Ever since I was born I was considered a hero and a legacy. I didn't even know why. My parents died shortly after my birth, apparently in a rock sliding accident. Somehow, I believed that story with several suspicions. How could two apparently great and mighty dragons by smashed in collapsing rocks? It didn't make sense. Why were they even there? No one would answer my questions, and it was only time until I was placed in an orphanage. I was used to being by myself at that time and it was an awkward phase where I wanted to continue being by myself. I was the oldest among those kids and they made us do very strange and weird exercises.

I remember only slightly that they made us do several exercises to keep us in shape. A break between them allowing for a water break but even as that continued it was slowly dwindled out. There were several other dragons in my class but not up to the standards I had. My black coat was enough for cover at night so I was eligible to sneak out without being caught while the white coats couldn't. It was exhilarating for me and I knew I had found something unimaginable.

After time I was moved to my own room with my own equipment of the sorts. I think they found out about my escaping expertise because soon thereafter a guard was placed below my window and in front of my door. Several time I tried to escape but each time they were there. And then I realized something else; I wasn't being kept in, I was being officially guarded.

This only troubled me more. Why? Did it have anything to do with my heritage? I was confused beyond reason and even as the small exercises dwindled until finally I was loaded onto a enclosed bed of a truck and shipped off to a mighty fortress with tall buildings. I remember my excitement and I was fascinated by these things. Soon after that incident I finally managed to figure out what was happening; I was being trained as a spy, and I loved it. I was 'full of potential' as many said, and I had to live to my 'parents' standards, even though I didn't know what they meant. I was the oldest in my class, being brought in late, but I was the best one. I was great with plans, disguises, and picking the appropriate equipment. There was just only one little hinge getting in my way; my partner.

Okay guys, are you ready?" The briefing of the mission had gone by quickly, and no doubt it would be a piece of pie. In fact, Tech was almost relieved then he came to the end. So simple! The instructor could see her train of thought without any trouble. Still, he wasn't relieved with the air of confidence she put off. For some reason he STILL couldn't get the team to work well enough together. The others were fine students. The only hitch seemed to be the clash between Tech, the youngest of the group of four trainees, and Cardi, the oldest one there, besides the instructor himself. Cardi had paid close attention to every detail within the last half hour of the briefing. It would be hard, but with the correct strategy it would work! Cardi knew that Tech, being her usual self, would simply run off with an air of arrogance that she could do it. She was such a pain. But Tech didn't catch the brief look given to her by Cardi. Instead she merely looked around at the others and replied for all.

Yes Sir." She nodded curtly to the instructor after getting a lot of some sort of comprehension from the others.

Then get out there. Report to HQ when you've gotten the task complete and you're ready to return." The instructor ordered. Surely nothing could go wrong, could it? Still, he had to admit he worried some as the group trooped out the door, Tech in the lead. She was so much younger, but her attitude was strong. Maybe too strong...The instructor shook his head, ridding his thoughts. Surely, Cardi would keep her in line. He watched Cardi race up towards Tech to talk to her. He sighed, pushing his papers off of his desk, letting them fly into the air and drift towards the ground.

Tech, listen, we need to come up with a plan before we go barging in!" Cardi announced, reaching Tech's side.

Tech glanced to the side, an eyebrow cocked towards Cardi. "I thought you already had one." She asked him sweetly. "Aren't you going to share it with the rest of us?" Still, it was obvious she hadn't listened to him completely. Already she had snapped on her communications system and was waiting as the others followed suit before she pushed out the door, seeming ready to go, and slightly impatient.

Cardi glanced over at Tech, then followed after her through the door. "Yes, I do. That is why we should consult with the others before we go barging off like you always do!" he whispered. Cardi didn't quite like making threats or calling people names, but Tech was stuck up and arrogant, and needed to be called thick-headed sometimes.

Tech just continued walking straight ahead, keeping 'leadership' of the group by staying ahead. But the worry-wart was insistent. "Fine. I'm consulting with you then. Do you think we'll need a rope?" She paused, looking at the equipment they were to pick from. All across the walls and in heaps on tables and the floor was equipment they may possibly need. Another part of their test was to take anything they'd need, but leave extras. Already she was weighing out what she might need to carry and what should stay where it was, as were all of them.

