'Thanks.' said Patsy abruptly as she brushed off the slush from her knees and very short skirt.

'No worries' replied the stranger as Maxine supressed a giggle. 'So, where're ya heading?'

'Back to my place' said Patsy before looking at her spilt goods melting into the snow. 'Well I was but first I have to replace that!' she sighed indicating to the mess.

'What if I said I have a better idea?' queried the stranger.

Maxines ears pricked up as Patsy asked 'Oh yeah. What would that be?'

'You come back to mine and help out against these demons'.

Patsy laughed and chocked causing a minor coughing fit before she was able to respond coherently. 'Yeah right. You, me and who's army. Sorry pal but I aint cut out for that kind of thing. No if you'll excuse me I have to go buy another bottle of booze' she snorted.

'Wait!' said the stranger grabbing her arm as she tried to pass him. Patsy glared at him but her anger was quickly subdued as she caught the look of desire in his eyes.

She relaxed and he released his grip. 'Okay, I'll go with you but just so long as you know I'm not very good with blood and violence.'

'Then we shall have to keep that to a minimum' smiled the stranger causing a shiver to run down Patsy's spine.

Maxine felt a pang of jealousy in her gut as she watched the brief exchange and as the pair started off back towards the Strangers apratment she was hesitant to follow. The Stranger sensing this smiled and indicated with a nod that she was welcome to stay with them so sucking in her feelings she took a position on the oposite side of him to Patsy and the trio marched on together.

Ooh, goody!! Thanks for starting this up again, I do enjoy a good camp-fire! Will we breaking out to a good old sing song and chant along to Kookaburra Sits In the Old Gum Tree? :w00t:

The snow was falling in sheets now causing white out and forcing Dr. Mazwad to slow dispite her panic. Suddenly, wham, the car came to a crunching halt and a blood curdling roar came from the underside of her vehicle. The doctor froze as she heard the sound of clawing hands scratching beneath her feet and then slowly tilted her head upwards as the crunch of the roof concaving thumped through all other noises. Her heart stopped for the breifest of moments as she fought to contain the rising panic. 'Do not get out whatever you do!' she breathed as every muscle within her tensed, ready to spring her into action on one pulsating message from the brain.

***********************************************

Officer Blink turned back another car and then looked up the road towards Skeg. He could see a white out wall of snow rapidly approaching and decided enough was enough. He reached into the boot of his car and extracted several more traffic cones. With the precision of drill sergeant lining his troops for parade, he set the cones across the road and placed a bright red 'ROAD CLOSED' sign at the centre. Happy with his work he returned to his vehicle as a scream blew in with the first of the curtains of snow.

'Right to use your loud hailer and cover the North side first....that's the direction the blighters will be entering the town from if they come' instructed Sgt. Floopy to her young Officer Sharky.

'Yes ma'am' came his immediate reply as he recieved the offered type sheet displaying instructions for local residents to meet at the town hall immediately.

The phone on the segeants desk rang and Floopy gave him a quick smile of disguised confidence which, sent Sharky on his way, before she turned to receive the call. 'Sergeant Floopy...Yes Ma'am, officer Sharkys on his way out now...uh-huh...no Ma'am we are still waiting for re-inforcements...that's correct ma'am...yes I will se you there...yes ma'am goodbye.' Floopy plced the receiver back in its craddle and went to Detective PJ's office. From the door she told him she was headed for the town hall. He replied with a nod as he held his mobile phone firmly to his ear. Sergeant Floopy didn't ask who it was on the other end of the line, instead she took his nod as an understanding and went to leave.

'Wait!...er now not you ma'am' said Detective PJ with immediacy causing Sergeant Floopy to stop a few feet from the door and turn back. Detective PJ was beckoning her back with his left hand as his right scribbled notes on a pad and his necked craned awkwardly as it tried to keep the tiny phone to his ear. 'Gotcha. Excellent....thank-you...yeah cheers!' PJ ended the call and looked up at an expectant Sergeant. 'Well things might finally be looking up!' declared PJ as he slumped back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head.

'And that's all I know!' concluded Ranger Flyo as he finished his account of what had occured to a captive audience of special forces agents. All the while Ils remained seated by the fire, two of her dogs resting their heads across her lap as she gently sang an old folk melody.

Special Agent Bella had been slightly distracted by the forest womans singing and was fighting the urge to join in with her rendition of 'Kookaburra Sits In the Old Gum Tree' as the whole scene swept her back to her days as young, keen venture scout. She was zoning out once more to the song of Ils when 'So what do you think?' came the question from her leader.

'I think we need to get word to base ASAP and then track down the demons, check out how many we're dealing with now and either take em out straight away or monitor them until assistance arrives!' stated Bella.

'That's interesting but I was asking what you thought of the suggestion we the Ranger Flyo join us. He knows most of the people in the village by name and all by site and I think he would make a good asset to the team.' replied Special Agent Johno.

'Oh...yeah that would be good if he's up for it...are you?' asked Bella.

'Yeah. I'm feeling a hundred percent thanks to Ils.' replied Flyo eagerness rippling across his face.

'You'll need me to' injected Ils as she begane to gather her things.

Johno looked to Bella and shrugged 'I'm not sure that would be a good idea ma'am' he finally replied.

'Uh-huh...so you know these woods do ya? You know Isis personally do ya? You know the best way to take these demons down huh? You wouldn't find my dogs and sleigh useful huh? You...' Ils was cut short by Johno standing hunched beneath the cave ceiling.

'Okay...okay. Maybe it would be good for you to join us.' he finally submitted.

The Stranger opened his front door and his tow female guests followed him in. Maxine gently closed the door behind her and the three of them removed their jackets in the hall and shook the snow from the hair, before heading into the lounge area. 'Please take a seat, I'll get us some drinks' requested The Stranger. The woman obeyed in an instant, both electing the sofa as their seat of choice but then both feeling uncomfortable as they took an end each. The Stranger was quick returning with three tumblers and a bottle of sherry. 'Sorry about the glasses' he said pouring a generous measure into each of the glasses.

'That's fine' smiled Patsy as she suggestively moved in to retrieve her drink from the coffee table.

'Yeah, no problem here' responded Maxine as she nervously took hers as it was offered by the Stranger.

'Good' he smiled as he sat in a battered arm chair, his own drink in hand. 'Right now lets discuss how we can save the world eh ladies.'

The way he said it made Patsy nearly wet her knickers with excitment. Maxine on the other hand seemed to spot something floating in her drink.

Segeant Floopy trotted through the heavy snow to her vehicle. The instant she was inside she started it up and put on the heater. 'Warm...warm...come on warm!' she muttered as she fastened her seatbelt and prepared to pull out onto a snow laden street.

***********************************************

'All persons are requested to attened the town hall for an urgent meeting...' hollored Sharky through his loud hailer as he drove at a snails pace through the streets of his home town. Several curtains twitched as peopel heard his call and peered out quizzically onto the wintery world outside, few knowing what horrors lay ahead.

***********************************************

Detective PJ found himself alone in the station. He paced the halls, bored, as he waited for another phone call to say all was sorted.

Groucho heard the call from the young officer as he slammed the back door of his seedy business. 'Forget that' he huffed as he headed in the opposite direction of the town hall, his body hunched against the cold.

***********************************************

The battered remains of Dr. Mazwads car were already covered in an inch of snow. The drivers door was twisted open and the front windscreen had been shattered. A barely visible blood trail lead away from the vehicle towards the town along with three sets of footprints.

***********************************************

Officer Blink sat quietly playing over and over in his head what he thought he had heard. Part of him thought the cry had been one for help but a bigger part of him wanted to believe it was simply the wind picking up and his mind playing tricks. He sat back, the nose of his vehicle facing back into town, and peered into his rearview mirror. 'What the!?'

