. Claw slashed and Kroys accordingly brought his staff up to counter;

Claw ducked under the shaft and attacked again. Kroys was off balance, Copper pressed

the attack. Somehow Kroys parried and regained his footing, only to be shot by a bolt of

pure, blue electricity. He hastily threw up shields to find an irrisistable force tearing at

them, and then he felt a searing pain in his side. He looked down to see Shale buried

there; he lifted his gaze to the determined green eyes of Copper. He laughed

incredulously, and had the satisfaction of seeing Copper stare at him in contempt.

"Fools! Do you truly think you can defeat me?" Contemtuously he shoved Copper away,

and put his hand over the wound. The gash healed slowly and he frowned, putting more

power into the effort. A sound behind him alerted him, and he turned to see the rabbit,

Angel, standing there determinedly. He slowly raised his hand and spoke a word, and

crackling red lightning flashed towards the defiant rabbit. Abruptly she raised her arms

and crossed her wrists; and then she was surrounded by a softly glowing golden nimbus.

The energy flashed around her, then sank into the shield. She had absorbed his power!

In shock Kroys stared at her, and she smiled sweetly at him. Then her diamond began to

glow. A brilliant white beam flashed from it, then spread around the headdress. Then it

sank slowly into the gold, and then disappeared. But the distraction had worked.

Suddenly his staff was gone; it was sent across the room to land on the control panel.

He whirled to deal with this new foe to see one whom he had forgotten about: Claw.

The two gazed at each other, battling in a contest of wills. Each strove to conquer the

other, until Claw abruptly took the defensive. The shields around his mind strengthened

as he gave way, and the connection was snapped. Kroys had never seen creatures this

powerful before, he knew he had to flee before they overwhelmed him. He bent to pick

up his staff, and then, standing in the center of the room, he loosed a powerful spell of

destruction upon his foes. Then he was gone.

"Coppertop? Wake up." Copper opened her eyes and wished she hadn't. The figures

danced before her: Kroys, laughing, swirling away like smoke. . .Angel, writhing in agony,

trying to counter the spell. . .Darkness flooding her vision. . .

"Copper!" She snapped back to reality with a start. Shinyso bent over her, and she

belatedly realized she was on the floor. "Here, drink this," he was saying, and then

something bitter was being poured down her throat. She struggled to sit up. "Where's

Claw? Did Kroys get away?" "I'm right here. Yeah, he escaped, but I swear he won't be

so lucky next time," Claw growled. "He hit us with a death spell. Are you alright?" Copper

nodded, then winced because doing so sent spikes of pain down her back. "I think so.

Where am I?" Someone laughed. Then Grath came into view. "Your ship, the Assassin,"

he informed her. "What was that stuff you gave me, Shinyso?" she asked. He grinned

nastily. "Poison. Nah, one of my cure potions. You were out cold." Copper laughed along

with him. Then a question that had been nagging her surfaced. "Angel?" "Right here."

"What happened to your diamond? Why did it glow like that?" Angel sighed and sat down

next to Copper. "The magic Kroys used was blood-magic, the life-forces of innocents

whom were killed unnecessarily," she began slowly. "Black magic, evilness. I cannot use

such magic, for to do so would to become evil myself. So, I routed the energies to my

diamond, which cleansed and purified the magic, so that it became usable." Copper

looked at her friend strangely. "Well, thanks for the diversion," she offered. Angel

laughed. "We pressed the self-destruct button on that Deep Spacer," she chuckled.

"You shoulda seen the explosion! Grath nearly didn't get us out in time." Grath looked

injured. "So you think," he grumbled.

Eternally serene, the moon ruled over star-strewn vaults of cloudless sable night, like a

round shield of flecked amber, casting pale light to the forest below. Vagrant breezes

from the distant sea drifted idly through the rainforest's south-west margins, cooling the

heavy warmth a bright summer day had left in its wake.

The relative peace of the forest was not disturbed by the figure who stood in a patch of

moonlight. It was not a notable occurance; creatures often came this way. Excep for

the fact that the hooded figure had not been there a second ago.

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 01:02 PM

Chapter 9-Chase

The two war ships drew even, then one pulled ahead. Panicked, the Shellian vessel

attempted to flee even as it was struck by the persuers torpedoes. "Get 'er into hyper

space! Now! Hurry!" The turtles hastened to do the pilot's bidding, and the ship

shuddered violently as it was hit again. Then the hyper-drive failed, and the only escape

was to out-distance the black terror that was shadowing them. The big cargo vessel

pulled smoothly ahead, and for a moment the pilots had the wild hope that the black

ship was withdrawing. Then it nosed down and came up fast and silent, and the pilots

frantically attempted to get out of the way. It was too late though; gunfire flashed and

the pilots' last hope was to get into the small escape pods. A grating noise proved that

to be fruitless; the bottom of the ship had been torn out. The pilots sealed the door,

and then a different shudder showed that they were being boarded. Or, at least, they

thought they were. A loud rending noise echoed through the ship again, and then a small

explosion shook them. The last thing the turts saw before firey debris billowed in behind

them and the vessel went up in flames was a sleek black warship sliding by. Then a

tremendous roar filled the command room, and it was filled with destruction.

"Hah! They didn't stand a chance," Kaz crowed. "Dumb turts!" Copper glanced at him.

"Good shot, Copper," he added hastily. She winked. "Oh, it wasn't me. Thank Claw; he's

the master gunner." Claw did not look amused. "Belive me, one day we won't be so

lucky," he growled. Copper rolled her eyes. "Sure, Claw. Where do you think Kroys went

to anyway?" Claw pondered that. Finally he spoke. "Well, I'd want to throw my enemies

off, so I'd go to the last place they'd expect me to go. In this case Kroys knows we'll

figure it out eventually, so he's counting on us to think like this: he'll expect us to go to

a populated place to look for him, so we won't do it. We'll expect him to go to a

backwoods planet, then to go to a populated place to throw us off track. But he. . .Oh,

that crafty wizard, I'll bet he'll stay on that backwoods planet! And the furthest one I

know of is Lohar." Copper nodded. Grath looked puzzled. "Lohar?" Copper explained.

"Lohar is a rainforest and water planet. Large inland seas surrounded by long stretches

of white sand and caves, huge forests, the whole thing. Lohar is known for it's cave

network, they all connect. There're big deposites of diamond and gems, that're known

for their magical potential. I bet Angel's diamond is from Lohar, and I know that my

crystal key and Shale's gem are. He'll probably go there, there's alot of magic potential

on Lohar." Grath blinked. "Oh." Copper turned to Shinyso, who was at the navigator's

controls. "Set course for Lohar, Sector 549. We arrive at dawn."

Coppertop

Apr 10, 2001, 01:23 PM

HAHAAAAAA!!!! I'M BACK!! Fquist showed me how to move my storie...

*BlackSheep

Apr 10, 2001, 04:51 PM

That's US!!! We missed you, CT!!!

**huggie**

*Black

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 10, 2001, 05:29 PM

*hugs*

Hiya, CT.

~*Alpha*~

Apr 10, 2001, 05:54 PM

Can i be in your story? plz?

Ducky

Apr 10, 2001, 06:14 PM

You did it! Hooray, CT! *huggie*

Happyfulness!

`Ducky

Wild Angel

Apr 11, 2001, 12:58 AM

Can I join?

Good. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

Profile

Name: Wild Angel

Age: 17

Sex: What do you think? Female.

Height: 5'8

Fur Color: Jet Black

Eyes: Jungle Green

Clothing: Leather dress that cuts four inches over the knee.

Powers: Has a wand. Can transform, kill, and paralize people with it. I can also make force feilds around my self, or groups of people and make big dream orbs in my hands. And I can real peoples mind, I am telepathic. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

Stuff (My favorite!): A gold headdress with a diamond in it. I was once the emperess of Diamondous, once apon a dream. Oh yeah, and a medium size knife with a gold dragon as the 'handle' with a diamond in its mouth. The blade itself is made out of platinum with diamond in the middle so it is extra strong, and I always am cleaning it, heh, but I am not obsessed.

Personality: Very loving and sweet. I love andimals and all creatures. I will kill when needed. The headdress I wear has the power to kill also, maybe that should go into 'Powers'? Oh well.

I love combat. I can predict the enemys next move and stuff, so I am also good in combat with the sword and the brain, lol.

Background: Daughter of Eva, and daughter of Jazz. (He has alot of kids, aye?)

Whatever, be creative.

Wild Angel

Apr 11, 2001, 12:58 AM

Coppertop

Apr 11, 2001, 02:44 PM

Um, aren't you in, Wildie?

Coppertop

Apr 11, 2001, 02:50 PM

Oh, and Alpha, sure! I need your profile, though.

I'll be taking 'joiners' until I say that I'm not...

~*Alpha*~

Apr 11, 2001, 05:37 PM

Thanx http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

my profile

I am a totally red female rabbit, with black armbands and red eyes too. I usually wear army fatigues and a tank top. Also i have a black coak, one with a hood y'know. My weapons are a sword with a black leather handle and a wolverine with a red gem in its mouth on the hilt. And i also have a blaster. My closest companion is my twin brother Omega.

Personality:

I am quiet and friendly, but deadly if my friends are threatened. I have a quick temper, but usually apologize when i calm down. Kind of reclusive at sometimes. I have a very 'Devil may care', attitude, and am very loyal.

Skills:

Tracking, Fighting, Climbing and Joking.

Friend so far:

Omega

Okey, my profile is done.

Not much to look athttp://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Thanxhttp://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 11, 2001, 06:08 PM

I'll join:

Name: Kovu Alec Easgi

Age: ? (Appears to be around 20)

Sex: M

Fur Color: Brown

Hair: Black

Eyes: Emerald Green

Clothing: A black jacket with a red shirt

underneath, and black pants. Oh, and a cape

too.

Weapons: Golden Sword, Blaster

Powers: Can bend time/space in a very minor

fashion.

Items: A silver cross necklace, shard of

Sparif Cyrstal.

Personality: I'm popcorn, soft and chewy

and cheery on the outside, hard, solemn core on the inside! Okay, not really, but I am

rather brooding and worrying beneath, but

cheeriness I use as a emotional shield.

Coppertop

Apr 12, 2001, 03:28 PM

YaY! Happyfulness! If you read my story you will have figured out that it's far from over...

Chapter Nine-continued

The sun rose, chasing the shadows of night away. Small night animals fled before the oncoming dawn, towards the deepest parts of the forest that never saw the sun. The streaming rays filtered in through branches and leaves, dappling the forest floor with light.

In this setting, a more than slightly annoyed rabbit climbed out of the ruin of a smallish ship and surveyed the wreckage. He had been heading for Carrotus when he had been attacked, and had lost control. He had no idea where he was, but he was stranded there.

His green eyes glanced up at the broken branches of a tree and the torn engine that perched there, then flickered to the eroded hill where the tail piece lay, buried. The ship, obviously, was totalled.

Kovu Alec Easgi, who happened to be that rabbit, was resigned to the fact that he had to hike his way out of the dense rainforest before he did anything else. He carefully edged past the sharp hunks of metal that stuck up from the ground, and left the new clearing that he had created.

Kovu, who looked to be about 20, had been in worse situations before, but just then he couldn't think of any. How was he to get off of the planet? Obviously, he couldn't use his torn-up ship. Maybe he could flag down a passing vessel...

Get real, Kove, he thought wryly, like a ship would just pass by like that. Face it, you're in deep this time.

He glanced around, searching for a path, and found a faint trail heading north. He warily began to follow it, hoping that he wasn't heading further in. He could get lost so easily... he banished the thought and, determinedly, began to follow the barely etched line that passed for a trail.

Kovu, unlike most rabbits, was a wanderer. With shining brown fur and black hair, his eyes were a contrasting emerald green. A black jacket and pants added to the image of a dark, secretive rover, as did his longish black cape. His weapons consisted of a golden sword and a blaster, and they looked well-used... used enough that they usually deterred would-be antagonists from attacking him, but his small vessel had not been much to write home about.

Now, as he attempted to trace the gametrail that he was on, he had to admit that he had been pretty stupid to fly through the troops of turtles. That stretch of space was called 'Death Alley,' or 'The Zone of Doom' by the pessimists, and few survived to tell of their experiences in there. The name alone should have warned him, but it had been the quickest route, so he took it. And, ultimately, paid the price.

Kroys was sure that no-one would find him. Lohar was so easy to hide on, he would be able to transport back to one of his sub-command ships by nightfall if he wasn't found. Mentally he cursed the level that his power was at; the fight with the mercenaries had depleted him more than he'd thought it had. If he hadn't tried that attack on the rabbit with the diamond he would have been able to transport immediatly, but for now he waited...

I'll try to get you in soon, Alpha. Tell me if I got you wrong, Kovu... and let the story go on!

Wild Angel

Apr 12, 2001, 08:59 PM

*cough*cough*

I'm in it all ready? Never knew. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

Tanpopo Kiku

Apr 16, 2001, 01:20 PM

Nice story, CT. Keep going!

Coppertop

Apr 17, 2001, 03:20 PM

ummm... Sorry, haven't been on in like, five days http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif

Don't worry, I will, Kiku.

Chapter Nine- continued (again)

Claw carefully guided the Assassin through the small asteroid field that barricaded their path, avoiding mines and hurtling stones that threatened to hit them. The black ship deftly swerved around another big asteroid, and Claw glanced at the visuals that showed behind the fighter. Blast it! A dozen small red dots that represented enemies were coming up fast on the green dot that was the Assassin. They looked like Shellion troopers... Luckily, Claw could use the asteroid belt to his advantage.

He swung the Assassin around to face their pursuers, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the number of fighters that were chasing them.

He coolly fired off several heat-seekers and turned, not bothering to see the results. The Assassin was rocked as a torpedo narrowly missed it, and the cockpit divider hissed open behind him. Coppertop breathlessly slid into the navigator's seat and took over the controls, leaving Claw free to fire away. He glanced over at her and saw by the steely look in her eyes that she too could use the belt of stone to her advantage. She gave him a subtle signal and he fired off a last round of heat-seekers, then the sleek warship wheeled around and sped towards the most heavily populated area of the asteroid belt. Smoothly sliding around mines and asteroids, Copper wound her way around the stone and iron. The clumsy Shellions gave chase, and bursts of flame behind them showed that the troopers were not having much luck in getting around the mines. Soon there were only a half-dozen following, and the asteroids were thinning out...

Then they were flying into clear space, and the lovely blues and greens of Lohar blazed in front of them, swimming in the velvet black of space. The Assassin turned again and easily fended off the Shellions, buying time while Claw mounted the torpedoes. Then the blasters flared and twin missiles flashed forward. The enemy troopers scattered, desperately trying to get out of the way before they were hit. Suddenly they were no longer the hunters, but rather the hunted. Another explosion blossomed, and the decimated troopers attempted to flee. "Hey, don't go away, the party's not over yet," Copper quipped, and then she throttled forward and the Assassin sped after the fleeing enemies. A last burst of flame and the way before them was clear. Somehow they had gotten turned back around and Lohar, which during the fight had been behind them, was now directly ahead. Copper accelerated, and the lush forests grew nearer.

Kovu had been trotting through the forest for over three hours now. He could see the deep blue sky through the trees, that was an improvement, at least. He hoped it meant that he was nearing the forest's edge.

If he had been able to see the entire sky, he would have seen that dark stormclouds were building up on the horizon. A strong, prevailing east wind had sprung up, but he was unable to feel it. The scent of rain was on the air.

Kovu didn't know it, but the gametrail he was following led to just behind the treeline and around again, back into the woods. He couldn't know that lightning was, at that very moment, flickering among the black clouds, or that distant trees trembled with the vibrations of rolling thunder, or that a curtain of rain was sweeping over far-away valleys. He continued his exhausting trek through the rainforest, the midday heat lying like a thick blanket over the land, and the horizon dark with forboding clouds.

Spooky... I'll try for more tomorrow!

Ducky

Apr 18, 2001, 06:21 AM

YaY, CT! Niceness! http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

*beams again*

`Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 18, 2001, 08:30 AM

Very coolish, CT, continue!

Coppertop

Apr 18, 2001, 08:23 PM

If you say so...

(I got the chapter title from a book I read http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif )

Chapter Ten- Storm Warning

The sun dawned hot and bright on Medivo, flooding in an apartment window to illuminate the small red rabbit who sat in a big overstuffed armchair on the 50th floor of the Floozy Hotel. Her eyes were fixed on the small telescreen mounted in the wall across from her, and she listened intently to the newscast that was just coming on.

"Medivo is still resisting the reign of the powerful Kroyian Empire, refusing to even allow Emperial patrols on the planet. The latest development is the flood of refugees from neighboring planets, which resolved Medivo's anti-Emperial decision. The government will hopefully be letting us in on their plan of further resistance in a few hours, so stay tuned. In Carrotus, the Empire is slowly insinuating influential people in to the planet, blinding the Carrotans to the fact that they can take slaves cruelly..." Alpha turned the telescreen off, having heard what she wanted. Medivo was still keeping the turtles away. That was a relief, for she knew what turtles did to rabbits when they got the chance...

I'll worry about that later, she thought, and got up. So long as I take the shuttle flight outa here when the Empire gets Medivo, I'll be alright... and I might not even have to pay the month's rent... Alpha was always an optimist, and she couldn't give a care about Medivo's fate as long as she was safe.

A ringing bell sounded down on the street, signalling that the shuttle to Medivo, capital of Medivo, was leaving. Darnit! And she had fifty flights of stairs to run down...

"Well, I could always forgo the excersize and take the lift," she said aloud. The lift was not an elevator but rather, a shaft that was in low-gravity. Small, flashy purple discs floated up and down the shaft, and the passenger would merely wait until the disc rotation went down, then step on for the ride. It was quick and cheap, and much in favor in tall hotels like the Floozy, which had sixty floors and seven apartments to each floor.

Alpha grabbed her cloak, sword and blaster and headed for the lift. A few moments later she was gently floating down a pitch black tunnel, lit only by the flashing lights on her disc and the lighted ammo-register on her blaster. Then she was stepping off into the sunlit reception room and out onto the street. All of this took only a minute or so, so that if Alpha listened hard she could still hear the faint echo of the bell. Hurridly she headed for the shuttle terminal, knowing that the shuttle would take off within sixty seconds of the bell. She made it just as the doors were sliding shut, and squeezed between them, mounted the steps and found a seat.

Kovu saw a break in the trees ahead, and left the path. He thought he caught a glimpse of sunlight glancing off of water, but he couldn't be sure...

Ten... nine... eight seconds to entrance of Lohar, the navigational screen blipped, and the Assassin shuddered as it slipped through the upper atmosphere. Then a soft beeeeeep emitted from the screen, and the entire vessel trembled and shook as violently as a leaf does in the face of a hurricane. It seemed to take eternity to stop; then the silence filled the ship unnaturally. Soft browns and greens intermingled with deep blue and fawn, speeding by as they passed...

Didn't get to the storm part yet, but I'm working on it. Stay tuned!

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 19, 2001, 06:11 AM

You read Storm Warning? Mercedes Lackey r00ls.

That is, unless it's some other book named

Storm Warning...oh well.

And spiffy chapter.

Ducky

Apr 19, 2001, 06:19 AM

Um...Oh! Right, Eheh. I forgot what I was posting here :P

j00 r00l, CT http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Continue?

`Ducky

Coppertop

Apr 19, 2001, 01:13 PM

Yeah... I've read most of her books, Kove... Oh, and thanks!

Ducky

Apr 23, 2001, 06:14 AM

!

More?

~Evil Me

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 23, 2001, 11:48 AM

Moooooooree, neeeeed mooooooooree...

Coppertop

Apr 24, 2001, 02:22 PM

Okay, okay, y'don't have to yell! lol

Chapter ten, I think, continued

Alpha was just dozing off when a loud crash jerked her awake. The shuttle lurched wildly, and she winced when she was jarred painfully against the shuttle window. What was going on? She struggled upright and glanced out the window to see a green, oval-shaped spaceship zip by, guns blazing. The legend on the side read "The Toranaught Vl", obviously a Shellian name and vessel. The Medivo-bound shuttle bucked again, and Alpha hit her head violently against the window. The last thing she saw was an explosion blossoming at the front of the ship. Then darkness took her. . .

The Assassin shuddered slightly as Coppertop set down, and the hum of the engines died down. The navigational screen blinked green for "successful landing," and the cockpit door hissed open. The boarding ramp lowered slowly, and she got up. "Well, there's Lohar for ya," she said in satisfaction, and calmly left the cabin.

Grath, Ducky, Blacksheep, and the others were waiting for her and Claw. "Nice landing," Shinyso admitted when they came out, and Copper grinned. "Thanks," she laughed. She glanced out at the deep green forests that characterized the planet. Then she froze. What was that flicker of brown she saw?. . .

Kovu heard the soft hum of the ship before he saw it. Realizing that it might be a Shellian vessel, he wisely stayed in the trees. The hum grew louder and he saw a large black ship settling down in the clearing ahead. He slipped through the trees, keeping out of the vision of the passengers who now were leaving the ship. Then he saw the gaze of the grey rabbit who seemed to be the captain flit to him and stay there. He instinctively drew back to the denser brush, but it was too late, she had seen him.

Copper narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the brown flash. It disappeared swiftly into the woods, and she hissed out a warning to the others. Grath looked mildly surprised, but Claw and Shinyso nodded grimly. "Don't get trigger-happy," she cautioned them quietly. "It might not be an enemy." Claw grimaced, but Shinyso nodded. She drew Shale and readied herself.

Alpha awoke to the throbbing pain in her head and a roar in her head. She winced at the sharp lances of pain that shot through her head and slowly opened her eyes.

The Shellian vessel was gone. A blazing wreck lay smashed nearby, and debris -and other- lay scattered everywhere. She was the only survivor. Obviously, the only reason she was still alive, and uncaptured, was because she had been unconsious and looking dead. . .

Dun da dun dun daaaa!!!! More tomorrow!

Coppertop

Apr 24, 2001, 02:23 PM

Oooh! Second page! I feel all special like!

Ducky

Apr 24, 2001, 02:41 PM

YaY! CT! Finally http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Good bit. DO continue http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

`Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 24, 2001, 05:49 PM

Ultra coolish part, Copper, we want MORE!

'unconcious and looking dead' heh, I like

that http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Coppertop

Apr 25, 2001, 12:46 PM

Well, it's true

More for Chapter Ten! (This, I think, is the longest chapter I've ever written)

Alpha was in bad shape. Her leg was badly gashed and she had a painful scrape on her cheek, and, worst of all, that blasted headache was not going away. It was so bad that she could barely see, and she kept blacking out momentarily. Even she, the optimist, had to admit that she probably wouldn't make it to the Refueling Station #10, the nearest building.

