Espionage

Copyright 1997 by Renee a.k.a. Alethea

All "NiGHTS" characters and related indica mentioned herein are copyright and TM by one or more of the following: Sega Enterprises, and/or Sega of America. 

Used without permission

Etienne or "Eti," and related characters and indica, copyright Jeanette Merrell

Used with permission

Dunamis, Alethea, Aldwyn, Frost, Pomp, Picayune, Talitha, Salpinx and related characters and indica, copyright 1997 Renee(KoustodiaofMer@juno.com) 

This document may be freely distributed as long as it is not modified in any 

way. Special thanks to God and Jeanette Merrell for help with Eti:)





Espionage



Forward

My perspective of the NiGHTS universe is that when you dream you sort of go into another universe or dimension. The beings in this world don't truly fit under any classification that we have; they have physical characteristics (they breathe, sleep, etc.), and are not really spirits. Their world is fairly old, but they are a relatively newly created species. 

This story takes place after my first one. As things stand now there is only a small (relatively speaking) group of Rebels compared to the thousands of beings in Nightmare. In a place with so many beings at war, spies do exists and both sides have them. The Rebels do not use their spies on each other, unless something very abnormal is going on, however the Nightmaren do. In fact, not even the highest 'maren know who all of the spies are because of the number of beings in Nightmare; it would be impossible to know who all of the spies are. Every high-ranking 'maren has spies of their own. This story is about one of those spies.





The Mistake

(Chapter 1)

Jackle stood in his command room, and watched the other beings scurrying or flying about doing the jobs that had to be done in the Castle of Nightmare. All of them were under his command. Jackle smiled to himself. He enjoyed commanding so much so that he had been thinking for months of a way to show Wizeman that he would be better able to carry out Reala's position than Reala was. This, however, had proved difficult until he had thought of a very simple plan. If he sent a spy to the rebels pretending to defect then he could get access to all of their plans, number of troops etc. It was so simple it amazed him that he had not thought of it before. Jackle looked around the huge room. He had spent weeks planing this strategy out. Jackle strolled across the room, and the beings moved rapidly out of his way. A few 'maren and Minion were mopping the floor or dust or whatever else needed to be done. Jackle floated over to his chair and sat down. After a few minutes he began taping his fingers on the arm of the chair. He hated waiting for late Minion to show up when they were called.

Puffy was yelling at the small Shleep, which had just entered her command room. She was in one of her classic bad moods and as usual was taking it out on anyone within her room. Anyone in the hall could hear her even though the doors were closed. 

" Que!"

" It's not my fault!"

" You ridiculous excuse for a Minion! I told you not to leave it there! I told you someone coming into the room would break it, but I didn't expect it to be you! Que te pasa! Neither Puffy nor the Sleep noticed a long black shadow pass rapidly across the doors on the outside, and continue along the hallway toward the higher more remote parts of the castle. Namely, Clawz favorite haunt. A 'maren flew outside one of the nearby windows and upward toward a tall thin turret. It stopped right outside of a window and landed on a small stone ledge.

The door to his command room creaked, and Jackle glanced upward as a Hollow flew into the room. It landed on ground in front of Jackle and bowed. Jackle nodded. 

" Pomp, I want you to give Aldwyn a new assignment. He is to go to Nightopia, and pretend to join the rebels, and retrieve any information valuable to Nightmare: troop numbers, base location, weak points, and anything of use. Tell him to go once a day to the edge of Nightopia when he gets into their base so that he can send the information to you, and you will bring it to me. Do you understand?"

" Yes sir."

" Well go tell him!"

" But he's on a mission." The Hollow flinched in fear as Jackle glowered at him.

" I have given him a new one now go tell him!"

" Yes sir." Pomp fluttered into the air and out the door as quickly as possible. Jackle glared out the window across Nightmare. He did not always trust spies, especially Aldwyn. They were out of Jackle's direct control, and he sincerely disliked having to use them at all. Aldwyn also was one of the best, and that made him a danger if he ever did decide to defect. He wondered if Aldwyn had found out anything at all about Clawz. That was, at the moment, Aldwyn's assignment. Clawz seemed to lack any desire to take over Reala's position, but there were times when Jackle suspected that Clawz might have more ambition than he let anyone know about. If so, then he was much more dangerous than Jackle had once thought.

Clawz sat quietly in his favorite haunt reading the report that one of his 'maren had brought to him only a few hours ago. He sighed wearily. Keeping an eye on all of the other officials got to be tiring after awhile. It looked like Gulpo had the best chance to overthrow Reala right now, but the position of best able to usurp Reala changed rapidly. Tomorrow almost any of the high-ranking 'maren could pull ahead of Gulpo. Suddenly Clawz caught a glimpse of a shadow outside of the window. He jerked his head upward and thought he saw it moving away. He sprang to the window in angry bewilderment then looked out andsaw the quickly fleeting form of a 'maren dressed in dark purple and orange. Claws sighed irritably. He did not recognize this particular 'maren, but he was probably one of Jackle's spies. He knew most of the other official's spies by sight (even some of Jackle's), but since Jackle was new at trying takeover Reala's position Clawz did not know most of Jackle's spies. Clawz had been having the distinct feeling that someone had been following him for months. He had dismissed this feeling as paranoia, but now he realized that he really had been followed. He was going to have to be more careful. 

Aldwyn dashed through a large window right behind Pomp. He was sure Clawz had caught a glimpse of him. Aldwyn glared down at Pomp. 

" You could have waited until I wasn't busy Pomp."

" I'm sorry, but Jackle is changing your assignment. You are going to Nightopia and are to pretend to join the rebels. Then retrieve any valuable information. When you get to their base you are to go back to the border and meet me so that I can take the information back to Jackle."

" When am I going?"

" Right now."

" I'm in the middle of a mission Pomp."

" I'm sorry, but those are Jackle's orders." Aldwyn sighed irritably.

Only a few minutes later Aldwyn flew across the barren landscape of Nightmare. He really hated to be pulled off of an assignment when he was in the middle of it, but he liked Jackle even less. He had very little respect for him although Jackle seemed savvy. What irritated him the most however, was that Jackle liked to be viewed with slight fear. Aldwyn shuttered as he remembered the guillotine in Jackle's command room. It, of course, was for decoration, but Aldwyn couldn't imagine why anyone who was not trying to inspire at least mild terror would want one. It simply showed how arrogant and how skeptical Jackle was of his own abilities.

Aldwyn glided almost carelessly looking at the dark land. It could be weeks before he returned, if he ever did. The casual way in which he was often given missions almost always exasperated him. Jackle always seemed to casually send him to his potential death without thinking about it. Those who fought in the 'maren army at least got some kind of honors when they were killed in a battle, but not spies when they were killed on missions. Spies also did not get to fight with troops like the army. They usually worked alone or in small groups. If they made a mistake, they usually could not rely on anyone else to help them, of course even if some one was there that didn't necessarily mean that the other being could do any good. A memory of such an incident and one particular 'maren floated through Aldwyn's mind, and he pushed the thought of her away. He sighed and continued on his way to the border of Nightmare. 

Clawz, who was heading toward Puffy's command room to tell her in a not so quiet way to be quiet, happened to look out of a window. He spotted the same purple and orange 'maren that he had caught a glimpse of spying on him. The 'maren was heading for the border of Nightmare. A large malevolent grin spread across his face. 

" Well, well" he whispered. Clawz wondered whether getting rid of this 'maren would send the message to Jackle to back off. "He must certainly be one of Jackle's best spies." he mumbled unaware that he had said it out loud. Claws flicked his tail back and forth lost in thought, then slunk into the shadows and headed toward a group of guards. They snapped to attention as Clawz addressed them. " That 'maren heading for the border is trying to defect, get rid of him permanently." 

" Yes sir." The five of them took off after Aldwyn. Clawz sneered. He would inform Jackle of the incident personally. Clawz REALLY wanted Jackle to get the message, and, knowing Jackle, Jackle might not understand the obvious if Clawz did not hint at it very clearly. Besides, he didn't want to be deprived of seeing the look on Jackle's face. Clawz knew he could hide behind the excuse of 'maren defection for such an "unfortunate accident". Certainly the loss of one spy was worth getting Jackle off his case and humiliating him. 

Aldwyn heard someone coming up behind him, he turned in time to avoid most of the blow of a large sword held by a huge gray 'maren cat. Aldwyn leapt backward holding his bleeding left arm in shock.

" What are you doing! I'm on your side!" Three Minions and a 'maren were heading straight for him, and all of them had their swords out their sheathes (Those that had swords that is; claws, teeth, and a number of other natural weapons are used by some creatures). They charged him all at once. Aldwyn drill dashed into the 'maren cat and kicked the other 'maren in his short ribs. He wondered what they thought they were doing. Suddenly four more guards joined them. Aldwyn felt a chill run through him; there were too many of them. He soared toward Nightopia at top speed. He was more than badly outnumbered. He would much rather fight than run, but he realized that if he continued to fight he was going to lose. He could never win against so many armed guards by himself. If he could get across the border then they might leave him alone, but that was a slim chance. If they did not he had no chance of explaining to them what he was doing; it was fairly obvious that they would kill him and ask questions later. He did not think that even if he told them they would believe him. Aldwyn felt a stabbing pain right under his knee. He glanced back to find a long horizontal cut in his leg. One of the guards following had gotten very close. Aldwyn sped up.