Agent Whim was amazed at the speed in which Ils got her dogs harnessed up and ready to go. The team loaded the last of their bulky gear onto the sleigh and the forest woman tied it securely down. 'Right everybody ready?' questioned S/Agent Johno.

'Affirmitive' was the immediate reply from his four troops. He looked to Flyo for a response.

'Oh, er yeah, ready' replied the young Park Ranger.

'Right. Lets move out!' and on that order the band of 'warriors' started off towards Skeg.

***********************************************

Sgt. Floopy pulled up outside the town hall to find several of the towns locals already arriving. 'Trout!' cussed Floopy as she noticed the absence of the mayors car in the parking area. She stepped out of the police cruiser and headed straight for the door, holding her hand up to ward off any questions the townsfolk threw at her as she passed the by. Once inside the old, but well maintained, building she removed her hat and dusted it off before setting it back in place again. There must have been around twenty people all willing her to spill the beans with a mutual stare.

***********************ABRIDGED VERSION 16*********************

The ice pack (Andrea, Cat, Kooky, Tigger + friends..around 60 or so) haven't featured in the last 10 entries but don't be fooled they are still out there heading for town!

Flyo and Ils have joined Special agents Johno and Bella and Agent Whim plus two miscellaneous (red shirt from star trek types) and along with Ils's sleigh team they are heading for Skeg...just a couple of miles away...wahoo!

Mayor MissG under the advisement of Sgt. Floopy has called a town meeting and Officer Sharky is out drumming up business for it whilst Officer Blink has seen something odd in his rear view mirror out on the main highway. Detective PJ is pacing the station halls as he awaits a phone call.

The Stranger has Maxine a Patys back at his pad and is plying them with alcohol.

Dr. Mazwad it would seem has finally succumbed to Buzz and Scooby having totalled her car in a snow drift.

Groucho is off in the wrong direction......

********************************

Officer Blink sytruggled to fire up the engine of his cruiser as his hands shook from the panic which was beginning to overwhelm him. On the second attempt he succeded in gripping the key long enough to be able to turn it. The engine roared to life and he quickly selected 'drive' peeling away at such a speed that the car fishtailed and the back wheels spun.

***********************************************

Mayor MissG craned her neck to see past the driver as her flashy Lincoln approached the town hall. 'Looks like quite a turnout ma'am' reported her driver, Tonee.

'Good...that's good...they need to hear what's going on!' said the Mayor in a way that suggested she was trying to convince herself as much as Tonee.

Sgt. Floopy was stood in the doorway welcoming people as a minister might welcome his flock on a Sunday morning. She nodded in recognition as Tonee brought the long black car to a halt. 'I'll park up round back' she stated as Mayor MissG gathered her bag and exited the rear. 'Fine thanks very much...your a wonderful driver...so glad you got me here in one peice through all that ghastly snow..' mocked Tonee as MissG's perfectly honed buttocks swished away towards the building and Tonee was left alone.

'Oh my lord!' exclaimed Ils as she looked out on the devastation that once was the thriving small town of Skeg. The special forces team split into two and and started to work their way down the street, checking houses as they went.

Flyo remained with Ils and the dogs. 'Guess we got here to late' he suggested.

'Guess we did....but we can still catch em. I'm bettin they be heading for Brandell!' replied Ils with a knowing tap of her nose.

Special Agent Bella entered a bedroom and saw a supply of baby paraphenalia clearly indicating that this was once a childs nursery. She instictively reached out and touched the matress where an infant had once laid. 'Poor little beggar' commented one of the other agents as he passed by the door.

'Yeah. Poor little beggar' whispered Bella beneath her bretah as she turned out of the room and headed back outside. 'Clear' she shouted across to Johno who was keeping pace with his team across the street. Flyo and Ils moved up accordingly and were never far behind the advancing squad.

MissG gently coughed into the mike bringing an unsettled hush to the room. 200 of the local townsfolk had turned out for the meeting so far and she felt she should give them some clue as to why they were there whilst they await the other 300 or so citizens of Brandell. 'Ladies and gentlemen, first let me thank-you for turning out on this most bleak of evenings' she said. The crowd muttered. 'I just wanted to give you a quick brief as to why you're here. I'll explain more once everyone has been informed and had time to join us.' Pause. Her audience remained expectant. 'I am sorry to say that Ice demons have been reported in the villiage of Skeg.' Horror inflicted every face and for a moment you could here a pin drop as all stopped breathing at once then, the questions started. MissG let them come for a moment before holding up her hand to silence the concerned people. 'I will explain further once the other towns folk have arrived. I would however like to ask that anyone with military experience report to Sergeant Floopy at once. Thank-you, I will be back shortly with a full update and I will take any questions then.' Mayor MissG dismounted the platform whilst a thousand quick fire questions shot up from the auditorium. Ignoring allr equests for information she headed for the back office and shut herself in. She placed her back against the door and sighed heavily, the weight of the world on her shoulders.

'The only thing that kills these things is fire' explained the Stranger as he came to the end of his talk and drained the last of his sherry.

'So I'm gonna need a bigger lighter?' smirked Patsy, the alcohol causing her to take the whole thing less than seriously.

'Shouldn't we be getting to the town hall?' queried Maxine, her cheeks and nose rosey red.

'Indeed we should be' replied the Stranger, standing and heading for the door.

Maxine immediately followed but Patsy paused for a moment to curse under her breath as she saw yetanother opportunity of getting to know the handsom stranger better fly by.

Blink didn't quite register what had happened until he found himself spinning upside down whilst hanging from his seat belt. An alarm bell slamming against his inner skull remined him he should keep moving and so he released the belt clip and thumped onto the roof of his car before laying on his back and kicking out the windscreen. He grabbed his shotgun as he crawled out of his wrecked car and on standing he looked back from whence he had come. The snow was falling so heavily he could barely see more than a few meters clearly and beyond that just dark shadow. Panic struck him to the core as he saw several shadows advancing rapidly towards him. Slipping slightly as he started off Blink turned anad ran for town.

'There's no one left!' sighed Agent Whim saddly.

'No' replied S/Agent Johno. 'Okay people tracks suggest that a large number of what we have to assume are ice demons, are heading down the main road towards Brandell. Lets look around for any vehicles we can use to get us there. Bella!'

'Sir'

'Take your team and check left I'll take right'.

'Sir' said S/Agent Bella as she signalled two of the team to follow.

'Can I help?' asked Flyo feeling more than a little useless up till now.

'Yeah. You can keep a lookout and yell if you see anything untoward.' replied Johno as he and Whim headed off to the right in search of a vehicle.

'Great!' thought Flyo as he looked longingly after them. Ils chuckled behind him. 'What?' he asked turning to face her.

'Don't want it to happen lad, in fact pray that it doesn't!'

'Right' replied Flyo slightly baffled.

The last few towns people trotted excitedly up the steps and into the hall, amongst them Maxine, Patsy and the Stranger. Sgt. Floopy spotted the tall dark figure the instant he walked in and instinctively smiled and waved, forgetting her place as a senior officer for a moment. He casually nodded back, signalled to his two lady freinds that he would return shortly, and headed over to Floopy.

'Hey' he smiled and SSg.t Floopy blushed like a teenager with a schoolgirl crush.

'Hey' she managed in return.

'Soooo you're going to tell the town what's happening?'

'Yeah. We thought it wise. At least this way people have time to either scram or equip themselves.' she said.

