Oooh, FINALLY did Chapter five! Sorry this took so long, but sometimes you need inspiration...

legal stuff:Okay, Kommisar, Julie-su, and the DL, all belong to Archie/Sega, as do alot of the possibly mentioned chars in here, but Katri-na, the Gomans, and this storyline belong to me.

Thicker Than Blood, Chapter 5 Evil knows me by name...

"Only 9 hours left to go...."

My mind tried not to think about it, but as the sun began it's descent, I knew the hour was fast approaching when these people would put everything on the line to save the land and the families they loved, both in Kommisar's clutches.

We had spent the last six hours getting together a plan for the raid on the mining camp the Dark Legion had built in the valley, and it wasn't the best plan I'd ever had. Basically, while most of the women and elders headed into the hills with the children (including a reluctant Ying), the rest of us were about to make the long trek to our objective, then leaving us only two hours to make sure all was in place. I had given out laser knives to some of the tribesmen (after teaching them how to use it, of course) so they could concentrate on freeing the slaves, while the rest of us took on the army of legionnaires.

Like I said, this wasn't gonna be pretty for our side...

"Julie-su!!" I turned to see Eboni approaching me with the cart she'd taken to the Tarlen's camp, along with a few others. The cart had been empty before, but was now filled to the brim with swords and shields, even a few of those high-powered blasters Kommisar had given them. "You were right my friend; they left like scared rabbits without Ralphus, not even bothering with thier camp."

"Good, we'll need these weapons." I tell her to start handing them out to the others, silently praying the farmers wouldn't poke thier eyes out, then got everyone assembled, ready to move out. *Just as Kommisar's probably making plans of her own...*

**************************************************************************
At the Legion's camp...

"WHAT?! Julie-su, here?!?!!?" Kommisar was seething in fury and used the blaster close to her against one of her men. She missed, but the man had fled the room in fear she'd try again.

Lein-da dropped the gun and began to rub her temples "Blast her! The stubborn brat doesn't know when she's beat; I thought she'd be out of commision for weeks after I talked her down, and now she's here with those idiot knuckle-draggers, the Gomans!"

She sat in her chair and scanned the monitors. *She must know by now what we're up to, but I doubt she knows the details. Julie's most likely only helping to get to us.* "Lieutenant! Lieutenant Harmen!!!" she roared, none too ladylike. The echinda raced in and saluted,

"Yes, Lady Kommisar?"

"I want you to stage an attack on that puny tribes' camp. Kill anyone who stands in your way, and loot whatever you can; but bring Julie-su here to me. I'll deal with her myself."

Harmen nodded, and left the room without a word, not seeing Kommisar's evil grin, *I could simply brainwash her again and force her to be my slave. Then, when she gets annoying, I'll kill her...both in body and spirit.*

She smiled even wider as she heard the air ships take off....

**************************************************************************

*Four hours left* my internal clock told me as our troops moved silently through the woods towards the desert land. They were nervous, that was obvious, but so was the determination in thier eyes. They were ready for this fight, no mater what the cost. We were only two hours away from the mining grounds.

A familiar sound broke the silence, and I gave the signal for them all to stop and stay in the shadows of the trees. I watched as what looked like about ten Dark Legion aircrafts went in the direction we'd came from.

Eboni was beside me, and saw them as well. "They're heading for our home, aren't they?" I sighed and nodded. This was going to put a problem in our plan. The moment the Legion stopped having thier fun destroying the place, they'd realize no one was there, and put two and two together.

We had to move, NOW!

The moment the ships passed over, I told the group to move double-time, to make up for this event. We had to get to the camp first, so we'd have an advantage before they came back.

We made it to the outskirts of the woods half an hour ahead of time, and Katri-na was there waiting for us. She hugged me and smiled, "I knew you wouldn't give in now. The ships just called in to report the camp's status, and are heading back. You have ten minutes to get as far in this fight as possible, then expect air offense."

"I don't think so." I smirked, and sent a few of the climbers in the tribe into the trees, ready to pounce on the incoming ships. "I can think awful fast when I have to..Ready to do your part?" I murmur to her. I had spoken to her via our visors on the plan for her to get out of suspicion.

"Yeah; they think I"m checking out the woods for intruders, and..."

"Hey Katri-na! See anything, earth girl?!?" One of the other soldiers on duty called from the edge of the cliff. That was the clue to get started.

Kat winked at me, and tore at her cloak, "Nope, nothing but trees and... AKKK!" She faked a strangled sound, and I fought to keep from laughing at the sight of her throwing herself out of the woods and into the open, faking unconciousness.

"What the--guards, get over there!" The commander cried, rushing over to check on her.

Closer, closer..."NOW!!"

The entire group of us rushed out of the bushes towards the few guards that stood there. One had tried to contact below by radio, but to no avail as I knocked him over the head. The majority of the tribe sprinted to the edge of the valley, and leapt inside holding a incredibly long rope to keep them from crashing to the ground.

I was on my Sky board heading down into the valley at nosebleed speed eager to help out 'my' warriors; they had managed to get some of the slaves out of thier chains, the stronger ones helping out in the battle while the others were carried over to the ropes to be pulled up. I pounced on a group of legionnaire's getting rearmed with ammo, knocking most out with my weight and the speed I was going when I hit them.

I could tell the Gomans were slowly getting the upper hand outside, and from the lip of the valley opening, I could see explosions of the aircrafts getting the surprise of thier lives when the climbers jumped inside and took them for a ride.

*But where's Kommisar?*

Deciding to leave the lackey's to the Gomans, I headed inside the massive main building that served as the private quarters and Base of Operations. The entire building was made of wire and steel, making it sound hollow and endless as I walked down the hallway. Slowly I opened the doors leading to the main room, the huge surviellance room. It was as quiet in here as it had been in every room I'd checked...*she couldn't have left already.* Seeing a stairway in the corner leading to the catwalks, I slowly walked up the steps

CREEEEEEEAAAKK!!

I spun around to the sound of someone on the catwalks opposite the steps, "ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!" only to feel the immense pain of a blaster shot sizzling through the earlier unhealed injuries on my waist. I lost my footing and dropped to my knees on the step in front of me, barely noticing the sound of running coming towards me until someone grabbed me by the strap of my top and pulled me onto the catwalk.

Kommisar pulled me up to her face and chuckled; "Somehow, I knew you'd come to me, brat; our last visit ended far too quickly!!" She threw me up against the wall and high-kicked my face until the pain in my side was dulled by the torment in my head. "Kragok never should have protected you Julie; I'll rectify his mistakes RIGHT NOW! Then, I'll bring these lovely stones up to Dimitri and slowly torment your dearest friends and loved ones; perhaps I'll begin with Simon, or that meddlesome Guardian."

*No...* I forced myself back onto my feet, only to be grasped in the witch's hands again and thrown hard against the metal bar keeping me from falling off the high catwalk. The bar sent new streams of pain through my body, and I watched as Kommisar came slowly towards me; my body was tired from the lack of sleep, aching from the constant days of battling I'd gone through as well as the unhealed injuries.

I was already half-conscious when her hands wrapped around my neck and arched me over the bar, slowly choking the life out of me; I didn't seem to mind though. I would finally get some rest, I'd finally be rid of those haunting red eyes in the shadows...

To be (FINALLY) concluded...