Leon ran down the market street as fast as he could. If he could reach the boat in time, maybe she wouldn't catch him. He pushed past people who stood in the way, barely slowly in momentum as he passed each one. He could hear the engine of her cybercycle, a modified version of the high-speed motorcycle: It had wider, stronger wheels for all terrains and had been fitted with front mounted machine guns, miniature spot lights instead of the standard headlights, and a booster on the back.

He could smell the salty ocean spray now. He knew why she was after him. He had recognized her as a member of the Spire Guard Black, those assigned to bring people of high magical ability and bring them in to the Spire. Leon wasn't going to let that happen. He had thought that maybe living so far away from Illum, where the Spire was located, would keep them away. He'd been wrong.

Then he heard a ship horn blowing just ahead. The docks were just around the corner. He pushed down a woman carrying a basket of fruit and turned the corner.

Only to run right into the golden gate that kept the docks closed during inspection. He gave a defeated sigh and stood staring through the bars, knowing she was close behind him, and watched as his freedom slowly pulled out of the dock...

Melli was sick of this guy. She had been given specific orders back at the Spire to bring him in. She knew about his abilities, to a certain extent, and thought this would be quite an easy bag and tag. Oh, she was wrong. This guy just kept going! She'd been on his tail for about a week, watching his moves, but somehow he knew who she was, or at least recognized her, and now was running to his gate of freedom. She hoped that the golden gates were closed, trapping him, but she had no idea.

"Get out of the way!" she shouted as she sped down the docks on the bike. It was very quiet, even though it was using a lot of energy. Her mind told her to just shoot the guy and get it over with, but her orders were to capture him. Melli doubted that they'd be able to turn him, he was putting up one heck of a fight. Then again, that was probably why the League wanted him. He'd be a horribly wonderful ally, though if you ended up his enemy, it wouldn't end over well.

Melli saw the young man shove a lady over. She had to slam on the brakes to stop from running over the poor instant lady who was sprawled on the ground, her fruit rolling away. "Argh!" Melli screamed in frustration as she bolted from her bike and ran after him. She sighed in relief when she saw the boat sailing off, and the gate closed, but it was only a matter of whether or not he had been trapped in.

It took a few moment longer then she'd have liked, but Melli soon spotted him. She quickly grabbed her gun from its hidden place at her thigh before she stalked through the crowd with a murderous look. Finally she came up behind him and held the gun against his neck. People quickly spurted away from them as soon as they saw the gun, screams were let out and parents quickly rushed their kids away from what might end in blood shed.

Melli stared at him, she couldn't deny he was rather handsome, in a kind of rough way. She pushed the point deeper into his neck. "You are certainly a hard person to catch." She growled against the back of his throat. "You have no idea how much I'd love to kill you right now, but the League would rather have you living and breathing. Perhaps if you misbehave, they'll let me play with you." A sinister grin lept to her face as she was rather annoyed and ticked off with him at the moment.

Leons head hung low and he kept his hands in sight. "Well, maybe if you let me go you can play with me anyways." Sarcasm and mockery. The two usually brought pain with them, but he couldn't help himself when talking to someone of authority. He turned his head slighty back to her, seeing her from the corner of his eye. He wasn't surprised to see a pretty young woman standing behind him, though the gun digging into his neck took away any thoughts of sweet talking his way out of this.

He slowly turned around to face her, a smirk on his face. He kept his hands raised to about shoulder height, both were empty. He looked past her to the cyber cycle, then returned his gaze to the woman. "Only a cyber cycle? Gee, might be a tight fit for both of us."

Leon nodded at a couple trying to get away from the scene. This was his favorite part: Acting like he didn't care that he was under arrest, like he was really in charge. For some reason it seemed to make his captors angry.

He looked the girl in front of him over, then grinned. "Now why would they send someone as pretty as yourself to catch me? I've never been able to resist a woman, so it seems like kind of an overkill huh? Maybe next time you can buy me dinner and we can catch a show?"