'Hmmm although in this weather I would say high tailing it outta here is'nt a valid option.' He looked around at the concerned faces of the 500 or so people who had gathered in the hall. The earlier arrivals had passed on their snippet of information and now the room was buzzing with rumour, plans of attack and more than a little concern and confusion.

A man approached Sgt. Floopy 'Do I sign up here?' he asked.

'Sgt. Floopy looked at him, he was eighty if he was a day 'I'm sorry but we're after people with recent military experience.'

'Well I can tell you little lady I was around the first time these critters took a stab at my country and I can asure you I can still take the pesky beggars down if I have to!' he said with a punch, closely followed by a wheeze as his lungs empty of breath at the exersion.

Before Floopy could turn him down again the Stranger stepped in 'I tell you what, how about you be an advisor as apposed to someone on the front lines?'

'Ya mean like an officer?'

'Yeah like an officer'

The old mans face lit up 'Yeah I'd like that, aint never been and officer, only got as far as coporal before now....so now missy are ya gonna give me a commision?' he asked standing to attention.

'Floopy smiled and said 'Sure. Sign here' as she pushed the log book forward.

The old man scrawled his name. 'Rob T. Don' and proudly stepped away from the table.

Officer Sharky crawled to a halt outside the town hall. There was no roomto park amongts the assortment of vehicles so he headed round to the back. He was surprised to find Tonee sat alone in the Mayors car. He pulled up alongside her and wound down the window indicating that she do the same. 'You not going in?' he asked.

'No point. She's practiced her speech a hundred times on the way over and I don't think I could stand hearing it again. What about you?'

'Well I have to remain in the vehicle to keep an look out and incase anything kicks off.' replied Sharky with a hint of immaturity at having what he saw as a big responsibility.

Tonee smiled mischeviously. 'You want some company?'

Sharky was to polite to say no and so within seconds Tonee was in the passenger seat of his cruiser and he was wondering what he was expected to do next.

The old chevy truck coughed and spluttered into life. 'Okay everyone climb aboard!' ordered Johno as his team collected their gear from the sleigh and jumped onto the back of the truck. Johno walked over to Flyo and Ils. 'Look, thanks for your help thus far but I think it would be safer for you to stay here now.'

'Don't worry ya self. I wasn't going with you anyway. I'm going to look for Isis!' declared Ils. Flyo felt his jaw drop open and quickly closed it again.

'Are you sure that's wise miss?' asked Johno, concern in his voice and displayed on his face.

'Oh it's wise okay....we go way back me and that old wicth so don't you worry.'

'What about you?' asked Johno of Flyo.

Before Flyo could answer Ils jumped in again. 'Don't worry about him either I'll make sure he's safe.

Flyo smiled nervously and siddled up closer to Ils showing that he was willing to go along with this. 'Okay. Well thanks again and the best of luck to you both' said Johno with a mini salute before he turned and leapt into the passenger seat beside Bella. 'Lets go!' he ordered and without a second look back Bellas took the truck onto the main road out of town and towards Brandell.

Leading the band of ice demons to the edge of town Blink let out a roar. Tigger and Andrea were either side of him and they followed suit.

***********************************************

Mayor MissG stopped mid-sentence as the war cry of the ice demons reached the town hall. Panic immediately started to set in as people scurried to exit the building. 'Please everybody calm down. We need to remain calm...please' but MissG's call for calm went unheeded as the locals ran for their homes and whatever weapons they could find. After a few moments only those who had signed up with Sgt. Floopy remained, some thirty five people, and along with them the Stranger, Patsy Maxine and three elderly people who had been left by their helpers during the rush. 'Thank-you for remaining. Now I would like to hand over to Sgt. Floopy.' was all she could manage as Mayor MissG stood down.

Sgt. Floopy looked flumoxed haven't not expected this development quite so soon but quickly she regained her composure and took the stand. 'Thank-you for remaining' she echoed 'Now if I can ask that those of you who have any weapons on the fire producing variety go and retrieve them no and return here. The rest of you, well we need to think of the best way to defend our town so since fire is the only thing that kills these creatures I want to start building bonfires around and about that can be used to light torches that in turn can be used as weapons. Now if I can ask you to pair up and head for one of the positions I've marked on the map and rally up all the locals to help you in this task that would be great. We have no time to lose!' she concluded as the sound of yet another demon war cry reached the building.

*******************VERSION 16*************************************

Blink has joined Tigger, Cat, Buzz, Scooby, Mazwad, Andrea and Kooky in the ice demon ranks and the army has reached the edge of Brandell Town!

MissG has told the locals what's happening but as a result of a demonic war cry most of them have now scarpered leaving Sgt. Floopy to organise the troops. Rob T. Don a man in his 80's has signed up and Patsy, Maxine and the Stranger are all present and accounted for.

Tonee (MissG's driver) is bonding with Officer Sharky in his cruiser out the back of the town hall.

S/Agent Johno and his team which include Bella and Whim are heading towards town in a newly aquired truck. Ils and Flyo are on the hunt for Isis the ice princess and head of the demonic forces.

Lt. Jakeyboy still hasn't arrived in town. PJ is still pacing the halls and Groucho is out there somewhere.

*****************************

*******************VERSION 16*************************************

Rob T. Don a man in his 80's

in his eighties:ohmy:

I'll sue:ninja:

Cheif Nox and her team climbed aboard the Chinook helicopter. Each member was exhuseted from an extended desert survival training session and had groaned when informed of the request for urgent assistance in the town of Brandell. Captain Nox had found it difficult to answer question about the given mission as she had such little information herself to go on. All she knew was that her good friend Special Agent Johno and his team had crash landed in the mountains whilst enroute to save the people on Skeg. She also knew that the apparent enemy was an army of ice demons. Further questioning regarding this matter had been met with expressionless faces as no-one seemed to know much if anything about the enemy. 'Marvellous!' she had muttered sarcastically as she had returned the satellite phone receiver back in the box and turned to breif her team.

The volunteers moved swiftly through the town as they made their way to their designated defense positions. Once they arrived onscene they banged on doors rousing those hiding inside and requesting their assistance in creating the bonfires which would help fend off the demon invasion. Many were reluctant but enough decided this was something they could do and were eager to help. Before long 20 bonfires were burning in the streets of Brandell and a few more had joined the volunteers armed with broom sticks wrapped with petrol socked cloths and garden forks, shotguns and anything else that would slow a demon down longenough to ignite them to death.

Back at the town hall the Stranger was hovering over a map of the town, Rob alongside him. They talked in whispers as they each took turns to jab the map indicating what they deemed good defensive positions. Patsy and Maxine sat either end of a long wooden bench, neither wishing to be friends whilst Sgt. Floopy chatted on the radio, responding to calls from the forward units as the reported their current status. A final call came in and she looked up. 'That's everyone in place!' she declared as the Mayor MissG entered from the ladies loo.

'Good the mayor proclaimed. Now any update regarding the backup?' she asked.

'Just got word from Detective PJ that there's a team enroute as we speak e.t.a. 5hrs!' reported Floopy.

***********************************************

Since Tonee had entered his vehicle Sharky had felt he was unable to leave her alone. She hadn't stopped talking and the attacking roar of the demons appeared to have shook her up a little. He finally took a deep breath and told her he had to go inside and double check his orders with the sergeant. 'Cool, I'll come with you and find out what MissG wants me to do!' said Tonee stepping in time with the officer out of the car.

'Whoa!' said Special Agent Johno as he grabbed the dash to stop himself sliding off the seat whilst Bella expertly controlled the skid of the truck across a patch of black ice. The team at the back echoed their bosses feelings and braced themselves each uttering a short prayer as Bella began to straighten the truck up once more.

'Well that was close!' she laughed nervously as she checked her speed and continued down the main highway.