Cardi snorted and narrowed his eyes, staring at Tech's head from behind. "Yes, we will need rope." he murmured, gritting his teeth. He examined the other equipment. "And I think we all should take the radio collars, too. Normally in these situations we'd stick together but in this instance we may need to separate into pairs."

She knew she peeved him that time, and grabbed the rope to hoist it off the wall to rest across her shoulder and chest with a sweet little smile on her face. "Sounds good. Do we need anything else for your plan?" She inquired, though in her mind she secretly wished he'd get electrocuted out there. Him and his radio collars. Then again, he may have a point... She snagged one for herself and plugged in her mic, which she almost always kept on her. It was a handy little thing. Her special piece.

Cardi frowned while grabbing a mic and radio for himself, and attaching it to his brown leather collar. "Well, I think we should definitely have some cameras to record our surroundings with. That way IF we do fail, it'll be easier the next time for another team to infiltrate." he reached forward and while plugging in his mic, grabbed a small penny-looking like object, attaching it to the radio also. "Yup, I think this will be good for the plan!" Cardi declared. "Unless, you want to add a hundred more 'necessary' items!" he drilled, mocking her.

Tech smirked, but grabbed a camera anyway and hooked it in as well. She was practically a lightning rod now, but that was okay. It was only drizzling at the moment anyway, and everything was waterproof anyway. "Let's go." She urged, taking over the lead again without letting the other two in their group have any say in anything. She just let them dumbly suit up before pushing out the door and stepping into the rain. Glow-rimmed faerie wings fanned out experimentally before she tucked them under a black waterproof cape the very color of her jet fur It was time to clamber into the open-backed truck that would take them to testing grounds.

Cardi turned towards the two and cringed, nodding his apologies and tramped after Tech. Coughing slightly in agitation, he stepped out into the rain, cringing under the wetness that agitated his scales. Narrowing his eyes, he walked in front of Tech and quickly climbed into the bed of the truck, curling up as to take up less space. "Come on Tech, hurry!" he issued. The truck engine revved slightly as it was turned on. Cardi glared up at the sky, cursing the clouds for deciding to be fat at this time. "Confounded clouds." he murmured, then squished into the wall behind him to let Tech climb up, for the bed was really small.

But Tech didn't oblige right away. Instead she waited until the other three had crammed under the cover above the rather cramped truck bed on the logic that she was the smallest as well as youngest, so she'd fit between the others that much easier if she went in last. The rain she had gathered on the back of her oddly rigged cape slid off as she bounded onto the truck bed lightly and found her spot standing near the opening in the back in such a way that she nearly teetered off a couple of times when the truck hit a couple bumps. She didn't seem to mind though. Instead her bright digital green eyes were roving around constantly as she tried to memorize the way there, thus knowing how to get back on their own.

Cardi bumped his head against the back of the truck several times as the bumps began to grow worse. He wasn't watching his surroundings but memorizing each turn in favor with each type of asphalt they were being carried over. It made a visual aide, a map, in his brain for how to get back. He then decided to turn his radio collar to the correct station before they got to their mission point. He looked at the three others. "Set your stations to three. That's what mine is on." he simply stated. Cardi somewhat liked being the oldest, but part of him hated it even so. It meant he spent the longest time, and it was only a shorter distance till he was doing missions by himself. Even though he would be rid of the arrogant fool he was teamed with, he would miss Tech.

She'd probably do well in her life, though he didn't envy her for starting out so young. Word had it she started a good while back, though how close she was to moving on, no one knew. It didn't help that she still didn't trust anyone enough to let them in on that, despite being endlessly drilled to be able to trust each team member with your life. When the truck finally came to a stop, Tech was lurched out of the truck back, but she landed with as much grace as ever, which was partially helped by the fact that she was so light. The only way she /could/ land was lightly. Distractedly she knocked the knob into the right station. "Checkcheckcheck." She announced, each check quieter then the last until she was certain even a whisper could work. "Okay puppies. Let's go."

