Miles away, in Vulture Town, The Lizard Hunter knocks on Heather's door. "Come on, Heather, it's time to tell your tale."

  The old ruin of a hotel from the ancient days makes a poor imitation, but with the world in its current state, it's basically 5-star accommodations.

  No answer comes from Heather's door. He looks nervously at the group of three thinkers. Large, dark Dowaths with sinister, brilliant minds. They wear long, flowing black robes with slits for their wings to emerge. He waits, fearing she has fled.

  Finally, she opens the door. Holding the Lizard Hunter's hand, she walks down the stairs, and they sit with the 3 monsters.

  "What do you know?" one demands.

  "I...I...think they are a lot more organized than you suspected. If you attack, most will fight, and most will probably die, so you will lose that herd."

  The Lizard Hunter prompts her, "No, go on, tell them about the other thing."

  "There was a weapon, the smart Ponu, Lana, the one with short, boyish hair and black glasses. She was working on a weapon, it's the same type Geeryo uses, it can neutralize sky reapers."

  The three Thinkers murmur among themselves. "Thank you."

  "I want free passage, please, that is what you promised, I want to be free of this damn place. I just want to live".

  The Lizard Hunter lowers his head.

  "We promised you that, yes. We will not hunt you. leave now, you are no longer in his protection, and we will not hurt you."

  Heather gets up and walks towards the door.

  The Lizard Hunter pipes up, "Ponu, are you sure you don't want to continue working for me? We could make a good team". "No", she yells, I am getting the hell out of here. He lowers his eyes and then glances back at the Thinkers.

  The moment she steps out the door, she is snatched by a Sky Reaper.

  "Since when does the meal make bargains with the diner?" one of the Thinkers says. "We never said our Sky Reapers would not hurt her, only us. Thank you, Lizard Hunter, looks like we may need to have a conversation with this Ponu scientist, Lana".

  The Lizard Hunter's eyes are fixed on the death of his asset that just happened outside. He rises and leaves.

  ____________________________

  On Geeryo Island...

  Dr. Victoria Hawksworth reads over the bioscan and genetic map. "I knew it!" she proudly proclaims. Everything here is showing an enhanced Ponu.

  Her hologram assistant appears, "Do you want to arrange a party to capture the original?"

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  She looks at the AI with disgust for asking what she considers a stupid question.

  "There is no need," she says. "The original was found dead. That was in the report "One" gave us before we lost contact with the transport.

  Besides, you fail to understand me. This file will be deleted. We must not let anyone know that we created a natural-born Ponu. It looks like someone on the mainland did us the favor so we didn't have to eliminate her ourselves.

  This proves my theory was right about what a natural born Ponu would be, and why we must make sure that never happens."

  The AI nods.

  "Besides, we need all our resources here, on the island, until we can suppress the rebellion. Once those traitors to their class are eliminated, we can then think of expansion. We will be back, but we will strike when we are good and ready".

  Her grin spreads from ear to ear.

  The AI hologram looks on, obedient as always to Dr. Hawksworth.

  ____________________________

  In what used to be suburban Los Angeles hundreds of years ago, now simply "The Ruins", Vault #20, the sky is black with a swarm of Sky Reapers.

  A Thinker leader lands. As he walks towards the entrance, the crowd of Sky Reapers all bow in subservience to him.

  He walks slowly, supreme in his confidence. He enters and sees the Thinker scientist examining the scene. "Any idea yet why Geeryo were here?" he asks.

  The scientist, looking up from his terminal, says, "It appears at least one activity was recorded here. Security shows this scavenger woman being taken inside."

  "She looks like a Ponu, curious," Thinker says.

  "Yes, but that is not the interesting part; they put her in one of their pods to recondition her," continues the scientist.

  "Why was Geeryo so concerned with one Ponu or Scavenger, all the way out here?"

  The scientist looks up, smiling, "That I do not know exactly, but her bioscans indicate she should, in theory, be quicker, more enhanced than an average Ponu.

  Security scans showed her being taken back on-board their ship. If she was on it when it exploded, then she is dead now."

  The Thinker leader looks away, "A shame, with the original captured, we could have cloned her.

  We could have used her in our fight against the Cave Ponu."

  He laughs, "can you imagine their shock, having to withstand our attack, then at the same time having to deal with a stronger, faster, more enhanced Ponu, an army of them. She and her clones could have been the key to capturing them all.

  Take any tech we can salvage from here. Anything that can help us capture the Ponu living in the Cave City. We need them alive. They will help sustain our people for a very long time."

  THE END