***********************************************

Ils and Flyo were riding the sleigh, the dogs puff and the churned up soft snowcreated a fog around them as them as they proceeded through the trees. Flyo had know idea where they were headed but Ils had a look upon her face which suggested she knew exactly where they needed to be. The tree tops meant little of the heavily falling snow was getting through so their path ahead seemed fairly clear and their speed across the ground was greater than anything that could have been achieved by a truck in such conditions. It suddenly dawned on Flyo that he not only had know idea where Ils was taking him but also that if they did find Isis he had no idea what would be expected of him, if anything, or if he could do anything anyway. From what he had seen and learnt already the demons could only be stopped by fire but what about their creator?

'I can't believe there isn't a closer team' mumbled Agent Marmoset as the oversized helicopter swept north across open plains.

'There was but they've had a spot of bother so now we have to go in and sort it out!' stated Agent Voice matter of factly.

'Still don't seem right. I mean we're a good five hours away, have just completed a week of survival training in the desert and now were expected to go into combat conditions amidst the snow ridden mountains against an enemy we know next to nothing about. What's that all about?' Marmoset moaned on.

'It's about doing our job!' interjected Chief Nox in such a way that brought any further negative comments to a close.

A pack of six ice demons led by Cat raced towards the first house at the edge of town. Tigger led another pack, Blink another, Andrea another as Buzz and Scooby joined another. Each headed for a different house and did whatever it took to get inside, their thirst for killing eating them up from the inside.

Three bonfire crews saw the initial result and celebrated the fact that all people had been called to houses and schools in the centre of town and were surrounded by the ring of bonfires. Those close to the first wave of attack lit up their torches and called others to join them before bracing themselves for the inevitable attack.

***********************************************

Sgt. Floopy looked up from the radio and said 'It's began!'

'Where?' queried the Stranger eyes fixed on the map.

'Tallow Street' replied Floopy.

'Got it!' replied Rob as he stabbed a boney finger on the words Tallow Street.

'Okay we have three teams in that area already. I'll go now and back them up. Keep me informed of progress!' said the Stranger heading towards the door before anyone could question him.

Patsy leapt from her seat as if someone had just jabbed her bottom with a hot poker and after a quick glance at the others in the room she tottered off after the Stranger. Maxine was a little slower to react but was quickly on her tail. Floopy watched and shook her head in minor bewilderment.

'I've brought the all the comms here!' came a gruff voice from behind her. She turned to see detective PJ, arms laden with telephones and a fax machine wobbling through the back entrance closely followed by and equally burdened Sharky and Tonee.

'Excellent!' declared Sgt. Floopy as she indicated towards a large trestle table they could use to set the gear up on.

'Any update on the support we've requested?' asked MissG making no move to assist the others in the setting up of the communications gear.

'Nothing since the last update!' replied PJ as he sighed with relief at having been able to set down his gear.

'Oh!' said MissG as she went over to one of the front windows and peered out. The snow was laying thickly and the visibility was still poor. 'What a shame' she whispered 'So beautiful and yet no time to play!'

The first direct assault on the first bonfire team occured at the same time Bella guided the truck, laden with her four special forces team mates, to the edge of town. This was also the instant that Chief Nox guided her team into the belly of an aircraft for their flight to Brandell and The Stranger drew up to join the bonfire squad wearing his fire suit and armed with his flame thrower. Patsy and Maxine were behind him touting flaming spears and Sharky, Sgt. Floopy, Rob, Tonee and Mayor MissG were huddled around the radio back at the town hall awaiting the next update.

'Everybody down!' yelled the Stranger as he leveled his weapon and sent out the first wall of defence against Cat and her pack of demons. He caught three of the seven in his first sweep and their blood curdling screams caused Maxine to shiver and retreat slightly. Patsy on the other hand stuck out her chin and advanced.

***********************************************

'Did you hear that?' queried Agent Whim of the two team members he shared the back of the truck with. They both nodded as they felt the truck turn towards the horrific sound and accelarate. All three were fighting the chill factor now and were finding it hard to stay alert but as another roar errupted from towards the centre of town their senses once again started to tune in towards the action they were about to face.

Lt. Jakeyboy had also heard the noise of battle as he approached the town from the opposite end to the special forces team. His first reaction was to stop the car and step outside into the driving snow. Another shreik blew in on the next white out curtain and for a moment he contemplated turning round and stating later that he had been unable to get into town because of the weather but then he was touched by a pang of guilt and so climbed back into his car and started slowly up the road towards the town hall. 'Great time to retire chief!' he cussed.

***********************************************

'Retreat!' yelled The Stranger as another thirty ice demons started to race up the road towards the terrified yet still fighting human beings. The Stranger who had been up front and in the thick of it took a step backwards and stumbled on the still burning remains of Cat, her body taking an age to melt away in the extreme weather conditions. He crashed down hard onto his back and in doing so cringed as he heard a loud crack as his flame thrower pack split and fuel began to leak out onto the ground. He quickly scrambled to his feet and after a moments thought he began to run back and forth across the road leaving a trail of liquid fuel behind him. Once the last of it had dripped away he removed the pack from his back and snatched the flaming spear from Maxines hand, much to her surprise. 'Everybody, back behind me!' he yelled through the racket of battle. The message was relayed quickly and his troops retreated behind the last line of fuel and at that instant he torched it. Several ice demons were within the sweeping lines as the flame took hold and surrounded them. It wasn't long before they began commiting suicide as their desire to kill overtook any form of rational behaviour. The Stranger smiled as he picked up on this fact and then yelled again 'To the next bonfire...go!' and in a flash he and the remaining eight of fifteen people who had fought the first demon assault started sprinting back a block to the next bonfire party who had resisted the urge to join their colleagues up front after a direct instruction from the Stranger.

Tigger, Scooby, Andrea, Buzz, Kooky, Mazwad and Blink all rejoined as they saw several of their fellow demons disintergrate in the flames set by the Stranger. Scooby roarded and sprinted off down a side street the others on his heels along with another hundred and fifty or so remaining demons.

***********************************************

'Come on I know you have the stuff!' gruffed Groucho as he stood before Woodstock in the younger mans store.

'Look Grouchy old boy if I let you have the stuff then others will know I have it and I'll wind up with nothing left to defend myself!' defended Woodstock.

'That's bull and you know it. The rest of the towns already out there fighting for survival. You think for one minute they're gonna have time to visit you and nick your stuff' growled Groucho, barely containing his mounting anger.

Woodstock could see that the older yet much larger and able man was about to rip him and new bum hole and so decided perhaps he should give him what he wanted. 'Okay' he he sighed 'This way' he nodded for Groucho to follow.

The pair headed behind the shops counter and through the rear door. Once there Woodstock gave a cursory glance round, checking to see if anyone may notice what he was about to do. 'Come on man. There's just me and you here, get on with it!' huffed Groucho.

'Okay, okay!' said Woodstock holding up his hands in submission before finally reaching down, peeling back an old rug from the floor and lifting a hidden hatch. He gave the room one last look before descending into the black hole. Groucho didn't wait to be asked and followed immediately after him.

Special Agent Bella pulled up at the end of the street in which the first battle had taken place in town. She and the others surveyed the damage and could see the Stranger and his team a block down preparing for the next attack. The fire line that had provided the retreating towns people cover to retreat had all but died completely and so Bella drove on down the road and across the previous line of battle. She had to mount the kerb to get past the bonfire which still blazed and three troops in the back of the truck welcomed the warmth as she did so.

The Stranger watched the trucks slow but steady approach through the falling snow and felt his spirits rise as he saw the winter camoflage clad people onboard it. He had already directed the towns people keep a lookout in all directions and so felt okay about trotting up to greet the reinforcements as Bella brought the truck to a stop.

