Chapter 3

On arriving in the wastes by the rejected transfer chute Zooty and his rescuers hid inside an old Imperium tank until the Cynid pursuit team was called back. The raccoon called in a drop-ship and they took a long hike to the landing zone. Zooty was met with quite a few curious looks and cautiously drawn guns when he and his rescuers boarded the ship.

“It’s all right, he’s not one of them,” the raccoon explained, “I’ll take him to see Le’lot once we get back to sanctuary,” The FURs seemed a little uneasy but agreed to let him on.

“Why is everyone looking at me so strangely,” Zooty asked as they sat and buckled their safety harnesses, “and who’s Le’lot?” He covered his ears as the ship lifted off.

“We’re turning on the Gravity Suppression Field now!” The squirrel piloting the ship called back to them.

“Don’t let it get to you. They’re just not used to seeing a friendly half Cynid.” The raccoon said, “Le’lot’s our leader, he’s formidable but a really nice FUR if you show him respect. However, when we get back to Sanctuary it’s not my decision if you’re allowed to stay with us, it’s his.”

“I hope he’s in a good mood,” Zooty huffed, “by the way you haven’t told me your name yet, I’m Zooty.”

“Nice name, I’m Reiko,” said the raccoon.

“We’re puncturing the atmosphere!” The squirrel pilot announced, “We’ll be home in a few moments.”

Zooty peered out the window at the colony they were closing in on and gasped, it was bigger than he could have imagined, “that’s sanctuary!?,” He exclaimed, “it’s so big!”

Reiko smiled, “I thought you’d be impressed, the survivors of the Cynid invasion built this and the other colonies out of artifice abandoned in the Cynid scrap yards while hiding from the ‘nids trying to sniff them out.”

“It sounds like they had it tough,” Zooty remarked. The ship jerked violently as it entered Sanctuary’s artificial gravity field and landed in the drop-ship bay.

“You two go back to your squad dorm,” Reiko said to the squirrel and the ferret, “I’ll take care of Le’lot.” The ferret and squirrel were a little reluctant but obediently scurried off.

Zooty cringed as he felt the muzzle of a carbine press into his back, “we can’t take any chances,” said the bat behind him. He could hear the click of the artificial paw that allowed them to hold weapons cautiously caressing the trigger.

Zooty looked at Reiko for support but he just shrugged and led them out of the ship and docking bay. Zooty ducked his head to avoid meeting the curious eyes of the FURs peering from the squad dorms, the mess hall, infirmary, armouries, and research sectors. They were all whispering things about how strange he looked and were asking each other “what is a half-Cynid doing here.”

Zooty was very nervous when they passed through the doors to Le’lot’s quarters, especially when he saw the formidable looking wolf barking out orders to the FURs monitoring FUR squads operating on the surface and the sectors on Sanctuary. A monitor he was particularly interested in was a group of weasels modifying an Ion Shot (a revolver styled ammunition chambered shot-gun). Le’lot seemed to notice them enter and took an obvious interest in Zooty.

“So this is Zooty, our wayward half-Cynid,” the wolf said as he padded over to them and offered a paw. Zooty stared up at the enormous wolf, held out his and shook it. Wolves were enormous compared to the other species of the Imperium: they were at least seven feet tall! “Good to meet you, I am Le‘lot, force leader of Sanctuary. This is quite a surprise, no Cyresis subject has ever escaped without being brainbotted.” He turned to Reiko, “do you think we can trust him? Your squad may have rescued him from the Cyresis labs, but he could also have been placed there on purpose by the Cynids. They’re quite well known for elaborate plans.”

“Why would they do that sir?” Reiko asked.

“Who knows? The Cynids could have implanted him with a virus, a chest bursting ‘nid, they could have used him to track your squad back to sanctuary, or implanted him with a twenty megaton bomb, the list is endless.” Zooty shuddered at the latter idea, Le’lot shrugged, “but I think it’s unlikely. Still we can never be too careful; before he can join your squad I’d like you to give him a safety scan. If he passes he‘s free to stay.”