We spoke little, I knew he would be angry with me for coming here and putting the resistance at risk, Meelak had told me during his visit on Moya that Neri didn’t want me to find him. I had to tell him my reasons but now was not the time.

He did ask about my eyes though and kept looking at them curiously, I had to explain why I had new ones and also the advantages I now possessed. Finally we reached some caves where we were going to rest until dark. It was cold and they couldn’t risk a fire so heat sticks were passed around that gave off a small amount of warmth. Neri was waving one across my face shining the light onto my eyes.

“And it hasn’t changed you in any other way, they didn’t mess with your brain did they?” he asked still looking puzzled.



I had probably travelled more than he had over the last few cycles, during my time on Moya I had visited so many worlds in constant flight as a fugitive from the Peacekeepers. Neri would have no understanding of half of the things I’d witnessed, his time had been spent in bloodshed and staying undercover in caves like these.

“Nah, I trust the doc that fixed them for me, a Diagnosan, I was so scared I wouldn’t see again.” I paused, Neri was looking so worn he didn’t need to hear about my troubles. Trying not to move my ribs to much I took his hands and gave him the brightest smile I could whilst in pain.

“I’ve got nowhere left to go Neri and I’ve changed, I’ve seen and done things I shouldn’t, that no-one should have to but I’m still around and if there is a way I can help you to stay alive too then that’s all I want.”

He half smiled looking out over the silvery forest.

“Well you are here now, I can’t change that and I am pleased to see you of course but I don’t know if I will be able to protect you here. I didn’t want you involved.”

“Always the older brother huh, believe me I’ve been cloned, possessed, shot at, bled, tortured, frell we even came close to destroying the universe, I think I can hold my own.” I laughed at how absurd I sounded even more when I saw the way Neri was looking at me.

“We can’t lose”. For the first time since he’d found me I heard him laughing too.

_____________________________________

Meanwhile on Hyneria Rygel was pacing up and down the marble floors of the campaign room on his thronesled. Paintings of former Dominars surrounded him and he looked away from their judgemental gaze.

“It’s happening all over again, I can feel it, why couldn’t this have happened to my cousin” he mumbled.

On his return to Hyneria he had expected arns of lectures as to his somewhat dangerous and unannounced journey to the space station. Instead however he was greeted with the news that the Charrids were mounting an increasing number of attacks on Hyneria and intelligence being gathered suggested they would soon declare war. The Charrids had broken free of the Scarran Peacekeeper alliance and were acting for once on their own. The Hynerian Navy was unprepared for an all out war and they desperately needed time that they didn’t have.

He needed someone to buy him that time and he had called the one person he had hoped never to see again.

“The carrier is in orbit and he has arrived your majesty.”

A dark shadow appeared at the entrance of the room and the familiar black armour appeared.

“Rygel it’s been too long” the crossbreed gave a shudder inducing smile.

“Scorpius” The Dominar knew he would live to regret his decision but the fate of billions depended on him.

How can you say it's the final chapter with an ending like that???

You finally get Scorpy involved and end it?????


I demand more. :guns: :guns: :guns: :whip: :whip:

Other than that minor complaint :whistling: It was fabulous as ever Alex. But I still want more.

:thumbsup: Thanks :fear:

Maybe I should have said that the Hynerian bit was the introduction to the next story :whistling: :lol:

Many thanks though for sticking with the story until the end :D

Scorpy :fear: Yay!!!

Chi finally found Neri :thumbsup:

Poor Ryg, imagine having to turn to Scorpy for help :blink:

Yay to another story though Alex :thumbsup:

Are we going to see some other familiar faces in the next one? Is there going to be a leather theme ;)

:lol: If I involve Crichton it would have to be rated XXX :lmao:

I'm not saying no though altogether though :shifty: looking forward to writing for Scorpy though :thumbsup: