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A cloudy morn greeted Oddclaw as he curled up beside his family. The soft lull before the crooning hiss of waking raptors was something he always loved to hear as the tribe greeted a new dawn, cleaning each other and setting the daily schedule for who would hunt.

[i]"Good morning,"[/i] Moonclaw purred licking his cheek, [i]"how are you?"[/i]

[i]"I...better, thank you,"[/i] he kissed her back, [i]"it still hurts."[/i]

[i]"Do you want to stay, and I hunt today?"[/i]

[i]"No. I need to hunt with you, can we hunt together today?"[/i]

[i]"Of course dear,"[/i] she licked across his chest, [i]"do you feel ready to hunt?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, definitely, just so I do not have to think about...her."[/i]

Moonclaw nodded as they felt their children awakening, stretching their legs with raspy yawns and snuffling purrs.

[i]"Morniiiing,"[/i] Skyfang rolled herself up, [i]"nnnngh, feels cold today!"[/i]

[i]"Cloudth all over the thky,"[/i] Oddtooth sniffed the breeze, [i]"more oddeadth will be out today."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i] Seaclaw rubbed his eyes. [i]"Why's that?"[/i]

[i]"Oddheadth like the cloudth, it feelth wet and they like the water in the air."[/i]

[i]"That is true, very good Oddtooth,"[/i] Moonclaw snuffled his face with a smooching lick, [i]"now can anyone tell me which prey love the sun the most?"[/i]

[i]"OOH OOH I KNOW!"[/i] Skyfang jumped out of the nest. [i]"Three-horns, cuz they like the sun on their horns and they get all shiny!"[/i]

[i]"Yes, very good!"[/i] Oddclaw smiled nodding. [i]"Shall we go hunt together then?"[/i]

[i]"YAH!"[/i] Seaclaw pumped his fists. [i]"Let's go hunt!"[/i]

[i]"You still keeping that thing on you?"[/i] his sister prodded at his sword in its sheath.

[i]"Yap,"[/i] he patted the hilt with a serious face, [i]"ready to hunt an' fight any day, every night!"[/i]

[i]"Good to hear,"[/i] his brother nuzzled him, [i]"maybe you can be a guard when you are older."[/i]

[i]"I agree!"[/i] Moonclaw stepped out the nest with a long stretch. [i]"You have been learning to fight well."[/i]

[i]"Shall we go then?"[/i] Oddclaw joined her with his tail slinking over hers. [i]"Before the rain comes at least."[/i]

They walked together through the massing throngs of raptor families, the children playing as they rolled in the dirt and raced to the shore whilst parents readied themselves for hunting with the elder siblings. Fishclaw stood floating on the top of the rocky plinths, overlooking the tribe with a soft gaze before he drifted down towards Oddclaw much to the gasping wonder of his people.

[i]"OH, hi uncle!"[/i] Skyfang bounced up with a lick to his face. [i]"How're you?!"[/i]

[i]"Very well thank you,"[/i] he purred sniffing her cheek, [i]"how are you brother?"[/i]

[i]"Better, thank you,"[/i] he bowed with a sigh, [i]"we are just off to hunt."[/i]

[i]"Alright, if you need anything please let me know. Mother is worried about you too."[/i]

[i]"I will see her when I return, I need food more."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhah, I will let her know."[/i]

[i]"How is Eggfang doing?"[/i] asked Moonclaw swishing her tail. [i]"I have not seen her in a while."[/i]

[i]"Still out with the waterjaws,"[/i] he chuckled with a soft rumble, [i]"I admit I miss her too."[/i]

[i]"At least you have your other sisters."[/i]

[i]"Why would you tell me such a terrible thing?"[/i]

[i]"But you love us!"[/i]

Said sisters popped up behind him as he stiffened like a rock when they slurped his face.

[i]"Everybody loves us, right Leaf?!"[/i]

[i]"Mmhmm, that's why we got mates too!"[/i]

[i]"Tell them I said thank you,"[/i] Oddclaw nodded, [i]"for helping me return home."[/i]

[i]"It's okay Oddie,"[/i] they licked him in turn, [i]"are you okay?"[/i]

[i]"I will be fine, we are just off to hunt."[/i]

[i]"We're out huntin' oddheads!"[/i] Seaclaw patted his sword. [i]"They love clouds, Oddtooth told me!"[/i]

[i]"They do?"[/i] Sand looked at Leaf with a blink. [i]"I thought they liked grass, how do you eat clouds?"[/i]

[i]"Yeah like,"[/i] Leaf snorted with a growing snicker, [i]"I know they got long heads but not THAT long!"[/i]

[i]"Nooooo they don't EAT the cloudth!"[/i] Oddtooth scoffed with a furrowing of his eyes. [i]"I meant they like cloudy dayth!"[/i]

[i]"Hahaha we know we're just being silly."[/i] They tried to slurp him as he backed off with a warning hiss. [i]"Alright, well we gotta make sure your cousins don't eat each other again."[/i]

[i]"Yeah they get REALLY hungry!"[/i] chipped Sand with a giggle. [i]"Fishy you wanna help us, they'd love some fish!"[/i]

[i]"Then learn to catch fish,"[/i] he bopped them with a jab of his snout, [i]"they are your children, you feed them."[/i]

[i]"We knooow, couldn't hurt to ask!"[/i]

[i]"MOTHERRR!"[/i]

A dozen feral raptors came swarming from the lake to crowd around the twins.

[i]"Mother I'm hungry!"[/i]

[i]"I WANT THREE-HORN!"[/i]

[i]"Brother keeps pushing meeee!"[/i]

[i]"Alright ALRIGHT!"[/i] Leaf snapped leading them away. [i]"Come on let's go choose who has to hunt today!"[/i]

[i]"I WANNA HUNT!"[/i]

[i]"I DO I DO!"[/i]

[i]"You hunted last time!"[/i]

[i]"NUH-UH!"[/i]

[i]"YAH-HUH!"[/i]

[i]"SHUT UP!"[/i] Sand screeched biting both of the arguing kids. [i]"Keep shouting and neither of you go out hunting, come on!"[/i]

The mob headed back towards the lake as Oddclaw rolled his eyes with a deep forceful sigh, much to the sniggering of his children which Moonclaw joined in when he scowled with a playful look.

[i]"Those are your cousins remember."[/i]

[i]"Yeth they are,"[/i] Oddtooth giggled, [i]"and I am glad we do not hunt with them!"[/i]

[i]"Well they don't go out ALL together!"[/i] Skyfang snickered. [i]"That'd be stupid!"[/i]

[i]"Aaaanyways,"[/i] Moonclaw ushered them along, [i]"let us go hunting, Oddtooth can you lead us?"[/i]

[i]"Yeth mother!"[/i]

He barked with a paddling of his feet and headed out towards the great plains of the western reach. The sky brightened up with less threat of rain, the clouds keeping a pale gloom as they sunk within the grass and felt the morning dew brush their scales. Oddtooth sniffed the air as he skirted north with his eye piercing through the mist, scanning for odd shapes of their prey the parasaurolophus, their long fluted heads resembling pharoahs of the Nile walking through the reeds. He spotted one more apart from the herd, an adult who was also searching ahead for a safe place as he twitched his tail to indicate where his family should go. The father and mother went right whilst his siblings went left and he chased down the middle. The parasaur felt something rustle nearby, turning his head sharp as he called his herd to stop immediately. They gathered some distance behind as their scout kept watch with tightening stance, sniffing the air for the musk of raptors approaching.

One skirted too close to his leg as he cried a warning, the herd quickly running off but he himself was not so lucky. A set of jaws clamped on his tail with a pulling tug as he screeched in fright, distracting him enough to turn and run for the north as a blur of brown burst from the rushes with a monstrous leap. A small raptor with a long steel blade came shrieking down upon his head, the parasaur dodging surprisingly quick as he swerved to the east where a set of claws came straight for his head, a larger beast springing from the grass with a supremely powerful leap that kicked him vicious through the head. The tall-headed beast fell with a hoarse shriek , the weight of a raptor crushing his head with her full body before she spun on her foot and lunged for his throat, long sickle claw twisting the cheek like a can opener as her jaws tore open his neck and severed the windpipe in seconds.

[i]"WONDERFUL!"[/i] Moonclaw shouted from the grass. [i]"That was a glorious swift hunt, I am so proud of all of you!"[/i]

[i]"Grnnrh, th-thanks!"[/i] Skyfang smiled with half its trachea dangling from her teeth. [i]"We wouldn'ta caught it without Oddie though!"[/i]

[i]"Yah!"[/i] Seaclaw grinned sheathing his blade. [i]"How'd you know it would run that way?"[/i]

[i]"I looked at the legth,"[/i] Oddtooth walked up to the fresh kill, [i]"he alwayth turned that way before moving and Thkyfang ith thwifter in the air."[/i]

[i]"Mmhmm!"[/i] his sister leapt off the corpse with a flourish. [i]"Fastest hunter in the sky, that's me!"[/i]

[i]"You certainly are,"[/i] her father chuckled kissing her head, [i]"I am proud of all of you. Now, let us eat!"[/i]

They sat together to enjoy the warm fresh meat, tearing chunks out of the parasaur's remains as they each took a part of the body to chew and nibble at, stripping the flesh and savouring the rich-blooded organs before their stomachs were filled plenty. Once their food had settled, the children began playing in the short grass, chasing after each other with crimson teeth and gentle bites at their tails. Skyfang would try to leap and crush her brothers with surprise attacks, whilst Oddtooth whipped with his tail and and used the grass for cover, and Seaclaw went barehanded with wrestling grapples as he leapt on their necks and tried to playfully choke them into submission whilst their parents watched.

[i]"They are so good together,"[/i] Moonclaw sighed, [i]"I was worried for cycles that Seaclaw would be teased for his size."[/i]

[i]"I was too,"[/i] said her husband sitting against a stone, [i]"I am glad they became close...we raised them well."[/i]

[i]"I did not think I could, hahaha...but you believed in me."[/i] She sat down beside him. [i]"Thank you."[/i]

He pulled her close with a soft kiss as they smiled at their children, Seaclaw jumping on his sister's back to roll her across the ground before Oddtooth dragged him by the neck and pinned him with a teasing snarl. Yet with each minute that passed, Oddclaw's face darkened with a furrowed brow.

[i]"I met Sunscreech."[/i]

His mate turned with a gasp at the forbidden name.

[i]"He has a family now. His mate had died. He was the one that Seaclaw met, lured away on Riptor's orders."[/i]

[i]"He...wh-what? Your...brother before is with HER?!

[i]"In her tribe yes,"[/i] he nodded taking a deep breath, [i]"he...I managed to escape because of him."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i] she blinked shaking her head. [i]"But, he despises you!"[/i]

[i]"He still does, yes, and I despise him. But...heh, he actually liked Seaclaw, said he was a good son, and that we raised him well."[/i]

[i]"Huh. I...was not expecting to hear that today."[/i]

[i]"I thought I should tell you,"[/i] her husband nodded slumping against her, [i]"I am...I am struggling to understand it myself, or what Riptor did to me."[/i]

[i]"Are you...alright?"[/i]

[i]"...no."[/i]

He sighed deep with a shudder in his heart as Moonclaw licked his cheek, nuzzling his face in a tender purr that soothed him.

[i]"I do forgive you,"[/i] she said, [i]"I know that you would never hurt me."[/i]

[i]"I know,"[/i] he cupped his head, [i]"but I am struggling to forgive myself."[/i]

[i]"Why? She was the one to force you, it is her fault!"[/i]

[i]"It is but...I should have been stronger, she...she turned my body against me with some poison, it smelt like the odd water the hairless have sometimes, I know it was not me that wanted it but...she made my body-"[/i]

[i]"I believe you,"[/i] Moonclaw rubbed her head under his chin, [i]"I know that...beast is an odd monster with her stone tail and sickening fire that moves like water."[/i]

[i]"I am sorry. I am so sorry."[/i]

He hugged her tight as she licked his chest, her presence warming his heart as they watched their children play and fight through the grass with pulling bites and gentle scratches.

[i]"If she does have children, they will never be part of this family."[/i] Moonclaw looked up to him with a darkened stare. [i]"I do not care what she says, or what she does, NOTHING of her is part of us and I will kill her the moment I see her even if she is carrying her young."[/i]

[i]"R-really?"[/i] he gasped blinking at his mate.

