Part b of the story of BHS and Napalm

   Napalm grins and says, "Lets see them fire overheated weapons." His eyes glow a soft red. Several seconds later the laser fire stops, followed by sharp yelps and the sounds of weapons hitting the roof.
   Blue looks and yells, "BEHIND YOU." as he tosses a mini-sun at the figure that popped up behind the wolf. Blue almost cries as he sees he's too late. Yet even as a laser blast nearly slices through him, the wolf is replaced by a short collumn of flame. The lasers pass harmlessly through the flame and it soon disappears too, leaving nothing in place of the wolf.
   Blue pounces on the blinded figure, knocking both to the ground. Blue hits the throat of the weasel, killing him instanly. "Nap? You okay? Nap?"
   "Yeah." Napalm says in a forlorn voice, coming from the other side of the roof. Blue follows the voice and spots the wolf stepping over several piles of bone and ash where the bulk of their attackers had been. Blue picks up a gun near one of the piles that appears to be undamamged. He fires at the door, blasting off the lock. Blue walks through the door, starting down the stairs, with Napalm close behind.
   As Blue walks down he feels a step move under him. "WATCH OU...!" He doesn't get a chance to finish his warning as he tumbles and slides down the rest of the stairs, coming to a rest at the landing. Napalm floats slowly down behind the dog, landing next to him. He extends his paw with a slight grin. Blue seems about to take it, as he sniffs the air. The gun is raised to a firing position, the wolf moving out of the way relflexively as the laser fires into the dark. Blue gives a satisfied grunt as he hears a body fall to the floor. "Which way?"
   Napalm gives the dog a paw up as he looks down the hallway, using his heat sense to scan through the darker areas, now seeing where the body of the unlucky weasel lies, already beggining to cool. "How about through the door?"
   Blue moves toward the indicated door, listening at it before carefully opening it. Blue steps through the door with Napalm right behind him. They both get a split second to look around the very empty room before the door shuts loudly behind them and the lights go out. Blue, yelps as he feels the floor give way beneath him. Napalm sees the body heat of the dog rapidly moving away from him and almost rushes down to catch him when he sees him land on some floor below. He sighs in relief, thinking this false floor bit is getting a little old. He is rudely brought out of his thoughts as the ceiling slams into his head and keeps dropping! He decends quickly to check on the dog. They were going to have to get out of here quickly, though he was sure yet quite how.
   "Blue! The ceiling, its coming down!. We have to get out of here, fast!" There is no responce. "Grrr." Napalm starts to glow a soft red, eminating a weak light. Seeing the prone dog, he prays the fall only knocked him out. Seeing few options he tries desperately to fly up and force the ceiling to a halt. His paws press into the metal ceiling from the force but it keeps decending relentlessly. If only I had room to transform, I could stop this thing easily, he thinks desperately. He drops back down to the dogs side, realizing his time is short his mind races with possibilities. Suddenly, realizing the obvoius, he grabs the dog up in his arms. The ceiling gets closer and he is forced to kneal. He concentrates hard, closing his eyes, forcing his mind to work. Suddenly he feels a change in the air around him and realized he was succesful. He opens his eyes to see the door to his right, the dog safely in his arms. After taking a large sigh of relief, he gently sets the dog on the floor and shakes him soflty back to conciousness.
   "Ohowwwww." Blue moans in a groggy tone. "Give me a second to
catch my breath." He winces as he hears a crash from behind the door. The dog looks to Napalm, "You better lead."
   "No, I think you should. You just saw what happened when I chose." Blue leans a little on the walls as he tries to stand up. He wobbles a bit but motions for Naplam to continue. "On second thought, maybe you're right. I'll take the lead. Just tell me if you need to rest."
   "I will." Blue replies quickly. Napalm takes one last sceptical look at the dog before starting off slowly down the corridor. Blue follows his flame colored companion, walking shakely when the wolf's eyes are averted and trying to put on a brave face whenever he looks back.
   Napalm comes to what appears to be an elevator door looking over the buttons then turns to the dog. "Going down?" The wolf asks.
