Tricks of the Trade
A Sonic the Hedgehog Story
by Ryan Huber

This entire story and all related characters in it are protected under 
copyright laws. It fine to distribute this story, but only in it's full form, 
with no alterations, and never for profit.

For all those of you who liked "The Newcomer", here's the next story.  What 
will become of Ryan and the strange comet?  How are he and Sandra getting 
along?  Will Ryan be caught and killed by Packbell?  Read and find out.  :)

Sonic the Hedgehog, Princess Sally, and all other related characters are 
copyrights of SEGA, DIC, and Archie Comic Publications. Except for the 
following...

Bookshire, Sandra Nightweaver, and Packbell: David Pistone
Sir Kain: Eric Goodwin
Ryan: Ryan Huber

Historian's Note:  This continuation leaves off exactly where "The Newcomer" 
left off...Ryan heading back to Knothole, with Sandra staying back, waiting to 
meet him again.

Part 1

	Ryan went back to his home in Knothole, smiling slightly as he changed 
forms to match the species of every Freedom Fighter he passed.  Just as he 
reached the small porch in front of his hut, a voice called out behind him.
	"Hey, showoff!"
	Ryan grinned and turned around, seeing exactly whom he expected to 
see...Sonic.  "Well, Sonic...do you want me to lose my touch at morphing?"
	Sonic smirked.  "You've had that rock for less'n a day and you're 
already worried about losing your touch...  Just like me."
	Ryan smiled.  "You know if I don't keep a wide selection of forms, 
Packbell will find me sooner or later.  You also know what'll happen if he 
does."
	By that time, the smile had died from Ryan's face, and he shuddered.  
He knew exactly what would happen...
	Sonic knew what Ryan felt, and tried to lighten his mood again.  "Well, 
at least try to choose a form so we don't confuse you with anyone...or not even 
know you're you."
	"Hmm...I'll have to think-"
	"What?"
	"I got it...  Expect me to either be in my human form most of the 
time...or this."
	Ryan concentrated for a second, and faster than even Sonic's eyes could 
follow, transformed into a silver-furred fox.  Sonic blinked...no...not silver, 
black with some clear furs that gave a frosted appearance.
	Ryan examined as much of the new form as possible.  He stood as tall as 
Sonic, and had white markings on his elbows and feet.  On each elbow, there was 
a pattern that resembled a white diamond, and the white on his feet went 
halfway up to his knees, like boots.  Ryan swished his new tail in front of 
him, and saw it had a white tip.  He noted that later, he really should examine 
his face.  Ryan saw Sonic's eyes grow wide.  "Er...Sonic?"
	"Huh? Oh, yeah?"
	"What're you staring at?"
	"Well, seems this form is a mix of Sandra's fur color, but not 
quite...parts are white."
	"Hmm...her being a good friend of mine would explain it..."
	Ryan smiled.  "Or would you like me to be a hedgehog?"
	Sonic laughed.  "No way!  You'd be way outclassed for looks."
	"By whom?  You'll outclass me when Antoine gets a brain and a life."
	"Ha!  I think the chance is infinitely less than that."
	Ryan laughed now.  "Can you even understand what he says most of the 
time?"
	"Nope...but...it's kinda like the sound of a fleet of Hover Units...  
You learn to not listen anymore."
	"I hope that happens with me soon, I'll go crazy listening to that 
babbling."
	Sonic grinned and waved.  "See you tomorrow morning."
	Ryan waved back and said, "Afternoon, more likely...I'm really not a 
light sleeper."
	"Oh?"
	"Let's just say if Robotnik tested a new bomb in the center of 
Knothole, I _might_ just half-open an eye."
	Sonic grinned one last time and sped off.  Ryan opened his door and 
went inside his new home for some much needed rest.

	Sandra looked into Ryan's hut through a window.  She was perched in a 
tree about twenty feet behind his home.  She sat there and thought to herself.  
"Hmm...should I give him another wake up call like last time?  No...something 
more subtle this time, and see how he reacts.  Who knows, maybe I can teach him 
a thing or two about my little...profession."