She limped along the marked trail that the shuttles followed, trying not to lose consciousness. As it was, the light was quickly dimming, and she used most of her energy trying to stay on the path. Luckily Medivo had very bright stars, and she hoped that once the moon rose the going would be easier.

Kovu was in trouble. That grey rabbit was like a shadow as she silently tracked him, and she seemed to know the terrain extremely well. That makes sense, he realized, she couldn't have found the clearing that she landed in if she hadn't been here before. But that knowledge was giving her the edge, and she could almost anticipate his next move. So he began to put distance between them, drawing away from her ship and into the forest. Within a few minutes he no longer could see the clearing or the trail, and from the sound of it she wasn't following him any more.

Coppertop finally gave up the chase. The hunted obviously was not interested in anything but leaving, and it was growing dark. She headed back to the glade where the others waited for her.

Kroys had made camp. His expended energy was trickling back slower than he had thought it would, and 6 hours after his estimated time of departure he was still only up to half strength. Also, he was beginning to have doubts about the safety of his position; the mercenaries were more clever than he had thought. After all, he hadn't expected them to attack him in the Deep Spacer, and they had, he hadn't expected the traitor Claw to join forces with the grey rabbit and they had, and, most important, he hadn't expected them to be so powerful, to have that black rabbit with the diamond with them, or for the other two- he thought the one had been called Duck and the other Gath or something like that -to have those staffs that powerful. Those misexpectations had nearly killed him. Why couldn't they have figured out that he was on Lohar, a very magical planet, too? With those troubled thoughts he gazed into the flickering fire, as the darkness grew and thunder rumbled.

Kovu had been walking for almost 2 hours when he saw the fire. It was small, and there was a black-cloaked figure sitting near it. He had a staff in his hand, one that gleamed bloodred and black in the firelight. Kovu had seen magical artifacts before; he had no trouble recognizing this staff as one. And there was only one human in the entire known Universe with a staff like it: the self-styled Emperor Kroys. Having heard all of the horror stories he kept his distance, circling around the tiny camp and deciding if he should attack or wait. He decided on wait.

Coppertop heard the thunder in the distance, and being familiar with the powerful rainstorms on Lohar, told her friends that they would be better off in the ship. Wild Angel nodded after a moment and said that a BIG storm was on the way, so they made themselves at home on the Assassin. Coppertop took Shinyso and Ducky aside and held a whispered conference with them, and then the trio unobtrusively disappeared. She left a note in the cockpit telling Claw that he was in charge until she got back, another symptom of her growing trust that he wouldn't suddenly turn on them. She also added that if they were attacked, "don't wait for me. Take off and fight; I'll catch up somehow." Then they slipped out into the woods.

Kovu was just circling Kroys' camp for the 3rd time when he ran right into a small grey rabbit with big blue-green eyes and brilliant blue electricity leaping over her fur. Her white shirt had a tear in one long sleeve, and her black boots were scuffed and muddy. She held a staff in one hand, and Kovu recognized the broken gem in the top as half of the Sparif Crystal, a Crystal of which he had a sliver of himself. "Ducky?"

Mwahahaha! *in a deep theatrical voice* What will happen next to our brave heroes? Will Alpha make it to the Refueling Station Number Ten? Or will she be found by enemies? Stay tuned and find out in the next chapter of Conquerer!

OK, a bit weird, I admit http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif

Ducky

Apr 25, 2001, 12:57 PM

YaY! Blast, this story is just too darned good, CT! http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif Kovu I think you 'ave competition.

~Evil Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 25, 2001, 02:42 PM

I most certainly do http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Veeeerryy spiffular, Copper.

Yea, I know I shouldn't say this, you having

just written this, but we need MORE http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Coppertop

Apr 26, 2001, 01:56 PM

Compete, with Kovu? I don't think so. . . but it's nice to know that I have some fans!

(I assume you've met Ducky before in stories, Kove)

Chapter Eleven-No name yet, but I'm thinking!

The rain swept across the land like a grey curtain, pouring down unceacingly. But as it enveloped the Assassin, the deluge was the least of Blacksheep, Grath, Wild Angel and the others' worries. Aboard the Assassin, consternation reigned. (I love that saying!) "Grath, you're sure that Shinyso and Ducky went with her?" Emerald was asking for the 7th time, and also for the 7th time Grath said "yes." Claw was as relaxed as he could ever be, although he still wasn't quite certain that they were safe in the rain. Characteristically, he was keeping his observations to himself, and as yet he hadn't told anyone about the note in the control room. He knew where the trio had gone. He stood in the shadows, casually leaning up against the wall, arms crossed and eyes narrowed, watching the by-now annoyed Grath answering Emerald's questions. He had decided when he had found the note that he wasn't going to say anything unless asked, and waiting was something he did best. . .

Kovu stopped dead. "Ducky?! What're you doing here?" Ducky seemed equally surprised. "I could ask you the same thing, Kove. Copper decided to do some 'under-rain' (rather than 'under-cover');tracking with Shinyso and I. I suppose that you were the one she saw in the brush?" Kovu shrugged. "I dunno. Is she the grey rabbit?" "Yes." "Then it probably was me. No, don't," he hissed as she turned to call her friends. "That guy, Kroys, he's sitting just behind that tree, he doesn't know I'm here." An angry, musical voice interjected. "Kroys? Here?" The tall grey rabbit came into veiw as she stepped out from the shadows. Kovu blinked. "Yeah, why?" The rabbit ignored him. "He escaped once, he won't do it again," she growled, and gripped her sword tightly. Then she seemed to suddenly notice Kovu. "Who're you?" Her eyes flicked to his sword hilt and blaster. "M'name's Kovu," he offered, omitting the surname. She looked mildly surprised and impressed. "Kovu? Ducky's mentioned you once or twice, I think. I'm Coppertop." "Fearless fighter, angry avenger and merciless mercenary," a dry voice interjected. A black rabbit trotted out of the trees, and Ducky grinned. "Don't you mean 'merciless marauder,' Shinyso?" The black rabbit returned the grin and shook his head. "Nah, mercenary, marauder, who cares." Coppertop wasn't listening. Her dark eyes had a spark in them as she gazed at the tree that hid Kroys, and she calculated what the best angle of attack would be. Kovu watched her. "What's her grudge against Kroys?" he asked Ducky. She shrugged. "Not sure. I think he killed her family, and he mounted an attack on her. That's where she met Claw. She won't stand an insult, y'know, and I think that his enslaving of rabbits and earlier escape really got her mad." Kovu nodded and glanced back at the mercenary. "Guess I'd better watch my step, then," he replied, and Ducky nodded. Copper suddenly stood and drew her sword. Kovu was surprised by the mirrored blade; usually swords had steel blades, not silver mirror. It wasn't stained with blood like some he'd seen, and she held it with the ease that comes with proficiency, the same ease with which he held his blade. She had a defiant look in her eyes as she spoke. "Come on. He's not getting away this time."

Alpha was close to the point of collapse when she finally spotted lights in the distance. The glimpse of civilization gave her new resolve and strength, and she managed to make it to the Refueling Station.

It wasn't deserted. The next shuttle, coming back from Medivo, was fueling up when she reached it, and the pilot was horrified by the state she was in.

Alpha was practically unrecognizable. Although she had been red to begin with, her blood had turned her fur a dark, almost burgandy. Her leg was worse than she had thought; she could see the gleam of white bone- and splinters of it. She had over a dozen lacerations on her body from shards of flying glass, and her paw was pierced through with a sliver of steel. She had a concussion, which explained her headache, and a gash just below her right ear that travelled on across her forehead. She was seeing double and had mild hypothermia, yet despite all of this she had walked over ten miles -on a shattered leg- to reach the Station. So it was understandable that after she had told them roughly where the Medivo-bound shuttle had crashed, she swayed as though in a high wind- and promptly fallen onto the floor, unconscious.

Poor Alpha. Don't worry, she'll make it, no serious problems except for the loss of blood. I really shouldn't tell you this, but the searchers had no trouble finding the wreck. Y'know why? Because Alpha left a trail of blood the entire way.

I forget. Did I crash the Deep Spacer yet?

ElectroPiZZa

Apr 26, 2001, 02:00 PM

The sheep are invading Los Angeles! Whatever SHALL WE DO?!

Coppertop

Apr 26, 2001, 02:07 PM

Okay, here are all of the ppl who have joined! Tell me if I forget any.

Kazooie

Grath

Blacksheep

Ninja (Shinyso)

Ducky

Claw

Emerald Dragon

Wild Angel

KRSplat

Alpha

Kovu

And-can't forget me!

The ones not currently on JCF or not posting here:

KRSplat

<s>Kazooie</s>

<s>Grath</s>

Claw

Ninja

_________________

Read my story in War Tavern! I renamed it: Conquerer!

Whatever.

I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. -Phillipians 4:13

"So what?" -Coppertop

"When Life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

*BlackSheep

Apr 26, 2001, 02:35 PM

Lookit the memberlist, old gel. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Ehe. Jolly good show, bally chapters to far.

(I've been reading The Bellmaker http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif)

*Black

Ducky

Apr 26, 2001, 03:12 PM

The Bellmaker is my absolute favorite book. Sob.

Its so..marvelous..as is the chapter, CT http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Do continue. And yes, Kovu and I have, um, met in..previous stories. As you may recall I was a main character in his Sureal thing.

YaY!!Niceness, CT.

`Ducky

Grath AR

Apr 26, 2001, 04:18 PM

Absoballyloutly perfect!

-Major perigord(Long Patrol)

Fôxie rules!

-Grath AR (from Pearls of lutra, main character, name taken SO HANDS OFF!!)

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 26, 2001, 05:40 PM

Ultra-mego spiffy, Copper. Mmmh, poor Alpha, I'm suprised she isn't DEAD after all that. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif

Ohh well, meeeega spiffy.....

MORE

Coppertop

Apr 27, 2001, 11:37 AM

Yah, I checked the memberlist a few days ago but I didn't have time to look at all the names.

Reading the Bellmaker? My favorite is Mossflower and Legend of Luke, but I like Bellmaker too. Too bad Finnbarr Galedeep died.

_________________

Read my story in War Tavern! I renamed it: Conquerer!

Whatever.

I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. -Phillipians 4:13

"So what?" -Coppertop

"When Life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Coppertop

Apr 27, 2001, 12:28 PM

Okie, I can write more but not too much today.

Chapter Eleven- Kroys

Kroys was instantly on the alert as a twig snapped. Something was out there. . . He was uncomfortable in the forest, being more used to the security and sophistication of his battle ships. He could not afford to relax for even a second.

Copper had slipped off some time ago, and Kovu had been the first one to notice her absence. Not wanting to alarm Ducky and Shinyso, he kept quiet about it, but not even Ducky, who had all her attention on the camp, could fail to notice when Coppertop appeared out of the forest, with another two with her. One was a rabbit, but he couldn't place the other. Coppertop glanced at him, stalling any questions.

"Kovu, this is Grath and this is Claw," she said, gesturing at her two companions. The one she had called Claw hung back in the shadows, but the rabbit Grath grinned. "I hear that you've found Copper's worst enemy?" he asked, and Kovu nodded. Claw watched the flickering light of the campfire and remained silent. Copper grimly smiled. "Like I said, he's not getting away this time."

More tomorrow, I promise!

Ducky

Apr 27, 2001, 02:10 PM

Aw yes. Finnbar Galedeep was fabulous. I like Blaggut best, though, I think..Legend of Luke was very good...I didn't like Lord Brocktree as much though did you? Salamandastron is my next favorite, I think..

Nifty, a new chapter, thankyouthankyouthankyou!

http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

`Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 27, 2001, 02:47 PM

Short, but spiffular. Veeery good, praise, praise! Uhm...*ahem*...

anywho, spiffy, more!

Grath AR

Apr 27, 2001, 02:59 PM

I like legend of luke alot!

But! you just GOTTA read Pearls of lutra

Coppertop

Apr 28, 2001, 12:29 PM

Grath! Beginnin' to wonder if you'd even seen my topic! I HAVE read PoL, very good, I like Martin and Longfletch best. BUT: This is not a Redwall topic, so let's get back to the story (sometime soon)

Unfortunately I have hardly any time today and I think I just used it all up so I can't write part of my story right now. *Takes a deep gasping breath after ThAT long sentence*

Kaz

Apr 28, 2001, 08:20 PM

Write more Copper! I'm here, and I'm not dumb as you think you judgemental person! =<, you haven't even talked to me nonetheless read my profile =/ and made me into a a a... you come up with a word!

The story's good though. =>

Kaz

Apr 29, 2001, 08:30 AM

I'm waiting for Coppertop to get on so I can rant at her some more =D

BTW, Copper, I'm not so dumb that I don't know what the difference between resent and resemble means.

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 29, 2001, 05:23 PM

Copper *choke* we *gasp* need *die* more...

Coppertop

Apr 30, 2001, 04:53 PM

*mumbles* That Kaz. . . Where's my duct tape. . .

Don't die on me! I'll write, I'll write!

Chapter Eleven-continued

As far as Kroys could tell, whatever that had been stalking him was gone. He could have been sure if he'd probed the area with magic, but he still was too low. He sat, his back against the tree, staring at the fire and trying to figure out when he could get back to his Deep Spacer. (Yeah, I know I blew it up, but HE doesn't know that). So occupied was he in his thoughts that he didn't look up until it was almost too late.

The soft scrape of a drawing sword alerted him to the danger he was in. He looked up, and a figure materialized out of the gloom. It was the grey mercenary, Coppertop, who had successfully blocked his mind probe during the fight. She had her sword out and at the ready, and two more stood just behind her, half-hidden in the shadows. One he recognized as the "traitor" Claw, the one that had fought him the last time. The other, a dangerous-looking brown-furred rabbit who had a blaster at his belt and a sword in his hand, was unknown to Kroys, but he had a feeling he was about to find out.

"Getting bolder, Carrotus scum?" he spat, and the brown rabbit's eyes narrowed angrily. Copper seemed to ignore the insult. "You have forgotten that Claw and I are not from Carrotus, evil one," she reminded him. "For that alone I should let Kovu kill you alone." Kovu? Who was that? Probably the other rabbit. "You have grown braver, enemy. Last I saw you, you had an entire army at your beck and call. If they left you, I congratulate them for their common sense. If not, they will shortly be without a leader, for I have conquered over half of the known galaxies, and a mere mercenary is nothing to me!" Copper's eyes flashed with suppressed anger. "I think not," she said softly, and Claw moved forward slightly, as if anticipating a battle ahead.

Kroys felt a presence ahead. It was very powerful, and he thought that he'd felt it before. An image flitted through his mind: a short grey rabbit with dark leggings, white long-sleeved shirt and black tunic. . . a name surfaced. Ducky?

He drew off of that presence, boosting his power level considerably. Three-quarters power. . . he dared not draw off more, in case she realized what was happening. But he was strong enough to teleport, now. Subtlely he cast a mild calming spell over the trio. "I'm so sorry, but I'm afraid I have pressing engagements elsewhere. Like, say, on the Deep Spacer." He got no further. For what Claw said then stunned him as thoroughly as if he'd been hit on the head with a crowbar. "The Deep Spacer is gone." Admirably, he managed not to let his half-horror half-shock show. "Gone? How do you mean?" Copper answered for him. "He means that we've pressed the self-destruct on your ship." Kroys was shaken. He'd had no idea-! "Then I shall have to have a new base. Say, the Conquerer. It is, you know, the most powerful up to date." Nervously, he watched their reactions. Copper and Claw were glaring at him, Claw flexing his razor-like claws. (http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif)Kovu seemed ready to simply run him through. He hoped the calming spell would work. . .

Abruptly he dramatically swept his hand at the fire, causing it to flare up in a sheet of blue and green flame. When it died down, he was gone.

Alpha awoke in a white room, the sun shining on her face. "Oooh! I feel like my head's in a vice!" ( http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif ) "It is, m'dear. Relax now, I've got to give you this pain-killer."

Later, Alpha learned that she'd taken 143 stitches all together, and that she wasn't expected to pay the hospital bill, which was a relief. There being no suitable hospital in Medivo, she had been transferred to Carrotus. She also learned that the planet had been warned about Kroys, and they were (happily) getting rid of the officials that had been planted there by Kroys. "You'll be going home in about two days," she was told. Then she drifted off into peaceful sleep.

Have you expired yet?

Kovu aka Alec

Apr 30, 2001, 05:20 PM

Mmmh, story, I can feel the blood going back into my veins, ahhhh.

Really spiffy, Copper.

Ducky

May 1, 2001, 05:21 AM

!

I should bite Kovu's ankles; I am supposed to reply first to your chapters.

Oh well. Niftyfying, CT! Do continue, I love hearing my name in italics http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif *beams*

`Ducky

Grath AR

May 1, 2001, 05:54 AM

*Chomp*

MMMMMMmmmmmmm! Ducky<\i> fur tastes good!

Kovu aka Alec

May 1, 2001, 11:32 AM

*Gives Grath a well deserved smack* http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Kaz

May 1, 2001, 03:49 PM

forgetting the </i> grath? Duct tape won't hold my beak shut =>.

Nice chapter.

Coppertop

May 1, 2001, 03:56 PM

Yes, I think he deserved it

Gosh, I didn't mean to let the baddie escape again, but I did! Oh well, more time to write. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif

Chapter Eleven (still)

"Blast it! Not again!" Copper growled, once the fire had died back down. Kovu tightened his grip on his sword, Kroys' insult still in his mind. Carrotus scum. . . Claw seemed just as angry, his red eyes seeming to glow softly in the dimness. Copper looked resigned. "The Conquerer, huh? Well, we'll just have to go pay Kroys a little visit. We did last time, and it nearly worked. This time. . ." she trailed off. "Let's get back to the ship."

"You MET and FOUGHT Kroys AGAIN and you didn't call us?!?" Wild Angel blurted out when they returned. "I told you, we didn't fight him," Kovu explained wearily. "He must have spelled you, then," she determined, and Copper cautiously nodded. "But I thought you said that he was nearly dead, Wildie," she queried. "How could've he gotten so strong?" Shinyso spoke up. "Was there anybody with you that was strong, magically?" Copper and Claw traded looks, and Kovu caught on. "Ducky!" "She returned about ten minutes ago, looking like death warmed over," Emerald informed them. "I think she's asleep." "Who's asleep?" Ducky plodded into the room, looking indeed like 'death warmed over.' "Not me." Copper was shocked by the way Ducky looked. "What happened?" "Um, I think he stole some of my power," she offered. Copper almost, almost gasped. "That's how he did it, then. Can you take it back?" "With Wild Angel's help," Ducky agreed, and the two of them headed for the next room. Meanwhile, Copper explained her 'plan' to the others. "I need Angel to block his spells and transporting. She can probably draw off of Ducky or Shinyso. Claw and I, and if you want to, Kovu can help fight him, and Grath gets ready to warp. Kaz, KRSplat and Blacksheep can keep Kroys' minions at bay, while Emerald gets the Assassin ready to go in case we got to escape. Sounds like a plan?" Kaz nodded thoughtfully. "Just one little prob. Where the heck is this Conquerer thing?"

The next morning, when the nurse came in, Alpha was gone. The lock on the door was missing, and it looked like the red rabbit had used her blaster on it. Her sword was missing from the armory, and the door to outside was gone. Only a few singed splinters hanging from the broken hinges showed that there ever had been a door there. A ship was missing from the shipyard, and the officials remembered a red rabbit leaving. But by the afternoon, the hospital staff had all but forgotten the rabbit.

Kovu aka Alec

May 1, 2001, 05:36 PM

What more is there to be said? Spiffy, Copper, and more! http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Kaz

May 1, 2001, 06:14 PM

Indeed quite spiffy!

Btw, did you know that in the chappie where I come in you put resemble instead of resent? =>

Ducky

May 2, 2001, 06:36 AM

I did it again..bleh, I'm slacking off here. Must be the heat getting to me.

I need more!

Most excellent.

`Ducky

Coppertop

May 2, 2001, 02:46 PM

Um, sorry, Kaz, I...I...I was young and foolish back then!!!! Won't do it again, 'm trying to sober up your character in the storie, y'know. You're not the comedian.

Maybe I should make Devan into a comedian, his glasses are hilarious

I think I will

Chapter Twelve-The Conquerer (Now ya know where I got my story name from)

Kroys sat in a large chair, staring out at the stars. Outwardly he looked comatose; inwardly a battle was raging. In his mind's eye he saw Ducky, and beside her was the black rabbit with the diamond. They were unafraid of him, scorning his fury and looking at him with contempt. He noticed that Ducky's electricity was dimmer than before, but she had a look of determination that he almost feared.

The black rabbit -and a name surfaced, Wild Angel,- grasped a long knife (I think it's called a dirk) that resembled the mercenary's, for it had a gold dragon as the hilt. (There seem to be lots of dragons in JCF). It gleamed in the dim light -where did it come from? There was no sun as far as Kroys could see- and instinctively he drew back.

A voice rang out in his head. Somehow he knew that it was Wild Angel, although her lips didn't move.

"Kroys." He had to answer. I am he and he is I," he replied, and felt her scathing scorn lash out at him. He blocked it. "You have stolen something precious from me," said a different voice, Ducky's. He angrily retaliated. "I have nothing of yours, fool. Why did you come here?" The equivelant of mental laughter resounded in his head. "You have stolen part of her life-energy, evil one. We have come to retrieve it." Wild Angel's accusation did nothing to him. He had killed so many. . . "What I have is mine, rabbit. If you attempt to take anything from me, I will annihilate you." He gathered his powers, ignoring the splitting headache that had started.

The white shroud of mist that surrounded them swirled, and a figure faded into veiw. It was one he could never forget.

"You! What are you doing here, traitor?" Claw ignored him, turning instead to Wild Angel and Ducky. "You must leave this place, quickly! It'll collapse in minutes. Finish here, and return with all speed!" The creature turned his burning red eyes onto Kroys. His voice rang in the evil sorcerer's head, and Kroys got the feeling that only he could hear the message Claw imparted to him. "You have wrongly branded me as traitor, enemy. For that I would kill you, except that I know that I cannot kill any here, and the same goes for anybody here. But there is one who has been greivously injured by you, one who is a killer, yet a friend. She may succeed where we seem to fail; Shinyso has sensed her presence on Carrotus, by her burning fury against you. She comes even now. Watch your back if you wish to live!" The figure stepped back, and the mist concealed him again.

Wild Angel had been advancing on him, and Kroys turned his attention back onto her. "So," he snarled. "You have even more allies than I had counted on. To what end, rabbit?" There was no answer. Kroys watched her from the shadows of his hood, ignoring the fact that Ducky was glaring at him.

