Path of the Hunters [PART 3]

"Mm... Fun, fun. It is impressive that Sol was the only injury. She settled Dart on the small bed - or tried, he began to fuss again, so she kept a hold of him.

"Stubborn little guy, huh?" He simply sat on the bed, Aurora in his lap. "Anyway, I saw it comin', the way he had his little epic moment against the leader. He always was a bit of a ham. I told him to lay off of watchin' Taken the way he did."

She laughed softly. "'E is alive. That is what matters." With a soft sigh, she realized what Dart wanted and adjusted her dress so that he could feed. She could only hope they'd never be hungry at the same time...

He chuckled. "At least he knows what he wants." He could feel Aurora squirm in his lap, and shifted her into a more comfortable position in the crook of his arm. She cooed softly her appreciation. "She does, too."

She sat beside him, smiling at the boy. "They are so small," she murmured, laying her head on his shoulder.

"But they are so smart." He snuggled his wife gently, smiling down at the girl. "I guess that makes us so lucky..."

She laughed softly. "Oui... Tell me what 'as 'appened to Cross's femme and StarShine."

He sighed. "From what I could tell, the place has been routed. Star's taken, Sunny's on her last legs, and Trip managed to get away. He's headin' to an extraction point, now. Poor Cross must be worrying himself sick, or trying not to show it."

She nodded, frowning. "Zut... There is little we can do at the moment, which is 'orrible..."

*

Meanwhile, Trip sank back into the tunnel and sank down. His feet hurt; his legs hurt... He wanted his mom to be okay... He knew where he was, though, so called Cross. The battery died before the echidna could pick up, leaving the fox entirely in the dark and terrified.

"They won't kill her. They need her to flush us out. I just hope the kid makes it out okay..."

*

"Hello? Trip, you with me? Tr--Dammit!" He closed his phone, pulling out his tracking device. "Katherine! I'm not gonna have any picture of what's there, but I got the coordinates for Trip's extraction!"

"So do I," she said quietly.

[If you want to go that far; he's near the ocean, lol. In the middle of an old air field. I'll explain why later. 'Night, guys ^^]

"We have a stealth variant pelican with stealth variant hornet support standing by over there, it'd be quicker if you tell us where he is rather than you going over there personally."

"32 degrees North, 4 miles South, 119 degrees West, 2 miles east. Something along the coast again, I know that much. Other than that..."

*

"Now..." His voice had turned a bit serious. "What exactly did you see? And what's this warning all about?"

"Affirmitive, Cross. We'll have them pick him up, though I am uncertain if he'll trust us. Seeing as how the last bunch of strange folk just tried kill/kidnap him and hurt Sunny really badly. Maybe you should at least get a link with the pelican so that we can pull up a hologram of you to talk him into trusting us. Like a video call, except in full 3-D."

Aurélie sighed. "As I said, I saw blood. It was... It was everywhere. It poured from the blade, from my own 'ands. I saw... Oh, mon coeur, he was so angry. He started the feud on purpose, 'oping that the two families would destroy each other. 'E chose the Laroche at random...

"But now... Now 'e is just sad. I saw that as well... It is the last chance to stop them from fighting. It 'as to be done or they will destroy each other."

"And how exactly do I do that? Am I just given a holo-projector, or..."

*

Nova sighed, nuzzled her softly. "But how are we going to stop them? This has been going on for generations; it would take a miracle of a revelation for them to simply kiss and make up... So, did you have anything in mind?"

"Oui. But I need to get to France and to the elders of them both." She sighed. "I 'ave to do something with Tuefel's blade and, honestly, I am not certain what just yet. If I give it to the Laroches they will see what I 'ave. But I do not know that the Baudoins would."

"Just hold still in front of a camera." She snapped her fingers and a flying camera came in and circled him before settling in front of him. "Now when the hatch opens, the holo-tank in the cockpit will activate and you'll at least be able to speak to him. It's not much, but it'll have to be enough. If not...well we have them carry stun rounds for a reason, but try to make sure that we don't have to use them, ok?"

"Well, maybe..."

There was a knock at the door. Kane and Crescent were standing in the doorway. "The Baudoins know about the blade," Kane said. "A mistake I made, sharing that information. However, I doubt they will kill you over it. Also, they still don't know its potential in their hands."

*

"Hopefully, it won't reach that point. I'll be able to see him just fine, right?"

She shook her head. "The Laroches would kill me in an instant. They 'ave no idea that it is destructive; they only know it brings power. I do not know if the Baudoins will react as a Laroche with this blade or if it will only be 'eavy for them after a time."

"If he gets inside the cockpit, or at least looks through to door of the cockpit, otherwise...wait," She snapped her fingers, "Ah-ha! ODSTs carry projector units to use for distractions, they have remote access! We can use one of those instead of the cockpit holo-tank!" She laughed, "That might just work..."

"Then, let's find out," Nova said, getting to his feet. Crescent got the hint, and took Aurora from his grasp. "Give me the blade, Aurélie."

*

"So, basically, we'll be able to see and talk to each other just fine, if it works."

"That's if he's willing to talk to a hologram of you after watching a large flying thing appear from the middle of nowhere."

Aurélie frowned. "Nova, if it affects you poorly..."

"Trip trusts me with his life. Hologram or not, the idea of being able to see and/or talk to me will get him to come around. Just... take it easy on the guns."

*

"That's a chance I'm willing to take. Besides, would you rather give it to a dangerous Baudoin, and be killed over it?"