'Hey, are we glad to see you!' welcomed the Stranger as he felt his spirit drop a little at the sight of only five special forces personnel.

'Glad we could make it!' replied S/Agent Johno as he dismounted from the truck and offered a hand. 'Special Agent Johno and this is Special Agent Bella, Agents Whim, Popsicle and Pem' he said as he gestured towards his depleted band of warriors.

'I'm...' at that instant and roar went up off to the left and the people keeping watch yelled an alert. Without any further airs and graces Special Agent Johno and his team grabbed their gear and scurried into defensive positions closely followed by the Stranger.

Chief Nox peered out at the ever changing landscape zipping by beneath the belly of the plane. Her team which includedAgents Marmoset and Voice were keeping themselves busy by checking their gear. 'How long do ya reckon?' queried Voice as she closed the flap on her pack.

'Three more hours!' reported Nox as she adjusted her position in her seat to rid the growing numbness that was developing there.

'Then what?' asked Marmoset, her mood no better than before.

'We catch the first ride into town and help those poor civillians out that's what' replied Nox her patience with Marmoset wearing thin. If the agent was so good on the battle field she would quite happily have left her in the middle of the desert.

***************************ABRIDGED VERSION 17*************************

Chief Nox, Agents Marmoset and Voice are heading in with a team of special forces agents to help the towns people of Brandell. Their ETA 3hrs.

The Stranger has broken his flame thrower but along with the rest of the towns people he has managed to stave off the first major assault by the ice demons. Cat is now a puddle but Scooby, Buzz, Kooky, Mazwad, Blink, Tiger and Andrea are still on the rampage and are about to launch their second attack. This time however Special Agents Johno and Bella and Agents Whim, Popsicle and Pem are also ready to defend the town. Patsy and Maxine are still alive and fighting off the demons...yay for them!

Sgt. Floopy is co-ordinating the defence back at the town hall along with Rob, Mayor MissG, Officer Sharky and driver Tonee and of course Detective PJ who has brought all the basic comms gear from the station with him. Lt. Jakeyboy is almost with them having returned from his out of town trip to help out.

Groucho is heading into Woodstocks secret hidie hole in search of something the shop keeper is reluctant to share.

Flyo and Ils are racing through the forest in search of Isis.

*****************************

Scooby and his band of killers advanced at speed towards the humans. Each demons eyes seemed to burn whiter and brighter as they closed the gap between them and those they wished to kill. Suddenly a thick wall of flame spread across the road before them as Johno and his team co-ordinated their defence. Several of the ice demons were caught in the blaze including Scooby himself. He fell screaming and snarling to the ground as the flames engulfed his body. Before long seven demons were nothing more than puddles in the snow. 'Yeah!' yelled Patsy punching the air and receiving a frown from Maxine for her efforts. 'What?' she snapped at her rival.

'Save the celebrations there's still over a hundred of the things out there and it's not like you've done much to be so pleased about!' scoffed Maxine.

'Why you cow!' bit back Patsy.

'Better a cow than a stuck up little whore!' replied Maxine with a smile at her cleverness.

'Why you..' and with that Patsy launched at Maxine grabbing at her hair.

The Stranger was close by as always his focus on the approaching demons until he heard the shreik from MAxine as she fought to release Patsys grasp on her hair. He instinctively reacted and attemped to seperate the fighting women. After gaining a few scratches himself he finally had the pair of the seperated and held at arms length from each other. 'What the heck are yoiu two thinking? Save your energy to fight them!' he scorned as he turned each of them to face the demons.

'She started it!' scowled Patsy.

'Did not dog!' responded Maxine.

'I don't give a hoot who started what just get on and join the party instead of quibbling like a pair of school girls!' he said as he pushed them away and further apart and resumed his position awaiting for the next assault.

The girls scowled at each other and moved either side of the Stranger and readied themselves to defend, both wanting to impress the handsom man.

'Got it!' rejoiced Woodstock as he produced a WWII flame thrower from back of a packed armory.

'Excellent!' replied Groucho. 'You got anymore of those back there?'

'No just this one and it's empty so you'll have to fill it up with fuel.' explained Woodstock as he handed over the antique. 'In fact I'm not even sure it still works.'

'I'll soon find out.' said Groucho as he took the heavy peice of equipement and headed off back up the stairs to the shop storeroom.

'Wait!' yelled Woodstock scurrying after him. 'You haven't paid for that!'

Groucho waited untill Woodstocks head rose just above the edge of the hatch and wham. He booted the young man in the head sending him crashing back down the steps to the floor. Happy the guy was unconscious at least, Groucho closed the hatch and replced the rug before moving two heavy crates of washing powder and oranges ontop of it. 'Pay for it..pah!' he scoffed as he left the store with his valuable treasure. Little did he know that Woodstock had smacked his head on an old pipe fitting as he fell and that the young mans neck had broken as his skull had concaved, the young man would never regain consciousness.

Tigereye, Crystal Lights and Eternity all danced slow and methodically around a large smooth stone deep in the heart of the forest. Their trance like state meant they did not feel the chill as their bare feet swept across the snowy ground. Evry now and again one of them would reach out to touch the stone and sigh as their flesh made contact with it.

At the edge of the clearing in which the stone was the central point, a grey clad figure stood motionless at the entrance of a cave. In her hand she held a staff which had a large white opal at one end as she held it out, the stone pointing off towards the town of Brandell, the jewell glowed. On her head was a crown made of ice and her feet were clad in clear ice shoes. Behind her a glow eminated from the cave surrounding her in a halo like aura. Her face displayed no expression as she stared out beyond the end of her staff.

Images began to appear of the town in holographic form above the stone. The battle between man and demon filled the orb like projection. There was a clear shot of the Stranger plunging a flaming spear deep into the heart of Kooky. Kooky fell and quickly became a puddle. The cave burned brighter as Tigger brought down a human and blew death into his body. Special Agent Johno sent a flame of fire towards a group of charging demons. Five demons fell and liquified Buzz amongst them taking her hideously deformed Dol face mask with her. The intensity of the dancers moves increased as several towns people were taken by the demons. As the dancers touched the stone breaths of death were exchanged on the battle field and the cave shone brighter.

Ils slowed the dogs and then brought them to a halt. She tied them off to a tree and signalled for Flyo to follow her on foot. Slowly they crept to the edge of the clearing just in time to witness Agents Popsicle and Pem fall at the hands of the demons as the dancers performed a piroete of celebration. Flyo was about to speak but Ils was quick to silence him with a her hand across his mouth, and so for the moment they watched the battle occuring fifty or so miles away in the rob like cinema screen above the stone.

As the reports came in that the battle was being lost Sgt. Floopy felt a growing sense of desperation mixed with frustration they she wasn't out there helping the people of the town instead of stuck here in the town hall with an old man, a clueless mayor, a chauffeur, an inexperienced officer and a drunken detective. As she cursed the situation once more beneath her breath the front door swung open and Lt. Jakeyboy strode in as if everything was perfectly normal. He approached the desk of opeartions and nodded to all that surrounded it. 'Afternoon. Now who's going to fill me in?'

Sgt. Floopy would love to have done exactly that as he flashed his dopey grin at her but she bit her bottom lip hard enough to stop such an action and then briefed her superior on the situation. He stopped her only twice to ask quickly resolved questions and then 'Well I'll take over here if you want to go out and join the troops!' he said taking a seat at the operations table and clicking the radio mike a couple of times to satisfy himself that it was working.

