The long wait was unbearable.  Andrea kept biting her fingers with each second that passed.  Before coming here she rather liked her nails, even painted them once in a while.  Now they were stubs at the end of worn cracked digits, her foot tapping frantically as she briefly contemplated whether cigarettes would have helped.  What would have calmed her down was having someone to debate with, discuss random theories and spin out nonsense of mathematical obfuscation.  Something Haytham would have done with her.  She slumped in her seat and grabbed her head, suddenly exhausted by the weight of sadness descending once again.

        "This place is too quiet."  She threw her head back and spun in her seat.  "Fuck this place, fuck this place so much.  I just want to go home.  I don't even care if it's not there anymore I'll just sit in the house and not move ever again...god."

Standing up she took a walk along the length of the small control room, then doubled back to stare upon the gate.

        "...you're the best, and the worst thing I've ever made."

She planted her hands on the console.

        "So much you've done to expand my view, my world, my understanding and yet you've taken so much from me.  My life...time...opportunities.  You're just a fucking machine and yet you've taken over me and everyone around me.  You've changed so many lives for better or worse, including my own and...I just hate you so much.  I hate you.  I HATE you.  And I know that you are the most important thing I have ever had in my life."

Andrea slumped against the wall and sat on the floor, hugging her knees and taking a deep breath to force all the tension from her chest.  Silence was her enemy, the soft hum of the machine rumbling through the walls and deep into her skull with a shuddering gasp.

        "Even when I'm dreaming I can hear that.  What's going to happen when we get home?  If we get home?"  She looked up towards the great machine.  "What...what will they do to you...my baby?  My worst mistake, and my greatest gift?  I never want to see you again, after this, but I also don't want them to hurt you, break you...take you apart or use you for something...something that's not the ways of science, something that won't improve our world but...what COULD we use you for?"

Stepping up back to the console she hunched over the panel and shook her head.

        "I've tried to justify your existence for years but...what, we go back in time and kill Hitler like everyone wants to do?  We fix a treaty, we stop a war, like that's not going to cause repercussions unseen for millennia?  All you were meant to be was a clean energy source, and the only reason we're using you is because something, somewhere back in this...time period was fucking our history up.  What if it's us?  What if it's you?  What if...all this ends in fixing a mistake that only exists because we're the mistake?"

        "This is Ducky Four, do you copy?!"

        "Shit," she grabbed the comms from the panel, "this is Kirk, what's your status?"

        "Landed safe, man from high castle is contained!"

        "Meridian-5 did you get that?!"

        "Sure did boss," said the call from the moon, "roentgens holding, ready to deploy."

        "Let's do it folks."

The console lit up with thrumming sounds that filled the room as the gate started to blink, crackling with energies of the cold burn from the abyss.  The calculations locked and repeated as the radar tower detected the transmutational force of the third energy gates sending from moon to base to enemy target.  The world shuddered with a crackling spark of bleeding orange from the sky, the Braun Memorial Base suddenly wrapped in a fantasmic cape of dimensional flames that warped its very existence.  Floating slightly off of the water, the island sucked into the air where a portal devoured the whole base within minutes.  The village of Mohberra looked on with fascination at the sky's explosion, trembling from rememberance as it suddenly stopped as soon as it had arrived.  The world was again at peace, and with it a collective sigh grew from the tribes.

        "Is it...done?"

Arnold stepped out from a containment room within the base.  His face was bandaged over the eye, and his uniform was discarded to return to regular slacks and polo shirt.

        "Are they...are they gone?"

        "Yes."  Thomas nodded standing beside Holt and Chanoch.  "You did well.  I was told of your actions during the infiltration."

        "I know you still do not trust me," Schroeder nodded, "and I can understand your reasons for it, so I can only say thank you...for letting me stay."

        "You're right, I still don't.  However..." he offered his hand, "you have the opportunity to earn it, now that you're with us."

        "Th-thank you, sir!"  He shook his hand with a sigh of relief.  "I appreciate that, deeply."

        "Thank these two," he gestured to Holt and Chanoch, "you could call them your appraisers, in one way."

        "I am very thankful, for all of you, in letting me join you as...part of your world."

The sound of a yoshi snickering from down the hall made him grin as Thomas' face dropped in a stern frown.  Jeremy however beamed from behind with Chanoch just looking more confused as Brightman let them leave with a dismissive nod and a wave of his hand.  Once he departed, Holt slapped Arnold's back and walked him out of the containment sector where Jacob stood rocking his heels.

        "Part of your world huh?"

        "Hey it's a good song," Schroeder grinned patting his head, "so...that's it then?"

        "Yes," Jarogniew nodded, "they are gone."

        "I almost don't want to believe it," he sighed with a deep groan as he slumped against the wall, "haaaaah, god I'm almost scared to think it's real."

        "You get used to it dab," Holt rubbed his shoulder, "whut matters is that now yer free, an' whutever happens next, whether we get back home or not, yer safe with us."

        "I appreciate that...but, what do you mean whether we get back home or not-"

        "Ahhh don't worry about it, just relax we've been through sum shite so it's time to relax."

        "He's right," Jacob took his hand, "come on let's show you around proper, OOOH we should totally go meet Oddie, I haven't seen him in a while!"

        "Good idea," Chanoch grinned tapping Holt, "we have a match to settle."

        "Awhawww you still wanna go?!" he turned with a smack of his fists.  "Alrigh', wot say we do this when we're at Oddie's place, do it like real men!"

        "Oh?  And how do real men fight?"

        "Naked."  Jeremy grinned even wider.  "Like they do in old days, which I'm sure you'd appreciate."

