Zarbon gasped, then moaned, his fingers convulsively clutching his braid.  His back arched slightly as his eyes closed tightly trying to fight the sensations flooding his body though he tried to remain still.  Tonya probed the sensitive flesh gently before slipping a slick finger into his body.  Removing the digit, she moved to kneel between his thighs and gently pressed them apart to allow herself better access to her target.  Adding a second finger, she explored carefully, trying not to hurt her lover, yet bent on achieving her goal.

            A sharp cry tore from his lips and stars exploded across his vision as she brushed a bundle of nerves.  She froze and looked up at him anxiously as he whimpered and tried to pull away from her.  Techno pushed him back into the chair, his hands on Zarbon’s shoulders and he gave him a reassuring squeeze.  Tonya resumed her task and Zarbon bit his lip to stifle another moan.  Zarbon tried to relax and concentrate on his breathing, pushing all other things aside.  His head fell back against Techno’s abdomen, breathing shallowly, and his skin was quite pale.

            Tonya glanced at him worriedly when he stopped whimpering, then looked up at Techno.  Techno shifted to kneel behind his friend, one arm across the other’s chest to hold him as his other hand searching for a pulse.  While it was fast, it was also steady and strong, much to Techno’s relief and he nodded to Tonya to continue.  Zarbon’s head now rested on Techno’s shoulder and Techno noticed he was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

            A small smirk painted Tonya’s lips and she looked up again.  “Found it,” she said, “I think I can get it out easily.”

            “Then do it!” Zarbon rasped harshly.

            She adjusted her hold on his thigh and took a deep breath. “Ready?”

            Zarbon’s head snapped up and he glared at her.  “Do it,” he growled.

            She twisted her fingers slightly and his head dropped back to Techno’s shoulder as she began to withdraw them.  His knuckles went white as he strangled the braid in his hands and his jaw was clenched tight.  With a sickening, sucking pop Tonya pulled her fingers free and brandished her prize.  Dropping it into the pan on the medical tray, she picked up the saline bottle and carefully irrigated the deep wound on her beloved’s right thigh.

            She carefully wiped the blood away and tightly bandaged the still seeping wound.  Then she loosed the tourniquet, watching to make sure he didn’t start to gush blood, and finally removed it when she was satisfied he wasn’t.  Techno stood up, picked up a pair of Kelly forceps, and held up the large chunk of….

            “What is it?” Tonya asked wiping her hands on a towel.

            “Don’t know,” he answered and picked up the saline bottle.  He frowned as he realized there was blood on it.  “You got blood everywhere,” he groused.

            She held up her hands. “Hey at least it’s not mine this time,” she said with a grin and offered him the towel.  Zarbon grumbled, but didn’t say anything.

            “It looks like a piece of metal,” Techno said, “Probably from the undercarriage.  And it was moving fast enough to rip right though the protective cloth of his costume.” 

            He held it for Zarbon to see.  Zarbon swallowed hard.  “Ouch,” he said weakly.

            “Okay, so let’s get this straight,” Tonya said, “You were out on rounds and saw a car driving erratically down the street.” She paused and Zarbon nodded.  “It hit a light pole and you went to see if the person needed help.”  Another nod.  “Then it…just blew up?”

            “Yes,” Zarbon sighed, “It’s wasn’t smoking or anything.  I just touched the door and …BOOM!”

            Tonya and Techno frowned.  “This almost sounds deliberate,” Tonya said worriedly, “But who would want to try and kill one of us?”

Techno rolled his eye.  “The list starts at the Looney bin and probably stretches clear to Salina.”

            “As important as this discussion is,” Zarbon cut in, “I would like to get to bed if neither of you mind.”

            They looked at him as though seeing him for the first time, and noticed all the dust, ash, scrapes, and forming bruises.           

            “If he has a concussion, he can’t go to sleep,” Tonya pointed out picking up a small flashlight from the table.

            Zarbon groaned and rolled his eyes, sending a quick prayer to any listening deities that might be around.  She caught his chin and shined the light in his eyes.  He blinked and squinted against the brightness.

            “I don’t think you have a concussion,” she said after a minute, but didn’t move the light.

            “Then get the bloody light out of my eyes,” he growled testily and pushed her away.

            “We probably should clean you up and bandage some of these other wounds,” Tonya said calmly, but her tail tip flicked with agitation. 

            “I’m going to bed,” he declared hotly and stood up, intending to do just that.  His injured leg refused to hold his weight, though, and Tonya him pushed back into the chair as he began to collapse.

            She turned back to the table and picked up a hypodermic needle.  Her fingers skimmed the labels of the various drugs, and she deftly plucked one from its place.  Without hesitation she drew up the proper dosage, flicked the needle to remove the air, and set the bottle down.  Recapping the needle, she held it in her teeth as she ripped open an alcohol prep pad and wiped a place on his injured leg.  His eyes widened and he looked up at Techno for help, but before he could speak, she jabbed him with the needle.

            “Ow!” Zarbon said and rubbed his leg when she moved back again.  “What was that for?”

            “Antibiotics and a mild pain killer,” she said briskly, disposing of the needle in the biohazard box.

            “I guessed that,” Zarbon said with a pouting glare.  “But did you have to stab me?”

            Tonya shrugged and turned to finish cleaning up.  “You can go to bed now if you want,” she replied shortly.

            Zarbon blinked, his mouth open slightly, staring at her back.  Techno doubted Zarbon could have looked more surprised than if she had slapped him.  Glaring at the girl until she looked up at him, Techno inclined his head toward the small mirror on the table that reflected the wounded man’s expression.  She closed her eyes, counted to ten slowly, and then turned to face Zarbon.

            “Come on, Koi,” she said softly.  “Let’s get you up to bed.”