   "Well, we ARE on the top floor. I don't even know where we're going. Better stay close to me when we go, in case it's another trap."
   "Ok, but I think this one is safe."
   "What makes you say that?"
   "Someone is coming up!" Napalm says as rushes around the corner, pulling the dog behind him. Blue winces, but doesn't cry out using the time to recover his strength. They hear the elevator doors open, voices coming from the direction.
   "Well, this is just great!" One voice says, with obvious sarcasm. "We get to go make sure that stupid blue dog and his friend are greasy spots on the floor. I tell you, Skiv, the Awardings aint payin' us enough for this." A second voice grunts in agreement as two cloaked figures pass quickly by the corridor. Neither seem to notice the hiding pair. Just as the voices begin to fade down the hallway, Blue makes a slight, but audible hiss and clutches his side. Napalm does not even wait for a reaction but sidesteps into the hallway and floods the entire passage with searing flame. He catches a glimpse of thier faces, obviously weasels, as they glance back only long enough to great death, before the fire overtakes them.
   Napalm drops his arms to his side and shakes his head sadly. "Two more to add to my list..."
   "Your list?" Blue asks, moving over to the elevator. Napalm follows to the elevator, steping in when it arrives.
   "Yes. The list of all those I've killed. It's rather lengthy I fear."    Blue notes three buttons on the inside of the elevator, to the left of the door. Each marked to indicate a floor. He presses the bottom one and waits as the elevator begins to decend.
   "They're weasels ignore them."
   "They are living beings. They have as much right to live as the rest of you mortals. Your lives are short enough as it is. I feel guilty making that time any shorter."
   "They chose that life....and they were prepared to die. I don't enjoy killing normally." There is a slight pause as the elevator stops. "But this isn't normal."
   Napalm realizes their conversation will have to be continued later. The pair flattens against opposite sides of the elevator as the doors slide open. They cautiously look out into what looks like a tee interection outside the elevator. The halls are dimly lit, and in a sad state of disrepair, not to mention filthy.They step out, ready for another encounter. However, all three directions appear clear.
   "You ever get the idea they are expecting us?" Napalm says, stating the obvious. The dog nods in consent. They were most likely walking into a trap again, no matter which direction they chose. "Straight down the middle?" The wolf continues.
   "Might as well."
   They set off cautiously down the center hallway. About halfway down, they spot a door on their left. Just as they come up to it, the dog hears a faint click and yells. The dog ducks and rolls as laser fire streams down the hallway from both directions. Napalm realizes they must be corraling the pair toward the door, but in the present situation is happy to go along with it. His right paw glows bright red, as if he were holding some glowing ball in his palm. He steps away from the semi-protective doorway long enough to turn and slam his paw into the door. With a blinding flash of light, the door shatters and pieces of it fly into the room.Blue dives across the hall and rolls through the door way. Napalm is through a split second behind him, but not before being caught in the shoulder by a stray laser.
   "ARG!"
   "I Hate traps!"
   The wolf grits his teeth, as he waits for his quick healing to kick in, numbing the pain. "Makes two of us!" For the first time they look around the room they just entered. It happens to be the main storage area for the warehouse, the ceiling his high enough that it obviously extends into the main floor above, which appears to be accessable by the walkway running around at that height. However, the rooms most significant feature seems to be the approxamtely fifty weasels, all with laser rifles aimed at the pair.
   "This probably isn't a good thing." The dog says, taking his turn at stating the obvious.
   "I would have to agree." Napalm says from just behind him. He feels the wolf's paw pat him on the shoulder. He is about to take this as a sign to surrender when suddenly he and the wolf are standing behind the group of weasels. In a second, he realizes what happened and tries to take advantage of it, running for another door.
   "OUCH!" Blue yells as he hits a semi-transparent barrier and is thrown back.
   Napalm turns back to the crowd of gunmen. "Ok, now, that you have us, what are you planning on doing with us?"
   "Ahhh, the prodigal son returns." a new voice states. Blue narrows his eyes and hisses with obvious recognition and hatred. The wolf turns and looks up to the walkway, spotting the source of this new voice. The figure stands about average height, wearing a long flowing hooded robe. The hood is thrown back revealing a decently handsome human. He appears to be in his late thirties but somehow the wolf senses he is much older. To his right and left, stand two heavily armed and armoured soldiers, obviously body guards. Apparently this person was of some status in the Awardings organization.
