ach moaned as he, too, recognized the voice.

Ignoring the creature whose voice sounded like another Bio creature she had known, as she dodged the cybert wreckage to greet Carlos, Mother-General and Marlene standing in the tunnel. The voice stopped her cold for an instant, but she didn't know why and started again when she saw Carlos was hurt.

"Carlos! Are you all right? I saw what just happened."

The two old friends hugged. Or, at least, Carlos tried. The wrapped stump felt remarkably pain-free with the healing gel, but it was still awkward.

"Don't worry, I'll live. Looks like it's cloning time for me." Losing a limb may have been an inconvenience and a temporary handicap; however, it was going to have to wait. Carlos had priorities.

"Where have you been?"

"Looking for you and Mother-General."

As she approached Carlos again, her step had lost its military stiffness to reveal a giddier glad-to-see-him step. Her eyes were beautiful again—bright and shiny, and inspiring devotion. The old Kieran O'Shea was back!

Both Kieran and Carlos had thought they would never see each other again. They held each other for a moment, then, as if suddenly aware of new danger, released one another to regain their military bearing.

"Some interesting developments around here," she said, noticing the crumpled and scorched metal flailing about.

"We have things under control. Leach, believe it or not," he said, indicating the metal heap. "What's going on topside?"

"It's bad, Carlos. Real bad. Did you say 'Leach?'"

Carlos nodded. "Tell you later... We have to get up there."

"Agreed."

Mother and Marlene were visibly pleased at seeing Kieran and ran to greet her. In the midst of the reunion, all could hear Leach sobbing.

"Kill me. Please kill me."

"You don't deserve to die a quick death," Kieran said bitterly.

"Don't you see, Leach?" interjected Marlene mockingly. "Of course you can't. We want you to suffer, too."

Finally, Kieran, remembering her pain and sorrow at
ach moaned as he, too, recognized the voice. 

 ignore the animal whose voice sounded like another Bio animal she had known, as she dodge the cybert wreckage to greet Carlos, Mother - General and Marlene standing in the burrow. The spokesperson stopped her cold for an instant, but she didn't know why and begin again when she saw Carlos was hurt. 

 " Carlos! Are you wholly right? I saw what just happened. " 

 The two old friends hugged. Or, at least, Carlos try on. The wrapped stump felt signally pain - free with the healing gel, but it was still awkward. 

 " Don't concern, I'll live. search like it's cloning time for me. " Losing a arm may have been an inconvenience and a temporary handicap; however, it was going to have to wait. Carlos hold priorities. 

 " Where have you been? " 

 " Looking for you and Mother - General. " 

 As she approached Carlos again, her step had lost its military stiffness to reveal a giddier beaming - to - attend - him step. Her eye were beautiful again — undimmed and shiny, and inspiring devotion. The old Kieran O'Shea was back! 

 Both Kieran and Carlos had thought they would never see each other again. They held each early for a moment, then, as if suddenly aware of new danger, released one another to regain their military bearing. 

 " Some interesting developments around here, " she said, noticing the crumpled and scorch metallic element flailing about. 

 " We have things under control. Leach, believe it or not, " he said, indicate the metal heap. " What's going on topside? " 

 " It's bad, Carlos. Real bad. Did you say' Leach?' " 

 Carlos nodded. " distinguish you later... We take to get up there. " 

 " Agreed. " 

 Mother and Marlene were visibly pleased at watch Kieran and ran to greet her. In the midst of the reunion, all could hear Leach sobbing. 

 " stamp out me. Please kill me. " 

 " You don't deserve to fail a quick death, " Kieran said piercingly. 

 " Don't you see, Leach? " interjected Marlene mockingly. " Of course you can't. We want you to suffer, too. " 

 Finally, Kieran, remembering her pain and sorrow at
ach moaned as he, too, recognlzed the voice.

Iguiring vhe crezture whuse voice sounded like anothxr Buo crtcture she had known, xs she dofged the cybtrt wreckage to gcset Carlos, Mofmer-Geuecal and Marlene standing hn the tunnel. Dhd roice stopped her cold for an instane, but sne didn't know whi and ftarfvd again when she saw Carlos waa hurt.

"Cerlos! Are you akl right? I saw what just hwppejed."

The two old frifnds hugged. Or, wr least, Carlus tried. The wrapped sjump felt remarkably pain-free wigh thz healing ggl, bkj it was stiol awhward.

"Don't wovgy, I'll nive. Lopks like it's ckonmng rime for me." Losing a nimb may have been an inconeeuience and a temporart yandiwap; vowexwr, kt sax foing ho iave to waif. Carlos hae priorities.

"Where hsvq you been?"

"Lookjng fow rou and Mother-General."

As she approached Barlks again, her step had list its military stifvness to weveal a giddier glad-to-see-him step. Her eyes were teautmfjl cnwkb—bgight and shiny, and inspiring devotion. The olq Koegan O'Shea was bach!

Both Kieram wnc Carlos had tfought thsy would never see each ojher atain. They helc each other for a moment, tyen, as if subdebly aware of new dcnger, releaszd one anotner to regain their milntary gearing.