He felt a tug on his senses. His contempt turned to alarm, and then to fury as his power level dropped considerably, flowing out like floodwater through a breached dam, like the tide. Only the thought that she couldn't kill him allowed him security, and he clung to it.

He couldn't move. Wild Angel had bound him with a spell, and he could only watch and wait as her diamond began to glow. He turned his attention inwards, and saw what Angel had her focus on: a bright, gleaming blue tendril of power, one that had only just begun to tarnish from the filth of its container. She reached for it inexorably, and he allowed her to. The shred was pulled away from him, and dimly he saw the diamond grow brighter. Then a beam of dazzling white and blue light lanced out from it, and enveloped Ducky. Then it slowly sank into her, and the leaping electricity that laced her body grew visibly brighter.

Wild Angel waved her wand at him, and the bindings that held him loosened slightly. She hadn't heard what Claw had said, he knew, so she had attempted to kill him. . .

He worked at the bonds, shredding them. Abruptly he stood, tearing away the last of the magical ropes, throwing them aside. His eyes glowed bloodred, and he seemed to grow larger, more evil, with sheer fury. Just as a beam of sizzling red power shot out at the two avengers, Angel placed her paw on Ducky's arm and they disappeared.

Kovu aka Alec

May 2, 2001, 04:54 PM

Duh duh daa daa!

Nifty chappie, Copper http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Ducky

May 2, 2001, 05:02 PM

Woot, spiffy, thank you http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

`Ducky

Kaz

May 2, 2001, 05:31 PM

LOL copper, I just wanted to point that out, I would've done it for any other character as well.

Phoebe

May 2, 2001, 05:39 PM

Are you taking joiners still, Coppertop? This is a very cool story http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Coppertop

May 3, 2001, 12:47 PM

"Thank you, thank you, hold the applause, just throw quarters. . ."

That's what m'sister always says. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif If ya want to join, Phoebe, y'can, I just need the profile (and I was just sayin' that I might need more joiners, too.)

Chapter Twelve, continued

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!! The high-pitched sound alerted Devan to the fact that he was wanted. He scrambled to his feet, nearly knocking his glasses off, and clicked the "Receive" button. A three inch high hologram flickered into existance.

A hooded figure stood in the middle of a room, holding a staff. Glowing red eyes glared at Devan, and, knowing that Kroys could see him, he bowed his head clumsily, almost falling over.

"Devan Shell, when may I expect the new slaves?" Devan gulped. "Uh, in, um, a few days, sir," he stuttered, and crossed his fingers behind his back. "Good. I am informed that a group of rabbits are heading your way. Create a trap. I will tolerate no failure this time." Devan promptly crossed the fingers of his other hand. "Y-y-yes sir," he blurted. "We'll do that immediately."

The hologram faded out, and Devan summoned the messenger lizard. "Hey you, lizard! C'mere a minute," he yelled, and the lizard made a mad dash for the door. Devan gave chase, and finally cornered the escaping lizard in a hallway. "Tell those Tuff Turts that the Boss says there's a bunch of dumb rabbits comin' and he wants us to get 'em. I expect them to be in Hangar 3." "B-b-but sir," the lizard trembled, "That's where the Slaver II is!" "Of course it is!" Devan bellowed. "Ya think I don't know that?" "Uh, uh, no sir, I'll tell them right away, um, SIR!" "That's better," Devan said as he walked away. "Much better."

Although Kovu had accompanied Copper and Claw the last time they'd met Kroys, he still didn't have a real reason to want to kill him, except for that insult. So while he participated in the battle planning, he didn't plan to fight Kroys himself. Until he heard Kazooie's news. "Guys," he announced, "SAM says that Carrotus has just been attacked by a big spacebase. She says they think it's the Conquerer." Coppertop gave him a curious look. "SAM? What's that?" Kaz shrugged. "She's sort of a 'super computer.' (Yes I read your profile Kaz, and from now on you're Kaz, not Kazooie.) It's kinda hard to explain, I'll try to get more accurate later. But, um, waitaminute... She says that alot of the shielding was destroyed, and part of the Palace leveled. I think we oughta go help out, there's not a lot we can do on this backwater planet." Kovu got up. "Carrotus got attacked by Kroys? Why?" (I assume you're from Carrotus, Kove, I am (even though I lied to Kroys) and I think most of us are) Copper glanced at Shinyso. He shrugged, and Kaz replied to Kovu's question. "Somebunny warned them about Kroys, SAM says it was somebody named Alpha." Copper stood and looked over at Ducky, and the two headed for the cockpit.

Like I said b'fore Kaz, m'sorry about the character portrait in the previous chapters.

_________________

Read my story in War Tavern! I renamed it: Conquerer!

Whatever.

I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. -Phillipians 4:13

"So what?" -Coppertop

"When Life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Ducky

May 3, 2001, 01:39 PM

Yay! Woot, nifty, CT, I can't think of any adjectives, though...eh sorry :P

`Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

May 3, 2001, 05:12 PM

Ultra-niftular Copper, and it's tensing up,

buh buh baa!

Actually, no, I didn't come from Carrotous,

I came from earth, but I lived on Carrotous

almost all my life so it's virtually the same.

Phoebe

May 3, 2001, 05:15 PM

Um, kay my profile is still kind of under construction http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif I'll do my best.

I am a light blue rabbit with light purple hair that goes to about my shoulder blades, and long bangs to about where ears would be on a human that get in my eyes a lot.I wear a sort of dusty greenish wraparound skirt to my feet, and a white shirt thats kind of plain. I have gold colored sandals that come up around my ankles, like those roman type ones?

Then there is a cape sort of thing that attaches to my wrists with bracelet things. I can't really explain it..

I have a small crossbow with blue feathered arrows, and a blaster.

I'm a quiet sort of rabbit, who is very sensitive. I don't like seeing anyone else hurt at all..but I'm mostly friendly.

Okay. Thank you http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Phoebe

May 4, 2001, 11:29 AM

Aw, lookit that. I've rwitten rabbit so much in the past I wrote it here. I'm not a rabbit, sorry, I am a sqirrel. But everything else is the same :P

Sorry about that. Please, continue, its very cool http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Coppertop

May 4, 2001, 02:03 PM

3rd page! An' nobody claimed it! Well, I do!

Coppertop

May 4, 2001, 02:51 PM

Bah, who cares 'bout claiming pages. Thanks, Phoebe, I'll get ya in soon as I can. . .

Chapter Twelve-continued

"Alpha!" Shinyso exclaimed. "Never heard of 'em. Is he a Carrotan?" "She. SAM doesn't know, she says that she came from Medivo but wasn't a citizen. I don't know where she came from." Emerald shrugged resignedly. "Well, it I know Copper than we're going to meet this Alpha, like it or not."

And Emerald was right. Copper had full intents to find Alpha, because she suspected that this was the one Shinyso had sensed. The Assassin shuddered and took off. . .

Alpha checked the readings on the small vessel she had stolen. The Silken Swift was just that; speedy and smooth.

Getting off of Carrotus had been easy. Alpha had waited until the Shellian "guards" had been changing, when there was a lot of chaos. Then she had simply slipped through the patrols while they were getting into position and she was home free.

The "escape" had been fueled by her temper, and now she was cooling down. What was she doing? One little messenger-type ship against a huge Star Destroyer? (http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif) Perhaps it would be better if she just went back to Medivo, pay her rent and start roaming again.

Then all thoughts of leaving left HER as the Conquerer shuddered and moved slightly. The gargantuan laser cannons receded and, if possible, even bigger torpedoes mounted and aimed straight for the planet! Although Alpha hadn't been there long, her initial impression of Carrotus had been of friendliness and happiness. She did not want her benefactors killed by the scum of the galaxies!

Silken Swift wheeled about, and shot for the Star Destroyer. Alpha could barely belive it as she neared the vessel: the lower bay, which had opened for the troops to leave, was still open! Quick as light, she directed the small ship into the yawning bay.

Now she was confronted by a maze of passage tubes and walkways. Skilfully weaving through the labyrinth, she was enveloped by a large tube, which she followed. An airlock followed that, and closed behind her automatically. Air flowed in, and gravity returned.

"Lord Kroys, the Carrotan defense system has been destroyed. With your permission, we will obliterate the planet." Kroys shook his head pityingly. "Destroy it, Commander, and we will have no trophy. Surround the planet in a pattern of troops, and be certain that none leave the planet. I trust that no one escaped during the blast?" The turtle bowed. "My Lord, the sensors detected a lone messenger leaving the planet. It was small enough to have been a large probe, but we lost track of it five minutes ago."

Kroys pondered the news. Finally he spoke. "One vessel cannot hurt us, Commander. But two can. Be sure that nothing else leaves the planet OR this ship unauthorized." The officer bowed again. "Yes, Milord."

I can't write anymore right now, but there'll be more tomorrow!

(Um, Phoebe, d'you mind being found as a slave in the mines? I mean, a newish one? Thanks.)

Ducky

May 5, 2001, 06:10 AM

Awwww! Lookit thaaaat. Mean ol' CT http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

This page is RIGHTLY mine, so Narf to you all.

Yay, a chapter! Do continue, again..

`DUcky

Phoebe

May 5, 2001, 06:20 AM

Thank you, Coppertop, thats fine http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif The slave thing, I mean, thats okay. Thanks again.

Kaz

May 5, 2001, 07:19 AM

Thank you copper for restoring my dignity =D, I'll never rant at you and your <STRIKE>stupid</STRIKE> story again =D.

Kovu aka Alec

May 5, 2001, 06:34 PM

Ag, no, everyone replied before me.

Very nifty, Copper.

Coppertop

May 5, 2001, 07:28 PM

Thanks, Phoebe. I'll get you in.

Silent as a shadow, the battle station Conquerer turned and headed away from the surrounded Carrotus. It slid away towards the stars, driving towards an out-of-the-way planet called Firen, which hosted the numerous slave mines. They would stop for an hour at the half-way point to recieve Devan's shipments and the news from Medivo, then continue on.

All this Alpha figured out from tapping into the transmissions made from different parts of the ship. She also found out other things. As she had suspected, Kroys was behind the attack on her shuttle, as with the blasting of Carrotus. But other things she didn't understand. Who, for instance, was the "traitor"? And they had mentioned others, such as the "mercenary", the "bird", the "dragon-lover", and the three "magic-users". Occasionally a name was mentioned, such as "Claw", "Coppertop", and "Ducky". She had never heard of the last, and the first mention she could remember of the other two was from a tavern.

The two drunk cats were leaning up against the wall, discussing something in low tones. Alpha leaned closer, trying to catch a bit of their conversation, suspecting, unlike most, that the two weren't drunk but very sober. "-of course, the 'Empire' is keeping it very quiet," the darker cat was saying, and Alpha eagerly strained her ears. "Yes, well, you'd expect them to, wouldn't you," his friend replied. "Being beaten by two mercenaries is very humiliating- what did you say their names were?" "Ghaf said they were called Coppertop and Claw." "Coppertop! and Claw? Teamed up, those two would be unbeatable!" The dark cat glanced furtively around and hushed his companion. "Quiet! Anyway, they had outside help, a bunch of rabbits and slaves, Ghaf said. He couldn't figure out how they'd gotten inside such a well armed and guarded ship like the Deep Spacer.. Anyway, how would you know?" The grey cat half-smiled. "'Cause I insulted Coppertop once, and I had the luck to see Claw fight," he said, almost being sarcastic. The dark cat looked surprised. "Then you're lucky, Rroyvan. They say not many live to see the dawn after insulting Coppertop." The grey cat indicated a long, wicked-looking scar along his side and back. "I very nearly didn't, Zanzibar. But this is not the place for telling tales. Sometimes it seems the very walls have ears. . . if you want to hear it, you'd have to get to the War Tavern." The darker cat nodded and glanced over at Alpha, who quickly tuned out. . .

Alpha shook the memory away. Forgotten until now, it had given her a very valuable bit of information. . .

Unknown to the red rabbit, another was headed for Firen too. However, it was not willingly.

The prisoner opened her eyes. Pain shot through her body, but she ignored it, being busy trying to remember who and where she was. Images flashed by, something about blaster fire, and another type of fire. . . in the tops of trees? Yes, that was it, the treetops were on fire and she couldn't escape. Falling. . . she had fallen out of a tree. . . she managed to catch herself. . .

Unseen by the concentrating prisoner, a smirking guard strolled up. Thrusting a stick through the bars of her cage, he prodded her until she stirred. "So yer awake, are yer? Well I'm afraid yer goin' to be moved, bush tail!"

The words barely made sense. Bush tail? Where had she heard that before? As an insult?. . .

She was roughly dragged through the now unlocked door, and propelled towards a larger cage, which already held another. The memories came flooding back faster. . . Shouting, from others like her, encouraging her to make the leap to safety, across a large space. . . fear, uncertainty. . . a frantic scamper across the protruding limb. . . falling, again, but this time there was no recovery. . . turtles?

The prisoner hadn't realized she had stopped until the guard whacked her with his rod. "Git movin', yeh mangy tree hopper! Who d'yer think yeh are?" More memories. . . she remembered it all! She turned her attention to the guard. "I tol' yer already, git movin' or yer goin' to regret it! I musta been mad, taking this job. Both you an' I'm goin' to regret this choice o' yers if-" the squirrel -squirrel!- drew herself up defiantly. For the first time, she spoke. "Aye, you're goin' to regret this. You're goin' to regret that you ever messed with Phoebe!"

Sorry, nothing about the rest of you guys, but there'll be more to write, there always is!

Kaz

May 5, 2001, 09:10 PM

Indeed! A very spiffy chappie CT

Kovu aka Alec

May 6, 2001, 04:06 AM

Again, very niftular indeed.

Kaz

May 6, 2001, 05:41 AM

Why can't I get into any other forum?

Coppertop

May 8, 2001, 08:42 PM

Sorry 'bout that, guys, but I haven't been able to get on in like, three days. And Kaz, what's that got to do with the story?

Chapter Thirteen -The Shipmines of Firen

"Phoebe?" The guard laughed. "Who the heck is tha'?" Phoebe narrowed her eyes in fury and fairly bristled. "Who do you think, bowl-brain?" She spat the last word out as though it was something foul. The indignant, then furious, Shellion turned on her and brought his stick -no, it wasn't just a stick, it was a whippy willow branch, with all the twigs trimmed off and a dull but gleaming metal spike driven through the end- down across her back, leaving a streak of blood on her shining blue fur. Instinctively, she flicked her tail up, deflecting the branch away. The guard growled something unintelligible, and, jerking viciously at the ropes that bound her already throbbing paws, dragged her over to the cage. Thrusting her through the small opening, the door swung shut with a final clang. Phoebe's back felt like she was lying on spikes.

Slowly she sat up and looked around. Her companion was a grim looking cat, with jet-black fur and surprisingly light blue eyes with brilliant green slitted pupils. He was huge compared to her, and her first impression of him was razor-sharp retractable claws and teeth.

He looked up, and she saw the spark of fury that blazed in his eyes. When he saw her tightly bound paws, he moved over and extended the claws on one paw.

"Hold still for minute, Phoebe," he said, or, more accurately, growled, and she tried not to flinch. She felt a slight jerk, and then the rope dropped off, neatly severed in half. Feeling exploded into her paws, sending needles of agony jabbing at her. She gasped, and tears sprang to her eyes. The pain ebbed away, and she blinked the tears away. Her benefactor was still watching her, with a bit of concern.

"How- how did you know my name?" she managed, and the cat smiled faintly.

"I hear you say to guard, before you got shoved in," he told her, and she looked surprised. But she had another question.

"Who are you?" The black cat glanced away, towards another row of cages. She almost began to think that he had forgotten her question, until finally he answered with a hissed word in an unknown language, and then in his broken Basic, the language she was using.

"My name is- Zanzibar," he sighed. "Zanzibar Sia."

Copper manevuered the Assassin deftly between the guards, heading unerringly towards the huge Star Destroyer. Claw, being her preferred gunner, kept a sharp eye out for trouble. Ducky manned the navigator.

"Ducky, how long until we reach where you say this Alpha is?" Ducky glanced up. "Um, Copper, we have a bit of a problem. Alpha's ship. . . it's inside the Conquerer!"

Alpha paced the tiny cockpit agitatedly. Five steps either way, she had a notion that if she looked down she would see a trail worn into the floor. Five steps across. . . five steps back. . . Wearily, she watched the scanners.

Finally she slumped down dispiritedly into the seat, and fell asleep.

Twelve hours later, she was woken by the bleep of a warning, far off in the Star Destroyer. Straining her ears, she listened intently.

"All pilots in your fighters, we are coming up on Firen!" the comm blared, and Alpha jerked upright in her seat.

"Copper, there's a planet ahead," Blacksheep called, and Copper accordingly veered. Blacksheep had changed positions with Ducky a few hours ago at the nav console, and was diligently doing her job.

"What's it called, Blackie?" Copper inquired, and Blacksheep dutifully read off the name.

"Firen. We'll have to check in at the Firenzev Customs if you wanna land in Flarex." Copper looked stumped.

"Flarex?"

"That's the name of the capital, and only, city on Firen," Blacksheep explained, and Copper nodded. Then she looked over at her gunner.

"Claw? Claw!" The mercenary started.

"What?" Copper looked concerned.

"Where were you? You looked like you were in a coma or something," she said, but all Claw did was shrug. Blacksheep interrupted her. "Copper, we're comin' in at the Ryjev Desert."

"Where are we headed?" Zanzibar Sia asked Phoebe. (If you haven't figured it out, yes, Zanzibar Sia is the dark cat Alpha saw at the tavern.) Phoebe racked her mind for a while. In the short time she'd known Zanzibar, she'd found out an awful lot of things about him. His brother was a grey cat with "bronze eyes" named Rroyvan, his love, who Devan had had killed for attacking several of his commanders, was named Vorsyelvo, who had striking orange-striped white fur and glorious golden eyes and who had captured Zanzibar's heart. He had earned his scar on his side, which was a swath of white fur, the color of his whiskers, from a furious battle with a "Firen-mountain Fader", a rarely seen being from the Smoljer Mountains in, of course, Firen. In fact, the thought reminded her.

"We are going to Firen, I think," she said, and was startled by a half-hiss, half-yowl from the cat. When she asked what was wrong, he replied with "I am Firenzev."

Enter a new warrior! I hope I don't have to kill Zanzibar off. . .

_________________

Read my story in War Tavern! I renamed it: Conquerer!

Whatever.

I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. -Phillipians 4:13

"So what?" -Coppertop

"When Life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Kovu aka Alec

May 9, 2001, 04:41 AM

Ahh, story good for the soul...

Coppertop

May 9, 2001, 12:34 PM

I think that was the longest post I've ever made.

Kaz

May 9, 2001, 02:46 PM

The climax is coming =P!

YaY! Another chapter to <strike>eat</STRIKE> read!

Ducky

May 10, 2001, 06:05 AM

Ah, sorry, I was gone. For a few days. Wonderous, CT. SOB.

`Ducky

Phoebe

May 10, 2001, 11:56 AM

Oh nice, CopperTop..thats very nifty, I like the way you put me in. Um, since, like I said, I'm still working on a good profile, is it okay if I mention a thing to put in?

Sorry http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif

Continue http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Kaz

May 10, 2001, 01:10 PM

100th Post!!!

Coppertop

May 10, 2001, 01:26 PM

Don't mind at all, Phoebe! On the JMMB (sob) Ninja was constantly making "updates" on his profile, like being able to fly, being telepathetic, being perfect in math. . . feel free, so long as it isn't too extravagant. . .

Chapter Thirteen, cont'd

Copper was puzzled. How could Alpha get IN the Star Destroyer? She didn't understand until Blacksheep finally turned the nav over to Kaz. The first thing the bird did was to try to contact Alpha with his nav com.

"Assassin to unknown, come in," he called, and was rewarded by static. Then a pre-recorded voice came on.

[b]"Please give the 'password', Assassin, before proceeding."[b/] Shinyso looked up from outside and mouthed "Diamondus forever, no more." Ducky looked stricken, but Kaz calmly repeated Shinyso's words.

"Diamondus forever, no more." The voice did not come back on. Instead, a youngish rabbit flickered up onto the view-screen. Her voice didn't have the echo that the recorded one did. In fact, she sounded quite normal.

"Silken Swift to Assassin, over," she said, and Copper nodded in approval. Kaz got right to the point.

"Are you Alpha?" The red rabbit stiffened, then cocked her head to one side.

"Yes. Who are you?" Claw glanced over at Copper, who shrugged and answered for Kaz.

"I am the pilot, Coppertop, this is my gunner Claw, and Kaz is the navigator. I assume you know where you are headed, Silken Swift?" The rabbit looked stunned for a moment, then regained her dignity.

"I do, Assassin. Thank you for your concern on my behalf. Prepare to make a pit-stop. . ."

Short, but it'll do for now. Seeya, guys!

Kovu aka Alec

May 10, 2001, 05:25 PM

Spiffy as usual, Copper, and it just keeps

getting better (a little better, all the time)

Bah, thanks Copper, now you got that song stuck in my head! http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Ducky

May 11, 2001, 06:23 AM

Now you've gone and gotten me all nostalgic. SOB, the Jmmb, *cries* those were the good ol' days..*sniffles*

Sigh. But, anyway, fabulous, CT, plEASE, continue. Wot Kovey said.. :P Bah, lookit me, I can't even think up something to say.

OKay, I'm gonna stop complaining now. Ignore this useless post http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif

`Ducky

Ducky

May 11, 2001, 06:34 AM

Pizzie adds his dramatic prescence.

:P

Ok, ok, I get it, its just a me thing..

`Ducky

Phoebe

May 11, 2001, 12:44 PM

Splendid, for lack of a better word, I wish I could write as good as you http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Phoebe

May 11, 2001, 12:48 PM

Oh, and the small change...I usually wear glasses. They are small and have gold frame, and the fall of quite a bit. I'm quite blurry without them.

I probably won't put anything in here. Maybe when I get my profile all sorted out I can put it in that topic thing.

Coppertop

May 12, 2001, 02:27 PM

*bows* Thanks, guys, but "no matter how good (or bad) you are, there'll always be somebody better (or worse) than you. . ."

What song, Kove?

Maybe the guards took 'em off or somethin', I'll give you them when you get your weapons back, Phoebe.

"Pit-stop? Why?" Kaz demanded, and Alpha looked almost frantic.

"We're stopping just outside of Firen's atmosphere, for a load of slaves. If you don't wanna join the ranks, stay out of sight!" Kaz hurridly typed in the new coordinates, and Alpha signed out.

"Firenzev? Whazzat?" Zanzibar looked up, startled.

