399 asked his leader, 518, again,"Are you sure?" 399 was an older Scav and had seen plenty of action, but didn't have the instincts of a warrior caste. 399 stroked his facial hair and looked at his leader. 518 did have the instincts. 518 paused and said slowly, "She's never steered us wrong before. She doesn't have any more love for those bastards from flying-city 32 any more than we do." 525, the youngest, said admiringly, "She takes better care of us than our own controller!" 399 choked and flinched, "Blasphemy!" He then chortled and muttered, "True, but blasphemy!" 518 had to smile at that. "Over all, Dokka is a good controller. He doesn't interfere with our operations down here, and as long as we produce results, he leaves us alone." 525 asked quietly, "What is she? She doesn't look like a True-man, or a Trashtowner. She doesn't act like an abomination, or a Discard. Her eyes glow in the dark!" 518 shook his head and tightened his helmet. He drew his pistol, whispering, "Don't know. She came over the river a year ago, through the City-32 controlled zone. Quiet now! Here they come!" They slunk back into the shadows, as at the end of the alleyway, a squad of the dark helmeted, City-32 Scavs padded quietly in. They moved with practiced stealth, which 518 had to admire. The officer had a pistol and plasma cutter out. 518 took a deep breath and held up his fist to his men, signaling to hold fire. The enemy squad slunk closer and closer. The officer was wary of a trap. As he should have been, since he was padding into one. From above and behind of the City-32 squad came a shout, "HEY! GOURD-HEADS! SUCK ON THIS!" A rusted steel drum hurled down from the darkness to land with a defening crash behind the advancing Scavs. They whirled in surprise. 518 dropped his hand and swung around the shadowy corner. 399 stood up from his cover behind a steel barrel, as 525 swung into the alley as well. Their guns blazed hotly into the alley, cutting down the City-32 squad like a scythe cutting down wheat. 518's squad stood there for a moment breathing heavily. 518 looked up at the cable-bridge several floors up at the silhouette of a woman. "Thank you", 518 said. Her shadow nodded as her glowing eyes blinked. She disappeared into the darkness of the old, ruined skyscrapers. His comm-unit chimed and the harsh voice of the controller spat out, "We read weapon-fire down there! Situation-report!" 518 looked at his men and smiled. "We encountered City-32 Scavs inside of our patrol perimeter. We killed them. No survivors. We are salvaging their equipment now, my Master, Dokka." A moment of silence was followed by the controller's surprised exclamation, "Again? Well done 518! You might make captain of Scavs for City-64 if you keep this up. Keep a look-out for what ever they were after. They have been stepping up their sorties into our area of salvage. Report any other incursions." 518 habitually bowed and snapped out, "Yes, my Master!" 525 asked quietly after the communication, "Were they after that...woman-thing?" 518 shrugged,"Don't know. We'll keep a look out." He secretly hoped not. Whatever the City-32 Scavs were after, his Master would want to claim it for City-64. That might be bad for him, AND for the mysterious girl, who has helped him and his squad. Unknown to the Scav Squad from flying city 64, Toxic slunk home in the dark, with the thrill of combat vibrating in her nerves. It made her feel alive, as if she was bred for it. She could lay in the sun all day until she was hot, she couldn't be touched and that seemed to charge her up for a night worth of sorties. She could see, even in the darkest nights, and could find people and things with her eyes closed. Even if she got it trouble, it was worth it! --To be continued!-- Media is Poser 4 and Vue 4--Episode 7 of Toxic!