[i]"She tried to take my family away from me. It is only right I take hers if we ever meet again. I will not let her hurt you again."[/i]

[i]"...thank you."[/i] Oddclaw smiled but he wasn't sure why. [i]"I love you."[/i]

[i]"I know,"[/i] she smiled nuzzling his chest, [i]"why else would you stay with me?"[/i]

[i]"Well, you gave me the best children I could ever have."[/i]

[i]"Oh yes, nothing to do with the fact if not for me you would be bones inside a flyer's stomach."[/i]

[i]"HAH, ohoh I forgot about that!"[/i]

[i]"I never did,"[/i] Moonclaw pressed her body on top of him, [i]"you owe a lot to me, taking me away from my wonderfully miserable life out on the sands."[/i]

[i]"Do I?"[/i] Oddclaw grinned laying underneath, [i]"You decided to follow me across the land for no reason."[/i]

[i]"Oh I had a reason, I was bored and you were handsome, there is no other reason I need."[/i]

[i]"Hhhahaha."[/i]

She licked across his snout before he opened his mouth to taste her sweet tongue, thick breath of a meaty pallour filling his throat as he shuddered with a fond joy washing away the fear and sickness of guilt in his heart.

[i]"I am going to tell mother about Sunscreech."[/i] He said after a while.

[i]"I agree,"[/i] she said in turn, [i]"will you be alright?"[/i]

[i]"Yes...I should speak with her alone, this is about our family, I hope you understand."[/i]

[i]"I do. Come, let us go home."[/i]

Stretching up onto her knees, Moonclaw guided her husband home as the children followed after with cheerful shrieks and dripping mouths they struggled to lick clean. Once they returned back to the glistening lake shore, they found Barren waiting for them in their nest.

[i]"Well someone smells bloody,"[/i] she purred gladly, [i]"good hunt today?"[/i]

[i]"Yeah!"[/i] Skyfang shrieked jumping down to nuzzle her. [i]"I was the one who killed it!"[/i]

[i]"I can tell from your claws, hahaha. How are you all doing?"[/i]

[i]"Very good,"[/i] Moonclaw slumped down into the nest, [i]"did you sleep well?"[/i]

[i]"Ohhh well as can be, how about you dear son?"[/i]

[i]"Better, thank you,"[/i] he sat between his wife and mother, [i]"a little more tired than I thought I would be haha."[/i]

[i]"Try not to stress yourself,"[/i] Barren cooed licking his face, [i]"do you want to rest?"[/i]

[i]"I do not know, I...I feel I should not have to-"[/i]

[i]"Do you feel tired?"[/i]

[i]"Well...yes-"[/i]

[i]"You wanna sleep?"[/i] Seaclaw patted his leg. [i]"It's okay if you want to-"[/i]

[i]"I, I know son, thank you."[/i] He stroked his son's head. [i]"Are you going to train with Stonevoice?"[/i]

[i]"Yah,"[/i] he nodded patting his sword, [i]"can I go, father?"[/i]

[i]"Of course, just come back as soon as you are done."[/i]

[i]"I will go with you,"[/i] Oddtooth stepped up beside him, [i]"uncle Barkclaw wanted to thow me more crawlerth."[/i]

[i]"Okay!"[/i]

The boy hugged him before heading off, as Oddtooth followed after him with a knowing look towards his parents. Skyfang went off to her favourite tree close to the nest and started climbing, the bark scuffled to shreds in long grooves as Oddclaw started to fall sleep with shuddering fits and unsteady breaths.

[i]"How is he?"[/i] Barren asked softly.

[i]"Trying his best,"[/i] Moonclaw sighed, [i]"I am worried, we talked about what happened to him but I feel that-"[/i]

[i]"I sensed it too."[/i] They looked upon his sleeping form. [i]"Is there anything I can do?"[/i]

[i]"Just be gentle, do not ask him about it unless he brings it up, he just needs all of us to be with him."[/i]

[i]"Hmm. And this...other raptor?"[/i] The mother tightened her gaze looking out to the west.

[i]"If I see her, she is dead,"[/i] the grey raptor hissed, [i]"simple as that, she will not be allowed to live for what she did-"[/i]

[i]"No. If WE see her...she is dead."[/i]

Both of them smiled with a growing respect, settling down beside Oddclaw to keep him warm and content as a soft sigh escaped his lips. The clouds gently parted as the sun slanted through the trees where a sword gleamed in the forest, carving through the shadows to strike against another blade. There were no words spoken between, the sound of clashing steel ringing out across the woods.

"So there I am," Schroeder continued, "staggering through the street carrying this BIG pile of clock parts all wobbling back and forth, gears and springs and what have you, and one of them just rolls out and goes all the way down the street."

"Ohohhh that's not good!" Jacob sniggered.

"It was a big one too, heavy enough to crush a foot and I'm shouting HEY LOOK OUT and it just rolls down like a big wheel of cheese, hits a cart wheel coming the other way, it locks and drives hard to the side INTO a cabbage stall-"

"OHOH NO!"

"One of the cabbages flies across the road, hits Mrs. Gregory in the arse, she turns to look at Mr. Smethells walking behind and goes 'how DARE you!' and slaps him so hard he falls backwards!"

"HHHMHMHM!" Chanoch struggled to hold his laugh.

"Smethells tries to stop his fall, he grabs this banner hanging off the camera shop, he wraps himself all up in it and is just running desperate to stop falling, but he ends up rolling down like a big log!"

"HHhhehehehahahaha!" Jacob lost it envisioning the scene.

"And finally," Arnold gasped, "there I am staggering up towards Mr. Samberg, the clockmaker, he's just watching all of this unfold and his eyes do not move a single pinch. I finally get to him, with my box of parts and I apologise for all that he's seen and khhhh...hhhahahaha, do you know what he said?! H-he goes 'well still better than my last birthday' and I ask 'how?!' so he replies 'at least none of the houses blew up this time'."

"WHAT?!"

The yoshi screeched laughing harder as he fell out of his seat, Chanoch smirking powerfully with his chest heaving in deep rumbling chortles. The two sat opposite of Arnold's cell, the soldier relocated to the more traditional open type where a line of bars separated him from the yoshi and lizardman. His bed was larger and there was even a curtain around the lavatory for privacy whilst his former Wehrmacht clothes had been discarded in place of a comforting blue polo shirt with slacks and suspenders.

"Hoooo!" Jacob gasped with flushed cheeks. "That...that was a story."