- - - - - - -

Zarbon sat down on the bed gingerly, as Tonya went to get some soapy water and a washcloth.  He carefully removed the cape and pulled off the arm sheaths, wincing as his sore muscles protested.  The boots came off easier, but he couldn’t get the rest of his costume off.  Tonya came back then and deftly stripped him to his briefs in a few seconds.  He sighed and relaxed back against the pillows, his eyes sliding shut intent on going to sleep.

“Ow!” he protested as the warm cloth began to clean the ash from his neck. His eyes flew open.  “That hurts!”

“What?” Tonya blinked and frowned. “Stop being such a baby.”

            “Let me dig shrapnel out of in your thigh. Ow!”

            “Well, baka, where doesn’t it hurt?”

            “Here,” a forefinger touched his elbow, as his golden eyes glared at Tonya.

            She smirked and leaned over him, pressing her lips against the area he’d indicated.  His eyes widened in surprise as she pulled back and smiled softly.

            “Here,” he said again pointing to his forehead.  Tonya gave another mischievous smirk as she gently kissed his brow.

            He hesitantly pointed to his eye.  “This … isn’t too bad,” he murmured.  She softly gave that section the same medicine.

            His fingers fumbled to indicate his lips, but Tonya had already caught on.  She placed one hand by his shoulder and the other by his head to keep her weight off his injured body.  Leaning down she lightly touched her lips against his and then deepened the kiss as he responded.  He returned the kiss before breaking it as his head turned to the side, fast asleep.  Sighing softly, he snuggled back against the pillows and licked his lips.

            Tonya chuckled silently, and murmured, “And maybe a mild sedative.”  She brushed a kiss against his cheek and covered him with a blanket.  I remember how this scene ends, she thought.  I’ll sleep in my own room tonight.  Sleep tight, love.

- - - - - - - -

            Tonya sniffed in her sleep and shifted, snuggling deeper against her pillow.  A familiar scent tickled her nose but she couldn’t place it, and she frowned thoughtfully.  Only waking up enough to open her eyes, she noticed a man sitting on the edge of her bed holding something.  He was dressed in a gray suit and appeared to be fixing whatever he held.  She sniffed the air again.  A pipe…she thought sleepily. He’s packing his pipe.  Now that she was more aware of her surroundings, she was able to identity the smell, and the man, easily.   

            “Uncle Robert?” she murmured trying to wake up more, but she couldn’t.

            “Mmmhmmm,” he said pulling some more tobacco from its pouch to stuff in the pipe’s bowl.  “‘Bout time you woke up,” he chided gently.  “I want you girls to watch yourselves,” he said looking at her, and pointing with the pipe stem.  “Especially you.  There’s great danger brewing in the city now.  Be careful.”  With that he stood and walked away from the bed, and Tonya’s eyes closed as she started to go back to sleep.

            They snapped open again and she sat up scanning the room for her uncle.  She jumped out of bed and grabbed her robe, rushing out into the hallway as she put it on.  Dashing silently towards the stairs, she jumped back as a shape emerged from the shadows.

            “Bowie!” she sighed as she recognized the dog.  “What are you doing?”

            “Rounds,” Bowie answered.  “Like I usually do.  What are you doing?”

            “Did you see anyone?” she asked looking around.

            “Just you.  Is there someone running around?”

            Tonya ran her fingers through her loose hair.  “I don’t know.  It might have been a dream.  I thought there was someone in my room.”

            Bowie immediately went to check.  He paused just inside the door and sniffed the air, then looked at Tonya.  “You haven’t started smoking have you?” he asked.  She shook her head silently.  “Then why do I smell pipe tobacco?”

- - - - - - -

            Techno woke up the next morning and headed out to check his mail before heading upstairs for coffee.  He paused and frowned as he realized his chair was occupied.  Tonya was slumped in the chair, arms folded, glaring at the screen like it had called her mother a horrible adjective.

            “What are you doing?” he said looking up at the screen.  Various links were displayed, all to tobacco shops and cigar stores.  “Your computer does have search capabilities.”

            “I came down here to ask you a question,” she growled, her tail lashing.  “But you’d already gone to bed.  I just decided to stay down here.”

            “So what’s your question?”

            “What kind of pipe tobacco did Robert have?”

            “Dragon Lady’s Sakura Dream,” Techno answered after a moment.  “Why?”

            “I had a weird dream last night,” Tonya said, then rolled her eyes at Techno’s ‘That’s unusual?’ expression.  “Robert was in my room.  He told me to warn the girls to watch themselves.  Something bad was going to happen.  I thought I smelt his pipe tobacco and Bowie could smell it in my room.  I was wondering how hard it would be to get that brand.”

            “Pretty hard,” Techno said.  “It was imported from someplace in Thailand.  It took weeks to get even the smallest amount through customs, and it was really expensive.”

            “Is that why I never actually saw him light his pipe?” she asked curiously. “He just used the action of packing it and the smell to help him think?”

            Techno nodded.  “Now get out of my chair.”

            - - - - - - - - - -

            A week had passed since Zarbon’s little car accident and he was still teasing Tonya about her lack of bedside manner.  Pouring milk on his Lucky Charms, he smirked at her and she rolled her eyes, knowing full well what he was going to say.

“I still can’t believe you just left me,” he began today.  “Marion had better bedside manner than you, and she was a bar keeper.”

            Tonya munched thoughtfully for a minute.  “Don’t know ‘bout that.  She clocked him with a mirror if I remember right.”

            “All I’m saying is that I think that I deserved the same opportunity as Mr. Jones had,” Zarbon replied playfully.

            “You call him Dr. Jones, Doll,” Sally quipped.

            Tonya giggled at Zarbon’s surprised smirk then quietly “meeped” when he turned his gaze back to her as a predatory glare.  A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and he began to eat quickly, and Tonya hurried to finish her cereal as well. 

            Draining the milk from his bowl, Zarbon waited until she’d done the same then fixed her with a wicked smile.  “You have until the count of three,” he growled.  Tonya tensed, but smiled back and held her ground when he began to count. “One…Two…Three!” He shouted the last number and dashed around the table as Tonya yelped and dash out of the kitchen into the garden.

