A year later.

I ran on all fours after the intruders. Would they be my reason to leave my home? I hoped not but the time was near and I could sense my departure. I ran faster and cut the intruders off. I could feel the slug energy in the strange wagon they carried. I growled as my king drew near. They had interrupted an important ceremony and that had me angry.

My slugs could sense it and they squirmed restlessly in the organic containers on my back. I hissed as my king approached the wagon the fandangos were carried in. The king stood up to his 8 foot height.

“We’re sorry we had to cross your territory.” A black haired teen said. He had a white shirt and slugs strapped to his chest. “But we have a good reason.”

“If we don’t get these slugs to bulls eye cavern.” A red haired girl said. “Then the cave will go dark.”

My king moved around and inspected the cargo. The molinoid cringed in terror as he drew near. I opened the hatch for him and showed him the slugs.

“Hey.” The black haired boy said pointing a finger in my face. “Those aren’t yours. Do you understand me at all?”

My king screamed in the son of Shane’s face. We understood we just didn’t care what humans had to say.

An infernus slug flashed and started to speak. Let us go. If the slugs do not reach the center cave it will go dark. We need to hurry. Let us go. It said from its perch on the rock. It jumped down still yelling and we backed off. Please protectors. Let us help you protect. All you have to do is let us go.

“Go with them, Seeker of the soul.” The king said relenting. He pointed at the exit. “May you return to us soon.”

“I think they’re letting us go.” A cave troll said as we moved out of the way.

“Lucky for them.” The molinoid bragged, hiding his terror with bravado.

“Thank you.” The dark haired human said holding his hands in a thankful gesture.

I stalked next to them, my slugs sensing my departure. “Go.” I snarled, still in shadow form.  

They may not have understood my words but my tone was clear. The molinoid started the wagon and moved out of my territory. As we left, green fire passed over me and I stood and stretched. It had been a long time since I had need of this form. They stared at the shadow clan who had transformed into a girl with black curly hair.

I looked down at the blaster strapped to my leg. I had on jeans and a black t-shirt.  I rolled my neck, feeling the joins pop from the sudden shrinking my body had undergone. I looked to be about 16 and my hair had grown. It reached the small of my back and I grinned in pleasure at its length.  “My name is Seeker of the soul.” I said. “But you can call me Alex.”

They were silent, coming to a halt. Even the molinoid was silent.

I held out my hand and Sabine hopped out of her container. “I think I scared them.” I said making her chirp in amusement.

“What are you?” The black haired boy asked, having found the courage to speak.

“It’s difficult to explain but I’ll try.” I took a breath and thought back to when Slug Knower explained what I was. “I exist in to worlds. Shadow clan is the dominate side but I also live in the human world. I can go between forms at will and have my abilities in this form. I have lived in Slugterra for a year now.”

“Where did you come from?” The black haired boy said. The infernus slug was on his shoulder and I had instant respect for him if a slug defended him like it did he must respect them highly. His voice reminded me of the surface. He lacked the cadence you picked up in Slugterra. A cadence that my more sensitive ears could barely detect.

“I think we come from the same place.” I said hesitantly. “You were born faraway, weren’t you?”

“I grew up in a secret cavern, far from here.” He lied. I could hear his heart race, giving him away.

“I wish to speak on it further. For now let us go.” I looked at the red haired girl. She was holding a camera at me and I growled.

She laughed nervously and put it away.

“My life is not for the public entertainment.” I warned. “Please do not make me repeat myself.”

“Eli.” The black haired boy said. He had a slug belt strapped on his chest. An orange back pack with a star on it served as a place of rest for his slugs that he was not using. His shirt was white and black. I looked at his eyes. They were as blue as the surface world’s sky. He rode a white wolf mecha beast.

“Kord.” The cave troll said. He had a helmet with a single horn and had blue skin. He rode a green bull that looked barely able to hold his weight.

“Trixe.” The red haired girl said. She wore a green shirt and had a blaster strapped to her leg like mine. Her hair was done up in a pair of pigtails. She rode a purple panther that was long and lean.

“And I see they saved the best for last.” The molinoid said proudly. “Pronto the magnificent.”

“By magnificent,” I said wryly. “Do you happen to mean foolish for invading the shadow clan’s territory?” I asked, an innocent smile on my face. A smile I hadn’t worn for a while. The clan never did get sarcasm.

Pronto was dumbstruck. I laughed. “You were the one who chose to go deeper when you tried to flee.” I laughed.

Everyone glared at Pronto. “Deeper?” Eli repeated.

I nodded. “There are a few ways in. You took the longest and most populated route.”

We were silent as we reached the cavern. The lack of slug energy made me feel weak and I slumped on the carriage. Nurse, my boon doc, hopped out and gave me some energy. I felt better and anger flowed red hot through my veins. I could feel the darkness in this place. “You may now sing my praises.” The molinoid said.

I restrained a hiss and teleported down to the carriage and released the slugs with Kord. They went forward as the red head explained to the boy about what to do. Suddenly the slugs started to run.

“That’s not supposed to happen, is it?” Eli asked.

“Something’s affecting them.” I said. Annie, my speed stinger slug tried to leave the containers on my chest. I grabbed her and held her close. “Maybe it’s too late.”

