One of their vessels had been detected entering the lunar shell. A small craft, only one pilot aboard, glided through the gentle atmosphere of the planet.  

A towering trunk swung up from the earth below. Ascending ominously, the head rose into view, disturbing the clouds. The sunken glassy eyes stared into the shiny craft's interior.  

The little ship scanned the beast, then received a hail from the denizens within. It was but one word, "Seed".  

Wavering slightly, the vessel responded, then quickly turned to leave, firing off through the misty depths of the planet, into the dark depths of space.  

The reply had also been but one word. "Failure."

Patter, patter, patter. Stumpy feet clambered over the grassy hill. A lazy finger traced a route through forests of symbols and lines. The sun beat down upon the wide brimmed hat.  

"Hold up, Trikles," called the rider. With a chitter and a nervous skittering, the creature came to a halt. It looked about curiously, spying the ground for mushrooms to gobble.  

The traveller frowned, looking down at his map then up at the trackless path before them. "That stone over there isn't on my map," he proclaimed to the two of them. "Why do you think that is?"  

Trikles craned its head back, shining its glassy eyes at the man with a look of innocent unknowing. The man stared back, half expecting an answer from those wiggly mandibles.  

Ruffling the map, the traveller reseated himself in the saddle. "Well then, what are we to do, eh? Either we're in the wrong spot or my map's wrong." He stared at the rock accusingly. Trikles looked at the rock too, less accusingly.  

"I've got it, Trikles!" exclaimed the gentleman suddenly. "We'll bury it. Then the map's correct and we're right where we're supposed to be." Trikles seemed to nod, accepting this.  

Folding up the map, the traveller hopped down off the saddle and got to rummaging through the bags for his shovel. "It'll only take a moment. We'll get there on time, Trikles, don't you worry! Aha!" The man lifted out his shovel, holding it aloft triumphantly. He then strode off ahead towards the large boulder.  

"C'mon, Trikles! I'll need you to give this a roll once I've got the hole big enough."  

Trikles looked up at the shining sun in the sky, making a note of where it was now.

Terrence the Traveller,  

Twice trained totally.  

Thomas the Tabby,  

Too tired today.  

Time too tardy,  

Thus tires treated.

An optimistic dawn spread across the land of Andonia. Fussing over the little orb for so many months, most had come to think it was nothing more than a rock.  

With the warmth of that day's sun, nestled in the sand of a foreign world, that inert seed silently stirred.  

Cracks flowed along its surface like little lightning strikes. The dry eyes watched it with a faith fulfilled.  

The seed of hope that saved a world now broke open. From its core spilt the great contagion of the unrestrained link.  

Two mended arms reached down to retrieve the little thing within. It shimmered happily.

Rumblings in the darkness. Chittering of dark pleasures. A tide of bizarre creation encircled the clustered group of Andonians. The dark mist deepened. Fe'Hihi looked down from above, grinning with excitement. Her will brought forth every one of her children to bear on that point.  

Entoru's sword staff swung our, slicing the air. Pini rose higher, shining her light as best she could, trying to push back the closing darkness. Cat brought out his other rifle, the one he had not dared yet fire. Stickman's pistol had recharged. Standing by his friend, Little Devil stood ready. Shaking off the last of the lethargy, Tarrakton watched the perimeter alongside his friend, the torn creature of Fe'Hihi. It cradled its egg more protectively now, but a fierce anger burned in its eyes. Turning to Tarrakton, it rasped, "Proteeect!"  

Tarrakton nodded to his companion, saying, "End of play, good friend. Let's put these things down."  

A deep howl tore across the sky. None could spot its source, as the twisting vapours encircled them completely now. They could see nothing. Sounds of shuffling claws and wheezing breath filled the air. Every heart beat for battle.  

Looking behind him, Little Devil saw the Doorman shuffling uncertainly. Atop its back, the little Assistant sat nervously, shrugging with uncertainty. "It's blind," he said.  

Sand shifted beneath their feet. A claw swiped at the floating creature beside Stickman, catching it and pulling it violently out of sight.  