        "Hmhmhm, I accept."

        "Aw cool, can I join?!" Jacob squeaked bouncing on his feet.  "I never done wrestling like that, that's how they do it on the islands!"

        "Uhhh," Jeremy rubbed his neck, "depends, how old are ya?"

        "Eighteen, why are we drinking beer as well?"

        "Naw naw just uh, AHEM, sure if we're just all havin' a wrestling match!"

        "I got an idea, let's make a tournament!" he wagged his tail with pumping fists.  "Wrestle each other, see who's the strongest!"

        "A tournament?" Arnold crossed his arms.  "I'm not sure if I can last that long in my condition."

        "Well it's just an idea yanno, I bet Oddie would love to!"

        "We will ask him first," said Jarogniew, "but now, perhaps a movie?"

        "Wot, really?!" Holt leaned back agasp.  "You wanna watch a movie?!"

        "We have to relax, yes?  A movie will help."

        "I thought you hated them!"

        "I do.  But is good noise to relax to."

        "Hmhahaha, alrigh' then let's do it!"

Heading off to watch movies in the rec room, the four males sat themselves down and unwound their nerves fully to something more light-hearted with several comedies.  Across the other side of the base, Jane sat up at her desk speaking through her radio on a closed channel.

        "Things going alright for you?"

        "Yes," said Oddclaw's voice, "things are better, my family are helping."

        "That's good.  Sorry I can't be there, we just had to get rid of that anomaly."

        "They are gone then?"

        "Mmhmm."  She shifted in her seat.  "Anything you want to discuss?"

        "Well...is...I have not been...wanting to mate, with Moonclaw, for a while."

        "Do you want to talk about this in person?"

        "No, no I need to say this...they cannot hear me."

        "Alright, well I'm alone so," Jane walked to the couch and sat down more comfortably, "tell me everything, no matter how small or silly it seems."

        "I feel...um," he shuddered through the comms, "I feel...I do not deserve to...mate, because of what happened."

        "Why is that?"

        "It just makes me think of Riptor again.  It scares me, it feels...painful, and I cannot stop thinking about it, and I'm afraid to get...h-hard, again."

        "Oddclaw, listen."  She took a deep breath to compose her words.  "We know it wasn't your fault, Moonclaw doesn't blame you, I don't either, you were abused."

        "But she made, m-my body do it-"

        "Exactly, she MADE you, you said no, but she forced you.  That was not your fault."

        "Then, wh-why do I feel terrible?!"  His voice started to crack with a shivering gasp.  "Why...why do I feel sick?"

        "It's trauma, Oddclaw."  Jane leaned back.  "She not only hurt your body, but your mind as well, and when a mind is wounded by terrible things that happen, like the loss of a loved one or being abused by someone, it can hurt like a body can."

        "What should I do then?  How do I...heal my mind from not feeling sick?"

        "Talking to your friends, your family, like what we're doing now, that helps the most.  It also just takes time, your wounds have to heal, even those in the mind."

        "I just...h-hah..." the sound of gentle sobs came from the radio, "I could do nothing, I-i felt...I felt so weak, I hated it, I HATED it, I should be a hunter, I'm a father, a mate, my family rely on me to be strong and she TOOK THAT FROM ME!"

        "But all your family are strong!" Jane said tapping her knee.  "You have a wonderful mate, who despite her age can still hunt with the best, you have three wonderful children who all manage to hunt exceptionally well, and then you have Seaclaw whom despite all that happened still made it on his own!"

        "But what if I cannot be as good as them?!  What...my mate, fought Riptor, my son fought her tribe, but I could not...I was taken, and used, an-"

        "Oddclaw, do you think you have to prove yourself every day?  That should not be how you feel, you've always proven yourself without needing to!  You've fought so many terrible beasts, HUGE things that aren't from this world, you managed to forge an alliance between your people and mine!  You didn't fail anyone, no one thinks that."

        "Is that...is that true?" he sighed sniffing back his tears.

        "You are the strongest, bravest person I have ever known, Oddclaw."  Jane licked her lips with a twitch in her heart.  "I've always considered you as a friend, deeply.  When we first spoke, it was incredible, nothing I had done in my entire life was as great as meeting you.  I...well, I care deeply about you."

        "What...what do you mean?"

        "I don't know how to say this but...I'm proud of you Oddclaw.  I'm proud of everything you do, and how you've managed to do everything right, raising a family, taking care of your people, and keeping us safe in your world.  I respect you, and I...god, I can't explain thi-"

        "Jane."  His voice turned softer.  "Thank you...I did not know you felt like that about me."

        "Sorry, I..." she rubbed her head, "I know it's weird and I should be professional about this but I thought-"

        "I care about you too.  You were my first friend amongst the humen and...I will miss you when you return home."

        "I'll miss you too.  It's...I don't know how to describe how I feel about you, but I consider you one of my closest friends."

        "You are my friend too.  I love you Jane."

        "...I love you too, Oddclaw."

A smile crept over her face as she sighed with relief, hearing his voice become calm as they spoke long into the day with all his woes and worries spilling out no matter how severe or mundane they were.  Jane kept her door locked until they were finished, stepping out to the cafeteria where she saw Amy and Kevin sitting with Ribose at a central table, amongst the gaggle of machines putting odd little batteries in themselves.

        "OOOH, that feels GREAT!" shivered a moletank.

        "Yeah you like?!" Kevin smirked.

        "What's this one?" asked a walrus-bot.

        "That's Ampere d'Or, gold conducting."

        "Woah this...hooo, that feels fantastic!"

        "And this is Farad au Brass," Amy held up a small plug to them, "try this one now."