“Where you guys going?” Eli called out.

Suddenly an explosion sounded behind me and I whirled to hiss at the two men walking into the nearly dead cavern. One had a red beard the other was clean shaven but had bandages on his face.  “Look at that.” The bearded one said. “A new path to bulls eye cavern.”

“We blowed it up real good.” The clean shaven one said stupidly. He saw us as we all aimed at the two men. “The Shane gang? They made it?”

“It don’t matter. They’re too late.” The bearded one said. “The caverns dead and their slugs are bugging out.”

“I’ll be with you guys in a second.” Eli said. He turned to face me. “Will you help us?”

“Will I get a shot at those cavern killers?”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Pronto.” He looked at the molinoid. “I need you to gather up the Fadango slugs.  Trixie…” He looked for her and saw her by the slugs as they ran. “I need you to figure out what’s making them leave.” He turned to Kord and I. “You two with me?”

“Say no more.” I said. I unbuckled my blaster and loaded Jack, my hot rock, into the weapon. “I think it’s time to settle this.” I called out.

“You want to duel us?” The bearded one asked in a surprised tone.

“Unless you want to hug it out instead?” Eli taunted.

I fired at the men just after Eli fired a frost crawler. The frosty slug froze the exit making it impossible for them to run or reinforcements to come to their aid.  Jack hit the wall and the top half of the wall came down and would have crushed the men had they not jumped.

The men fired grenuker slugs but they were different, dark. I hissed as Eli ran from the exploding slugs. How dare someone manipulate the genetic makeup of slugs? I wanted to scream but I was busy not dying.

Lock, the bearded one, fired an armashelt and it bashed into the rock shelter I was behind. “I know you don’t like it here, joules, but please stick around.” Eli asked a taserling. He fired, electrocuting the men.

They returned fire with grenukers and I dived behind a fallen rock with Eli and the cave troll. “I’m almost out of slugs, Kord.” Eli said, not seeing me behind him.

“My slugs have fled.” I said. “I’m almost out.” I held up Nurse and Sabine before I flew backwards as the men fired and blasted our hideaway to pieces. I smiled as Trixe fired a frightgiest slug at them. They ran away in terror as the slug caused them to see their worst nightmare.

“Your gonna want to see this.” She told us leading us to the center of the cavern. I looked down into the pit that was there to see a bowl like structure. I cringed when nausea rose in my stomach at the sight of the red liquid. “Dark water.”

“This is what’s driving the slugs away.” I hissed.

“Blakk thought he could ghoul this entire cavern.” Elis realized. “And I got just the cure.” He held up a Boon doc slug.

I held up mine.  “Want help?” I asked. I fired my slug into the bowl, Eli’s close behind. They disappeared under the surface for a moment and I froze only to relax when they started to swim.

“Their running out of steam.” I said when the slugs started to slow.

“Success” I heard Pronto cry. He proudly displayed the lone Fandango slug he had recaptured.

“Only one?” Eli asked.

“It’s perfect.” I said. “Fire it in the hole. The good energy will help counteract the bad.”

Proto fired it from his rifle like blaster and the healer slugs swam faster. The water began to glow blue.

“We need more.” I called. I turned around to see the infernus slug lead the fandangos to us. I handed the blaster back and shifted and laid out my tail, firing one after the other until they started to jump. I knew that I would be able to shoot more in shadow form.  A burst of light lit up the cavern as the slug energy replenished the cave. Green grass spread and the street lights lit up.

I turned back to my human form as the rest of my companions sat on the steps and looked at their success. “Why would someone use dark water to empty out this place?” I asked.

“Because this is the exact center of Slugterra.” Trixe said, filming the cavern. “Get it? Bull’s-eyes.”

“This was nothing but a land grab.” Eli said. “Blakk was staking his claim with dark water.”

“So what now?” I asked. “This is more important than my old job.” I looked at Eli. “I want in. If this Blakk is as bad as your tone implies. I want a crack at him.”

Eli exchanged a glance with the rest of them before looking at me. “Welcome to the Shane Gang, Seeker of the soul.”

 I grinned. “Could we have that talk I wanted earlier?” I asked.

Eli shrugged like he didn’t really want to but got up anyway and followed me to a more private corner of the cavern.

“I know you aren’t from Slugterra.” I said without looking at him. “Only one from the burning world talks like that.” I looked at him.

He was pale as I unearthed a secret that he was probably sworn to protect.

“I was born in Louisiana. I was a foster child until the shadow clan found me. Mother was shadow clan and I was born half and half.” I added a chuckle to lighten the tension that was thick in the air.

He looked nervously at Trixe who was showing Pronto and Kord something on her camera. “I came here on my 15th birthday.” He admitted after a moment. “My dad was the same and every Shane before that. WE protected Slugterra from the surface. Now that you’re here I don’t know what to do.”

“Trust that I keep the same burden.” I said. “Humans here are unaware of the surface. The Shadow Clan are.” I took a breath. “Will you trust me to keep the secret?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.” I laughed. “Shall we?” I gestured towards the others.

Eli started for them and went he looked back I was already gone.