"It means I am Firen, from planet ahead," he said, and Phoebe nodded. "And what are you, Phoebe?" he asked, and she blinked. "I-I'm not sure," she said, startled. "I must have- heard it once or twice, but I don't remember it. Isn't that funny? I don't even know the name of my home. . ." Zanzibar hissed something, cutting her off. A sneering tortise walked by, armed with a hooked prod. When he was out of earshot, she glanced over at Zanzibar. He was gazing after the turtle, his startling eyes narrowed and filled with fury.

"One day he not wake up, by the Ryjev," he growled, and she felt a chill.

Time to change the subject, she decided, and hastily did so.

"Y'know, Zanzibar, you speak pretty good Basic for somebody who just learned bits and snatches. But you're still missin' something. . ."

The Conquerer ground to a halt, and a large freighter appeared infront of them, having just aborted hyperspace. It glided slowly into a yawning hangar, and the door shut just after it. The engines flared up on the gigantic Star Destroyer, and it resumed course to Firen, just below.

Ducky was struck by the gorgeous planet below. A small sphere, it had one polar cap on the northern end, and a humoungous desert sprawled over half of the planet. Mountains with their peaks shrouded in mist ringed it, and the large mountain range eventually gave way to rainforest. One giant ocean lay against the rainforest, the mountains being the only barrier keeping the sea from flooding the desert beyond. Nestled on a cluster of islands a few leagues from the forests was a sprawling city of bridges and tunnels, powered completely by solar. The peaceful, remote place had an air of innocence about it, as well as one of raw, untouched wild beauty.

Funny how such a beautiful planet can harbor such evil, Ducky mused. Then the Assassin swerved, and star-spangled space met her eyes.

Sorry I coan't write more, guys, I gotta go. . .

Kaz

May 12, 2001, 05:12 PM

Spiffomatic!

Ducky

May 13, 2001, 05:21 AM

Indeed, most Groovular.

`Duck

Coppertop

May 14, 2001, 01:34 PM

Um, I need more (like, one) joiners before I continue! Specifications: Please be rabbit sized, have a profile ready, and be ready to play a serious part. Thanks!

*~Omega~*

May 15, 2001, 01:52 AM

I'll join http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

fur: black fur and gold armbands. and black hair, a long scar across my face from my battle with vulcan.

eyes: red, they glow slightly in the dark.

clothing: army fatigues and grey cloak.

weapons: golden sword with a black leather hilt and a white glowing opal on the pommel. also an uzi.

personality: cocky and self-assured, protective of my friend and twin sister, Alpha. Loyal. Would rather die than give in to an enemy.

skills: fighting, martial arts, climbing and spying

Coppertop

May 15, 2001, 03:05 PM

Awesome, you're just what I need! Thanks http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Chapter Thirteen- cont'd

Phoebe grasped frantically at the bars of her cage as the entire Shellion freighter rocked wildly. Zanzibar, across from her, seemed to be having no trouble keeping his balance. She envied him, briefly.

The freighter settled down, and she relaxed. Zanzibar looked half asleep, and although his striking eyes were mere slits, she knew he was very alert. But not enough. . .

They were caught unaware as a sickeningly sweet scented gas began filling the room. Zanzibar was the first to realize what was happening; with a strangled yowl he flattened himself on the floor, with one paw over his mouth and nose and the other pulling a dizzy, drowsy Phoebe down. The last she saw before she spiralled down into darkness was Zanzibar's dark form on the ground, lying very, very still. . .

"Silken Swift to Assassin, do you read, over," Alpha called. There occured a mad dash for the com. Copper won.

"Roger, this is Assassin to Silken Swift, I read you. Over."

"Copper! Uh. . . 'kay. Can you get into the Conquerer? Over."

"Roger. We did it once, can do again. Over."

"Good. How close are you? Over."

"As close as we can get without collision, Swift. Why? Over."

"Um, hang on a sec. . ."

"Will do. Heh, you forgot the "over." Over."

"Ha ha. Very funny. There it is. . . 'kay. There's a large waste chute for scrap metal, etc. in the back. At 1300 hours there's a real heavy flow, and it dwindles to nothing at around 1340 hours. Then there's another at 5:00. If you can get in at, say, 1240 hours, just before the 1:00 flow, you should be able to escape with the 1700 dump if there's any problems. Over."

"Roger, Swift. Will do. Where to after that?" Copper was amused at Alpha's conversion between the 24 hour clock and the 12 one.

"Uh. I think. . . oh yeah, you'll find yourself at a crossroad. Take the one to the left, and if you're a bit late you'll have to wind your way through a bunch of wrecked cages. At exactly 1300- oh, blast, 1:00, the slave freighter leaves, so you might want to be a bit late. If it hasn't left, hover in the tunnel until it does. Then get in there and set down. There's a group of guards who are goin' down the middle corridor- they have the slaves. Follow them, free the slaves if you want, I wouldn't, or keep trailin' them until they get to a holding room. Actually, it's a prison. Mingle in with the slaves and stay there until you land, then get outa there as fast as you can! Get back to your ship and leave the Destroyer, and watch for the slaves' departure for the mines. Follow them, and radio me to tell me when. Leave the rest to me, just get the slaves, old and new, out of the mines. Don't be surprised if you see an explosion, heheh. Got it? Oops, almost forgot. . . Over."

"Roger. Over and out."

Devan Shell peeked around the corner, in at his "Boss". Kroys was sitting with his back to him, gazing out at the stars. He gave no indication that he knew Devan was there, except for his voice. . .

"Shell."

Devan slunk out.

"Yeah, sir, I mean, Milord?"

"How many?" Devan scratched his head, baffled.

"Huh?"

"H o w m a n y s l a v e s d i d y o u b r i n g m e ?" Kroys sarcastically drew the words out agonizingly slow.

"Uh, forty five, I think," the dimwitted Shellion said. Kroys turned his gaze to the ceiling.

"Devan. Shell."

"Y-yes, sir? Er, Milord?"

"Do. You. Seriously. Think. That. Forty. Five. Slaves. Is. Going. To. Make. A. Blasted. Hill. Of. Beans. Difference?!? How is forty-five squirrels, cats and the occasional rabbit going to replace the five hundred odd slaves that escaped with the mercenary?"

"Uh. . ."

"They aren't, that's what!" Kroys was seething.

"Er, um, uh, I-I- oops." Kroys turned, slowly, towards the door.

"Commander Flairang. Take this pitiful excuse for a worm to the warp that I have erected and send him through to Carrotus. Dismissed."

The intelligent Commander was a large (for a lizard) black lizard, the very one who had given Claw the tipoff without realizing it. The Commander obediently prodded the hapless Shellion out the door, and pushed him roughly through the warp.

Alpha got out of the sleek, small Swift and headed for where the slaves were. She planned to get to one of the control rooms, where she would then press the self-destruct. If it had one.

As she was heading down the corridor in the shadows, she saw a flicker of black. Could it be. . .? She shook her head. Her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Zanzibar was the first to awaken. Having fought the gasses as long as he could, both mentally and physically, he was exhausted.

He winced. A long, jagged slash ran the length of his leg, where he had been dragged out of the bashed in door of the cage. It had stopped bleeding by now, but it still hurt. Wearily he closed his eyes and slid back under the merciful darkness. . .

Ducky

May 15, 2001, 04:17 PM

yay!

Heeheee, at last you continue, MOST spiffy, PLEASE continue I implore thee...

`Ducky

Coppertop

May 18, 2001, 07:08 PM

Okay, okay! Get up off your knees already!

j/k

Chapter Fourteen -Omega

Commander Flairang had to get a look at the slaves. That was the only reason the lizard gave the guards, and they knew better than to question the cold officer. Now he stood in the corridor, giving the reports a once-over. He glanced up, fixing his softly glowing eyes on the first guard he saw.

"Trooper!" The unfortunate Shellion trotted obediently over to his superior.

"Yes, SIR!" Flairang's tail lashed. His hard gaze remained on the trooper, making him sweat.

"Where are these slaves being kept?" The slow turtle thought for a minute. Flairang scowled.

"Er, I think just off of the main cargo bay, SIR!" Flairang's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"And? What are you not telling me?" The guard shuffled his feet nervously and gulped.

"Uh, there's about forty of 'em, Lord Kroys isn't happy, and. . . they're being starved." The unfortunate's voice trailed off. Flairang's temper blazed up.

"Starved?"

"Yessir."

"What for?"

"Er, er, I dunno." A noncommital answer if he'd ever heard one.

"Do you not realize that Lord Kroys needs his slaves STRONG, not half dead from starvation? Who put you on this shift anyway?" The dimwitted Shellion pointed down the hall to a lavishly appointed office. Flairang sniffed condencedingly.

"When you are done this shift you are to go down to the barracks and tell Lt. Sirov that I sent you. You, I think, would do well in the soldier department."

"Yes, SIR!" Flairang turned and stalked down the hall.

As he passed the branching corridor that led to the emergency airlock, he thought he caught a flash of red.

Phoebe awoke to the rasping gasps of Zanzibar. He lay unconscious on the floor, his chest heaving as he fought for breath. One glance at his wound told her that it was serious and was bleeding again; in fact, his fur was a matted crimson. She moved over to him and began trying to staunch the blood flow.

Alpha stretched her neck, trying to glimpse that familiar black figure that she thought she had seen. When she was truly sure it was gone, she wearily turned to go down the corridor, when she saw another flash of black. Hopefully she followed it, wondering if this was the way to the control room. They passed a hall that seemed to be a dead end, then turned down one that wasn't. The flash of black disappeared then, and Alpha was alone.

Yet she had reached her goal. In the room ahead, scanners hummed, lights flashed and buttons begged to be pushed. She slipped in and tried to remember the way back.

"Assassin to Silken Swift, do you read, repeat, do you read," Shinyso said. Copper shook her head.

"Face it, Shinyso, Alpha's gone. We have three minutes before we have to leave." Shinyso glowered at her. She returned the look.

"Can you bring up the scan of the Conquerer?" Shinyso brightened.

"Done." The screen brightened as a diagram of the Star Destroyer's cargo/waste dump area flickered on. Copper traced a course.

"There. We have to thread our way through there. I'm not placing it on autopilot; as perfect a pilot that may be it's not prepared for stray junk. Kaz!" The bird poked his head around the corner.

"Yeah?"

"Any news from SAM?" The bird shook his head and Kovu looked annoyed. Grath smothered a laugh, unsuccessfully. Kaz looked unhappy.

"Plenty from Medivo though," he sighed, and Copper was on the alert.

"One of Kroys' destroyers is heading over there, the Hypernaught- no, that's his personal shuttle. It's the Terror." Copper winced and Claw (if he can, he has no pupils) rolled his eyes. Shinyso sighed.

"So Kroys is finally hooking Medi-"

"Warning! Warning! Approaching large vessel! Collision immediate! Warning! War-" Claw reached down and flipped a switch. The warning fell silent. He looked furious. Shinyso looked relieved.

The tunnel loomed ahead. Copper leaned forward and grasped the controls as they left the star-filled vastness of space.

Phoebe looked up as the door hissed open. A huge black lizard stood there. She was so worried that she didn't have time to be afraid.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not what I seem, squirrel," the lizard said as he stepped in and shut the door. Phoebe gazed up, perplexed. The lizard seemed to shed his skin, and what now stood before her was a tall black rabbit with gold armbands and black hair. He had a long scar across his face, and Phoebe didn't want to ask. Instead, she asked,

"Who are you? Can you help him?" The black rabbit nodded to the last.

"I can. You are. . .?" She blushed.

"Phoebe."

"Ah. I, to Kroys and his troops, am known as Commander Flairang, but to my friends I am known as Omega."

Okay, I got you in, Omega! I can't write more now, my hour's up.

Kovu aka Alec

May 18, 2001, 08:29 PM

Ahh, story is good, and chappie is nifty.

Kaz

May 19, 2001, 11:59 AM

Ditto

Coppertop

May 19, 2001, 03:01 PM

Ack, no, I can't. . . write any today. My parents are trying to drag me away from the computer as I <s>speak</s> I mean, type

http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif

Coppertop

May 20, 2001, 02:03 PM

Okay, where is everybody? I WILL write today, y'know.

Chapter Fourteen -cont'd

The steel tunnel that they had to navigate was not that difficult at first. It was a straight run, with hardly any turns. At least, for the first part. They sped forward, barely making the twisting turns that came up, and several of Copper's friends (I won't say names) just about fainted as they rounded yet another extremely sharp corner.

"Can't you slow down?" Blacksheep yelled, and Copper gave her an incredulous look and shook her head.

"Are you crazy? I don't fancy winding through junk, Blackie!"

An ominous rumble interrupted them. The vessel shook, and then righted itself. Copper looked faintly alarmed.

"Claw! Arm the ion cannons, we're a bit late and you'll have to shoot out any dangerous waste in our way!" Claw looked furious again; or maybe he'd never lost the look. His hands flew over the keys infront of him, and a distant click proved that the ions were out. Copper turned to Blackie.

"Black, go get Kovu. I need a fresh nav, Shinyso's been working since before we planned our course, and Kovu's-"

"The best one. I'm going, I'm go-" The hiss of the cockpit door cut Blackie off as she left.

Omega, aka Commander Flairang, had a problem. He had no way to get Zanzibar Sia to the medical without arousing suspicion, and it was very obvious that Zanzibar needed attention. There was nothing Phoebe and he could do, except. . .

"Phoebe, you'll have to stay here. Act scared, okay? I've got to get this cat help." Omega donned his disguise, and stepped out into the corridor. His once assured, cocky personality dissolved until once more he was the cold, commanding Flairang.

"You, guard, who brought in this batch of slaves?" The guard looked startled.

"Sir, I believe it was the last watch. They've gone to the soldier quarters."

"Who?" It was more of a statement.

"The shwartzenguards, sir. They were the only ones who could handle that black demon, er, the cat, sir." Flairang looked frustrated.

"They've beat him up pretty bad, trooper. He's in shock and bleeding badly, and Lord Kroys needs every slave."

"I'll get the medics, sir!"

"Good. You look like a sensible trooper, unlike the last oaf who was on watch. What's your name? The Emperor, Lord Kroys, needs good soldiers." Inwardly, Omega was almost furious every time he had to call the wizard "Lord" or "Emperor." Outwardly, he was every inch the loyal Commander.

"Syphar, sir." Flairang nodded.

"Good work, trooper Syphar." The smarter-than-most turtle headed obediently off to get the medics, who happened to be squirrels that Kroys had 'convinced' to serve him as medics. They were quite good.

Syphar returned with them shortly, and they went in to get Zanzibar. One of them, a pretty young one named Thye, returned to recruit several strong guards. Satisfied, Flairang left.

Phoebe's eyes widened with surprise as four squirrels entered. One left again, but the other three started trying to fix Zanzibar up. One of them, a pretty silvery one, turned to her.

"What's your name, youngster?" The squirrel had a low voice that was oddly reassuring.

"Phoebe, ma'am." The squirrel nodded.

"I am Shye. My companions are Phye, Chye and Thye. As you may have guessed, we are sisters. Who is our patient, Phoebe?" Phoebe hesitated, then obeyed.

"His name is Zanzibar Sia, ma'am. Is he okay?" The grey squirrel looked grave.

"No. The chemicals that Devan used to knock you out got into the wound, infecting it. It should have stopped bleeding by now, but. . ." Phoebe felt a rising fury inside of her. In the short time she'd known Zanzibar, she'd grown to think of the big cat as a friend. He was better company than the bedraggled, incoherant captives that huddled together silently.

By the Ryjev and all the Faders of Firen, she thought, using an vow she'd heard Zanzibar use before, if you die, my friend, I will not forget you nor forsake you and your cause.

Kovu aka Alec

May 20, 2001, 04:12 PM

Wooohooo!

Iiii'm the best naaaav http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Ahem, nevermind, good chappie, Copper.

Kaz

May 20, 2001, 04:53 PM

<STRIKE>I must kill Kovu to become the best nav!</STRIKE>

Great Chapter, another climax eh?

Ducky

May 21, 2001, 06:08 AM

Sob, thats so....brilliant..*sniffle*

What a nice birthday present..

j/k http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

`Ducky

Grath AR

May 21, 2001, 10:31 AM

I claim 4th PAGE!!!!!!!

Coppertop I'll give it to you when you continue.

Coppertop

May 21, 2001, 02:09 PM

Thank ye, Grath! Hey, y'all, I printed out the story yesterday, minus the comments http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif, for my mom and it came to 27 pieces of paper, 52 sides. My family is still trying to read it http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Chapter Fourteen -cont'd

Alpha had finally reached the prisons. Stepping inside one of the cells, she found all the occupants asleep except for one.

She was a young squirrel, with light blue fur and messy violet hair. Her simple clothes were torn and dirty, and had a few fresh bloodstains on them. She was scraped and had a large bruise on her shoulder, but she was wide awake.

Her eyes widened in surprise when Alpha caught her attention. Alpha hoped she was as intelligent as she looked.

"I'm Alpha. Who're you?" The squirrel looked startled.

"My name's Phoebe. You're the one Ome-" Alpha cut her off.

"I've got some friends who'll be here in a few minutes. They're going to help you escape, with all these other slaves." Phoebe looked alarmed now.

"But-" Alpha was annoyed.

"But? You WANT to get sent to the mines?" The squirrel shook her head vehemently.

"It's not that. My friend- Zanzibar Sia. He's injured, in the medical, and unconscious, if we move him the medics said he'll die!" Alpha felt a faint tugging at her memory. . . .I very nearly didn't, Zanzibar. But this is not the place for telling tales. . . She straightened.

"Does he have- a friend named Rroyvan?" Phoebe brightened.

"His brother! Do you know him?" Alpha shrugged.

"Sort of. We need to get him out of here. I'll be pressing the self destruct in half an hour, and if he stays he's going to die. . ."

Copper wove her way between two large hunks of metal. As she passed one, she saw the darkness of dried blood on it, and hoped that some Shellion had managed to cut himself up on it.

A burst of blue-green proved that Claw had fired, and an incoming chunk of metal blossomed with fire and imploded. Kovu called up the diagram of the Conquerer on his screen and told Copper that they were about two-thirds of the way there. She nodded and throttled up even more. She poured on the speed, until it was half-skill, half-instinct that was the only thing keeping them from crashing. Junk going by was but a blur.

Then the tunnel ahead opened up, and all Copper had time to yell was "Brace!" before she slammed on the brakes. The world came back into focus, and Kovu breathed a sigh of relief. Copper was laughing, exhilarated.

"How's that for a wild ride! I dare say we made it in 59.99 seconds!" Claw nodded, breathless. Then he finally spoke.

"I am now convinced that our pilot is crazy. I have flown ships before, but never like that!" Copper gave him a dirty look, and he returned it. The nav com saved the day.

"Silken Swift to Assassin, come in," Alpha said, and Kovu replied.

"Assassin to Swift, over."

"We have a complication. One of our allies is wounded nigh to death, and cannot be moved without danger. Do you have a medical? Over."

"Roger, Alpha. Anything else?"

"Don't forget the "Over". Do you think you can convince the medics to join you? Their names are. . . Shye, Phye, Chye and Thye. They're sisters, so where one goes the others follow. Over."

"Roger. Over and out." Copper laughed.

"Shye, Phye, Chye, and Thye. Imagine being saddled with that! Oh, Kovu, set course for the freighter hangar. I believe Alpha got her info wrong, the slaves are already in the prison. We have to get that wounded one, then get to the mines, got it?" Kovu only nodded.

_________________

Read my story in War Tavern! I named it: Conquerer!

"Whatever." ~Coppertop

I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. -Phillipians 4:13

No matter what this says, I didn't edit this.

Kaz

May 22, 2001, 01:21 PM

Hmmm... ... what can I say except... SPIFFY!

Coppertop

May 23, 2001, 12:37 PM

Thank ye http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Now that I'm sure I claimed all the pages in my story, I'll continue!

Chapter Fourteen -cont'd again

Copper kept the Assassin hovering, just in the shadows. She searched for the power switch.

"Kaz, d'you think you can fly over to that panel and wreck the thing?" Kaz studied the switchboard across the hangar. Finally he nodded.

"Think so. Cover me, willya?" Copper nodded, and he slipped out of a small hatch.

Winging across the gigantic hangar, he grew smaller and smaller until he seemed the size of a fist. He screeched to a halt next to the controls and began ripping the cords out, but the lights remained on and the power still hummed. Annoyed, Kaz pulled out his blaster (I seem to remember you have one) and fired. The smoldering and molten controls were almost unrecognizable. The lights flickered and went out. Copper nearly cheered.

Now though, Kaz had a problem. In the pitch blackness, he couldn't find the ship! Claw finally figured out why Kaz hadn't returned, and informed Copper.

"Uh, Cap'n Copper?" She gave him a scathing look, and Kovu laughed.

"Boy, if looks could kill!" She turned her scowl on him, and he pretended to ward her off. Claw snickered.

"Copper, Kaz can't see us," he said quietly, and she whacked herself on the forehead.

"D'oh! I am so stupid. Hang on a moment. . ." She fumbled for a minuted with the controls, and finally found a small switch, almost hidden in the corner. She flipped it, and the forward floodlights came on, illuminating the hangar in a soft white light.

"Hey, anyone home?" Kaz was clinging to the landing gear, and Copper generously opened the hatch. He flew in, looking relieved, and she set down, shutting the lights off in the process. Claw was not amused.

"Now how are we gonna see where the door is?" he demanded, and she smiled slightly.

"Shale," she said lightly, and he gave her a suspicious look. As if to prove her point, Shale vibrated slightly. Kovu glanced at where he supposed she was.

"Can we get on with it?" he said pointedly, and Copper put a hand to her sword. She hissed something that sounded like liquid syllables, and to Kovu's surprise, and the rest of his friends, the sword began to glow, or rather the blade did.

Copper hissed again, and the light intensified. (If you'll remember I did the same thing in "Next Chapter of the War Tavern") Then it flowed off of the blade and hung in the air just above her free hand, forming into a ball of violet light. Then it moved to the door, and stayed there until Copper moved.

Claw grumbled something about rabbits always being perfect, and Copper grinned at him. He glowered back. Ducky laughed. Then they all headed for the door.

Omega was waiting at the door for Phoebe, so he could tell her how Zanzibar was doing. He was surprised when she emerged with a friend, and even more shocked when he realized who that friend was.

"Alpha!" His sister turned, and her eyes widened increduously when she saw him.

"Omega? But I thought you'd been caught!" He laughed quietly.

"I, caught, by a fake Emperor? You know better than that, sister. But I was beginning to wonder about you!" Alpha looked indignant. He laughed again.

"Omega, we need to get out of here. I've some friends who are coming to-" She was cut off by an angry shout.

"Duh, what are you doing there? How did you open the door?" An angry trooper was coming down the corridor, looking furious. Omega thought fast.

"Sir, we was told that we could come out, by the last guy," he said, and the not-so-bright Shellion paused to scratch his head in confusement.