- - - - - - - - -

            Tygeress flew through the city, scanning the alleys and side streets carefully.  It was getting close to time to go home and this would probably be her last pass over the city.  Taking a turn around the warehouse district, Tygeress thought she heard a yell for help.  She hovered in place searching the ground and spotted someone dragging what appeared to be a body into one of the warehouses.

            She landed silently and slipped inside, pausing just inside let her eyes adjust to the coal black interior.  Sniffing the air, she let her nose tell her which way to go, while her ears listened for the sounds of an attack.  A flicker of light and the scrape of metal was the only warning she got before the shadowy figure threw something at her.

            Holding her ground, she slashed through the UFO with a flick of her claws and immediately regretted it.  The object happened to be a gas canister and it ruptured explosively, enveloping her within its cloud of suffocating vapor.  She coughed and waved her arms trying to clear the air, but sank to her knees as her air supply rapidly ran out and the fumes took affect. 

            Note to self, she thought as the blackness drug her down to the floor. Don’t slash something before you know what it is.

            She woke up only minutes later, her brain rapidly clearing, but she didn’t open her eyes.  Her hands felt like they had been tied together and from the ache beginning to settle in her shoulders she guessed she was being suspended from the bonds.  Shifting her legs, she determined that they had been tied as well.  Opening her eyes, she looked down at the tank of water below her.

              Oh, for the love of god, she thought rolling her eyes.  This is sooo comic bookish.  If the bad guy actually tries to kill me in this manner, I’m going to die from embarrassment.

            “Oh, so you’re awake.  Perfect.”

            Tygeress craned her neck trying to see the owner of the voice, hoping she was wrong.

            “I was beginning to think I would have to kill you without being able to gloat about your stupidity,” the man said stepping up into a control box.

            “Hello, General Hawke,” Tygeress said pleasantly.  “How have you been?  What are you doing out?  They give you a day pass?”

            The General laughed menacingly.  “No, my dear,” he answered leering at her.  “I was released.  Fully cured they said.”

            “Well,” she attempted a shrug.  “Even doctors can make mistakes.”

            “And so can the military,” he sneered.  “But not this time.  This time you die.  And to make sure you can’t escape, I’ve took the liberty of stripping you of your strength.”

            “Huh?” Tygeress asked confused.  She didn’t feel weaker…

            General Hawke proudly held up what looked like a long brown rope.  “Just as Delilah did to Samson, I have shorn you of your source of power!”  He laughed madly and she realized it was a rope in hand was actually the braid from the wig she was wearing.  “Now DIE!” he cried gleefully.

            He stabbed a button viciously and Tygeress dropped the fifteen feet into the deep tank.  She struggled to loosen her bonds, and he slammed his fist down on another button.  Piranhas began to fill the tank from a side chamber, clouding the water with their forms, and hiding her struggles from the General.  Frowning he studied the water as the fish just swam around not attacking the drowning girl.  He picked up his rifle, fired a couple of shots into the water where she had fallen, and smirked at the blossoming red cloud.

            The water immediately began to froth and churn as the fish devoured their victim.  After a moment, he pressed another button and the water quickly drained from the tank.  Flipping a switch, he refilled the tank, this time with concentrated Hydrochloric acid and laughed as the contents bubbled and frothed as it started to dissolve.  Another switch dropped a set of electrodes into the tank and 10,000 volts ripped though the solution.  Still cackling wildly, he froze the whole mess into a solid chunk with a blast of liquid nitrogen.

            A giant set of tongs picked up the block and dropped it on a lowered section of the floor, scattering pieces all over it as it shattered.  Jumping down from his perch, the General scooped up his flamethrower and began to burn the pieces, his laughter echoing in the building.  He was laughing so loud that he failed to hear the cops pulling up outside.  Alec was in the lead and disarmed the flamethrower before the General even realized they were there.

            As they lead him away in handcuffs, he was screaming at the top of his lungs, “No!!! You can’t take me away yet!  I have to kill her three more times!  I can’t let her come back!!!!”

            Alec frowned as he surveyed the mess, trying to figure out what the man had been up to.  He walked among the still smoking piles of offal and paused as a glint of silver caught his eye.  Dipping, he carefully picked up the still warm piece of metal and paled as he realized what it was.  Quickly scanning the rest of the area, he discovered what appeared to be part of a boot.  Clutching the items in disbelief, he jumped slightly when Seth came up behind him crushing a pile of offal.

            “He had this on him,” Seth said holding out his hand.  “Do you know what it is?  Looks like a necklace or something.”

            Alec stared at the choker resting across Seth’s palm.  Schooling his expression to reveal nothing, he took it from Seth and stared at it for a minute.  “Looks like piece of costume jewelry,” Alec said.  “We need to get CSI in here and find out what he was doing.”

            “You okay?” Seth asked.  “You look a little sick.”

“I’m fine,” Alec said. “Just go get the CSIs.”

Seth nodded and sprinted to do as Alec had asked.  Alec watched him for a minute then tucked the pieces into his shirt.

- - - - - - - - - -

Pain.  Intense and throbbing.

            Touch.  Something damp and cool pressed against her cheek. 

Sound.  Running water, rustling leaves, and chirping birds.

            Smell.  Chlorophyll, mud, and decay.

Sight.  Heavy lids fluttered open, unveiling her emerald eyes and she winced at the sudden increase in pain.  With her cheek against the muddy bank, all Tygeress could see was the bank and the river just inches away.

Where am I?  She tried to move, to raise her head and get up, but the pain ruthlessly forced her back into the prone position.  What happened?  She pressed her forehead against the cool mud and hoped the pain would soon ebb.

* * * * ** * **

             Alec walked into the kitchen praying that Techno would be the only one there.  Unfortunately, both Poopsie and Sally sat at the table as well.

            “Good morning, love,” Poopsie said then noticed his expression.  “Rough night?”

