Volume #7: "Captivity and Liberty"
She came to in a dry place, but she herself was wet. She knew she was no longer in the East River: the incessant dripping noise made that crystal clear. She debated with herself whether she should open her eyes yet.

Finally, she decided she may as well know where she is. She picked her head up, opening her eyes ...

... to the brilliant lights of an interrogation. She could barely make out the silhouettes before her, but it was obvious that they were Rokkans. Every so often, their eyes tended to glow. But it wasn't the white or red glow of earth-born gargoyles: their eyes glowed a deep blue.

She turned to look at her hands, seeing that they were separated and shackled, suspending her off the floor. Looking down at her feet, she saw they were the same way. She experimentally tried flexing her wings, only to find that they, too, were shackled. Obviously, the Rokkans knew how to keep a gargoyle captive.

=You are Rosanna, correct?=

She turned her attention back toward the silhouettes through the lights. "No, I'm Zsa Zsa-freaking-Gabor. Tell me something I don't know."

The Rokkans mumbled between themselves. Obviously, her sarcastic burst had caught them by surprise. She allowed herself to smile slightly.

=It would be wise of you to cooperate, Rosanna.=

"And do what? Betray my clan, betray my planet? I don't think so, tall-dark- and-ugly. Find somebody else to be your stoolie, it's not gonna be me."

A smaller silhouette came forward to join the other Rokkans. Before recognition could sink in, a blue talon lashed out at her, leaving a bright red mark across the young gargess' face.

"Your wit is well known, Rosanna. But trust me, it is wasted here. It's only a matter of time."

Rosanna's eyes glowed, turning back to the owner of the talon. "Right, Demona. I'm really going to be afraid of you."

"You had better be, freak. Once the clan learns of your capture, they will do anything to rescue you. And that's when we will deliver the death blow."

The medlab at Nightstone Unlimited didn't usually see so much action this late in the afternoon, but this was no ordinary day. Lying on an exam table, the prone form of Samson lay unconscious, laid bare to the mercy of his mother.

Although she wouldn't admit it aloud, Angela was glad to see her son. She just couldn't let Broadway know, he might translate her affection into an attempt to return to the clan. But why should she return? She had everything here with Mother, what more could she possibly want?

The blind eyes of Broadway lay, unmoving, on her. She knew he couldn't see anything, but it still made her nervous. She was relieved, though, that Lexington had left an hour before.

"Okay, I think that'll do it." Angela clicked a small titanium plate into place on Samson's face, satisfied that her repairs would hold. The power source was running as per the manufacturer instructions, but she had had to cannibalize some parts for the implant, due to the incompatibility of Nightstone electronics to the Xanacorp implant. Just to be sure, she kept Samson unconscious, walking around the table and pulling off her gloves.

"Will he ..."

"It wasn't life threatening, if that's what you were worried about. He should have full use of his eye when he comes to." She wiped off her hands, tossing the towel into the wastebasket. "You were right to bring him here. If you'd made the full flight to Xanacorp, he'd be permanently blinded."

Broadway nodded, adjusting himself in the seat and wincing a bit.

"What happened to you?"

Broadway suddenly became self-conscious, stopped writhing. "Oh, nothing ... I got nailed in the back by a Rokkan on my way, that's why I had to stop here. I lost all the strength in my arms, and nearly dropped Samson."

Angela sighed. "Let me take a look." Broadway obediently turned his back to her, allowing her to see the injury. She only nodded. "You've got some pretty bad laser burns back here. I'd better treat them, it might become septic and you'll never make it to sunrise then."

"Okay."

Angela stood up, going into her cabinet to get some burn supplies.

Lexington glided up to the courtyard of the castle, landing as lightly as he could, hoping nobody would ask any questions. Unfortunately, the first one who approached him was Graeme.

"Hey, Uncle Lex. Where were ya?"

Nervously, he replied, "Nowhere. I had to leave Broadway and Samson hidden, hopefully they can make it to daylight." Suddenly, his expression changed from anxiety to fear. "I heard about my mate, how's Pontiac doing?"

"She's in the medlab with Owen and Alex. It's nothing major, she should be okay. Cadillac's already there, go on."

Lexington sped past the younger gargoyle, jumping in the doorway and running toward the medlab. Ariana came out to her brother.

