...And Into The Fire

                            By:

                         Fox Cutter

8/10/96:

    Chapter 1

"Hi Fox." Oriana said as she came through the front door.

I looked up from where I sat on the couch, with five PADDs
laid out on the coffee table. Oriana was dressed in a pair
of jeans and a lose shirt that really didn't help hid
anything. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail. She was
hefting in a shopping bag with a loaf of bread sticking out
the top.

"Shopping I take it?"

She nodded, setting the bag down next to her feet. "Ya, a
bit."

Pulling myself off the couch I walked over to her, and
looking in the bag. There was a few cans and jars, as well
as the bread, all labeled in what looked like Oria's written
language. "You went home for it to."

She grinned, "Well, I had a client this morning, so I
decided I should pick up some stuff for dinner tonight."

I nodded. "Something special?"

"Yep, Crex," she said.

I winched as the translator mangled the word she actually
said into the word I heard. "What's the occasion?"

She shrugged, causing her shirt to shift a bit off one
shoulder. "None really, I just felt like it."

I patted her on the back, and picked up the bag. "Well then.
I'm sure it will taste great. I'll take this up to the
kitchen for you."

She grinned wider, her set of small fang-like incisors
showing. "Thanks Fox."

"No problem." I said as I went up the stair case. A few
minutes later I came back down to find the lioness looking
over the PADDs.

"What is all this?" She asked.

I leaned against the banister. "Information on the ship. We
have a projected finishing date of three weeks, it all goes
as it should. All thanks to you."

Oria raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, all thanks to
me?"

I grinned. "Simple, you got that computer up and running,
and now that I've hooked him into the computer system for
the bay, and teached it how to use all the new equipment.
Well he's working on a lot of the repairs himself now. In
fact, there is very little I need to do now, out side of
supervising."

She nodded, and was about to say something when the phone
rang.

"I'll get it," I said, taking two bounds over to the all the
communication equipment. I could only think of one person
who would call me on the phone, and only one reason. I
feared that call in my own way.

Picking up the phone I said, "Hello."

"Fox, it's Page." Came the voice on the other end. She was
panting as if out of breath.

I felt myself pail a bit, turning away from Oria, I lowered
my voice. "What's wrong?"

"I just talked to Rachel, had to run to the phone. Fox, the
next Council session starts in twenty minutes."

I paled even further. "I'll be there." I said, the hung up
the phone. Turning back around to face Oriana I said,
"Something has come up. I gota run for a bit. I'll be back
soon as I can."

She gave me a concerned look. "Fox who was that on the
phone, and what's going on?"

I picked up my army jacket from off the chair where I had
set it a couple months ago after the last time I wore it
(We're both a bit of slobs, it shows some times). Pulling it
on I tried to explain. "It was a friend. Something important
is going on, and have to be there."

She walked over to me, then placed her index finger right
between my eyes again. "Fox..."

I looked at her. "I have to do this."

She nodded. "I know. Don't do anything stupid, ok?"

I nodded, breaking the contact with her finger. "Ok Oria."

She stepped out of the way, and I slipped out the front
door, and entered the fire...

* * *

I paced across the floor of the viewing room over the
Council's chambers. I had run back here after calling Fox,
and now was waiting for him to arrive.

I stopped in front of the window, wring my left paw with my
right. Below me the different seats where starting to fill.
About half of the third level seats where taken, and three
or four of the second level. All three seats in of the first
level members where empty.

I watched the members file in for a couple minutes, then sat
down in one of the chairs, threw my head back, and closed my
eyes trying to calm down.

I had learned a lot from my Grandfather (actually, adoptive
Grandfather. He adopted my mother, and a few years, and a
one night stand later, there was me). He had told me many
things as I was growing up, giving me many lessons.

One of his old sayings came to mind as I sat there. 'Page,'
he would say, 'there are times to panic, and times not to
panic. If you are panicking it's the wrong time.'

It was, the first time I heard it, just a corny phrase. But
it had helped me a lot after I had gotten wrapped up in all
this.

I hadn't seen him in nearly two years, sense I came to Prid.
He was there as I left, along with my uncle, Adric, who was
my age (his twin, and my aunt, Romona wasn't able to make
it).

The last thing he told me was 'trust what you believe.' He
was always cryptic that way.

I was interrupted in my reminiscing by a swift knock at the
door. Moving over to it and look out a small peep hole.
Outside Fox stood, looking a bit more rumbled then usual.

I opened the door, and let him slid into the room. "With
five minutes to spare." He said a bit under his breath.

