What, no comments? Oh well.



"Copper? Where ya been?" Kovu wandered in as she observed the cargo bay of the Assassin.

"Browbeating that dumb Varzalian. My contract ended two hours ago, but he didn't want to let me leave."

"So, where to?"

"Medivo, then Carrotus. If my friends are being stalked, I'm going to help them. And you'll notice, it's the people who helped kill Kroys."

"True. Even I got attacked."

"Kovu, you get attacked every time you take the controls these days. But I'd think they'd have more reason to attack you than anyone else. You really were the one who defeated Kroys."

"Aah, it could have been anyone."

"However you want it, Kovu. But I think our jackpot will be on Medivo."



Claw hissed in frustration and fury as threescore of the sneering, filthy turtles and lizards surrounded him. Their leader, a swaggering schwartzenguard, lay at his feet.

"You will die for thisss, creaturre," growled an angry lizard. Claw unsheathed the claws on his left hand.

"It was your leader's stupidity," he snarled. "He shouldn't have challenged me if he feared death!"

He raised his right hand. Blood glittered darkly on his claws in the dim lighting. The dull turtles watched him without moving.

Claw glanced over the smaller turtles' heads at the Vortex Crawler. All he had to do was get by the guarding turtles and into the cockpit. Right. That was ALL?

He drew his Protec blaster and raised it. Suddenly terrified, the turtles and lizards scattered.

"Hmm. Think they recognized you?"

"Lay off, Copper," he said wearily. Then he suddenly looked surprised.

"Coppertop? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you. My contacts said you were here, and I figured you were in trouble, of course."

"I'm honored. However, my trouble always comes with you, I've noticed. . .what's the trouble NOW?"

"Kronans attacking my friends. And some unknown force behind them."

"Like the unknown forces that circulate in the rumors?"

"Such as. . .?"

"'Deathless Ones'. Mean anything to you? Me niether." He looked darkly at the still retreating Shellions.

"A name? Nothing else?"

"No one knows anything else. Not even I."

"Well. . . I brought the Assassin-"

"-which means the rest of your crazy gang-"

"-so you can dock the Vortex Crawler next to the Moonrise-"

"-I doubt you've got that much space-"

"-and come along with us on this-"

"-next insane adventure-"

"-search for these killers. Are you going to quit cutting me off, or are you coming?"

"I haven't much of a choice, have I?"

"Well, are you?"

Claw went.