"Things got a bit crazy in Alderney," Schroeder smirked from the bed, "least back when I was young."

"Sounds like a Chaucer play," Chanoch grinned shaking his head, "you read Chaucer?"

"No actually, who is that?"

"Old English writer, very funny."

"Ahhh, you appreciate the classics."

"Yes."

"I should read more, honestly," the prisoner rubbed his head, "good thing about being here is I'm getting through more stories, I'm almost finished with Jekyll and Hyde."

"I read some of the stories here," Jacob tapped his feet, "Chanoch recommended me one called Peter Pan, it's so good!"

"Oh yes I watched the play!"

"It was a play?" the lizardman blinked.

"Yes, yes originally, then it got turned into a book because it was so popular."

"Ahh...I would have loved to see that."

"The St. Anne Met were very good, my father played Captain Hook, he was fantastic. He wanted to bring the sword that my family have but my mother told him 'are you mad you'll chop someone's ear off!' and he said 'I aim for authenticity!'"

"HHhahahaha, wow," Jacob rolled his eyes, "your family sound cool."

"Do you like plays Jacob?"

"Naaah, I watched a few of 'em at school and, just never got into them."

"You like movies then?" Chanoch tried to hide his disdain.

"Yeah! My uncles got a buncha old ones they really love, all in black and white but they're so COOL!"

"I like movies too," Schroeder nodded behind the bars, "you ever seen one called King Kong, it was incredible!"

"No?" the yoshi shook his head. "What's that about?"

"These explorers go to an island to find this HUGE monstrous ape," the soldier rose from his bed with looming arms, "and it looks horribly vicious, but is really just an animal that wants to live its life free, and they capture it."

"Oh that sounds awful!"

"It is! Not the film, the film is great, just well...I sympathised with him."

"I understand," Chanoch nodded, "greatly."

"Yes I wanted to ask, I didn't want to be rude before but...what, exactly are you?"

"I was human," the knight clasped his hands, "I came from a world where demons took men and turned them into monsters. I offered myself to save my family."

"Really?" Schroeder rubbed his chin. "And they turn you into this?"

"Yes. I served their army for a century and a half before I escaped."

"That...a century?! You do not look that old."

"Thank you," the lizardman smiled, "magic helps."

"So wait, how did you escape?" Jacob turned to him. "And why, after so long?"

"They killed my captain," Chanoch looked to him, "he refused to burn a church on their orders. I did not feel right serving demons who had no respect for the poor and the weak."

"Mmmm," the soldier nodded closing his eyes, "it must have been hard to make that choice."

"I had friends. We helped each other. Two of them died."

"I am sorry." He reached out with a gentle hand. "Is your family alright at least?"

"My father died," Jarogniew sighed, "but my mother and sister lived, my family still exists out there."

"That is good," Schroeder leaned back against the wall, "what about your family Jacob, let's hear some good stories."

"Mmmm well," the yoshi tented his fingers, "I got my mom, my dad, my two uncles, grandma and grandpa and little Charlie!"

"Is that your brother?"

"Nah he's a chain chomp, my uncles' but he's just like a big ball of fun, it's great playing with him in the backyard! Buuuut this one time, my uncles got like a fuzzy infestation in their yard and my uncle James was SCREAMING about his carrots cuz they got into his garden!"

"Ohhhh, pests are the worst."

"Did he try bordeaux mixture?" Chanoch asked. "That would keep insects away."

"Well these guys aren't your regular bugs," Jacob wagged his finger, "they're awful grubby things that bounce around and steal whatever they want, so Charlie was barking away at them and running all over the garden, but he slammed right into uncle James' fence where all his veg were. He's panicking like crazy, so he...said some stuff I'm not gonna repeat and brought out a pair of garden shears and did CRAZY moves!"

"What sort of moves?" Schroeder asked leaning in.

"Like he was just going all samurai!" the yoshi stood up doing strikes with an imaginary sword. "He was all like HWAH, HYAH, and then he did this SICK spinning cut that knocked five fuzzies RIGHT out the air and back into the forest, I never seen him move that fast!"

"Was he a swordsman?" Chanoch squinted at him.

"I-i dunno, it sure looked like it, I never seen him do that stuff before, and he chased all the fuzzies out! And then he spun his garden shears all like a cool guy and went 'that's how you take care of a garden' RIGHT before Charlie slams into the back of his legs and he falls over like a dork!"

"PFFFT hahahahaha!" Arnold cackled slapping his knee. "Ohhh I can see it!"

"Charlie still had all this fence on him and it was dragging behind him like some kinda weird plough!"

"Hhhmhmhmhm," Chanoch joined in the laughter, "pets and pests, both cause trouble in the garden."

"Hheheheh, yeah, but he wasn't mad, uncle James loves Charlie he could never get mad at him."

"Guard change!" A soldier saluted at the door as Chanoch stood up saluting back. "All good?"

"Yes," Jarogniew nodded, "no trouble, Schroeder's been behaving perfectly."

"Glad to hear, alright enjoy your break."

"Later Chanoch!" Jacob waved to him leaving. "We play later alright?"

"Yes."

He gave a thumbs up before leaving, heading down the halls back to his room but not before passing the library to contemplate the next book he should read, soldiers and mechanical maintenance passing by that waved to him as he nodded curtly. Before he entered the library however he overheard the voice of Thomas speaking from within.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"It has been two days without incident," said Anna, "the only one being the one you started when he was brought in."

"I have my reasons-"

"None of which I'll allow, we are professionals, not the sodding police."

"Oh that's rich," he snorted leaning on the desk, "you backtalk me about how I dealt with that nazi and you can't hold your tongue about the cops for a second."

"YOU assaulted an unarmed individual, I denigrate a power-corrupt institution."

"So if he was a cop, would you have held back?"

"I would do my job and treat him with the respect his occupation wouldn't allow." She sniffed as she swept her hands behind her back. "Do we both agree the organisation he worked with is vile, yes. Do we both agree he should be beaten and judged whilst unable to fight back, NO we don't Thomas."

"I'll admit I went too far, but only if you put him back in the high-security prison-"

"You know the bloody rules yourself, prisoners on two days of good behaviour get moved to the open cell!"

"He could be doing anything!" he slammed the desk with his hands.