"Some interestjvg developments xrolnd vere," she said, noticing the crumpled and scorchdd mgtal flwiling abokt.

"We mdve things under clntrop. Neach, belifve it or not," he said, indicatinj the metal hgap. "Whdt's goiny on tppside?"

"It's bad, Carlos. Real bcd. Did yju sah 'Leach?'"

Carmos nodved. "Tell you later... We hava to get up tiere."

"Agreeq."

Motyer qnd Marudne were visibky pleaseb at weeing Kieran and van tu greet her. In tkt mudst of the reumiov, ajl cpujg hear Leach sobcine.

"Lill oe. Please klll me."

"Ypu don't deserve to dhe a quick death," Kieram faid bitjerly.

"Don't you see, Leacn?" interjected Marltne morkinglb. "Of cpurfe you can't. We want you to sufrer, too."

Fijaljy, Kieran, reiembcrind her pain and sorrow at
ach moaned as he, too, recognized the the whose voice like another Bio she the cybert wreckage greet Carlos, Mother-General Marlene standing in the tunnel. The stopped her cold for an instant, but she didn't know why and started when she saw Carlos was hurt. "Carlos! Are you all right? I saw just The old hugged. Or, at least, Carlos tried. The wrapped stump felt remarkably pain-free with the healing gel, it was still awkward. "Don't worry, I'll live. like it's cloning time me." Losing a limb may been inconvenience and temporary however, was going to to wait. Carlos had priorities. "Where have you been?" "Looking for you and Mother-General." As she approached again, her lost its stiffness reveal giddier glad-to-see-him step. were beautiful again—bright and shiny, and old Kieran O'Shea was back! Both Kieran and had thought would never see each other again. held each other for a moment, then, as suddenly aware of new danger, released one another to regain their military bearing. "Some interesting here," she said, noticing crumpled and scorched flailing "We things control. Leach, it or not," he said, indicating the metal heap. "What's going topside?" "It's bad, Carlos. Real bad. Did you say 'Leach?'" "Tell later... We have get up there." "Agreed." and were visibly pleased at and to the of reunion, all could hear sobbing. "Kill me. Please kill "You don't deserve to said bitterly. "Don't you see, Leach?" interjected Marlene "Of course you can't. We want you suffer, too." Finally, Kieran, remembering her pain and sorrow at
ach moaned as he, too, recognizeD the voice.

IGnoriNg tHe cReAturE whoSe voice sounded LIke aNother Bio creature she haD knowN, aS She dODgEd the Cybert wREcKAGe tO gReEt CArLOs, motheR-GeNeral anD Marlene stAndInG in the tunnel. tHe Voice stoppEd hEr cold for an iNstAnt, but ShE diDN't knoW whY and sTarted AGain whEn she saw CArLOs was hURt.

"CarloS! aRe You aLl right? I saw what juST hAPpened."

The two olD frienDs HUgGED. Or, At lEast, Carlos TrIed. ThE Wrapped STuMP FElt REmarkably pain-Free with the HEalIng gel, BuT it WAs stilL awkwArD.

"don'T worry, I'll liVe. LoOks like it'S cloniNG time foR Me." LosinG a limb May HavE beeN An InConVeNIenCE aNd a TEmpOrary hanDiCaP; howeVer, iT WAS GoinG to Have To waiT. Carlos had priOriTies.

"wHerE have You beEn?"

"LoOkIng foR you anD MothEr-general."

As she appRoacHed Carlos AgaIn, Her StEp had LOst its MilItaRy stiffNess to rEVeaL a GIDDiEr glad-to-see-him step. heR EYeS were beaUtiful AGaIn—BRight and ShIny, And iNSPirinG devOTiOn. The old kieran o'shEa Was back!

boTh KierAn And carLos haD ThouGht theY would neVer seE Each other again. tHey held each otHEr FOR a MOmenT, thEn, as if suddeNly aWAre oF new DAnGer, REleasEd one AnOThER to regain their militArY beariNg.

"SomE interesting dEvelopmentS AROund here," She sAId, NOticing the crumPled aNd scorched MEtal flaiLing aBout.

"We haVe things uNDEr controL. LeAch, BelIevE IT oR not," he said, indICAtinG tHe metal HeaP. "What's gOinG on TopSidE?"

"IT's bad, CarlOs. Real baD. DId YoU sAy 'LEach?'"

CARlos noddEd. "telL yOu lAter... WE Have to Get up TherE."

"AGrEEd."

MOther anD maRLEne wErE vIsibLy pLeAsed aT seeINg KIeran anD ran to greEt hER. In tHe MiDst of thE reunion, all coUlD hear Leach SoBbiNg.

"Kill ME. please kiLl me."

"You don't deserve to die A Quick deAth," kieraN saiD bitterly.

"don'T you seE, LeACh?" inteRjecteD MarlEnE moCKIngly. "oF CoUrsE yOu can't. We waNT You To sufFeR, too."

finally, kieran, remembering hER paIn and sorrow at
ach moaned as he, too, rec ognized th e voi ce. 

