OUTCASTS

The world of light returned slowly, swimming before his eyes. He was dimly aware of being lifted, as a cascade of lighter debris fell away from his body. He braced for pain, but none overtook him. Instead, there was a roaring in his ears, and a swift and torturous thirst. Water was pressed to his muzzle, and washed over his face and eyes. He tried to rise, but pressure from unseen paws held him down. He felt the draft of cool air as those same paws stripped away his venerable old armor.

He was made aware of another form laying beside him by the gentle touch of thought upon his mind. His head could not move, but that never barred telepathy. The energy of the thought trickled slowly across his mind, helping to clear his head in the same way that a light rain clears the air.

The next time, I'll remember to duck. Rashid's sense of humor had survived, and in the midst of catastrophe, Shomron smiled.

Aurora.

The send of her own name made the female Skiltaire start. It broke off her send-search, and made her swoon out loud! Shalimar and Shamir turned urgently toward her, each fearing the worst. One look at the iridescent joy that shone from Aurora's sparkling eyes banished their momentary dread.

"VLADIMIR!!" She chirped out loud, answering the send with both thought and spoken happiness!

Shamir and Shalimar shared a smile of both happiness and relief!

Aurora translated the send into words as she received it, sparing her friends any further fear. "He is all right. Underground headquarters shaken but not damaged." She relayed. Shalimar saw another smile cross his son's muzzle. "Nexis area leveled above ground." She went on, "Nexis tunnel network destroyed, but most underground entrances buried or blocked by debris and not detectable. Evacuation of effected tunnels underway." Aurora told them. But then, the pair of cats saw her expression change. For a moment, in spite of personal joy, she became quiet and sober.

"Shomron was trapped by the cave in. He and the others were rescued. He's not badly hurt, but for now, My Vlad is in command of the resistance." Aurora paused. She sank to all fours, suddenly looking drained and fearful.

Shalimar and Shamir closed ranks around her. "What's wrong, little one? That's wonderful news."

"Vlad reports heavy traffic in armored vehicles and troops, moving into all key points of the Nexis and the city." She told them. "He also sends that military command frequencies are broadcasting an order for them to seek out suspected resistance members. With orders for their summary execution."

The world stopped shaking and was filled with a dread stillness. Shantal's first thought was of Shari. The elder vixen looked up and over, and saw her mate fetal in the middle of the rubble strewn floor.

It's all right, lover. I'm here. Shantal thought at Shari as the younger fox reached out to clasp her in a grip born of fear.

Their tender and reasuring embrace was interupted by a low moan.

Not far distant, the shopkeeper lay on the floor at an odd angle, with the former stepladder broken sharply across his body.

He must have fallen off the ladder. His head is bleeding. Shari exclaimed.

Help me get that ladder off of him. Shantal said

The smaller of the pair nodded, and the splintered ladder was cast aside. Shantal returned to kneel over the body.

Look around on the floor. Shantal said after touching the injured canine brow gently. Find me a blanket. He's going into shock.

Can you heal his head wound, Dollfox? Shari asked.

I could, but what's under the skin is something else. He needs more than I can do. We need a doctor.

There's one in the next street. Shari answered.

Shantal nodded as she covered the fallen canine and finished her basic first aid. If there is still a next street. She said grimly. Go fetch him. Now.

Shomron was conscious as his litter and four or five others was carried from the confines of the tunnel into a large, well lit room. He noticed that one of them carried the white armored form of the guard from the warehouse.

"Well look who's here. Our Leader! Come down to visit the working class?" The voice bore a tone of playful sarcasm that Shomron recognized at once. "Shazi!" he called out, trying to sit up.

"Ahnonono!" the otter said, pushing him back, and plunging the probe of a thermometer into the cheetah's muzzle to keep him down. At the same time, a webbed forepaw reached out, taking his pulse.

A muzzle full of probe didn't prevent Shomron from sending How is everyone? He thought urgently at the doctor.

"All of you made it, but don't ask me how. Do me a favour. Next time you destroy the center of a major city, let the medical staff know ahead of time. That way, we can charge more for reservations! The medi-otter smiled slightly, and set the cheetah paw down again.

What about her? Shomron indicated the white armored figure with a nod of his head.

"Not good. But she might pull through. Is she important?" Shazi asked as he finally removed the probe, read it, and tossed it away.

"I was going to leave her, but you know how I feel about overkill. And how often do you find a member of the Pretorian Guard posted to an Internal Security warehouse?"

Shazi's eyes glinted. "Don't ask me." He fraigned, "I'm just a healer from down river."

"Yea." Shomron shot back "And my grandmother was a tabby."

Lollo and Krista dodged as they rounded the corner. This corridor was normally swarming with goons. Krista gasped as she saw the corridor empty, and the armored blast door at the other end wide open!