        "MMMMHH!" a crocodile gasped with a shiver of warmth.  "Damn this...I've never felt this kinda charge before, shit!"

        "Hello there!" Jane waved through the crowd.  "What you all up to?"

        "Making food for the machines," Ribose waved back, "Kev and Amy thought it up, wanted to give these guys something nice to enjoy whilst we were all eating."

        "Wiiiith, batteries?"

        "Yep!" Amy spread her hand across the table.  "Different kinds of energy with different conductors offer a change to the transmission, closest I could find to a 'flavour' for us machines."

        "So I thought yanno," Kevin shrugged, "why not do a little thing to make their recharge time more fun?"

        "This is awesome!" a wasp badnik buzzed through a zinc plug.  "It's like, like, I-i don't even know but it FEELS so sharp!"

        "Well that's lovely!" Jane cried clapping her hands.  "Good work, glad everyone's enjoying themselves."

        "How are you?" Amy asked looking up.

        "Oh not bad, just, keeping on, you know."

        "That's good, should be swapping our shifts soon for my friends up in space."

        "They'll get a real welcome with our buffet," Kevin patted the table full of batteries, "something for all their hard work keeping us in check."

        "Damn," Ribose sighed leaning back, "I miss Ade, is he coming back anytime soon?"

        "Why not just go to him?" Jane shrugged.

        "I don't know, feels weird to be there with his uh...girlfriend and her mom-"

        "Why, you're his friend aren't you, they won't mind."

        "It's...ach, I dunno," he rubbed his neck with a sigh, "I'm just glad he's got it all good and found a life but-"

        "You wish you were in his life," Amy nodded folding her hands, "you want to be part of his life but you can't decide what he does with it, so you feel bad because you have-"

        "Stop it."  He stood up with a huff.  "If I wanna be analysed I'll go to Jane, don't psyche me out like you know me."

        "Sorry, I didn't mean-"

        "No, you know what I'm just going to...do something else, see ya Kev."

        "Alright later then."

Kevin waved him off as the hooded chemist left, tapping his fingers with a sad shake of his head.

        "I think you're right though," he muttered to Amy, "he kinda has no one but me and well-"

        "If he wants to talk about it," Jane patted his side, "he can come to me, let's not air things out in public."

        "Right, sorry, alright who else wants a Zincoretto!?"

The reploids and badniks kept savouring the products, charging themselves with little jolts as the hall filled with murmurs of excitement.

Over the next few days, Schroeder adjusted himself to the ways of the T.E.A.R. Base with movie nights, patrols, speaking with the machines and joining the book club where Anna discussed volumes of her choice.  Jacob kept at his side, sharing stories between each other and playing sports in the gym with other soldiers.  At one point the yoshi gathered enough people to play a game of baseball, something Schroeder had never played but by the end was becoming a fan as he swung out a few times but managed to score at least one long hit for his team.  The yoshi made a terrible pitcher, but his batting skills were surprising in that he managed two home runs with a shrieking success, lofted up high by the team as they celebrated with non-alcoholic drinks.  Soon the day arrived for them to meet Oddclaw, Jane accompanying the boys as a self-noted chaperone with the family greeting them one fine clear morning.

        "STONETREEEE!"

        "Hahaha, hello Seaclaw!" Jarogniew pulled him up with a hug to his chest.  "How are you?"

        "GOOD!  Hi uncah Jeremy, hi Longtongue!"

        "Yeah it's uh Jacob, hi," the yoshi waved, "this is our new friend Arnold, wanted to show him around."

        "Another hairlethh?" Oddtooth snorted kicking his feet.  "He even thmell different from the otherthh."

        "Hi, I'm Skyfang!" the sister hopped up towards him and sniffed his chest.  "Where you from?!"

        "Iiiii," Arnold pulled at his collar, "well, I am from very far away-"

        "OH, you a starbeast too?!  Why you staying here?"

        "My home was a horrible place, I won't say much but I'm very glad to be with my new friends."

        "You know it!" Jacob high-fived him.  "Hey uh Oddie we wanna talk to you about something."

        "Really?" the raptor walked up slightly bowed.  "About what?"

        "Weeeellll...see, Jeremy and Chanoch they-"

        "We wanna do sum wrestlin'," said Holt slapping his arm round Oddie's shoulders, "could do it back at base, but yanno doin' it out 'ere's much more fun, yanno, real man's sorta game an' if you wanted to join."

        "You want to playfight with me?" he smiled clutching his hands.  "I have...well, we have not done that in cycles."

        "I must challenge him," said Chanoch pointing to Holt, "Jacob suggested a tournament, to see who is strongest amongst us."

        "Course you know who that is right mochyn bach?" Jeremy winked at Oddie.

        "Oh!" he blushed slightly giddy.  "Well, I will have to ask the alpha first, and also show your new friend."

        "My name is Arnold," Schroeder offered his hand with a curtsy, "an honour to meet you Oddclaw."

        "Thank you," he shook his hand in turn, "come, let me show you our home."

Taking them into the grounds of the Hunters' Nest, after introducing Schroeder to Fishclaw and going through the standard procedure, Holt and Jacob started to explain the tournament and set up the brackets.  Despite Jane's protests, it would be done "the traditional way" but she refused to watch and Schroeder promised to act as chaperone on her behalf, taking time with Moonclaw instead as they sat out in the forest edge hearing the sounds of struggle and the cackling of other raptors watching the fights begin.

        "How is Oddclaw doing?" she began.

        "Better, thank you."  She snuffled her hand.  "I am worried about him, he has been so different since-"

        "These things take time, I've had to speak with people who also went through this, and everyone takes it differently."

