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[CraazyOne]

Cool air drifted into the room through the open window and swept softly through her hair, but she didn't move a muscle in response. Moonlight sparkled in her sapphire eyes and her forehead creased as if she were in deep concentration. A bat darted through the air outside, swooped low toward the earth to catch an insect, and then soared upward once more. At last she moved her head and allowed her gaze to trace the creature's flight until it vanished into the blackness. Just as she slowly pulled herself away from her window, a tap on the door pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Krista?"

The girl blinked in slight surprise at the sound of the newcomer's voice. "Come in," she responded, stepping back and plopping down into the cushioned chair beside her window. She watched calmly as the door swung inward and a short blonde girl strode in, trying not to let her boots clunk against the stone floor.

"What are you doing up so late?" she inquired. "Shouldn't you be..." She paused, her serious expression melting into an amused one.

"...in bed?" Krista finished, allowing a crooked smile to cross her face for a brief moment. As her guest rolled her eyes, she went on, "You know I'm used to late nights, Spike."

"Yeah, but usually you're with the queen."

Krista shrugged. "I was going to sleep, but I was up...thinking..." She let her voice drift away before turning an intense stare on the girl standing opposite to her. "I didn't expect you to come visit me."

Spike brushed her jacket sleeve. "Yeah, well, it's kinda hard not to notice that you've been...down lately. You never really disclosed the details about your solo mission, and you haven't gone out with the team since then. I know you need time to recuperate and you've been serving the queen well during this time, but you're a knight. Your duty is to protect the kingdom...not coop yourself up here at base. I'm just...worried about you."

Krista shifted uncomfortably in her seat and stared down at her shoes. "Have the other knights really been thinking about me? I was sure they would have quit worrying about me by now."

"Are you kidding? You're one of our most valuable members! Everyone is constantly thinking about you. What I don't understand is exactly what happened on your last mission that's kept you here. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Gwen used to help me with this kind of stuff," Krista muttered, pulling herself to her feet and pacing about her room. "Until...well...you know. Sometimes I even went to the queen, but she's been so busy lately and there's not much to talk to her about. And you?" She halted, pushing the strands of hair out of her eyes. "It's been a long time since we've talked, hasn't it? You've been trying to redeem your family or whatever and everyone keeps talking about how you're going to turn to evil and betray us all. When did you suddenly care about what happened to me?" A hint of sadness crept into her tone that didn't escape the other girl.

Spike lifted her chin and stared back into Krista's eyes. "You're hiding, aren't you?"

Krista stopped short. "What makes you think that?"

"Come on, Krista; I'm on Eustace's most wanted list! Do you think I'm a stranger to having to watch my back all the time?"

"I feel like I'm only in the way," Krista said softly.

"I know that...it's hard...being apart from Gwen so often now that she's not...well..."

"No, listen to me," Krista insisted, her voice growing firm. She strode across the room and slid her window shut in one smooth motion. "My solo mission, as you know," she continued, "was to return Gorgeous's daughter, Lady Strych, to one of our dungeons, but that didn't go so well."

"Hey, Lady Strych is a notorious criminal who's dodged all of the knights for years. The fact that you came even close to capturing her single-handedly proves how skilled you are." Spike gave the girl a smile.

Krista looked unconvinced. "Honestly, what have I done to really prove myself? I don't feel like I belong here. But would I belong outside? No. You guys took me in when I'd lost my family and every last one of my friends had betrayed me. I had nothing and Gwen and Mara and the others gave me something to live for and made me feel like I had a purpose."

"A lot of us have felt that way," Spike agreed. "Many of us lost everything before we joined the Neutron Knights. But, look at yourself now. You've been an advisor to the queen for almost two years and are one of her most valuable assistants. You only recently started the work of a knight by joining missions with the rest of us, but you're up there with some of the most experienced of us all. Look at what you've become."

"Nothing," Krista responded bitterly, turning to gaze out the window. "I haven't done anything important like the rest of you. Lady Strych escaped...and everyday I expect her to..." She paused, drew a breath, and went on. "When I met up with her, Spike, we fought it out. I tried to overpower her."

"I can imagine," the blonde said with a faint smile.

"I failed, of course. I was lucky to get away alive."

"She has a lot of tricks up her sleeves and years of experience..."

"If you say so," Krista muttered. The despondent look in her eyes did not melt away, making Spike bite her tongue and wonder what else had happened. "She has the overlord on her side, of course, and all those fancy gadgets. She can get information out of you..."

Understanding dawned on the other knight's face. "She knows the location of our base."