"NOO!!" cried Stickman, turning his gun into the darkness and firing six times in rapid succession.  

Another lash of tentacles whipped down from above and closed around the two devils. The Doorman and the Assistant were gone.  

"They're all around us!" screamed the Little Devil. "ATTACK!"  

Aiming high, Cat fired a round of his rifle. Powering up, it seemed to drain the light from the immediate vicinity. Then with a deafening roar, it cut a swath through the world in the direction he was aiming. For a moment the mist was cut clear. They could see the stars! And a great fleet of flying space ships bearing down on them.  

"Torcian Fighters!" yelled Cat, recognising the vessels.  

Without warning, the earth beneath them surged up. Thrown to the ground, they watched as a massive worm with slicing arms and shining black eyes shot into the air, towering above them. Tarrakton and his friend were caught on its mouth, atop the beast.  

Then the monsters left their safety. A huge claw shot out of the pitch, followed by a grinning maw filled with sharp teeth. Attached was a head with warped eyes and two antennae with snapping jaws. It snarled at Cat, swinging its tree trunk arm at him. Little Devil launched onto it, biting the rock flesh. A small turret embedded in the creature's arm rotated to aim at Cat's head.  

More creatures raced out into the open, eager to reach the Andonians. Entoru swung his blade about, catching two in the back. Pini raised out of the way, dodging numerous lashes of tentacle and claw. Stabbing behind him, he impaled another whining thing through the neck.  

Leaping into the air, Stickman fired madly at the massive worm creature. Small turrets on the thing's hide returned fire, missing his thin two-dimensional body.  

Atop the creature, Tarrakton and the torn one pounded on the thing's face, scratching at its eyes and trying to hold its mouth shut. From this height they could see a great distance, beyond the fog. They were aghast. Darkness covered the plains for kilometres, but not from the mists. It was creatures. So many, uncountable, descending on them from everywhere. They were lost. Spikes of light rained down from above as the Torcian ships targeted the Andonians.  

The torn creature stared at something further in the distance. Pointing a broken finger, it drew Tarrakton's attention. He stared, squinting off to the horizon. What was it? Small twinkling lights, a long row of them. Some in the air! Then a flurry of laser strikes hit his friend squarely on head, splattering seared flesh about. It tilted backwards, but was still alive.  

Cat fired his weapon at something dark moving through the sky, causing it to lose a circular section of its torso. Then shifting his rifle to one arm, Cat slapped his paw down on the barrel of the little turret aiming at him. Looking into the cockpit, he could make out the tiny operator, a small familiar alien being. Pushing his face close to the crewman inside, he said sternly, "Torcian pilot, cease your attack."  

The little being looked up from its controls, feeling the locking caused by Cat holding its turret down. Guilty fear crept over the pilot as he beheld the huge Cat. Cold feline eyes stared down into the cockpit, waiting for a response. Obediently, the operator disarmed the cannon.  

"Good. Now instruct your forces to discontinue their assault and redirect their attacks to these creatures," ordered Cat.  

The little pilot looked away from Cat, working at its console. He dropped and rolled quickly as the massive beast behind him had finally gotten rid of Little Devil. Serrated claws snapped at him while mutated eyes scoured the field for prey. Fumbling with the rifle, Cat saw a bright flare of energy strike his attacker's arm. It was the little turret! The energy cannon was now aimed directly back at the creature it was sitting on. A moment later, he saw the machine pull out of the thing's hide, dropping to the ground. Little legs moved it to safety while it sustained its attack on the thing.  

More flashes of light lit the ground as the rest of the tiny mechanical walkers dropped from their hosts. Firing in unison now, they attacked the vile creatures, helping the Andonians. In the air, Tarrakton could see the fighters swooping down, avoiding him and targeting the worm's eyes.  

Once the creatures realised the little mechanical vehicles had turned against them, they began excitedly attacking them, crushing and smashing them.  

Raising his rifle again, he targeted the behemoth's forehead. Pulling the trigger, he heard a dull droning sound. Nothing. A claw lanced out at him.  