"Let's Go! Lollo said, and the pair of wolverines raced down the passageway and thru the door. As they rounded the blast door, Lollo could feel heat against his fur. He lead Krista away from it, down a second hallway, this one framed with glowing emergency lighting. He had been in this building before and walked out on his own, a boast fewer and fewer could make these days. He glanced up and saw wisps of smoke issuing from the seams in the false ceiling. Krista sidestepped and pulled down the fire suppression handle on the wall. There was a roaring sound, and from that same ceiling space came a light blue cloud of gas. The smoke vanished, but Lollo could still feel heat radiating from the other thin walls around the room. He led Krista thru and out of the room, until the pair stood in a corridor with two large swinging doors at the opposite end, with lights showing thru the space between them. They didn't hesitate. This was their way out, even if it was a trap. They ran straight at the door, together, and their two bodies impacting the door with an explosive force!

The door flew open, and the pair stood on the street.

"Deserted. Come on, Darling. This way!" Lollo called to his mate. She followed, without looking back.

Lollo needed no science to tell him that he had been right. The explosion had been some distance away, but most of the buildings he saw showed blast damage. The street was strewn with bits of glass and debris from the lighter buildings brought down by the blast. Lollo knew they could never find a passageway beneath all the debris. They would have to chance trying one of the meeting places for scattered or lost resistance members. As the powerful wolverine pair ran thru the streets, dodging debris, Lollo sent ahead of them, hoping to touch anyone who might need help, or be able to help them. He did some mental gymnastics, remembering the nearest point that might be unaffected by the blast.

They raced beyond the bounds of the Nexis, finding only blackened char along the boundaries of what had been the city center less than two hours before. Outside the Nexis, miles from where they had been, the wolverine couple paused to rest and try to think. As they huddled together in the blackened hulk of a shuttle car, Lollo noticed Krista trembling.

"Oh, Darling." Krista said "It's so awful. When I think of the others who might have been-

"It's all right love. Don't. There's nothing to do now but find the others." Lollo told her with a hug.

"You think many survived?" Krista asked directly.

"Yes. But finding them in this mayhem may be hard. I haven't felt anyone yet."

"I know." Krista confessed. "I've been trying since we got out. No one and nothing." Krista went on, her voice filling with dread.

"There's one more meeting point." Lollo told Krista. "It isn't used much anymore, but its still on the list."

"Where?"

Lollo led Krista from their hiding place. He pointed far off, to a cluster of lights on the peak above the city.

"Up There. Lollo told her. "In case something happens to me--"

"Oh Darling. Don't say such things!" Krista interjected.

"If the worst happens, head for the observatory." Krista nodded, and they raced on thru the darkness as fast as they could.

"What now, Father?" Shamir asked.

"Go out to the balcony and watch the road coming up the peak." Shalimar told him.

"You think we may have unwelcomed guests?"

"Perhaps. Best to be on our guard. I'll stay with Aurora, for now."

Shamir nodded and sprang for the balcony outside the dome. As soon as he was gone, Shalimar turned to Aurora. "Don't be too concerned. Those Simian knotheads couldn't find sand at the seashore."

Aurora smiled, sitting up again.

"Tell Shomron when you touch him that this place may no longer be safe."

Aurora's concerned look was enough.

"I've never been a great supporter of the Millitary. And they like me even less." Shalimar explained. "I fear that I may have visitors from Internal Security before to long, and this time, they won't be as pleasant as before. If those cretins do show up, there is no sense anyone else being scooped up too."

Aurora sighed, and began sending.

Shamir concentrated, focusing his considerable mental energy into his extra senses. They swept outward and down from the balcony, sweeping the only route up the mountain with a shield formed of his mind. He could sense insects on the ground and sagebirds in their nests, re-settling after the light and noise of the blast. Nothing out of place, as far down the mountain as he could feel. He continued his sweeps, his concentration deepening along with the night.

Lollo took the lead by a full length as he and Krista joined in a rolling run toward the edge of the city. Beyond the Nexis, the black, skeletal world of charred remains began to yield here and there to recognizable buildings, even if only half of them remained standing. Krista and her mate were brought up short, just inside the city by a flood of distant light and another low rumble. Krista stopped and grabbed Lollo with all of her considerable strength! Lollo scooped her up bodily, and the pair rolled into a ruined section of drainage pipe.

Relax Darling. Lollo sent as the two of them lay dead still wrapped around one another.

Was it another--?

No. Lollo interrupted. This time, its tracs!

Beyond the safety of the pipe, the world of noise and vibration seemed to grow, seemingly until the pipe that hid them threatened to fly apart. Lollo could hear the telltale hum and feel the standing wave that came with the movement of the heavy armored vehicles. He chanced a look out of the near end of the bucking pipe, and saw an ominous black shape bearing down on them! He drew in a breath and hoped hard, because it was all he could do. The black wedge shape formed veered to the right,sharply away from the roadside ditch. As It swept beside them, the sounds of tracks were replaced by another sound Lollo had heard too often. Heavy steps from tens, and then hundreds of marching boots!!

He ducked back into the pipe quickly, one part of his mind counting, while the other part sent frantically!

Deep within the underground bunker, Vladimir's body was still, but his mind active. The Skiltaire touched tens of minds, each in turn for a brief moment, directing their activity and checking to be sure they were well.