Sgt. Floopy was relieved at being able to get into the action but at the same time angry at the relaxed approach the Lt. had to the whole thing. It was like it was all just some big game to him, that real epeople weren't dying out ther. 'Can I take Sharky with me?' she asked a little to sharply perhaps.

Lt. Jakeyboy raised an eyebrow, she hated when he did that, and then spoke 'Sure if you need him to hold your hand!' then to cap it all he chuckled to himself.

Sgt. Floopy indicated for Sharky to follow her and left the room as quick as she could before she decked the college upstart!

'Two hours and thirty' said Nox in answer to the question from the increasingly annoying Agent Marmoset.

'Do you think we're gonna get there in time?' queried Voice as she stretched her arms above her head and bounced her knees up and down a few times.

'Latest update says the demons have broken through the first three lines of defence and that the locals are retreating all the way back towards the town hall although, the body count is fairly even!' concluded Nox.

'Well that wouldn't exactly be true would it? I mean we kill one of theirs, and they recruit on of ours as it were. Therefore we reduce in number but they stay pretty much the same' came the cocky responce from Marmoset.

Nox suddenly realised she hadn't thought of that and cursed herself on the inside for letting the cocky Agent get one over on her. 'Yes that's correct but at least their numbers aren't growing.'

Groucho was in no hurry to join the fight for the town and because of this instead of heading for the scene of battle he took his stolen flame thrower off in the opposite direction towards his bar. 'Charity begins at home' he chuckled as he trudged through the snow.

***********************************************

It didn't take Sgt. Floopy and Officer Sharky long to arrive at the scene of battle. The advancing demonic army was making quicker and quicker work of getting through and more often around the lines of defence. Floopy immediately took a spear from a fallen human, lit it in the fire and stabbed it into the back of the same humans head just as it started to rise, white ice flashing in his eyes.

'Welcome to the party!' said the Stranger as he ran past her and took out another demon.

'Couldn't wait!' replied Floopy as she jabbed at another freak.

Officer Sharky meanwhile was wandering around looking for a suitable weapon. He grabbed a pitch fork just in time as a demon charged him. He managed to raise the prongs and impale the demon on the end. A couple of locals reacted quickly with their flaming torches and set the demons hair and clothing alight.

'Ouch!' cursed Special agent Johno as he felt a sharp pain in his leg. He looked down to see an infant biting into his flesh, the whites of the baby grils eyes glowing white with possession. Johno winced as he broght his flaming torch down and onto the head of the baby demon. The baby screamed and let go of his leg and wincing once more Johno stabbed it in the head with his torch.

Ils indicated for Flyo to follow as she backed away from the clearing and headed back towards her sleigh. Once there she quietly untied them and began heading away from the Ice Princesses domain, Flyo right with her. Once she was satisfied they had gone far enough she stopped the dogs once more and turned to Flyo. 'We need fire and lots of it!' she said matter of factly before heading off into the trees in search of firewood. Flyo hesitated for a moment before following.

***********************************************

'So how long have you been a detective?' queried Tonee in a husky voice.

PJ was in the middle of pluging in a laptop when she asked and fumbled with the lead. He made a grab for it and in doing so brought the lap top crashing to the floor. Everyone looked straight at him and he smiled nervously as he retrived the peice of electrical gear. He waited for everyone to lose interest in what he was doing before replying to Tonee who had stepped a fraction closer to him in a way that made him feel a little uncomfortable given the circumstances. 'Eight years' he replied as he remained crouched in front of the table as he pluged the plug into the wall first this time before he put the power lead into the back of the laptop. As he went to place the computer on the desk he came face to face with Tonees knees as she had come to sit on the table before him. With a giggle she parted and closed her legs quickly giving him a clear shot up her skirt and the knowledge that she wasn't wearing any underwear. He coughed with embarassment and looked away making himself busy with checking that the lead was indeed plugged into the wall and then the laptop. As he looked back to the table Tonee repeated her previous action before sliding off the desk and giving him room to set up the computer.

'So you've probably seen it all haven't you?' she whispered in his ear as he placed the laptop donw and flicked the power on switch. He could feel his cheeks burning like the sun as he fought to control what was occuring down below. He was relieved when the computer screen showed all was working dispite the accident and he walked awkwardly away from Tonee to the operations desk to report this fact.

'Are you okay Peej?' queried Lt. Jakey boy having like the others missed all after the dropped laptop incident as they were preoccupied with taking notes and planning the next line of defence.

'Yeah. Fine. Why?' asked Det. PJ in the most mannly voice he could managed at that moment.

'You just look a little flustered is all and well you looked like you were limping' replied his superior officer.

'Oh that. I just er...I banged my knee on the table.'

'Right. Well the demons are gonna be on our doorstep soon if we don't think of something and fast. For every one of them we kill their recruiting one of ours and you know what that means don't ya!' interjected Rob wanting to get the focus back on the problem at hand.

'That it's agonna be a draw?' replied MissG.

'Nope. It means whilst our numbers deplete their's stay the same.' said Tonee snottily much to her bosses disgust.

'That's right missy' assured Rob.

Tonee winked at PJ, an action missed on the others and PJ felt his discomfort grow once more. 'I have to go pee!' he declared with a squeak before he hurried off as fast as he was able anyhow, towards the gents.

Tonee chuckled to herself hen checked to see that everyone else was occupied before following the detective outh through the rear doors towards the toilets.

Agent Whim saw the five year old demon to late as it sprung onto his back and bit into his neck. He attempted to swat it off with his gun but the creature had the strength of ten men as it clawed its way round to the front of the agents face. Whim screamed as the child moved into lock lips with him and then the demon blew death into the agents lungs. Before the change was complete the demon leapt off to find another victim as Whim twitched, lyurched, died and came back with eyes blazing ready to kill what were until only moments before his allies.

Maxine got to grips with another demon, plunging her flaming spear into it's torso before making a quick extraction and aiming for the head. It was her fifth kill of the day and she turned ready to take out another invader of her home town.

Patsy batted away a child demon and then lunged at Tigger. She missed, slipped and stumbled. Tigger pounced upon her but just in the nick of time Patsy rolled away and leapt to her feet. Quick as a flash she plunged her flaming spear into the back of tiggers head and the demon died and became a puddle in a matter of seconds. 'Yes!' rejoiced Patsy as she punched the air.

'What exactly is your plan?' queried Flyo as he added more wood to the sleigh.

'To burn her to death' replied Ils as if she was responding to a request for a food order.

'Oh' replied Flyo as he watched her disappear back amongst the trees once more. 'Okay!' he shrugged as he followed her.

***********************************************

The Stranger batted a particularly hairy ice demon with the end of his burning staff and smiled as the mans beard erupted in flame. He quickly turned to face another demon and with a quick one two he had slain another of the enemy. To the right of him Agent Bella followed suit and the pair of warriors shared a look of satisfaction as they turned to face their next aggressor.

***********************************************

Detective PJ breathed heavily as he proped his body against the cubicle wall. After a count to ten he unzipped his fly and felt instant relief. 'Phew' he sighed then as he started to enjoy the moment he heard the door to the gents swing open and close quietly.

'Hey detective...come out come out wherever you are?' came the teasing sexual voice of Tonee.

'Hoo jeez' puffed PJ as he felt another downward rush of blood. The lock on the cubicle doors had been broken for years and no-one had ever bothered to fix them and PJ was too disabled to stop Tonee from pushing the door to his sanctuary open and slide in.

'Oh there you are' she gushed and then looked down. 'Oh there you are indeed' she smiled as PJ gulped.

