Book 1: Shattered Harmony

Intermission 4

Pictures Fade

Bounty

Danny looked around at the Bounty. With mop and bucket in hand she had got to work. Soon enough the floor was squeeky clean and the rest had been wiped down and dusted. It was the least she could do after staying there till her wounds were healed. Zareth had made an appearance every so often. But mostly it was Zane trying to insure that she was alright. Scanning her every chance he got. Dareth was in the kitchen with him at that very moment trying to get lunch ready. They planned to leave right after that happened.

A cool breeze wiped her hair around. She looked around seeing Pixal in the wheelhouse sweeping the floor up there so she could mop up there. She smiled and lifted the bucket.

"Here...let me get that for you." Danny looked up at Zareth who smiled down at her. "Been working hard to get this place back up and running. Feeling better?" Zareth asked his cheeks turning a different shade of pink. She smiled touching his hand before climbing up the ladder. Pixal put the broom inside the closet and smiled as Danny walked over.

"Hopefully this place will look better once the ninja come back from their shopping trip. Pixal said sliding over so Zareth could tap at the controls for a second. An upbeat song began to play. Danny giggled and began to mop the floor.

"I don't think I have ever seen the Bounty this clean before." Danny giggled. She heard Pixal behind her giggling.

"Never." Danny looked up to see Zareth drop the dust rag he had been using to clean the monitor. He stood there, nothing more. "Zareth?" Danny touched his arm. It was cold...his jacket still lay over the banister. It was just his sleeveless tan shirt. "Oh...Oh no." She turned and grabbed Pixals arm and lead her below deck.

"Whats wrong Danny?"

"You remember when I told you he had been brainwashed?" Danny asked her. The silver haired nindroid nodded her head and pulled Danny into a room as they heard the hatch open.

"Danny..." A few seconds later they heard him again. "Pixal...you can't hide from me."

"He is right...he can scan for us." Pixal whispered and pulled a sword off the wall.

"No don't kill him." Danny gasped trying to pull the sword away from Pixal.

"If we do not then he will kill us." Danny gasped and ducked just as soon as a shuriken flew passed the door and embed itself in Pixals arm.

"Pixal!" Danny yelled. She felt herself being pushed aside. Zareth charged at Pixal grabbing the arm that had the weapon and yanking it right out of socket and tore completely from her screaming body. Danny screamed with more surprise then the scene. She didn't expect to see something like that out of him. He picked the sword up and shoved it into Pixal.

"Danny run!" Pixal yelled trying to get the huge hulking body away from her. Danny wasn't to sure what happened next. All she really knew was the scream and the sound of bending metal. The scream...was cut short.

Danny gasped for air as she ran down the hallway out onto the deck. She looked around for a weapon. Damn their cleaning. Everything had been moved to the other end of the ship...and their was Zareth at the top of the ladder. His hands had oil dripping from them. Danny felt her pump stop, freeze up.

"Zareth please..." She watched him jump from the spot he was standing to the deck. "You're scaring me." Danny hid partly behind the mast.

"You should be...you were created to destroy me...I'm simply returning the favor." His voice was more like a growl then a chuckle and so much deeper.