There had been blissfully few in the Nexis or below it, so early in the new day. Search teams had managed to free all but a few of those trapped below ground. Casualties had been light, and the resistance demonstrated the wonderful responsiveness and flexibility that Shomron had built into the organization. Vladimir delegated the rescue effort to two of his aids as new reports began to touch his mind.

A margay with a jeweled collar ducked into the small tunnel room, and handed the Skiltaire a small map. Vladimir smiled. Glad to see you escaped, Dasher.

The margay nodded. After the explosion the Simians were too busy running to miss a set of keys. Dasher explained The margay saluted and returned to his console.

Vladimir read the symbols and the dark news they brought. He cleared his mind at once, and sent a beacon like signal to everyone within his range.

All points. This is Torch. Report on all Military movements within your sectors at once. Armored columns have entered the City. Repeat. The City is now Occupied. Implement plan six at once. All sectors, plan six.

Laying in the Hospital, Shomron felt the send clearly. He cursed, and tried to rise. There was a shout, and four sets of paws held him down.

"You tear out those sensors, and I'll sedate you, I swear I will. Alert or no, I command in this room." Shazi shouted at Shomron. With a reluctant growl, Shomron let himself be pushed down again.

On the balcony of the observatory, Shamir had noticed the familiar snake like precessions of lights flowing into the city. When he felt Vladimir's send, it came as no surprise. Yet he dared not quit this post, for his presence here had been part of that same plan. His Father's cooperation was an unplanned bonus.

Lollo and Krista huddled closer in the broken section of pipe as the sound of marching pairs of feet seemed to go on forever. Lollo was still counting, now more than two hundred and fifty had passed by on the littered roadway. Lollo noticed by the noises that they had brought commissary trains and supply carts so heavily loaded that they had to be pushed as well as pulled. Where ever the garrison force was from, it was not local. The moving mass of bodies and equipment stirred up a heavy wind, and on it, Lollo could scent Simian and fur-bearing bodies of many species.

Probably impressed into service, Lollo thought to himself. That was the way Simians did things. He knew that the desertion rate among fur-bearers was high, and had gone up when the State began rule by decree. So he knew that at least part of the garrison might be persuaded to take an extended leave at the right moment. He sent all he could sense, knowing that there was no replacement for intelligence gathered in this way

Even Krista's lithe and athletic body was painfully cramped an hour later, after the tail of the column had vanished from sight. Lollo was sore, but satisfied. A purely chance encounter had lead to an unbelievable stoke of luck. As the two of them crawled from the broken pipe, and paused to risk a stretch, he hoped it would hold long enough to get them both back alive. He smiled bravely at Krista, and turned her around to massage her neck for a moment. Lollo felt Krista's tension lessen but not abate.

"Ready Darling?" He asked in a whisper.

"Yes, Dear, Let's go." Krista replied.

Both of them ran quickly, using the rolling gait of their species to fluid advantage. Their journey took them away from the column of occupation troops, so as they ran farther and faster, Lollo's worry eased. The ground beyond the area of the blast was unscared, and it was a pleasure to see patches of plants and flowers once more. That same ground became steeper as the cluster of lights on the peak drew nearer. At length, Lollo had forgotten how far the pair had run and almost forgotten why. The loping run thru the night was the kind of exercise he relished, and Krista was better than most at cross country running. He was beginning to enjoy it so that he almost did not notice their change in elevation, along with distance. Eventually, they drew to a stop, because the lights that had been their guides were gone, hidden at the top of the small mountain peak which stood before them.

The pair stopped where the ground before them took on a rise too steep for even long claws and thick legs. Here, at the base of the mountain peak, there was a trail worn into the ground, but its beginnings had been won back by nature after many years of almost no passage. Every step would now be a challenging act of labor and a test of their stamina.

"Should I lead, Love?" Asked Lollo quietly.

He was he larger of the two, and Krista knew that if she flagged, Lollo might easily carry her up the trail. But Krista was wolverine too. Her proud spirit and strong body would not falter before a challenge. She stepped ahead of Lollo, and climbed up the steep slope as fast as she could! Lollo was directly behind her, and dodged a shower of dirt that cascaded downward, back down along the trail.

Race you! she sent down to the male.

Lollo growled with delight, his own personality never one to refuse a physical challenge! He set himself, and then sprang up the trail, pouring his own formidable strength into the climb!

Shalimar returned to his watch over Aurora. The female Skiltaire had been very quiet and still, a mirror of how busy her mind had become. "I'm going to see what I can see thru the telescope's array." Shalimar said simply. Aurora nodded, not uttering a word, indicating with her silence the sheer volume of energy that she was channeling thru her telepathic mind.

Shalimar sprang to the observation platform, and with a wave of his paw, depressed the huge man array of the telescope. Soon the vast mirrors were focused on the Nexis, and the outlying city below.

The images that poured thru the viewing globe in the interface were as stark as the distant stars had been beautiful. Now the ugliness of the ruined Nexis was compounded by a sight the scientist found even more repugnant and chilling. He might have counted Simian armored boots instead of flair from new novae. His paw moved again, rotating the dome, and the telescope off of the terrible scene.