Part 2

	Ryan didn't sleep soundly that night.  His mind was under attack by 
nightmares of the past occurrences...Robotropolis, roboticization of his 
finger, Packbell leering at him, the pain...
	The metamorph's dreams were distorted by the fear in his heart, and 
twisted still by pain.
	
	Packbell smiled evilly.  "Well, well...we meet again."
	Ryan hung in a cage, surrounded by ghosts of people he had never seen, 
but knew used to be Freedom Fighters before they were either killed or 
roboticized.  One stood out from the rest.
	"E...Eric?  But I saved you..."
	The ghost moved forward.  Packbell and the other wraiths disappeared.  
"No, you never did.  My soul was ripped from my body in the roboticizer.  My 
flesh turned to metal, my mind subverted.  Now I wander in eternal agony, never 
being able to reclaim my lost body."
	"No!  This is just a dream!"
	"Wrong, the way in which you saved me was a dream.  It's your fault I 
am now like this..."
	"I didn't mean to!  Can you forgive me Eric?!"
	The image of Sir Kain, known to Ryan as Eric, shimmered and faded.  
Ryan collapsed and began to cry, out came tears of mourning and fear.  Fear was 
a block of ice that had formed around his heart.
	"Oh..poor you..."  Packbell leered from behind him now.  "Why don't I 
help you?  I know...I'll put you out of your misery..."
	Packbell lifted the laser rifle, and a black beam lanced from it.  Ryan 
felt the impact into his chest...and the burning as his skin melted...

	The next thing Ryan knew, he was thrashing and screaming in his bed.  
His shapeshifting had gone wild, and he saw the concerned faces of his friends.  
He slowly stopped his dream-induced panic, and began to regain his control.  
The shifting stopped, and he settled down, changing back into his fox form, and 
removing his hand from the comet chunk, which had been tightly clasped in it.
	Ryan was still trying to understand what had happened, but suddenly,  
he broke down into tears again, not ashamed of the action...he didn't care.  
Sonic cleared everyone else but himself, Sally, and Bookshire from the hut.  
The hedgehog looked around, and spoke.  "What happened?"
	Ryan regained a measure of control, and said, "A nightmare...I dreamt 
that I hadn't rescued Eric...er...Sir Kain, and I was captured by 
Packbell...he...he shot me with a black laser..."
	Sally nodded.  "I understand.  You saw too much in one day.  Take a 
rest tomorrow, a walk in the forest might help.  I know...I had the same 
problem after the coup.  Only my dreams dealt with my father."
	Sonic  also nodded, showing he had had the same problem at some time.
	Ryan wiped his eyes dry, and stood, taking a deep breath.  "I'll...be 
alright.  Don't worry."
	All of his friends nodded, and left...except Bookshire who stayed just 
long enough to say, "I also had dreams...don't ever let them take advantage of 
your emotions...that can easily hurt you."
	Ryan nodded, and Bookshire left.  The young man sniffed and mentally 
chided himself.  "Real good going...you looked like a kid in front of them."  
Ryan knew they understood and didn't blame him for the breakdown, but he still 
felt foolish.
	"You ok?"
	Ryan turned slowly to see Sandra by the window, and nodded.  "By God, 
Sandra...you don't make a sound...you'll have to teach me that sometime."
	"Oh, don't worry...I fully intend to."
	Ryan's eyes became wide.  "Wha?  What do you mean?"
	Sandra smiled.  "I mean I'm going to teach you a few things about 
stealth."
	"Wait a sec...you smiled?" Ryan said, grinning.
	"I smile when it suits me.  Got a problem?"
	"Nope...sorry.  I take it back...  You're colder'n ice."
	Sandra's gaze became slightly hard for a second, and then she saw 
Ryan's smile, and she laughed quietly.  "You're lucky we're friends."
	Ryan smiled again.  "I know...you've killed for more'n that, eh?"
	It was now Sandra's turn to smile.  "No, I've simply respected people 
for less than that."
	Ryan blinked.
	Sandra said, "I respect people with courage like that, but I have 
friends who have that and sense.  You have both."
	"Ah...I see.  It goes no further than respect...you can still hate 
them, right?"
	"Right."
	"Seems each time we have one of these conversations, we learn more of 
each other.  Do you think we'll ever know all of each other's secrets?"
	"I may find yours...good luck getting mine."
	Ryan sighed, then smiled.  "Good luck to you, Sandra.  I'll see you 
tomorrow."
	Sandra waved, then jumped out the window.  Ryan moved over to look 
outside.  Sandra was nowhere to be seen.  "I have _really_ got to learn that..."