        "And you say this helps?  Just being with him?"

        "Sometimes a mind just needs the company of others to be with.  What's that thing you say, hunters never hunt alone?"

        "Ahhhh, yes."  She licked Jane's hand with a cheerful purr.  "That is true.  Have you been speaking with him?"

        "Sometimes, when I can, just to check up on him."

        "That is good, I know you are a healer of minds so it would help him greatly."

        "Yes but, only if he wants me to," she nodded carefully, "plus, I think it's better that he go through his family first, you are his mate and this is something that affects both of you."

        "I just want him to stop feeling guilty," Moonclaw sighed laying against her, "I do not blame him, I know him, and I know what SHE wanted, I know he speaks the truth but he cannot stop blaming himself."

        "Just be there for him," Jane stroked her head, "I think it's a confidence issue, he needs to feel strong again, being abused like that is one of the most terrible things to happen to someone and it can take...so long to break free from those lies that everyone told you, that you deserved it, that it was because you were meant for it, that...god."

She rubbed her head feeling a sickening warmth cross her temple.

        "It took...so long to stop feeling that way, and I want Oddclaw to not suffer that."

        "Have you...known this pain too?"

        "Enough to know."

Jane slumped forwards feeling a weight on her neck.  Then she felt the tender lick of Moonclaw across her cheek, her old silver face resting on her shoulder with soft breaths creeping along her skin.  There was a moment of peace they savoured, before the sounds of roaring males came from the nest that caused them to look back and see Holt getting tossed over the earth in a cloud of dust.

        "AAAAAARGH!"

        "NNRRRAAAARGH!"

In the raptor's nest, Chanoch had pinned Holt to the ground after hurling him against the side, laying on top of him with tail swatting the air behind as Jeremy struggled to push himself out of the reptilian grasp.  Claws dug in to his naked body, firm but tense as he felt Jarogniew's thick muscled chest scrape against his back, and despite his best efforts, he couldn't beat the three-second rule as Jacob counted up.

        "ONE!  TWO!  THRRRREEEEE, YER OUT!"

        "AUUUUGH FWC!"

        "WINNER IIIIIS CHANOOOOCH!"

        "YAAAAAY STONETREE!"

The raptors barked with approval at the display as Chanoch released the human from his grasp, rolling away from each other to stand in full naked splendour as the lizardman offered his hand.  Holt snorted with an eyeroll but shook off his temper enough to shake in good sportsmanship, his barrel chest and veiny legs rippling with grey hairs as he walked out of the ring-shaped nest to put back on his clothes, a gathering crowd of raptors from outside the family taking interest in the tournament.

        "So that is how hairless playfight," murmured Fishclaw from the side.

ILLUSION OF STRENGTH

        "Well, one has to know their limits Starleaf, and what better way than practice restraint with your friends and family?"

RESTRAINT OF LOVE                WISE FATHER

        "ALRIGHT, time for the grand final!  Oddclaw who won against Skyfang, versus Chanoch who won against Holt!"

        "Don' rub it in lad mah pride's wounded enough!"

        "Contestants please refresh yourselves with some water, then step down into the ring!"

Taking a chance to rehydrate and scrub up their bruises, both contestants readied themselves to step in the nest and face each other.  Chanoch stood almost a foot over Oddclaw with considerable muscle, his long tail swaying behind with a confident grin as the raptor father psyched himself up with a boxing dance.  The match started earnest as Jarogniew went for him, grabbing his waist and shoulder to throw him down on his back and pin him under his legs before the raptor quickly threw him off with a rolling lift, kicking Chanoch's foot and forcing his whole leg upwards to push him aside and get back on his feet.

        "GET HIM FATHER!"

        "YEAH GET HIM!"

Chanoch smiled pounding his fists as he came with a slow charge, tricking Oddclaw into dodging too soon before the lizardman swung at his face with a hefty clothesline, knocking him on his back with a gasping groan from the audience as Oddclaw stumbled back up.  When Chanoch came for him again, the raptor swung low in a slicing kick that went for the knee causing the knight to stumble, tripping forwards as Oddclaw leapt onto his back and started throttling him with an arm round his neck as the raptors cheered louder.  Seaclaw cheered for both of them, the rest rooting for Oddclaw alone including Holt who got a bit too into it as Chanoch groaned from the tightening throat, Oddclaw's raw-scaled belly grinding against his tailbase with each clench of their muscles.

But the knight was not so easily bested, waiting for Oddclaw to lean forwards before he rolled hard onto his back, crushing him with his weight and elbowing his face to stun him enough and pull himself off to grab the raptor's neck and drag him across the nest to push him up against the side in a hard press.  Oddclaw swung his legs up behind Jarogniew and pulled against the thick tail to force his own body up higher, scrabbling his hands up Chanoch's chest and twist his face enough to make him stumble in mid-walk.

        "COME ON FATHER!"

        "YEAH YOU CAN FIGHT HIM!"

        "KICK HIS FUCKIN' HEAD IN!"

        "Unbelieveable," Jane rolled her eyes, "you get a bunch of men in one room and they all just start fighting each other."

        "Excuse me, my daughter was playfighting too," Moonclaw snorted.

        "Well, you know what I mean just-"

        "Just sit down and enjoy it Jane, look, Oddclaw is!"

        "...huh."  She saw the smile on his face during the match.  "Yeah, you're right, he is."

        "COME OOOON BROTHER!" Fishclaw shrieked.  "SHOW THEM THE STRENGTH OF OUR VOICE!"

        "NNNNRRRAAAAAAAARGH!"

