~Rae

As soon as my airship landed at what was left of the Sailhaven docks, I jumped right out. "No!" I whispered to myself."This can't happen!" Sailhaven, the beautiful city, was ruined. Tall buildings were crumbled on the ground, and everywhere giant sails were strewn around. I ran through the city, looking for my old friend, Sprocket. 

Across from what used to be the Royal College, I saw a small door in one of the broken down houses. I went over and opened it. There was a set of stairs leading down into darkness. I could hear voices, and one of them I thought I recognized. "Sprocket?" I said softly, and started to go down the stairs.

sorry sprocket, I don't know where you are, so you don't have to use this place.  We can meet somewhere else if you want.

I walk around, establishing our little camp. It was good to be back, and being here brought back old memories. The only thing that would make it complete was Rae.

I hear running footsteps and Icy bursts into the tunnel, breathing hard. "Footsteps-heard-coming-here-ran-" she gasps. I run past her and into the tunnel. I thought the entrances were hid well enough...

I stop running and walk quietly, so no one at the end of the tunnel can hear me. Then I hear a voice. "Sprocket?" I stop and smile so wide I feel like my face is going to split, and happiness bubbles up inside me. I knew that voice anywhere. It was Rae. 

~ Trillian

a girl walks into the room. The moment sprocket saw her, her ace broke inot a grin and she ran up and embraced the newcommer. "Everyone, this is Rae" she said. i walk up and shake her hand. "hi," i say. "Im Trillian Coggs. how did you find us?"

hi Rae! welcome back to Sailhaven! where have you been? 

Bats fly everywere. through the streets, over the houses. The vampires fall back. Soon, I will have gained ,y nessacary position.

Why would vampires fall back? They are like half bat.

"You find them yet?" Riuex asks impatiently. 

"Not yet," Auva replies irritantly. "I'm still working on picking up their heat signals. It's harder, because they're underground."

"Well, hurry up!" Riuex barks. "We don't have all day!"

"You don't think I am?" Auva snaps. She works on the computer a little more. "Aha!" she exclaims. "Found them!"

"How many?" Tuera asks.

Auva places her finger on the screen and counts. "One, Trillian. Two, Icy. Three, Kilmene. Four, Sprocket. Wait, there's a fifth one."

"Fifth one?" Mina asks.

"Yeah," Auva replies.

Riuex shoves Auva aside and looks closely at the computer screen.

"Auva's right," she says. "There's a fifth one."

I get my bow and arrow ready, and everyone else gets their weapon ready too.

"Who's taking the fifth one out?" I ask. 

Auva smirks. "I will. I've got too many new explosives to play with."

"They're not toys," Riuex says snarkily.

Tueva laughs. "To Auva, they are."

"What are we taking?" Mina asks.

"Something quiet," I reply. "They can't know we're here."

"Let's take the teleporter!" Auva exclaims. "Haven't done that in forever."

Riuex nods. "Okay. Let's head out now."

We walk throguh the hallways until we finally reach Octavia.

"Can we use the teleporter?" I ask ubruptly.

"Well, hello to you too," Octavia replies.

"Please?" I ask. "We're kind of in a hurry."

"Oh all right, dear," Octavia sighs. "Don't break it."

The guards escort us down more hallways and stairs until we finally reach a room with the teleporter in it.

"Gimme the coordinates," Auva says as she punches up some buttons on the screen next to the teleporter.

As Riuex says it, Tuera, Mina, and I walk into the teleporter and fasten our belts. A few seconds later, Auva and Riuex walk on and fasten their belts, as the teleporter jerks. It's starting up.

"Brace yourselves!" Auva calls, and the teleporter shakes around.

A few seconds later, it suddenley stop, and all of us almost fly forward. When Auva gives us the, "all clear," we walk off and step out into the open air.

"Bleh," Tuera says. "Fresh air. I thought I was gonna be sick."

"Ew," Riuex says. 

I look around and discover that the land around us is barren. In front of me lies the entrance to the underground.

~Rae

As I walked into the large underground room, I only had a few seconds to mars ale on my surroundings before someone was running up to me and giving me a hug. "Sprocket!" I said as soon as I could breathe. "I'm so happy I found you!" She introduced me to the others in the room, and they all looked happy but tired. A girl named Trillian came up to me and said, "How did you find us!?" I shook my head and said, "I don't know! I saw the door up there and thought, 'that looks like a place where my friends would be', and it was!"

We slowly walk down the stairs into the underground. We are as quiet as we can be. About a couple of flights down, we hear voices. 

"...find us?!"

"...don't know!"

Olympia nods and gives us the signal that we're close. We stop before going all of the way down, and Olympia talks to us in sign language.