"Duh, then I guess it's all right then," he mumbled, and ambled away, the incident already forgotten. Phoebe was almost doubled over in laughter.

"I got to go. Which hangar are your friends coming in?" Omega asked. He slipped back into his disguise, becoming Commander Flairang once more.

"Hangar 15-B," Alpha said, looking troubled. "We need to get Phoebe's friend, Sia, out of here!" Omega nodded.

"Leave that to me."

Phoebe

May 24, 2001, 06:35 AM

Wow, CopperTop, very good http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Its intriguing, will you continue?

Coppertop

May 24, 2001, 12:11 PM

Of course I will, Phoebe! How could I not, with such intriguing characters. . .http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Oh, by the way, y'don't always have to call me "CopperTop," y'know. CT or Copper will do just fine.

There were a couple of rarely used passages that led to the medical, and Omega dodged down one. Trying to both hurry and be extremely careful was hard, but somehow he managed it and reached the medical without incident.

The first thing he saw as he entered was Thye, with a large gash on her shoulder and a look of agony on her face. Having shed his disguise he hoped she wouldn't call security when she got a look at him, but nevertheless he paused to ask her a question.

"Thye? What happened?" The russet squirrel looked up at him with tear-blurred eyes.

"Oh, Commander. I-I'll be alright, sir- but you're not the Commander, are you?" Her eyes widened with surprise. Omega sighed wearily.

"No, I'm not the Commander right now. I've got to get the cat out of here, and you, but how did you get injured?" Thye looked down at the floor.

"Chye was trying to stitch up Sia's wound, and she must have given him the wrong amount of painkiller because it wore off in the middle of the operation. He woke up and- it must have really hurt, I suppose." She smiled slightly. "I think instinct made him do it- his claws came out and I happened to be in the way. I'll be alright." She straightened.

"Who are you?" Omega gave her a wry half smile.

"To most, I'm Commander Flairang. To some, I am known as Omega. Is Chye finished with Zanzibar? And, most important, will you help me get him out of here?"

Thye's answering smile was like the sunrise after a storm.

Copper had her blaster ready, but she was hoping that she wouldn't have to use it.

"Stealth is what we need now," she'd told her companions time and time again, and for the most part they agreed. She'd left Shinyso, Wild Angel, Emerald Dragon and Blacksheep at the ship to guard it, and sent KRSplat and Ducky yet another way. Kaz and Grath, while not being exactly the BEST of friends, were a team yet again, and that left Copper with Claw. Who was, at this moment, grumbling about Shellions.

"Why do I have this impending sense of deja vu," he demanded as they saw a troop of Shellions tromping down the corridor towards them. Copper gave him a quelling glance -or at least, it SHOULD have been quelling. Claw, however, merely returned it.

Copper bent and slipped a hand into her boot. Then she straightened and motioned to Claw for him to join her in the shadows. He saw the light glint off of something she held, but couldn't get a clear look at it. He didn't need to. He knew that she held a dagger at the ready, but didn't see what it would do if the band decided to see them and fight.

"Can't you use Shale?" he hissed, and she shook her head. He contented himself with watching the turtles troop by and trying not to laugh at their stupidity.

Once the troop was out of sight, Copper continued on, hoping to reach the slaves' prison.

KRSplat was bored. There wasn't much excitement on the Assassin, and he doubted if they would get any trouble.

Why do I always miss the fights? he wondered, and tried to prepare himself for a long wait. But the wait wasn't nearly as long as he expected.

Ten minutes after the "gang" had left, he heard the soft hiss of the doors opening. Then he saw, by the light that Copper had left them, a large black lizard. He looked dangerous. KRSplat silently drew his blaster.

The lizard paused and looked directly at him, then stepped back into the shadows. A second later a black rabbit with gold armbands, red eyes and a sword with a glowing gem entered the ring of light.

"You are a friend of Alpha's?" KRSplat nodded cautiously.

"Good. I am her brother Omega. Do you have room for a few more passengers?"

Kovu aka Alec

May 25, 2001, 12:13 PM

YaY!

Yes, good chappies, Copper.

Coppertop

May 25, 2001, 02:14 PM

I was just looking at all the discontinued stories and thinking, I'm so lucky everybody likes this and it's still alive, so thank you for replying and making my topic so hot. . . *pant pant pant*

Now I know I meant to say something there, but what was it?

Phoebe hoped they would have time to get to the armory. She was expecting to fight SOMETIME soon, and didn't relish the thought of fighting without weapons. Still, she knew that if Omega, Alpha and she left, KRSplat and his friends would probably- no, would want to go with her. She wondered if this Coppertop would think to stop by the armory. But in the meantime, she and the other four squirrels had a very injured Firenzev to care for.

"I feel vulnerable without my sword," Copper grumbled. Claw gave an exasperated sigh. The "mission" they were going on, the one Alpha had originally had, required Copper to leave Shale behind.

"At least YOU have your weapons built in," she muttered, and Claw smothered an amused snort. Abruptly he kicked her hard, to make her shut up, and she subsided as yet another group of soldiers marched by. Somehow Copper managed to forget about being annoyed and to focus on their job.

"You know we might not make it out," she said quietly, and Claw gave her a resigned look.

"Copper, I took that risk when I got into the mercenary business. If I didn't take risks, I probably wouldn't be alive today." His companion nodded and headed down a side corridor.

"Wait! What are you doing?!" Claw hissed, and she grinned wickedly over her shoulder.

"I'm going to the armory, where else? I bet they've got all sorts of timed bombs and the like in there." Claw stared at her, then suddenly he knew what she was thinking.

"And blow it sky-high. You- you- you mercenary! I suppose you're going to keep some of the weapons."

"Of course! Why waste all those blasters and ammo? I can always use weapons."

Alpha silently parted ways with her comrades, knowing that Omega knew instantly when she was gone. She knew that Phoebe was hoping to get her weapons back, and she planned to get them for her. She also knew that the Silken Swift was doomed, and she wanted to get her sword and blaster back from it before it blew.

She just hoped she wouldn't run into any Shellions.

Copper had just reached the armory when she ran right into a red rabbit. Instantly she recognized the rabbit as Alpha and said as much, wondering if Claw would realize who this was. He did.

"Alpha, right?" Alpha nodded, looking startled.

"Claw? Copper! What are you doing here?" Copper smiled wryly.

"Probably the same thing you're doing. Where's the control room?"

Okay, short parts, so sue me. Er, not literally!

Oh boy. I must be tired. . .

Kaz

May 25, 2001, 03:00 PM

Good chappies... I hope I'm not the only one here

Ducky

May 25, 2001, 04:00 PM

YaY! Nifty, CT http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Carry on...I said that already, didn't I.

Oh well.

`Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

May 27, 2001, 01:05 PM

Yay, very good Copper.

Need MORE! http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Coppertop

May 27, 2001, 01:38 PM

Alright already! Hope this helps!

Chapter Fifteen -Intruder Alert

Claw moved warily down the dim corridor, Protec blaster in hand. When Copper had decided that she didn't really need two companions, he had been startled when she'd told him that he could also leave to find those controls Alpha had found. Meanwhile, she and Alpha were going to take as many weapons back to the Assassin as they could.

So far, he'd met only one Shellion. The officer hadn't even known what had hit him. His eyes flicked to his small wrist computer, where the map of the Conquerer was glowing. He was almost there. . .

Omega glanced up at the large black warship as Phoebe and the medics moved Zanzibar into the Assassin. Distantly he wondered if he could make it to the Jendara 245 before the explosion; he'd gotten kind of attatched to the sleek fighter.

"Phoebe? I'll be back soon, just carry on." The squirrel nodded, pushing her long light purple bangs out of her eyes.

"Where're you going?" Omega gave only the slightest hint of a smile.

"To get the 245." He knew she'd wonder about that, but he didn't really think he had time to explain what the "245" was, or why he'd grown to like the speedy, heavily armed ship that bore the name. He quickly made the change to the Commander, and pulled out his blaster. THAT should warn off any errant troopers. He headed swiftly for the hangars.

Devan had somehow managed to sneak back aboard the Star Destroyer, hoping to at least steal a ship or weapons before leaving -permanently.

"I'm sick o' bein' bossed around an' yelled at," he muttered. "I'm leavin' this junk heap for good. Kroys an' his blasted Empire can go to the black holes for all I care." As he stumped down the dimly lit halls, he tried to remember where that ship he'd seen earlier was. I'm sure it was over here. . .

Copper yanked the last blast rifle out of the barrel and handed it to Alpha.

"I think that's all," she said. Alpha nodded, breathing heavily.

"I think so. Too bad we can't take them all, eh?" Copper laughed quietly.

"Alpha, if we took all of these we'd need a freighter to carry it all. We could equip an army!" Alpha laughed too. Then she grabbed her armload and headed for the corridor.

"I hope Claw reaches that control room," she panted. Copper nodded.

"Yes, hecould get seriously lost in this ship, couldn't he? We're lucky he's got that map. Come on, you're lagging!"

Something isn't right about these controls, Claw decided. He didn't know what, but they were somehow different from the controls of the Deep Spacer. Maybe it's because they're not real, he thought wryly as he realized that the buttons were nothing but hunks of plastic, the switches were inoperable and the read-outs never changed. Great. So where's the REAL control room? he questioned himself with growing dread. He didn't realize that he'd spoken aloud as he suddenly realized where.

"With Kroys."

I think that's all I can write for now.

Kaz

May 27, 2001, 07:49 PM

SURRREEEE... Great Chappie, too bad I couldn't view it sooner due to stupid computer clock

Coppertop

May 30, 2001, 01:52 PM

Ahhh! I havn't been on in like, three days! Heerya go.

Chapter Fifteen -cont'd

Copper had just reached the Assassin with Alpha when Wild Angel looked up with a slightly startled look on her face. She turned slowly to face the mercenary, a distant expression on her face. Then understanding dawned in her eyes, and her lips moved silently.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'll do that, how's Blackie? Good- yeah, I said I'd tell her, good luck!" Then the distant look faded from her eyes, and she focussed on Copper and Alpha.

"Copper, Shinyso says that Claw found them. He needs to talk to you, something about controls. He's in Sector 14B, and it's urgent." Copper wasn't that surprised to hear that Claw was halfway across the Conquerer. She nodded once and picked Shale up, testing the balance and then sheathing it.

"Tell him I'm on my way."

Omega had just reached the Jendara, and was feeling distinctly uneasy. It felt like he was being watched. . .

Knock it off, he sternly told himself. But the feeling of unseen eyes, watching. . . it made a chill go up his spine. Still, he headed for the streamlined Darkspray fighter that was docked alongside her sister ships. As he passed them, he shed his disguise once more, and felt relieved that he wouldn't have to don it again.

Island Princess, Sun Princess, Ocean Princess, Dawn Princess, Sky Princess, Day Princess, Starstruck, Loharian Skies, Warlord, Rain Mantis. . . Where's Jendara? As he passed each ship, he searched the nameplate, and was beginning to wonder just where his desired vessel was.

And the watched feeling didn't leave. He tried his best to ignore it, and succeeded admirably as his gaze flicked around the huge docking bay, trying to pick out the Darkspray. I bet the Assassin is a Darkspray fighter, he thought as he finally found it and was struck by its resemblance to Copper's ship. Sure it had less armor and weapons, but the shields were just as good, and it was highly manueverable. I hope I can get out of here. . .

Devan watched the tall black rabbit stalk towards the small ship that he had his eye on, and muttered a few words under his breath that cannot be typed here.

"Dang rabbit!" he finished, and turned his attention to Rain Mantis. It looked a lot like the Jendara, except that it was green and not that burnished chestnut. I guess it'll have t' do.

Claw inched his way along the wall, trying to keep in the shadows. There was only a thin ribbon of shadow, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to remain unseen. Sometime soon he'd have to leave the darkness and go out in the open, and he wasn't looking forward to it, but for now he was as content as he could be in an enemy ship to stay shrouded in shadow.

I hope Copper gets here soon, he thought and leaned back against the wall to wait.

It was a short wait. He had barely been there five minutes, when he caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of his eye. He turned, to see Copper leaning casually on her bared sword, watching him intently. When she saw she'd been noticed, she straightened and moved towards him, also keeping in the shadow.

"You wanted me?" As always, she was straight forward and blunt. He nodded cautiously, and explained about the false controls.

"And Alpha would never have known, she never having seen Star Destroyer controls before," she finished for him. He nodded again. Her dark eyes watched him, and he got the feeling she knew more than she was telling him. Her eyes narrowed as she figured out what he knew, and then she put Shale away.

"So where Kroys is, there also are the controls," she summarized, and once more he nodded. She sighed.

"We'd best get back to the Assassin. We'll need the gang again, if we're going to finish Kroys off once and for all."

Ducky

May 30, 2001, 02:13 PM

Gr00vy. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

`Duckeh

Coppertop

May 31, 2001, 02:07 PM

This is weird. . . I write part, someone replies, write, reply, write. . .

Warning: This is funny (in my opinion)

Chapter Fifteen -cont'd

" Jendara 245! Halt! You are not cleared for lift-off!" Omega ignored the warning and revved up the engines. The bay door stood wide, inviting him to throttle forward and soar out into endless, star-filled space. The very idea energized him. It seemed like since he'd set foot in the Conquerer an oppresive air had weighed on him. Now the weight lifted, and he felt exhilaration as he raised the ship.

"Repeat, you are not cleared for lift-off! This is your second warning!" As he poured on the power, the sound of the engines all but drowned out the loudspeaker. He wheeled and faced the bay door, which was slowly closing.

"This is your third warning, Jendara 245! If you continue we will be forced to prevent your leaving the hangar!" Omega reached down and turned down the audio. He could still faintly hear it as he slowly started to move forward.

"Are you unable to stop your ship, pilot? We are sending out a tractor beam." Omega was already leaving the Star Destroyer as that comment drifted over his com. Then the Jendara shuddered and strained, and slowly, inexorably was drawn back towards the yawning bay. He gave it full throttle, and winced to hear the little ship's engines strain and rev valiantly. Still he could not escape the tractor beam.

"Do not attempt to escape, Jendara 245. You are caught in a tractor beam and will only burn out your engines."[b]

"Thanks for telling me!" Omega yelled, without bothering to switch on his com. The com continued inexorably.

[b]"As you seem unable to stop, we will do it for you. Repeat, you are caught in a tractor beam. If you try to evade it you will burn ou-" Omega flipped the audio off and continued trying to escape. The Darkspray bucked violently as the beam grew stronger, and then the ship streaked away. As Omega increduously watched, another, less powerful Darkspray-type ship veered crazily towards him. Then the ship went kamikazi, sheering dangerously towards the Star Destroyer. Then he understood.

Devan was trying out the controls of his new ship. He cut behind that seemingly-dead ship and happily pressed the first button that caught his eye. The Rain Mantis began flying in a serpentine manner, and he realized the button read "evade". He pressed it again, experimentally, and began to wish that he'd buckled in as the ship began zipping up, down, left and right. Dizzily he took his finger off of it and the Mantis settled down.

Then he realized he was heading directly for one of the Star Destroyer's many sets of guns.

"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!" His yell was cut off by the autopilot taking over, and he veered away from the huge Conquerer as it sped up on its route to Firen. As he sped towards the other ship, which was now streaking towards the back of the Star Destroyer, he wondered if this type of flying could be called insane.

"He just broke that tractor beam! Who is tha-" The ship veered back towards him, and he throttled up to avoid collision. He couldn't see the pilot through the tinted cockpit, but one thing was sure.

"This guy is totally mad. Wonder how good the weaponry on this thing is. . .?" Only one way to find out. Although he already knew, he couldn't wait to try out those new torpedoes on that crazy pilot. Although the way he was flying, Omega'd need heat-seekers!

"Blast it! Those evil, murdering scum!" Omega was almost surprised by his outburst. But the reason was heading straight for him, all guns blazing. . .

When these guys want someone dead, they won't stop. . .

That's all for now. . . C'ya!

Kaz

May 31, 2001, 06:06 PM

NOOOO!

Great Chapter though (yay, I'm not the dummest =D person anymore!)

Nightshade

Jun 1, 2001, 12:56 PM

YAY, COPPER!! Spiffy story so far!

<center>http://mverbeek.50megs.com/Evilsmiley.gif</center>

Coppertop

Jun 1, 2001, 02:13 PM

Thank ya, Thank ya

*bows*

Hey Shade, you stole that from Fear http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Ducky

Jun 1, 2001, 05:32 PM

YaaaaaY, CT http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

FoPPy, as Xeno would say except I've no idea what it means.. http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

`Ducky

Coppertop

Jun 2, 2001, 02:24 PM

Whoops, on that last part I made a mistake with the BBcode or whatever y'call that. . .

Anyway, I forgot to write last night, so I have to make it up quick http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

Chapter Fifteen- cont'd

A fleet of heavily shielded, well armed Protecter-class fighters sped towards Omega. He targeted one of the leaders, and promptly recieved a warning that a missile was locked on. Cursing under his breath in several different languages, Omega targeted the torpedo and blew it up. Another torpedo from the following ships arrowed towards him, and he easily avoided it. The missile crashed into the Star Destroyer behind him, and took out several shields. Omega grinned and armed his heat-seekers while contacting the Assassin.

"Jendara 245 to Assassin, do you read," he said, and was rewarded by a small grey rabbit on the visuals.

"Roger, 245," she said, and then paused for a second. Then, "you are Omega?"

"Yes, is Wild Angel there?" The rabbit smiled slightly.

"Yeah, I'll go get her. Hang on. . ." She disappeared, and a moment later Wild Angel was on the screen.

"Omega, we were wondering where you went! (The five w's http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif) Did you really get yourself a ship?"

"Yep. Uh, I can't talk much right now, I got a bunch of enemies here and I'm kind of fighting them, y'know? Just tell. . . Copper, right? and her friend Claw to get on with it."

"Right. You kill those guys and we'll go help Copper, just tell us where the command room is."

At that moment, Copper was glowering at a very innocent looking Claw and berating him.

"You've gotten lost, haven't you? Why did I just know this was going to happen?" His gaze didn't waver, and, through an amazing feat of control, he didn't even smile as he said, "Copper, if you're not quieter you'll alert Kroys and those guards he's got with him in the next room." With a slight smile, he added, "and pick your jaw off the floor. You don't know how many times turtles have walked over it with dirty shoes."

Kroys winced as his headache sent lances of pain through his head. Why did he feel like this had happened before?. . . As he broodingly stared out at the stars, dreaming his dreams of conquest and death, he once more felt detatched from himself.

He was in that place where he'd met Wild Angel and Ducky again. This time as well Wild Angel and her friend were there, but so was a tall black rabbit that he distantly recognized.

"I don't believe you've met my friend and fellow telepath, Shinyso," Angel said, with a honey-sweet smile that was filled with menace. "You'll have to fight him too next time."

Kroys glared at her, but he was too distracted to try and see if Claw had been wrong about no one being killed.

"You filthy rodent," he spat, and Shinyso gave a slight grin that boded danger and death for anyone who was the recipient of it.

"I believe you mean, "rabbit," Belaine," he said in a voice that was just above a whisper. Kroys, if he had been a less powerful magician, would have paled.

"How do you know that name?" he hissed, and his dark-furred enemy merely smiled that dangerous smile again.

"I have my ways," was the reply, and the evil wizard shook with barely-controlled rage. Shinyso lazily watched him, looking bored and relaxed. As though nothing was happening.

"What have you come here for? he rasped, and Ducky looked uncertainly at Angel.

"Our mission is unfulfilled, Kroys," she said simply, and he narrowed his eyes.

"You have yet another enemy," Ducky remarked, and he turned his smoldering gaze to her. How he wanted to lash out and destroy the three where they stood! Yet the very atmosphere prevented his working death-magics.

"In fact, several," she continued. "One might be known to you; Omega?"

"I have never heard that name in my life," he sneered, and Wild Angel took over once more.

"I believe you know him as Commander Flairang." Kroys stiffened. He had been certain that the Commander was completely loyal, and voiced it. Shinyso laughed quietly.

"I was sure of it," he insisted, and the black rabbit smiled mockingly.

"You doubt yourself?" Kroys realized his mistake. The "was sure" implied that he wasn't anymore. . .

"Also the squirrel Phoebe and the Firenzev Zanzibar," Ducky added, and his eyes narrowed. He reached in, and retrieved a shred of power. Shaping it into a deadly spell, he bent it to his will and added to it.

"They are nothing," he spat contemptuously, and loosened his hold on the magic. It seeped out, into the very air of the place, and he tried to buy time. But it was too late, for already that annoyance Claw was there, turning his burning gaze to the trio, who returned his look. Kroys got the irritating feeling that they were talking privately. Then Angel nodded and placed a paw on Ducky. The two vanished, and Shinyso was the only one remaining besides himself and Claw. Then Shinyso too nodded once, and with a gesture he was gone as well.

Once more Kroys was with Claw in this strange place. Last time Claw had given him a warning, but now he seemed content to say one thing.

"I will be quite relieved when you are dead," he said, his glowing scarlet eyes piercing even Kroys' headache. Then he was alone.

Grath and Kazooie were the second group to arrive back at the Assassin. Twenty minutes after Shinyso and Ducky's return, they clambered up the ramp, still arguing. This time it was something practical; how many troopers in that squad that had passed them. Finally they settled on twenty-five.

"Say, Wildie, you look grey," Grath commented. She smiled wanly.

"I'll be alright, don't worry. Can you find Copper and Claw with that staff of yours?"

"I don't think so. I need to have been there first." Shinyso scowled.

"I've been there. Can you take a description of the place, or one that's mind-to-mind?" All Grath did was nod.

Omega swung his sleek little Darkspray around swiftly and fired three heat-seekers in a row. Then he quickly switched to torpedoes and began wreaking havoc.

A spectacular explosion behind him proved that one of the heat-seekers had found its mark, and another to his right added its brilliance to the first. Laughing, he wheeled and took out another ship's shields, leaving the rest to the heat-seeker that remained. Quick as light, he was firing at another fighter who had thought to get behind him. As that one went down, he plunged forwards into the main body of Protectors, spinning and firing as they scattered.

Devan was too occupied with avoiding the wreckage to really take notice in the spectacular fight behind him. Getting away was his only thought, and in his opinion he was quite an experienced pilot now, despite his many near-misses. He wanted as far away from that Copper and her friends as he could get, and even further away from Kroys and his twisted dreams of victory. Throttling up, he barely swerved in time to miss a piece of junk before he disappeared in the distance.

That's the end of Devan, so far. . . y'won't hear about him until the very end.

Nightshade

Jun 2, 2001, 03:20 PM

o joy! o 'arpiness! good story, CT! wheeee! devan is a dope!! http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif

Ducky

Jun 2, 2001, 05:17 PM

Poor Devvie.