With Chanoch's arm forcing against his throat as he was pinned to the nest's edge, Oddclaw resisted the urge to poke his eyes and instead grab the back of his head, using his legs to wrap round Chanoch's tail and force him to bow forwards straight into the wall with a hard crunch, stunning the lizardman briefly enough to throw him on his side and twist his arm behind his back, laying on their sides as he yanked Jarogniew's limb in a painful bend that made him wince with gritted teeth.  He refused to yield and pushed onto his feet, standing up to make a hard fall backwards and crush Oddclaw under his weight again, but the raptor quickly let go and ducked out underneath his shadow before Chanoch rolled back on his feet and made a sudden tackle for his legs.

Oddclaw yelped with surprise as Chanoch grabbed his legs before sitting on his back, forcing the limbs back as Oddclaw shrieked with rasping snarls as the limits of his body were tested, his half-flaccid shaft slapping against his belly as Jarogniew pulled that little bit further.  The crowd started jeering, chanting for Oddclaw to try harder as even Moonclaw started joining in to the rousing barks before Jane followed suit, pounding her fists in excitement from the struggle within.  Clearing his mind and taking a full deep breath, the raptor forced all of his muscle into his arms and grabbed Chanoch's tail with his teeth, his own slipping across the knight's shoulder like a boa as he clamped his jaws down on the thick lizardman's tail and forced his arms to lift.

The biting clench surprised Jarogniew with a twitching groan, feeling the force of Oddclaw's muscles push through as the raptor screamed through his biting gag and lifted his upper body enough to throw Chanoch forwards.  The audience shrieked in greater joy as Oddclaw pulled himself up with withering legs, pouncing on top of Jarogniew and immediately grabbing both an arm and a leg to twist them in deadlock, the raptor's snarling bated breaths licking across Chanoch's cheek as the lizardman panted in clenching pains with nostrils flaring to smell his meaty breath.  He tried to roll himself back, but Oddclaw stopped him with his leg trapping the other, and when he tried to roll forwards on his arm, Oddclaw put his jaws round his neck and raked his fangs across the throat, frightening Jacob enough to call an end to the match.

        "U-UHH, ONE, TWO, THREE, OKAY IT'S DONE IT'S DONE, HE WINS, ODDCLAW WINS!"

        "YAAAAAAAAAAAS HAHAHAHAAAAAA!" Holt pumped his fists with a gurning face.  "NNNRRRRRGH GET FUCKED YA-"

        "JEREMY FOR GOD'S SAKE!" Jane screamed at him.  "IT'S NOT THE FUCKING FOOTBALL SIT YOUR BLOODY ARSE DOWN OR I SWEAR TO GOD!"

        "ALRIGH', ALRIGH' FUCK'S SAKE PET!"

He balked back in his seat as Jane sighed, much to Moonclaw's cackling ripple beside her as the woman's face cracked with a smile, laughing alongside her as the raptors cheered for their local champion.  Oddclaw's children rushed into the ring, dogpiling onto their father with hugs and licks and kisses with Jarogniew sitting up relieved.

        "YOU DID IT, YOU DID IT FATHER!"

        "YEAH I KNEW YOU COULD BEAT HIM, I KNEW YOU COULD!"

        "H-hah, hah, th-thank you, hahahaha..." Oddclaw sighed between his children's faces, "sorry Chanoch, did I hurt you?"

        "Hmhmhm, no."  He offered his hand as Oddclaw shook it.  "That was a good fight.  You are much stronger than I thought."

        "You are a great fighter too."

        "Yer both the BEST fighters!" shrieked Seaclaw hugging them both.  "Sorry you lost Stonetree!"

        "It is fine," Chanoch patted his back, "and to think, you will be stronger than him."

        "R-really?  You think so?"

        "Of course he does," Oddclaw said pulling him against his chest with a kiss, "you, Oddtooth and Skyfang, you will all be far greater than me."

        "Becauthe we're hunterth," Oddtooth nuzzled between, "and we hunt, together."

        "Yeah, but I could still beat you!" Skyfang headbutted him.  "You still can't climb trees!"

        "Maybe not, but you thtill have to come down to fight, and when you do, I win."

        "Heehee, he's right Skyfie!" Seaclaw tapped her nose.

        "Oh yeah, fight me now then!"

        "N-NO WAIT THE TOURNAMENT'S OVER THAT'S A FOUL!"

She grabbed Oddtooth's neck with her teeth and wrestled him down, the two ferals rolling through the dirt as Jacob ran in circles to try and break up the fight whilst their parents looked on with pride.  Oddclaw pulled Seaclaw into his lap and smiled kissing his head with a swell of relief as Chanoch patted his shoulder and left the two be.  Schroeder watched all of this with a hand on his chin, fascinated and yet unable to stop laughing from such a strange yet innocent world he landed himself in.

        "Is it always like this?" he asked scooting over to Jeremy.

        "Mmm, roundabouts," he shrugged.

        "I think I made the right choice staying here then."

        "Even if yer not a wrestling fan?"

        "Well, I never said I wasn't, I just didn't want to overstep my boundaries."

        "Aw don't fret about that, can't do worse than me."

        "Trust me, you can't," Jane muttered in passing, "you'll be fine here Arnold."

        "Hah!" Schroeder clapped his hands.  "Well if that's the case, I'm sure I'll be fine here."

