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.