Melli felt anger and irritation boil in her at his insolence and comeplete arrogance. She'd heard somewhat of his reputation, but honestly, she didn't think he was this horrible! She gritted her teeth, attempting to keep her anger and temper in check. He was making snide comment after snide comment, not caring that he was being put underarrest and was about to be held with some nasty charges.

"It's not my fault you're so fat, don't worry though, where you're going, you'll slim done nice enough." She said and snapped her fingers, a thin band of tight energy appeared in her hands and she quickly bound up his hands. She gritted her teeth once again and chewed the inside of her cheek to keep from saying a nasty comment.

"Perhaps because I can kill a man with my thumb, or maybe because they really want you dead and they'll know that I'll snap your neck if you keep this up." She threatened in a harsh voice as she stowed the small gun away and pushed him towards her crashed cyber cycle. "Buy you dinner? Oh please, if anything, you owe me for how poorly you are acting. Besides, I wouldn't be caught dead in public with you unless I have orders." She resisted the urge to punch his arm.

Melli right the cyber cycle before she turned to him, a sly smile came to her face as she walked up to him. She couldn't help but frown slightly, aside from him being much more bulkier then her, he was already a head taller then her. "I really hate to do this to you," she said in a dangerously sweet voice. "But it's necessary if I'm to get you back to headquarters without you fussing too much." She said before snapping a tendon in his neck which rendered him unconscious.

Melli nearly was crushed under his weight. "This guy is a freaking elephante," she wheezed as she struggled to pull him over to the cyber cycle. She strapped him to the back with similar bands of energy that he was cuffed with before she got on. She shook her head before kicking off and shooting back down the docks and towards the Spire.

It was nearly an hour before they finally made it. Melli groaned at the thought of having to carry him up. She could do it, but only barely. She stared at his limp body on the ground after he had fallen off the cyber cycle. She raised an eyebrow for a moment at a thought in her head. Looking around, she made sure no one was looking before she kicked him rather hard in the gut. Satisfied, she bent down and pushed on a seperate pressure point in his neck to wake him up. "Get on your feet, you're walking yourself in." She growled in his face.

Leons eyes fluttered open and he jerked upright. He raised his hands, seeing they were bound, and then looked up at the towering heights of the Spire. "Well Beautiful, looks like you caught me. And to think I had actually thought they sent someone with no talent." He got up to his feet and tried to pull his hands apart, testing the strength of the bond.

His eyes flicked over to the cyber cycle. It hadn't fully shut down yet. If he was going to escape, now was the time. He looked at the woman and smirked. "I have to say, congradulations. Too bad for you though. You have seriously underestimated me, Beautiful." He elbowed her hard in the chest, above her breasts and below her throat. He hit her hard enough to stun her for at least half a minute, long enough for him to get away.

He dove on top of the cyber cycle and grabbed the thrust. The cycle took off down the street, and soon after he could here alarms blaring from the Spire. "This is no good, I need to go faster!"

Leon kicked the booster switch, hard enough to break it off, and was almost thrown from the cycle as blue efflux flew from the thruster. The cycle flew down the street so fast that his vision blurred around the edges. Tears were running down the side of his face and his hair blown back.

Leon was lucky. All of the main streets ran in a straight line from the outer gates to the Spire. Up ahead, the gate was just beginning to close. Leon would make it out of here. The massive metal gates hadn't closed fast enough and Leon shot out onto the broad road that ran out from Illum.

The gate was closed now and the city was in lockdown. Noone would be leaving for at least 30 minutes. Enough time for Leon to get far enough away at normal speed to not be caught.

Melli doubled over and hit the ground hard as guards ran down the steps. One helped her up, or tried to, she shrugged him off as she tried to breath. She was struggling for breath as she stumbled a few feet. She began ranting with several profanties that caused several of the guards to blush slightly. The words and sentences she used were rather vulgar as she looked around.

"Give me your gun," she shouted at one of the guards. He stared at her uncertain, but took the stun gun from his belt and tossed it to her. In turn she tossed her weapon to him. She knew if she took it with her, she'd kill him. At least this way she could bring him back alive. She looked around and saw another cyber cycle, less beat up, about three yards away.