The night wind had gone cool again. It played softly in Shamir's mane as he swept the mountainside once more. This time, as his mental probe rolled over the slope, it touched something that had not been there a moment ago. Or two somethings, both on the trail that reached up the mountain. Altitude and the terrain gave Shamir the advantage. If he intruders were gifted, they could not sense him yet. If they were non telepaths, the young and powerful predator had a double advantage. But as much as instinct told him to strike while he could, his mind held him. His post was to give alert. If he fell into a trap, or a fight he could not win at once, others might surprise the observatory.

Father, There are two on the uphill trail. No sign of anyone else, but we are no longer alone. Shamir thought to his father.

Shalimar had expected "Guests", but in far greater numbers and later on. Let them come as far as the outer gate. Shalimar sent back. Aurora. He thought in turn, We may have to leave rather suddenly Shalimar warned mentally.

Shalimar himself made no defensive strategy. He had long ago figured out that in his position, the best defense might be no offense. Even Internal Security had learned not to overstep certain bounds. He was officially, at least still a member of the Council. That gave him a lot of power over lower level functionaries and unctuous lackeys. This was usually enough, or had been until recently. Now, the only thing to do was wait, and hope that quick thinking and superior intelligence could rescue them, if it came to that.

Krista and Lollo raced abreast up the last few yards of the trail. Their progress was halted by a high fence. Beside the only obvious entrance in the dark barrier, Lollo could see a picket line of metal poles. Each of them held a motion and an acoustic sensor. He made no attempt to avoid or evade them, because he knew they had already detected both of them. He drew Krista up beside him, both standing in plain sight in front of the fence as they waited.

Who are you? the telepathic send was short, and as sharp as any blade.

The wolverine couple brightened, recognizing the mind behind the challenge. Lollo was glad.

Shamir! It's Lollo and Krista! the male Mustelid sent on a wave of relief.

Who is legal council to our movement? Shamir asked, counter-checking their claim of identity.

Vladimir, the Skiltaire, mate of Aurora Krista sent in sure and swift reply.

After a moment, there was a gentle whine as part of the fence unlocked in front of them.

Come up, quickly, and be certain no one follows! Shamir sent, gladness now filling his thoughts.

Lollo ushered Krista thru the entrance gap in the fence, and closed it behind her. He turned, looking and sensing out along the downslope of the peak, just as he knew Shamir was doing far above. The wolverine's gift was finer than the cats, and the Mustelid could have spent a night of sport, counting the insects that brought the peak to life at nite. Beyond the tiny swarms above and below the tilted ground, no other being, fur-bearing or Simian was within two hundred of the wolverine's body lengths. Only then did Lollo step slowly backward thru the gate.

The energy field of the fence re-energized, as Lollo and Krista made a dead run for the now open door of the observatory. A door overflowing with a large, and smiling white lion!

He tried to back out of the crowded doorway, but not before a pair of stout musteline missiles launched themselves at him! Lollo and Krista sailed thru the open door, one high, and one low, pouncing on him in an almost feline way. Shamir's huge but lean body took their shared impact with no effect, save the lion dropped easily onto his belly, so that his forepaws could engulf both wolverines in a mutual hug!

The door closed automatically, sealing the thick walls before anyone said or sent anything. The lower rotunda dissolved into happy confusion as every one spoke and sent at once!

"I'm so glad--"

"I thought you were--"

"We thought you might--"

The trio looked at each other, and fell into silence, looking at one another with bright and happy eyes that needed no word or thought.

"Now there's a sight to bring youth back to an old Cat's heart!" a rich voice said from above.

The pair of wolverines looked up and around, slightly startled. Shamir rose to his paws once more, sweeping Lollo and Krista onto his broad back!

"Whoa!" Interjected Lollo "Quite a view. Hope I don't get altitude sickness!"

Krista smiled in genuine contentment as Shamir turned fluidity toward the voice, walking the pair of wolverines across the rotunda in triumph. He stopped on the other side, and three smiling muzzles looked up at Shalimar.

Lollo's eyes flashed immediate recognition, mingled with an equal amount of suspicion. His neck fur rose slightly.

Krista knew the posture. "Now Dear." If he's here, he must be a friend." Krista told her mate gently.

"More than a friend." Shamir told them both from below. "Father." he continued, "I want you to meet Krista and Lollo, two of the best spies in the movement, and my best friends."

"My land! Interjected Krista as the elder cat sprang from the observation platform to the rotunda floor opposite his second son, "A Lion bigger than Shamir!"

Shalimar reached out with his muzzle and gave the female wolverine a gentle nuzzle in return for her complement.

Krista cooed softly, and her paws disappeared into an avalanche of snow white mane! "And such a gentle one, at that!" Krista added dreamily.

"Bigger and more famous, or should that be infamous?" Questioned Lollo, his suspicion slow to abate.

The male wolverine staggered as the head and shoulders on which he stood suddenly dipped in protest!

"Now, now, Son." Shalimar chided as Lollo picked himself up from Shamir's back. "He's entitled to his opinion. Remember, I have sort of earned it." Shalimar added.

"But things are different now, aren't they Father? Shamir asked.

"More than you know, I fear." Shalimar answered the pro forma question with a hint of foreboding in his voice.