On top of one of the higher hills of Spring Valley a lookout saw the distant form of beings heading toward Nightopia. The rebel turned and headed at top speed back to rebel base to report the on coming troops.

Etienne flew casually through Spring Valley. She enjoyed the peace, quiet, and beauty of the rolling green hills and trees. It was a beautiful day, and the sky was clear and blue. She knew she was very near the border of Nightopia, but she was not particularly concerned. The attacks recently had happened in Stick Canyon not in Spring Valley. Besides, Eti knew how to take care of herself. There had been no reports of attacks recently and she didn't want to get paranoid about them. She didn't want to live constantly looking over her shoulder.

Aldwyn gasped for air. He had covered several miles in record speed, and knew that he could not keep running forever. Nightopia was still at least five miles away. Aldwyn dodged a huge scimitar that belonged to one of the guards. One of the 'maren sped up and swung a sharp double-edged sword at him. Aldwyn dropped altitude and the 'maren flipped head over heals and plowed into the ground below. A steep green hill appeared in the distance, if Aldwyn could just keep up his speed and keep the guards off of his back he had a small chance of making it to Nightopia before he collapsed from exhaustion. 

Nights was talking to Dunamis when a lookout shot through the treetops of Mystic Forest, and pulled to a sudden halt. He glanced around franticly until he spotted Nights. 

" Sir, a group of beings are coming over the border at top speed!" Nights eyes widened. 

" What part of Nightopia are they heading for?"

" Spring Valley, and they'll be there in a few minutes!" Spring Valley was not where he had expected the next attack to come from, and Nights felt slightly unprepared.

" How many of them are coming?"

" I couldn't tell for sure but it looks like it might be a large strike force." 

Nights nodded. 

" Dunamis get your troops. I'll call the others." Suddenly Nights remembered something. "Dunamis, where did Eti say she was going?" Dunamis shrugged.

" Spring Valley."

" Are you sure?" 

" That's what I heard."

" We had better hurry, the Nightmaren will be there in a few minutes."

Aldwyn could tell the guards were getting very tired. He glanced down at a small forest of dead trees below him. Aldwyn dived through the branches of long dead trees. Behind him he could hear the guards following him and gasping ferociously. One of the guards yelped as large branch slapped him in the face. Aldwyn grinned. If they were going to kill him he was at least going to make it as difficult and painful as he could. He darted through a small hole in a pile of boulders in front of him. The green hills were much closer now and Aldwyn knew if he made it, he would not be able to fly much farther. He was going to have to fight. Aldwyn glanced back at the guards again. He was not very far ahead of them. He tried to speed up, but he was already going top speed. He felt dizzy and noticed black and white spots clouding his vision. 

" I'm hyper ventilating" he thought but could not stop gasping. Slowing down was not an option. Aldwyn tried to steady his flying.

Eti glanced over across the border and shuttered. Nightmare was dark as usual. The same thick clouds that normally covered the sky were there, blocking out almost all of the light. A small sandstorm blew across part of Marble Flats. She wondered if there had ever been a day when sunlight had shone there like it did in Nightopia. Suddenly Eti noticed shapes tearing across Nightmare toward Nightopia. As she watched she could see one 'maren in front of the group. He seemed to be trying to take the most difficult route. He raced as close to boulders and near the sharp rocky surface of the ground as he could get.

" What is he doing?" she wondered. Eti flew toward a near by tree and hid behind it waiting for the Nightmaren to come across the border. She had seldom seen such a small group of troops come into Nightopia. " They can't possibly be trying to attack anything; they're not in a formation. What are they doing?" 

Aldwyn was almost to the foothills, but he realized that he was not going to make it. He tried to swerve to keep the guards from getting too close. They seemed equally exhausted and were getting slower also. He still had a good lead, but knew he was going to slow down whether he wanted to or not. He could not keep moving at such a speed any longer. 

Eti could see the lead 'maren, burned out with weariness, stop almost at the border and turn to face the other beings. The others let out a loud roar and dived at the 'maren swords drawn. Eti realized that that they were not trying to enter Nightopia; they were trying to kill the lead 'maren. The 'maren fought them as best he could, but he was out numbered. Eti knew he could not last long against so many soldiers. All of a sudden she recognized the lead 'maren. 

" Aldwyn!" She reached for her sword. 

Aldwyn tried to keep two of the 'maren from stabbing him but could not stop them and keep the 'maren cat from hitting him in the side so hard that he was thrown several yards backward across the border. He slammed into the ground next to a lake. One of the guards leapt toward him with his sword pointed straight at Aldwyn. Aldwyn knew he did not have time to move, but he still tried. He had never expected to be killed by the beings on his side. With out warning another 'maren rammed into the guard and knocked him out of the way. Aldwyn glanced up in surprise. The new 'maren was fighting off the 'maren who had tried to kill him. Aldwyn did not waste time asking questions. As long as she was not trying to kill him Aldwyn was delighted to let her fight some of them. He took on the 'maren cat and two other 'maren. 

The Minions started attacking Eti as well as the 'maren she was already fighting. She kicked one of the Minion out of her way and tried to focus on the 'maren. He was a good fighte, but he seemed distracted. She glanced over at Aldwyn. Although they were fighting her, the soldiers seemed to merely be trying to get her out of the way. They seemed completely focused on killing him. Eti wondered what was so important about Aldwyn. The other soldiers were already fighting him. Another very annoyed, dust covered soldier flew headlong into the fight. Eti knew that the two of them could not fight of all nine soldiers at once. They were going to need some help. 

Suddenly a large group of 'maren and Minions came over one of the hills. Nights was in front of the small army. Eti grinned. The 'maren who had been fighting her was facing her not the on coming rebel army. He turned around and let out a shriek of surprise. 

" You had better leave while you still can." Eti laughed. Abruptly a loud scream startled her. She turned around in time to see Aldwyn knocked into an electric field that belonged to a Cuttle and fall into the lake below him. Eti tried to watch the lake while she fought off the guard. Before she had time to move another 'maren dived into the lake. The other guards began leaving at top speed as the rebel forces got close enough to fight them. Nights drill dashed into the 'maren that was fighting Eti, and the guard turned and began fighting with him. Eti looked back over at the lake, which, on a windy day like this, had small waves on it. She felt more than a little concerned about Aldwyn. She knew Cuttles could control the amount of electricity that they used in their fields. If the Cuttle had used his field at full strength Aldwyn might be dead. The rebel 'maren who had dived in came to the surface and dragged Aldwyn unconscious or dead to the shore. The rebel let go of him and leaned against a rock panting for air. Aldwyn just lay there like a wet rag on the shore. Eti flew down and landed next to them. 



Recognition

(Chapter 2)

" Is he alright?" Eti felt a sense of amazement. It had been a long time since she had seen him. She had been in a very bad situation with some of the Nightmaren troops that might have gotten her killed had it not been for Aldwyn. He had helped her get out before they had time to realize what had happened. The two of them had become friends when suddenly he vanished, and she had not been able to find out what had happened to him. The dripping wet rebel looked around. 

" He's breathing if that's any help. Alethea didn't come on this battle or she could tell you."

" You need to take him back to the infirmary." Eti looked around for Nights. She saw him giving orders to two of the 'maren. He flew over and landed next to Eti.

" Are you alright?" He asked anxiously. 

" Yes, don't you think you got a little carried away." Eti looked at the rebels who were heading back to the base. " There weren't that many enemies." Nights grinned.

" I wanted to make a serious impression, and I didn't know how many of them there were." Eti glanced at Aldwyn.

" You need to take this 'maren back to the infirmary. He's been hurt. The Nightmaren were trying to kill him." 

" Was he trying to defect?"

" I don't know, but they seemed very determined to get rid of him." Nights sighed and looked around.

" Whether he is or isn't we shouldn't leave him here."

A few minutes later Nights and the rest of the rebels, and Eti arrived back at the base, and took Aldwyn over to the infirmary. Alethea shook her head as the other 'maren told her what happened. 

" Electrocution is defiantly serious, especially if..." She glanced at Aldwyn's left shoulder and faltered " Someone stabbed him!" Eti's eyes widened. Her voice had a nervous edge to it.

" I didn't see that! Is he going to be alright?" Alethea was busily looking for the long bandages she kept in her storage room. " I don't know yet, electrocution is tricky and tends to have unusual affects." Alethea frowned soberly. " He's losing a lot of blood." She poured something out of a bottle on to a cloth and put it on Aldwyn's shoulder. 

" What was that?" asked the wet 'maren.

" An antiseptic. The last thing I want is for this to get infected." She bandaged his shoulder, but still didn't seem very happy with it. She gave the injured 'maren a pitiful look of sympathy. " I hope I don't have to cauterize it. It looks like it's going to keep bleeding for quiet awhile." She bandaged his arm; then put it in a sling after putting antiseptic on it, and did the same with the cut under his knee.