            “Yeah,” Alec answered and looked at Techno. “I need to talk to you.”  He glanced at the girls.  “Privately.”

            When they returned the rest of the group had gathered.  Alec glanced at Techno and they gestured for Zarbon to follow them.  A moment later, Alec returned and looked at the group.  He opened his mouth, then shook his head and gestured for them to follow him.  They trailed him silently into the den where Techno was standing watching Zarbon who was staring at the coffee table.  On the table lay the choker, the pieces of boot, the buckle from Tygeress’s belt, and a videocassette.

            Sally pointed at the articles with a questioning look.  “Doesn’t she drink Windex to prevent streaking?”

            Techno rolled his eye and glared at the girl. “Sit,” he commanded harshly.

            They quickly found places, dropped onto the furniture, and waited.  Techno swallowed hard and glanced at Alec, then at each the others.

            “There is no good way to say this,” Techno began.  “But…Tonya is dead.”

            “That isn’t funny, Techno,” Jessica said.

            He gestured to the pieces on the table.  “Does it look like I’m joking?” he growled.  “I lost her tracker earlier this morning, but thought she was flying over the power plant.  General Hawke somehow captured her and killed her.” He glanced at Alec again.

            Alec stood and took a breath.  “The security guard saw her flying over the warehouses, and then an alarm started going off.  He thought he should contact the owner first, but couldn’t get an answer.  Then he called the cops.  By the time we arrived, it was over.”  He closed his eyes and took another breath.  “Hawke was taken back to the asylum.  He was convinced that the job wasn’t done yet, but I’ve seen the tape and…” he trailed off shaking his head as he sank onto the couch next to Poopsie.

            “Tape?” Poopsie asked softly her gaze moving to the cassette on the table.

            Techno reached for it, but his hand paused before he actually touched it.  Drawing a deep breath, his quickly picked it up and put it in the VCR.  Static filled the screen for a moment before General Hawke’s grinning face filled the picture. 

            Stepping out of the view of view, Hawke adjusted the camera angle so that the rest of the room could be completely seen.  Someone gasped as they realized the person hanging from the hook over the tank was Tygeress.  No one spoke as the general gave a triumphant speech about his capture of the heinous mutant spawn hanging over the tank and how he was going to eradicate this menace.  Then Tygeress awoke and the rest of the horrible scene played out before the horrified audience.  The last image the tape held was that of General Hawke being drug away screaming by the police.

            Silence reigned as the static washed over the screen again, and continued for several minutes.  Finally Techno shut off the TV, but still no one could meet the gaze of another.

            “How do we tell her parents?” Sebastian asked softly.

            “We don’t even have a corp…her body,” Alec said frustratedly rubbing his leg.

            Sally stood abruptly, causing most present to jump slightly and look at her.  “She’ll be back,” she said without a smile.  “Just wait.  Tonya will come strolling in just in time for supper, like nothing had happened last night.”

            “Sally, I don’t…” Daniel started.

            “Get real, Sally,” Dee snapped finally finding her tongue.  “The only way Tonya’s coming back to this place is either in pieces in a casket, or like a ghost the way she claims Robert does.”  Dee sighed.  “I want to believe she’s alive, but no one could survive that!”

            The blond moved to stand in front of the TV.  “She’ll be back,” she repeated meeting everyone’s gaze one at a time as she spoke.  “Tonya’s been through worse than this.  She wouldn’t let Hawke kill her, and especially not like that.” 

Each avoided her eyes after only a second, but she could tell that they had serious doubts.  Zarbon stood slowly, and trudged from the room.  One by one, the others followed, until only Sally and Techno were left.

“She’ll be back,” Sally repeated again, glaring at the one-eyed man’s closed expression.

He sighed heavily and stood.  “Only cats have nine lives,” he murmured as he left her standing there.

She stood there for a few moments, then turned back to the darkened screen.  Snatching up the remote, she rewound the video and played it again.  The horrific scene played before her eyes again and again as she searched for any clue that would give her a concrete reason to believe her gut feeling.  Sally rubbed her forehead, desperately trying to coax out the vague thought that was like a mental itch.  Her gaze dropped to the items of the table as the static filled the screen again.  In the distance, she could hear the tell-tell sound of the Beetles being played as loud as the speakers could manage, the glass walls of Dee’s room barely dampening the sound at all.

She stared at the buckle of Tygeress’s belt for a moment, the itch intensifying.  Suddenly her eyes widened and she picked up the shiny bit of metal.  While the pieces of boot were ravaged, the buckle itself seemed to be untouched.  Sally smile and stood, intent on rounding up the household to tell them about her discovery.  Doubt stopped her at the doorway though and she frowned.  If she was wrong…She shook her head, dismissing the thought before it could really begin.  But still, it would probably be better to leave the rest alone, at least until Tonya arrived home.

* * * * * * * *

            Daniel stood in the center of the orchard, eyes traveling among the boughs laden with almost ripe fruit, but not really seeing them. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

            “Not that I’m against fruit trees or anything,” Daniel began.  “But please remind me why are we planting enough for an orchard?”

            Tonya laughed.  “I didn’t tell you to begin with, but we are planting an orchard,” she said sitting down the bag of fertilizer and the young apple tree she was carrying.

            He stopped pushing the wheelbarrow and wiped his brow.  “Okay,” he sighed.  “Why are we planting an orchard?”

            “For the fruit,” Tonya replied as she started the hole for the latest tree.

            Daniel watched her for a long moment, trying to think of a very direct question that she couldn’t answer so vaguely.  “You only answer questions in two ways, don’t you?” She paused and cocked her head at him.  “Too much information, or too little.”

            She blinked and cocked her head the other way.  “The fruit we can use, and the extra we can give away and/or sell,” she replied.  “Too much or too little?  I kinda thought that was obvious.”  Tonya gave a lopsided grin.  “But then I guess my train of thought is a little hard to follow.”