"I'm glad we got to meet her."

"Yeah." Graeme's shoulders slumped. "Too bad about what's going to happen, though."

Ariana put an arm around her depressed brother.

The shift cycles of the Rokkans were very short, Rosanna noted to herself. New guards came to her shackles about once every 45 minutes, making sure she didn't try to escape. Her newest guard, though, was looking at her in a peculiar way.

The guard looked curiously at Rosanna, as if she were making a scientific study. Yes, she, Rosanna decided. This guard looked quite female. Swinging her head so that her wet hair slopped back down her back, Rosanna turned her eyes toward her current guard.

"Can you see me better now?"

Caught unawares, the guard stammered for a moment. It was clear to Rosanna that this was a young Rokkan. Maybe a teenager.

=I apologize. You are just quite fascinating.=

"Thanks, but I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment, coming as it is from a Rokkan."

The guard lowered her eyelids.

"Oh, wait, don't go away! I could use a good conversation, most of the guards who've been here were pretty quiet." Rosanna narrowed her eyes, trying to catch a good glimpse of the guard. "What's your name?"

=Our kind have no names.=

Rosanna nodded. "You know, my kind used to be like that."

=Your kind? You mean the gargoyles?=

"Exactly. In the ancient times, my father was the only one who actually had a name, and it was the humans who gave it to him. He's called Goliath."

The guard came closer to Rosanna. She seemed interested.

=Tell me about your father.=

Dusk fell upon New York, but it seemed empty without the loud noises of awakening gargoyles bursting from stone shells. Since they had been awakened this morning, the clan had been beaten by the invading alien forces, but it only served to galvanize their determination to defeat the Rokkans.

In the medlab, Goliath finally awakened, stretching his limbs and roaring his discontent. The first to approach him were Alexander Xanatos and Steve Bluestone.

"How do you feel tonight?"

Goliath gripped his temples. "I will live, Alexander. My stone sleep has healed my injuries, I believe." He turned his massive head, looking at the table next to him and seeing an unknown web-winged gargoyle. "Who is that?"

"That's Pontiac, Goliath. My mate."

Goliath turned around to see a friendly, familiar face. "Lexington!" Goliath stood up and embraced his returned clansman. "When did you come?"

"Last night. I brought Pontiac and our daughter with me." He pointed behind Goliath, who turned to see the young gargoyle Cadillac, sitting next to her mother. Lexington strode past Goliath to be at his mate's side. Steve Bluestone tapped Goliath on the arm.

"I need to talk to you, now."

"What is it ... Bluestone, correct?"

Steve nodded. "The clan went out on a raid on the Rokkans this morning. Alex over there used some magic to wake them up, so they could sneak attack."

Goliath nodded. "He is powerful."

"Goliath ... nobody's seen Rosanna come back."

A shadow of concern crossed Goliath's face. "Samson is her second-in-command ..."

Lexington turned around. "Samson's not here, either. He's with Broadway, they're laying low until sunup."

"Goliath," Steve levelly pleaded, "the Rokkans aren't going to let this slide for very long. They're sure to counterattack. Whether you like it or not, this clan needs a leader."

Broadway's perception of his mate changed sharply as he heard the convulsions she went through to change from her human form to the gargoyle he had once known. Her pained gasps reminded him all-too-clearly who was running her life, now. Once her transformation was complete, she came back over to him, finishing the first aid she had begun.

"How can you stand that? I never get to hear Rose go through that, but hearing what it feels like, it must be difficult."

Angela closed her eyes, trying to regain her composure. "I got used to it after about a month. Mother says that eventually I won't feel it at all."

His shoulders drooped. "We've missed you, Angela."

"The clan can go on without me. Rosanna's made sure of ..."

"I don't mean the clan. I mean us. Me and Samson."

Angela turned her head slightly to see her son, lying prone on the next exam table. She sighed quietly, sadly.

"I heard that, Angela."

Surprised, she turned back to the heavy-set male before her. "I'm almost done, Broadway. If I were you, I'd get back to the castle as soon as possible."

"I suppose you're right." Broadway stood up, feeling his way over to his son and lifting him up. He turned slightly to his left, toward Angela.

"Thank you, Angela. You know you'll be welcome if you ever want to come back to us."

She could only nod, watching as Broadway carried their son through the hallway, jumping out the window. She felt relieved.