Melli jumped on it and started it, it took about a minute to heat up and it made her anxious as she knew the gates were closing. She shot out down the streets, only barely too late as she saw the trecherous man shoot through the gate right before it shut. Melli breathed heavily before she boosted the power on the cyber cycle. Within moment she would hit the gate and crash, but fortunately for her, she knew enough about the bikes to know how to work them.

The moment in which she'd hit the gate, the bike shot upwards and cleared the top of the gate, scrapping slightly against the metal. She cringed at the sound before boosting it to full speed. She was coming within sight of him. She easily pulled up alongside him before she put the bike on auto and let go of the handles. She stared at him for a moment before she leapt from the cyber cycle and knocking him off of hers. They rolled for longer then she thought, she ended up hitting a few rocks, but her senses were heightened.

"You have no idea how much trouble you are causing," she said punching him hard in the chest as they had come to a stop. She pulled out the stun gun, but began to fumble with it slightly from the jar of the rolling.

Leon growled in anger as he stared up into her face. "I've been in there once before and I am not going back!" His eyes flashed blue and electricity crackled from his fingertips. He grabbed her arm, sending waves of electricity through her body. Using the same energy, he strained against the bond around his wrists. The bond tore, then ripped apart and the energy sputtered out.

He threw an elbow into the side of her neck, then used a wave of magic to blow her off of him. He rolled in the opposite direction and started for his bike, limping. He looked down and was surprised to see and large gash in his shin. Then he saw the stun gun laying on the ground..

Leon turned and started limping back to the woman. Pointing the stun gun at her, he pulled the trigger and shot her between the shoulder blades. "Now you won't be following me." He smirked and rightened her cyber cycle. The sun was setting, casting an orange light across the broad plain that surrouned Illum. He looked back to the city, still in lockdown, then down at the woman. She wasn't far from the city, but he didn't know how long the lockdown would last.

"Damn it.." He looked down at the ground and slowly shook his head. "Damn it." he said again. He got off the cycle and walked over to the woman. He grabbed her arm and drug her over by the cycle. Leon took a strong cord from the equipment pouch and tied her hands behind her back. He lifted her onto the cycle, then sat behind her. "I know you can't hear me, and will try and kill me when you wake up, but I just probably saved your life. You owe me."

Leon reached around her and started the engine, then sped down the road into the growing darkness.

Melli once again felt the air leave her lungs as he hit her hard in the neck with his elbow. Her vocal chords were momuntarily damaged and she couldn't speak, the electricty that flowed through her jolted her, causing her to scream silently. She didn't get it, what was this guys problem! She saw the stun gun in his hands and her eyes widened in horror, she made a feeble attempt to roll out of range, but was unsuccessful.

She felt the little hooks dig between her shoulder blades before the powerful shock went up to her brain and rendered her unconscious. Her vision blacked and she went limp as her target begna to limp away.

Melli groaned as she tried to move. She felt wind whipping against her face which woke her instantly. She looked around, and then to her hands as she felt a very strong chord tied tight around her hands. She kept observing silently, trying to remember what had happened and figure out what was going on. It was dark, the stars were out but the moon had yet to rise. After a few more moment she felt two strong arms supporting her.

In a sudden flash Melli remembered everything. She turned her head, startled, before her eyes dimmed to a harsh and very cold glare. She couldn't believe it! She was among the top in the League, and yet she was the one captive. The word didn't settle very well on her tongue as she realized her position. She looked around panicked, having no idea where they were. She tried thinking of something quick, but her mind was still hazy. After a few moments of debating, she finally opted to just smack him in the face with the back of her head. When she attempted to do so, she missed and nearly fell off the bike.

Leon had been expecting an attack from the moment her eyes had opened. He wrapped his left arm around her and pulled her close to his body, partly because he didn't want her to fall off, but mostly to keep her from attacking again. "Listen up Beautiful. I've said it once and I'll say it again. I am not going back to the Spire. I could have left you back there in the dirt for a Korinth panther to get you, but I didn't. Now I suggest you just sit tight for a while. I'll be leaving you at the next town anyways."