Cardi shook his head and lightly leaped from the truck. He landed near the rear tire, and then heard the truck roar off. Coughing in the exhaust, Cardi smiled, always loving how she referred to all of them as puppies, even though for one, she was the youngest, and for two, Cardi was not a canine at all. Turning towards the other three, he nodded his head. "We must be careful, got that? Don't run off on your own," and he cast Tech a glance. "And always keep in touch via radio. Alright?" he stretched his legs and neck, and then his tail. Grinning, he nodded his head. "Now, everyone, good luck! Remember who you are paired with." he looked over at Tech, and seeing she was barely listening, he frowned.

His frown though, was just one more expression she didn't seem to catch. In fact, she had reason to be barely listening. As the engine died in the distance, Tech stared intently to one side. She swore she had seen something. A shadow? It didn't seem like the kind of shadow that was anything but trouble though. Still, she couldn't prove it was there. "Gotcha." She muttered, before peeling off from the rest, expecting someone to follow.

Darnit Tech!" growled Cardi, racing off after her. He turned his head downwards to the radio. "You two go in the other direction, got it?" he whispered through the radio. "10-4!" came the two voices at the same time. Smiling, Cardi raced up to Tech. "Tech, slow down!" he said, tail wavering in the wind. "We need to check our surroundings first!" he growled more deeply. He caught pace with her and turned his head to her. "What did you see, the shadow?" he asked quietly.

Duh." She hissed, before switching off her mic. There was no point in letting a third party in if there was no need. She reached up to snag the cord of his to yank it loose from the connecting wires. Cardi rose up, barging towards her. He easily rammed his body against hers, knocking her over and pinning her down to the ground. "Are you stupid?!" he growled, glaring down at her.

No! You're stupid." She growled, tail lashing furiously. After all his speeches, after all the exercises he had been through and he STILL didn't trust a comrade? And ready to move on? Hah! Yeah right. Though he had proved himself extremely quick on the uptake if physically threatened. "Three second and we'll be back on the air." she promised. "And while you're at it, let me up."

Cardi growled threateningly. "I don't trust a comrade?" he narrowed his eyes dangerously. "You're the one disconnecting us from our OTHER comrades!" he backed off, letting her space to get up. Turning around, he viewed the large skyscraper before them. In the distance the slow tremble of thunder resounded in the air. He growled, furious that Tech would do that. "You're still immature, Tech! You're arrogant and thick-headed, thinking you can do everything by yourself. One day, you're going to get into a thicket, and then you'll realize that doing that will only threaten those around you!" he glared at her, waiting for her to get up. "There's an air duct there beside that large window. We'll use that to get inside."

She rose slowly, regaining what little dignity she had, but didn't switch her mic back on. "I'm not going in there." she replied coldly. "and I was going to tell you why, but since you won't even bother to listen.." The last part was bit out short in her attempt to cool down her practically trademark quick temper.

Cardi growled threateningly. "I don't trust a comrade?" he narrowed his eyes dangerously. "You're the one disconnecting us from our OTHER comrades!" he backed off, letting her space to get up. Turning around, he viewed the large skyscraper before them. In the distance the slow tremble of thunder resounded in the air. He growled, furious that Tech would do that. "You're still immature, Tech! You're arrogant and thick-headed, thinking you can do everything by yourself. One day, you're going to get into a thicket, and then you'll realize that doing that will only threaten those around you!" he glared at her, waiting for her to get up. "There's an air duct there beside that large window. We'll use that to get inside." Acardii narrowed his eyes. "Why won't you go in there? We have to eventually to get to the documents!" he growled. He then grabbed her the scruff of her neck and dragged her behind the nearest line of trees, for they had been in the open. He heard the two others talking about how to get in. He talked into his mic. "There are a few air ducts around the building. Use them and infiltrate and get to the thirty-second floor!" he turned back to Tech, waiting for her to explain.

In exasperation Tech stared. He just ordered them in THERE? That wasn't about to happen, not until she found out... She plugged her mic in rather forcefully and took two seconds to compose her voice, so they would only hear what she wanted them to hear. "Wait guys." She spoke abruptly, as if in finding something. "Hold up. I think I have something interesting you might need to know." And her ploy worked, as the both seemed to stop and wait. "Well?" Came one reply. "We're waiting."