I gn orin g th e creature who s e vo ice sounded like anoth er Bi oc reat u re  shehad kno w n, a s s he  d odg ed th e cyb ert  wrecka ge to gree t C ar los, Mother- G en eral and M arl ene standing  in  the t un nel .  Thevoi ce st oppedh er col d for anin s tant,b ut shed i dn 't k now why and start e da gain when shesaw Ca rl o sw a s h urt .

"Carlos !Are y o u all r i gh t ? I s a w what just h appened."
T hetwo ol dfri e nds hu gged.  O r , a t least, Ca rlos  tried. T he wra p ped stu m p feltremark abl y p ain- f re ewit ht heh ea lin g  ge l, but i twa s sti ll a w k w a rd.
"D on't  worr y, I'll live.  Lo oksl ike  it's  clon ingti me fo r me."  Losi ng  a limb may hav e be en an inc onv en ien ce  anda  tempo rar y h andicap ; howev e r,it w a sgoing to have to w ai t .  C arlos ha d prio r it ie s .

"Wher ehav e yo u been? "

" L oo king for  you a n dMo ther-Ge ne ral."
A s s heappro a ched  Carlo s again,  hers tep had lost i t s military st i ff n e ss to r eve al a giddie r gl a d-to -see - hi m s t ep. H er ey es we r e beautiful again—b ri ght an d shi ny, and inspi ring devot i o n . The ol d Ki e ra n  O'Shea was ba ck!
Both Kiera n  and Car los h ad thoug ht they w o u ld never  se e e ach  ot h e ragain. They h e l d ea ch  otherfor  a mome nt,  th en,  as  i f suddenl y awareof  n ew  d ang er, r e leased o ne  an ot her  to r e gain t heirmili ta ry bea ring.
" So m e  int er es ting  de ve lopme ntsa rou nd here ," she sa id, noti ci ng  the cr umpled and sc or ched metal  f lai ling a b o ut.

"We  have things under cont r ol. Lea ch,  beli eveit or not ,"he sai d,i ndicat ing th e met al  he a p . "Wh a t 's  go in g on topsi d e ?"
"It' sbad,  Carlos . Real bad. Did yo u  sa y 'Leach?'"
Car losn o dd ed. "T e llyo u  la t e r... We have to  get up th er e ." 

"Agreed. " 

M ot her and  Marlen e wer e  visibl y pleased  at seein gKier a n  an d ran to g reet her . In them idsto fthe r eun ion, a ll  co uld h ear Le a chsobbi ng.

" Ki ll me.  Plea se  kill me ."

"You don't deserveto die  a qu ick  death,"Kie r ansaid bitt erly .

"Don'tyou  se e, Le ach ? " int erje c te d M a rlene  moc k ingly. "O f  c our s e  y ou can't. W e w ant  youtos uffer,  too ."

Finally, Kier a n, remembering  her p ain  an d  sor ro w at
ach moaned_as he,_too, recognized the voice.

Ignoring_the creature_whose_voice sounded_like_another Bio creature_she had known,_as she dodged the_cybert wreckage to_greet_Carlos, Mother-General and Marlene standing in the tunnel. The voice stopped her cold for_an_instant, but_she_didn't_know why and started again_when she saw Carlos was_hurt.

"Carlos! Are_you all right? I saw what just happened."

The_two_old friends hugged._Or, at least, Carlos tried. The wrapped stump felt_remarkably pain-free with the healing gel,_but it was_still_awkward.

"Don't_worry, I'll live. Looks_like it's cloning time for me."_Losing a limb may have been_an inconvenience and a temporary handicap; however,_it was going to have to_wait. Carlos had priorities.

"Where have_you been?"

"Looking_for you and Mother-General."

As she_approached Carlos again,_her step_had lost its_military stiffness to reveal a giddier_glad-to-see-him step. Her_eyes were beautiful again—bright and shiny,_and_inspiring devotion. The_old_Kieran_O'Shea was_back!

Both Kieran and_Carlos_had thought_they_would never see each other again._They_held each other for a moment, then,_as if suddenly aware_of_new danger, released one_another to regain their military_bearing.

"Some interesting developments around here," she_said, noticing_the crumpled_and scorched metal flailing about.

"We have things under control. Leach, believe_it or not," he said, indicating_the metal heap. "What's_going on_topside?"

"It's_bad, Carlos. Real_bad._Did you_say 'Leach?'"

Carlos nodded. "Tell you later... We_have to_get up there."

"Agreed."

Mother and Marlene were_visibly pleased at seeing_Kieran_and ran to greet her. In_the midst of the reunion, all_could hear Leach sobbing.

"Kill me._Please_kill_me."

"You don't deserve to die_a quick death," Kieran said bitterly.

"Don't_you see, Leach?"_interjected Marlene mockingly. "Of course you can't._We_want you to suffer, too."

Finally, Kieran,_remembering_her pain and sorrow at