Meanwhile Nights was trying to decide what to do with Aldwyn.

" Do you think he was trying to defect?" Dunamis shrugged. 

" How should I know?"

" Call Eti, I need to talk to her. She was the only one who was there when this whole thing started." Dunamis nodded and left.

Eti looked up as Dunamis landed in front of the infirmary. 

" Nights wants to talk to you, Eti." She nodded wearily and followed him over to a small knot of rebels standing around Nights and talking curiously. 

" Eti, do you know what was going on?" 

" I don't know, but considering that they were trying to kill him I would say 

that he had done something to get them irritated." Nights shook his head.

" If I thought I could trust him I would ask him, but I have a strange feeling about this whole situation."

" I think you should believe him. After all, I have never seen the Nightmaren try so hard to get rid of someone, except for you of course."

" You're probably right, but I still want to ask the King. If anyone knows what was going on he will know." Eti nodded. Nights and the rest of the rebels were in the service of the King of the dream realm, and since the King knew about everything that went on in the dream realm, whenever Nights needed to know something he asked the King. 

Alethea walked up to them. 

" How is he?" Eti asked. 

" Well, I think he'll be alright. He needs to rest, and it will take about seven days for him to be well enough to consider doing anything." Nights called two guards over, and they snapped to attention. 

" Take the 'maren to one of the cells."

" Yes sir." Nights looked over at Dunamis who was leaning against a tree. 

" Dunamis, I want two guards stationed outside of his cell." 

" Yes sir."

"I want to know when he wakes up, Alethea." Alethea nodded.

Clawz grinned as he saw the guards returning. They looked exhausted and 

frazzled. 

" Well?" Claws drummed the tips of his claws on the stone floor. " Did you get rid of him?" The guards looked nervously at Clawz. Then the gray 'maren cat stepped forward. 

" We're not sure sir." The other guards studied the floor.

" What do you mean your not sure? Is he or isn't he dead?" Clawz voice had an icy threatening tone to it and the guards held their breath.

" We think he is, but we can't be sure. The rebels attacked us and we had to leave, but it looked like we killed him." Clawz scowled at them. 

" Did the rebels see him."

" I think so, sir."

" You're dismissed." The guards left quickly to spite their crippled appearance. 

Clawz decided that telling Jackle he was dead would still accomplish what Clawz had intended. If the spy were still alive the rebels would capture him so he was as good as dead. Clawz strolled over toward Jackle's command chamber. 



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The next day Eti and Nights were at the infirmary. Nights crossed his arms and sighed. 

" How long before he wakes up?" Alethea who had just finished treating a Snip turned around and looked at them. 

" I can't tell for sure, but I think it won't be long now."

Aldwyn slowly opened his eyes. He felt a slight tingling sensation all the way through him as well as an intense throbbing pain in his shoulder, and he was acutely aware that he had a very bad headache. Aldwyn could hear his heart beating, and everything had a slightly hazy look to it. He glanced around a small cell. He was alone. There was one barred window near the ceiling that had no glass in it. Aldwyn felt something tight on his left arm and shoulder as well as his leg. He looked down at the sling and other bandages then closed his eyes again. It hurt too much to try to think, and he was tired. Judging from the amount of light coming through the window he was not in Nightmare, not that it made much difference. He was always in danger when on any mission no matter where he was, and what had happened proved it.

" They tried to kill me." He thought with a slight wave of shock that only seemed to make his head hurt worse. He had learned not to trust anyone, why should his own allies be any different? Aldwyn felt a little disoriented, and he tried to go to sleep. He was in no shape to think about what to do.

Alethea was finishing a new batch of one of the more potent analgesics. She knew that when the 'maren which the rebels had brought back yesterday woke up he was going to need something more potent than the normal one she kept. She poured the new batch into several bottles, then sealed them and walked over to the prison. As soon as she entered the two guards snapped to attention.

" Open the door." The guards did so, and Alethea looked over their shoulders. Light from the hall flooded in and the purple and orange 'maren stirred and let out a small cry. The 'maren opened his eyes, looked at them.

" Call the General." One of the 'maren left to bring Nights. He arrived followed by Eti and the guard. They glimpsed through the door and Alethea turned and spoke quietly to Nights.

" I wouldn't talk to him very long, he is going to need a lot of rest."

Aldwyn recognized Eti. He glanced down at the ground. He had kept a rather nasty little border incident from getting her killed, and they had become friends. She had been one of the few friends Aldwyn had ever had that was not a spy. He appeared to most to have cold withdrawn and seemingly unemotional nature, and most creatures ignored him. The other spies however understood him because most of them were like him to some extent, and they knew that when you could possibly be asked to betray your friends and acquaintances you had to put a distance between yourself and everyone else for your own protection. He hoped dearly that she wasn't going to ask about where he had been; he couldn't tell her if she wanted to know, he was not suppose to discuss missions. Nights walked into the room, and Eti stood outside of the room behind Nights. Aldwyn suddenly noticed Nights, and his eyes widened. Aldwyn tried to sit up. His head immediately felt worse, and everything became much hazier. His shoulder screamed at him, and he was all at once aware that his muscles were very sore and achy. Alethea took one look at him and gave him an upset look. 

" Oh no you don't. Lie down right now." Aldwyn did so apprehensively. Eti looked him in the eyes and Aldwyn glanced at the floor. 

" Aldwyn?" He shrank internally. 

" Hello, Eti." Nights glanced back and forth at them.

" You didn't tell me you knew him!" 

Alethea brought something in a cup to Aldwyn, and he drank it. If they were going to kill him there would be no need to poison him, and as bad as he felt he was willing to risk trusting them. He wondered miserably what he was going to say to the inevitable questions that they would be asking. If they did not believe him there was nothing he could do, and they would probably kill him. " Out of the frying pan into the fire." he thought.

Clawz grinned with satisfaction. Jackle was finally not too busy to see him. Clawz strolled in putting on the best-aggrieved appearance he could possibly put on. He had been looking forward to this since yesterday. Jackle tapped his foot impatiently on the floor. 

" What is it Clawz?" Clawz looked down at his feet with a believable look of nervousness of which any professional actor would have been proud. " Well!"

" I spotted a 'maren yesterday heading for the border so I sent several guards after him. In the turn of events, he was killed, and it turns out that he was under your command. I have found out what his name was, and I, as you know, have to report the death of any troops to their authorities if my people were involved." Jackle stared at him.

" Who was he?"

" His name was Aldwyn." Jackle clinched his fists.

" He was on a mission for me! He is, well was, one of my spies you imbecile!" 

Clawz cowered appropriately stifling a huge grin. Then gave Jackle a look of shock.

" You mean he wasn't trying to defect?"

" No he wasn't!"

" Oh, what an unfortunate mistake!"

" Get out!" Clawz turned and walked toward the door, then stopped and glanced at Jackle. 

" By the way, Jackle, " Clawz voice became sharp and hard " I don't like spies, so be more careful next time." Clawz vanished through the door leaving a very enraged Jackle behind.

Jackle called for Pomp who was somewhere in the castle. He sighed as the Hollow entered the room. 

" Aldwyn is dead, or at least that is what Clawz reported. You are still to show up at the edge of Nightopia, and look for him for at least a week. After all, spies are notorious for dying and then showing up again," Jackle smirked " and I would so enjoy telling Clawz that he failed." Pomp bowed and took off toward Nightopia, and Jackle grinned. Telling Clawz that he was wrong was a rare satisfaction. After all, Aldwyn hadn't been chosen for this assignment for no reason. Aldwyn was cleaver as well as resourceful, and Clawz had more than likely no proof that he was dead. 



Inside

(Chapter 3)

Nights shook his head and grinned. 

" I know what I'm doing, Dunamis." Dunamis stomped one foot.

" I'm telling you, he's lying. I just know." He felt exasperated. " Why did you let him join so easily?" Nights knew that this conversation could go on for quiet awhile. Dunamis was very stubborn about what he believed. 

" I'm not going to throw him back to Nightmare. Trust me; now, if you will excuse me, I need to talk to Eti and Alethea." Nights left to find the two other 'maren. 



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

For the next four days, Aldwyn had to rest if for no other reason than 

Alethea kept him from doing anything else, not that he felt like doing anything anyway. By then, he could move around a little, but he still wasn't in any shape to start spying. At this point to try to do so was beyond stupid. Aldwyn tried to sleep most of the time, but had been finding it more and more difficult to do so. He knew he needed to rest, but he wasn't doing anything. This not only made sleeping difficult, but also gave him too much time to think. His situation reminded him slightly of a much worse one in which he had been involved, and he tried not think about it. No one except Eti knew him outside of Nightmare, and Eti only knew him as well as any outsider to the spy ring could. He was starting become friends with Alethea, but he had not known her long. He knew he really should not risk becoming close to any of them, but he was finding that nearly impossible. 

" In Nightmare, if they thought I was a rebel they would have let me die, or would have been ordered to." He thought. Someone came into the room and Aldwyn turned his head toward the door. Eti walked into the room and looked at him with some concern.

" Aldwyn do you mind if I talk to you?"