His mouth was close enough to her ear that he didn't have to shout, but he was loud enough to be heard over the wind. The headlights illuminated the road ahead, but the only thing to see was dirt and the occasional tumbleweed on the road. Leon had chosen to take the backroads, not wanting to risk running into an SG patrol on the main road.

Dirt flew up behind them, but the cyber cycle was moving fast enough for the two riders to not get hit by any debris. Leon kept his hold on her firm and drove with his right hand. The gash in his leg was throbbing, but after a few hours of driving the pain had subsided a little.

Melli tried struggling in his strong grip, but it was kind of pointless and useless seeing as how strongly and tightly he was holding. She finally sighed in frustration, still unable to really believe she was even in this situation, and so she sat still. She was curious as to why he hadn't just left her there. He had every right to let her die, why in the world hadn't he let her die? She would actually almost prefer that over being with him right now. She didn't like this, be his captive that is.

She had been so close to getting him, she was at the steps of the Spire, and yet he had still gotten away. Melli couldn't help but admire him for that at least. She knew that it was possible for her, to do something similar, but she knew it wasn't probable. The fact that he was continuing to slip underneath the League's nose was quite amazing and commendable.

It was quite a while before and real signs of life showed. Every now and then they'd pass a small hut, rather rural for those times, but they were getting further and further out of the king's reach. Melli looked down at his leg, as much as she hated it, she did owe him for keeping her alive, even though she didn't like the circumstances with which she was kept alive.

"Pull over," she finally said, quietly, but loud enough to be heard over the sound of their travel. She knew it would be that easily, but her real expertise was in healing, not combat or warfare. "Pull over," she began again. "Please." She added rather annoyed.

"Not a chance Beautiful. You can hold it in till we get there," he said, thinking she needed to 'go'. They continued on down the road for a couple more minutes before the vibration of the running engine quit, then started back, and quit again.

The cyber cycle slowed to a crawl before Leon pulled the brakes and stopped it. He wiped the dust off the display and saw the gas meter at zero. "Great, look what you did." He dismounted and hauled her off the cycle, then not-so-gently set her on the ground.

He circled the bike and saw a hose that was nearly ripped in two. "Oh, nice going. Looks like when you wrecked us both you ripped the fuel line." He ran his hand through his hair in frustration, the looked to the town lights a few kilometers down the road. "Looks like we're walking the rest of the way.."

Melli couldn't believe him! She kept her mouth shut, out of defiance and horror. That wasn't what she was getting at, perhaps she'd just let him bleed now, maybe if she was lucky enough it would kill him and she'd finally be rid of him. She doubted that lovely thought, and wished it were more probable then it actually was.

It was quiet, but the sound of the dying as the cyber cycle finally inched its way to a stop. She glared at him as he roughly dropped her on the ground. She was going to bite something or say something harsh, but nothing particular came to mind. She said and struggled to her feet, her hands were already going numb.

"Well perhaps if you hadn't have taken off, then the fuel line wouldn't have been ripped." She said in a sarcastic tone. "Walking's fine with me." She said, stick her nose up at him. She really did not like him. Aside from the attempt on his life and trying to drag him off, what in the world was his problem with her?

Leon snorted and shook his head. "You've got some fire alright." He walked around the cycle and pulled out sword, a backup sword that hung in a sheathe on the back of the bike. He slid the sword through a small strap of leather hanging from his belt. It wasn't the best, but it would serve its purpose for now.

Leon rumaged through the equipment pouch and, after a few curses at not finding it, pulled out a roll of medical tape and goz. He sat on the ground and put the goz on his leg, then wrapped the tape tightly around it a few times. It wasn't comfortable, but at least he wouldn't be tracking blood all the way to town. He pushed himself back to his feet, then walked over to the girl.

He stood behind her, far enough away to not get kicked, and pointed to the town lights. "Ok Beautiful, let's get moving. I don't have all day to be waiting around on you."

Melli watched him curiously as he did a rather poor job at wrapping his leg up. She knew she could do so much better, but was still angry with him and kept her mouth shut. She scuffed at the dirt for a moment before looking up at him. She sighed, still feeling in debt to him, she didn't like the feeling and was ready to pay it back right now. She stared up into his eyes for a moment, analyzing him.