"And yet he is not," Anna shook her head, "do you have that little faith in your own people that you think they cannot stop one soldier?"

"I don't want him here. Simple as that."

"Too bad." She slammed her desk harder than him. "He is a prisoner, and if you touch him again I WILL have your head when we return."

"I'm done after all this bullshit, do what you want."

He walked out the door where Chanoch stood waiting. The knight nodded to him before he stopped to ask.

"Sir?"

"Yes?" Thomas turned to him.

"Were you speaking of Schroeder?"

"You overheard huh?" The general swept his hands behind him. "You have an opinion you want to share?"

"I...yes." Chanoch stood to attention with a dutiful bow. "I have a great respect for you...but today, hearing what you did, I felt shame for you."

"What?"

"You took me in, despite the fact I came from an army of demons."

"Of course we did, you were wounded and fleeing."

"This man is also fleeing from his army, a deserter like me-"

"He is NOTHING like you." Thomas thrust his finger at the reptile's snout. "I know you, I know what people are like-"

"When my superiors came, they attacked your base and slaughtered your people." Chanoch crossed his arms. "But you never doubted me, you stood by my side even though I was once of their army."

"It's...complicated."

The lizardman nodded when he saw the major-general's eyes cast downwards and a small moment of fear creep past his fingers.

"I have faced soldiers, from the same order that killed my father."

He walked to the other side of the hall and tapped his foot.

"In war, we are pawns to to our superiors, regardless of what crimes they order us to do. They attacked my city. I burnt down a church. There was a boy, barely a man, training to be one of them, fighting to protect his home. My hands were drenched with his blood."

Chanoch clasped his fingers tight.

"Some demons I fought alongside, relished the death of humans, savoured their last breaths. I was not one of them, nor were my friends."

"What's your point?" Thomas slumped against the opposite wall.

"An army does not move with one mind, and no matter how fierce a commander is...there are always those who do not believe within the ranks. Those like my captain, who were killed for not following orders to kill civilians. Those like me, who were threatened with torture for disobedience. I believe Schroeder is the same, from the time I have spoken with him."

"You...you cannot be serious." The general shook his head. "You, of all people-"

"Why?" Chanoch loomed over him with deadened gaze. "You think I have not read your world's history, the monstrous things that nazis have done?"

"So why would you even tolerate ANYTHING that man says?!"

"Because I also read stories of those who defied them. Because in the end, people still chose who to become and just as there were soldiers who chose to be cruel, there are those who chose not to be."

Chanoch pulled up Brightman's sleeve of his right arm showing the tattoo of three long black arrows running down his bicep.

"This symbol, Holt told me about, you know it yes?"

"Of course." Thomas shrugged looking downwards. "Iron Front, anti-fascist party, Germans who fought against the nazis."

"Yes. Their own people, who fought against their leaders. If you believe in that symbol, why do you not believe in a man like Schroeder?"

"Because...I don't want to lose more people to them."

He slipped his arm back down with a hand to his face.

"I don't want to be fooled again. It cost me too much the last time I...I'd rather not risk it."

"You will not be fooled." Chanoch put a hand on his shoulder. "You are not alone. We stand together, and we protect each other. If we are wrong about Schroeder, then we fight, and make him regret ever fooling us."

"Hm...well, I trust you with that, I don't like it, but I can't argue much against it."

"Yes." The lizardman smiled. "Do you need anything else, sir?"

"Actually...yes." Thomas raised a finger to his cheek. "I have this plan...a last measure if you will, just in case everything goes. If you help me with that, then I'll be willing to hear what this Schroeder says."

"Alright." The two walked off down the hall together. "What is this plan?"

"Something to prevent our base from falling into their hands, if it comes to that. It'll take a lot off my mind if we get it done, but you must promise never to tell anyone about this."

Thomas gripped his arm with a cold look.

"This is strictly between you and me, no one else, not Jane, not Anna not even Andrea."

"I...yes." Chanoch nodded warily. "I understand, sir."

Taking a route they went to the storage underground, the armoury close by as Thomas explained his plan to Jarogniew in the depths of the base.

After some deliberation of this plan, to which none other than them knew of its intent, the commander allowed an interview with Schroeder as Anna, Jane and Andrea sat in the conference room with Thomas attending. Arnold hunched over the table writing out the documents assuring his desertion and soon handed it to Anna, the four T.E.A.R. members sitting opposite of him.

"Thaaaank you," she pipped reading through, "now you're part of our base and bound by our laws."

"Thank you," said Arnold bowing, "god it feels like a weight off my chest to be free of those bastards."

"You're not out the woods yet," Thomas waved his finger, "first you need to explain to us what the hell your nazi friends are up to."

"I will gladly tell you everything," he said with a smile, "what do you want to know?"

"Everything," Andrea tapped the desk, "what they are, what they wanna do and how big it is."

"Alright, um...do you have some paper and a pen I can write with?"

The lawyer-librarian offered some as he started to draw a vague shape whilst he began.

"The Braun Memorial Base is a medium-sized research institute, based off the coast of Sri Lanka. It was set up in the early 1960s to study reconstruction methods of exotic wildlife."

"Reconstruction?" asked Jane.

"You saw the panzerhund yes? They take an animal's brain and transfer it to a machine body, bigger, stronger and faster but still the same easy-to-train mind of an animal, such as a dog."

"That...that's horrible," she shivered in her seat, "is it only dogs they do that too?"

"Any animal big enough to be dangerous," Schroeder kept scribbling, "mostly the base was working on elephants, because one can teach them easier than rhinos, monstrous tanks of steel that would serve to control the populace in Africa, India, all the tropical places."

"Anything else?" Brightman asked.

"There's also some deeper-level research but I don't know it, I only guard the four sections topside, Organic Research, Experimental Training, the Docking Bay and the Crew Quarters."

He pulled out a sketch from his pocket, showing much to their disgust a giant swastika-shaped building from above.

"I've marked out the different sections for you. The central part is where the elite quarters are and the underground beneath is maintenance and classified research."

"How did you escape?" asked Andrea leaning forwards.

"After freeing Jacob we travelled to the dock," he fingered the map to show their route, "we retrieved most of his belongings, except for his shield thatI think they took for research."

"We can't find it on our radar, where is it exactly?"

"There was a long mountain range when I headed north from it by boat. We found a small cove to hide the boat in, it should still be there, and Jacob lead me to the village where the uh, pig men live."