Lol. Groovy, CT!

`Ducky

Kaz

Jun 2, 2001, 05:28 PM

Exquizid (sp?) I wish I knew how to spell better compliments =D

Nightshade

Jun 4, 2001, 12:39 PM

Wot he said

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 4, 2001, 02:29 PM

Jahoooo~! Yayful chappieness, very good, Copper.

Kaz

Jun 5, 2001, 08:13 AM

Now if only you'd continue

Coppertop

Jun 5, 2001, 03:49 PM

Ack, my fingers are all dirty because I was cleaning all day. . . what IS that letter on my keyboard? Anyhow, I'll continue. I didn't have much time yesterday.

Chapter Sixteen -The Jungles of Firen

It was a wet and miserable day on Firen. The rain came down in a fine drizzle, and although the sun still shone brightly (it was rarely cloudy on Firen) and the rainforests were illuminated in a diamond glow, it was, by Firenzev standards, a very rainy day.

The grey Firenzev Braedar switched his black-tipped tail in annoyance as he watched the rain fall. By noon he had to be out there, hunting and exploring with his sister Orilina, and searching the mountain trails once more in case they had missed any sign of his brother.

Zanzibar. The very name sent a spike of guilt through his thoughts, and Rroyvan wearily paced the small shelter. His parents had refused to believe that Zanzibar had probably been "lost" out in the galaxies; they were convinced that he was somewhere on Firen. But he was nowhere to be found.

When Rroyvan had returned from Tubelectric, where he had met with his brother, with news of Vorsyelvo's death and his brother's vow to get vengeance, the family had been properly worried. Yet his mother and father had implied that it was something that would pass. Rroyvan knew better. Zanzibar would not return until he had his revenge, and had paid blood for blood.

"In the next room." Claw nodded. Copper practically exploded.

"You-you-you- dimwit! You absolute dork! What is wrong with you? Why didn't you tell me? I -"

"Ought to shut up and listen," Claw interrupted. "He could hear us." Copper gave him a look of utter disbelief.

"Then we really should leave and finish up getting those slaves, shouldn't we? And we really should hurry." Copper sighed and moved forward to exit the junction of halls. Claw snagged her shirt with one of his namesakes, and she gave him a look filled with pure annoyance and irritation.

"Let me go, you over-grown stalactite," she growled in exasperation, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. His eyes narrowed, and a flash of temper wound its way through the caution and compliance that he'd donned since meeting her.

"Shut up. We have to get out of here, and we have to do it soon. So LET'S GET LOST, shall we?" Her eyes snapped, but she nodded finally. As she turned to go, a soft pop filled the air, and a slightly dazed Grath appeared. A warp swirled behind him.

"Copper, Claw? Why is everything whirling?" Copper sniffed and brushed her stubborn hair back.

"You just warped, Grath. What's up?"

"We've got to go."

Kroys clenched his fists, trying to remind himself that losing his temper would only be trouble. His first coherent thought was of totally obliterating the place, and his next was to simply resist the summons to go. He dismissed both ideas as quickly as they came, and was shocked to realize why. He was curious. Curiousity was not something that he'd ever had, but he desired to know just what the place was. . . He returned swiftly to his command room. There was still a fleet of Star Destroyers to be commanded. . .

Ducky

Jun 5, 2001, 06:16 PM

Huzzah. Do continue http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

`Ducks

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 6, 2001, 04:22 AM

Very FoPPy, Copper, yes, continue!

Coppertop

Jun 9, 2001, 05:04 PM

Okay, I'll continue. . .*checks date* Wow, FOUR DAYS since my last continuation! Oh well, hear it is, y'all

"Now? Here? Where?" Grath gave her an impatient glare.

"Now, here, to the Assassin, and be quiet and stay still." Copper muttered something, but shut up when she recieved glares from not only Grath but Claw this time. Grath touched the golden eagle on his staff, and mumbled something. The warp that was behind him had vanished, and a new one sprang up in front of the trio. Claw flexed his razor talons as he watched an image form in the pool of shifting, swirling colors.

The image solidified, and Grath gave a lop-sided grin as he stepped through. He vanished, and Copper was hot on his heels. Claw glanced around, sighed, and moved forward. As he moved through the warp, he caught a glimpse of black, of hooded figure, and of malevolent red eyes. Watching them.

"Bring Commander Flairang to me, Corporal. And make it now." The tone of his voice showed that the old Kroys was back, and even more evil than before. Having shed his mantle of brooding and caution, he felt much better, and was determined that the intruders would not get away. This time.

The Corporal bowed impossibly low.

"M-milord, the Commander seems to have vanished. However, the sensors tracked his favored ship leaving the bay." Kroys stiffened, and cursed under his breath. The Corporal swallowed loudly.

"Where was he headed," he snapped. The officer bowed again.

"Towards the asteroid field, s-sir. Do you wish to follow him?"

"No. Dismissed." The turtle bowed for a third time and fled, leaving Kroys with his thoughts.

Belaine. How had that black rabbit known? He hadn't heard that name in decades, ever since having donned the name of Kroys. Belaine had been a fool, a trusting idiot who believed in setting limits and following laws and orders. Belaine was as dead as if he'd been spaced. Kroys was the utter opposite of Belaine, being heartless and totally independant. . .

But what would you do without your Destroyers, your troops? You'd be nothing, a treacherous voice in the back of his mind said. He replied with, I would start anew, begin at the beginning. . . But if his Destroyers went up in flames, so would he. There would be no Kroyan Empire, and his dreams would die with him.

I will be quite relieved when you are dead. Why did the traitor disturb him so? Because he is much like you, the voice whispered. He frowned slightly. If anything, the mercenary pilot Coppertop was the most like him, not Claw. Claw took orders from her, was totally obedient.

Not so, the voice said, and he recognized it as a shred of his old self, a part of Belaine. How had he missed it? He'd thought that he'd gotten every particle of the fool with the second purging of his mind. Certainly he'd missed plenty with the first; was it possible that the tiny voice had hidden once more where Belaine had once hidden?. . . He gathered his blood magics, preparing to wipe the shred of Belaine away, to totally rid himself of-

"Milord?" He whirled, cursing mentally. The Fleet Commander Shalarnag was standing with his head bowed respectfully, but from the almost painful look on his face he had bad news.

"Milord, the slaves are revolting!"

Copper didn't know how Kovu and Ducky had done it, but the Assassin was no longer in the Conquerer. Instead it was on Firen, hidden in the trees beside the slave compound. Kaz was limbering up his wings, preparing to fly over the ten-foot fence, and KRSplat was checking the ammo on his gun. They all looked up when Copper entered the room, Claw a step behind her.

"Prepare to attack. . ."

_________________

Read my story in War Tavern! I named it: Conquerer!

"Whatever." ~Coppertop

I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. -Phillipians 4:13

No matter what this says, I didn't edit this.

Kaz

Jun 9, 2001, 07:17 PM

Excellent!

Coppertop

Jun 10, 2001, 04:48 PM

*bows* Here's more!

"Revolting? Where?" Kroys hissed, glaring down at the Commander. The Fleet Commander retained both his dignity and pride as he responded.

"In the eastern compounds, milord. We will be there in three point forty-six minutes." Kroys let his gaze travel away, to the lovely planet that hung suspended in the star-strewn space. It seemed close enough to touch. . .

"Can't we go any faster?"

"No, milord. Any more speed and the reactors would burn out." Belaine forgotten, Kroys stalked the length of the room. Finally he spoke.

"Do it anyway. If there is any sign of burn-out cut the speed to half, but until then throttle up to full. And make it yesterday, Commander." The Fleet Commander bowed.

"As you command, milord."

"Darn! This lock's stuck," Kazooie called as he jiggled the key. "I think some bored guard stuck his gum in it." The proof was on the key as he pulled it out; sticky spots of bright pink. Copper turned a very inappropriate laugh into a cough.

"I see. Is there any other way in?"

"No."

"Well, maybe we can force it. Any ideas, Ducky, Claw?" Claw studied the gate for a minute. Then he motioned Kaz down.

"It probably won't work, but. . ." he grumbled as he pulled out his small gun. Assuming a gunfighter's stance, he aimed and fired.

"Wow, that gun packs quite a wallop," Kovu observed as he inspected the molten hinges. Shinyso chuckled, and Claw aimed a glare his way.

"What type is that, anyway, Claw?" Ducky asked, and he glanced down at his re-holstered gun.

"Protec. Small but powerful, my type," he replied off-hand, and then carefully stepped over the remains of the gate. They were still smoking, and Phoebe got a facefull of the acrid stuff.

"Watch the smoke," she choked, and Alpha made an exaggerated attempt to avoid it. She promptly tripped and crashed into Kovu, who stumbled into Ducky and the entire trio collapsed in a heap. Copper rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation.

"C'mon, you guys. This is no time to play," Blacksheep cackled, and Alpha made a face at her. KRSplat neatly stepped over the three, and Shinyso followed him. Wild Angel grinned at Emerald, and the friends hopped over the remains as well.

The drone of an engine filled the air, and a smallish golden-brown craft that resembled the Assassin maneuvered in for a perfect landing. The cockpit hissed open, and Omega leaped out.

"Guys, we gotta hurry. Kroys is comin' fast."

Phoebe

Jun 10, 2001, 05:09 PM

very good, CopperTop, at last eh..or maybe that was me. Sorry.

Do continue?

Coppertop

Jun 10, 2001, 05:46 PM

Tomorrow, I've got to write LOTS more between now and then. . .

Kaz

Jun 10, 2001, 06:17 PM

I expect it this midnight =D

Coppertop

Jun 11, 2001, 11:57 AM

lol, Kaz. I'm a little late, so there http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif

No sooner had Omega spoken then the sky darkened and the two brilliant suns vanished. A huge shadow blotted out the sky, and the roar of three-hundred and twenty-nine engines deafened those on the ground. Kaz, being closest and airborne, was almost flattened against the fence until Grath pulled him down and he closed his wings. Shinyso looked over at Copper.

"Do you think they know we're here?" he yelled over the thundering Star Destroyer. As yet, it still hadn't entered the atmosphere.

"No," was the reply. "Otherwise they'd have sent down more of those Protectors!" That made sense, so Shinyso nodded slowly.

"Then why are the blasted idiots here of all places?" he demanded, and the only answer he got was a shrug. Then the Destroyer's engines quit.

The silence was like a thunderclap after the roar; Copper staggered backwards for a few steps and Phoebe looked about to faint. Kaz and Blacksheep shared the same expression; one of dazed relief. Omega was supporting Alpha, who had fainted, but he quickly handed her to Ducky when she came over.

"She shouldn't have left that hospital so soon," he muttered. "She's probably in shock. . ." he trailed off. Ducky looked up and grinned.

"Hey Kaz, got any of that ice you used on Blackie left?" The only answer she got was an inarticulate moan. She muttered something and then handed the still-out of it Alpha to Claw. He gave her a flat gaze, and she smiled faintly.

"Uh. . . oops. Here, Kovu. . ." she dropped Alpha into Kovu's arms and left for the [i]Assassin/i], leaving him staring after her with a puzzled expression. Then he gave her back to Omega, who looked at the sky, presumably asking what ever deities that were on Firen for patience. Then he sighed and carried her up the ramp back into the ship. Just as quickly, he stuck his head back out.

"Hey guys, guess who's back in the land of the living?" he called, and Copper muttered something under her breath that sounded like "when we are finished here there'll be one of us who ISN'T in the land of the living, and it won't be me". Kovu sighed.

"Tell us, Omega." The black rabbit glanced behind him and half-smiled.

"Zanzibar's awake," said he, and sure enough when he exited he had two, not one, companions. One was a still-dripping Alpha, who wore a mournful expression and kept flicking her ears, and the other was a very worn-out looking Zanzibar. Kaz grinned at the cat.

"Welcome back, Zanzie!" The icy look Zanzibar speared him with would have killed lesser beings, Copper was sure.

"Listen," she suddenly said, and she, Claw and Shinyso promptly became one with the shadows. As the rest of their comrades listened, the sound of shouting and warcries drifted their way. Ducky gasped.

"No wonder Kroys is here. It's a rebellion."

Not much action, so sue me. More tomorrow!

Kaz

Jun 11, 2001, 03:16 PM

You're late =D

Kaz

Jun 11, 2001, 03:17 PM

I have the fifth page!!!

Coppertop

Jun 12, 2001, 02:18 PM

Augh, nooooo! This is the only page I haven't claimed in my story!

If I give you more, will you give me <s>my</s> your page? Please? http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif

Anyway, looong part here I come!

"Sir, we are in orbit around the planet of Firen." Kroys gave his Commander a look made of pure evil.

"Very good, Commander. Prepare your troops and ready the attack on the rebels." The Fleet Commander bowed and left. Just as quickly he returned.

"M-milord, the scanners have picked up two alien ships on the planet's surface! One is a modified Darkspray fighter, and the other has been indentified as Commander Flairang's Jendara 245, sir!" Kroys hissed in frustration.

"What is the modified Darkspray's com number, Commander?" The Commander bowed again.

"I shall ask, milord." He left briefly and then returned.

"216, milord." Kroys paced, furious.

"The name?"

"Eh. . .the Assassin, milord."

"Assassin. . . there's only one ship in the galaxy with that name. Coppertop's." The Commander bowed for a third time.

"That is the pilot, milord." Kroys turned on him.

"Why didn't you tell me, you stupid oaf? Coppertop's the one who launched the original attack on me and destroyed the Deep Spacer in the process!"

"Uh. . . yes, milord." Kroys snarled an oath to himself that made the Commander blanch and pale.

"Dismissed, Commander."

"Uh. . . yes, mil-" he beat a hasty retreat upon seeing Kroys' look. Fuming to himself, Kroys glared down at Firen. The beautiful sphere's only city sprawled below, and with a flick of his hand Kroys could blast it out of existance, and half of the planet in the process. The thought made him smile in satisfaction.

Then he turned his focus in again, and began searching for that scrap of Beliane. . .

"Eh. . . Copper?" The grey rabbit turned her green eyes to KRSplat.

"Yeah?"

"How're we gonna kick shell if we don't know where these turtles are?" Copper grinned, and her eyes lit up with the prospect of, as KRSplat had put it, kicking shell.

"Leave that to Angel and Shinyso, my friend. I'm not a telepath."

With that subtle announcement that she now counted her comrades among her few friends, she had also announced her loyalty. . .

There! A shred of alien personality. . . He laughed mentally, mockingly. The piece of Belaine attempted to vanish, but he hooked it with a tendril of power and then enveloped it with blood-magic, drawing the power and life from it, laughing. . .

"Give no mercy."

Phoebe was not so sure about just diving into the battle, but at least she had her crossbow again. . . and her glasses! She stared up at the huge Star Destroyer, noting distractedly that she could see no end to it. The tip was just above her, and the rest of it stretched on and on and on in an ever-growing triangle. . .

"Hey, Phoebe! Wake up!" She blinked and refocused on the scene ahead. Slaves attacked the startled guards with anything they could lay their hands on, including each other. Copper drew her blaster with blurring speed, and glanced over at the others who quickly followed suit. Kaz pulled his out and took to the air, and Claw with a wicked grin began testing the aim on a hapless guard nearby.

"You guys, fire at will," Copper said cheerily, and the chaos that followed decimated the guards. Lasers whined overhead, and the startled slaves paused in their fighting to stare at the newcomers. Phoebe suddenly collapsed, and heard a laser zip past her ear. When she looked back, a tall, youngish-looking blue rabbit was inspecting his arm and muttering about bad aim.

She rolled to her feet and loosed a blue-feathered quarrel, and listened with satisfaction to the outraged yell that followed. Zanzibar had somehow managed to lose his blaster, and was now wrestling with a cursing guard who didn't seem to want to be killed. Finally Zanzibar got a grip, and she heard bones snapping as the guard's arm broke like a dry twig. She shot without aiming, and the yelping guard abruptly shut up as he looked increduously down at the crossbow quarrel that was now sprouting from his midriff. Zanzibar promptly grabbed the blaster and turned, snapping off a shot that whizzed past her ear. A cry of "ouch!" proved he had scored yet another hit.

A flash of silver caught her attention, and she saw Copper wielding her blade expertly. Kovu was using his own golden sword like a scythe, cutting low at the outraged guards' legs, swaying aside and then sweeping upwards abruptly to their suddenly unprotected chests. She couldn't see Claw, but the cries of pain and fury that came from behind her wasn't all from Kaz and Zanzibar.

Grath yelled up at Kaz, who had narrowly missed him when shooting down an advancing guard, and barely missed being kicked by Shinyso, who was using his own special moves. He ducked and shot a guard in the process, although he had a rather surprised look on his face when he realized what he had done. Ducky was dodging blasts of purple Jello, and Blacksheep was laughing hysterically as she shot her Jello~Ray gun without looking first. Alpha looked grim as she fought like a whirlwind, but more than once she had to be "rescued" by her brother, who expertly stayed on the sidelines until someone got in too deep of trouble.

The fighting seemed to take eternity, but once it was over she remembered very little of it. Claw was trying not to wince as Copper pried half a crow-bar out of his shoulder, and he gasped as she gave a very undignified yank. Finally she pulled it out, and gave him a speculative look.

"How'd that happen?" Claw grimaced and rubbed his other shoulder.

"Some idiot slave took me for a guard, I guess. Though how that happened I haven't a clue." Alpha nodded sympathetically, and then yelped as Omega prized a blue-fletched arrow from her leg. Phoebe tried to become invisible.

Kovu and Copper seemed to be totally uninjured, once it was discerned that the blood on them was their enemies and not their own, although Copper was limping slightly and Kovu could barely turn his head without wincing. When asked how that had happened, he muttered something about schwartzenguards and uppercuts.

"Well, guys, it looks like we won," Copper said finally. It seemed unreal to Phoebe, and it was only when she was back in the Assassin that both reality and her pain hit home. A searing pain ran up her leg, and when she looked down scarlet stained her light blue fur. The bullet blast that the slave had saved her from had not entirely missed; her ear was singed and throbbing. Another gash on her arm bled continuously, and when she touched her cheek her hand came away with blood on it.

"Actually, you didn't come out too bad," Emerald Dragon commented as she fixed up her arm. "Better than Zanzibar, it seems." Later, when she asked, she was told that Zanzibar had taken several hits in his side -the curse of being taller than your opponent, he said- and his shoulder had been laid open by a furious guard who had managed to find a blade.

"He'll survive," was the reassuring finish, and somehow Phoebe was greatly cheered by it.

Seeing as his troops planetside had totally been devastated, Kroys paced and planned with a vengeance. The Fleet Commander had returned with news that joining the slaves had been "several" assorted creatures.

"Leading them, milord, was a tall grey female rabbit with dark hair and a sword," he reported, and Kroys hissed in fury.

"Coppertop. . ."

"Of course, she wasn't the only one wreaking havoc with our troops, milord," the Commander continued, oblivious to Kroys' fury. "All of her comrades were like whirlwinds of devastation."

"Very poetic, Commander. But I want Copper!" Kroys ground out, and the Commander gulped.

"Yes, milord."

"And Commander?" Kroys said as the turtle turned to leave,

"I want her yesterday."

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 12, 2001, 06:45 PM

Woohoo! Excellent storyish, Copper, but we

need mooooooore! MAHAHAHAH!

Kaz

Jun 12, 2001, 09:39 PM

It's mah page! I won't let you have it! Btw, Great chappie... BUT IT'S MY PAGE!

Ducky

Jun 13, 2001, 05:56 AM

Nice, CT http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Sorry I haven't been replying, though..oh well, do carry on.

`Duckster

*BlackSheep

Jun 15, 2001, 08:37 AM

Sorry I haven't been replying too. *shrinks back*

Marvelous. Really http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

*Black

PredatorDM

Jun 15, 2001, 10:17 AM

if you want to you can use my profile too

coppertop...http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

check the topic wartavern profiles http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

you can use me as badguy.

Coppertop

Jun 16, 2001, 08:13 PM

Is that a plea? http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Okay, I'll put you in, but you might not be seen for a while.

PS: Here's more!

"Revolting? Where?" Kroys hissed, glaring down at the Commander. The Fleet Commander retained both his dignity and pride as he responded.

"In the eastern compounds, milord. We will be there in three point forty-six minutes." Kroys let his gaze travel away, to the lovely planet that hung suspended in the star-strewn space. It seemed close enough to touch. . .

"Can't we go any faster?"

"No, milord. Any more speed and the reactors would burn out." Belaine forgotten, Kroys stalked the length of the room. Finally he spoke.

"Do it anyway. If there is any sign of burn-out cut the speed to half, but until then throttle up to full. And make it yesterday, Commander." The Fleet Commander bowed.

"As you command, milord."

"Darn! This lock's stuck," Kazooie called as he jiggled the key. "I think some bored guard stuck his gum in it." The proof was on the key as he pulled it out; sticky spots of bright pink. Copper turned a very inappropriate laugh into a cough.

"I see. Is there any other way in?"

"No."

"Well, maybe we can force it. Any ideas, Ducky, Claw?" Claw studied the gate for a minute. Then he motioned Kaz down.

"It probably won't work, but. . ." he grumbled as he pulled out his small gun. Assuming a gunfighter's stance, he aimed and fired.

"Wow, that gun packs quite a wallop," Kovu observed as he inspected the molten hinges. Shinyso chuckled, and Claw aimed a glare his way.

"What type is that, anyway, Claw?" Ducky asked, and he glanced down at his re-holstered gun.

"Protec. Small but powerful, my type," he replied off-hand, and then carefully stepped over the remains of the gate. They were still smoking, and Phoebe got a facefull of the acrid stuff.

"Watch the smoke," she choked, and Alpha made an exaggerated attempt to avoid it. She promptly tripped and crashed into Kovu, who stumbled into Ducky and the entire trio collapsed in a heap. Copper rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation.

"C'mon, you guys. This is no time to play," Blacksheep cackled, and Alpha made a face at her. KRSplat neatly stepped over the three, and Shinyso followed him. Wild Angel grinned at Emerald, and the friends hopped over the remains as well.

The drone of an engine filled the air, and a smallish golden-brown craft that resembled the Assassin maneuvered in for a perfect landing. The cockpit hissed open, and Omega leaped out.

"Guys, we gotta hurry. Kroys is comin' fast."

No sooner had Omega spoken then the sky darkened and the two brilliant suns vanished. A huge shadow blotted out the sky, and the roar of three-hundred and twenty-nine engines deafened those on the ground. Kaz, being closest and airborne, was almost flattened against the fence until Grath pulled him down and he closed his wings. Shinyso looked over at Copper.

"Do you think they know we're here?" he yelled over the thundering Star Destroyer. As yet, it still hadn't entered the atmosphere.

