It was a tiring day. The sun had set hours ago, but the war was not over. Even though the initial fight was finished, there was still lots to be done.
Shadow was on the move. She packed all of her night gear and set of to spy on the Reptiles. Her brother would not approve of her actions, neither would she of him. Their side had not found enough information on what was planned.
Shadow traveled through the city as quietly as the dark night enveloped them all. She reached the border and hid in the plains, silently creeping across the ground, she made her way to the calm creek. Shadow followed the water source, having no doubt that it would lead her to a Dragon camp site.

:-:-:

The morning came and Cougar was still sorry for the loss of Claw's half-brother. The day was new and he had to get on with his duties. He got dressed and was on his way to the research center, where he would meet the team of experts he would be working with.

Outside, he put his helmet on and got onto his new motorcycle. It wouldn't be long before he would reach his destination, taking a minor detour to reach Siam's place to see how she was doing.

In front of Siam's apartment building, the black haired feline stepped out onto the stoop just as a motorcyclist had stopped right in front of her.
Cougar remained on his seat, but took his helmet off so that he could speak with Siam. She looked at him with a slightly worried expression on her face.
-Are you feeling alright?
She hesitated to speak.
-I just... I was thinking of going over to see how the Lieutenant is doing.
-I think he told me that he would go to see his fiancée first thing in the morning. You want me to take you there?
-Sure, it'd be nice to see Shiva, too. [She came to Cougar's side, preparing to hop on.] I'm frankly a little skeptic that she's forgetting what happened before yesterday.
Cougar started the engine to the motorcycle as she took a place behind him. Cougar put his helmet on.
-It wouldn't surprise me that she's trying to forget on purpose. [He muffled to himself.]
The motorcycle excelerated and they were off.

:-:-:

Somewhere in the distance, inside the dense forest, beyond the savanna, Shadow crept up close to what apparently seemed like an underground base.
Figuring that a lot must happen at this very intersection, she decided that planting a wire would be a more appropriate advance then her own ears.
She knelt down to the ground and takes the pack off of her back. She laid the pack against the cliff wall and started to dig a hole in the ground that laid before her.
After she had finished placing the bug, she covered her tracks. But before her job was finished, she heard a slight disturbance, like the sound of padding behind her. When she turned around, she came face to face with one of the main Dragon Guards. She gasped and then started to quiver. When the Dragon Guard stepped forward, Shadow took a dive and ran back into the jungle, leaving the forgotten pack behind.

:-:-:

On the steps in front of Shiva's place, Siam stepped off Cougar's motorcycle and onto the sidewalk pavement. Removing the helmet from her head, she faced her friend and thanked him for bringing her here.
-No problem at all. I'm glad to do it... for you of course.
-You better get going or you'll be late for your first meeting.
-Okay, Okay! I'm on my way. I'll come back later on. Alright?
-Sounds fine to me.
Cougar retook his grip on the handles.
-Give the two my regards, would ya?
The bike begins it's way down the street.
-I will! [Siam cried out to him.]
She went up the stoop and rang the bell to Shiva's apartment. There was no answer. She took a few steps back and look up to the window.
-CLAW? ARE YOU THERE? [She yelled.]

:-:-:

Cougar arrived in front of the research center and parked his motorcycle in the nearest spot. There were already a lot of the doctors awaiting at the front door.
When Cougar arrived at the door to be let in, one of the doctors starred at the young man. He starred at him from head to toe. The messed up hair, the sporty jacket, the sneakers.
-What is it that you want young fella? [asked the doctor.] This isn't a place for kids.
Cougar was shocked. All the others there took their turn in turning around to face the new comer.
-You must have mistaken me for a janitor! I'm the new head of research in development.
-Don't be joking! This is a very serious matter. The head of this development team is a doctor, not a bachelor.
Cougar was starting to burn up in frustration. He soon dismissed it and focused on the work at hand.
-Let's get a move on, people! We've got machines to invent. [He rushed to the front door.]

:-:-:

Shadow kept on running desperately. The Dragon Guards where hot on her trail. She rushed right into the forest, but that only delayed the inevitable, she will be caught sooner or later. The guards kept a good eye on her from over the canopy of the tall trees.
There were mosquitoes and flies swarming all around her. Beams of hot light penetrated through and the moist air made it harder for her to fit in her lungs as she panted for breath. Her eyes squinted as she looked up to see if those damn guards were still following her. Without a doubt, the stubborn dragons never left. In fact, they were joined by a third dragon. This third had something that the other two didn't, but she couldn't make out what it was. The first two guards flew a little distance away from this newcomer. Before she knew it, bullets were ripping through the many leaves that covered her from hell above. The third dragon was armed with a riffle and was either trying to clear a path or kill her in the process. Shadow started running again.
Soon, the shooting ceased. As her attention moved to look at the sky above, she didn't notice that there was a fissure in her path. When she finally did see it, she had already taken a leap, it was too late to stop running. She gave herself one more push to make the jump. The other side of the fissure was simply out of reach, she hadn't made it all the way across, but just barely to get a grip on the side of the wall. The ground was caving away and there was no chance that she could climb right back up. There was only one way to get out of there and that was to go down the fissure and find an other exit.
She slowly made her way down. Falling dirt covered her hair, her arms, her face, her clothes... no matter, she could easily wash up. At the foot of the fissure, she heard some strange noises, as if there were a stalker who had been following her. Not only that, but she also heard the sound of running water, a brook or a stream. Ignoring all other sounds, she followed that of the water until she had reached a creek at the end of the fissure. The water was a clear as crystal and smelled so fresh, she needed a little drink. She took some of the water into her hands and splashed her faced with it, she then cleaned her arms off. Just as she was about to drink any of it, she noticed a red transparent fluid flowing down.
She looked up the stream and saw a lone figure kneeling to the water. Even though he remained in the coolness and protection of the shade, his eyes glowed brightly in the dim light. She soon realized that it was him making the weird noise of a stalker earlier. He had trouble breathing and from the looks of the water, he was also badly wounded, it was his blood that flowed in that water.
-Are you hurt? [Shadow asked in concern.]
-Help me. [Said the loan figure in a harsh voice. Shadow's face froze.] You gotta help me! I half to warn my brother about the attack!
-Who are you?! [She demanded.]
The figure crept out of the shade. She gasped in fright. Her face turned pale, her arms and hands quivered.
-You are all in danger if you don't help me!