I nodded, and sat back down in the chair. He followed suit
and sat down in the chair opposite me. He was his usual
self, wearing a pair of blue jeans from his world that where
always bunched a bit around his feet. He also had on a
yellow white t-shirt with a couple rips in it, and his
off-green jacket that he had always worn before his exile.
His black hair was a mess as usual, and sprung into a curl,
his beard didn't look much better. His glasses where hanging
a bit on his nose, and slightly askew, but he didn't notice.

He looked back at me, clearly worried, and reached up with
his right hand, and hook his finger around the ever-present
collar he insisted on wearing. It was a thin brown thing,
and looked as ragged as the rest of him.

"I don't suppose we can here what's going on down there?" He
asked.

I nodded, and reaching over to a small table I turned on one
of the three switches that where there. As I flicked it down
there low roar of a pre-council session came into the room.
Mostly it was different voices, blurred together so much it
was hard to hear any one voice.

We sat there for a few minutes waiting for the session to
start. Fox had closed his blue eyes, but still looked
worried.

Hell, at the time I wasn't any better, but I was showing it
by wringing my paws together again. The general condenses of
all four of us, me, Fox, Rachel, and Rathal, was that shit
was to hit the fan today.

Fox and I where broken out of are thoughts, as a loud
pounding come from the floor of the Council. Looking out the
window I could see Rachel standing in her normal place as
Council Head, with the Ancient on one side, and the third
first level member on her other side.

She had banged down with a large wood rod, which had the
effect of summing the Council to order. As she sat down she
made an announcement as to the point of the day and year,
and that the Council was called to order.

Fox and I both watched as one of the third level members
read off all the things pending for the Council for the last
session. She was about to start on one of them when a second
level member stood.

"Council Head. I would like to put a proposition before the
Council to be voted on before we proceed."

"and what is that?" she asked, her whispering voice barely
picked up and sent to the viewing room.

"A motion for the disbanding of the Council, and to put
control of the multi-verse into the direct and total domain
of the Hammerheads, effective immediately."

Rachel paled a bit in her ears, at the same time, I saw from
the corner of my eye, Fox slowly rise out of his chair.

Below us another second level member stood. "I second that
motion."

I gulped, this was it, this was there move, and the final
confirmation that the Hammerheads where in control of all
this.

I looked over to Fox, and saw that he was gone. Glancing
back I saw the door slowly closing. He had ran when the
motion was seconded. That made sense, they wanted him _both_
dead, and under there control, he had to get out of the way.

Looking back down at the Council floor, I saw that the vote
was proceeding. I didn't have to wait to know what the
resultes would be.

One other thing my Grandfather always said was, 'You will
know when it is time to run, things will tell you.'

Right then I couldn't agree with him more, so I ran.

* * *

Fear, that was the only why that I could describe was I was
feeling. Pure abject fear. Looking down from my place as the
Council head, I could see all the other members. Most where
looking a bit pale, as if they had eaten something
distasteful. A few where looking as confused as I felt right
then. The last couple hand fulls... they looked happy.

Glancing down at the computer board, I watched as the last
of the votes came in. It was just exactly what we feared, 70
votes for, 22 against, and with the full majority.

I looked over my shoulder at the Ancient. The old human gave
me a look, but sat silent as ever. I slowly stood, I'm sure
the other Counselors could see by how I held my ears, that I
didn't like the outcome.

"the vote is 70 for, 22 against," I said, the whisper in my
voice lower then I usual use. "as this is a motion that is a
major effect to the council, a 75% majority is needed. And
has been reached. The motion is passed."

There was a collective release of breath around the room, a
few of the now ex-Counselors started to rise.

"I wouldn't try and leave if I where you." A voice said
behind me. I slowly turned around to face the owner of the
voice.

"Jenner." I said, stopping whispering.

The human gave me the flat toothed grin of his, and some how
made it look menacing. "Oh yes, who else would take over
your little joke of a government?"

I crossed my arms. "Twenty other people at least."

He laughed, not the maniacal laughter that I expect, but a
barking laugh that sound more in place on a hyena then a
human. "Rachel, your are a fool, and an idiot."

I stood, "Really?"

He nodded. "You see, I was suspicious of you. But when your
little brat got into are computers. Well, it was easy to
find you." He leaned forward. "You see, I also have control
off the guards, and right now there in your secret little
observation room, arresting her."

I growled at him.

He clicked his tongue. "Oh, you poor little Vixen. If you
had only left well enough alone. Look at there at your
Council."

I looked back over my should, only the members he didn't
control where still there. The others had filled out the
doors. Rathal was there was well, looking as calm as ever.

"You see," Jenner explained. "I control you now, and all
this. I only have a few lose ends to clean up." He nodded at
the Ancient and the third first level member. "Take those
two with the others."