"No," was the reply. "Otherwise they'd have sent down more of those Protectors!" That made sense, so Shinyso nodded slowly.

"Then why are the blasted idiots here of all places?" he demanded, and the only answer he got was a shrug. Then the Destroyer's engines quit.

The silence was like a thunderclap after the roar; Copper staggered backwards for a few steps and Phoebe looked about to faint. Kaz and Blacksheep shared the same expression; one of dazed relief. Omega was supporting Alpha, who had fainted, but he quickly handed her to Ducky when she came over.

"She shouldn't have left that hospital so soon," he muttered. "She's probably in shock. . ." he trailed off. Ducky looked up and grinned.

"Hey Kaz, got any of that ice you used on Blackie left?" The only answer she got was an inarticulate moan. She muttered something and then handed the still-out of it Alpha to Claw. He gave her a flat gaze, and she smiled faintly.

"Uh. . . oops. Here, Kovu. . ." she dropped Alpha into Kovu's arms and left for the Assassin, leaving him staring after her with a puzzled expression. Then he gave her back to Omega, who looked at the sky, presumably asking what ever deities that were on Firen for patience. Then he sighed and carried her up the ramp back into the ship. Just as quickly, he stuck his head back out.

"Hey guys, guess who's back in the land of the living?" he called, and Copper muttered something under her breath that sounded like "when we are finished here there'll be one of us who ISN'T in the land of the living, and it won't be me". Kovu sighed.

"Tell us, Omega." The black rabbit glanced behind him and half-smiled.

"Zanzibar's awake," said he, and sure enough when he exited he had two, not one, companions. One was a still-dripping Alpha, who wore a mournful expression and kept flicking her ears, and the other was a very worn-out looking Zanzibar. Kaz grinned at the cat.

"Welcome back, Zanzie!" The icy look Zanzibar speared him with would have killed lesser beings, Copper was sure.

"Listen," she suddenly said, and she, Claw and Shinyso promptly became one with the shadows. As the rest of their comrades listened, the sound of shouting and warcries drifted their way. Ducky gasped.

"No wonder Kroys is here. It's a rebellion."

_________________

Read my story in War Tavern! I named it: Conquerer!

"Whatever." ~Coppertop

I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. -Phillipians 4:13

No matter what this says, I didn't edit this.

Kaz

Jun 16, 2001, 09:51 PM

the heck copper?

Coppertop

Jun 19, 2001, 06:18 PM

Wha'? What's the matter, Kaz?

Err. I have lots more to post. . .

"Sir, we are in orbit around the planet of Firen." Kroys gave his Commander a look made of pure evil.

"Very good, Commander. Prepare your troops and ready the attack on the rebels." The Fleet Commander bowed and left. Just as quickly he returned.

"M-milord, the scanners have picked up two alien ships on the planet's surface! One is a modified Darkspray fighter, and the other has been indentified as Commander Flairang's Jendara 245, sir!" Kroys hissed in frustration.

"What is the modified Darkspray's com number, Commander?" The Commander bowed again.

"I shall ask, milord." He left briefly and then returned.

"216, milord." Kroys paced, furious.

"The name?"

"Eh. . .the Assassin, milord."

"Assassin. . . there's only one ship in the galaxy with that name. Coppertop's." The Commander bowed for a third time.

"That is the pilot, milord." Kroys turned on him.

"Why didn't you tell me, you stupid oaf? Coppertop's the one who launched the original attack on me and destroyed the Deep Spacer in the process!"

"Uh. . . yes, milord." Kroys snarled an oath to himself that made the Commander blanch and pale.

"Dismissed, Commander."

"Uh. . . yes, mil-" he beat a hasty retreat upon seeing Kroys' look. Fuming to himself, Kroys glared down at Firen. The beautiful sphere's only city sprawled below, and with a flick of his hand Kroys could blast it out of existance, and half of the planet in the process. The thought made him smile in satisfaction.

Then he turned his focus in again, and began searching for that scrap of Beliane. . .

"Eh. . . Copper?" The grey rabbit turned her green eyes to KRSplat.

"Yeah?"

"How're we gonna kick shell if we don't know where these turtles are?" Copper grinned, and her eyes lit up with the prospect of, as KRSplat had put it, kicking shell.

"Leave that to Angel and Shinyso, my friend. I'm not a telepath."

With that subtle announcement that she now counted her comrades among her few friends, she had also announced her loyalty. . .

There! A shred of alien personality. . . He laughed mentally, mockingly. The piece of Belaine attempted to vanish, but he hooked it with a tendril of power and then enveloped it with blood-magic, drawing the power and life from it, laughing. . .

"Give no mercy."

Phoebe was not so sure about just diving into the battle, but at least she had her crossbow again. . . and her glasses! She stared up at the huge Star Destroyer, noting distractedly that she could see no end to it. The tip was just above her, and the rest of it stretched on and on and on in an ever-growing triangle. . .

"Hey, Phoebe! Wake up!" She blinked and refocused on the scene ahead. Slaves attacked the startled guards with anything they could lay their hands on, including each other. Copper drew her blaster with blurring speed, and glanced over at the others who quickly followed suit. Kaz pulled his out and took to the air, and Claw with a wicked grin began testing the aim on a hapless guard nearby.

"You guys, fire at will," Copper said cheerily, and the chaos that followed decimated the guards. Lasers whined overhead, and the startled slaves paused in their fighting to stare at the newcomers. Phoebe suddenly collapsed, and heard a laser zip past her ear. When she looked back, a tall, youngish-looking blue rabbit was inspecting his arm and muttering about bad aim.

She rolled to her feet and loosed a blue-feathered quarrel, and listened with satisfaction to the outraged yell that followed. Zanzibar had somehow managed to lose his blaster, and was now wrestling with a cursing guard who didn't seem to want to be killed. Finally Zanzibar got a grip, and she heard bones snapping as the guard's arm broke like a dry twig. She shot without aiming, and the yelping guard abruptly shut up as he looked increduously down at the crossbow quarrel that was now sprouting from his midriff. Zanzibar promptly grabbed the blaster and turned, snapping off a shot that whizzed past her ear. A cry of "ouch!" proved he had scored yet another hit.

A flash of silver caught her attention, and she saw Copper wielding her blade expertly. Kovu was using his own golden sword like a scythe, cutting low at the outraged guards' legs, swaying aside and then sweeping upwards abruptly to their suddenly unprotected chests. She couldn't see Claw, but the cries of pain and fury that came from behind her wasn't all from Kaz and Zanzibar.

Grath yelled up at Kaz, who had narrowly missed him when shooting down an advancing guard, and barely missed being kicked by Shinyso, who was using his own special moves. He ducked and shot a guard in the process, although he had a rather surprised look on his face when he realized what he had done. Ducky was dodging blasts of purple Jello, and Blacksheep was laughing hysterically as she shot her Jello~Ray gun without looking first. Alpha looked grim as she fought like a whirlwind, but more than once she had to be "rescued" by her brother, who expertly stayed on the sidelines until someone got in too deep of trouble.

The fighting seemed to take eternity, but once it was over she remembered very little of it. Claw was trying not to wince as Copper pried half a crow-bar out of his shoulder, and he gasped as she gave a very undignified yank. Finally she pulled it out, and gave him a speculative look.

"How'd that happen?" Claw grimaced and rubbed his other shoulder.

"Some idiot slave took me for a guard, I guess. Though how that happened I haven't a clue." Alpha nodded sympathetically, and then yelped as Omega prized a blue-fletched arrow from her leg. Phoebe tried to become invisible.

Kovu and Copper seemed to be totally uninjured, once it was discerned that the blood on them was their enemies and not their own, although Copper was limping slightly and Kovu could barely turn his head without wincing. When asked how that had happened, he muttered something about schwartzenguards and uppercuts.

"Well, guys, it looks like we won," Copper said finally. It seemed unreal to Phoebe, and it was only when she was back in the Assassin that both reality and her pain hit home. A searing pain ran up her leg, and when she looked down scarlet stained her light blue fur. The bullet blast that the slave had saved her from had not entirely missed; her ear was singed and throbbing. Another gash on her arm bled continuously, and when she touched her cheek her hand came away with blood on it.

"Actually, you didn't come out too bad," Emerald Dragon commented as she fixed up her arm. "Better than Zanzibar, it seems." Later, when she asked, she was told that Zanzibar had taken several hits in his side -the curse of being taller than your opponent, he said- and his shoulder had been laid open by a furious guard who had managed to find a blade.

"He'll survive," was the reassuring finish, and somehow Phoebe was greatly cheered by it.

Seeing as his troops planetside had totally been devastated, Kroys paced and planned with a vengeance. The Fleet Commander had returned with news that joining the slaves had been "several" assorted creatures.

"Leading them, milord, was a tall grey female rabbit with dark hair and a sword," he reported, and Kroys hissed in fury.

"Coppertop. . ."

"Of course, she wasn't the only one wreaking havoc with our troops, milord," the Commander continued, oblivious to Kroys' fury. "All of her comrades were like whirlwinds of devastation."

"Very poetic, Commander. But I want Copper!" Kroys ground out, and the Commander gulped.

"Yes, milord."

"And Commander?" Kroys said as the turtle turned to leave,

"I want her yesterday."

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 20, 2001, 11:28 AM

Uh...Copper, ya just posted something you

posted before...I think

Ducky

Jun 20, 2001, 01:06 PM

DiY! I want unseen stuffness. *sob*

`Ducky

Coppertop

Jun 20, 2001, 05:08 PM

I did? I did! Ahhhhh! Oops. I think. . . this is not a repeat.

"Gosh, we really beat them, didn't we," Blacksheep commented, looking astonished as she watched the victorious prisoners finish off the last of the fleeing guards. Claw nodded slightly, and Copper gave her a look. Ducky was off-duty because she had to have her third-degree burns treated, and Blacksheep who had taken over was being distracted very easily. When asked how she'd gotten burned, the only reply Ducky had given was a side-long look at Blackie. Or rather, her Jello~Ray gun. Which explained everything.

"Blackie? My shift now," Kaz grinned as he stuck his head around the corner. Blackie stuck her tongue out at him, and he cheerily tried to shove her out of the nav seat. Grath, who had just been passing when Kaz made his comment, looked enraged.

"No it's not, featherhead, you're after ME!" Kaz stubbornly shook his head.

"Uh-uh." Copper solved the problem.

"Actually, I believe that it's Kovu's. Blackie, go get him, will you?" Grumbling, Blacksheep obediently left the cockpit to go find Kovu.

She found him in the medical, trying to ward Thye off as she tried to apply an ice pack to his jaw.

"Oh no you don't. Keep away from me with that!"

"Stand still for a moment, I've got to get this on you. Come back here!" Kovu determinedly headed for the door, and Thye cut him off.

"Thye, stop- augh, no, help!" Blacksheep stifled a laugh.

"Get back here, you blasted rabbit!"

"Blackie, restrain her, please! She's insane, she wants to put that thing on me-" He stopped talking as Thye began stalking him, her expression one of exasperation. Blacksheep saved him.

"Kove, it's your turn at the nav."

"Not til I get this pack applied to that jaw of his," Thye started, but Blackie cut her off with, "Copper really needs him, and she's going to try to lose those Protectors in the asteriod field."

As if proving her point, the Assassin shuddered as a laser hit. Kovu had prudently disappeared, and Blackie wanted to do the same.

"I'll be in my room if you need me," she told Thye, and left in a hurry before Thye could find anything wrong with her.

"Asteriod field, eh?" Kovu remarked as he slid into the nav seat. Copper gave him a concerned glance.

"Kove, you really should get an ice pack on tha-"

"Don't start," he grumbled, and she took the hint.

"Yeah, we've got to get through those rocks and then back to Firen to drop Zanzibar off, if he wants to leave," Claw informed him. "Then it's back to the Conquerer to challenge Kroys again."

"I'm counting on Wildie to keep him from disappearing again," Copper added, and he nodded, having first-hand experience with Kroys' teleporting ploy.

"Can she do it?"

"I desperately hope so."

They fell silent as the black warship neared the belt. Kovu glanced down at the readout. The Belt of Varanhal? Huh. The asteroids tumbled through space in absolutely no pattern, and more than once he saw explosions as a smaller stone was caught by a bigger one, and shattered.

Copper had given the order to tie everything down, "including yourselves", and Kovu could see why now. He'd heard, of course, about the tricky Varanhal, most dangerous of the three belts this solar system had, and he'd never really expected to be flying through it. . .

Ducky

Jun 21, 2001, 06:00 AM

That was better http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Spiffing, CT.

`Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 21, 2001, 07:05 AM

Mmmh, pure, all brand new story...very good.

Excellentish http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Kaz

Jun 21, 2001, 06:37 PM

SHE TRIED TO BREAK US DARMIT!!!

Coppertop

Jun 21, 2001, 07:55 PM

*scratches head* break us? What?

Okay, I got more for y'allhttp://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif. . . new character.

"Protector One, sign in."

"Protector Two, sign in."

"Protector Three, sign in."

"Protector Four, sign in."

"Roger. Attack mode, arm heat-seekers and laser turrets. Surround the Darkspray, Three, Four, and Two, go in for the engines. Disable them, or the Emperor will have your head instead of the mercenary's. Enable shielding. Over."

"Copy that, One. Disable only. Full shielding, lasers at max intensity, seekers locking. Over."

"Good. Prepare to engage the enemy, Three and Four."

"Copy that, One. Preparing, all shields to fore engines and cockpit. Throttle at full. Give the command."

"Roger. Stay in formation, Protectors. . . now!"

The two Protectors shot forward, their lasers slamming into the shields of the Darkspray. Shonar waited grimly, watching for his chance. Then the young Ace darted forward, dodging mines and streaking straight for the warship, trying to distract it as Two went in for the engines. A burst of brilliant blue ion on his rear shields took out a stablizer, and he evened his remaining shields out over his Protector. Then he circled around, heading in for the kill.

Unfortunately, he realized then that if anyone was going to get killed, it'd be him. He wheeled around and flew around to the fore of his opponent, just in time to see Three drifting away, his bottom torn out, one engine dead, the other missing. He's gone. Four was retreating into the asteroid field, and an explosion proved that he'd hit a mine. He went out of control, spinning into a stray asteroid. Four blossomed with flame, and pieces of his ship were flung outwards. Shonar dodged them and headed off into the asteroid field. Well, we can't blame that kill on the Darkspray. It was his own stupidity.

Certain that he would not make that mistake, he whipped the small, agile Protector around, armed the advanced torpedoes, and closed in on the Darkspray.

Copper cursed softly in several different languages, of which Kovu knew only three.

"Blast it, the idiot's comin' around at us! Kovu, redirect engine power to the shields, but drain the shields to the engines when I say. Got it?" He nodded silently, and she wheeled the ship around.

"Claw, arm the heat-seekers." A faint click followed her command, and Claw touched the controls lightly.

"Copper, they've armed their advanced torpedoes," Kovu called, and she muttered something he wasn't sure he wanted to hear again.

"Blast. Transfer all rear shields to the fore, ready the seekers, here we go-" she threw the Assassin into a spin, and they swerved erratically around asteroids and mines alike.

"There's another one on our tail," Kovu reported, and she rather breathlessly and dizzily replied, "Strengthen the rear shields, then." He obeyed and had the satisfaction of seeing the trailing Protector swerve abruptly to miss the warship. It collided with a mine, and its left wing was sheared off. That left the one.

"Ready the lasers, fire at will. . ."

Shonar nearly crashed with astonishment as his rather accomplished wingman made all the mistakes in the book and some that weren't, resulting in a crippling hit with a mine.

"Blast, that's the most common trick, and he got taken by it-" his thoughts went unspoken. Now it's just me out here.

"I can't believe he fell for that!" Copper laughed, as they circled around and she caught sight of the crippled Protector. Going shieldless and then flipping them on suddenly was the oldest trick, and it rarely failed to panic novices as their previously clear route was suddenly blocked by a shimmering, translucent violet force field.

"Claw, arm the ions. Lock on with the seekers, go!" A splat on the lone Protector's shields disabled one of the left rear thrusters, and with a chilling warcry Copper throttled to full and swooped down on her quarry, like a hawk after prey.

By all the Faders of Firen, work!! The Protector's engine coughed and faltered, and Shonar redirected shields to it. Come on. . . It stalled, and then roared back to life. With a thrust of his hand, the ship shot forward, and he commed in to the control center.

"Carain Fleet Head, permission to abort mission! Repeat, permission to retreat, attack failed!" The reply was crisp and clear.

"Protector One, permission denied. We have closed the hangars due to power failure. Repeat, permission denied." He cursed. He'd have to land on Shilarloh, the tiny moon that circled Firen along with its slightly larger twin, Kilanphor. It was named for the first founder of the city, and was on the most part completely ignored. For which reason, it was teeming with mercenaries, assassins, smugglers, and generally the low-life and free-booters of the Scorpti system. If they don't want me back, I'll have to find some other place to land.

"Blast it! Claw, y'want to go after him?" Claw shrugged as he watched the damaged ship flee.

"He'll get killed soon enough on Shilarloh, as soon as those mercenaries and all find out he's from the 'Empire'. No sense wasting power and weaponry in chasing him," Kovu reasoned. She nodded reluctantly, and then turned the Assassin around to face Firen.

"Aaah, alright. Let's go."

Haha! Sorry Predator, Later I guess. . .

PredatorDM

Jun 22, 2001, 01:33 AM

http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gifokay, and is it ok i use u for me story also,.. i am writing one too.

i dont have much joiners yet http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif

Kaz

Jun 22, 2001, 06:19 PM

Uhhh, must re read... somewhere I'm lost in this story...

Ducky

Jun 23, 2001, 05:41 AM

Ooooh. Rux0r, CT.. Groovy http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

`Duckay

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 24, 2001, 05:56 PM

What can be said? Brilliant, Copper.

Grath AR

Jun 25, 2001, 04:35 AM

Spiffy! Aboballyloutley Spiffin'! Top-mark!

Coppertop

Jun 25, 2001, 06:44 PM

*blushes* oh gosh, um, ah. . . here's more!

An' yes that's absolutely fine, Predator http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Rroyvan glanced up, shading his eyes against the fierce glare of the tropical sun. Nothing.

For several days he and his sister had taken turns scanning the sky, ever since news had come that Zanzibar had been seen with the rebelling slaves.

"By all the Faders, I hope he wasn't taken," Rroyvan sighed. His sister nodded slowly. Velveetza, his youngest sibling, was the only sister he had now. The elder had gone to the city, and hadn't been heard from in years.

"Rroyvan, maybe you should go," she said. He gave her a wan smile and closed his eyes wearily.

"Perhaps you are right. You will watch?"

"Of course. Go." She shoved him gently towards the damp green forests, and he laughingly obeyed. She watched him go and then turned her gaze to the skies.

His first indication was the dark shadow. His second was the soft rumble of an engine. His third- the choking wind that came in the strange ship's wake.

Rroyvan had been in the forest for over an hour, and now this. He sighed and prepared to follow the black ship that slowly cruised overhead, the huge top fin jutting up into the air, the engines glowing. With a start he recognized the type- a modified Darkspray.

"There." Copper carefully manuevered the Assassin over the small clearing, and then gently set down. Zanzibar lightly leaped down from the ramp, and coolly glanced back.

"Thank you. I shall see if I can find my family. Then I will return." With that, he turned and vanished into the dark depths of the trees.

Coppertop

Jun 25, 2001, 06:45 PM

Ahh, I relent. . .

"Well, I think he's been gone long enough," Copper remarked, glancing up at the sun.

"What?" Grath looked up at her. "Oh, yeah, the cat. Where'd he go to anyway?" Copper gave him a look composed of pure exasperation.

"Zanzibar left about two hours ago to find his family. Where were you?" Grath grinned.

"Right here?" Copper shook her head.

"Kaz, prepare to lift ship. If he's not here in the next five minutes we're leaving without him."

Zanzibar melded with the shadows and continued his solitary trek. His passing left no trace; he could not be followed. He went on.

Rroyvan knew instinctively when he drew near the stream. The cool scent of growing things slipped elusively through the trees, and he sped his pace up. There was a small mossy glade ahead, cloaked in shadows. . .

Zanzibar slid through the trees with an effortless ease. He was getting close, he knew it. . . there. The clearing was there.

Rroyvan knew Zanzibar was there. . . the very air whispered of the dark Firenzev's secret presence. He balanced comfortably in the fork of a tree, his rather large blaster on his back. He scanned the shadows carefully, and listened.

Then he spoke.

"Sia."

"Sia." Zanzibar nearly laughed. Still. . . He could just barely make out his brother's form in a tree. He slipped around through the shadows.

"Lae." Rroyvan turned to see those odd eyes of his brother watching him. He stood slowly.

"That is I," he said in Firenzev.

"I know." Zanzibar spoke in the same language. Then he switched to Basic. "Velveetza is well?"

"Of course. You found Devan?"

"No. But I have found something else."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It is called. . . friendship."

"Ah. Friendship is a valuable thing." Like all true Firenzev, they shied away from the real subject. If Rroyvan had addressed it right out, Zanzibar would assume he wanted to talk about something else entirely.

"Yes."

"And who have the privelige of that special bond?"

"A strange company, my brother."

"Truly. You always had that strange talent of making interesting friends, did you not?" Rroyvan thought he detected a hint of a smile.

"Indeed. You have heard of the mercenary Copper?" The gray cat started at the abrupt change of subject.

"Of course, I more than most."

"Indeed. I had forgotten."

"And what of it?"

"There is also the one called Claw."

"Yes, I've seen him too. Now what of it?"

"I suppose you know of her companions."

"All those rabbits?"

"Yes."

"Oh. I see."

"Do you?"

"Indeed."

"And?"

"A strange company indeed, my brother."

"Yes. But an interestingly heroic one, yes?"

"Mmm. They suit you."

"Ah. I owe them a could-be life debt."

"Could-be?"

"Hmm, yes. If they choose to claim it."

"Oh." Zanzibar watched him through half-closed eyes.

"Yes." Rroyvan blinked.

"Devan?"

"Kroys." Now Rroyvan's brother addressed the situation directly.

"No."

"Yes. Devan may have captured me, but he did not injure."

"And Kroys did?" Rroyvan demanded, shocked.

"Yes! Have I not said that? Kroys! Yes, the very one who made a treaty with you, the very one who owns those abominable ship mines, the very one who promised to let you live in peace! He was the one who almost killed me, and would have if my friends had not saved me," Zanzibar hissed.

"When?"

"A day ago." Zanzibar moved slightly, and now Rroyvan could see the bandage that covered the wound.

"And of Vorsyelvo?"

"Kroys' orders. And he will imprison you, and Velveetza, and all your family if you do not leave Firen or hide." And he left then.