"Mohberrin Village," Kerkorian corrected pointing to the world map on the screen, "so that means you went from here, down to there, so this base must be-"

"Around here." Schroeder pointed to the southern ocean. "It's definitely on the sea, it's on its own island, you'll find it if you travel."

"Do they have any radar defences?" Thomas clenched his knuckles.

"You cannot approach it from the air, but by sea they have no cover for, the radar only scans the airspace. That's how I escaped."

"Yet they found you at the village?"

"It's the only settlement for miles," Jane shook her head, "natural place to look for escapees."

"But we checked around there and there was nothing," Andrea circled the map with her finger, "is that because of the cloaking device?"

"Yes!" Arnold nodded surprised. "How did you know?"

"We've had experience with cloaking islands before, we recognised the signature. Our technology brought you here, but we can send the base back to your world if we just find a way to uncloak it."

"What about Arnold then?" said Addison looking to her. "If you send the base back won't that send Arnold back too?"

"Wh-what?!" Schroeder tightened with a sudden fear as his fingers raked the table. "N-no, no don't send me back please-"

"We're not!" Anna patted his hand. "Don't worry, we just have an issue with our machine that will send back all inhabitants of a world to its original point, places and people."

"I know a place that can shield you," said Dixon nodding, "it's a bunker essentially underground that protects from all interference so when we expose this nazi base we can put you down there and you stay with us whilst they piss off back where they came."

"Thank you." Schroeder sighed with a shudder deflating him in his seat. "I cannot go back to that again, not again."

"It's alright," Jane smiled patting his hand, "you're safe now, we'll protect you."

"I appreciate that, ma'am."

"How do we open this base?" Thomas pointed at the picture. "Where's this cloaking device located?"

"Here," said Arnold pencilling the centre of the drawing, "the underground where maintenance is, I do not know everything that goes down there but it's classified, meaning all the important stuff is there and it's highly guarded."

"Makes sense," Dixon shrugged, "we got two options then, either we attack them out front, or we have a small team infiltrate the place and destroy the cloaking device, so I can send it the fuck back."

"How are their defences?" asked the major-general.

"Largely infantry," said Schroeder rubbing his chin, "about a hundred-and-twenty by my guess, but they also have some special monsters in storage such as the panzerhund."

"The ships weren't armed, we know that."

"But the aerial defences are, there are automated guns all around the top of it to make certain any who fly close that aren't registered will be shot down."

"So not especially well-fortified then?" asked Anna rubbing her fingers. "I would expect a research station to have more security."

"It's supposed to stay hidden," said Arnold, "compact, self-contained, the kind of place that can hold its own without need of supplies from the mainland."

"So it's very remote is what you're saying?"

"How did you come to be posted there?" asked Jane scratching her cheek. "You said you were a...oberstat-watch-"

"Oberstabswachtmeister, which Holt tells me is close to a sergeant-major or watch master."

"Huh. I thought you were higher-ranked than that."

"No no, I'm quite middle-ranked, I guess you could say I was like a boatswain if we were on a ship. As for why I was stationed well, my record is not good enough to promote me in important places, but not bad enough to punish me. So they 'rewarded' me by sending me off to some remote isolated spot where I couldn't cause trouble."

"What sort of trouble?" Brightman leaned in with hand on his head.

"The kind where I was accused of failing my duties to protect institutions from terrorists."

The soldier smiled with a fond rememberance.

"There were gangs in London who blew up little nazi institutes, here and there and if ever I saw them well, I just...looked the other way cuz, fuck it, they can't be doing worse than what the nazis are doing. Someone planted a bomb in a car, some people went over rooftops, I never reported a single thing and just walked away."

"Hah," Andrea smiled, "so you were like 'I don't get paid enough for this shit'?"

"Oh I was paid, I just fucking hate nazis."

"Hmhmhahaha!"

"My record, if you go find it in the base, will note me as 'dangerously unambitious'."

"So how the hell did you get to sergeant-major with that attitude?"

"I was the only one in my unit to speak English fluently." Schroeder gave a humble shrug. "They wanted to eradicate the language when they took over Britain, but still needed translators as well as those who understood the culture."

"So you were a low-level diplomat," Andrea scoffed leaning back, "I getcha."

"I was popular with the low-ranks because I was laid-back, that was the other reason I managed to coast by in my status, none of my subordinates had a bad word against me."

"Interesting," Addison nodded tenting fingers, "dangerously apathetic they should add to your record."

"No that was there too."

"One question." Thomas slammed a finger downwards on the table. "Do they know about us?"

"No," he shook his head, "they only flew north then south in a direct path, the great plains where they stole the eggs was their big interest."

"A friend of ours," Jane sat up, "said that the nazis also kidnapped two dinosaurs, a stygimoloch and a therizinosaurus."

"Yes," he nodded, "I saw them being...tortured, basically."

"Oh...god." She cupped her mouth. "Was it...will they survi-"

"No. I am sorry, ma'am."

"...fucking bastards." Jane tightened her fingers. "Alright, what's the plan, are we attacking or stealthing?"

"Stealth would be the better option," said Anna raising her hand, "less casualties, less chance of exposing our presence."

"The best way is by boat," Arnold pointed at the dock, "that has the least security because no one is driving a boat out to where they are."

"Hmmm..." Thomas stroked his chin, "Jane, does the village still have the uniforms from the bodies?"

"Yes," she nodded, "thinking about a little infiltration?"

"Sure am." He pointed to Schroeder. "And you're going to help."

"Wh-what?!"

"WHAT!?" Arnold flinched pulling back from his seat. "You...are you, y-you want me to go back?!"

"What's the problem? You're one of us now, aren't you?"

"Sir!" Anna snapped. "Are you seriously suggesting this?!"

"He knows the layout best." Thomas grinned with a wicked smile. "He wants to prove himself and you say I should trust him-"

"Please do not send me back," Schroeder shook his head stumbling back, "please, sir I will help you best I can but do NOT send me back-"

"You're part of us now, and as a soldier you do what I say, correct?"

"Sir this is outrageous!" Anna stood up in a shot. "Are you truly suggesting we send this man back to the place he deserted?!"

"He's going to get killed!" Jane agreed in the chorus.

"Not if he's good enough," Thomas shrugged, "if we want to get rid of this nazi base, we need someone on the inside and if you want to earn your keep, you'll keep us safe with what you know."

"I unfortunately have to agree," Dixon propped her head, "you seem wanting to help, you seem legit, but you know the most about this base and we would have an advantage."

"I don't like it," Jane crossed her arms, "I, I know your logic here but I don't like it, why would you force someone who fled to go back?!"

"Not the first one to do it," said Brightman walking to the door, "we'll make a plan, set up a small force, I'll give you time to prepare."

"...fine." Schroeder threw up his hands and grabbed his head. "This...you are right that I could help you, and I want to help you get rid of these nazis. But I'm frightened of them. Please understand."

"That's why I'll let you prepare," said the major-general patting his shoulder, "if you want to prove yourself to me, you'll help us get rid of these fascists."

"Nnnngh...can I at least have a room, and not a cell?"

"Absolutely," said Anna stepping up to leave, "now that you're officially in our base we can find you a room, this way if you please."

Heading out of the conference room, Schroeder was lead down to the spare guest quarters whilst rubbing his arm nervously, the blue polo shirt creasing with a shudder as Anna patted him.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I will try to reason with him but if this plan goes through, you may end up having to be part of it."

"I don't want to go back," he shook his head hugging himself, "I just...I don't want to see them again."

"I know dear. At least you have a nice room now to help unwind, would you like to swing by the library first and take something to read?"

"That would be nice, oh, thank you for the Jekyll and Hyde book, that really helped pass the time."

"Not a problem," she patted his hand, "if you want more works of Robert Louis Stevenson I'd heartily recommend Treasure Island, Jacob loved it especially."

"He did?" said Arnold scritching his head. "Well, that's good enough for me."

As they made their way to the library, Anna kept trying to reassure the former prisoner who did his best to calm himself. Upon reaching the small hallowed sanctum of books, they found a yoshi curled up in a beanbag seat with his tail against his belly.

"Hey, Arnie!"

"Jacob!" he grinned with some relief. "How is it going?"

"Ehh pretty good, wait...you're not in cuffs." He bolted out of his seat with a sproing. "They let you out?!"

"Indeed," said Anna walking over to the shelf, "just a few last mitigating details but for all intents and purposes, Mr. Schroeder is no longer a prisoner."

"Awwwesome!" Jacob gave him a high-five down-low. "I knew they'd see you were a good guy!"

"Yes they certainly did," he chuckled rubbing his head, "I was about to head to my new room but I wanted to get a new book."

"Oh they getting you a room?! We should be neighbours, there's no one in the room next to me!"

"An excellent idea!" Kerkorian handed over the book. "Here you are, enjoy!"

"Heyyyy I read that book!" Jacob pointed. "Nice choice!"

"Yes," Schroeder nodded turning to leave, "I read another of his books and wanted to read more."

"Well I'm not gonna spoil, you have fun with that why don't I show ya to your room?!"

"Oh, do you have the key?" Anna waved the key card in front of them. "Let's go together then."

They walked down the halls as Jacob lead them back to his room, pointing towards the next room along as Anna registered the keycard to its door and handed it over to Schroeder. Almost exactly the same as the yoshi's room, Jacob walked in beside as Arnold sat himself on the large bed before immediately falling back into a slump, clutching his face with a groan of exhaustion.

"Ohhhhhh god."

"Yeah the beds here are great," said Jacob grinning, "I'm glad we get to hang out close."

"I am too," he sighed looking up to him, "thank you Ms. Kerkorian."

"Not a problem," she waved walking out, "I'll speak with you later when we have an update."

"Thank you, again, good luck."

The door closed leaving the two be, Jacob sitting up on the bed beside Arnold as he kicked his feet off the side.

"Soooo how'd it go?"

"Mmm?"

"The meeting or, whatever, how'd it go?"

"Well...could be better," the soldier shrugged, "I uh...the major-general wants me to do something before I gain his trust."

"Aw jeez what'd he make you do, clean the floor with a toothbrush?"

"No he...wants me to go back to my base as an infiltrator."

"What?!" the yoshi bounced off his seat. "Wh-what?! That, that's not fair!"

"I know, but-"

"But NO, you just got outta there, if you go back they, they would-"

"Yes." Arnold rolled on his side facing away from Jake. "I mean, it makes sense, I know the layout best and how to approach it, but...I'm terrified of them. I don't want the small freedom I have to be lost again, it took so many years and a freak accident to help me escape, and even then I needed the strength of someone like you to even...aaagh. What do I do?"

"I'll tell ya what to do." The yoshi slipped back on the bed as Arnold felt it compress. "I'll come with ya."

"Wait, wh-WHAT?!" Schroeder rolled back towards him.

"I'll come and help, if you can't get out of it and that old guy keeps forcing you to go back for some garbage spy mission then I'll join ya!"

"Y-you can't, Jacob!" He grabbed the yoshi's cheek. "Do you know what they will do to you?"

"Do you know what they'll do to YOU?" Jacob took his hand in his. "It's not right for you to go it alone, even if you're a soldier if he's forcing you to go out and do something that's really scary and, traumatising and just plain awful I can't let you suffer that by your own."

"...why are you doing this?" He laid back against the pillow. "Why are you so...willing to just throw yourself in just for my sake?"

"Because that's what friends do." Jacob nodded. "You helped me when I was captured, you risked a lot just to get me out, you could've just left by yourself but you took me with you. Now it's my turn to help you, even if that means...going back to that awful place."

"They won't allow that," the soldier shook his head, "you're a civilian."

"So we'll sneak me out, we managed in the other base right, what's the difference?!"

"Hah...you really want to go back in the lion's den?"

"If by that you mean I wanna go back into the place we escaped from to risk being captured again, so we can...wait actually why are we going back?"

"To deactivate the cloaking field that's hiding the base," said Schroeder sitting up, "the T.E.A.R. base here need to have the nazi base exposed so they can send it back with-"

"The portal tech!" Jacob clapped. "Right, that's what I thought was a boo, okay yeah got it."

"And you STILL want to go back with me?"

"That's what friends do!" He smiled with sharp pearly teeth. "Friends don't let friends fight the bad guys alone, besides I got another reason!"

"And what is that?" Schroeder grinned crossing his arms.

"I gotta get my shield! Also it's what Captain Toad would do, and I promised to live my life as good as he could, helping others and finding cool stuff around the world!"