The rest of the day went by with little fanfare, Oddclaw explaining the basic rules of the land to Schroeder with Jacob at their side and all the major landmarks within sight of the nests.  To not have them feel left out, Oddclaw even arranged a sparring match between Schroeder and Jacob with clothes on, a small back-and-forth as Jacob taught him a few simple martial arts moves to take down opponents quick, whilst Schroeder taught Jacob disarming moves to rob weapons off your opponents.  The soldier gave booting kicks and firm twists of the arm, whilst the yoshi gave parrying fists and sweeping legs that to the back of the knee as Oddclaw acted referee.  At one point they even had a race together, with Oddclaw's children joining in as their feet pounded into the lengthening shadows of sunset growing upon their heads.  It was a perfect serenity, one that made Jacob remember his days visiting islands and made him somewhat saddened when he sat by the lake.

        "That was...quite a day," Schroeder gasped beside him, "haven't felt that exhausted since the Steeplechase at St. Anne."

        "Yeah..." the yoshi sighed, "glad you're having fun, and we got all that nasty stuff outta the way."

        "Is something wrong?" he shuffled closer.  "Or you just tired?"

        "Ehhh...sorta," he pressed his snout to his knees, "I'm worried about dad, just the usual."

        "I'm sure you'll get back to him, the base have a lot of good working folks."

        "Yeah but...still missing them you know, I still gotta wait a whole year and-"

        "Don't think about it."  He patted Jacob's back.  "Just think of the now, and here where we are, the days will pass before you know it."

        "You're right...I just wish I knew more about what happened."

The yoshi stretched his legs and took off his boots, showing his thick stubbed toes and blue undersoles that glinted in the sun.

        "When I got sucked away from my world, me, my dad and my uncles were coming back from like a thing that happened in town.  Something just, opened up and pulled us all in and well, we just kinda fell into this void but I was the only one that managed to climb back out, just shot my tongue at the light above me and...then I fell outta the book."

        "That...sounds weird," Schroeder rubbed his chest, "you think some sort of experiment happened like the base did with mine?"

        "I don't think...no," Jacob shook his head, "it felt like magic, and they said at the base it was, cuz the book I came out of was a magic thing that someone who used to be there did and screwed up cuz he wasn't all there in the head, or something, I didn't ask much."

        "Hmmmm...I should be questioning the fact we're just accepting magic is real-"

        "Uhh, it totally is?" the yoshi squinted at him.  "Back in my world it is."

        "Ahhh, see in my world magic doesn't exist."

        "Wow, your world sucks."

        "Yes, it does."  Schroeder grinned almost relieved.  "What about your father and uncles, what happened last you saw them?"

        "They just, sorta fell into this dark abyss," Jacob rubbed his hands, "I don't know if they're alright, or if they got back, so I'm almost worried that if I get home and they're not there-"

        "They will be."  Arnold rubbed his shoulder.  "If they're anywhere as smart and resourceful as you, I am sure they are waiting for you."

        "Hah...thanks Arnie."  Jacob held his hand.  "I'm glad we met though.  That's one good thing about being here."

        "I'm glad we met too.  Thanks to you I'm finally free."

        "Hey you chose to break me out, that was all you dude."

        "Well, you gave me the courage, as I said.  Sometimes that's all you need."

        "...I just realised all of my friends are like way older than me."

        "What?"

        "Yeah like," he pulled away starting to laugh, "NOBODY round here is my age what the heck?!"

        "There's Seaclaw, isn't he a boy?"

        "He's like, TEN, that's not my age!"

        "It's close enough!" Schroeder threw his hand.

        "Like do you KNOW how old Chanoch is, it's like triple digits!"

        "Ohhhh god you're right I just remembered, how is that even possible?!"

        "He told you, magic!"

        "I don't know if that's a blessing or a curse."  He stood up with a stretch.  "Come on, we'll have to get back soon anyways."

        "Yeaaah I guess," Jacob followed suit putting on his boots, "wanna like read books when we get back?"

        "Mmmm yes, maybe, might like a movie more, my eyes are too tired to read."

        "Yanno, same?  Gosh today's been exhausting and I didn't even wrestle in the tournament!"

        "Well I'm in my sixties so a race and a sparring match is enough for me."

        "Ya don't look sixty I gotta say."

        "Hah!" Arnold shook his head as they walked back to the nests.  "You're a good kid Jacob."

Third Energy Research - Subject Nineteen Addendum ("Alternate Nazi Base")

20-01-2050

Recorded by Dr. Andrea Dixon

Our attempts to return Jacob home resulted in the arrival from a most unexpected and horrific alternate reality.  A Nazi-owned research base from an Earth where they had won the Second World War and through unknown stolen technologies managed to accelerate their rate of progress to a shocking brutalistic degree.  A defector from the base, Arnold Schroeder, assisted us in the removal of the base from our world by infiltrating the place with a small group, disabling their cloaking field which prevented us from locating their sending them back.

From research gathered by Schroeder, Jacob, Holt and Jarogniew who operated together, the Braun Memorial Base studied the monstrous reconstruction of animals into fearsome goliaths.  But in their investigation they also discovered several plans in restricted access rooms, detailing plans for a space craft that, from what Schroeder has told us of his world, is very probable with their level of technology in their already-ascended levels of spacefaring.  What shocked us even more however was the fact they too possessed a dimensional portal, not unlike our own Third Energy Gate.

From the records they gathered and copied, Schroeder's team have deducted that this portal is an experimental replication of a hidden laboratory that was unearthed by the Nazis, by an ancient order whose discoveries not only are incredibly prescient for their time, but also the basis for the technology the Nazis replicated for their own cruel ubiquitous means.  Thankfully, their portal technology was lacking necessary parts, and may even be destroyed from our sabotage of their cloaking field generator.  Schroeder now remains part of our group, taking the rank of Sergeant-Major after having earned our trust.