"Well." Answered Lollo in turn, "That's the second thing you've said I can agree with."

"Darling!" Krista interjected. "Did you loose your manners somewhere behind us?"

"Perfectly all right." Shalimar told Krista without rancor. "A good suspicious mind may keep us all alive."

"Truce?" asked Shalimar gently, looking openly at Lollo.

"What the heck!" replied the male wolverine. "We need all the brains we can get, if we're going to get thru this. Truce, Khai Shalimar." The Mustelid said plainly.

"My goodness. Another one!" Shalimar interjected, smiling broadly. "My past is catching up to me. About bloody time, too." he added gently. "Say, There's someone else here who ought to be glad to see you both, although she's a bit occupied at the moment."

"So is the City." Lollo observed stoically. Shalimar pretended not to see the sharp but playfully shove Krista gave her mate, sending him sprawling to Shamir's back once more!

Shomron could only lay on his tail and fret. He watched with some interest as Shazi and a ring of nurses, both male and female, formed around the litter where the white armored figure lay. They began to strip her of her issue armor, and Shomron could just catch sights of a familiar pattern on her lower leg!

She was a cheetah!!

Shomron felt his heart beat a bit quicker as he now tried to look over at her. Her head and muzzle were still covered by the partly scorched remains of her helmet. Shomron also felt his pang of regret deepen. Instantly, he crushed it out.

No way of knowing. He told himself. He did what he had to do for the mission.

The mission. That also replayed over and over in the back of his mind. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not this way. Intelligence had told the raiding party that there was five hundred tallents of the new moldable explosive in the warehouse. More than enough to destroy the building and its stores, but not one tenth enough to flatten the entire center of the city. No one on the second team had sent or seen anything beyond what they expected to find. The question ate at him as he lay there, now distracted only a bit by his interest in the cheetah officer. What was it that turned a textbook operation into a disaster of unparalleled magnitude?

His leadership and his moral ethic gnawed at him as he lay there. Resistance members never harmed civilians, or even the Simians beyond a certain point. In three years, resistance ops had killed less than two dozen of them, and only a half dozen innocents had been even slightly hurt. The movement had gained solid support from the fur bearers, gifted and not, and had even begun to change some Simian minds. They would have nothing to gain by indiscriminate death and destruction. But who would remember that after tonite?

The possible answers were as troubling as the questions. Traitors within the movement? No. With so many of the Gifted Citizens in the Movement, it had never taken the telepaths long to root out the few moles that the High Council had tried to plant among them.

Faulty intelligence? Not likely. The movement had gained such solid support from the population that intelligence was able to check and verify every item three times before it was reported to command. The Movement's intelligence web had never failed him, not in three dirty years. If it had one flaw, it was that at times, he had too much information.

As Shomron turned the whole thing over in his mind, it became clearer to him that the answer that remained was the improbable, but sole remaining truth. But proving it to the membership and the populace as a whole was a near impossible task.

So what? He told himself. We have three years of impossible behind us. This one might just be a bit more impossible than average!

He saw the observatory outlined from a distance by its dome lights. Knowing better than to use the trail to get uphill had allowed him to get close enough to scent the nite blooming jasmine that had been planted years before in the observatories residence garden. The sweet smell has made the arduous climb up the reverse slope of the peak worthwhile. This was the only spot in the parameter that was unguarded by sensors, because a single misstep would send anyone who didn't know the path off the edge of the peak. He had hoped to come in by the front door, but the last hour had changed his plans, along with many others. He couldn't be sure anymore, and didn't want any lengthy chats with anyone just now.

The fence was still there, energized, and still closed. Good.

Even in the depth of the blackness, his paws knew this ground. He took four steps up, and two to the left. Here, the ground under his paws changed. Here, the rock had been worn smooth by countless hours of leaps and landings. This was the only spot he could do this from, and only he knew where it was, because he had made it. The fence was formidable to anyone but him. He owed that old fence a great deal. As he tensed, Sprang, and sailed over it by nearly a whole body length, he thanked it for making him strong and subtle, and among the best and strongest cats on Kal'i'tai.

He looped in midair without thinking, his reflexes and memory still working without being called upon. His touchdown was as light as the nite breeze. He stood still for a moment, remembering. Then he looked up, gauging the distance to the bottom of the opening in the dome. He smiled as his right foreleg gave a sympathetic twinge. He had broken his thin limb jumping down from there as a cub. Now he glanced down at that same limb. Today, with its help, he could go thru the dome if it was his will.

Instead, he tensed to spring upward again. There was no telling who or what he might find inside, so he sprang with claws barred, ready to strike at anything if needs must, the instant after he landed. He lofted upward and outward a bit, easily missing the balcony that overlooked the city below. Years of practice stood by him as he landed and balanced on the space taken by just the pads of his fore and hind paws. He looked down, totally unnoticed by those in rotunda. He saw a familiar figure below the observation platform, his back turned. There he stood for a cautious moment, watching and listening intently.

"--get organized. If those goons from Internal Security show up, what do we do?" He was a male wolverine, and a large one. A big, tough opponent if it came to that, even for a trained warrior.