'Move back!' yelled the Stranger as he saw that this particualr line of defence had been broken. Once again as oft before word spread quickly and as one the people of Brandell retreated to the next flaming wood pile. Each pulled a table leg or anything else they could from the fire to use as a weapon. Chair legs and broom handles once again became spears and so the ever depleting numbers of locals prepared to fight for their lives once more.

***********************************************

Isis watched the whole battle on the orb before her. Her entire focus was on what was happening all those miles away and as the demons won or ;lost her expression remained the same, a blank cold stare. The dancers continued to dance gracefully and near silently around the stone, twirling at every vistory and touching the stone with every defeat.

Ils and Flyo quietly began to surround the clearing with the wood they had gathered, their movement slow and steady as they saught not to alert the Ice Princess. They quickly realised they would have to go back and retrieve more wood to complete the task and so that is what they did.

***********************ABRIDGED VERSION 18*********************

Tonee is leading PJ astray in the town hall loos whilst Rob, MissG and Lt. Jakeyboy work out what to do next about the invaders to their town.

Agent Whim has fallen on the battle field along with Popsicle and Pem but so to has Tigger, Kooky, Scooby and Cat the ice demons. S/Agents Johno and Bella, the Stranger, Patsy and Maxine have been joined on the front lines by Sgt. Floopy and Officer Sharky and although they are doing some damage they have just had to retreat another defence post.

Ils and Flyo have located the Ice Princess Isis lair and are planning a firey attack on her and her dancers Tigerey, Eternity and Crystal Lights.

Chief Nox and Agents Marmoset and Voice are heading to the scene of battle with some reinforcements but are still a couple of hours away.

********************************************

The Stranger totalled another two ice demons as he raced to assist Patsy who was struggling to hold off the lips of Blink who had knocked her to the ground and pinned her there. 'Yaaaaa!' shreiked the Stranger as he brought his flaming chair leg down on the demons head. Dispite his efforst Blink barely moved and continued to close the gap between his lips and that of his victim. Patsy tried the oldest trick in the book and brought her knee hard up into the demons groin. Again Blink barely registered the contact.

Patsy screamed and then an inch form having her life extinguished she saw a spike rip through into Blinks mouth from the back of his head. Blink gargled and released his grip for just long enough for Patsy to roll free. She looked round to see the Stranger take his flaming chair leg and insert it into the same hole he had just pulled the sharpened broom handle from. Blink turned into a puddle as the Stranger handed back the spear to Maxine who had thrown it to him during Patsy's hour of need. The two women shared a look of mutual respect before both focused back on the fight at hand.

Isis watched as two more humans were taken and turned into demons and her three dancers twirled in their delight. Flyo and Ils placed another sleigh load of wood around the clearing, Flyo amazed the whole time that the evil doer hadn't noticed them yet. 'One more load should do it!' whispered Ils as the pair headed off into the depths of the forest once more.

***********************************************

Tonee took a final nibble of PJ's ear lob, giggled and stepped away from him. She turned and exited the cubicle, straightening her short black skirt as she went a naughty smile plastered across her face. PJ just stood, dumb struck, staring blankly at the grafitti filled chipboard partition before him, his breathing slightly laboured as he tried to catch his breath. His trousers and boxer shorts were down by his anklesand his shirt tails hung down just enough to cover his manhood. After what seemed an age but was no more than about two minutes he finally shook his head clear and started to make him self presentable once more. 'In all my days' he kept muttering as he tucked in his shirt and fastened his belt.

The aircraft bumped heavily on landing and came to a laborious halt near the end of the runway. Chief Nox and her team were ready to leave the plane the instant the ground crew arrived with the steps. The time on terra therma was short lived however as the sprinted across the black tarmac to a waiting turning and burning jolly green helicopter. Her team needed no encouragment to leap aboard and prepare for lift and of that she was proud.

***********************************************

Sgt. Floopy kicked out at an elderly woman who was looking to make her her next victim. She caught the old hag in the ribs and was sickened to feel her foot sink inside with a squelch. She panicked slightly as she found her boot was stuck in the old womans chest. Frantic she took a swing with her police baton and caught the hag on the jaw knocking the bottom half clear across the street. The hag now more hideous than ever started to reach towards the woman whose boot had become part of her body but Floopy managed to not only keep her leg straight but after years of karate training she was able to keep her balance as well.

Flyo loaded what he hoped would be the last of the wood needed to completely surround the clearing and burn the wicked ice princess. The dogs also looked fed up with the whole ideal but Ils seemed to be powered by duracell as she moved around with the same enthusiasm as she had when they had started on this venture. 'Okay that should be the last of it!' she smiled as she boarded the back of the sleigh once more and urged her dogs into a steady trot. Flyo jogged comfortably alongside dispite the workload he had already undertaken. They came within a few metres of the edge of the clearing to a place where they once again left the dogs sheltered from view behind a large boulder. Ils and Flyo began the laborius process of silently moving the wood into position. It had all gone so well up till now.

***********************************************

'Where the blazes have you been?' queried Lt. Jakeyboy as Detective PJ re-entered the hall.

'Er..I had a little stomach trouble. Sorry' he winced as his face flushed red with one look from Tonee. She smiled mischeviously and went back to checking her finger nails, the urgency of the moment lost on the mayors driver.

'Well get here now and tell me what you think'. PJ obeyed his superior officer and went to the edge of the operations table. 'We have reports that the demons are breaking through here and here' said Jakeyboy stabbing a pencil at two points on the map a block apart. 'The defending force here has just indicated that they will have to withdraw once more to here.' he stated as he again indicated the points in question with the pencil. 'I have just heard that back up will arrive within the next two hours, however I don't need to say that this may well be to late so I want a contingency plan!'

'This place has a large cellar!' suggested PJ. The oethers all looked at him for further explanation. 'Well we could get all the people down there. Close ourselves in and await reinforcements!'

'So you're suggesting we run and hide and leave it to a support team?'

PJ looked slightly deflated but managed a 'Yes Sir!'

'And what if the re-inforcements are strong enough to take care of the situation and we end up stuck down in the cellar till the end of time?' asked Lt. Jakeyboy.

'Well, it has a good solid metal hatch. We could set charges to burn this joint down on top of them when the time comes.' This suggestion was met with a mixture of disbelief and disappointment from those around the table.

Have I just been raped by Tonnee? :ohmy:

Flyo stayed back with the dogs as Ils took the last piece of wood and placed it to complete the ring of fire fodder. She lay on her belly as she withdrew a metal flask from a shoulder bag. Silenty she unscrewed the lid and began pouring a trickle of lighter fuel onto the wood. She repeated the process ten more times pouring lighter fuel from a variety of small recepticles. Eventually she had completed the circle surrounding the clearling...actually it was more horseshoe shaped since the cave in which Isis stood conducting her demons took up a chunk of what would have been a complete circle. Happy that she was still un-noticed Ils reached into her pocket and withdrew a lighter. She risked a peek at Isis who was still expressionless as she kept her staff aloft whilst Tigereye, Crystal Lights and Eternity danced. Ils focused her attention on the lighter now. It was a Zippo so she carefully, slowly, worked the cap open then she placed her thumb on the 'trigger wheel' took a breath and then suddenly she felt herself flying through the air.

Flyo felt his jaw drop open as he saw the sudden yet subtle movement by the Ice Princess and witnessed his saviour being thrown back against the trunk of a meter wide tree.

Officer Sharky put his entire body weight behind the swing of his flaming broom handle. He caught the old woman round the side of the head and set it tearing from the neck and catapulting across the street and yet still the arms reached for the young officers Sergeant. Knowing no fear of a kiss of death from the headless demon he stepped in and caught the creature in a bear hug. Floopy seized the oportunity and tugged with all her might until finally her leg was free. She took the broom stick from Sharky and jabbed it at the demon as Sharky let it go. The creatures clothing caught alight and within moments it became a puddle on the floor. 'Thank-you' puffed Sgt. Floopy as she threw back the weapon to Sharky.