            “You do realize these trees won’t be producing fruit for several years, don’t you?”

            “Yes, but I can wait.  And you’re really good at your job.  Maybe they’ll be early bloomers?”

 ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~

            And they were early bloomers.  The two-year-old trees were the size of five year olds and their first crop looked like it was going to be huge.  He still couldn’t believe she was gone…was it the destiny of a super hero to disappear on that last assignment? 

* * * * * *

            Alec paced around his room trying to quell the pain that ached in his chest.  This was too much like when he mother hadn’t returned from her last outing.  He couldn’t decide if knowing what had happened in those finally moments was worse than not knowing. 

            Finally he sank down top of the comforter, wishing he could do something other than mourn.  He couldn’t even comfort his lover at this time, not with the pain so fresh.  And she had know Tonya so much longer…

            Closing his eyes, he remembered his first impression of the braided girl.  He had thought her crazy, impulsive, and loud; not super heroine material at all.  But in the few, short years he had known her, she proved she was all that and more, but definitely worth the title of super hero.  He slowly drifted of to sleep, the lines of worry and pain smoothing from his face as his conscience mind relaxed.

* * * * * * *

            Zarbon shut the door to his room, and then leaned back against it.  He was numb.  It had started as such a pleasant day…  His eyes slowly traveled around the room and landed on the basket of clothes next to his dresser.  Tonya had brought it up a few days ago, and true to form she hadn’t put it away.  With a soft smile, he pushed away from the door and walked over to it. 

Keeping his mind clear, he began to put away the contents of the basket.  Opening his underwear drawer, he realized it was completely empty.  Or not, he thought as he spotted the corner of an envelope.  He picked it up and studied it a moment, noting it was for him.  It wasn’t new, but he could tell from the scent and handwriting that it was from Tonya.  Carefully he opening it and slowly read the short letter.

By the end, his tears were flowing freely and he threw himself onto his bed.  He sobbed into the pillows until no more tears would come and he fell into an exhausted slumber.

* * * * * * * 

            Techno walked quickly away from the den.  He didn’t want to talk to anyone; he knew he had screwed up.  The trackers would only be out for about twenty-five minutes after they had left the vicinity of the power plant.  He knew that better than anyone else in the group.  But he had been distracted by his current project and had ignored the alarm that sounded after her tracker had been silent for an hour.  Figuring she was stargazing near the plant or watching the machinery spark, he saw no reason to check up on her.  She often did things like that, and she was strong enough to survive almost any attack, so he didn’t worry about her unless she didn’t report by daybreak.

            He stopped in the kitchen and stared at the bowls still that remained on the table from breakfast. Would she come back like Robert did at times?  Did she blame him for her death?  Did Robert blame him for his death?  Techno shook his head and started to leave the kitchen, but then turned and grabbed the cookie jar.  The cave lighting was set at a quarter of the usual level, but he didn’t turn up the lights as he stormed across the floor.