"Never fear."a familiar voice said. "I can intimidate most of them, and the rest, I can out think."

From his perch high above, the gargantuan cat felt himself tremble. He had not heard that voice in three long years!

"Yes." Replied the smaller of the two wolverines "But what happens if they send the army?"

Aurora hit a pause in the overwhelming flow of sends. Freed of the near overload, her superb psionic senses pinged at once She disobeyed her training and looked almost strength up, near the apex of the slit in the dome. The sight she saw drove her tired brain into near catonia!

He was the half again the size of Shalimar,and just as pure white. His figure made no less imposing by the battle harness and collar he wore. It's black colour swept along the shape of his feline body. Even standing dead still the tremendous cat seemed to flow with an inner strength that showed in his bearing. The cat shifted gaze and looked down on her in that same instant. There was that fraction of an instant where their eyes met. In that fraction, they could have attacked one another, but there was something in those gentle eyes that said "Friend"

He saw her head turn. Skiltaire made magnificent sentries, and even better friends. He knew that in a moment, his hiding place would be compromised.

"Well, seeing as the army is here, perhaps I can deal with them!" He spoke out loud and from that height, his steady voice boomed thru the dome and into the rotunda!

Lollo and Krista lurched as Shamir's head snapped around fast.

Aurora watched in amazement as the mysterious cat jumped from his perch, and without landing on the observation platform, sprang from it to the floor of the rotunda, exactly into the middle of the circle of friends.

Lollo and Krista growled.

Shamir sucked in a disbelieving breath.

Aurora finished the chirp that had begun as a warning, and finished as a sound of admiration.

The intruder stood absolutely motionless before Shalimar. He bowed. Shalimar's jaw went slack.

"Father." said the collared White Lion, "Your eldest son is home."

Shalimar stepped forward, nuzzled his first born, and both broke down and wept with happiness!

Lollo looked over into Shalimar's happy eyes. "What did you do?" He asked "Get the State monopoly on big sons?" Lollo finished with a smile.

"Just these two." Shalimar replied, his head spinning a bit. "They're all I need." The proud father answered.

"And you were worried about the Army? With these two, the Army should worry about YOU." Lollo observed.

The newly arrived cat broke the gentle embrace with his father, and turned fluidly to face the group. He set cobalt blue eyes on Lollo.

"I don't know you, but I like you!" he rejoindered with a wink.

Lollo smiled. Wolverines did not impress easily. But this lion was both wider and taller than Shalimar, who until a moment before had been the biggest cat Lollo could imagine. Now, even tho the was standing on Shamir's thick shoulders, the new white lion was the biggest anything Lollo had ever seen! For a moment, as Lollo's eyes took in all that cat, the wolverine thought back to the trac that had nearly flattened him in the ditch. With this cat on their side, Lollo felt sorry for the Simian armored force!

"Oh my! I've forgotten the amenities. Rokar, meet Lollo and Krista. My assistants. And of course, you know the one they're standing on." Shalimar said with a mischievous smile.

"Indeed." Rokar answered, looking Shamir up and down with admiration. "Hello, Little Brother. I see you've grow--"

Rokar's observation was cut off, and Lollo and Krista Lurched again, as Shamir sat up on his hind legs and tried to hug the breath from his brother!

"Grown not only larger, but stronger." Rokar wheezed, trying to restore his wind! "Better and better." He went on, drawing a deep breath. You may well need it before long." Rokar added cryptically.

"And who's the pretty Skiltaire, so distant from this happy scene? Rokar asked.

Even from a distance, Shamir could see the sparks leap between Aurora's antennae as she looked at him with a sidelong glance.

"That's Aurora." She's a Lyceum graduate. studying astronomy."

At the moment, she's also studying someone else! Shamir sent to Lollo.

The wolverine had to fight to keep himself from falling over again, this time with laughter!

"Aurora!" Shalimar called "If you can spare a moment, come meet my son."

There was a fast moving swish of colourful fur across the rotunda! Shamir could have sworn there was a vacuum behind it!

Rokar bowed gracefully. "So pleased to let you have a close look, Aurora! I hope I meet with your approval."

Aurora's eyes shimmered. She sat back on her hind paws. Their eyes were exactly one shade apart, and his were as gentle as they were penetrating. A peaceful strength rushed from them like a waterfall, and swept Aurora away in a rush of sensations and emotions. Her heart skipped two beats, and her spine became as rubbery as the paws that now swayed beneath her!

"Doctor Shalimar--Might I have a drink--of water?" she stammered weakly.

"Allow me." Rokar said smoothly. There was a small basin on the wall of the ante room across the rotunda. The ladle next to it rose and floated beneath the tap, which turned without physical effort. It was a demonstration of fine telekinetic skills of the first order, not wasted on anyone in the wide room. The ladle full of water then drifted toward the group, stopping before Aurora as it hovered in mid air. Aurora started to take hold of it.

"No, no. You just drink. Rokar said casually. I will hold."

The gesture was one of many complements that gifted citizens could share. Shalimar knew that it was no small courtesy as the ladle drifted back to the peg where it belonged.