" Of course not."

" Aldwyn, you're colder than you used to be; Are you alright? I don't mean physically, something is bothering you." 

" I'll be alright." 

" But what's wrong?" Both of them were quiet for several minutes. Aldwyn decided it would not be a problem if he told her. 

Eti saw a momentary look of intense sorrow on his face. Then it vanished into well-practiced composure. 

" Kithara was killed." 

" You're girlfriend! What happened to her?" 

" She was on a mission with me, and we were ambushed." 

" I'm sorry."

" I never found out who wanted her killed."

" What makes you think they wanted her killed instead of you?"

" Because if they did I would be dead." Aldwyn sounded tired. " Can we please talk about something else?" Eti glanced down at her feet. 

" Did Alethea tell you how long you need to rest before you're somewhat back to normal?"

" She said at least a week." 

" Oh fun, you're going to be bored for quiet awhile." Aldwyn smiled slightly. It was the first time she had seen him smile since he had arrived. 



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



It had been seven days since the "accident" and Clawz had been in a very good mood the whole time. He had not yelled at anyone and wore a perpetual smirk. That was enough to make the other 'maren curious, and to send some of their spies to find out why Clawz looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. 

Clawz of course knew who almost all of the spies assigned to spy on him were, and none of them found out anything that Clawz did not want them to know. That also increased Clawz satisfaction, and the insatiable curiosity of the others. Clawz leaned against the windowsill, and gazed across Nightmare. He was taking considerable pleasure in teasing the other officials this way. It was dangerous to get too much attention or to tease too often, but Clawz was careful not to get them too upset or interested. Only Jackle knew what Clawz was so happy about and he was the only real danger at the moment. Jackle had avoided Clawz consistently and would not say anything to him. He was absolutely scathing, and Clawz did his best not to run into him. To tease him would be a big mistake at this point in time. Jackle might decide to take care of Clawz in a most permanent way, and no official, not even Reala, was completely safe. The thought of Reala and spies bothered Clawz. Reala's had been fairly easy to pick out, and Clawz had the distinct feeling that he was missing something important about them. 

A Verol came into the room, and Clawz turned his head and looked at him irritably.

" What is it, Picayune?" The Verol straightened up.

" Sir, the meeting has just been called and you have been ordered to come." Clawz gave the Verol a surprised look.

" Oh yes, I had forgotten." The Verol strolled out of the room and Clawz followed. Picayune was one of his most trusted Minions, and always seemed to remember the tiniest details. 

The Verol flew off and Clawz walked down the hall toward the room, which was always used as the meeting room. These meetings were scheduled regularly to determine the strength of the army before planing of any strategy. Reala always oversaw the meetings and then reported alone to wizeman himself, however these meetings were important for assessing more than just the strength of the army. They gave everyone of the officials the chance to decide exactly how powerful, dangerous, or inapt another official was, or how ambitious. Clawz strolled into the room and took a seat at the long table. Reala was already at the head of the table, and Clawz glanced around the room at the other officials. A few moments later Jackle strolled into the room. He caught sight of Clawz, and glared viciously at him. Clawz shrank into his seat ever so slightly. There was only one chair left in the room and it was right next to Clawz. Jackle walked over and sat down, carefully avoiding looking at Clawz. Several of the officials watch Jackle with interest. No one except Clawz knew why Jackle was in such a foul humor. 

The meeting began and the usual reports began, but in a few minutes someone would get brave enough to make some kind of comment (Usually in the form of an insult). Then who ever it was directed at would answer (Most of the time with hostility), and the whole room would be sent spinning into a debate. Sure enough, Puffy started by insulting Gulpo's intelligence and that was all it took. 

" As if you would have done anything differently!" Gulpo snorted. Clawz glanced around the arguing roomful of 'maren at Reala. He knew that Reala was aware of most of the ambitious officials, and that he played them against each other with expertise. He could manipulate them with an accuracy that was quite alarming. One carefully placed word and he could easily start a fight during meetings, and Clawz had long ago learned that during these fights to keep his mouth shut. Reala would listen for the smallest change of tone or wording in a debate, though he often said very little. A few other officials also used the same techniques, but never got the results that Reala got. Reala seemed to know more than everyone else did somehow, and Clawz was very curious as to how Reala managed to pull that off. The fight began to die down, and Reala put his skill to use.

" Gulpo you are so..." Puffy paused in frustration.

" Reckless" interjected Reala with an imperceptibly small grin.

" RECKLESS! You never look at what you're doing! You rush into it head long!" The spines on Gulpo's back seemed to stand on end.

" OH, I'M THE RECKLESS ONE! WHAT ABOUT YOUR LAST ATTACK? I DON'T EXACTLY REMEMBER THAT BEING THOUGHT OUT!" Puffy looked around infuriated, and several officials moved back waiting for her to throw something across the table at Gulpo. At this point Reala intervened.

" Puffy, get control of yourself." Puffy looked as if she was about to say more, but finally managed to restrain herself. Clawz smiled. He loved meetings.



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



Pomp landed at the border in a clump of thick trees and looked around. He had seen no sign of Aldwyn for five days, and was beginning to think he would never find him. The chance that he would run into him, especially if he was injured, was rather slim. Pomp sighed in frustration. Jackle would be very disappointed, and he was already in an irritable enough mood. He headed back toward Nightmare to tell Jackle once again that Aldwyn was still missing. It seemed ridiculous to keep looking; still, Pomp was aware that spies had a tendency to vanish for periods of time before emerging again, so it was quite possible that Aldwyn was alive. If he was smart and the rebels caught him then he could easily pretend to defect.

Aldwyn stood up very carefully. Most of the effects of electrocution had worn off leaving only slightly sore muscles. His shoulder and arm still hurt when he moved them. Alethea walked through the door of the infirmary, and saw him. She gave him a concerned look. 

" Be careful. I don't want you hurt yourself." Aldwyn walked carefully around the room then to the door.

" I think I'll be alright. I need to start moving again."

" Just be careful, and don't try to do too much right now." Aldwyn nodded and walked out the door. 

The 'maren brought her sword down, and the two blades meet with a loud ring. Talitha jumped back a little and frowned slightly. 

" I don't think that was a very good block." Talitha mumbled. 

The 'maren flew at her and Talitha struck out at her with her own sword. The 'maren blocked, then kicked at her. A few Minions watched for a few minutes, and then went back to whatever it was they were doing. Dunamis watch them dully. Talitha swung her sword sideways, the 'maren blocked again, and was jarred backwards slightly. Talitha swung again, and the 'maren flew back and tried to get one swing of her own in before blocking once more. Talitha leapt sideways and tried to hit her in the back, and the 'maren blocked and moved out of the range of Talitha's sword. Talitha grinned, sprang toward her, and slung her sword at the 'maren, then raised it above her head and brought it down. The 'maren blocked and Talitha tried again at a slightly different angle. The fighting went on for several minutes before Talitha made a mistake. The 'maren was just getting her balance back when Talitha raised her sword again. The 'maren struck out with her sword, and hit Talitha's sword with enough force to send it flying out of her hand. She tried to go after it, but the 'maren flew down first stood on it with one foot. Talitha flicked her tail from side to side and sighed.

" I quit! You've already beaten me twice, and I'm tired of practicing! Anyway, I'm never going to get this right!" Dunamis shook his head.

" You're doing fine, you just need to keep you're elbows up." He had been trying to teach Talitha for months how to sword fight, but had been making little headway. A shadow over head caught Dunamis's attention, and he glanced upward as Eti flew above him. She glanced down at him. 

" Where is Aldwyn?" Dunamis frowned

" I would think he's still in the infirmary." Eti caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye. Aldwyn was sitting on a log and looking at the trees. They were huge and covered what looked like hundreds of acres from here, and they were larger than the trees anywhere else in Nightopia as far as she knew. Aldwyn had lived in the castle of Nightmare, and it was located in a desert like area where the trees were all dead or very small. He had probably never seen such large trees. She enjoyed watching the reactions of new 'maren seeing them.

There were five buildings, and one partly finished one in the rebel base area. None of this Aldwyn really noticed compared to surround forest. 

" Where is this place?" Aldwyn wondered. At that thought, he remembered what he was supposed to be doing, and felt a twinge of guilt. " After all they've done for me....just stay focused!" He thought furiously. He had never been in a situation where his enemies had been so virtuous or had saved his life intentionally, and it made things very difficult. He glanced upward at the trees. He had seen trees similar to this before. Aldwyn flinched internally as the memory of Kithara found yet another way to surface. Someone landed next to Aldwyn, mercifully distracting him. He turned to see who it was. Eti walked up to him with surprise. 

" So you're well enough to walk around?" 

" Apparently." 

" What about your leg?" Aldwyn glanced down at it.

" The cut isn't behind my knee so it doesn't cause any problems when I walk." Aldwyn looked around again. " Where are we?" 

" Mystic Forest." Aldwyn thought about what else he should report to Jackle. 

" This base isn't very large, how does everyone get in it?" Eti laughed and shook her head. " Figure it out yourself." Aldwyn decided to do just that.