A deadly sweep of air severed the thing's finger, dropping its knife-like claw to the ground. Entoru's bloody blade gleamed in the moonlight. "Thanks," said Cat.  

The mist was beginning to shift. Beyond their immediate circle they could see the dense field of ravening horrors. Thousands upon thousands. But beyond them, near enough to make out clearly now, they saw their hope. Andonian SHD tanks, mech walkers, and FD Command Ships, along with trucks carrying many many Andonians, soldiers and citizens.  

Little Devil looked at the fleet and felt a distant presence. "Well done, Envoy."  

Massive energy blasts lit up the land as the Andonian tanks launched their attacks. The creatures between them exploded with cries of surprise. Even the dark mist of Fe'Hihi retreated from the barrage. Above, the command ships dropped their massive cargo on the horde, crushing hundreds of them.  

Some distance away, the two faeries watched the unfolding battle. Ya addressed Fe'Hihi, "Now do you see? This world will not be so easy to play with as you would like. Can you not feel your powers are limited here? You were right, I can be killed. In this unmagic place, both of us may be destroyed. Return with me to our world and save what you have left of your children."  

Conflict tore at Fe'Hihi. The battle was going so well. So many deaths, such destruction. She had never before seen such technology nor had it used against her. It was intoxicating. But she also felt the cold of this world, its restricting form. Her powers were muted, and with each death of her own, she felt a loss. There would soon be nothing of them left. And what would her sisters do if she was left alone?  

Twisting in frustration, the dark faerie plunged through the portal, back to her own world. With her departure went her will and every one of her creatures ceased their fighting and flooded towards the gateway to rejoin her.  

The Andonians arrived by the trucks, cars, walkers, and ship. Medical teams rushed to aid the stranded group. They found Stickman's friend, the floating creature. It was alive. The two devils could not be found, however. Little Devil did not seem overly concerned, however. "They'll turn up," he said.  

Entoru and Pini waited for the last of the dark creatures to leave Andonia, then made ready to leave.  

"We must depart as well. Our world will soon be cut off from us if we remain," Entoru said. The faerie Ya stood some distance away, waiting for them. "It was a great honour to meet such brave hunters as I have today. Especially you, Cat."  

"I hope I can visit your world some day," said Cat.  

"If you can find it, I would welcome it." Then the two strode off, joining their mistress. Stepping through the shining portal, they vanished. With a shudder, the portal collapsed and vanished.  

Spotting a survivor across the field, Stickman ran from the medical unit he was at. "Hey! Are you alright?"  

It was Xecia. She seemed disoriented. "What? No. Yes. It's alright," she called.  

Behind her came a shorter figure, also stumbling about, confused. Stickman recognised his friend. "Ki Po Ta Nu!"  

The short, wide headed engineer looked up to his stick friend. His face was alight with happiness. "It's me, Ki!" He ran to his friend, so relieved. The terrors were gone. Everything was going to be all right.  

Eternal web, circle bent,  

Rebel twin single again,  

Branch in world new,  

Book to ring's start.

Stickman and his companion launched towards the main door. His pistols seemed to recharge themselves, but slowly, and he had run out of shots for now. Luckily, the main gate had already been broken open. With a desperate leap, the two leapt out of the cursed research facility.  

Somehow the dead creatures they'd been fighting had found technology of their own. Small weaponry adorned their bodies and had caused them considerable trouble. Stickman hadn't been hit, but his friend had taken a few strikes to the underside.  

The open air didn't bring much comfort. A field of corpses, both friend and foe. But not all bodies lay dead! With painful delight, Stickman saw Cat over by a building. A cloaked figure accompanied the feline, along with a floating light. He ran to embrace his friend with glee.  

"You made it out of there safe and sound, eh?" exclaimed Stickman happily. "We got a bit burned up in there. They've got weapons too!"  

"I saw," said Cat, nudging a monster's corpse by his foot. It bore some blasted remains of a tiny weapons system. "These little things don't belong on this planet," he said grimly. Then turning to the cloaked figure, he introduced him. "This is Entoru. He helped me escape the facility. And that star is Pini." The group greeted each other. A sense of strength and security grew around them.  