Across the ocean to the far northwest, the raptors of Scar Island awoke to another day of tension.  Children felt the anxiety of their parents, and the hunt became more desperate with fractured spirits.  Since Riptor's departure, Tesla took on the role of temporary leader as he walked the length of the tribal grounds, ticking off a mental list that his leader had given.  Check in with Ultraraptors, then the slavefish, return to the natives, investigate the mining of the canyon if possible, then rinse and repeat.  The first week of her absence went by smoothly, despite having none of the seniors around.  Then each day that passed, he made a habit of heading down to the shore each morning to check for returning boats.

        Anything?" he asked the guards.

        No," they shook their heads, "still nothing."

        Jeez, what's taking them so long, Riptor I know takes her time but Radium never leaves for this long."

        You think something happened?"

        No, no," the silver raptor snorted twitching his tail, "Riptor would've been back at least, nothing can kill her!"

        But Sunscreech and Radium?"

        It'd have to be something real bad to keep them away too...how's the slavefish?"

        Still happy," one guard sniffed in their direction, "a few have birthed children so we made their home larger , lets them swim around with more family."

        Good good, the kids learning well?"

        Yes actually," they walked towards the tide pool now the size of a small lake, "surprisingly easy to teach, we had sticks bound to them so they learn to pull when they are older."

        Great, that's awesome good work!"

Watching the domesticated fish swim around in a blissful ignorance, they paddled with their children who were pulling sticks behind them on small vines wrapped round their bodies.  Sometimes they pulled at each other, splashing their tails as their older parents looked on with a wistful sadness.

        You sure they're alright?" he pointed his tail at the parents.  "They seem upset."

        Sometimes they mourn their loss of freedom," said a guard strolling up, "it passes eventually."

        They won't try to break out will they?"

        They never tried before."

        Hmmm...alright, if one of them does, don't kill it, trap it outside and lead it away from the others, I'll deal with it okay?"

        Yes Tesla."

As he turned to make his way back to the forest, he saw a familiar-looking dust-brown hatchling with teal-green markings heading down for the beach.

        Hey there, Earthfang right?"

        OH, y-yes, beta."

        Hey-ey, don't, we don't use titles here, it's just Tesla."

        I was just," she rocked on her heels to look past him, "I was waiting for father, is he home yet?"

        No, sorry."  He patted her head walking past.  "I been waiting on Riptor and the others too, soon as they're back I'll tell you."

        Thank you."  She walked beside him as they headed up to the forest.  "Was father alright when he left?"

        No worse than usual, you know him better than I do."

        I just worry about him."  Earthfang sighed watching her siblings run between the trees.  "It is hard looking after my family, I am already tired and I just woke up."

        I'm sorry...you want any help?"

        Would it be...alright?"

        Course it's alright come on."

Hiking up into the glade she barked for her siblings who barely responded, but with Tesla's snarl that almost caused the trees to sizzle with electric gloom they followed suit almost immediately.  Over the rest of the day, the adult helped Earthfang look after them, hunting for food as the children took on a small triceratops, with Tesla whipping his lightning tail to stun a herbivore and make it easier for them to kill.  With bellies full after stripping the young carcass, the three settled down enough for Earthfang to have some peace and quiet, laying herself out in the family den within the woods.

        Thank you for helping."

        It's fine," Tesla shrugged, "you're taking a lot on your shoulders for someone your age, you really shouldn't-"

        Someone has to," she sighed curling up in the grassy glade, "sometimes father is too tired, or sad and I have to do my best because my brothers and sister will not."

        But you're just a kid, you should be out enjoying yourself, learning to hunt and playing around with your siblings."

        Father is not here.  So I cannot."

Sighing at the look of her pained face, Tesla sat himself closer and gently nuzzled her side.

        Would it help if you...my mate and I, we could look after you, until your father gets back, I'm sure he won't mind-"

        O-oh, no that would be too much!" she shivered looking back.

        Not really, we're pretty good with our kids."

        Uncle Radium's family helps us too.  Sometimes I ask-"

        Well I'll let them know too, just to make it easier on you.  Come on, you can't keep this up, you're gonna run yourself down."

        Um...a-alright," she purred with a deeper sigh, "thank you, Tesla."

        I'll let you rest.  When you need anything you just come to me or let Radium's family know."

        I will."

She smiled with some relief and slept off the rest of the morn, the silver raptor slinking off back to his own family and telling his mate such.  Days passed and still no Riptor came, during which he helped Earthfang who along with her cousins in Radium's family, were almost sitting together in the same nest milling about, making friends and enemies in playful tussles and brief fights that escalated to which Tesla put a stop to with a cracking boom of his whip-like tail which, while never touched nor harmed them, was enough to frighten any of them.  Months would pass and the tension grew higher, the raptors becoming nervous with the ultraraptors moreso feeling lost and displaced.  Days of thunder rolled on by, nights of vicious storms that pelted the open plains with whistling screams and monstrous showers that flooded the veldt and drenched the forest.

        ANY LUCK ON THE MINING?" Tesla shouted.

        NOT REALLY," said one ultraraptor below, "THIS STUFF'S PRETTY HARD TO EXTRACT WITHOUT JUST BREAKING IT!"

        ALRIGHT, GRAB WHAT YOU CAN, STORM'S GETTING BAD YOU GET ON BACK HOME!"