She paused. Now they were expecting something for sure. "Just wait for a minute. I'm going to find out more. Be as quiet as you can." she instructed, digital green eyes boring into Cardi. They weren't glaring, There was more of a... pleading look to them, strange as it was for Tech to wear such an expression. She stood rigid for long moments on end, staring at him as if to dare Cardi to speak. If he did, he could mess it all up.

Cardi rolled his eyes and motioned for her to go check things out. He mouthed, "Be careful!" and then sat down abruptly, waiting for her to go. Staring towards the building, he glanced up at the top of the skyscraper. Something was odd. Narrowing his eyes in concentration, he tried to figure out what was bothering his intuition. Shaking his head, he leaned forwards more, trying to get a better view of the roof. He then glanced back and nodded for Tech to go get information.

But Tech still held her ground as stubbornly as ever She was after information all right, but the only way to get it was to stand right th- There it was! Her eyes widened. For once, she was right. A definite but faint click sounded in her earplug, followed by the barest murmur of the rustling sound of cloth against cloth. Suddenly she was as tense as she could be. Hadn't they said there would be NO ONE else there? And the truck had sped off way too quickly, and usually the instructor driving the truck left them a word of luck. He eyes narrowed. And the shadow followed by the two definite clicks?

Did you catch that?" She mouthed back, hoping he did.

Tech nodded once, and curtly so, before scratching out one simple message Do you trust me?

Cardi narrowed his eyes, debating whether or not he should. Then, slowly, he nodded. Hoping that he was doing the right thing. He knew Tech was good at being a spy, but her impatience and arrogance could get the better of her.

Tech trotted over to him as if nothing was amiss, but when her voice sounded over HIS mic, it hinted at something completely different. She snagged his mic and bent it so she could speak through it without getting awkwardly close, and announced to the waiting duo on the other side of the building a phrase. "The snake of golden hides it's fangs with a tongue of velvet. Meet me at the waterhole." And with that she decisively yanked his make out of it's power box. "You can have it back at the end of the semester." She joked slightly and carried it away. "C'mon. Let's get in there."

Cardi stared after her, growling slightly. "Great!" he looked at his mic-less radio. Rolling his eyes, he trotted after her. "Tech, what are you thinking?" he asked. He said it as if he was actually wondering how she was going to get into the building. He glanced up at the roof, and slunk lower to the ground. He looked back at where the duo had been, to see they weren't there anymore.

Who said I was going in there?" She merely asked with a shrug, then lowered her voice. "We all need to get on the same page, as much as I hate using one of your lines, but you DO know that we've had people listening in on us this whole time, right?" She in turn started slinking away, deciding that the best place to meet was somewhere in the trees. Preferably a cave if they could find one..

Cardi grinned. He had to, because she was mocking him, yet doing it with enough genius to pull something off. He slunk after her through the forest, he began to gain speed, trotting in front of her. Quickly, he nudged her and pointed towards the duo, who were running along beside them, but separated by a few couple of trees. Darting through the bushes, Cardi quickly ran in front of them, and in a fluent movement, disconnected their mics, waiting for Tech to come.

She didn't leave him waiting for long, but rather followed nearly on his tail, sporting her cape as if she was some sort of batman reincarnate, and she had the facial expression to go along with it. "I'm glad all of my puppies grew brains while I was gone. Now it's time to fine-tune them" She nodded a brief thanks to Cardi. "Can anyone tell me why I needed us to gather so suddenly, and what I Found?" She quizzed, but didn't allow any time for anyone to guess. "A clicky." "A-" "Shutup. Yes. A Clicky sound. It's a scientific term. Memorize it. Now why was this clicky sound so important?" Tech began to move away, assuming clearly that all would follow. "No takers? Then I guess Cardi will have to tell you."