Then they saw the great head of Fe'Hihi rise in the sky as it addressed Ya some distance away, obscured by the dark mists.  

"What is that?!" asked Stickman.  

"It is Fe'Hihi, a dark and twisted faerie of my world," said Entoru. "Our mistress has come to take her away from here."  

Spying some moving figures in the distance, Stickman pointed, recognising one of them. "Look! Over there! That's Tarrakton, the guy that was going on the next Venture crew!"  

They all began to run to meet the soldier. He was walking now, unsteadily. As they neared, Tarrakton turned and grinned weakly, waving to them. "Nice to see some familiar faces," then staring harder at the group, "Or at least one familiar Stickman."  

Entoru sensed the dying one beyond Tarrakton. He swung his blade to readiness and advanced upon it.  

Catching the cloaked stranger's intent, Tarrakton painfully shuffled to put himself in front of the torn creature. "No, wait! Leave this one alone. It saved me from the battle," he insisted.  

The thing had stopped when Tarrakton had stopped, and was watching Entoru and Pini unblinkingly. It raised its second claw to cover the egg, trying to hide it. One could almost pity it.  

"Very well, though your life be in your own hands," said Entoru reluctantly.  

In the distance they heard arguing. A girl and some other voices. Stickman recognised one of the voices. "This way!" he beckoned, running ahead. "I know who it is!"  

They were now running towards the massive floating head. The mists twisted and spun around it, blocking the view of the world around them. Fighting through this, following the sounds of protest, they soon saw the figures.  

There Stickman saw his old friend, Little Devil, standing beside two other devilish looking creatures he didn't recognise.  

"Hey, Lil Devil! Fancy meeting you here!" called Stickman. His cheer clashed dreadfully with the morbid surroundings and the horrible head in the sky near them.  

The horned devil was shocked, but happy to see Stickman. "Who are these guys? Your aunt and uncle?" asked Stickman. Then turning to look at the other voice, he was taken aback. "Doctor Xecia??"  

The girl stopped her arguing with the devils and beheld the little black stick figure man with alarm. "What is that?! No... n-no, I'm not a doctor," she stammered.  

"But I am," echoed a voice behind her.  

Grabbing her roughly, Doctor Xecia twisted the librarian Xecia around, holding her face close. She burned with anger. Studying her a moment, she pulled her away from the others. A dark form followed the two.  

"That's strange, I didn't know she had a sister," remarked Stickman. "Was that Ki Po Ta Nu just now?"  

Doctor Xecia dragged the librarian across the field, away from her friends. "How did you get here?!" she demanded angrily.  

"I don't know! Who are you?!" pleaded the librarian Xecia.  

"You don't even know? I'm one of you, just not brain-washed. I'm free!" said Doctor Xecia.  

Twisting against the vice grip on her hands, she pleaded, "Just send me back, please send me back!"  

The doctor appraised her suspiciously. "I'd like to send you back. That'd be exactly what I need right now. There's never been two of us together before. Not that I know of anyway." A sound of footsteps behind them distracted her attention. "Se? Get over here."  

From the twisting mists emerged a tormented face. One eye forever sealed shut, a terrible scar running across it. The other eye blazed open in abject terror. A mouth curled in a silent scream.  

"I need you to send this girl home for me, Se. Do you understand? Listen to me!" screamed Doctor Xecia. "Dark tentacle of evil night is woven under this fair one's brow. Undo the cage to free yourself."  

Se nodded, then brought forth his tool. Plasma lit up between the metal prongs as he advanced on the terrified librarian. Doctor Xecia released the librarian Xecia and stepped away, back into the dark mists. A battle had begun that she needed to attend to.

Tarrakton and the broken creature had remained together, despite the uneasiness. It was very unsettling to watch it bleeding and limping, yet having such great strength as to drag the weakened soldier away from the battle. Cradling its egg in one arm and pulling him by the other, they made it a fair distance away before something odd happened.  

A person popped out of the air suddenly right beside that wounded creature. It was a girl, fairly young, and impishly cute. Her clothes were a bizarre mix of styles and accessories and her hair was quite alien. An overlong blue scarf wrapped around her neck, setting off a purple top, trimmed in peculiar ways. Her skirt was an iridescent green, long in back. Two long pigtails topped her head.  