The raptors in the shining rift started to leave, heading back up the slope that had been sculpted into the side of the canyon filled with clusters of hibonite that shone in a turquoise glint, a fozen ocean that had been pecked and carved and hollowed out in some places, the fruits of their labour showing on their bodies with daubs of thick hardened gem segmented to their armoured plates.  Most if not all the ultraraptors had fashioned additional covers that made their bodies glimmer with beauty, which whilst the velociraptor natives did not understand, a few were curious to have some trinkets given to them which their mates crafted and adorned them with.

The storm raged on as Tesla lead them through the forest nearby, motioning them to the best places where lightning never struck as he felt tremblings in the air, picking up a disturbance when ions reacted and struck a thunderous blow to a tree that now burned profusely.  Sometimes Tesla used his tail like a conducting rod, leading the lightning itself to strike somewhere else that was safer and away from other nests.

        How are we doing?!" he asked one of the guards.

        Two raptors are hurt, a tree fell on them but we got them out."

        No one died?"

        No, thankfully."

        Alright, keep me posted."

Heading back to the mountain cave in the centre of the isle, Tesla rejoined his family where he found Earthfang huddling in the dark with her siblings beneath the raging thunder.  The sky was burning, their nostrils alight with flames on the horizon as the roaring seethe of pelting rain hammered the mountain across its sides with raptors shivering in the dark.  His mate approached him with a necklace of hibonite resplendent upon her black charcoal scales.

        How're they doing?" he nuzzled licking her softly.

        Frightened but," she snuffled him back, "I managed to calm them.  They are cold, could you make some fire?"

        Sure, anyone need food?"

        No, we had enough from this morning."

He walked over to the centre of the cave where an old firepit remained, taking some pieces of flint and cracking sparks over the wood to send it alight with a soft flickering flame.  The sound of relief filled the room as the children relaxed, feeling the heat soothe their bodies and the light twinkle in their eyes, dozens of eyes all staring from around the room.  The shadows danced everywhere they looked, their bodies like ashen prints.

        Storm shouldn't last for long," said Tesla sitting by the flames, "most of the night but it'll be gone by morn."

        How do you know?" asked one of the natives.

        Just got the head for it," he tapped his skull, "my body feels the lightning, it pulls me towards it."

        Because yer tail can make skyfire?!" squeaked one of the kids.

        Yep, always been that way."

        Whyyyy?"

        Well..." he shuffled closer to the hatchlings, "I wasn't born from an egg, I was made by humans and grew up inside a glass cave."

        What're...hyoomuns?"

        They're like hairless mammals, all skinny and cover themselves in uhh, clothes which is stuff made from plants.  You know how we have those slavefish out there?  That's what the humans did to us, except they didn't treat us nicely.  They put poisons in our bodies and made us do things or else we'd starve."

        That sounds terrible," his mate muttered sitting beside him, "why did they...make you?"

        Riptor said it was so they could feel better about themselves," Tesla swished his steel tail, "I don't understand it myself, but it was like, they wanted something to rule over, feel superior to."

        What a wretched tribe they sound," hissed one father nearby, "that would be like birthing a child just to rule over them!"

        I had a mother like that," muttered said father's mate, "those sort of beasts are out there, not just these hairless that you speak of."

        Well," the ultraraptor shrugged stretching his feet, "I'm just glad I live here, honestly this is the best life I could have, beside all of you even though we had uh...bit of a rough start."

        What matters is our tribe is stronger," said his mate licking his cheek, "whatever you may be, you are a hunter like us, and you have gifted me with a family."

        Thanks...I just hope Riptor gets back soon with the others."

There was no sign of Riptor for the rest of the year.  Nor did Sulphide, Radium or Sunscreech return, not one single boat which in turn frightened Tesla with a creeping shiver through his body.  Taking a chance, he sent out two ultraraptors on two boats, both packed with food, water, a carrying sack and two regular raptors each for backup as they braved the seas once he was certain the monsoon season had ended.  Another two weeks passed before they returned, much to his overwhelming relief until he heard the news on that lonesome beach.

        Oh fuck I'm so glad you guys are back."

        Don't get too hopeful," said one blue-tinted raptor pulling the raft ashore, "we headed to the outpost and it was empty."

        Wh-what?!  Everyone was gone?!"

        Not a single soul," said a bronze raptor ushering the slavefish back in their pen, "well, there was one thing.  We found blood.  A lot of it at the entrance, we don't know whose but it was definitely one of ours."

        Oh...ffffuck," Tesla gripped his head pacing in a circle, "you sure they didn't just leave?"

        No one was around to ask, we didn't dare approach the natives.  The fires all died out too, so they must have gone for a long while."

        She wouldn't just leave without telling us.  Radium definitely wouldn't...there wasn't any message, anything at all?!"

        Well, I don't know about a message but there was this thing."

From his reptile-skin satchel, the bronze ultraraptor produced a flat stone with symbols carved upon it.  To a human this looked to be vague scratches, but to Tesla his eyes widened with a growing shock as he stared upon the tablet.

        This...th-this is...oh shit."

        What, what is it?!"

        This...when we were in the...back in the labs, me and Radium set up a little thing between us, to tell each other stuff cuz we were in the same room but in different tanks."

        Like your own language?"

        N-no, more like a code, just basic things, like this one here means Wait, and this one means Run."

        Soooo, what does it say?" asked the blue raptor.

        It...it says...Ran, With Prey.  She...Plans, Freedom."

        She?" he cocked his head.  "You mean, Riptor?"

        Must be," Tesla shuddered, "but then it says...Wait.  We, Safe.  Gone...But Return New Moon."

        So...they left us?"

        N-no...they're coming back.  She's coming back.  To free us like she did from the labs."

        Free us from what?"

        ...humans."  He looked up with a gentle fear.  "Humans are coming.  And Riptor's planning to stop them."