Cardi nodded his head and then began to speak, while all the time trotting after Tech's rear end.
The...'clicky'," he snorted, then continued. "The clicky sound was really a hammer from a distance. On the roof of the building they are building some sort of machine. If you looked up at the roof, you would see a pole that should not be there.
Well who cares what they ar-
What if that so called project is something to identify intruders in the building, or what if it's some sort of weapon?" Cardi drilled, cutting the other off.

Or, my personal favorite idea, is it's something that could hijack any electronics in the area." She added, dimly noting that the rain was falling harder now. "Either way, we've been bugged since we've stepped onto this property, so that means we can't go through the vents. It'd be too risky." Finally she spotted a cave and quickened her pace. She'd very much like to get inside somewhere.

Cardi nodded, then trotted after her. "Whatever it is, we can't get inside using the vents. We'll apparently have to stake out an entrance, preferably one that will get us inside without too much a commotion!" he glanced over at Tech, knowing she was one for big entrances.

Diving into the Cave, a loud resounding crack of thunder whipped through the air. Cardi looked up at the purple clouds which were now hovering over them.

But dear Cardi! Don't you like playing with the little people?" She teased, shaking herself off before entering the cave.

Cardi snorted. Just like her to say something that didn't quite make sense. "So, does anyone have any bright ideas?" he asked, skipping over the fact that he knew Tech would say something that would let her go off by herself and be the hero.

Even without mind-reading powers, she was able to oblige. "Well someone has to get in there. That much we know, and as we all now know, it has to be in such a way that they won't be expecting us, because I'm certain we were being bugged." She paused thoughtfully for a moment. "Anyone know how to fly?"

Cardi rolled his eyes, stretching his wings. "Of course, you know that!" he snarled, rolling his eyes again. "But I can tell you this, it'll be dangerous in this weather. It could start lightning at any moment and then I would be putting you all in danger!"

Well we can't have that, now can we?" She shot back with a roll of her eyes. "Then I guess We'll just have to stalk an entrance and hope they're blind." She snorted. "But... Why are they THERE anyway? Weren't his specifications specifically that there would be no obvious activity?"

Cardi closed his eyes, thinking, like he usually did. And idea was forming but he wasn't quite sure how it would work. "No, stalking an entrance won't work. If there are people on the roof, and if that thing is what I think it is, they'll have guards." he murmured, tying two and two together.

Well hurry up Einstein. We don't have all day."

But no pressure." She added as an afterthought

Cardi turned his head towards her, growling slightly. "Anyways. I'm saying that we need to crawl into a room through one of the windows, preferably one that will be close to the stairs. The layout of this building is similar to that of the headquarters, if you realized. That means the stairs are on all the other side of the doors, at the other end of the building." He looked back at the other two.

Because only stupid people put stairs to important rooms next to open doors. Any questions?" She looked around briefly. "'Kay. Let's go."

Having decided that it was too dangerous to have them all got at the same time, they split into two groups again to scout out the building for any low windows, but this time with no form of communication. They'd all have to rely on their own wits and those of their partners until they were able to meet up at the new 'watering hole' Having kept the layout of their own HQ in mind, Tech found a window on the second floor that proved a decent target, but Tech hadn't yet mentioned the fact that she might need a lift to get to it. She grinned when she found a place they could see it from. "I think that window would be a good one" She pointed out in a hushed voice. Mind giving me a lift?"

Cardi rolled his eyes, for the third time. "As long as I don't get hit by lightning or anything!" he mumbled, then lowered down to the ground, waiting for Tech to climb onto his back. He felt so used at the moment, as if he were a mere ladder but with easier access to higher heights.

It was too bad though that Tech wasn't exactly concentrating on his feelings at the moment. "Oh don't worry. You're just covered in electricity-attracting gadgets. Why on earth would lightning want to hit You?" She asked as she gently hoisted herself onto his back. But she wasn't completely blind. "You know, I wouldn't ask the brains of the bunch to fly me unless it was needed. You know that." That was probably as close to a sorry as you'd get from her.

Cardi shook his head. "Hold on tight, dunce!" he called, then he crouched further, muscles recoiling and sending them soaring into the air. He quickly passed the second window, then slowed, back flipping and diving back to the window. He slowed, hovering just below the second window, looking inside of it. "Okay, it's clear!" he whispered, then raised slightly so he was level with window. He grabbed the side of the building with his front paws, which acted like suction cups, then grabbed the building with his back, reaching to pull the window open with his front.