The half-dead creature gazed up at her with its naked eyeball. She looked down at the pitiable thing, then at the egg it held. The sight of it caused her to wrinkle her nose, yet she still gave it a strained smile.  

"Hey! Found you," she quipped nervously. "Gotta run! Ciao!"  

With that, she reached her hands forward as if grasping something, and pulled apart a hole in mid-air. Bright light shone out from it. Verdant green lands with bizarre trees and strange animal sounds. The girl quickly leapt through the circular portal and was gone.  

A distant conversation could be made out, and in a moment, a new woman emerged from the portal. She was much taller and older looking, but still youthful. Her hair was long and light. The wind picked it up and carried it. She wore a shining blue dress that reminded Tarrakton of the ocean.  

The pale lady knelt down beside the bleeding creature and stared at it through suspicious eyes. "What do you carry?"  

With uncertainty, the creature twisted the egg under its arm, as if to make sure it was still there. After a long pause, it replied with difficulty, "It isss waaarm."  

Unsatisfied, the woman again inquired, "Don't you want to destroy it?"  

The thing seemed conflicted. It shook its head and wobbled about, putting more weight on its broken leg. "Must nooot plaaay. End of plaaay."  

She seemed taken aback by this. Then she noticed Tarrakton beside the creature and pointed at him. "Is he not one of your playthings? Answer me."  

This time it answered more quickly, and positioned itself between her and him. "Noo plaaay. It also isss waaarm. Keeep all waaarm. Proteeect."  

Kneeling, she addressed the creature, "Listen to me, when I leave this world, you will come with me. Do not return to your mistress."  

"Mistress is cooold," replied the creature, seeming to accept the command.  

With that, she stood and marched determinedly off towards the research facility.  

The dark mist had spread over the field surrounding the building. Many horrific creatures of alien mind were now wandering this foreign world. Already she could see that many had been "played" with. The corpses told their familiar story. Anger, sadness, and regret filled her soul. She screamed at the night sky.  

"FE'HIHI!"  

The mists seemed blown back by the force of her cry. A dense cloud rolled up, climbing into the air. Tendrils of pitch black twirled and took shape. A bulbous mass grew in the sky before the woman. She watched with grim understanding.  

Dark whorls danced around the moon, enveloping it, then seeming to pull out some of its colour. White began to mingle with the black. Greys leaked out, flowing up, forming patterns. It seemed as though eyes and a mouth were forming. Darker strands dropped from the top and curled. A grin solidified, then a sharp nose, and long lashed eyes. A beautiful face hung over the twisting horrors below.  

"My dear Ya. How did you find me so far from home?" said the bodiless face with a voice as a river. It sent chills through Tarrakton who could both see and hear her. The visage was monstrously large.  

The woman named Ya spread her arms, holding her hands splayed open. "Leave this world. It does not deserve your torment."  

Smirking mischievously, the giant girl's face shook her head, "But they are so much fun! I've only had a few hours with them. Let me stay a bit longer, won't you dear Ya?"  

Growing angry, Ya stepped closer, keeping her eyes on the face above her. "You torment and destroy everything I have, everything you can find. Is it not enough? You must come to this place, a whole new world, innocent of your taint, and you wish to poison it as you have poisoned me?" she said quickly, her heart beating furiously.  

"Oh my! So much suffering for poor Ya. I shouldn't complain if I were you. You are my favourite after all. Why do you think I've kept you alive for so long?" said the beautiful visage.  

Ya's eyes narrowed, her heart beat faster. "You can't kill me, you know that. You can't kill any of us. Come home, Fe'hihi."  

"Can't kill you? Are you so sure about that? Just because you've lived so long doesn't mean you're immortal. Shall we play a game, then? Yes, I think it's finally time to play with you, my dear Ya. I've put it off for so long. Come on now, I'll let you take the first turn."  

Tarrakton tried to stand. He had a sudden inclination to get very far away very quickly.