The sun had set, almost everyone was sleeping, and Aldwyn was busy. He walked slowly down the halls of the main building caring a candle and looked into most of the rooms. Most were empty, and a few were locked. He considered where he should start looking. While he was standing there, he noticed that the hall appeared to tilt downward. Aldwyn frowned, and walked softly down the hall. The farther he went the more the hall seemed to tilt until it abruptly straightened. The walls also changed from stone blocks to solid stone. 

" It's like a cave wall." He thought. His eyes widened as he realized that was exactly what it was. " They built most of it under ground!" Aldwyn had never heard of someone building mostly under ground. Small globes taken from Soft Museum lined the hallway. He walked a little further looking for something that would be useful. He had no way of knowing how many troops were here, nor if there was more than one base (Something he had not thought of until now). Aldwyn resolved that it would be best for him to wait until he had directions that were more specific before sending the information to Nightmare, which meant that he would have to find his way to the border. He smiled at the thought of Reala and a small army wandering aimlessly through the huge forest because some spy simply told them the base was in the forest, and gave no further directions. A small army could wander around for weeks, and still be lost if the forest was as large as it appeared to be. 

Aldwyn decided that he could not learn anything else from wandering and that he might as well get some sleep. A small scurrying noise caught his attention, and Aldwyn decided that he had better leave before someone saw him. A loud noise from down the hall startled him, and he leapt up against a door, which was very slightly ajar. The door opened, and Aldwyn tumbled backwards into a room. The candle clattered to the floor and went out. He landed on his back, and winced as his injured shoulder hit the ground. Aldwyn scrambled up off the floor; glancing nervously all around the dark room. 

" Well that was astute, I made enough noise to wake the dead." He waited until his eyes adjusted and immediately looked around the room. Several pieces of paper were rolled up tightly and stacked neatly in the corner on a small table. " Eureka!" He walked over to them and unrolled one. It was a map of some place named Splash Garden. " Are all of these maps?" Aldwyn considered. He was about to look at another one when he heard someone outside in the hall. Aldwyn tensed up and didn't move. The door was wide open. "I'm dead." He thought.



Oscillation

(Chapter 4)



He didn't dare breath. A short mumbled conversation ensued and Aldwyn looked franticly around the dark room for some where to hide, however there was nowhere he could hide well enough to avoid being seen. He stared in terror at the door expecting them to walk up to the door at any minute. 

" Hey, the door is opened. Someone must have forgotten to close it." Aldwyn glanced at the candle lying on the floor. His heart beat wildly, and he rushed over as quietly as possible and picked it up before leaping back against the wall. He tried to back into the shadows as much as possible. A Kircle flew up to the door, and Aldwyn froze. The Kircle simply closed the door and left. Aldwyn started breathing again and relaxed after a few minutes, shocked that the Kircle had not noticed him. 

" I have got to get out of here before someone finds me," his mind screamed. He stepped to the door and listened for any noise, hearing none, he carefully opened the door and peeked out. The hall was clear. He walked back and rolled up the map, placing it back where it belonged before dashing out the door and vanishing back up the hall. 



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

Aldwyn was not always such an early riser, but he wanted to get to the border before very many 'maren were awake. His arm and shoulder felt terrible, and he suspected it had started bleeding again since he fell. This he hardly noticed compared to the sick feeling in his stomach and the heavy weight-like feeling that seemed to smother him. He had never felt so guilty about anything in his life, and it was almost impossible to focus on anything else no matter how hard he tried. This was also not the first time since his arrival that he had felt this way; he had felt like this several times, but had tried to ignore it. He flew very slowly through the forest straight in one direction. Swerving would make it extremely difficult to find his way back. His conscience screamed at him the entire way. 

After a few hours, Aldwyn noticed that the trees had started thinning, and before long, he flew out of the forest. He found himself in a valley that he recognized. He was amazed that he had found this place again. A small distant movement caught his attention. Aldwyn turned to see a small Hollow disappear into the branches of a nearby tree. He flew over to the tree. 

Pomp beamed in delight.

" It's about time you decided to send a message to Nightmare." He glanced at Aldwyn's injuries indifferently. " Still I suppose, with that many injuries, you certainly do have an excuse for being late." 

" Does he know about the attack?" Aldwyn though. Pomp sighed impatiently. 

" What have you learned?" Aldwyn felt an internal panic and he felt like his conscience would drag him into the ground. 

" Not much, besides the fact that their base is built partly underground." Pomp stared at him in disbelief. No one in Nightmare had thought of building underground. " I'll hopefully make a map to give you soon, but I was a little distracted on the way here so I forgot to make one." Pomp frowned at him.

" That doesn't sound like you, Aldwyn." Aldwyn caught the suspicion in Pomp's voice. 

" I have to get back, or the rebels will get suspicious. I should be able to get something valuable when the rebels have to fight or attack something." Pomp gave him a skeptical look.

" Alright, just be here as soon as you have something new." Pomp took off while Aldwyn headed back toward the base.



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



Jackle was in an extremely good humor. He could hardly wait to see Clawz so that he could rub it in. Aldwyn's first report had just come in, and although it did not contain any valuable information it did make Clawz look ridiculous which, in Jackle's opinion, was just as satisfying as if it had been valuable information about the rebels. Jackle grinned; he so enjoyed coming out on top. 

Pomp glanced at the ground and spoke in an almost inaudible voice.

" I think he's starting to defect." Jackle frowned at the small Hollow.

" What makes you think that?"

" He seemed a little hesitant about reporting anything, and I think he feels indebted to them."

" Well if he starts forgetting to send us reports or does something else like that, then I'll be convinced; there's no need to jump to conclusions just because you feel that something is wrong." Jackle paused meditatively. " Still, I had better see if you are right. Tell Aldwyn to show up tomorrow night at the edge of the large forest in Nightopia." Pomp nodded and took off. Jackle glanced out his window and murmured quietly to himself. " I should still get rid of him when he comes back just incase."

Clawz found out almost immediately after Jackle that the spy was alive, and he was absolutely furious. The rebels did not seem the least bit aware that they had a spy in there midst. They were letting him go wherever he wanted to go. He knew if he tried to interfere now, Jackle would know it was him, and that could have very vicious effects. Clawz informant left the room, and Clawz swatted the door closed leaving very deep scratch marks in the door. There was nothing that he could do now. He paced furiously. Jackle would play this for all it was worth. He would take every opportunity to remind Clawz of his mistake. Clawz calmed down slightly. At least this gave him a look of incompetence that would make a good cover for his ambition.

Aldwyn flew silently through the forest. Alethea had said that he had recovered enough that it was all right for him to start moving around again. He would need to begin looking for information now. 

" If the rebels knew what I was here to do they would have let me die or would have killed me." The though raced through his mind for what seemed the millionth time. He still had trouble convincing himself that they really would have. They were not at all like the self-absorbed Nightmaren of Nightmare. Aldwyn had begun to realize how horrible Nightmare really was. " Stay focused; remember what you're here to do." He told himself firmly. Another thought drifted through his mind. " Why am I doing this?" Aldwyn shivered. He was finding it more and more difficult to remain loyal to Nightmare. It was obvious that he was no more to Nightmare than a little spy who was quite expendable. Guilt descended on him once more. A small chirp caught his attention. Aldwyn turned and looked down at a small Snip. Frost hopped over to him excitedly. 

" There's an attack planed in a few days to take back a small area of 

Stick Canyon that the Nightmaren troops invaded. Nights has included you in the attack! Your part, of course, won't be very big, your still injured, but you do get to go!" Aldwyn felt a sense of horror enveloping him. He smoothed over it as best as he could, but he wondered how obvious his expression had been. The Snip didn't seem to have noticed. 

" Isn't he concerned about my loyalty to the rebels?" Frost frowned.

" Why should he be? You did leave Nightmare; Nightmaren troops were trying to kill you, and the rebels don't follow each other around terrified that someone will try to take over their position or run back to Nightmare. We're not like the Nightmaren army." Aldwyn desperately tried to find something to say that didn't sound like he wasn't on their side, but he couldn't think of anything. His mind reeled.

" What am I going to do?" He thought wildly. " If I don't fight with them they'll know I'm not on their side. If I do fight with them, I'll be charged with treason when I get back to Nightmare!" The thought of returning to Nightmare left him with a feeling not unlike suggesting that he start breathing sand. Aldwyn felt a stab of terror race through him. The sudden realization that he did not want to go back to Nightmare hit him with remarkable force, and left him in a state of silent panic. He hoped anxiously that none of it was showing. 

" Well I have to find Dunamis and tell him that he gets to come also." Frost gave Aldwyn a slightly curious look before leaving, and Aldwyn realized he had a decision to make. He was going to have to decide if he was to continue to serve Wizeman, or serve the King of the dream realm. 

" Where have you been?" Alethea gave Aldwyn a very upset look. " I told you not try to do too much. How long have you been flying around?" Aldwyn looked up at the sky.

" Awhile, but I'm alright." Alethea gave him a skeptical look. 

" Your shoulder is bleeding again, although not very much." Aldwyn glanced back at his shoulder.

" Is it?" 