Part 3

	The next morning, before Ryan was fully coherent, he wandered in the 
general direction of the Power Ring Pool.  All he expected was a nice place to 
sit and wake up...but he got much more than that when he arrived.
	Ryan stumbled over to a log and sat.  Suddenly, the pool began to glow 
golden.  Ryan jumped back no longer groggy, and gaped at the sight.
	The waters began to swirl, and a huge cone of water rose into the sky, 
suddenly falling back down, depositing a golden ring in the sky which hovered 
for a moment before beginning to fall.  Before it hit the water again, Ryan 
felt a strong breeze.  The next thing he knew, Sonic stood there holding the 
ring.
	Sonic smirked.  "Now ya know why we call it the Power Ring Pool."
	Ryan stopped gaping and said, "No doubt...but...what is that?"
	"Well...this ring gives me speed I wouldn't normally have.  It was 
built by my Uncle Chuck before he was...roboticized.  One day we'll get him 
back..."
	Ryan nodded.  "I see.  Later, Sonic."
	Sonic smiled quickly and ran off.

	Sandra Nightweaver watched from the woods.  "Should I talk to him 
now..or later, when he's in the forest...?" she thought.  She smiled mentally.  
"The forest."
	The black-furred fox continued to watch from the foliage as Ryan shook 
his head, and walked off.  "Hmm...I really do like that fox form of his 
better," she thought...right before she yet again disappeared into the forest.

	Ryan wandered around Knothole for a little while, then went to the 
center of the village to see of the group head off for a mission.  Before they 
left, Sally came up to him.
	"Ryan, please take the advice I gave you and take a walk in the 
forest... It may help."
	Ryan looked at her and smiled.  "Don't worry, Sally...I fully intend 
to."
	"That's good," she said, smiling now.  "It may be the forest...but 
still, be careful.  The is the remote chance a wandering robot finds you."
	"I will," Ryan said.  As Sally and the few other Freedom Fighters 
turned to leave, Ryan waved.  As they left, he followed a bit behind to head 
into the Great Forest.


Part 4

	Ryan walked through the forest.  He admired the tall trees, the green 
leaves all over, the grass slightly wet with dew.  He walked around, breathing 
it in, and relaxing.
	He heard something behind him.  He thought quickly...he didn't want to 
let whatever know he knew of it...so he slowly turned his head enough to see 
behind him, but to make it look like he was looking at a tree.  He didn't see 
anything...yet.

	Sandra held a snapped twig in her hand.  She smiled.  "Good job, 
Ryan..." she thought.  "Most would have spun and yelled 'Who's there'...but you 
didn't.  Wise move making it not look like you were actually looking for 
someone."
	Ryan looked back ahead, and moved on.  Sandra followed.

	Ryan sat on a stump that was nearby.  He pretended to close his eyes, 
after pulling out the strange comet...just in case he had to morph into 
something that could beat a hasty retreat.  He waited and watched.
	He saw a few leaves rustle, then nothing.  Fear coursed through him, 
but he held his ground...not even flinching.  "I have to not move," he thought.  
"If I do, and whatever that is sees me..I may be in more trouble than now."