He was defiantly one of the world's modern marvels, and the window was open in a jiffy. As soon as it was, Tech landed inside and pressed against a wall.

Cardi reached inside, then tugged himself through the window, folding his wings against his sides as to fit. "Close call." he whispered, as he lightly plopped to the ground. He stared around the room, then quickly dashed soundlessly to the door. Opening it slightly he peered out of the crack, looking for other forms of life. "Cost's clear."

And so it was the two little mice made it into the kitchen and past the cat that lay in the hallway enjoying his snack. Then from the other two mice a cry did arise, and alarms were set off sounding an early demise. For who we don't know yet, that part is uncertain, but we're about to hear from the turncoat behind the curtain. Somewhere in the building a shrill scream of pain broke out all chaos, and Tech let out a few very choice words. "Darnit!" She hissed under her breath. "The stupid idiot tripped an alarm." And then, as if by cue, the hallways started to pulse red as the white lights shut down and blood-red ones took their place. Pulsing like the blood in her veins, Tech was mesmerized for a moment and seemed unable to think.

Cardi shot a glance at the lights. "Darnit, I knew we should have stuck together!" he hissed, then he opened the door, glancing out of the hallway. "The scream came from upstairs!" He nodded towards Tech. "C'mon!" he began to wheedle his way into the small hallway and up the stairs, which were right beside the room. The staircase was wider than the hall, and Cardi hoped that the halls upstairs were wider.

No kidding?" She breathed, regaining her train of thought. But instead of creeping up the stairs she took them at a bound, and Cardii watched as she bounded up the steps. "Impatience!" he hissed, then also leaped after her. Finally they came to the top, and he pushed through the door with ease. The halls were indeed bigger than the second floor. Trotting into the hall, Cardi took a glance around. "Now, where are they?" he whispered.

Right under your nose." A grin gleamed in the darkness and there was a foul metallic stench that clung to every pore in sensitive nostrils. Tech backed up swiftly, giving Cardi no other option but to back up as well, but pounding feet brought the stairwell alive. They were swarming up from below, and Tech KNEW they hadn't crossed so many on their way up the flight of stairs. Eyes widened. There was no where to go but up. Up the next flight of stairs. Even that would be a close call though, for she could hear shouts through the floorboards above. They'd be coming from above as well if they didn't act now, and so she did. Taking the steps as fast as she could.

Cardi didn't quite catch Tech's movements fast enough. Backing up, he saw her tail disappear through the next stairwell. "Darnit!" he called, then began his way up those same steps. The shouting was closer and he tripped on the stairs. The actual steps were smaller than his large paws, and he collapsed on the stairwell. Shouts from above indicated Tech had been surrounded. He growled ferociously, then leaped up the last steps.

When he finally cleared the last of the steps he found he was right in his assumption. As fast as she had been she still ended up trapped among those that very nearly double her size and strength, and they weren't instructors. They were evil looking with a crazed sort of hunger for vengeance in their eyes, and it was nothing for them to capture her struggling petite form and shred the delicate wings that jumped out from behind her cape on sheer instinct. When the paper-thin membranes broke tears of pain leaped to her eyes so filled with animal rage.

Cardi was suddenly in the hold of several strong personnel. Struggling against their cold-hearted grasps, he watched as several people leaped at Tech, who leaped aside, but was grabbed by a few others. Roaring, Cardi struggled against their holds, but was unable to break free as they tied Tech's legs together. Her eyes were full of pain and fear, and Cardi struggled harder. Tech was, after all his comrade! Something heavy crashed into Cardi's skull at that moment, and darkness creped at his vision. His last sight was of Tech being led upwards, towards the roof where they had their energy-sucking machine, he knew.