Krista nodded.

"Why didn't you just tell...?"

"I didn't know other people would get nosey," Krista snapped back quickly. "Anyway, it doesn't really matter, because she made the point herself that she has no interest in the others. Just me. And you, for Eustace's sake. But you're well-protected and I've already talked to the queen about watching you even more closely..." Spike glared at her and she stopped.

"Why is Lady Strych so concerned about you?" Spike wondered after a moment. "Wouldn't she love a chance to capture all of the knights?"

"Lady Strych wants revenge for a scar I gave her across her cheek," Krista explained, rolling her eyes. "She's so stuck-up about her appearance and has a crazy temper; that cut enfuriated her. And then of course, she seems to think she can get all of the important knight information from me, since I'm close to the queen. Storming a well-protected base housing every Neutron Knight isn't really going to work out so well. So she figures if she can get me first, she'll have an easy way of getting to us all and getting her revenge. She said something about putting a huge bounty on my head, and now there are many people who would do anything to lay their hands on..." For the first time in a while, she laughed, even if it came out sounding hollow. "Well, you get the idea," she finished.

Spike paced the floor, not seeming to hear the girl's last statement. "And now you're holing yourself up here, where everyone will look for you first?"

"No," Krista responded, staring Spike straight in the eyes and lowering her voice. "I've been up here, planning my escape. You're not the only one who got worried about my behavior. The queen posted guards all around my room. Apparently she got the idea I was in some kind of danger. Of course I don't want to stay here, but I also knew if I told anyone, they'd outright refuse to let me go and insist on protecting me."

"That's what we're here for," Spike said. "To stick together and protect each other."

"But you understand my situation," Krista went on, sounding eager now. "You know what it's like to be hunted down and endanger everyone you care about."

"If they know I'm here, I'm endangering them right now," Spike returned dryly.

"They don't know you're here. Lady Strych read my mind, yes, but all she found out was that I usually stay at this base. She knows there are other bases and she seemed to believe the rest of you were at the others. As long as I get away from here before she comes to find me, she'll never know about the rest of you. She'll be too distracted hunting for me."

"You can't know that," Spike said.

"Yes, I can," Krista shot back, slightly annoyed. "Listen. I know everything that was in my mind when she read it. But the strangest part was that she unintentionally created some sort of connection between our minds, and in the few moments she read my mind, I read hers. I didn't know everything she was thinking, just the thoughts that were related to me. I can tell you for sure that all she cares about is you and me. She has others on your trail already, and she doesn't dream that the knights would keep you and me in the same location. I guess she thinks everyone knows we're both 'valuable' and that the knights would never risk losing us both. So, supposedly you and I never stay at the same base together." Krista sat on her bed and sighed. "If you help me escape, tonight, I guarantee you that Lady Strych won't even touch this place. She's bent on finding me. I'll be enough of a distraction. I need to leave to keep you guys safe."

"And to redeem yourself and make yourself feel important," Spike muttered.

Krista raised her head. "How did you...?" She paused in sudden understanding. "Oh, yeah. Yes...you're right."

"And what if you run off to protect us, meet her, and she reads your mind again? Won't you just be playing into her hands? You'll be feeding her all the information she needs on a silver platter. If you go, all the knights are doomed."

"I've thought about that," Krista responded, "and I know how to stop that from happening. I have to go and face her. She's not going to get any information out of me, and you guys are going to stay safe." She gazed at her companion with a pleading look in her eyes.

After several long moments, Spike let out a breath and nodded in resignation. "I'll help you," she agreed. "Queen Mara and Writer Woman are going to kill me...but I think they'll understand eventually. You have to do this."

Krista smiled for a second, then became business-like. "All right; enough talk. I've been planning an escape, and with your help, I should be out in no time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Krista stood poised near the window, dressed in the usual costume she wore on missions and with her dark blonde hair pulled into a knot. She was clothed in a black leather top with a silver atom insignia sewn on the chest and matching pants. Her hardened leather boots, colored silver, came nearly to her thighs and were thick enough to deflect several blows from even the sharpest of blades. She carried several throwing knives in holsters strapped across her shoulder and a small pistol at her side; on her back she slung a small pack with enough provisions to last her a few days. Her load was light and her outfit dark enough to blend into the shadows of the night.

"You ready?" Spike inquired.

The other knight turned from the window to glance back one last time and give her friend a quick nod. Though her face was hard and determined, hiding the fear, her eyes glistened with a hint of uncertainty and sadness in the moonlight. She knew what the cost of her actions could be and how much her dearest friends might hurt, but she couldn't back out, not for anything.