Riuex, take the top of the base. Auva, there has to be a control room somewhere where you can work on your explosives. Tuera, create a diversion. Mina, you're going to appear with me after Tuera creates the diversion. The diversion will give Riuex and Auva enough time to sneak in without being seen. Let's go. Tuera, take the fifth one. I don't think you were ever assigned.

Tuera nods and walks out into the open, as Riuex and Auva dart away. As soon as Tuera appears, all talking stops.

"Who are you?" Sprocket asks, grabbing her weapon.

Rae gasps, and Tuera looks at Rae wide-eyed.

Olympia scowls.

They better not have been friends. 

"What are you doing here, Tuera?" Rae asks.

"I-I, um...." Tuera stutters.

This better not blow our mission. 

I am so happy. It was so good to see Rae. 

Then my bubble burst. I froze, and everyone did as well. They heard what I heard. Footsteps. Coming towards us. They were here. 

I slipped away and changed into a bird. Olympia looked at me suprised, but chased after Sprocket. Tuera was battling Rae, and Riuex was still waiting for the signal at the top. Auva was probably working on the explosives still. I swooped towards Icy, and landed in front of her, changing back into a cat. 

"Hello, Icy," I quietly snarl.

"M-Mina," she stutters. "Haven't seen you in a while."

I nod, and she points her weapon at me. I dart towards it, and a couple of quick moves throw it out of her hand.

"Mina," she says. "I thought you were my friend."

"How long have you been thinking that?" I sarcastically respond. 

"Fine!" she exclaims. "You want to be difficult? Hand-to-hand, then!" 

I easily dodge her side kick, and in a few seconds I have her in a head-lock. But she somehow wiggles out and punches me in the back. I get thrown forward, but I hop back up. I clench my hand around her, and she struggles to get free. Her face is filled with terror, and my anger increases. But out of it, I suddenely see a flash and see Leva's face replacing Icy's. I loosen my grip a little bit, slightly shaking my head. I look at back and see Icy, but then she's Leva. My head throbs, and I suddenley let go, as Icy crumples to the ground, gasping for air. I stumble back and look around.

Suddenely everything comes back.

~~~~~~~~~

"Icy," I say. "I'm so sorry."

Icy looks up at me with tear-filled eyes. "What are you talking about?" she rasps.

"My name is Mina," I reply. "My younger sister is Leva. My friends are Icy and Shadow. My village was burned with fire. I was brainwashed two times. I was an assasin for SOCS and Catastrophe. I-I killed Shadow. I was shot with a mutation dart. My name is Mina."

Icy stands up and smiles. "Not exactly in order, but correct. What happened to you?"

"I-I don't know," I stutter. "When I saw you, I saw Leva, and I...." I pause. "Well, everything came back. I don't get it."

"Okay, well we could use your help right now. You still got that shape-shifting thing going?" Icy asks.

I try to change to a bird, but it doesn't work. I shake my head.

"Oh, well, that's okay. Um, could you spy for us?" Icy asks.

"I've done that my whole life," I reply. "Yes."

"Great," Icy says. "I'll tell the others later if we survive."

I nod and run towards Olympia. 

~Rae

I can't believe it. Tuera!? Here!? Here!? Now!? And my biggest question. . . When in the world did she start working for Octavia!?!?

We had known each other, long ago, back in the deserted lands where Jakks ruled. We had both been taken by the Jakks, and been forced to fight each other for their entertainment. That had made us half friends, half enimies. But how was she here!? With the awful things she had done. . . 

I'm seperated from the group. Alone in an outside tunnel when....Ravage finds me.

It's all over quickly.

And then...she's herself again.

Mina's gone now, going to Octavia. I asked her to risk her life for us. Why..

So confusing......so......

Is that her--she needs---what--CELESTI!

Voices ring in my head. I crumple to the ground in a faint.

Clawed Serpent? Do you think it would be okay to call Fairy....mother?

It's like hearing one side of several conversations, pieced together.

I'm being used.......

And then I hear the conversations again.

Fairy, help! Oh, shut it Gryphon. You're freaking out Unicorn! What's going on here?! Why is everything--you mean--is that...what IS that? Sylvia, is that a...nother...creature? How did you? Is there another gold flower? Unicorn, I do not wish to be alone in the sea. I wish to have other beings swim there too, but claim lordship over them. HUMANS!? I knew you made a mistake! Dragon did this. She must have. Sorry, I meant....Claaws. He's gone....Caelani's...gone....gone...gone.... gone...

And then I hear Sprocket, and the other girls,  although their voices are faint and echo-y. "I found her!" "Is she dead? No, she's still breathing..she has a pulse." "Think we can wake her up?" Icy...? ICY!"