            Slamming the door to his room, he thunked the jar on his desk and sighed.  With a growl, he stripped off his coat and threw it on his bed, then ripped off his patch and flung it across the room.  Not satisfied with the lack of noise his actions had achieved he turned back to his desk for more ammo.  He snatched up the manila envelope that had lain there for almost six months and started to fling it after his patch.  But his brain refused to let him release the envelope as he remembered that it was from Tonya.

~~~~~~~~~~

            “Mind reading this over for me?”

            “I don’t have time to proof read your school work.”

            She laughed.  “It’s not school related.  Nor is it work related.  Just read it over and tell me if I need to change anything.  No rush.”  With that she had dropped the envelope in his lap and walked off.

~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~

            He had never opened it, just laid it on his desk.  Apparently it hadn’t been too important as she hadn’t asked him about it and been at least six months.  Hesitantly, he fingered the metal brad that held the flap down not sure if he really wanted to know what was inside.  He sat down at his desk with it lying in front of him, staring at it with a growing sense of dread.  Whipping the lid off the cookie jar he pulled out a handful of snickerdoodles, and bit into one.  With a simple flick of his fingers, the clasp was undone and the envelope was open.

            Again he hesitated then dumped the contents of the envelope out on the desk before him.  Techno’s eyes widened and his blood ran cold as he read the first few words on the official legal stationary.

            “I, Tonya D___, being of sound mind and body, here by…”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

             “You’re lucky that guy was too drunk to do more that slice open your arm.”  He dumped more alcohol into the cut, ignoring the girl’s flinch.  “What the hell were you thinking getting involved when you weren’t even suited up?”  The bottle thudded hollowly against the table as he threw it down.  “You’re so damned accident-prone you should write up your Will,” Techno snapped in frustration as he wrapped the bandage tightly around her latest injury. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

            Tonya had looked thoughtful after his comment, but he hadn’t expected that she’d act on his advice.  He closed his eyes momentarily, then picked up another cookie and began to read.

- - - - - - - - - -

She lay there unmoving, unthinking, sometimes watching the sun’s rays move across the bank, but more often dozing.  It was long past noon before the pain settled into a spot over her right eye and had dulled enough for her to move.  Sitting up she leaned over the water and studied the muddy girl she saw there.

A large goose egg and gash above her right eye explained the pain and probably why she couldn’t remember how she’d ended up at the river or why.  Her loose hair hung in grimy dreadlocks and she plucked a stick and a few leaves from them before giving up.  Sighing, she warily stood up and promptly noticed she was missing her boots.  Her belt was missing as well and she didn’t see them anywhere nearby.  Puzzled, she picked her way along the bank, looking for an easy place to climb up.

“Check.”

Tygeress froze, and then slowly scanned the area.

“Hmm…If I didn’t know better,” a second voice began in an accusing tone of voice.  “I’d think you and my son were cheating.”

“Why include me?” a third voice protested.  “I’m just a spectator.”

Curiosity fully aroused, Tygeress levitated up to peek over the embankment.  There sitting at an ornate chess table and playing with elaborate pieces, was her great uncle Robert and a black haired, ebony winged man she instantly knew was Death.  Sitting on a tree stump watching the game was Mortay.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” Mortay said smiling at her, the glanced skyward.  “Or should I say good afternoon?”

Tygeress floated up until she could step onto the field.  “What’s going on?” she asked confused.

“Just showing Death that he isn’t as good at chess as he assumed while waiting for you to wake up,” Robert replied.

“Why?”  Tygeress instantly regretted not clarifying her question.  Robert liked mind games and would probably start explaining the chess game.

“To warn you the danger is almost here.”

“You mean it wasn’t…whatever happened last night?”

Robert moved another piece.  “This new threat isn’t from the mortal plane,” he answered.

“Not from the mortal plane?” Tygeress asked frowning.  “What does that mean?”  A wave of dizziness engulfed her and she was forced to her knees.  Focusing on a single blade of grass, she waited for it to pass.  When she could finally look up the trio was gone.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she let out a frustrated growl followed by a heavy sigh.  “It’s really annoying to give riddles instead of straight answers, Uncle,” she called.  “If you want to help us, just tell us what’s coming!”  She looked around for a sign she’d been heard, but saw nothing.  Sighing again, she started walking away from the river, then paused and looked around again. 

“And you could have told me which way the mansion is from here,” she groused.  “Okay, let’s see.”  She took a deep breath.  The river is south of the mansion and the sun in starting on it’s decent into the west, so…home is this way.  She set off on her chosen path, and then paused and glanced back at the water behind her.  But that might not be the river, just a tributary.  She sighed and rubbed her temples as her head began to throb again.  When night falls I can fly, but for now…  Tygeress resumed her trek.

- - - - - - - -

            Her feet hurt.  Her head hurt.  Hell, every part of her body ached as she trudged along.  Still no memory of the night before came to her, but at least she seemed to be headed in the right direction.  She stumbled over the uneven ground, then tripped over a hidden tree root and fell to her knees.  Too exhausted to rise, Tygeress laid down amid the leaf litter and sticks on the forest floor and closed her eyes.  This had to be the third, maybe fourth time she’d had to rest, but she knew she needed to get back to the mansion.

            Whatever had happened last night could not have been good if she couldn’t remember it, and her most of her trackers seemed to be missing.  She couldn’t tell if the tracker at the base of her tail was still present because of all the mud, but it wasn’t one she could activate even if it was still there.  The mental itch to check her watch started again, but she ignored it.  The only time piece she had carried in this outfit had been in her belt.  This brought her back to pondering her present situation.  What in the world had she been doing that she lost both her belt and boots, but not her gloves or the rest of her outfit.

            The dull ache in her skull flared up to a pounding headache again and she allowed a soft whimper to escaped her lips as she curled into a ball.  After an eternity, the pain ebbed and she was able to move again without pure pain searing through her veins.  Slowly, she staggered to her feet and resumed her journey.

            - - - -- -

            Hours had past since Techno had finished reading Tonya’s Will.  He had tried to clear his mind and sleep afterwards, but his guilty conscience refused him rest.  Techno tried to tell himself that it was her choice to go out last night, and that she knew the risks of the job.  Both of them knew that even though precautions had been put in place to prevent any of the girls having to take on a threat too great for their individual strength, that help might not arrive in time.  And Tonya was constantly testing the limits of her strength and endurance in the field.

            But he shouldn’t have ignored the alarm.  He shouldn’t have…  The siren startled him out of his dark thoughts, but he still could only stare at the computer for a long moment before he could comprehend what was happening.  Turning up the lights with one hand, he silenced the alarm with the other, filling the screen with the view from the camera from that sector.  At first, he couldn’t see anything that would have tripped the sensor. 

