Jerrix opened his tightly closed eyes and realised that he was still alive. He scrambled to his feet, checking his black fur and scratching the bib of white hair below his throat.

“Well would you believe it,” he muttered to himself.

He quickly checked his gold throat clasp and shoved a paw into the deep pockets of his blue cloak. He sighed with relief as he found the fork shaped device that he usually carried.

Standing around five foot high, he glanced around with his yellow eyes and spotted a large star shaped machine glinting in the late sun.

“Siphonans,” he gasped diving behind a convenient bush.

As it drifted off, he picked himself up and saw the sea between the mainland and Holy Island. The causeway was hopelessly flooded. His agile mind played back recent events. Arriving on earth to find the planet under occupation, the link up with the resistance and his subsequent surrender. He also remembered the mysterious work camp, still wondering what the overall plan was.

“I can’t stand here preening myself all day,” he muttered. “I had better return to my ship.”

He remembered leaving it near Holy Island castle, now reduced to rubble. As quickly as possible, he set off in that direction. Jerrix Tau continued to glance about as he looked out for the occupying power. Thankfully, they thought he was dead, which was to his advantage.

At last, he spotted the soft green glow situated on the stony ground and he scrambled towards it. The door slid open and he padded across the blue squashy floor toward the waist height metallic dome.

“Now, how will I do this?” he asked, scratching his ear.

His eyes wandered over the four metallic cat statues that stood at the cardinal points. Behind each one, a lever was well hidden.

Jerrix was in something of a quandary. After all, he had never done this before.

Removing the fork like device from his coat pocket, he adjusted the dial before padding over to the south statue and inserting it into the slot. He breathed deeply as he pulled the lever down, watching as rays of light beamed out from the eyes of the statues. He followed their direction and saw a deep glow.

“No time like the present,” he muttered padding into it.

As he did this, being bathed in the light, his feline form was enclosed in a human form. The light vanished as the cat checked himself over. He liked the loose blue top but cringed at the pink trousers and shoes. He noted too, that he had something like a beer-belly and padded over to the wall where hidden drawers were located. He pulled one open and found himself a mirror.

“Crikey,” he said as a new face beamed back. This face had dark eyes, and rather chubby cheeks. His nose looked squashed as if it belonged to a boxer, and as for his bald top, well...

He put the mirror down and closed the drawer again.

“At least no one will recognise me now.”

A sudden thought passed through his mind.

“I hope Smitty does not shoot me.”

Jerrix poked his head out of the open door. The coast was clear. He spotted the route he had taken previously and ran in that direction, praying the machines would not spot him.

He finally reached the white painted homes and the many closed shops as he slowed to a walk. The street was fairly tight, as many of the roads were on this idyllic island.

He passed the spot where he and Gerry had been halted at gunpoint, until he saw the open track that led to the abandoned farmhouse. He had only gone a few short yards when a gunshot rolled towards him.
He threw himself down before cursing.

“Some welcome.”

He looked around and spotted the young man dressed in grey wool jacket and dark trousers running across the field towards him. He also saw the loaded weapon.

Jerrix sighed and stood slowly as the gent approached.

“What you doing here?” the armed youth demanded.

Jerrix scowled.

“Coming to see Smitty my boy. Now, let’s go.”

Terrance was so surprised by the response that he lowered the weapon and followed him to the squat brick farmhouse. Everyone turned as he walked inside.

“Found him heading our way,” Terrance said. “Wants to see you Smitty.”

“Does he indeed,” the former pilot said.

Jerrix recognised the tall thin officer and his grey clothes. He extended his hand, which the leader shook.

“You must want to join us?” Smitty asked. “Any military experience?”

Jerrix ignored the question and asked, “Been to that arms dump yet?”

“How do you know about that?” Smitty asked suspiciously.

“You been spying on us then?” a grey haired chap asked.

Jerrix faced the former policeman.

“No I have not Crispy. Spy indeed. I am Jerrix Tau.”

There was an understandable silence.

An overweight schoolboy in a bright red school uniform stood up from the kitchen chair. He brushed back his dark spiky hair and said coldly, “You look nothing like him. What game are you playing mate?”
In desperation, Jerrix reached into his deep pocket and produced the fork like device.

“After surrendering, the Siphonans shoved me out of an airlock.
Thankfully, the prison ship beamed me back to the causeway. Naturally, I had to disguise myself so I returned to my ship. It was then that I created this bio matrix shell. As far as our enemies are concerned, I no longer exist.”

He paused for breath, waiting for the response.

“Why should this prison ship help you?” Smitty asked.

“Because I saved them on Helos Six young man. They are sentient, just like our mutual enemy.”

“I believe him,” Gerry said slowly. “It’s so crazy that it has to be true.”

Jerrix sighed at last.

“I met Tarra on the ship you know. The young lady in that holographic message.”

“You are Jerrix alright,” Smitty confessed. “Only he could have known about the message.”

“Well?” Jerrix asked. “Have you been to that arms dump yet?”

“We leave in the morning Jerrix. Bob found a small van for us.”

Jerrix thanked him, noting Bob’s stumpy short legs.

“I will come with you. You may need my help. Now, does anyone want to hear my theory about those work camps?”

“We’re all ears,” Tommy Anderson said.

Jerrix smiled at the ginger haired burly bloke who had been the rear gunner on HMS Trident. It had sunk beneath him.

“I believe they are being used to weed out the weak. What happens to those on the prison ships is still beyond me.”