   "My dad spent many years trying to find you." Blue says throughy clenched teeth. He scraps his claws against the sphere trying to cut through.
   "My, my, my, aren't we the hot blooded one. I know all about you young SunFire. Your father was quite talkative near the end."
   "Aaaaaaarrrrrgggggggh!" Blue cries out incoherently, slaminging into the sphere, trying desperately to reach the object of his hatred.
   "Now, we will finnally be able to continue the research your father refused to take part in, even died trying to perfect. Then you will be quite the loyal subject for us. One more piece of the puzzle, falling into place."
   Napalm looks at the figure again, "Thats all well and good. Might I be so bold as to inquire about your plans related to myself?" The dog pays no attention to the ongoing exchange. He slams into the wall of the sphere again and a again, his shoulder aching terribly, but this doesn't slow his efforts in the least. A very minor crack appears in the side of the spheres.
   The human studies the pair, allowing the dog to continue. Just how long can he last? He thinks to himself. He hopes it will be a long time, but there is no way that mutt is breaking though the sphere, his mages had assured him of that. Breaking, his train of thought he continues to speak with the wolf.   "Ahh yes, the oddity. You are an unexpected bonus, shall we say. We will disect and examine you. Try to find out exactly what allows you to do what you can do. See if you can be bent to our designs, and, if not, you will be killed after full examination and your secrets given to those who can be."
   Napalm looks genuienly amused, "I would be most entertained to see you try that."
   "Ohh, my dear freak, we can and will. You see, we happen to have some powerful magicians and they have studied all we know about you. We are more than ready."
   "Truely? You seem to be rather ill prepared thus far. Do you think I stand here because I am forced to? Do you honestly think your puny mortal magics can hold me?"
   Blue slams into the sphere again with renewed effort. The crack becomes more visible but neither the figure nor any of the soldiers seem to notice it.
   "Would you kindly stop that, Tool. You will damage our merchandise. I need you intact for our studies to work." He turns back to the wolf. "As I was saying. We are quite in control. Take this sphere for instance, we know that you can not teleport out of it. It appears the you cannot actually teleport through something, but somehow around them. The particulars we are still trying to decifer, but with you here for study that should progress much faster."
   "It would appear you aren't totally in the dark. No, I cannot teleport. The actual mechanics are not for your ears but it is a technicality worthy of some note."
   "Oh, and did I mention? The sphere holding you is quite non-magical."
   "Truely? Do tell."
   Blue crashes into the side of the hard sphere, this time breaking completely through. He rolls coming out of his charge and is on his feet in moments. Napalm doesnt even leave the sphere, realizing its protective value. His eyes glow as he concentrates hard on the group of weasels on the side of the sphere opposite the speaker. Just as several begin to recover themselves, a large pile of barrels in the rear of the warehouse explode, sending flaming bits of metal and petrolium raining down on the hapless soldiers.Behind him, Blue rushes blindly toward the robed figure, who is trying hard to get away from him.
   "Guards!" He yells, motioning rapidly with his arms and muttering several incoherent phrases he steps backward into a swelling cloud of darkness. The dog runs and leaps up a stack of crates and from their makes a daring leap grabbing onto the railing. Pulling himself up he, desperately tries to reach the darkness even as the second guard slips through, and evil snear on her human face. Even as Blue reaches the dark cloud it is dissappating, leaving no trace of anyone of the three humans that had been there moments before.
   "Wait!" Napalm calls as he floats up to the walkway.
   The dog fails to respond, but growls angrily and crashes into the nearest doorway. He walks out into the empty hallway and slam his fist against the wall in frustration.
   "Where do we go now?"
   "How should I know!" Blue snarls back angrily.
   Napalm pauses a moment to look at the dog, remembering that even for a mortal he was young. He'd had to kill so many by the age of 17? The mortal world's cruelty still amazed him. Allowing the dog a few moments to collect himself, he continues. "I take it that is the guy we're after?"