	Sandra smiled at the ploy, and circled around, brushing a few branches 
on purpose.  She began to circle around.
	After a few seconds, she was directly behind Ryan.  She made a small 
sound, and Ryan quickly leaped to his feet, and swiveled, with his roboticized 
finger leveled right at her chest.
	"Hold it rig-...Sandra?" Ryan said.
	Sandra smiled.  "Who else?  Can you please not aim that at me, it's not 
polite to point..."
	Ryan smiled as well, lowering his arm.  "You had me there for 
awhile...I was scared."
	"As any smart person should be...  You did well."
	"Hold on...  That was...a test?"
	"Yes...I wanted to see how much I needed to teach you of caution and 
subtlety...not much, I see."
	Ryan smiled again.  "Good...any words to the wise?"
	"Keep the fox form..it suits you."
	Ryan said, with mock surprise, "That's _all_?  Surely you have more to 
tell this humble student..."
	Sandra's eyes drooped a little.  "Watch it...or I may not."
	Ryan closed his mouth, and Sandra smiled.
	"Easy..." Sandra said.  "I was kidding."
	Ryan exhaled sharply.  "Don't do that, Sandra!  You really had me 
worried that you wouldn't talk to me any more..."
	"Don't worry...you're my friend.  It's been about twelve years since I 
had someone I could call my friend..and I'm not about to lose one now."
	Ryan smiled at Sandra.  "That's good...because I'd hate to not see you 
as well."
	Sandra blushed, though Ryan couldn't tell through her fur.  
"Well...lesson one..."
	Ryan listened closely.
	Sandra continued.  "Always watch your back...even when you're with 
someone...you never know what's around."
	Ryan nodded.
	"Lesson two...never, no matter what, underestimate your opponent...it 
could be the death of you."
	Ryan nodded again.
	"Final lesson...never try more than you know you can do.  Never take 
unnecessary risks."
	Ryan smiled.  "I won't forget.  Anything else?"
	"Not really.  I could teach you some tracking.  Try to follow me."
	"Alright."
	"Turn that way," Sandra said, pointing.  "and don't look behind you."
	Ryan turned around and didn't look back.
	Sandra said, "Ok.  Good.  Count to twenty."
	Ryan began to count, and Sandra slipped off...leaving a few footprints 
and snapped twigs behind her as a trail.


Part 5

	Ryan had been following the trail for nearly two hours...but he dare 
not give up.  He began to think to himself.  "There is no way I'm going to lose 
this trail...I have to find her and prove I can do it."
	
	Sandra moved on, a good half mile ahead of Ryan.  She moved along 
silently, snapping a few twigs here...ripping small amounts of leaves and bark 
off there...
	She took a moment to climb a tree, and looked back.  There was Ryan 
working through the bushes.  She smiled.  He was still a half mile back, but 
that's closer than she expected.

	Ryan kept on moving.  He concentrated on the trail...then he remembered.
	Always watch your back...
	Ryan turned back just in time to see a SWATbot...it hadn't seen him, 
and he moved sideways into the brush, making little noise.  Thoughts raced 
through his head, but only a few made sense.  "What the hell is that?!  If it's 
from Robotropolis...I didn't see that thing last time...  Wait a sec!  Sandra!  
It's heading along the trail she left...whether it knows about her or not..I 
have to hope she either sees it, or I find her first."

	Sandra moved on for another quarter mile, and climbed a nearby tree to 
wait.  She heard some rustling leaves.  "He couldn't have moved that 
fast..could he have?" she thought.
	A SWATbot came out of nowhere, walking straight up to the tree Sandra 
was in, and said in its robot monotone, "You-will-surrender-now.  Resistance-is-
futile."
	Sandra tried to climb higher up so she could jump to the next tree.  
The SWATbot raised its arm, and a stun beam impacted into Sandra.  She came 
crashing to the ground.  Luckily, a bush below cushioned the fall, and she 
wasn't hurt badly.

	Ryan was running now.  He had heard the humming shot, and the crash.  
He only prayed he wasn't too late.  He came to a tiny clearing, and saw the 
SWATbot reaching toward Sandra's body.  He growled and charged the SWATbot, his 
rage taking over.  He raised his roboticized finger, and let loose a shot.
	The SWATbot was blown back a few yards, but got up and came at Ryan.
	Ryan ran up to Sandra's body and lifted her up into his arms.  Then he 
ran like hell.  He went as fast and as far as he could...realizing it would 
either be both or him, he hid Sandra's unconscious form in a bush, and stood 
there.
	The SWATbot came up, and before Ryan could dodge, hit him with the same 
beam that had knocked out Sandra.  The SWATbot picked up the new limp form, and 
carried it back to a nearby Hover Unit.  It drove back to Robotropolis.