She held Spike's gaze for several moments and then spoke softly. "Tell Mara and Gwen and the others that...that I'm sorry..." She paused before adding, "Thank you. And...goodbye."

"I wouldn't let you go alone," Spike countered, keeping her voice low, "if I didn't know that you're going to come out of this. You're more talented than you give yourself credit for. You're a Neutron Knight for a reason, Krista, and don't forget it. I'll see you again."

Krista smiled faintly before stepping closer to the window sill, though she didn't answer.

Spike spun around to the door. "Here goes nothing," she murmured.

Simultaneously, Spike swung open the door while Krista sprang straight out the window into the blackness. As the air rushed past her, slapping loose strands of hair into her eyes and fluttering her clothes, Krista could hear the distant-sounding shout of a guard. He must have seen her jump when the door opened. But if all went according to plan, it wouldn't matter. Krista had her head start, and Spike would be able to take out the guards and let them lie unconscious for a few hours. Even if they did outnumber her, she'd distract them long enough. By the time any of the other knights noticed something was amiss, it would be too late to catch up to Krista, let alone find her. She hadn't even told Spike where she was going; not because she didn't trust the other knight to keep her mouth shut, but because she knew the girl wasn't the best liar in the world. Her job would be a lot easier if she didn't have any information to lie about. The plan seemed flawless. Except, of course, for the ending, but she couldn't think about that right now.

Ten feet from impact Krista engaged her hover boots. She wavered awkwardly in midair for a moment as they pulled against gravity to halt her fall, and then she carefully made the descent to earth. With a soft plop, she landed in the cool grass beneath the precipice on which the knights' base rested. She drew a deep breath, crouched low, and slipped quietly through the night. The grass barely rustled beneath her feet as she passed, and the shadows hid her well.

When she reached the edge of the forest lying a few hundred yards away, she dared one last glance at the base before turning her back on it for good. Already it seemed very small, just a black shape resting near the edge of the cliff. All her friends were there, safe and ignorant of what was going on. Part of her regretted that it had to happen this way, but mostly she was relieved that they were away from harm. It was hard to leave them behind and know that they would hurt when they discovered her absence, yet she felt they would understand. Mara and Gwen would for sure, especially if they gave Spike the chance to explain. They would have done the same thing, if they'd been in the same situation.

With a soft sigh, Krista turned away at last and slunk into the forest. Now she was on her own, a lonely figure in the night running straight toward danger.



To be continued... LOL.



~Rachel~

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Wow.

I really can't believe you wrote that for me. You're the best Secret Santa ever. I'm surprised how well you can convey events into a fictional setting. My god, if I were there right now I would give you the biggest bear hug known to mankind. I guess internet love will have to do for now: *Interhugswub* Aww, now we're all sappy... literally. Did we hug in a tree or something?

This has got to be the most thoughtful gift I've received in a long time, and I'm going to cherish it forever.

Just, thanks for working so hard. And the quality is AMAZING YOU'RE SUCH A LIAR. XD

I can't even describe how good it is.
So here:
FJEAIFJEAOFJAWOFJAWOIFJOSBBNAOGJEROAI.

[CraazyOne]

Awwwww, you make me sooo happy, Krista. I'm so glad you love it that much!!!!! I really, really wanted it to be special, 'cause you're such a special person. ^_^


YES WE'RE SAPPY AND WE FRIGGIN' HUGGED IN A TREE, whoohooo!

Haha...now I dunno what to say...

Sooo...

--bear hugs back--

I luff you!!!!




~Rachel~

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Well it IS special and I can't possibly adore it more than I already do. D:

[CraazyOne]

Hurrraaaayyyy!!!!





~Rachel~

[Jimmygang 005]

NNNNiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, dam I wish I can write like that post more soon ^_^


:) Khalid :)

[.:!Gwen!:.]

LOLOLOL

THE BANNER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN SAYS, "WATCH OUT: KRISTA IS COMING!"

....Krista you're such a dork. "Did we hug in a tree or something?" LOL. I love you. XD

BUT DUDE. FACE. RINGO. Agh. I love your writing. SO MUCH. FREAKING. Grah.

You should write a book about the Neutron Knights when you're all high and mighty and out of college. :3

BUT until then, this fic stuff is absolutely superb<3

LOVE IT AND YOU~






.:!Gwen!:.

[Kaytron]

*rubs eyes*

whoah, Rachel, that was awesome!

I can't wait for more!!

^Kaytron^ :ph43r: