We left off the last piece with Dash's limp body being held up in the air by Catrina's twin swords.

Really, what more of an opening do you need besides that?

 
(slight language)

"Noooo!" cried the elf. Aleena watched as two swords plunged through Sebastian Dash's chest; she held him there for an eternity. Only when Catrina pulled them free was Dash allowed to fall. "No..," she wailed. desperation and despair filling her every thought. She struggled under Cattaras. She did not know why he still held her down; she no longer cared. Her emotions quickly turned to anger and then to revenge. Damn you, Dash, for dying to this bitch! And damn these felines for their villainy! If only she could reach her one-time lover, she might be able to use her nanites to heal the wounds... grievous though they were, it was possible. But only if she could catch him before he bled out.

Filled with adrenaline and rage, Aleena activated her cysuit abilities. Each would take a toll on her body. The suit enhanced her strength, which she used to throw Cattaras through the air. The feline was surprised, but like all cats, would land on his feet and be quickly ready to re-engage her in combat. Fearing a protracted battle with two opponents she might not be able to triumph over, her suit formed a sleek, black barrel attached to her wrist: her weapon of last resort. A specialized laser projector, it drew upon her blood; its use could easily kill her. Laser blasts quickly lanced out at Catrina. A physical manifestation of the elf's rage, only feline reflexes and armor prevented the shots from burning holes clean through her. If it wasn't for the tears and rage stinging Aleena's eyes, even that wouldn't have saved Catrina.

As it was, dodging Aleena's laser blasts alone simply lead her to play into Aleena's hands. The next thing she knew, she was backed against a tree with deadly laser beams closing in on her in every direction, cutting off any possible escape.

Cattaras paused midair; if he nudged her wrong, he'd cause at least one of the lasers to cut through Catrina instantly! He then glanced at Dash’s body and a thought struck him. Moving as only he and Catrina could, he was by Dash’s side ‘borrowing’ the strange mirrored sword. He then flashed in front of Catrina- the sword in front of him hoping to send it back to it’s source!

Aleena ceased her assault before it could become an issue.

With Catrina injured by her laser blasts, and believing Cattaras to be not completely treacherous, Aleena found herself making a rapid value judgement. To either continue the fight, or try to save Dash's life. She chose the latter, rushing to his side, kneeling, pressing her hands to his chest and ordering her nanites to get to work as they would on her. She focused on the new task, dreading the moment she might feel a steel blade plunging into her back, hoping her suit could still protect her and avert disaster. "Stop the bleeding," she whispered. It was her hope that even if she fell here, Catrina might still believe Dash to be dead and leave him be.

For a second, it seemed as if Dash was kissing her, tenderly with a lover's grace, once more. When she opened her eyes, however, all she saw was deathly pallor, yet the wounds had been staunched. Sensing her own failure, Aleena gave up. She collapsed atop Dash, unconscious.

------------

Dash felt himself falling down an infinitely long black tunnel before smashing into the ground with bodybreaking impact. Curiously, the only agony he felt were in two spots midback, and two spots on the opposite body. Between his ribs.

Still, darkness. Dash wasn't sure if his eyes were open or closed, or if he still had eyes for that to matter. Nothing at all other than a mind numbing, reality altering sense of loss and.. peace.

His eyes suddenly started to ache. He could move his body... no. It wasn't that he couldn't move his body before, it was that the idea had no longer been in his .. head? Brain? Maybe he didn't have a body for.. how long was it? In a rush, Dash felt as if an eternity had passed.

A familiar voice that he could swear he’d never heard before purred melodiously. "There he is, like I said. Sebastian Zebediah Dash, you can open your eyes now."

Only with great effort did Sebastian open his eyes and only after a considerable time to find himself alone on a grassy knoll. As he looked around him, Dash realized how long might have passed wasn't important.

What meaning had such a mortal concept as time in the afterlife?

------------

Cattaras growled as he watched the blades do their work, and again as he watched Aleena come near to sacrificing herself for the man that he now hated again. But he knew he had to act, and act soon. Whatever Aleena had done had stabilized Dash but for how long?

He moved over to the pile of bodies, stooping to pick up the two heroes, ignoring his sister's roars of anger. He then did something that he didn’t know he could do until he did it; he moved both Aleena's and Dash's bodies to the nearest hospital, aided in his search by his superhuman speed. There, he was met by personnel who could help. He than followed them into the room where Aleena was taken, keeping out of the way.

------------

Dash looked around. His body felt light. The burning pain from earlier only intensified, although Dash did his best to ignore it. Several roads stretched out from around Dash, under thick white clouds so low, you could almost reach out and grab one to taste it, if any here had the need or desire to eat. The roads stretched in every directions, reminding Dash more of a monster reaching out to steal all around it more than any road.

There were trees growing out of what looked like dirt roads between the golden streets. Far in the distance, Dash could see other souls, not quite still living humans and not quite like the spirits they taught you about back in the Kingdom, playfully chatting, pickpocketing each other, and probably swapping stories of all kinds.

Beyond that, Dash could see a wild Savannah in the distance; it somehow seemed out of place. Out of place as well was the pavilion he found himself drawn to. As he entered the tent he saw two figures. One male sitting on a couch and the other was the most beautiful lioness he’d ever seen.. and at the moment he was seeing plenty of lioness because she was naked, laying across the couch and....

Dash blushed at what they were doing, and as he blushed the male jumped up, found his discarded pants on the floor and began to pull them up. "I thought you said he’d be a few minutes?"

The Goddess smiled at him and at Dash. "With something that magnificent, you don’t give up because someone walks in on you."

Dash's blush vanished.. "I've a feeling we've met before. Not that it matters. Your lord Sneakiness." Dash smirked defiantly. "Did I come at a bad time?"

She rose, and padded over to him, not even bothering with the robes here. "You came at the time you were destined to come, Sebastian. What we do with the time between is never bad."

"I see." Dash's eyes fell to the floor. "If I'm here, she killed me."

A sudden and overwhelming sense of abject failure seemed to crush Dash, intensifying the pain. He realized it was a struggle to speak through the pain rocking his body, which trembled under it.

As if in answer to the attack the Goddess swept in, kissing Dash hotter and deeper than anyone had ever done, making the pain disappear before she broke. "She did not kill you, the enemy within her did the deed. You are still her champion, and unfortunately, your task is not yet fulfilled."

"Either way, I'm dead." Dash paused, realizing he could speak without pain. "Thanks.. Now, would you have me wait until she dies as well to save her posthumously?"

The Goddess laughed. "We will discuss your afterlife when you are ready for one. Just remember for now, that Catrina mourned your loss as much as your new friend. Oh and also. Do not feel too unkind toward Cattaras. He is only doing what comes naturally."

Dash glared. "Explain. Please."

The Goddess laughed. "Well.. she is very beautiful, even without fur."

"Ahh," Dash said with a shrug. "I'm glad to know she'll go on without me.. unless, of course.." Dash tried to gently nudge the conversation in the direction he was hoping it would go.

Pete chuckled. "Told you the boy was too smart. Lil too honest too."

"Thanks," Dash said, keeping his comment purposefully short.

The Goddess looked at Pete and then Dash, smiling. "He is at that. Smart enough to put the pieces together, perhaps.” Her gaze gained a bit of... whimsy? “I bet you wonder how we’re going to do this?”

"More when," Dash said. "Sorry, ma'am. I screwed up when I challenged her. I know that now. I still don't know what I'm supposed to do, or when! I just know I have more to do in My Kingdom's Realms. If I be allowed."

The Goddess smiled. “You will know just what to do when the time comes.. and speaking of... It is time for you to go.” She laughed. “Oh you are going to LOVE this!”

She was pulling him toward the couch.

"Kay, but can I at least borrow Pete's breath spray?" Dash said with a humorless smile. "I always end up finding Boris's ring or Jarlsburg's key instead."

Pete fished in his pocket and tossed a canister to Dash. “Have fun with it. It's half empty cause, well, I needed some of it to trick Boris out of his pants."

The two looked up at him oddly as Dash shot a spray of old school thief-moxie into his open mouth. Dash's teeth tingled with moxie modification.

"Hey guys, I swear it's not like that! They just sell really good on the black market is all."

"And you never invite me when you do this?" the Goddess smirked at Pete. "I’ll talk to you later. Right now we need to work together and send our Champion home."

Sneaky Pete obediently drifted to the far side of the room where he began playing the accordion. It was surprisingly romantic and well played. Dash's body seemed to melt into the goddess's....