:-:-:

Inside Shiva's apartment, the hybrid lady was fast asleep in her bed. Beside the bed, sitting in a large chair with his head bowed down was Claw. He had unconsciously taken a little nap as he was watching his fiancée sleep. A sudden cry woke him up, someone was calling his name, someone outside. He got up and out of the chair to see who it was. Undoubtingly, he had known that it was Siam that was in the street before he had reached the window.
-Is everything alright up there?
Claw didn't say anything, he just opened the secured door for her. Once Siam was in the apartment, she immediately noticed Shiva laying on the bed.
-What's going on, Claw? [She was very worried and scared, too. She looked at the figure that laid in the bed. Shiva was fast asleep... in the middle of the day.]
-I don't know. [He finally spoke up.] All that I DO know is that Tyranous is surely behind all of this. Either he is going to destroy her or he had already gotten to her. Who knows what he could have done when he took her away.
-Maybe we should get to work, don't you think...
-I don't want to leave her! I have to guard her, protect her. I can't let her out of my sight!!
Siam slowly realized that he really did care for Shiva.
-But Claw... [He starred at her quietly calming himself down.] staying here may not be the best thing for her. I mean that if you stay here, you're not doing anything. The best thing is to go out, take action and find out what's wrong. [Claw now seemed to be staring into void space. She had reached him.] She'll be safe. It's not like she's going anywhere on her own.
-You're right. We've got things to do. We've gotta have this place surveillanced. I'll be heading out to the base and see what I can do to help the city. Why don't you call in at head quarters and have some cams in here. [Siam smiled.]
-You got it... Lieutenant Kentrose.
Siam grabbed the phone and dialed the special number to the HQ. Claw had grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.

:-:-:

Everyone at the lab was hard at work with the design specs of some new metal when Cougar was going through the blue prints and patents to some devices that had not been used. He same across a specific file when he was in the archives. He had found a file that belonged to his father, Keith Lyon.
Keith may not had been just a smart as his son, Cougar, but he did have some good ideas stored up in the days he had worked in the labs.
Cougar had paid special attention to each of the documents and papers. He had stumbled upon the patents to the CityField in Keith's file. Apparently, he was the one who had built the machine, but the government had halted the operation system because it was a waste of the city's energy supply and there was no need for any such device.
As he took the document out of the file, his right hand assistant just came in through the doors of the archive's hold.
-Doctor Lyon! The team had come up with a few theories on how to increase the sturdiness of titanium alloy... and they need your approval! [The assistant hollered.]
Cougar rushed to the stairs and hurried down them.
-Forget the theories! I found something that's much more useful. Get the group to meet me at SkyTowers! And I don't want any questions!
-Yes sir. [The assistant said just as he left.]
Cougar picked up his CVDC and placed a call as he was heading out the complex. He reached his motorcycle just after he heard the second ring, then it was answered.
-Hello? [Said an old female voice.]
-Hello mom. How are you doing? [He said as he started his engine.]
-Cougar! Oh! It's so good to hear from you again! [She said rather enthusiastically.] I'm doing just fine. What about you, is everything okay?
-[He hesitated a bit] hmm... I guess I'm alright. Could you put dad on the phone?
-Sure. [she responded, the joy forgotten in the pool of worry.]
The engine roared and the wheels spun, leaving a dark streak on the pavement. A moment passed before Keith had spoken.
-Cougar?
-Hello dad.
-Is something the matter?
-I'm just wondering if you could come and meet me at... SkyTowers.
-SkyTowers?! What for? I hadn't been there in over twenty five years.
-I found some interesting documents on an invention you worked on some time ago.
-Which one?
-The CityField.
-The Ci... OH! Of course... THAT! What, you want to get it working?
-Yes. Apparently you built it and know how it operates. In which building is it located in?
-What do you mean by 'which building'? It is SkyTowers.
-You're saying that SkyTowers is the CityField? I thought that it was a business complex.
-It became that after they had shut down the main operating systems and covered it up with rooms and floors. The Towers were what held the transmitters. That's why they're built right in the middle of the city.
Over the commerce, the antennas pierced the sky. The buildings rose as Cougar got closer to it's destination. The light of the sun reflected off it's many mirror-like windows.
-... in the middle of the city so that the field is emitted like a dome! Of course! Can you still make it?
-Sure I can. Evacuate the buildings as soon as possible, I'll be there by the time that everyone will be out.
-Why evacuate?
-You'll find out when you see the generators.
That's when the conversation ended and left Cougar to think a little harder about what was the secret to the operating system to the CityField.

End of Part IV
To Be Continued in part V

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