Part 6

	Packbell was still furious with the new arrival to Mobius...he had 
outwitted and humiliated him.  He wasn't about to tell Robotnik...  No, 
no...this was a personal vendetta...
	Dents were beginning to decorate the walls.  That fool laser of Ryan's 
had been the closest thing to ever hurting him...probably not even Sonic could 
cause this much damage.  The newcomer was a definite threat.
	Packbell glanced over prisoner reports, almost gleefully noting another 
had been captured.  Then he noticed something that surprised him...
	"What?!  A _unidentified_ fox?!" he thought to himself.  "I have access 
to all resident files before the coup...and this prisoner is too old to have 
been born after the coup...  I'll see this for myself..."
	Packbell got up, and headed toward the prisoner blocks.

	Sandra finally came to in the forest, about ten minutes after Ryan was 
taken prisoner.  She rubbed her head and thought out loud, "Ouch...  Last thing 
I remember is that SWATbot...can't believe I was almost..."
	Sandra looked around, and it hit her...she wasn't in the same place.  
"If I've been moved...then Ryan must have been able to move me here...but where-  
The SWATbot!"
	She said it out loud, almost as if to make sure this was really 
happening.
	She thought to herself now.  "I have to find him...  If Packbell lays 
his hands on Ryan, he won't last a second."
	Sandra jumped to here feet and began to run towards Robotropolis.

	Packbell had finally Reached the prisoner blocks, and was searching out 
the newly captured fox.  He came across him and looked closely.  Something 
tugged at the back of his artificial mind, but he didn't quite grasp it, which 
was very lucky for Ryan.
	The prisoner looked up at the android.  His breath caught in his 
throat, and he feared he'd choke.  Packbell grinned mirthlessly and said, 
"Welcome, prisoner...enjoy you're stay before you're roboticized.  I don't know 
who you are, but I'll interrogate you later."
	Ryan almost sighed with relief.  "Thank God...he doesn't recognize me!" 
he thought.  "If he had..."
	Ryan gulped mentally.  Looking down, he saw his roboticized finger...if 
that wasn't a giveaway, then he was ruler of Mobius..he quickly covered it with 
his other hand...he'd use it to escape later.
	Packbell gloated a bit more.  Apparently satisfied, he walked off.
	Ryan walked closer to the bars and looked around.  The end of the hall, 
the opposite end from the exit Packbell took, was about twenty feet away.  He 
might be able to make it...
	Never try more than you can do...
	Sandra's advice echoed in his head.  He guessed it meant what you 
weren't sure of, either...  He realized a SWATbot could be down there, or 
approaching.  He looked some more...and saw something.
	An air duct was right across from him.  He knew that was his only other 
chance, and a much better one.  He aimed his finger with the laser and fired, 
melting through the lock on the duct first...then the one on his cell.  He 
looked quickly, opened the door, closed it, and ran to the duct.  Opening it, 
he rushed inside, closing it behind him as well.
	He began to head in the general direction of Robotropolis' city 
limits...


Part 7

	Sandra reached Robotropolis.  She immediately headed for the blocks 
where the new prisoners were kept...she figured Ryan would be there.  "I must 
be getting soft..." she thought.  "It's been years since I ever helped someone 
this much...  Then again...it's been even longer since someone has helped me 
that much..."
	Sandra didn't even smile at that...she was too determined to find her 
friend...
	She looked around, found the right air duct, and began to crawl through 
to the prisoner blocks.
	She missed Ryan by five seconds.

	Ryan crawled through the ducts, turning down another.  It had a layer 
of dust, and when he moved into it, he disturbed the layer, almost making him 
cough.  He heard a noise.  Fearing it to be some kind of maintenance robot, he 
ducked down the duct and kept moving.
	Sandra moved by the duct.  She didn't notice the disturbed dust...yet.  
She kept moving to the prisoner blocks.