He heard her say, "Quit squeezing that box and start squeezing me, stud."

"I'm a god, not a love machine!" Pete paused, then walked over. "Oh, I guess I am the god of love machines though. Okay, baby, let's show 'em how dirty we get in the big leagues."

Dash didn't remember what happened next. Pleasure overtook his body... then pain as he again found himself in darkness. Dash's eyes were now closed, and he was clearly lying in his bed. Weak. Barely able to move. He couldn't even open his eyes.

But somehow, painfully, he was in the world of the living once more.

------------

Aleena fought her way back to consciousness, remembering the mortal danger she was in. She was, thankfully, still alive, and as her eyes focused, she saw doctors trying to take her pulse or cut her out of her suit. Their work was stymied by its innate defensive capabilities. "Ma'am, are you alright?" asked one stranger. Another shone a light in her eyes. "Hey!" Aleena protested. "Yes, give me a moment."

Eyes refocused. Then she spied Cattaras. He smiled, seeing her awake again. "Good, you’re coming around."

"I did not expect to wake up again. Where is Dash?" she asked. She tried to sit up, but a wave of nausea forced her back.

Cattaras flashed to her side- even if it was only a few steps away. "Lie still; let the doctors do their work. Dash is in another room here but..."

Aleena felt tears well up in her eyes. "I know. Oh goddess, what have I done?"

"Her blood pressure is dangerously low! Get a saline solution!" Cattaras growled as he was pulled away, but there was nothing he could do. "I would hope you went with your heart.." he muttered.

Despite her fear of such primitive medicine, she allowed the doctors to proceed, baring skin where they requested it. "Thank you for bringing me here... but may I ask, why?" Aleena gazed at the feline, looking over his ruffled fur and noting his loincloth was torn.

Cattaras suddenly looked nervous. "Well.. um... I figured that being in a strange land and all that we’d need.. each other to get home?" The way he fidgeted set off alarms.

"You look nervous, Cattaras." The elf gave him a concerned look. "You... probably went against your sister's will, given how much she hates Dash and I. Thank you."

Cattaras blushed even harder. "Well.. if you had not been.. I mean!" He tried to backpedal. "If hadn’t been for you... um..." He looked at her, sure he wasn’t getting away with it now.

"Go on... please," Aleena asked simply, putting on her cutest face. She lay back against the pillow of the hospital bed, near-golden hair splayed out under her.

He approached the bed, padding this time. He reached out, stroking her cheek. Speaking softly. "If it weren’t for where we are, I’d have you as a queen any day."

Aleena blushed and her heart skipped a beat. Her mind raced, considering and rejecting conclusions, searching for a theory to fit the facts. Cattaras was attracted to her? Elves did not have any fur! They did not even have any body hair -- a point of contention with some humans. When did this start? What about Dash? She was speechless, though if she had to say anything, she would admit she was attracted to Cattaras as well. She looked shocked and gazed at the feline's muzzle, rather than meet his eyes.

Cattaras purred. Having said it, he felt he could say much more. "Are you aware that your suit has helped me with my control?"

The elf thought for a moment. "How? Control? When?" Words stumbled out of her mouth as she beckoned Cattaras to sit on her bed.

Cattaras hesitated, then sat on the edge. "Because... with it you look like a sleek, black panthress. So sexy and dark and... beautiful." He reached out, caressing a curve of the suit.

Aleena blushed, then smiled. "And she has claws, too." She tried to sit up again, this time more successfully, and took a deep breath. "It would have taken me a lot longer to recover on my own... if I ever did." She threw her arms around the feline, pulling him close and tight.

Cattaras purred and nuzzled as she pulled him close, but soon his tone changed to one of alarm. "Um... I had better go.. before I lose what control I have."

He didn’t seem to want to pull away though.

"I... alright. Stay safe. I want to see you again. Soon." She gave him an extra squeeze before letting him go.

Cattaras finally backed away, and Aleena could see what he was trying so hard go control- before he flashed away, blushing. The sight made her giggle... and feel a little warm.

Not bad huh?

What do you mean "Not bad"? That was damned good!

Anyway, do you get the sense Dash might have a fighting chance after all? We're taking another Becky break here- this time with Todd. Then we'll be back to this story.

And after that, we'll get to Sir Fumblies and Fahari!