He looked back at me as two guards took the other two off.
Now it was just me and him on the top level. The other
counselors where being escorted out.

He grinned. "Now, you where smart enough to find me out,
abet barely to late. Now, I may save you life, if you tell
me who the other in your little group is." He paused. "And
yes, I know about Cutter. He's a bug that should have been
squashed a long time ago."

I took a step back to the end of the desk that was between
the levels (that and a 5 foot drop). "Just us three."

He shook his head. "Maybe I'll just make you my slave
instead of killing you, I like my toys to have spunk." He
looked back over his shoulder at the two guards who flanked
him. "Arrest her."

The two guards came at me fast, but I had already planed a
quick escape. I pushed back, grabbed the desk, and jumped
over it down to the second level.

I landed hard, but keep going down to the third level, the
guards right behind me. With a final 'oof' I jumped down to
the floor of the chamber, and ran as hard as I could,
hitting the giant oak doors with my shoulder, forcing there
massive weight open, the only way I could at a dead run.

I ran out of the room, my shoulder screaming in pain. Behind
me I could hear the two guards yell, as well as one I had
passed going out of the doors.

Pushing myself as hard as I could, I pushed myself through
the halls, and out into the waiting room for the Marble
Hall. I ran through it as fast as I could, and past three
more guard who where apparently looking for me.

Through the outer halls of the Hall I ran, until I jetted
out one of the side entrances, and into the city proper, and
on the surface.

I paused for a second. I could hear the guards running maybe
ten seconds behind me. Glancing around all I saw where
buildings and three sides, no underground entrances, and the
Park.

I looked back behind me at the Park. It was a massive park,
a giant circle, 10 miles accost, and was completely over the
Marble Hall. It had lots of places to go and not be noticed.

I turned on my heel, and ran past the entrance to the Hall.
Pushing my way though the mid-day crowds. I finally got to
an entrance of the Park.

There was at least a hundred feet of clearing before there
was anything I could hide behind.

Glancing back I saw about 20 guards working there way
through the crowd, and getting closer.

"Shit." I mutter, and started to run accost the grass. By
know I was cradling my right arm, when I hit the door with
my should it jarred my arm enough that it was now numb.

Half way to a stand a tress, I heard a passing hum, and the
ground next to me exploded. Glancing back, I saw what I
expected. The guards had plasma riffles, and where shooting
at me.

There was another blast next to me, so close that the shock
wave kicked me off my feet.

The instant I hit the ground, I tried to scrabble to me
feet, the guards where seconds away, and I wouldn't be able
to get to my feet in time. Still I had to try.

As I started to get to my feet, I saw that the blast had
actually carved out a ten foot deep hole (5 or 6 guards must
have hit that spot at one time). At the bottom, I saw the
explosion had unearthed part of the Hall's ducting system,
and had also loosened one of the panels.

Hopping it was enough I rolled to my side, and into the
hole. Bumping down the side, I landed on top of the duct.
There was a low groan from the piece of metal I was sitting
on, then it gave way and fell into the pure blackness of the
duct systems, taking me along for the ride.

* * *

"Oriana!" I called as I ran through the front door of are
house. I looked around quickly, She wasn't in the main room.
I check the lower patio, then upstairs on the deck. After a
quick check of both bedrooms, I decided she was down in the
cave.

I ran as much as I could down all the steps, and it took
three minutes to get to the cave, and I already spent 10
getting back from the Hall to the house.

"Oriana!" I called as the lift sank down to the floor. She
was hunched over the work bench, doing something. When she
heard my voice and jumped. She turned to look at me, hiding
what she was working on, but I didn't care about that.

"Come on, we got to get out of here."

She tilted her head. "Why?"

I stayed on the lift as is came level to the floor. "Come
on, I'll explain on the way up!" I waved for her to come
over.

"Fox, this is a bad time..." she started.

I nodded. "Be worse if you don't. All hell has just broken
loose, and we have to get to safety."

She looked at me, then back over her shoulder. "Fuck" she
said and ran over to me.

As she got onto the lift I hit the lever to send the lift
back up, and started to give her a quick overview of
everything that had happened sense I got my exile completely
removed.

Finishing my story, we where heading up the stairs, only a
few feet from the top.

"Where are we going to go?" she asked, panting a bit.

I glanced back. "Anywhere! But we have to go before it's to
late." I said busting out into the living room. I stopped
for a second to catch my breath when a voice behind said.

"It's to late."

The voice was deep, and rocky, and I knew it ALL to well.

Slowly I turned around, to see, standing in front of the
door, a large human, dressed in a one piece jumpsuit, he
must have stood 7 feet tall, and was totally bald.

"Grasion..." I said under my breath.