	Sandra finally reached the holding cells.  She looked all around.  
SWATbots were at either end of the corridor now, making it impossible to get 
close enough to look into each cell for long.  Then she noticed something...
	One of the prison cell locks was melted through...barely noticeable.  
"Ryan..." she thought.  "He must have gotten out and entered this way.  He's 
better than I thought."
	Sandra turned back to search more carefully for signs of her friend's 
passing.

	Ryan had kept crawling.  He prayed to reach the end, avoiding SWATbots.  
He didn't.
	About four minutes after Sandra discovered Ryan wasn't in a cell, Ryan 
met some trouble.
	He moved around a corner, and the duct widened into a more tunnel-like 
opening.  He realized it must be some kind of main duct.  Obviously it was 
somehow important, because out of nowhere, two SWATbot guards appeared.
	"INTRUDER-ALERT!" beeped one robot.
	"DETAIN-WITH-EXTREME-PREJUDICE!" beeped the other.
	Then they opened fire.

	Sandra had found the duct where Ryan disturbed the dust.  Sandra moved 
in and began to follow it.  She heard laser fire and began to move faster.


Part 8

	Ryan dove to one side of the duct, narrowly avoiding the laser blasts.  
He quickly regained his feet, and pointed his roboticized finger at the SWATbot 
that seemed to be the leader.  He concentrated for a second, bringing the laser 
to bear.  A beam shot out and impacted into the SWATbot.
	The Swatbot's head was ripped clean off the main body, and fell to the 
ground with a metallic *CLANG!*.  The remaining SWATbot got off an intruder 
report before it joined its partner's fate.
	Ryan looked at the destroyed robots for only a second, and went on.  He 
moved a bit faster now.

	Sandra was getting closer.  She saw the trashed SWATbots, and was glad 
she didn't see Ryan's body among the mess.  No doubt at least one reported the 
intruder...but how long until Packbell knew.
	Not long.

	Packbell sat in his office, bored.  The unidentified fox had done 
nothing to improve his mood.  Then he thought of something.
	"Wait a second!" he thought.  "That damned human grabbed that 
comet...said something about liking it more and more...  I wonder."
	The android called up two files at once.  One was a memory of Ryan.  
The other was also of Ryan, only as a fox...Packbell didn't know yet...but he 
would.
	"Hmm..." Packbell thought out loud, while comparing the two files.  
Then he saw it.  The fox had a roboticized finger.  So did the cursed human.  
They were the same!
	"God!  That blight upon my mind has been in my grasp all along!  I 
should have just killed the fox...or whatever he is now..."
	Packbell grinned evilly.  "Why not now?"
	He turned on his heels and headed towards the prisoner blocks.


Part 9

	About ten minutes later, Packbell had reached the holding cell where 
the metamorph had been kept.
	The android's scream of rage was heard even by Sandra and Ryan...who 
were separated from the source by over two miles of air ducts.

	Sandra was very close now.  She could almost hear Ryan ahead of her.  
She guessed him to be about two hundred meters ahead.

	Ryan was about two hundred meters ahead...moving quickly.

	Packbell moved even more quickly.  He had long-range scans done.  Ryan 
had been detected.  Sandra hadn't.  Packbell was closing in.


Part 10

	Ryan moved quietly along...as quietly as he could, which was decent by 
Sandra's standards.
	The metamorph saw a beam of light...not the kind in the buildings..but 
real outside light.  He headed towards it.

	Packbell waited outside the duct.  The metamorph was sure to come out 
of it.  All SWATbots had been kept out of the area.  This was Packbell's kill.
	It was personal...

	Sandra was surprised by how fast Ryan had moved.  She had to move a bit 
faster to overtake him.  She had almost reached him when he began to open the 
duct.  The comet chunk he carried with gleamed dull green in the light.

	Ryan opened the duct and stepped out.  He squinted, gasped...and almost 
died on the spot from fright.  Packbell stood not twenty feet from him, holding 
a laser rifle.  It was pointed right at him.
	"Miss me?" Packbell leered.
	He pulled the trigger.
	"Dear God," Ryan thought, "the beam is black..."


Part 11

	Sandra hurried to move up to Ryan's position when she saw him.  He 
stepped out and froze.  Sandra heard the voice...and knew who it was.  PACKBELL!
	Sandra moved to one side of the duct hatch, where she couldn't be seen, 
and saw if she could do anything.
	She was just in time to see Ryan get shot.