She was glad Broadway's improved hearing couldn't hear her tears fall.

The guard had listened in rapt wonder as Rosanna described every aspect of her life with the clan, and everything she could remember her father had told her about their life before Manhattan. Every so often, the guard would ask a question, which Rosanna would quickly answer, then continue. She was afraid the next shift change would catch them, so she tried to wrap it up as quickly as possible.

=Why did you never try to rule the humans?=

"That's not our way. Gargoyles do not live to rule, they live to protect. My father's deepest dream was that humanity and gargoyle kind could find a way to interact peacefully and accept each other. He hoped more humans could follow his example."

=His example?=

"My mother was human."

This revelation seemingly did nothing to faze the guard. She nodded, slowly.

=That explains why the little one had such interest in having you detained. She has made it clear to us that the humans are meant to be destroyed.=

"You mean Demona, don't you?"

The guard nodded. =But from what I've seen of humanity, what you have shown me, I do not understand her.=

"That's her own dementia. She blames humans for every bad thing that has happened to her in her incredibly long lifetime, but the real cause is her own stubbornness and ego."

The guard was just about to reply again when an alarm blared throughout the ship. A klaxon bellowed over the chaos.

=All footsoldiers to the exterior. Earth forces attacking.=

The guard turned to look at Rosanna again. =Is this your clan?=

"I don't know about this one."

The airship closed the distance between itself and the alien mothership in mere minutes, arming its missiles.

"Weapons are ready, sir. P-33 missiles and RR-290 particle beam weapons at your discretion."

The gray-bearded pilot nodded. "Time to die." He pulled the trigger on his pilot stick, sending missles flying toward the alien ship.

The missile impacts rattled the entire craft. Rokkans in varied states of readiness rushed back and forth, trying to contain the catastrophe. Rosanna and her guard watched them carefully.

"It sounds like the damage is quite extensive."

The guard didn't hear her. She was trying to contact a supervisor through her comm. link.

=What is going on? I need orders.=

=Orders are to stay there and guard the prisoner. The situation is under control.=

The guard seemed upset. =Acknowledged.=

Another blast rocked the ship, sending debris flying through the door to the prisoner quarters. The guard caught the brunt of it, collapsing under large pieces of jagged metal, and catching her leg under a particularly large panel. Another Rokkan passing in the passageway looked in.

=Help me! Help me!=

The other Rokkan, a male by Rosanna's calculation, simply looked at the helpless guard. He pulled a small item out of his belt, pointing it an firing at the fallen guard.

=Good death, friend.= He ducked back out the door, into the passage, and continued on his way.

"What did he do to you?!"

The guard heavily supported herself on one arm. =It is ... a Rokkan tradition. He shot me with a poison dart, so that I cannot be captured.=

"Gee, what a nice guy," Rosanna muttered to herself. "How long do you have?"

The guard's breath was becoming labored. "An hour at the most."

Rosanna thought hard about her next decision. If she let the guard die, she would still be trapped here. If she were able to escape, she could rally the clan to attack once again. But she would leave the guard to die. What had the guard done to her ...

Then again, she might help the clan ...

"Release me and I'll help you."

The guard looked up, puzzled. =Why would you help me? I am ... Rokkan, you are a gargoyle.=

"Because we have one thing in common. We both know our duty. We both have honor. Let me help you, and I swear to you my clan will not try to harm you."

The guard let out another labored breath. Finally, she pulled a small device out of her own belt. Tapping a couple of the buttons, she pushed down on a trigger key.

The sounds of the shackles unhooking were music to Rosanna's ears. She leaped over to the guard, pulling with all of her strength on the panel on top of the Rokkan guard.

Finally, she was free. She limped back to Rosanna.

=What is the use of freeing me? In less than an hour, the poison runs its course and I will be dead anyway.=

"No, you won't. I'm bringing you with me, back to the building." Rosanna jogged over to the opposite wall, picking up a Rokkan particle rifle. "Stand clear!"

The guard did as Rosanna told her. Rosanna cocked the gun, pointing it at the bulkhead and pulling back on the trigger. The resulting hole in the hull was enough for anything to fall through, including Rosanna and the guard.

"Can you still glide?"

=I'll try.= Together, they jumped out the hole, unfurling their wings and gliding away from the battle zone as fast as they possibly could.