Tech prickled as she was hauled away. She never felt so helpless! And seeing Cardi get smashed on the head just... It wasn't RIGHT. This was supposed to be a trainee-safe mission, so even if they failed they weren't going to be too badly harmed, but she now knew the fishy smell she had caught earlier was more then just a hunch. It was a nightmare of a reality. Even so, she nearly laughed out loud when she saw them leave Cardi alone. There was no way such a light tap could keep that thick-headed dragon off of his feet for long. Either way, may as well buy more time for him to arouse. "Darn!" She shrieked madly, putting up more of a fight then ever before. It worked to some degree. More brutes had to come keep hr contained then before, but all good things come to an end Before she could escape, Tech was slammed into a pole and eventually secured to it, cackling madly to prove a good distraction. But what... in the world was she strapped to?

I'm sick of you. Too bad such a good mind had to be wasted on a brat like you." Her gaze snapped to focus on their newest 'comrade'. He stood above her with a mad grin on his face. "Aww. Look how the leader will fall!" He exclaimed with mock despair. "As a worthless piece of trash." With that he spat down on her and allowed a solid kick to her gut that rendered her speechless. "Let's see how well you fry." Until then, she had completely forgotten about the rain, but now it was painfully obvious. The storm was reaching it's peak she knew. Soon would come the time when lightning would turn from harmless static in the clouds to deadly earth-caresses bolts, and she had to admit she made a lovely rod.

Cardi's eyes bounced open. "Tech!" he cried, then stood up. He dashed his way unsteadily down the hall, hitting the wall slightly. Where were the guards?! He rounded the corner and bounded up the stairs. He could hear thunder rumbling by and the rain pounding on the roof. Galloping his way up the stairs, he broke through the last doors, and spread his wings, roaring as he flailed into the nearest person. They toppled over backwards and it was a few seconds before the sight adjusted in his eyes; Tech was strapped to the metal rod and there were about ten black, humongous boxes littering the roof. Wires and cords strung from here to there, this was the perfect setting for a lightning storm to hit. He noticed a person who seemed "in command" and in a second dashed towards him, teeth bared. Who cared about documents now? They were set up, and he knew it. His radio collar bounced against his neck as he lunged at the commander. Something sideswiped him and he was sent sailing into one of the large boxes. A resounding "thud" indicated the box's emptiness. Cardi shook his head.

When she got her breath back , Tech noticed how danged slow he was. "Get up!" She urged. "Use that fat dragon body of yours and squash him! Or at least push him off the ro-oof!" She doubled again, but this time the blows wouldn't stop, and she couldn't strike back. After this my bruises will have bruises she thought grimly, deciding that death wasn't an option here.

Cardi growled, flinging off the people on top of him. "Don't just STAND there!" Cardi roared. "Fight back how you can!" he called after. He smacked someone in the head with his tail, then leaped at the commander, who simply laughed.

Please. This pitiful dragon can save this pitiful canine?" he mocked, and Cardi tackled him, but was pulled off and flung away by three people. Cardi flew, getting caught in several electrical wires and getting snagged in them. The large black box behind him started to smoke, and lightning streaked through the sky.

Now, what shall we do to you?" asked the trainee, standing up and walking with his clicking claws towards him.

The fat black box sizzled and smoked from the strain Cardi put on it by getting himself tangled in the wires, but Tech was still pretty helpless bound in such the way as she was. Maybe if she could just.. AH! In his frustration with her the commander had nearly sliced one of the ropes with his claws. All else seemed to fuzz over, so she didn't clearly catch what was said. "Maybe I should just leave you two to nature. I hear she's a cruel and unforgiving beast." the commander, also the newest trainee accepted into their group, sneered. Oh how she just wanted to rip him limb from limb! The conniving inconsistent turn-coat pig! She'd get he one way or another. This she swore on her life on the streets. She'd get him and shut his lying, pathetic mouth for good, but for now she'd have to settle for the split rope that proved a small victory. The moment she had enough slack she smashed her paws into the black box, severing the wire properly. It snapped up like a viper with a mouthful of sparks and Cardi lurched earth-wards and had to hang tight to the wire to keep from falling.

Cardi clung to the wire, then, disentangled the rest of his body. He spread his now loose wings and flapped them easily, rising back to the roof. He dropped the crackling wire back down and launched himself at the trainee. "You foul beast!" he roared.