	The beam impacted into Ryan's chest.  An explosion broke loose, and 
Ryan felt something shatter.  Power surged through him...he felt changed.
	Ryan was aware of a shouted "NO!" from behind him.  A black streak, 
seemingly moving faster than Sonic could shot in front of him, and planted a 
kick to Packbell's hand.
	The laser rifle went into the air, spinning lazily.  Sandra jumped up 
and grabbed it, pointing it at Packbell.
	Sandra growled.  "Let us go now...or you die..."
	Packbell began to laugh, but a roar erupted from behind Sandra.  
Packbell looked over her shoulder, and for the first time in his "life", 
Packbell felt fear.


Part 12

	Ryan looked down, and saw greenish shards of crystal laying around.  
His means of changing form was gone!
	The floodgates opened.  Rage from being ripped from his home, rage at 
Packbell for the pain inflicted upon him, and rage for this...the destruction 
of his sole link to the past coursed through his veins.  Anger became 
tangible...reason became nothing.
	A change came over Ryan in a split second.  His skin and new fur became 
tough and purplish.  His teeth became two feet long, his mouth large enough to 
hold them.  Legs shorted to stublike appendages, arms became heavily muscled, 
veins throbbing.
	He had become a monster.
	The thing that had been Ryan saw Packbell.  For some reason it felt the 
need to kill it.  It saw the other, but didn't care...yet.
	The non-Ryan lumbered toward the android, legs scraping the ground, 
grunting and snorting.  He was going to tear the android from limb to limb.
	He was finally in range.  Three foot claws raked the android, actually 
digging deep into the metal, exposing circuitry.  Another slash...sparks.  The 
android screamed...not in rage..but fear, and blinked out.  The non-Ryan didn't 
know anything of teleporters.  It focused it's attention on Sandra.

	Sandra had seen what had happened, and had quickly moved out of the 
way.  Now the thing that she used to know as Ryan moved at her.
	"Ryan..." she said, "I know you're still in there somewhere...try to 
change back.  Don't you see?  You don't need that comet...you changed by 
yourself."
	The thing blinked and hesitated.  It lumbered forward for a moment more 
and growled.  Another step, a snort.  Another step...nothing.
	The non-Ryan began to regain its mind.  The bloodlust fled.  He changed 
back...now effortlessly, with no real need for concentration.
	He shook his head, now a fox again.  "S...Sandra?  What happened?"
	She smiled a bit and shook her head.  "I do believe...that...is a story 
best left for later.  Let's get out of here."
	Ryan nodded.


Part 13

	Ryan laughed.  "I really did that much to Packbell?!"  He suddenly 
sobered.  "But..I wasn't in control...you barely snapped me out of it.  
Sandra..I could have killed you...  I couldn't have lived with myself after 
that."
	Sandra smiled.  "You couldn't?  I must say...I'm flattered.  Anyway, I 
had to see if you were still in there...and I would have put up a good fight 
for you if you hadn't come around."
	"Oh?"
	"It took about seven royal guards to keep me down when they caught 
me..if they ever caught me."
	Ryan laughed.  "Gave them some training, eh?"
	Sandra laughed a bit as well.  "I guess you could say that.  You did 
well today.  You are quite a bit like me...I could almost swear your last name 
would be Nightweaver."
	Ryan smiled.  "Why not?  I kinda like it...'Ryan Nightweaver' has a 
nice ring to it."
	Sandra blinked, then smiled.  "Alright.  Ryan Nightweaver it is."
	Ryan leaned forward, towards Sandra.  "Well, anyway...I'm glad I'm 
still here with you."
	"And I am as well."
	Both smiled.

	Packbell had teleported directly to the repair center.  The damage was 
near-critical.  One more swipe would have finished him off.  Packbell now knew 
what fear was, and that new feeling was mixed with an even mor intense hatred 
towards the metamorph.
	"I know your marking...I'll find you...and kill you.  You won't get 
lucky much longer..." he thought.  "I swear."

-THE END-