"Careful, Rokar." Lollo said. "Putting water on some fire will only spread it!"

Krista gave her mate a sharp elbow to his ribs as Aurora blushed!

In spite of his happiness, Shalimar turned sober a moment later. "What brought you home, Rokar?" His Father inquired, knowing well that the Simian military never allowed gifted officers complete freedom of movement without orders.

"My command has been ordered to investigate the explosion, Father."

"What has military counter-intelligence to do with domestic disasters?" Shalimar asked pointedly.

Rokar hesitated, both by training and inclination.

"Never fear, My son. I would trust all here with my life and more. Speak freely."

"When I came in." Rokar began "Lollo said the army might worry about us?"

"Yes. So? Merely a jest." Shalimar replied.

"In humor, there is truth, my Father." Rokar said darkly.

Around the half circle of friends, all jocularity instantly vanished.

"Are you here officially, or as my Son?" Shalimar asked directly.

"In all ways and forever, I am your son first." Rokar answered, braking the tension that had suddenly swelled to fill the room. "I came home to warn you and others with the gift." He continued, resolution mixing with hurt and regret as he spoke. "You have seen the troops entering the city?"

"Yes."

"Ignore what the sentinels announce. Forget any whispers you may have heard. I can tell you what our orders really are." Rokar's voice dropped as he spoke, not out of any want or need of secrecy, but out of a weight of shame and hurt.

"There is more to this than crushing the resistance, isn't there? Aurora spoke up, her attitude urgent.

"Yes. Much more." Rokar's head hung low. "For generations, we've been their inventors, their builders, even their warriors. Damn them."

Shamir saw his father's eyes darken with a dread he had seen earlier.

"Father, seal this place." Rokar asked.

Shalimar did not hesitate. His son's tone was enough to make the request an urgent one.

"Aurora. help me will you?" Shalimar asked.

She nodded, and sprang easily for the staircase up to the observation platform. She raced up, jumping three stairs at a time, with Shalimar at her heels.

"You don't have to be ashamed." Shamir told his brother. "I've learned a lot about that tonite."

Rokar looked around, at the group, and then upward as the telescope array was folding itself back into the dome. As the dome and the observatory sealed tightly, Rocar looked to the group once more "Tell me one thing." Rokar asked. "Is anyone here in the Resistance?"

His question meet a moment of studied silence.

"I swear to you as Shalimar's first born, anything I hear in this room stays here when I leave. Please, I must know."

"Yes." The voice that broke the unnatural quiet was a surprising one.

"Thank you, my lovely Aurora." Rokar bowed to her once more. Then the Skiltaire lady saw the faces of her friends.

"The time has come for trust." Aurora said. "And no one here has more at stake in that trust than I. If I am willing to trust Rokar, so ought you all." she told the group. "Mistrust amongst us now would only aid them. So our best weapons are trust and truth." She added.

Rokar looked around the group again. The silence remained, but the looks spoke volumes.

"All of you?"

Shamir nodded.

"Even the old one." Shalimar added. "Tho I'm something of a recent convert." he added ruefully.

Rokar smiled, but it died quickly beneath the weight of his thoughts.

"No news could make me glader,or dread more what I now tell you." Rokar told them.

He paused looking up at the sealed dome, as if to be sure.

"Never Fear, My Son. Your father has long since cleansed this place." He re-assured him.

"It is well." Rokar said at last. "What I say now, I say as both a free Citizen and a warrior, whose code will not allow attacks upon the weak." He began. "Send what I tell you to the highest levels of the Resistance leadership. Many lives can be spared, on both sides." he added.

Aurora nodded, and opened her natural link to her mate.

"The Army of K'al'i'tai is moving under sealed orders from Tribune Korar, the commandant, who is now in sole command of the Military and the State." Rokar began.

"What about the High Council?" Shalimar questioned.

"All but Shan Li are dead. Killed in the explosion. He is alive but his brain was smashed. He'll never be anymore now than a puppet. He is in a Military Hospital. No one except Tribune Korar and one Doctor are allowed to see what is left of him."

"This is worst of all." Shalimar said gravely. "Can he speak?"

Yes, Father. But only words that are told to him."

"A true and terrible puppet then." Aurora said.

"Yes." Rokar confirmed.

"The Army's true orders are not only to find and crush the Resistance." Rokar went on.

"Yes, That we knew of. Go on." Aurora said.

"The Military intends to blame the explosion on the Resistance, as an attempt to mount a revolution which failed. They will then expand their circle of lies as an excuse to begin." Rokar's voice wavered. His next thought was so terrible he could barely speak it.

"To begin jailing and killing all Gifted Citizens?" Lollo said flatly.

Rokar's reply was a distant, ice cold "Yes."

"I knew it would come to this. Especially after the identa-chips." Lollo growled. "When the time comes, they'll know were to find every one of their "Happy Gifted Citizens" Lollo's voice was thick with scorn. "Well, let them come for me, if they think they can. I'll make more than a few of them "happy" before I go!"

"That is precisely why their plans are secret. Don't you see? Shamir interjected, "If this became known, they would have a real revolution."