“That is an inhuman policy,” Gerry said.

“Our enemies are far from human young man,” Jerrix reminded him.

Smitty nodded sadly, keeping his thoughts to himself.
---
As the sun rose, Jerrix, Tommy and Smitty climbed into the small white police van and set off towards the famous causeway.

“I hope the machines don’t spot us?” Tommy commented as Smitty drove at a hair-raising speed.

“That’s why I have my foot down,” Smitty replied. “I think we may be lucky.”

The causeway was dry when they crossed. To their relief, no patrolling machines were in sight.

“So far, so good,” Smitty muttered as they reached the twilight mainland.

“How far is this arms dump?” Jerrix asked.

“Oh about five miles. It dates back to the Cold War. The idea was that it would be used by commando groups if we were occupied.”

“Should be well stocked then,” Tommy said.

“I hope so,” Smitty said. “We can check it out.”

As they drove through the silent countryside, away from the work
camp, the rain began to fall in sheets once more. Smitty activated the wipers and slowed down.

“Some summer,” Tommy commented.

“Typical for here,” Smitty replied as they swung around a sharp bend.

“Watch out!” Jerrix yelled as they saw an overturned tractor.

Smitty slammed on the brakes, slewing the van sideways as it screeched to a halt.

“Damn,” Smitty cursed. “We can go back to the next junction.”

He slammed the van into reverse and looking back, began to manoeuvre the vehicle when he spotted a silver machine heading towards them.
Without hesitation he shouted, “Everyone out.”

As they did so, a pink ray shot from the star shaped machine and the van exploded. The blast was so severe that the occupants were felled. Believing them dead, the machine hovered off.

“Well,” Jerrix said picking himself up. “On foot then.”

They dusted themselves down and trod off, as the rainstorm intensified. Within moments, they were soaked.

They kept a careful eye out, as they made their way towards the dump. Once or twice, they hid behind hedgerows as machines patrolled. On one occasion, the following, tragic scene was played out.

As they walked past a field of golden corn, they saw a group of youths running through it. Not far behind, a machine followed until it unleashed its bolts.

Smitty was about to shout when Jerrix silenced him firmly.

“There is nothing we can do.”

As bodies vanished, the pink ray was deployed, turning the remainder into dust that blew in the breeze.

Shaking their heads sadly, the friends moved on as the killer drifted off.

A little further on, Smitty stopped and spotted a deserted railway platform.

“Is that it?” Tommy asked incredulously.

“Perfect cover,” Smitty replied. “Even has a rail.”

When they reached their destination, they saw, to the left of the platform a mound of moss. Curiously though, they also saw a cutting leading back to the country road. Beneath the platform of course, a short stretch of rail was clearly visible.

“This way,” Smitty said, leading them towards the mound.

When they reached it, Smitty scraped at the moss revealing a small security keypad. He stepped away.

“I am hoping you can crack this.”

“I will certainly try my boy,” Jerrix said stepping forward.

He produced his device and waived it slowly across the box. Then he read the read out, showing it to Smitty.

The pilot tapped it in and the moss collapsed, as a hidden door slid back. They stared at a concrete ramp and deepening darkness.

Jerrix entered, and finding a switch threw it. Hidden lights came on, illuminating their way. After his friends entered, Jerrix pushed a button, sealing them in.

The ramp was fairly short and led to a small underground chamber. Within this cavern, an army lorry was silently waiting. Around the chamber were weapons and boxes of ammo.

“Now we have a chance,” Tommy whispered.

“We should stay here till sunrise then head back,” Smitty suggested. “Whilst we are waiting, we had better load that truck.”
Tommy wandered over and found the door unlocked. He was thankful when he saw the keys inside the ignition.

“No problem with this,” he muttered returning to his mates.

“We should grab as much as possible,” Jerrix suggested. “Grenades, rocket launchers, machine guns, ammo, that sort of thing.”

“Sounds good enough to me,” Smitty commented as they began loading up. As they did this, a thought passed through the cat’s mind.

“I am afraid this will stop you moving around.”

“No worries,” Smitty replied. “We need to carry out that plan of yours. Remember, hit and run.”

“Releasing the prisoners was my main point,” Jerrix replied.

“Cause a few storms shall we say.”

“I just hope it’s enough,” Tommy said.

“It may be,” Jerrix assured him.

The loading was slow and heavy work. When it was finished though, they found the food stores. This was mostly bully beef and water.
Smitty glanced at Jerrix.

“Sorry mate. No vegetables.”

“No matter. You know my friend this dump would make an excellent base.”

“I was thinking that myself,” Smitty replied. “It is definitely bomb proof.”

“Perhaps we should put it to a vote after striking that work camp?” Tommy suggested.

“I will think about that one,” Smitty replied.

As they ate, events were unfolding elsewhere. As Tarra kicked her heels on board the prison ship, an armed group of survivors in Scotland stormed one of the camps outside Edinburgh. It was located along the coast in the seaside town of Portobello.

Their weapons breached the surrounding wood stockade and they ran inside to engage the few machines. As inmates fled in sheer panic, the rebels opened up with everything they had.

Their weapons were useless against the star shaped machines. Bullets simply bounced off. The machines responded without mercy. Their killing pink rays struck down many of the fighters until the rest lost their nerve and scattered.

They were hunted down and liquidated without mercy. Some of the inmates however, managed to evade capture.

Among the global misery, this was a small ray of purifying light.