" Yes, if it keeps bleeding you had better rest before you injure yourself more. Otherwise I might have to cauterize it." Aldwyn winced and held his left arm.



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



Aldwyn leaned back against a rock watching the sunset. He was in a tremendous state of tumult that he had been in since yesterday. Only a few days ago he had no problem deciding which side he wanted to serve; now he was not sure. He knew he only had so much time to decide before one side or the other got suspicious. He knew also that he did not want to go back to Nightmare. Aldwyn had grow weary of constant power struggles and the knowledge that he was working for a being who saw the loss of life as trivial. He had heard enough about the King that He sounded like the best one to serve, but the King seemed almost unreal. 

" It can't possibly be true. He can't be like they say. The King is unselfish, merciful, and kind! It's too good to be true." He was aware that he needed to talk to someone about it instead of just listen to what he heard. He had known many times when rumors weren't true. Alethea walked by and Aldwyn decided to risk asking her about the King. He had to decide which side he was serving. 

" Alethea, tell me the truth, is the King really like the others say that He is?" Alethea smiled.

" What did the others tell you?"

" Well, I just have heard them talking about how kind the King is, and unselfish; He's nothing like Wizeman from what they say."

" Yes, He's like that Aldwyn. The difference between Wizeman and the King is staggering; Wizeman is selfish, cruel, arrogant, and the list could go on for quite awhile, but the King is patient, loving, and merciful. Why anyone would want to serve Wizeman is a mystery to me."

" Well I was just wondering." This attempt to trivialize the conversation only made it sound much more obvious that it was important. Alethea left, and Aldwyn then decided what he had up till now been trying so desperately trying to decide. He was going to serve the King. Why would anyone want to serve Wizeman if they knew about the King? Now Aldwyn's main problem was how the rebels would respond if he told them that he was a spy. 

" Why should I tell the rebels at all that I was a spy? I could just keep doing what I have been doing and no one will think anything at all about it." Jackle would figure out what happened on his own when Aldwyn reports did not come. The only problem was that Pomp had delivered Jackle's message after Aldwyn's last report so he would have to meet with Jackle in the forest if for no other reason than to keep him from looking until he did find Aldwyn; right in the middle of the rebel base. Aldwyn felt relived, though still a little guilty.

Jackle smiled smugly at Clawz, and Clawz tried very hard but unsuccessfully to ignore the smugness. He knew what was coming; Jackle was going to parade Clawz failure in his face. Clawz slowly dragged his massive claws across the floor in front of him for a few inches. Jackle barely noticed. 

" Clawz, it appears that my spy is not dead." Clawz gave a look of surprise, which looked very genuine for a lie.

" That is very.... fortunate." Clawz snapped out the last part, and Jackle snickered. 

" You really should have proof instead of making assumptions. It spares one this sort of surprise." 

" I'll remember that next time." Jackle left with a huge grin, and Clawz could hear him laughing. Clawz ears flattened against his head as he stormed off to his command room. Nightmaren moved out of his way and vanish down hallways as Clawz walked past them. 

The sun had set, and Aldwyn flew near the edge of the forest. Aldwyn thought he heard something behind him. He paused nervously, and glanced over his shoulder. He did not like leaving the base in the middle of the night; he knew that things looked differently at night, and there was a large chance that he could get lost. A rustling started in front of him, and Pomp flew out of the treetops followed by Jackle. Aldwyn shifted uncomfortably as Jackle hovered in front of him. 

" Well Aldwyn, you aren't getting much information. Why?" Aldwyn felt a sense of dread. He had no idea what to say.

" Are you forgetting to which side you belong?" Jackle's voice had more than just a slight threatening tone in it. Aldwyn avoided looking into Jackle's eyes. " Which side I'm on has been on my mind constantly." Jackle glared at him.

" You haven't truly learned anything important since you arrived six days ago, or haven't reported it. As a matter of fact, I don't think you've tried." Aldwyn looked at his feet. " Your slowness is incredible as well as your unawareness if you haven't found anything in six days. I know you can work faster than this. Unless, of course, your completely incompetent!" Aldwyn was beginning to get annoyed at this even if he was no longer on Jackle's side. What did Jackle know about spying? No one had tried to kill him recently. Why was he always so arrogant? 

" If I'm incompetent then why did you send me?" 

" If you talk to me that way you'll end up like the last spy under my command who was so blunt to me and to Wizeman! She even tried to defect, and Wizeman ordered my department to kill her!" Jackle shouted furiously at Aldwyn who froze as a thought raced through his mind.

" Who?"

" Her name was Kithara, as if it made any difference since she's dead!" Aldwyn felt a wave shock tear through him. 

" HE HAD HER KILLED!" At this point Jackle failed to notice the rising ire in Aldwyn. He was too angry himself. 

" YES, WIZEMAN ORDERED HER KILLED, AND MY DEPARTMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING RID OF HER!" Aldwyn stared at Jackle furiously.

" YOU PICKED THE LOCATION THAT WE WERE TO MEET AT! YOU LET ME TAKE THE BLAME FOR IT, AND LED ME TO BELIEVE IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT BEING OBSERVENT ENOUGH, WHEN YOU KNEW WHAT HAPPENED! YOU LIED TO ME!" 

" YOU HAVE DEFECTED, HAVEN'T YOU!" 

Pomp stared in terror as Jackle pulled out one of his cards, and Pomp flew well out of the way. 

Aldwyn dodged the first card that Jackle threw, and it imbedded itself in a tree trunk. Jackle threw three more all at the same time. Aldwyn moved out of the way of two; the third hit him. He let out a scream, and fell several feet before regaining his control. Aldwyn looked at his shoulder. It had a new long gash in it. Aldwyn was about to drill-dash head long into Jackle when something hot burned Aldwyn's right arm. He jerked around and looked at Pomp who dived at Aldwyn. Aldwyn batted Pomp out of the way. Then something hard hit Aldwyn in the back of the head. Aldwyn fell to the ground as the world around him swirled then went black. 

Alethea sneaked behind a nearby bush as Pomp shot an energy ball at Aldwyn. She had seen Aldwyn flying into the forest and had decided to follow him. She had sent a guard to tell Nights, but she knew if she waited too long for him to show up that she would lose track of him. Frost had been with her, but they had gotten separated and lost track of Aldwyn. When the fighting start Alethea had heard it and been able to find Aldwyn, but she still had no idea where Frost was. Alethea moved as close to the edge of the fight as she could get without being seen. Aldwyn turned angrily, and Pomp rushed down at Aldwyn trying to peck him. Jackle pulled out a long dagger. Aldwyn knocked Pomp out of the way, and Jackle rushed straight toward Aldwyn. He wouldn't have time to turn around before Jackle hit him. Immediately Alethea flew out of the bushes and rammed into Jackle. Jackle was only able to hit Aldwyn in the back of the head with the hilt of his dagger instead of the blade. He stared at her in shock holding his ribs. 

" What are you doing here!" Jackle did not wait for an answer. Instead, he took off at top speed with Pomp right behind him. A chirp from behind her caught her attention. Frost hopped up next to Alethea.

" Make sure they don't follow us back to the base." The Snip nodded. He darted into the forest, and Alethea knelt down beside Aldwyn.

Aldwyn felt an aching pain in the back of his head. He opened his eyes and looked up at Alethea, then sat up slowly as he realized what had happened. Aldwyn remembered the conversation with Jackle. His eyes filled up with tears to spite his best effort to prevent it. Aldwyn looked steadily at the ground trying very hard to stop the oncoming tears and being completely unsuccessful. He had not cried since she died a several months ago, and he had only cried once. Alethea looked at his arm. Aldwyn started crying. 

" It's not badly burned. Your shoulder however has a nasty gash in it. Come on, let's go back." Both of them headed back to the base.

Aldwyn didn't say anything on the way back. Alethea looked at him and Aldwyn stared at the ground. Neither of them said anything, even when they arrived back at the base and went to the infirmary. Nights walked up to them. 

" What happened?" Alethea told him everything that she had seen. Aldwyn kept from looking at either of them.

" What was Jackle doing in the forest, Aldwyn." Aldwyn sank nervously. He was going to have to tell them.

" I worked for Jackle. I didn't stop working for him until yesterday. After I heard enough about the King, I wanted to serve Him. Jackle had already sent a message that he was coming, and I didn't want him to find the base."

" You lied to us then?"

" Yes." Aldwyn was reduced to whispering. He could almost feel a sword in his back. 

" Do you want to join the rebels now?"

" Yes."

" Alright, you just joined." Aldwyn looked at Nights stunned. 

" Why are you letting me join you so easily? Aren't you going to kill me?" Nights grinned.

" The same reason I did earlier; the King told me to let you join."

" He knew I was a spy!" Nights laughed.

" Yes, and He told me, and I told Eti and Alethea." Aldwyn stared at them. 

" Does everyone in the entire rebel base know!" 

" No, only the King and the four of us."

" Why would the King want me? Why didn't He kill me?"

" Because He cares about you." Aldwyn looked at the ground. 

" I want to serve Him, but He's probably doesn't want me to now."