"Yes." agreed Shalimar. "And remember that Gifted Fur-bearers control most of the science and technology. The dirty, ungrateful Simians still need us to make this planet work, for a while, anyway. That's why they can't just kill us outright."

Rokar nodded. "There is more."

"Somehow I thought there would be." Lollo answered.

"The Military plans to offer Gifted Citizens a choice. Impresed service or death."

"Is there indeed any difference?" Aurora answered. "They would force us to turn upon one another. Fur bearers would do their killing for them, be killed,or die. One way or another the Simians will be rid of us."

"But what of the Army, My Son?" Shalimar asked. The best and brightest of their officers, including you. Surely they cannot mean to do away with you, too? They would need you to."

"To direct the slaughter of the innocents, and then be slaughter ourselves." Rokar continued. "We in the Military have no delusions. After we were no longer needed, we would be next. That is why I have come."

"What would be so wrong with a revolution?" asked Shamir. "With some of the military's best, and most of the Fur-Bearing populace. Some of the Simians want the old Republic restored.

Rokar shook his head. "It has been considered. Remember that we are at best one-tenth of the population, and only one-fifth of the Army." The Simians have three legions that are larger than any force we could hope to gather."

"Rokar is right." Shalimar interjected. Over the last three years, the military has had unlimited resources. Their build up has been mostly a State Secret, but I have seen some of the costs. Even fifty thousand brave hearts with light weapons won't stop their armor. The slaughter would only be quicker and bloodier." Shalimar added sadly.

"Revolution is the answer." Said Aurora, "But force of arms is no solution."

"Time and work must be our weapons now. We already have one more, forewarning." Shalimar said.

"All Right." Replied Shamir, his youthful voice straining with frustration. "If we can't fight, what do we do, line up for them with blindfolds on?"

"Have you so quickly forgotten what brought us here tonite, and moreover what we have seen?" Aurora asked her young friend.

"No, but what good does that do us if twenty Simians show up with stun sticks?"

"Shamir is right this time." Rokar said. "What ever plans we have for whatever future we can build, we have to defend ourselves now, and all those who depend on the Resistance for protection. That is another reason I have returned, Father. I bear a message from all officers of my class who bear fur. We will not act against any free Citizen who opposes his own slaughter, or that of his family or friends. Nor will any of the fur bearers under our command. We are prepared to aid the Resistance in any manner they may request."

Aurora rose from her place in the circle. She stepped forward, and took hold of Rokar's right forepaw. She nuzzled it, adding a gentle kiss. "Thank you, Honored Warriors." She said softly, her voice subdued by emotion. "For all of us."

Rokar smiled. He was unprepared for the gesture, but understood its meaning. "Now you see why I had to know?" he asked.

Aurora nodded. "You should meet with our leaders."

"I did not know things were unsettled in the Military." Lollo said. "Have they persecuted Gifted Citizens there, as well?" He wondered.

"Incidents have occurred in the lower stations." Rokar told them all. "Most have been surprised. The Simian commanders are reluctant to act against their own kind, or we who command because they know they need us and our abilities."

"Sickening!" Lollo said.

"The rate of desertion for both fur bearers and Gifted in the Military has gone up by three fold in the last two months. The Military is loosing both Gifted Officers and enlisted faster than they can get raw Simian troops to replace them." Rokar revealed.

"That's why they are impressing fur bearers!" Lollo realized.

Rokar nodded. "The first under the new and secret orders. Any who resist are erased at once, and in public, as an example to others." Rokar told Lollo.

"And what of you, my Son?" Shalimar asked his eldest.

"I must return, my father." Were it my own choosing, never again would I leave, but my prolonged absence would be noticed by too many Simians, and fur bearers under my command would suffer." Rokar told his father sadly.

"It is the best choice." Aurora said. "And for you, the most dangerous. But none save you can help us so much by holding your station and command. I have been sent, that if that time comes, there is a star awaiting you within our movement, you and any who will follow you. To them, we shall grant rank and status as equals, with no weight given to the past. I speak both for the Movement and myself in so saying."

"That day is not afar off, gallant lady, but nearer as the shadows grow longer." Rokar said. "Now, I must leave."

"My Son!" the words were both spoken and thought, and carried the undisguised mixture of love and dread that flooded Shalimar's heart.

"My Father!" Rokar stepped close, allowing father and son shared a tender nuzzle.

Rokar turned away, and leapt up the staircase to the far side of the dome. Shalimar followed, sending to the interface to open the dome. It did so just enough to allow his huge offspring to leave. Shalimar watched as Rokar spring in one motion down to the cliff on the far side of the peak. After a moment, he had vanished from sight and send.

As he drew in his great maned head, and the dome sealed again, Shalimar was surpassed to see everyone standing with him on the balcony. The finest scientist on his Homeworld fought the urge to cry. Aurora hugged him deeply.

"You make good kids, Shalimar, Buy my guard fur, you do." Lollo told him. "Both of them!"

Shamir blushed. His Father smiled. "Thanks." He said gently. "I had help. More than I deserved. I wish she was here to see you both now."

Shamir leaned over and rested his head against his father's side. He was purring loudly.