He managed to tackle him and knock him backwards into another black box, severing that wire as well. Cardi flew backwards as the claws from his fellow trainee knocked him back, scratching at his chest.

Ah. So insolent. You could have been faithful to me, but alas, you are not worthy anymore!" he snickered. Cardi was lying in front of Tech, and he looked up at her with his eyes, as if asking her for what he should do. The wires crackled behind him, and he lay there, chest heaving. The other trainee was also winded, but not as much as he was.

And she called him the brains of the bunch! While he lay there wasting time she scrabbled at the last bit of her bindings to break free. She came out with a flurry of black fur, but she was careful not to make the same mistake Cardi had. "Never. Fight. Clean!" The gritted, punctuating her words with cheater blows aimed directly at tender pressure points. Blood lust contorted her vision, and the moment the vulgar lay unprotected she snapped at it, but somehow she managed to clear her mind before making the death blow. Instead she settled for beating him properly senseless. Blood blossomed from his mouth and nose, and she swelled with content. "I want to go home." She growled, urging Cardi to get up.

Cardi growled, standing up. "Next time you decide to turn on someone," and Cardi punched the traitor in the stomach, making him heave in a cough. "Make sure it isn't us!" he hissed.

The trainee laughed. "Who knew that you two could be such a dangerous couple. You two don't even get along half the time!" he laughed still. But what both Tech and Cardi failed to see was the line of people sneaking up on them.

But the once trainee now commander had been right about one thing in the least. Nature has a cruel sense of humor. Just then a streak of lightning bolted down from the clouds above to lick at the rod Tech had just been bound to merely moments before. All chaos erupted in that moment. Black boxes shattered into zillions of pieces and embedded themselves into the flesh of the unfortunates near while slender wires burst from their bond and lashed out as if alive and seeking blood at that very moment. Tech dropped low to the roof in hopes of making herself the smallest target possible, but Cardi wasn't that fortunate. He, among others took the brute force of chance. With a sickening crack his head was snapped back and thousands of volts were absorbed into his living flesh, and the world went black with shocked pain so intense...

His heart stopped the very instant he was struck with all the force of a lightning bolt.

There was a weird crackling sound floating through my head. I groaned and went to stand up, but I realized I was floating in a weird, mist essence. I glanced around, only to see I was in some sort of teal vortex, with nothing but my body. I then let what happened wash over me. I was struck by lightning, and...TECH! Where was she? I struggled to turn around, but I couldn't move. I was trapped.

And then I was moving. The teal vortex started to clear and I saw the building top with the scorched tiles and the smoking black boxes. I watched as the thunder and lightning issued, and I wondered where I was. Then it hit me as a black paw stretched out in front of my view. I was stuck in some sort of world where my body continued to move. I realized I was my memory, floating in this teal essence and I didn't know how to get out.

Acardii stood up, groaning and rubbing his head. What happened? He looked around, not taking in his surroundings and he let his eyes fall to the ground, his skin scorched and burning, tingling slightly. He didn't like it. Glaring at the ground, he glanced around for a door, and found the staircase doorway. Staggering towards it, he fell down the steep staircase and landed in the hallway. People moved towards him. He glared up at them, not seeing and not knowing. They were talking to him, yet he didn't know them. Finally, Acardii let a roar escape him.

Leave me alone!" he roared, and then he flung up the stairs once again, spreading his wings and plunging off the building as people behind him screamed. He dived towards the forest, entering it with too much speed and crashed into the ground, tumbling and rolling, smashing into trees and bushes.

Something about him wasn't right. He mumbled and talked to himself, and it was indistinguishable until he spoke louder, with more strength and force.

Yes, yes, I know," he mumbled. His eyes rolled up slightly, as if he were talking to someone above him. "I have no recollection of what happened though!" he sobs, and then his eyes snap downwards. "How?" he asks.

Just wander around, eventually you'll find yourself! a voice issued. Acardii nodded, turning and romping into the surrounding greens.

Just go with what you feel is right, our puppet! said a higher pitched voice. Acardii struggled, then bit his tongue, racing into the forest, to world unknown, and not even knowing who he was.