"You won't make it to town on that leg, let me look at it." She said annoyed, but earnest and genuine with the task that she was more and more wanting to do. She hated having this on her, she wanted the debt repaid. "If you don't let me fix it, I'll be the one waiting on you." She pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

Leon looked at her as if she was crazy, then shook his head and started past her. He got a few steps ahead when the pain shooting through his leg grew unbearable. He turned back to her, an angry look on his face. "Fine. Take a look at it. But I'm telling you, if you try anything I won't spare you again."

He limped over to her and, careful to make sure there wasn't a deadly weapon nearby, tried to untie the cord around her wrists. "Damnit... Try and stay still.." He unsheathed the sword and held it to the cord. Then, careful not to cut her, quickly sliced through the thick cord.

Melli raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you serious, I'm already in your debt, I don't repay my debts with death." She said and shot him a glare, a bit miffed that he'd think of her that way. She didn't know why it bothered her so much so suddenly, but she didn't want him to think she was a cold blooded killer. Sure she lost her temper...a lot, but that didn't make her a bad person. At least, she hoped not.

She held still, she didn't want any cuts, as soon as the very thick, and heavy chord was on the ground she beant down rather swiftly to take off the rather rough bandage on his leg. She poked it slightly, not caring if it caused him much pain. "This is rather deep," she muttered to herself quietly. She stared at it for a moment, wording the proper phrases in her mind first before she'd utter the words. Finally she gripped his wound, tightly, and said the words. It was probablly hurting him very badly as her hands were applying a lot of pressure to his deep gash.

It took about a minute, and even as he tried to escape the pain, she kept a firm grip on his leg. She continued to hold it, the blood leaking over her hands, making them very dark. Soon she pulled back and put her hands up in defense so he could see them. "It's healed, no scar," she said quietly, staring at him rather upset.

Leon looked down at her as she took off the bandage. He winced in pain as she poked at the wound, then barely refrained from screaming as she suddenly grabbed it. It took all of his willpower to resist kicking her off. "What the hell's wrong with you?!" he yelled after she released him.

He bent over to examine the wound, only to see skin. He looked at her with a sheepish look on his face. "Oh... I, uh... Guess we're even now.." He looked at her for a few more seconds, then quickly turned and resheathed the sword. "Come on Beautiful, it's not that far until I'll be rid of you."

Melli just glared at him and shut her mouth. She got back to her feet, trying to get the blood and dirt off of her hands, but it was dry enough now that she'd have to use some soap. She didn't get it, she really didn't, what was this guys problem. She walked behind him, not bothering to think of how to try and get him back to the capitol and to the Spire. He was too much trouble and in her opinion, definitely not worth it.

She fold her arms, the cold a bit colder then she would have liked. She knew it would be at least ten more minutes until they made it to the village that was up ahead. She wondered vaguely if anyone had been able to get out of lockdown to come after her. She was desperate to get away from this odd man and be back with her own people where she was respected and not treated like some common woman from a village.

Leon walked ahead of the woman in silence. Minutes passed and the only sound was the crunch of dirt under their feet. Finally, he couldn't take the silence. Maybe he could learn something about this girl.. In case he ever saw her again.

"So why join the Spire Guard?" he asked from ahead, not even bothering to turn around. "I mean, most people don't go looking for a job where their main purpose is to track down people to be tortured."

Melli didn't want to talk to him, or give something away, but after debating in her mind, she decided she could answer. "It was my fathers idea. I'm an only child, I try to fill the place for the son he might have had, but so far I haven't come up to anything great under his eyes. I guess he saw some sort of potential in me, and even though he made it sound like a suggestion he forced me to join the Guard." She couldn't help the sigh.

She soon hardened her gaze and bit her lip, she hadn't ever really talked about this and hadn't been able to realize how sensitive of a topic it was. "I've never liked my work, I only due my duty and follow orders." She snapped and glared at him as though it was his fault. "Trust me, I'd rather not force other human beings to be brought about there, but I always make exceptions for people like you." Her eyes were narrowed, but she kept her gaze forward.