" Aldwyn, you would not want to serve the King if He wasn't calling you, and why would the King call you if He didn't want you to serve Him? Let me tell you about what He did to free us from having to serve Nightmare."

" Don't you just leave?"

" Just because you leave Wizeman's direct service doesn't mean you aren't serving him."

Jackle kick a Shleep out of his way and stormed into his command room. He was too furious to do anything but fume. His spy had managed to survive the attack only to defect! Clawz was NOT going to find out about this. He would enact swift vengeance on anyone who dared to tell Clawz, with only the exception of Wizeman. That he could do nothing about. Wizeman would be more than a little enraged if he found out that one of the high level spies who had access to almost all information in Nightmare had defected. In fact, Jackle might even get demoted or possibly executed. He could think of only one way to fix as much as possible of the damage. Aldwyn had to be eradicated.

" Pomp!" Pomp tiptoed into the room. There were a million places he would rather be than in Jackle's command chamber right now. He tried not to make any noise, but Jackle heard him anyway. 

" You called me, sir." Jackle paced intensely. 

" Send a strike force after Aldwyn! I want him dead!" 



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



It was midmorning when Nights gathered the group of rebels who were supposed to fight at Stick Canyon to show them the strategy, and what each one was to do. A number of 'maren and Minion were talking excitedly to each other. The plan had been moved to today and all of the rebels were in their typical anxious pre-battle condition. Nights had trouble keeping them quiet for very long. 

Aldwyn was sitting next to a tree by himself when a Hollow flew up to him to tell him to come. It hesitated as it noticed that Aldwyn look like he had been doing a great deal of crying.

" You need to be with the others; you'll need to know what's going on in the battle, and what you're supposed to do." Aldwyn stood up listlessly and walk to the group of rebels. He slid to the back of the crowd and stood in a small, obscure, slightly shadowed place. He still was not completely comfortable around the rebels, and he felt like had been a traitor to them. Alethea glanced over her shoulder at Aldwyn.

" Come over here; you can't possibly see from where you're standing." Aldwyn knew when he heard a command. He walked up to her. Aldwyn really disliked large crowds, especially when he felt he stuck out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, everyone was too excited to really notice Aldwyn. Alethea looked at him kindly. " You can't isolate yourself almost all the time if you intend to make many friends."

" Sorry, I'm still a little.....uncomfortable."

" I know, but you need to have a friend around here besides me, Aldwyn."

Nights grinned mischievously at one of the groups of rebels.

" This where your group comes in Salpinx." Alethea looked back at the small map on the table. The rebels had only mapped a small portion of Nightopia. The rest was being explored very slowly. Aldwyn glanced at it. Jackle, Reala, Clawz or any other official would kill for this kind of information. He tried not to smile at the thought.

A few hours later, the rebels were on their way to Stick Canyon. In order to avoid the notice of the Nightmaren troops in Stick Canyon, Nights had the rebels come to a rendezvous point in small group, one of which was made up of Aldwyn, Dunamis, and Alethea. 

Dunamis was absolutely pawing the ground to start fighting. He was neither bloodthirsty nor cruel; he was simply enjoyed fighting and was very good at it. 

Alethea, on the other hand, tended to be quiet and sensitive, and did not really like fighting even though she was fairly good at it. In fact, she wasn't going to fight. She was the only rebel physician at the moment, and was going because the rebels need a physician at the battlefield. She would wait outside of the battlefield until the fighting was over before coming out on the field. 

Aldwyn liked fighting as much as he liked spying, and he loved that. His job in this battle was small, but since he was injured that was to be expected. 

At the moment however, his mind was somewhat distracted from thinking about the battle. The memory of his confrontation with Jackle yesterday was still very fresh in his mind, and the thought of Kithara was still very upsetting. He missed her so much. They had been very close for a long time. If he had just been able to get to the castle a little faster, she might have lived. Aldwyn pushed the thought out of his mind. He was going to need to stay focused if he wanted to stay alive during this battle. He gazed up at the dark storm clouds that had gathered themselves over Nightopia promising rain. 

Several beings looked out from behind a large tree trunk. A few peered from behind a large block of stone. A 'maren cat motioned to the other beings. There were ten of them altogether. Two 'maren cats, four Minions, a large 'maren saur which resembled Gillwing, and three 'maren the same type as Nights, Reala, Eti, Aldwyn, etc. (human like 'maren). The 'maren cat frowned. They were only supposed to take care of the spy, but it looked like he was going to have to get rid of these other rebels also. Alethea, Dunamis, and Aldwyn flew between the block and the tree.

Dunamis glanced upward as a huge 'maren saur leapt at him.

" Hey, what's going on! We're not at the battle yet!" Dunamis shouted. He dodged a mammoth mouthful of teeth. The reptile screech deafeningly. Other beings sprang from their respective hiding places and leapt into the fight. 



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



All of the rebels except one group had arrived at the rendezvous point. 

" We can't wait for them to get here. The Nightmaren troops will find out we're here if we wait much longer." Nights stopped talking as a Nightmaren troop walked within four feet of their hiding place, which was a large shallow gully. 

The rebels froze and waited until the troop left. " We have to began without them." The others nodded and Nights gave the order for them to move to their pre-assigned positions. The rebels scrambled very quietly to their places and waited for the signal from Nights.

Aldwyn knocked one of the Minions out of the way. One of the 'maren cats as well a 'maren leapt at him. He fought them at the same time, which with a injured shoulder and arm made things difficult. Alethea blocked with her sword as a 'maren cat swung a large cutlass at her. She kicked the 'maren cat's arm and the cutlass sailed through the air. Dunamis was fighting two 'maren. The reptile 'maren came up from behind Dunamis and swung a huge spiked mace-like tail at him. Dunamis never saw how close he came to being hit. He moved out of the way while fighting the two other 'maren and the reptile's momentum spun it into the side of a very large tree. The reptile fluttered in disorientation, and flew out of the fight. Two dizzy Minions followed after the reptile. Aldwyn kicked one of the 'maren, who had just leapt at him, in the side of the head. The 'maren cat fell and landed on his back with an indignant yowl. Aldwyn glanced at the attack going on around him. The reptile and all four Minions had left. One 'maren cat was fighting Alethea. Two of the 'maren were Dunamis. The other 'maren was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly something hit him between the shoulders. Aldwyn was hurled into a nearby tree trunk, and he turned around in surprise. The other 'maren sprang and tried to stab him with a long double-edged sword. He vaulted out of the range of the blade. The 'maren glowered at him.

" You treasonous spy!" he hissed vehemently. By now the 'maren cat was standing beside him. Aldwyn felt rain beginning to fall. 

" Great, just great." he thought drearily as the 'maren cat and 'maren flew at him.

Nights paused as the other rebels looked in his direction. He suddenly flew from the small gully straight toward the small Nightmaren base. Nightmaren and Minions turned and stared in shock as an army of quite respectable size flew from the shallow gully, from behind boulders, and mesas. The troops of Nightmare scrambled to get in some semblance of order to repel the attack.

Alethea turned around to see how the others were doing. Dunamis was still fighting two 'maren. She could see Aldwyn hovering in the air away from the trees with the 'maren cat trying it's best to hit him. She knew the 'maren cats could not fly but that they were excellent climbers and would use the trees to their advantage. The 'maren kicked Aldwyn in back. The 'maren cat fighting her tried to claw her; she moved out of the cat's way and kicked her in the stomach. The 'maren cat yelled at something above her head.

" Get over here!" An overwhelming shriek filled the air and Alethea turned around. The 'maren saur flew over her head and threw his 'mace like tail over his head like a scorpion. He was aiming at Aldwyn.

Rain poured down in Stick Canyon as Nights knocked a Cuttle out of his way and looked up at a very familiar 'maren saur. Gillwing saw him, shrieked, and flew toward him in a flurry. He swung his tail around his side, and Nights moved slightly out of the way of the spikes, which stuck in the ground beneath Gillwing. A maw full of razor sharp teeth snapped at Nights and he flew up over Gillwing's mouth and grabbed the spike on Gillwing's head. Gillwing screeched in protest and tried to knock Nights off with both wings. Nights threw him several meters across the field, and 'maren and Minion clambered out of the 'maren saur's way. Nights took off after him. Gillwing hit the ground and picked himself up. He flung his long spiked tail at Nights who ducked as it stuck in the side of a mesa. Gillwing pulled the spikes out, and Nights prepared to move out of his way. The 'maren saur however did not aim at Nights; instead he slammed his tail toward the ground and knocked sand, rocks, and a several small boulders and cactus off the ground and into the air. Nights scrambled trying to get out of the way. The debris fell on top of him.

The 'maren cat ignored Alethea and was about to go after Aldwyn when the 'maren saur's tail hit her in the side. The 'maren cat fell to the ground gasping and holding her bruised ribs. Alethea turned and looked over at Aldwyn. He was fighting only one 'maren cat now and the cat had just knocked him into the mud. The maren saur seemed to have somehow hit the 'maren Dunamis was fighting also, and Dunamis now had the 'maren saur by the tail slinging it around. It snapped viciously at Dunamis, and he drill-dashed into it. Alethea saw a bright flash of light and looked again in Aldwyn's direction. He had paralooped the 'maren cat who was hurled through the sky and landed in one of the treetops. The 'maren cat took off and the 'marens who were left followed after him. The three rebels landed panting.