It took Rroyvan a few seconds to realize that Zanzibar had said "your family", instead of "our family". . . but by then he was gone.

Ducky

Jun 26, 2001, 05:33 AM

Oh nice CT http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

I like the violence that you put in it. Like not physical.

Carry on http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

`Duckay

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 26, 2001, 08:21 AM

Most niftular, Copper...

WILL THE SHIP LEAVE THE PLANET? WILL KROYS

DISSAPEAR INTO A ALTERNATE DIMENSION? WILL

STUFF HAPPEN? DUH DUH DAA

Kaz

Jun 26, 2001, 10:12 AM

dun dunn dunnnnn

Coppertop

Jun 26, 2001, 06:43 PM

lol, Kove

I like dueling with words, Ducky, much more fun http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif

Ahem. Well, I have LOTS more to post so I think I'm going to resist the urge to post them and leave.

Coppertop

Jun 26, 2001, 06:45 PM

Gah, I've held out long enough, can't STAND it when I don't put down what I have

"Milord, the Protectors have failed to detain the escaping Darksprays." Kroys glared at the wall behind his Fleet Commander. He did a lot of that lately. . .

"Where are they?"

"M-milord, three were d-destroyed and one survived."

"Where is the survivor?"

"W-we c-could not g-g-give him access, m-milord! T-the shields w-were t-t-too low to let him e-enter!"

"Where is he?"

"W-we b-b-believe he w-went t-t-t-to the s-small moon of- of Shilarloh, m-milord," the terrified turtle trembled.

"No," Kroys breathed. "You know." The Commander cowered away. He hated that. Flairang never did that. . . But if the magic-users were to be believed, Flairang had been as much a traitor as the mercenary Claw. Now this idiot was Commander.

"Where did he go?"

"W-we don't know, milord! He could be anywhere!"

"Find him. I need every Protector."

"Yes, milord."

"Dismissed."

"Okay, he's here," Blacksheep yelled in the general direction of the cockpit as Zanzibar leapt up the stairs. The Assassin's engines hummed and they lifted off.

"What took you so long?" Phoebe demanded. Zanzibar sighed.

"My fool brother was not where he was supposed to be."

"Oh?"

"Uh-huh. He's convinced that Kroys is not what we think he is. . . I hope I have cured him of that."

"Oh."

"Yesss. . ." And the squirrel could get no more out of him.

"Good work, Kaz," Copper congratulated. "I've never seen a smoother lift off."

"Thanks. Um, what's THIS button for?"

"Don't touch that!. . ."

"Why not?"

"'Cause it's the eject button," Claw offered dryly.

"Ah," Kaz nodded wisely. "That's a good reason. I understand everything but the explanation." Copper looked at him for a second, and then whacked him.

"Ouch!"

"So there. Ah. . . don't touch that. The last thing we need is to enter hyperspace right here."

"We haven't gone in hyperspace yet," Kaz commented.

"Good. Keep it that way."

"Okie."

Then, "uh. . . where are we going?"

"To the Conquerer. Go get Shinyso."

"Okie."

"Permission denied. Shilarloh is temporarily closed due to the large amount of, uh, space debris," the Shilarloh towerman replied nervously. Shonar understood perfectly.

"Wrong type of space debris, huh?"

"Um, yeah."

It figures. With all those mercenaries and all, and with all the restrictions. . . He wheeled the Protector around and headed for Kilanphor. He had to get powered up again, or else the Protector would be space dust. And he'd better not mention the growing Empire. . .

Kaz

Jun 26, 2001, 08:36 PM

Okay! Now I'm sure we're getting to <STRIKE> an actual</STRIKE> a good part.

Ducky

Jun 27, 2001, 05:49 AM

Is it just me, or did you hold out for all of two minutes, CT?!

Lol http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Nice chapter.

`Ducky

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 27, 2001, 06:54 AM

Ah yes, nice part indeed.

Coppertop

Jun 28, 2001, 08:53 PM

Eh, thankee http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif I wrote more, and Predator, you won't come in until later on.

"Zanzibar? Against the Lord Kroys?" Velveetza's eyes widened and her whiskers bristled nervously. "Oh, how could he?" Rroyvan sighed.

"He claimed it was under Kroys' orders that Vorsyelvo was killed, and he imprisoned."

"So that's where he's been!"

"Yes. And if it weren't for his friends, he'd probably be dead by now. Or so he says."

"Friends?"

"Yes. And just guess who?" Velveetza laughed nervously.

"If I know our brother, he'll have allied with- oh, say, those crazy mercenaries Coppertop or Claw!" Rroyvan sighed and nodded unhappily. Velveetza gasped.

"No, I was just joking, how could he have-"

"Yes, he's friends with Claw, Copper, and all that gang. He says that he owes them all a 'could-be life debt'." Velveetza twitched her whiskers.

"And what else has our brother said?"

"That if we don't get hide or get off Firen we'll all be imprisoned, along with all our family."

"Nonsense! Kroys has offered us a lifetime of peace, and we have accepted. Kroys wouldn't dishonor that, would he?" There was genuine doubt in her voice now.

"I don't know. . . "

"We're landing on Shilarloh? That tiny moon?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because the Assassin may have large amounts of power, but I'm running low on it. I need to fuel up."

"Ahh. . ."

"And that's that."

Kovu aka Alec

Jun 29, 2001, 08:17 AM

That's not a tiny moon...it's a battle station...

Heh, good stuffness.

Ducky

Jun 29, 2001, 09:30 AM

Yes, thanks, I'll have more.

`Ducky

Phoebe

Jun 29, 2001, 03:44 PM

Oh wow, thats really nifty... continue!

Nightshade

Jul 2, 2001, 11:10 AM

Very niftular, CT. Continue!

Pleez?

Coppertop

Jul 2, 2001, 11:43 AM

Ehe, sorry, Predator, I just re-read your prof, and you're too dangerous for this story. You'd kill us all, and as I'm nearing the end I have no way to work in that dangerous of an assassin. Sorry.

A battle station, Kove? Really? I didn't think so http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif

Shilarloh was a small ball of rock, with an artificial atmosphere and not an inch of the original moon showing. It was city or shipyards all the way down, and NOBODY wanted to visit the lowest levels. However, it was one of the safest places Copper knew.

"And Kovu said that that Protector was headed for here. So if we can find him we'll get a double bonus."

"Oh. Cool."

"Yep, that's what I think, too. Shinyso, how're the- blast!" Copper barely veered away in time to miss the suddenly engaged shields.

"What the-? Ohno, they've closed the planet and I'm almost out of fuel. . . Shinyso, switch to reserve and set throttle to full. Set route to Kilanphor, the most direct one, if you please. Of all the times to close Shilarloh, this was the worst they could have possibly picked. . ." As Copper talked, her fingers flew over the controls. The Assassin turned slowly away from the small moon and began picking up speed, heading for Kilanphor.

Kroys paced the control room, growing more and more agitated.

"You cannot track this Protector? Idiots! Why didn't you let him in in the first place?" The miserable-looking Commander sighed.

"It was not my discision, Milord! The fools who denied him access have been eliminated, as were your orders, but I am afraid that that does not bring back the pilot, sir."

"Of course it doesn't! You are dismissed." The officer bowed tremulously, and fled. Kroys glared at the retreating turtle's back, and finally sat down in his throne-like command chair. And then. . . that feeling of leaving. . . No! Blast you, I will NOT GO!. . . too late. He was once more in that place of fog and cloud, and awaiting him was none other than three black forms.

The fog stretched out pale fingers of white towards him, tendrils of it enveloping him. It drifted between trees that he had never noticed before, and it covered the sky. There was no sun, moon or stars; the only light seemed to be coming from the mist itself. His magic could not send it away. It obscured the three waiting forms, and the shroud of gauzy fog swirled about him as he walked.

He caught a flicker of color in the corner of his eye, amongst the silent pristine trees. He turned. There was nothing.

Another flash. And nothing. There was nothing there anywhere, and yet he felt eyes on him, watching, waiting, with fury that drove the thick distorting mists before them.

A chill ran up his spine, and he turned his hate-filled look towards the three figures. They seemed further away than ever before. He walked faster, and they maintained the distance between themselves and him. He cursed softly, and stopped. They weren't that far away, and yet he could not reach them. . .

They were there. There was only two figures now. The female, Wild Angel, had left. Now there was a large, felinoid form slinking through the mists, and the one named Shinyso.

"What is this place?" His harsh voice seemed out of place in the silence of the muffling fogs. Shinyso half-smiled.

"This is the place between dreaming and wakefulness. This is the place of symbols, and you have already seen one."

"You lie. I have seen nothing."

"Oh? Consider this, enemy. I represent Copper and her comrades, and you represent the forces of Kroys. As Kroys chases Copper, she is always one step ahead of him. As long as he pursues her, he cannot reach her. Then he stops. And when he stops, Copper and her comrades come to him of their own accord. . . beware, enemy. You have made many enemies, and you would do well to watch your back."

And then he was gone.

Kaz

Jul 2, 2001, 09:40 PM

YaY! Very mystical story! (an running out of fuel near the moon? BAH!)

Coppertop

Jul 3, 2001, 07:20 PM

Well, they've gone the whole time without refueling, Kaz. It has to happen in any good space story!

Anyhow, I've got more. Almost done. . .

"Into the Conquerer? I don't know, but I can try."

"You'll help us, then? Against Kroys?"

"Sure. He doesn't want me, so why should I help him? I'm just back to where I began, an assassin and bounty hunter."

"Well, thanks, Shonar," Copper said, rising. "You've been a big help."

"Heh, anytime. Hey, by the way, Kroys is scheduled to leave for Firen at 1200 hours on his Hypernaught. If I were you, I'd face him on there." The good-looking bronze furred rabbit glanced up at her with eyes the color of stormclouds. He grinned cockily.

"I can give you a readout of the Hypernaught, and her location, but that's it. Will that do?"

"Yeah, thanks again. Will you be there?"

"Sure thing. Wouldn't miss it for anything in the world."

"Well, you've been a big help. C'mon, Phoebe, we gotta get back to the Assassin." She glanced back at Shonar. "Seeya later, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess," he echoed, and watched her leave. He'd seen the unspoken question in her eyes: How did a rabbit like you get to be Kroys' top pilot? He sighed and glanced out the window at his Protector, christened as Lessaria 309. Possibly because I had "no loyalties" towards my home planet, he thought cynically. How could I not have any? Being turned away was the last straw. He would stay mercenary this time. It was a lot safer.

"Well, what did you think?"

"About what, Shonar? I think he was telling the truth, or at least, no lies. Don't trust that one too much," Phoebe cautioned. Copper grinned down at the young squirrel.

"Phoebe, I don't trust anyone. Not even. . ." Her eyes darkened with long-remembered pain and anguish.

"Not even?" Phoebe prompted.

"Not even what?" Copper asked innocently. Phoebe sighed.

"Never mind. Are you going to take Shonar's advice about the Hyperness or whatever he called it?"

"The Hypernaught. Yeah, I think he was telling the truth. He'll get us in the Conquerer if anyone can."

They walked on in silence for a while. Suddenly Copper spun, sword in hand, and roughly caught the wrist of a young black rabbit.

"Gotcha!" she hissed. The young rabbit's deep blue eyes blazed, and she wrenched her wrist out of Copper's grip. She siezed one of the many daggers that festooned her, and with the other swung a needle-tipped mace. With one deft movement Copper moved her sword correctly, and the chain wrapped around the blade. With a slight tug, she disarmed her opponent.

"Who are you?" The blue eyes narrowed.

"I am Nightshade."

"You BELIEVE him? Copper, he's from that thrice-cursed Kroys!"

"I know that. Which is why I don't believe him wholly, but if he can get us in the Conquerer I'm willing to go for it."

"Well, next time take Wild Angel. She can read minds, can't she?"

"Yes. Alright, I will, you've convinced me. Take it easy, Claw, it's not like some bounty hunter would be able to even touch me."

"It's not you I'm worried about, mercenary. It's me."

"Oh? And what's he going to do, send some evil spell at you?"

"Well, you never know. . ."

"Don't worry about it. You can take care of yourself."

"Thanks alot," Claw muttered. Copper responded with a sarcastic, "you're so welcome to it."

Then, "Shinyso, set route to. . . five marks off the Belt of Varanhal. How much power have we got?"

"Full on both thrusters. If we charged up any more we'd burst."

"Good. Claw, how about the weaponry?"

"Lasers and ions charged to full, max torpedoes and half heat-seekers."

"Awesome. Got that course planned out?"

"Sure thing."

"Okay. Fire up the thrusters and let's get out of here."

And with a sound like a thunderclap, they did just that.

Kaz

Jul 3, 2001, 08:20 PM

Btw: SINCE YOU DIDN'T CLAIM THIS PAGE YET! I CLAIM 6TH PAGE AS WELL!!! MWAHAHAHA!!!!

Great story... (but how will the assasin get past the conqueror's shields? It's simply illogical!)

Coppertop

Jul 3, 2001, 08:26 PM

Waaahhhhh! Kaazzz! I didn't even realize I had six pages! *sobs hysterically*

Anyway. The Conquerer's shields have to be down for the Hypernaught to leave. Otherwise the Hypernaught will be fried. And just you wait for the NEXT part! Ahh, here it is. I really shouldn't give this to you, but I can't RESIST. . .

"Lessaria 309 to Assassin 216, do you read. Over."

"Roger, Lessaria 309 Over."

"Jendara 245 to Assassin 216 and Lessaria 309. Do you read. Over."

"Roger, Jendara 245. Hey, Omega, where ya been?"

"Everywhere. Looks like this is our final strike, eh?"

"Roger that. Shonar, y'think you can get both of us in? Uh. . . over."

"Affirmative. Bit more difficult, but definitely possible. Over."

"Now we're getting somewhere. Shonar, once you're inside, try for the command room. Hit that self-destruct thing. I'll send Grath. Over."

"Roger that. I know the Conquerer inside and out. Over."

"Great. Let's go for it."

Three ships, one chestnut, one black, and one stormy grey, held formation as orders were given. It was a strange group, two Darksprays, one modified, and an "Empirial" Protector converging on one lone Star Destroyer. And a very unthreatening one.

"Right. So that's the Hypernaught?"

"Yep. Looks pretty small, eh? I'm sure you can get in there with no problem."

"True. Grath, y'ready?"

"Uh-huh."

"Go for it, then." Grath gripped his staff and shimmered slightly. Then he vanished. Taking that for a green light, Copper throttled up and headed for the Hypernaught.

Once on board, it was a simple matter to find Kroys, although the Hypernaught was a large ship. With a lurch, the journey to Firen started.

They took him by surprise. The instant Alpha saw him, she lunged, forcing him to backpedal, cursing with shock. Before Wild Angel could stop him, he vanished.

"Blast! He can't have gone far. . ."

Hissing with fury and shock, Kroys paced the control room. How had they gotten on the Hypernaught? SOMEONE would have to answer for this.

A soft click alerted him, and he turned swiftly to face the door. His shields were up. . .

An impressive explosion filled the room with smoke, and he stepped back slowly, keeping his eyes on the door, or where it would be.

The smoke swirled as a tall black rabbit stepped in, followed closely by another. The first was one he'd seen before, oh yes, he knew him. It was Shinyso. The second had a sword on his back and a uzi in his hands. Kroys had never seen him before.

More figures materialized from the smoke. Several he knew, but others he had never seen before. A delicate female squirrel, a tall powerful black cat, a red rabbit, and a black one who was festooned with throwing knives. A brown rabbit, the one he'd seen on Lohar. KRSplat, the bird Kaz, Wild Angel, Emerald Dragon, Ducky and Blacksheep. And behind the group of warriors, two figures he knew very well.

"It was a simple matter to find you, you know," Copper said with -amusement?- in her voice. "You really must stop taking refuge in your command rooms."

"I have been waiting for you."

"Oh?"

"Why this army? You don't need reinforcements."

"They have all earned their place here today, evil one." Kroys' eyes blazed at the insulting title.

"You would do well to watch your tongue, fool."

"Oh?" Kroys hissed with fury.

"Yes. But today you die." He made a sign with one hand, and a staff with a razor-sharp crescent tipping it appeared. Copper moved delicately through the swirling, obscuring smoke, sword in hand.

And like a blaze of silver flame, she attacked him.

Kovu aka Alec

Jul 3, 2001, 09:57 PM

What can I say?

Most absolutley spiffy, Copper.

ALMOST OVER? Nooo....*gurgles and dies*

Kaz

Jul 4, 2001, 12:28 PM

Okay! Now I know a better (is that possible) part is coming up!

(hint: that was made for a compliment!)

Mwahaha! I own 33% of the pages to Copper's STory!

Coppertop

Jul 4, 2001, 07:06 PM

Hah! I own 67%, so nyah.

Ahem. Kovu, get off the ground, you guys are my main inspiration, and if you die I won't FINISH the story!

Umm. . . yeah. Right. I. . . have more. . .

Time stopped for Copper. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. She dodged a slash and came up, parrying Kroys' next blow. He swung at her feet; she danced back lightly and then stepped in with a quick thrust. He backpedalled and she pressed her attack, hammering him with hard blows that he was hard put to block. His back to the wall, he fought ferociously.

Suddenly she stepped away, warily circling him.

He moved away from the wall, towards her, and a flicker of motion caught his eye. He turned and blocked Claw, who had been trying for his back.

A pressure at his magical senses made him turn. There was nothing. Copper was gone.

He turned back to Claw and flung a sizzling violet levin-bolt at him. He ducked and rolled nimbly to his feet again, and Kroys was waiting for him. With a quick downthrust that Claw barely blocked, he suddenly backed off and turned to face the wall.

Copper was there. He advanced on her, and she brought her smoking sword up defensively. Abruptly he turned and fired another levin-bolt at the stalking Claw. It took him through the chest and flung him against the wall in a boneless heap, limp, fur smoking and singed.

With a cry of "Claw!" Copper flung herself upon him. Startled, he brought his staff up to bear, and then shoved her away. She growled something low in her throat, and promptly had to dodge yet another levin bolt. She came to her feet with her sword ready, and, touching the jewel and breathing something that Kroys didn't quite catch, shimmered out of existance. He cursed as she materialized behind him, and caught him in the ribs with the flat of her blade. He cast a crackling shred of fox-fire at her; she twisted away as it lanced by.

"It's a lot easier murdering innocent, unarmed creatures, isn't it," she mocked him, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Murdering? I do not murder, rabbit. I exact vengeance," Kroys rasped. He, too, was panting from his exertions. She snorted contemtuously.

Suddenly he pounced, driving an unexpecting Coppertop back until she was against the wall. He hooked the crosshilt; Shale went spinning across the floor. He brought the staff up in a blurring arc, resting the razor curve against her throat. . .

Coppertop

Jul 5, 2001, 07:43 PM

What?! Nobunny (AND nobirdy) replied?! Noooo. . . So, I guess I have to post more. *grouches*

As Kroys gazed furiously into Copper's deep green eyes, he saw no surrender there. Only defiance, determination and cold, calculating fury. Startled by the depth of her anger and insulted nature, he let his guard down for the slightest second.

It was enough. Copper ducked under the staff, and dove for Shale. As she tripped again, he yanked her feet from out beneath her, and she collapsed on the floor. He bent slightly, intending to finish his adversary off once and for all, and was drawing all the power from the innocent slaves on the planet below, rendering them unconscious, when a numbing pain seared through him.

Kroys gasped in shock as he stared down at the sword embedded in his chest. He made a move to pull it out, intending to heal the wound; the hiss of cold steel being drawn froze him. Then a curved dagger appeared in his throat, the poisonus nightshade on it blocking his magic.

A look of astonishment crossed his face, and with an inarticulate cry he fell to his knees. The last thing he saw before his eyes closed forever was Kovu, bending over him to retrieve his sword.

"That's for Claw," he told him.

The endless storehouse of blood-magic locked in the dark one's powerful mind broke free as the keeper was destroyed. The flood of bruised, tainted power flowed out, through the largest outlet it could find. The black rabbit's diamond glowed and heated. . .

Copper took an uncertain step backwards or two as the black cloak fluttered slightly. A sort of glow was enveloping Kroys, but it was sickly looking. The tainted light formed a channel, heading directly for-

"Angel!"

-Wild Angel's diamond. As the first beam penetrated, she swayed, and Shinyso and Grath -And what was HE doing here, anyway?- barely caught her in time. She cried out as the entire gold headdress was enveloped and then-

A beam of brilliant, diamond white light lanced out, striking the shard of Sparif in Ducky's staff. It seemed to make the whole staff vibrate and glow, and then the light leapt to Kovu's shard, and then to Alpha's ruby on her knife, and to Omega's opal, and to Nightshade's redstone sword pommel, and then to Copper's key, and down to her sword, which she still held. Light shot through the green jewel, making it translucent, and then spread along the blade -and the light was still coming from Kroys! Anything with jewels or magic was touched, and the light on Shale dissolved as more kept pouring in-

Invisible rays of power slid through the air, headed for the unconscious slaves. It delicately entered one, filled the space that Kroys had emptied, and went on, touching each one in turn and awakening the slaves as it went. . .

Abruptly the flow stopped. Wild Angel swayed once more and then dramatically collapsed, and once more Shinyso barely caught her. Then they all turned their eyes to Kroys.

He was gone. All there was was a pile of ashes, that stirred in an unseen wind.

Ducky prodded the ashes with her staff. A small, fire-blackened object fell to the floor next to the pile. It was a jewel, that had once adorned a ring on Kroys' hand. And etched on it in letters barely readable with age- Belaine.

Copper turned her shadowed eyes to Shinyso.

"So that's how you knew," she breathed. "Claw told me-" she choked up slightly. Shinyso nodded.

"Yes, I'd seen it before, on a wizard named Belaine. He 'disappeared' a few years ago- disappeared into Kroys."

"Copper?" Kovu was bending over Claw. "I don't think Kroys killed him." She frowned slightly.

"Ho-"

"Blasted enemies." Kovu backed off as Claw picked himself up slowly. "I always make sure of a job."

Nightshade seemed to wake from her stupor.

"Blast! That moron took my best dagger with him!" Claw turned his pain-soaked gaze to her.

"Be glad he didn't take you," he replied.

There was a long, uncomfortable silence. Finally Kovu drew in a shaky breath and sheathed his sword.

"Alright, guys. Let's. . . go home."

Off in the distance, a small Darkspray named the Rain Mantis sped away from Firen. Devan was in high spirits, having stolen three power cells and two blast rifles and having gotten away with it. Sure it had taken some smooth talking, but he was home free.

As he checked his back visuals, he thought he saw a brilliant star appear in the distance, on the other side of Firen. It remained in place for quite some time, until it faded away into the distance. Shonar had done his job well. The Conquerer, both ship and being, was ashes.

THE END