            Then, a shadow moved of its own accord, separating from its brethren and moving away from the wall and into the light.  His breath caught in his throat as Tygeress raised her head and looked around as though confused by her surrounding.  She rubbed her eyes tiredly, then once again rose to her feet and started for the mansion.  Techno shook his head and smirked.  The blonde had been right and he should have known better.  But Robert had always said Techno’s power and childhood had made it difficult for him to trust and believe in others.  Without another thought, he stood and rapidly headed upstairs.

Tygeress paused and looked at the steps leading up to the front door.  Sighing, she rolled her shoulders then jumped over the steps and landing lightly on the porch.  Her knees almost gave out, but she managed to stay upright.  She limped the remaining few steps to the door and turned the handle to go inside.  The door refused to move, and she ran into it, albeit at a much slower pace she would have normally.  Without pulling back, she tried the handle again and let her weight lean against the door, thinking that maybe she just hadn’t turned the knob far enough or pushed hard enough to enter.

The door refused to budge, and she finally pulled back to study it.  She couldn’t remember the last time the front door had been locked…was she really that weak now?  Sighing she reaching for the handle again, only to have the door open wide before she could touch it.

            “You’re late,” Sally said smirking at Tygeress, who blinked in surprise.  The smile faded slightly as Sally took in her friend’s appearance, and concern entered those blue eyes.  “You look terrible.” 

The bedraggled girl just looked at her blonde friend for a long moment, then they both smiled.  Both began to laugh as if the funniest joke ever thought of had just been told.  After a few moments, both were gasping for breath as they continued to giggle, leaning against the doorframe for support.

“Idiots.” 

The girls looked at Techno in surprise.  His normal scowl was in place, as was the semi-permanent five o’clock shadow that darkened his chin.  “You look like crap, Tygeress,” he said flatly.  “Can you make it around to the back?  I’d rather not have you tracking all that crap through the mansion.”

Tygeress blinked then looked down at herself.  Grinning like an idiot, she nodded.  “If you wouldn’t mind bringing me some Dawn and lemon juice from the kitchen, Sally, I’ll see you upstairs in five, okay?”

“Sure,” Sally said surprised.

Tygeress turned and ran around the side of the house.  “Thanks,” she called over her shoulder.

“Amazing,” Techno said watching her go.  “Five minutes ago she could barely walk, and now she’s running…”

“That’s our Tonya,” Sally replied heading for the kitchen.

Tygeress panted for breath just outside her French doors, wondering what had possessed her to sprint like that.  Stripping off a glove, she opened the doors and slipped inside, careful to make sure she didn’t touch the carpet.  Flying to her bathroom, she started to shut the door then left it open for Sally.  She dropped her glove in the hamper, then sent its mate and her mask after it.

“Why do you need Dawn and lemon juice?” Sally asked appearing in the doorway.

“I woke up on a riverbank covered in god knows what filth,” Tonya replied.  “Dawn cuts through the toughest grease and grime, and the lemon juice should help with the smell.”

The blonde sat the bottles on the counter.  “You do smell like a dead fish and moldy leaves,” she admitted.  “Meatloaf for supper?”

Tonya frowned slightly.  “Depends…you making it?”

“Yeah.”

“Fine then.”

“I’ll come find you when it’s ready.  Zarbon should be in his room.”

Tonya nodded and turned on the shower as Sally left and shut the door.

 - - - - -- - - -

            Tonya opened Zarbon’s door and closed it behind her quietly, smiling softly at her sleeping beau.  He was laying on his side, his back to the door, oblivious to her presence.  She walked around the bed and crawled up to lay beside him, noting the letter he still held in his hand.  Laying it aside, she propped herself up on her elbow and just watched him for a moment.

             “Zarbon,” she said, gently brushing her fingers against his cheek.  He sighed and turned his head into the caress.  Her fingers slide into his hair and she leaned closer.  “Wake up,” she said, then kissed him.

            “Mmm,” he sighed, and opened his still hazy eyes to look up at her.  “An angelic voice bids me to wake,” he murmured.  “But still I find myself in a dream.”  He smiled and reached up to cup her cheek.  “And a sweet dream it is that lets me see my sweet lady again.”  His half shut eyes sparkled with sudden tears and she turned her face to kiss his palm.

            “You’re not dreaming,” she said gently.

            “How else can you be here with me?” he asked with a strained voice.  “The dead cannot so easily rejoin the living no matter how much they are loved.”

            “You’re not dreaming, love,” she repeated firmly.  Her hand slid from his hair to his backside and gave him a firm pinch.

            “Ow!” he said surprised, his eyes opening fully.  He stared at her in shock as he realized she was right.  “But how?” he asked.

            “I don’t want to repeat the tale too many time,” she replied with a sigh and a smile.  “You’ll have to wait until after supper.”  She yawned and snuggled against him, closing her eyes as he wrapped her in his arms and she sighed in contentment.  Her stomach growled loudly, and she flinched at the noise.

            Zarbon frowned at his thoughtlessness and started to rise.  “I’ll go get you something to eat, love,” he said softly.

            The girl whimpered in protest as she was removed from his warmth and looked up at him with her sleepy emerald eyes.  “No, stay,” she begged catching his sleeve.  “Sally’s making supper, and said she’d come find us when it’s done.”

            He paused, partially because she’d asked he to and partially because he’d just noticed the large goose egg and bandage on her forehead.  Gingerly, he touched the bump and she winced but didn’t pull away.  “Sally knows you’re back?” he asked settling back down beside her.

            “Mmm, yes,” Tonya answered snuggling back into his embrace.  “Acted as though she’d expected me.  Told me I was late.  Techno knows, too,” she mumbled as she gave into the exhaustion that had been plaguing her all day.

            A smile stole across his lips as he felt her breathing even out and he realized she was asleep.  Then he remembered how adamantly Sally had declared Tonya would return.  It faded as he remembered his own doubts, but she nuzzled his neck again and he pushed those thoughts aside.  Carefully, so as not to wake her, he ran his hands over her body, looking for any other injuries.  She sighed and mumbled in her sleep, but aside from sore muscles and maybe some bruises, she appeared to be fine.     

             An hour passed quietly, then a soft knock interrupted the stillness.  Sally warily peeked around the door and then stepped into the room.  “Supper’s ready,” she said.  “How are you doing?”

            “Fine,” Zarbon replied with a smile.  “She’s asleep at the moment, and her only injury seems to be this bump on her head.”  He hesitated.  “You were right.”

            “Cats have nine lives,” she replied with a smile.

            “Then I’m down to five or six, depending on how you look at it,” Tonya said sitting up.  She sat up and rubbed her eyes.  “Supper ready?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Good, I’m starved.”

            They made their way to the dining room, where Techno had managed to drag all to supper.  The ensuing commotion was so confusing to the weak and weary, braided girl that she gave up trying to understand it and just let it happen.  That is until Sebastian made a comment that finally snapped her out of her fatigue.