Nights curled up as the debris he couldn't get away from fell on him. A large boulder landed next to his head. Gillwing prepared once again to try to hit Nights with his tail. Nights scrambled to his feet and leapt as far out of the way as he could, but Gillwing had already gotten too close. Gillwing hit him with the side of his tail. Nights was hurled up against a long steel beam as he felt the wind knocked out of him. He tried franticly to catch his breath. Gillwing screeched and headed teeth first toward Nights. Nights backed up then dived for Gillwing's jaw and caught it. Gillwing snapped and shook his head furiously trying to get Nights to let go. Nights let go and seized one of Gillwing's wings then jerked him down. The 'maren saur tumbled to the ground with a deafening scream, and Nights let go of Gillwing's wing. He hovered well out of Gillwing's way and waited for him to get up, but Gillwing remained on the ground where he had fallen.

Nights took a moment to glance at the battlefield. The rain had turned most of the field into a mud hole. Salpinx was fighting in a thick group of Minion but he seemed to be handling them quite well. Several Minions and Frost were fighting through a group of 'maren. A small group of rebels had managed to find a way through them and were inside the Nightmaren encampment. The fighting there was considerably more difficult and Nights flew over to help them. Behind him, Gillwing slowly began to get up. 

Nights flew as close as he could get to the encampment and wondered whose bright idea it had been to put it in such an open area. There were much more defendable places than this one. Several 'maren and Minions flew toward Nights and he began fighting his way through them. A slight rustling noise began but he ignored it. Suddenly the 'maren and Minion in front of him began racing out of his way and the sound grew much louder. Nights recognized the sound of large reptilian wings. He tried to fly strait up, but Gillwing was already right behind him. Gillwing slammed into his back and Nights was hurled into the mud. He skidded several feet across the ground before he stopped. As Nights picked himself up he saw Gillwing heading straight for him. 

" Is everyone alright?" Alethea asked. The others nodded. She glanced at Aldwyn who was rather muddy." We had better hurry. The battle should have already begun." 

" I think it might be over by now. We must have been fighting for thirty minutes." Dunamis sighed.

" I doubt it's over now, but it will take awhile to get there."

" Well, let's get started." grinned Dunamis.

Nights leapt up and began a paraloop. Paralooping a 'maren as large as 

Gillwing was very difficult, and it was easy to get bitten or battered by a 'maren saurs in particular. In order to make a paraloop the two ends of a star trail had to be joined before they had time to fall apart. However it could be done. Nights flew away from the oncoming 'maren saur for a distance then flew as fast as he could straight upward before facing Gillwing and flying over his head. Gillwing flew inside of the star trail and Nights waited until he was completely inside of it before he dived down and completed it. A huge flash of light lit up the sky and Gillwing was tossed through the air. Nights grinned and looked around. The army of Nightmare seeing that their leader was gone began to back off in alarm. Nights turned and called all of the rebels nearby to him. They joined behind him and charged the fragmented Nightmaren army. The Nightmaren troops turned and fled in small groups. In a few moments the battle was, for the most part, over.

Dunamis's group arrived only a few moments later. He looked around 

with disappointment.

" We're too late." A muddied Nights glanced over in their direction and shouted to them.

" What happened?"

" We ran into a little trouble." Dunamis shouted back. 

Nights spotted Eti flying toward him. She had probably been watching from a safe distance out of curiosity. She glanced at the mud covered Nights and winced.

" Yuck! What happened to you?"

" Gillwing that's what." Nights grinned capriciously and looked at Eti. " See Eti, this is yet another wonderful reason to join the rebels. Look at all the fun you're missing." Nights turned as the three rebels in Dunamis's group came over. Eti smiled at them.

" I didn't see you three anywhere during the battle, but you look a little ragged. Especially Aldwyn."

" We were a little late I'm afraid." sighed Dunamis.

" Quite frankly I'm glad we were after that little episode." Alethea murmured. Nights looked at them curiously and Dunamis told them what happened.

Jackle was standing on a balcony when he saw Gillwing fluttering to the 

Castle, with troops following behind him. Jackle chuckled softly, and looked over at a thin lonely turret. Clawz would more than likely be as close as possible to Wizeman's throne room before the conversation got very far, and, as was one of his habits, would listen in on the ensuing discussion. Jackle smiled to himself. Perhaps he should drop in on Clawz.

Clawz was almost leaning against the door listening with absolute concentration. Jackle grinned and cleared his throat. Clawz leapt several feet in the air and whirled in alarm with claws spread, then hissed. Jackle gave him an unimpressed look before laughing quietly. Clawz, absolutely seething, panted in alarm and the two 'maren looked very much like they were about to start fighting when a bouncing noise caught their attention. They turned to see Puffy and a Hollow moved down the hall. 

" You never told me there was a convention of eavesdroppers." Jackle said in alarm. Clawz grinned.

" Welcome to the club." 

" Get out of my way." Puffy hissed irritably " I'm missing it." Clawz backed up, and Jackle moved over. Puffy and Jackle got as close to the door as they could. 

Clawz on the other hand simply backed up and sat down. The deep husky voice of Gillwing was easily heard through the door, as was the booming voice of Wizeman. In a few minutes, Jackle heard a yawn behind him. He turned around and looked at Clawz who was dully chipping the mortar from between two blocks of marble with a claw.

" Aren't you even remotely interested?" whispered Jackle dryly. 

" Of course."

" Then why aren't you listening?"

" Because I don't have to." Before Jackle could ask him what he meant they heard some one coming to the door. All four beings left at top speed.

Aldwyn felt very tense. The rebels had already gotten back to their base and Aldwyn knew it was time to do something he had been trying to put off for quiet some time. Nights got everyone's attention and they turned and looked at him.

" Aldwyn has something he wants to say to all of you." Their gaze shifted to Aldwyn, who wanted to sink through the ground. 

" I need to tell all of you something." He paused for a minute before continuing. " I'm a spy, or at least am suppose to be. Jackle sent me to find out any information of importance I could find, and to send it back to him. I lied to a number of you by saying that I had defected when I really hadn't. After awhile I decided that I really did want to join, however by not telling you and sharing information with Jackle, I could have gotten someone killed. I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid that you wouldn't want me to stay or you might even kill me. I feel absolutely terrible about what I was doing to all of you and if you would forgive me for having such a deceptive selfish attitude and for lying and sending information to Jackle I would be most grateful." A shocked whispering began. Nights and Alethea looked at Aldwyn. 

" I forgive you, Aldwyn." Alethea nodded.

" I forgive you to." 

Clawz paused as a small Verol came into the room.

" Did you here the conversation?"

" Yes."

" Then tell me what happened." 

" You didn't hear it from the door?" Clawz glared at him, and the Verol shrank back.

Aldwyn sat quietly on a small rock by himself. Only a few days ago he had made a decision to serve the King. He now no longer felt uncomfortable around the rebels. Now he was one of them. He had never felt so at peace or relaxed in all his life. The conflict of the last few days was over and he felt like a tremendous weight had been taken away from him. He knew he was where he belonged. Laughter floated through the air and Aldwyn turned around and looked at a small cluster of rebels. One of them called him over, and Aldwyn joined them.

Jackle leaned back in his chair. The strike force had been unable to kill Aldwyn, but since no one knew about Jackle's little project except Clawz it really didn't matter. Clawz would not know that Aldwyn had defected. At least that was what Jackle tried very hard to convince himself. He doubted that Aldwyn would march into Wizeman's throne room and announce that he had defected, or walk up to Clawz and tell him. Clawz himself was a more pressing problem at the moment. Jackle had finally decided that Clawz must indeed be ambitious and that he was going to have to be watched very carefully. However watching him was going to be difficult. Clawz was very clever, and he would need to find a way to have Clawz spied on without Clawz finding the spy. A thought crossed Jackle's mind, and he grinned. He knew how he could handle this problem. 

Reala sat in his throne room waiting patiently for his spies' return. In a few moments a Hollow, a Verol, a Shleep, and a few other Minions flew or walked into the room. Reala glanced at them, and smirked. Using ones' most trust servants as a spy was one of the best ways to find out exactly how someone was planning to usurp your position. Reala looked at his spies and called to the 

Hollow. 

" What do have to report, Pomp?"

" The spy defected, sir, and he sent a strike force after him. The strike force couldn't get rid of the spy. Nothing else out of the usual order of things."

" As I expected." A short conversation followed before the Verol reported.

" Clawz, as of late, has done nothing out of the ordinary." 

" Clawz is a difficult 'maren to follow, Picayune; are you certain?" 

" Yes sir."

One by one, all of the spies reported, and Reala dismissed them. He was keenly aware of all the unusual activities in the castle, and constantly kept an eye on the officials. He knew which officials were not interested in his position and which wanted it very badly, and he had resolved that no one, absolutely no one, was going to get his position as long as he was serving Wizeman in the Nightmaren army; no matter what they thought. 

The End














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