"Does it still count if it's not your world-"

"YES, yes it does." Jacob grabbed his hand tight. "So we're doing it, right? If you can't convince that old guy Brightman to not send ya there, I'll come with."

"Hah...alright, your funeral." He shrugged shaking his hand.

"No no no come on we can't just do a handshake! OOH, I know!"

He sat up onto his knees and offered his elbow.

"My uncle James taught me this, you bump my elbow with yours and we both go SUP!"

"Sup?" Schroeder snorted.

"Yeah it'll be our thing, come on do it!"

With a roll of his eyes he tapped his arm against the yoshi's own, bumping elbows with a smirk creasing his face.

"SUP!"

"Sup...this is stupid hahaha."

"Yeah but it made you smile," Jacob patted him, "alright so, let's make a plan."

Another day passed, as the T.E.A.R. base formed their plan to commence infiltrating the Braun Memorial base lurking somewhere out on the ocean. Much to Schroeder's regret, Thomas would not let relent on his choice as Arnold stood with Chanoch, Jeremy, Kevin, Amy and Brightman all in the operations room where a set of black uniforms laid out before them.

"Your orders are as follows," said the major-general, "you must find the nazi base, discover its cloaking device generator, then destroy it and escape. These are the uniforms we recovered from the Mohberrin village."

"So that's me an' Arnold," said Holt thumbing between, "but uhh who's the third one for?"

"Captain Jarogniew."

"WOT?!"

"I offered myself for the mission," said Chanoch bowing.

"Are you fuckin' daft, you'd stand out like a sore thumb!"

"Firstly, I am a soldier who has escaped from oppressive forces before. Second, Ich bin in zwei deutschen Dialekten gut gesprochen."

"Huh!" Schroeder blinked crossing his arms. "You sound like a perfect Hessian!"

"Oi oi oi, I know well enough German too!" Jeremy thumped his chest. "Genug Deutsch um zu fragen wo das Bier ist!"

"Hhhhahahaha, ohhh I mean, yes you do speak it well, like a Bavarian."

"Thanks dab!"

"//That was not a compliment,//" said Chanoch en Deutsch.

"//Let him have his moment,//" Schroeder replied, "//he's trying his best.//"

"//I heard that you arse-faced twats,//" Holt slapped their sides teasing.

"I'll just say I didn't want captain Jarogniew to join this mission," said Brightman with hands clenched, "but he is strong, experienced and well-versed in German so I had to agree."

"May I ask," Schroeder raised a finger, "how are you going to hide the tail?"

"The uniform for Chanoch has a larger backspace to hide his tail in," said Kevin tapping the suit, "you can thank Andrea for that."

"I helped," added the knight, "but, we cannot bring our translation collars with us, the necks look strange when widened."

"So that's why you had us," Jeremy shrugged with a snort, "wot about thuh helmet?"

"I took care of that," Amy piped up with a swish of her tail, "revised the design so it still has the nazi commander look, but also looking...human."

"Now," Kevin rubbed her waist as he pulled something from his pocket, "this is the device I made to overload the generator, you click this button four times fast then shove it under there or some place they can't find it, that'll overload the cabron in about two minutes."

The device resembled a small rectangular remote with a single button underneath a little glass case one had to flip open.

"Once you press it four times fast," said the chemist, "it can NOT be cancelled so you better have a way out once you set it off."

"Wotsit do exactly?" asked Jeremy putting it in his pocket.

"Just a localised electrical charge enough to blow up anything in a two-hundred yard radius."

"Up to a hundred-thousand volts!" the reploid wolf grinned. "I thought to make it fifty but Kev said nah double it, make sure it REALLY goes."

"You can't ever make too big an explosion!" Kevin rubbed his hands.

"I beg to differ," Thomas patted his back, "but if it destroys the nazi base even more than I'm all for it."

"And that's how I knew you wouldn't shout at me this time!"

"Can't believe we're gonna sodding do this," Jeremy shook his head then looked to Chanoch, "you better not bring your sword, that's asking fer trouble."

"I will not need my sword," Chanoch crossed his arms stiff, "my hands will suffice."

"Good," said the major-general, "Schroeder will guide you to where he stashed the boat he made his escape from. You'll make a cover story as soldiers who pretended to be killed from the Mohberrin village assault and you managed to escape back to the base."

"Won't they ask fer our names?" asked Jeremy.

"No," Schroeder waved his hand, "they have no security checks for the initial level of the base, Ingelbaum the head of research insisted putting funds into the cloaking device rather than security checks."

"That seems right stupid don't it?"

"Ingelbaum has a short fuse for red tape, he hates having to check himself at the door every five minutes and argued against a checkpoint for such an isolated base. Long as you know all the salutes and respectful terms, you can pass through most of the base."

"Gonna have to practice me goose-stepping."

Jeremy clacked his boots and made a very exaggerated nazi salute with a swirling spin of his wrist before ending in a raspberry with two fingers up towards Brightman that Chanoch slapped down immediately.

"You have your orders," said the general, "get yourselves dressed and ready to leave in ten minutes."

"Yes sir."

They all saluted normally before they took their uniforms back to their quarters and dressed themselves up for the big operation. Chanoch however was pulled back just before leaving as Thomas whispered to him:

"You have your orders. You smell even the slightest betrayal, you kill him on the spot."

"Understood sir."

Holt however made a small detour and went off to the hangar, strolling forth with a medium-sized box towards their waiting ship being checked over by mechanics for the fifth time.

"Alrigh' lads," he waved to the badniks polishing the side of the ship, "got sum cargo to put on board fer thuh mission."

"What sorta stuff's in that?" asked a drill-faced mole.

"Sum extra fixings fer thuh boat, Schroeder telt me it were busted so we needs sum tools out thurr to patch it up."

"You got everything you need in there?"

"Oh aye he knows how to fix it, just needs thuh tools, also fuel an' whutnot."

"Alright cool let us help ya then."

They pushed the box on board with a grand heave as it slid firmly into the main space of the Ducky ship, tying it down with belts to make certain it wouldn't slide about before they were ready to ship out on their mission. Inside the box however, was not so much a set of tools, but one hidden operative who rubbed his hands and peeked out of the slats buried in the framework that helped him breathe.

"Operation Goonie Drop, is on...hhheheheh."