            “So, Tonya…how’d you escape Death this time?”

            Tonya’s fork paused halfway to her mouth.  The green beans slipped from the tines as she stared at the man across the table from her, mouth agape.  “Death?” she asked quietly.

            “Yeah, no one could have survived what Hawke did to you, but here you are,” Poopsie added.  “How’d you pull that off?”

            Tonya let the fork drop and slumped back into her chair.  “I don’t remember,” she said weakly.  Her hand flew to her head as the headache started with renewed force that the Tylenol seemed unable to stop.  “I just remember the river bank, and Robert playing chess.”  She looked up.  “I … How do you guys know what happened?”

            “Hawke made a tape of the whole thing,” Alec answered.

            The girl started to stand but Zarbon placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back down.  “Eat,” he commanded firmly.  “Then you can see the tape.”

            “Is your head okay?” Jessica asked as Tonya put rubbed her temples.

            “That’s a trick question, Jed,” Dee said with a grin.

            Poopsie rose and walked up behind Tonya, and touched the bump gently.  The blue glow lasted only a moment, but the injury was healed and the headache was gone.  “Thanks,” she said and resumed eating.

            “No problem.”

            The meal was quickly concluded and all returned to the den to watch the horrific tape yet again.  Silence reigned for several minutes as Tonya watched and re-watched the tape.  Then she began to laugh, earning stares from all the others present.

            “I remember,” she said between giggles.  “I cheated!”  She jumped up as she rewound the tape.

            “What?” Jessica asked.

            “I followed this guy into that warehouse because it looked like he was dragging someone.  Must have been Hawke.  Anyway, he threw something at me and I slashed it in half with my claws, Hah!”  She made a slashing motion with one hand.  “And the damn thing exploded, KaPoof!  Gas everywhere.  And then…I blacked out.”  Tonya smirked at the looks the others giving her and turned to the TV screen.  “I woke up there,” she said pointing at the screen where she dangled above the tank.

            She paused it after she’d dropped into the water and the piranhas were set free.  “Those are piranhas if you couldn’t guess, but they don’t attack unless there’s blood in the water or they sense that their prey is stressed.  So all they did was swim around.  Well I wasn’t about to just sit  there underwater and wait to drown.  Nor was I going to wait for Hawke to do anything else.”  She started the tape again. 

“I broke my bonds, but I’d seen that the good general had some kinda of weapon, so I didn’t think it wise to just pop out of the tank and try and get shot.”  Tonya gave the others a look.  “Despite what most of you think, I don’t like being shot.  It hurts and ruins my clothes,” she stated dryly.  “I managed to get over to the hole where the fish had been held.”  Hawke fired the rifle into the water.  “I remember that.  He must have hit some fish.  They are cannibalistic.  I was already halfway into the second tank at that point.”  She paused the tape again and pointed at the screen.  “That short tube must be lined or insulated because it was only about a foot and a half, maybe two wide.  I got stuck and had to ditch my belt to wiggle through it.” 

The tape started again.  “Before he started to drain the tank he shut the holding tank and my boot was caught in the gate.  I could reach the air pocket, but I couldn’t get the boot free.  I was able get my foot out and managed to get all the way into the holding tank before the water was drained.  I was trying to plan my attack when the bottom of the tank dropped out from under me.  I obviously hit my head and …”  Tonya shrugged.  “The next thing I know I’m waking up on the river bank.”

Her eyes widened suddenly.  “Do you remember when I told you Robert said trouble was brewing in the city?” she asked looking at Techno.

“Yeah.”

“I got an update,” she stated flatly.  “This new threat does not come from the mortal plane.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Dee asked.

Tonya shrugged and rubbed her shoulder.  “I have no idea, and he left before I could ask him.”  Although she had taken a nap and eaten, Tonya could feel that her second wind was slowly leaving her sails.  “I’m tired,” she said quietly.  “I’m going to take another shower, then go to bed.  Good night.”

Zarbon stood and bid the other pleasant dreams then followed his lover up the stairs.  “Tonya,” he said after he’d shut the door.  “Will you allow me to draw you a bath?”

Tonya tilled her head and opened her mouth to decline his offer, but she couldn’t think of any reason not to accept.  “Alright.”

“Thank you, my love,” he said with a bow.  “Please put on your robe and give me a few moments.”  He took something from the dresser, then walked into the bathroom and she heard the water begin to run.

Tonya selected a nightshirt, and then stripped out of her clothes.  Standing before the mirror, she turned slowly, inspecting her body for fresh injuries.  No new bruises had formed since her after shower inspection and those present had already begun to lighten from dark purple to brown.  The gold band at the base of her tail gleamed in the light of the lamp.  After seeing the tape, she wasn’t surprised Techno hadn’t used that band to literally track her ass down.  She made a mental note to ask the one eyed man to make sure the silly thing still worked.

Pulling her robe from its hook, she sighed as the cool silk slid over her skin.  She tied the sash just as Zarbon opened the door to the bathroom.  The light of numerous candles spilled from the room, as did the light scent of incense.  Zarbon stood there in his swimming trunks, his head tilled slightly to the side as he watched her.

He smiled and gave another bow.  “You’re bath is ready, Milady.”

She hesitated a moment then walked past him into the bathroom, and stopped at the edge of the tub.  As the door shut, her eyes adjusted to the light and she could see the water was capped in a thick, fluffy, white layer of fine foam.  Zarbon’s arms slid around her waist and pulled her back against him as his lips brushed her neck.  His fingers did not fumble with the sash as he untied it, nor did he hesitate as he drew the robe from her shoulders.

Heart pounding, Tonya stepped into the tub and slowly slipped beneath the deliciously warm water.  She let her head dip below the surface for just a moment, then laid back against the sloping side of the bath.  Zarbon placed some towels within easy reach, then stepped into the water.  Sitting up, Tonya looked at him questioningly and he smiled reassuringly back.  He sat down behind her on the slope and gently coaxed to lie back against him, her head in his lap. 

A soft sigh escaped her lips as he began to massage her temples, neck, and shoulders.  “Zarbon?” she murmured. 

He smiled softly, but didn’t pause.  “Men are subservient to women on my planet.  Most are taught how to serve their mistresses in every conceivable way.  From helping her decide what to wear and helping her dress, preparing her food,  to taking care of the children.  But the most important was…”  Her sleepy emerald eyes met his.  “Learning how to help your lady relax after a long and stressful day.  As a prince, it was my duty to make sure that I was as proficient in these duties as I was in breathing or in walking.”  She yawned and he smiled.  “You haven’t given me much opportunity to show off my skills, beloved.”

“Skills?” she asked playfully raising an eyebrow.

“Just give me the chance,” Zarbon replied leaning down.  “And I’ll gladly build you a shopping mall in the wilderness with a pocket knife and a Q-tip.”

Chuckling, Tonya rose up just enough to be in kissing range.  “I’ll have to think above it,” she murmured against his lips.

“May I try to persuade you?” he asked before kissing her again.

“Why not?” she replied as his hand cupped her breast.  “Could be fun…”