"Sir, there are two bogeys at 3 o'clock."

Vogel's warning brought his attention away from the combat. He turned toward the starboard window, to see two gargoyle-shaped things gliding away from the ship. For some mysterious reason, MacBeth smiled.

"It's all right, Vogel. Leave them alone. That's Rosanna."

Vogel was about to reply when a Rokkan punched through the glass of the airship.

The clan had gathered at the wall, watching in the distance as the battle raged on. They looked carefully, hoping for something positive to come out of it.

Steve Bluestone, just coming up to where the rest of the clan was, pointed his line of vision toward the opposite horizon. Suddenly, he saw two silhouettes approaching.

"Guys! Somebody's coming!"

The assembled gargoyles ran back over to the other side, seeing Broadway and Samson approach. Hurriedly, they assembled around the two returnees.

"Where you guys been?"

"Healing up, that's all. Where's Rosanna?"

They suddenly became quiet. Turning to Goliath, he answered Broadway's question.

"She didn't come back this morning. We don't know where she is."

All eyes turned downward. Alexander Xanatos chose that moment to climb up to the parapets. Looking toward the battle, he soon saw two silhouettes becoming ever larger as they approached.

"Alex, you there?"

"Hey! It's Rosanna!" He adjusted the microphone to his lips. "I'm here, Rosanna. What's up, where ya been?"

"No time. I've got a friend with me, she'll need your skills."

Rosanna alighted, lightly touching down on the stones and laying down her armload, a gigantic Rokkan female. The entire clan kept their distance from the alien, allowing only Alexander and Rosanna near her.

"What's wrong with her? And for that matter, why do we care?"

"She helped me escape the Rokkan mothership, Alex. She's been pumped up with some kind of weird poison, and she's got internal injuries."

Alex nodded, turning to Owen. "What do you think, old teacher?"

The incognito trickster approached slowly. "The poison will be easy for you, Alexander. The hard part will be curing her, she matches nothing on earth, save the gargoyles ..."

"Oh, I've got an idea." The sorcerer placed both of his hands on the prone Rokkan's form. The strange energies which found their origin from Alexander's quarter-fae heritage soon swirled and built around him and the sick alien.

"First to take care of the poison." He allowed a globe of energy to form above the alien's head. Into the sphere, a strange white fluid began filling it, not stopping until it was completely full. With a motion of his hand, Alex bid the sphere to fly across the city, ultimately dumping its potentially fatal cargo into the thin air, as water.

"And now, here's my idea."

He put his hands back on the Rokkan. Closing his eyes to concentrate, he began chanting, canting back and forth as he did.

"Alien form, bid adieu
Something new awaits for you;
Formed with earth, forged in stone
Now the Earth must be your home;
For Rokkan form no longer reigns
But gargoyle blood flows in thy veins!"

The lights surrounding Alex and the Rokkan became blinding.

She awoke in a strange place. Funny, this didn't feel the way the poison was supposed to feel. It vaguely felt like ... stone?

Building her courage, she finally opened her eyes. She was relieved to see Rosanna there. But wait ... something was wrong. She was on her back. Rosanna was standing over her.

Memories came back to her. She remembered ... talking to Rosanna in the holding cell ... the attack ... the panel pinning her down ... her mate condemning her ...

... and finally, the freed Rosanna pulling her free of the panel and helping her flee the battle. Rosanna said she would help you, she thought ... did she release you from the poison?

"Are you all right?"

Something was wrong. Rosanna's voice sounded different. She opened her mouth to reply.

"What has happened?"

Her eyes opened widely. Her voice! Her voice was different!

"What has happened to me? What have you done?!"

A human crouched down to her eye level. He was strangely attired, and much too calm for her own taste.

"I just saved your life ... I hope you appreciate it."

Rosanna extended her hand. "You fell unconscious while we were flying back here. I asked Alex to save you life, and he did. He took the poison from your system."

She began hyperventilating. "What have you done to me?!"

Rosanna's face took on a look of desperation. "I'm sorry, it's the only way we could save you. Your injuries were too severe ... Alex didn't know what to do with you ... so ... he kind of ... sort of ... turned you into a gargoyle."

She stood up, horrified.

"What?! You've turned me into a gargoyle?!"

To Be Continued ...
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