   "That was the bastard's son."
   "His son? Hmmm...I wonder." Napalm ponders for a few seconds. "How much do you know about this son of his?"
   The dog kinda shrugs, following the wolf as he heads to a fire exit. "He's my brothers age, 27," Blue states, "He's supposedly going to run the family business when the old one croaks, which won't happen soon enough for me. Other than that I don't know...or, for that matter, care."
   "Well, other than the odd fact that he didn't radiate any body heat, I wouldn't really care either. But, I've yet to see a truely cold-blooded human, despite what people say about them."
   Blue looks at the wolf, "....no body heat?"
   "None, odd isnt it? Almost like he isn't really human."
   "Well, I don't know who the bitch....who his mother is."
   "It is just idle curiosity I suppose, but interesting to note. I doubt it will be of use to us though."
   Blue opens the door finding that the sun had set fully now, only dim street lights illuminating the alley. A quick glance reveals no creatures of any kind in either direction.   "Lets go find a hotel, there isn't anything else we can do here." Blue half growls out, his anger and frustration obvious.
   "It doesn't take eons worth of experience with your kind to tell you arn't in a good mood. I know it may not seem like it sometimes, but I do care. I'm sorry."
   "Well, it isn't everyday you find out your father was some lab rat in a research project designed to produce some kind of super soldier for a power-hungry, cold-blooded, hairless, cowardly bastard!" The dog spits out with surprising speed and ferocity.
   The wolf, pauses for a minute, then lays his paw on the dog's shoulder. "Believe it or not, I do know how you feel. We'll get them...we WILL."
   The angry look fades slowly from the canine's face and he starts to relax somewhat. Napalm looks around them, they had wandered through the alleys for some distance now and still had met up with no one. He motions for the dog to place an arm around his shoulder and when he is confident the dog is secure he flies off into the night sky. During the flight Blue notices that despite the night chill the wolf is as warm as ever, and he holds him tighter as the cold wind rushes by them. They land shortly behind a reputable motel. They quickly walk inside and ask for a room.
   A little late the wolf self-consciously pats his sides where pockets would normally be. "Uh...you have any money on you? I dont usually need any so..."
   Blue begins to search his person and is about to report that he doesn't when the clerk looks at him and says, "It's on the house, Mr. SunFire. You have friends here." He smiles pleasantly at the pair and hands them their room key. They both blink in surprise.
   "Uh..thank you." Blue answers dumbly. They walk together to the appropriate room.
   "What motel is this again?" the wolf asks.
   "How should I know? You flew us here."
   Napalm shrugs, deciding that looking at the monogramed towels would be easier than trying to get the dog to tell him. They walk into the room and the wolf idly scans through the cable channels as the canine bathes. Napalm's channel surfing is interupted as he realize the splashing in the bathroom has stopped, and he faintly hears another noise instead. He slowly gets up and walks to the door, listening. He nods his head sadly, recognizing the sound as crying and whimpering. After a short mental debate he decides to take a chance and reaches for the door knob. It is unlocked. He quietly pushes the door open and sees the pitiful sight of his best friend crying to himself. Despite his long life, tears still had an effect on him. Without delay he kneals next to the whimpering canine and holds him close, the dog's tears soaking into his fur. Blue cries pitifully for a long time, all the terrible and strange events and revelations of the day finnally catching up to him, and becoming very very real.
   Finnally, the dog's sobs become slower, dying down to sniffles and eventually drying up completely. The dog looks up into the face of the wolf, his eyes puffy and red from all the crying. A slight smile breaks his face as he sees a few tears rolling down the side of the wolf's muzzle. Napalm smile back and slowly the they rise and Napalm hads the dog a towel, which he uses for his eyes as well as to dry off from the bath. The wolf helps Blue into bed, where he falls asleep almost before the covers are pulled over him.Napalm smiles at the sleeping form then moves to sit on the side of his own bed. He sighs and lays back, still facing the young dog. He continues to lay, wide awake and alert, for a full hour. Finally, satisfied that his friend would be safe he indulges himself in a short sleep, as well.