He smiled and nodded before turning to tackle the next demon to cross his path. He didn't have to wait long as to the horror of Sgt. Floopy, three demons pounced him at once and sent him crashing to the ground. Floopy searched frantically for a blazing weapon she could use to help her colleague but by the time she took up an old table leg from the fire she saw she was to late. Sharky was lip locked by Andrea and his life was being breathed out of him.

PJ found himself at the edge of the group as Lt. Jakeyboy, Rob and the Mayor, of all people, discussed their options. Each had their backs towards him and he had rarely felt so rediculous and stupid in his life. 'Run away and hide' he muttered under his breath 'What a wuss!' he cussed at himself as he studied the tiny strip of toilet paper that had latched onto the sole of his shoe whilst he had been otherwise disposed. He dared not to look up for every time he did Tonee would fill his gaze with a saucey yet satisfied smile.

***********************************************

Groucho was pleased with his purchases even though their seller was dead he hadn't exactly paid for them. He finally made it back to his club to find it deserted. Quickly he hustled around placing tables on their sides to block doors and windows. He went behind the bar and took several large bottles of spirits into his arms. He bagan rapidly pouring the liquids onto the upturned tables and surrounding floor areas. Happy everything was set he withdrew to the back of the club and entered a heavy metal door into a sizable store room which was decked out with several boxes of food, a small bathroom off to the side, a bed and a desk kitted with computer, telephone etc, a TV on the wall and a smaller one alongside it with a CCTV link to the front of the club. Taking a packet of crisps from one of the boxes Groucho slumped onto the bed and watche dthe CCTV screen as he munched.

'One hour thirty' heard Nox through her head phones. She used hand signals to pass this information onto the rest of her team. The all nodded receipt of this information before returning to their own worlds in which they acted out in their minds eye what was about to happen and how they were going to react and more importantly how their team mates would react.

***********************************************

The three demons, including Andrea, leapt off of Sharky as he finished twitching and raced off after a the local woman who ran the flower shop who up til now had been putting up one hell of a fight. Floopy saw her window of oportunity and so before Sharky could lift himself from the floor she plunged her burning table leg into his head. 'Better it be me than anyone else' she whispered as her eyes began to fill with tears whilst Sharky melted away.

Flyo took a few moments to compose himself and then dropped to his belly. Slowly and with one eye constantly on the Ice Princess he crawled towards Ils. Even before he got right up to her he could tell that she was dead. Her head was back at the most bizzar of angles and her mouth and eyes were wide open reflecting the shock of her last moments on earth. He suppressed his feelings by screwing his eyes up and ducking his head to his chest. After a slow count to ten he looked back up having decided what he must do. Just to the right of Ils's body was the lighter, the top still open, slowly he inched his way towards it.

***********************************************

Special Agent Bella fought off another two demons, killing one with an athletic fencing style lunge, her flaming curtain pole swishing like an experts foil dispite it's size. She spun round as she heard a roar of a demon to the rear and managed just in time to bring the pole up causing the demon to impale itself. It died moments later as the flames took hold. She spun round again as she felt a presence behind her and almost took out Special Agent Johno who was being backed up by a gang on six demons being headed up by Mazwad. Bella moved to a position alongside him and together they fought on.

'So that's the plan then?' stated Mayor MissG. Rob and Lt. Jakeyboy nodded before all three turned to Det. PJ. They found him still contemplating the piece of toilet roll stuck to his shoe and it took a cough from Lt. Jakeyboy to divert his attention.

PJ's head shot up and he found himself faced with three questioning looks. 'Huh?' he managed.

'We were wondering what your opinion is of the final plan!' stated Lt. Jakeyboy just managing to control his anger.

'Yeah, it's good!' replied PJ with a shurug and step towards the table where he took his first look at the plans. Instantly he realised he had been zoned out longer than he had thought. It appeared the trio had formulated a whizz of an escape and survival plan without his knowledge. Fortunately none of the others seemed to realise this fact and seemed happy with his reponse as they all congratulated each other for getting this far at least. PJ smiled and took his pat on the back dispite his contributing nothing. He made the mistake of looking up past the circle of planners and caught a kiss being blown by Tonee from across the room. Instantly he became uncomfortable again and his legs started to twitch in his desire to be anywhere but there at that moment.

********************ABRIDGED VERSION 19*****************************

Officer Sharky has just been killed by Sgt. Floopy after he was turned into a demon by Andrea. Floopy was saddened by this necessary act.

Groucho has killed Woodstock and nicked his flame thrower and few other supplies and is now hidding out in his specially reinforced office at the back of his club.

Special Agents Johno and Bella are fighting well.

Ils is dead having been zapped by Isis the Ice Princess. Flyo is looking to save the day but I haven't decided if he'll make it or not yet.

Cheif Nox and her team are about an hour and half away from being able to offer any sort of assistance to the towns folk of Brandell.

Lt. Jakeyboy, Rob and Mayor MissG have managed to come up with a plan and Det. PJ is getting that uncomfortable feeling again as a result of Tonee's blown kiss.

Maxine, Patsy and the Stranger are still alive...somewhere in the town...fighting..raaaa!

Mazwad, Popsicle, Pem, Whim and Andrea are causing mayhem on the demonic side of things and Eternity, Tigereye and Crystal Lights are still dancing for Isis.

*******************************

To the Stranger it seemed that as quickly as they were killing the demons off the enemy was adding to it's number by breathing death into the towns people. He felt a pang of desperation deep in his gut as he took a swing and killed off another ice freak with the remains of a burning baseball bat. His flame thrower had run out of fuel two blocks back and now he was fighting close quaters with the rest of the people. Patsy and Maxine never left his side as they contnued to battle and retreat towards the town hall.

***********************************************

Flyo's hand shook with fear as he ready his thumb to ignite the lighter. A quick flick and he almost whooped as the flame spouted out the top of the smokers friend. Unfortunately before he could capitalise on the moment he felt his body flying backwards and suddenly there was nothing but darkness.

For the briefest of moments Isis lowered her staff. She signalled to Tigereye who danced away from the stone and came to a graceful halt before her mistress. Without comment Isis handed the staff to her subordinate who promptly took up the Princesses previous position at the entrance of the cave, staff raised up the glowing jewel at the end facing towards Brandell.

As if she was floating Isis glided to the edge of the clearing she looked curiously at the fallen and crumpled body of Ils then she fixed her attentions onto Flyo. The young man stirred slightly and the Ice Princess smirked.

Det. PJ, Rob, Lt. Jakeyboy and even Mayor MissG were outside the front of the town hall. Each carried whatever wood and paper products they could find from the old building. They started to build a baracade fifty yards from the entrance to the hall in one direction and the same in the other stretching right across the street including over the pavement and up to the buildings themselves. They were leaving the smallest of easily closable gaps for the people who managed to make it back, to squeeze through. Tonee was inside with a claw hammer pulling up the floor boards from the stage cussing each time she broke a finger nail and completely out of touch regarding the urgency of the situation.

Special Agent Johno couldn't resist a victory cry as he took out Popsicle and Pem with one joist style charge with his curtain pole. Like the Stranger any specialist equipment for fighting the demons had been exhusted a while back and now it was purely close quaters combat and nothing more. He spun round and fended off three teenage demons but then he felt a weight on his back that suggested he had moved to slow. Suddenly the weight increased and as hard as he treid he couldn't keep from falling to first his knees and then flat onto his stomache. He screamed as icy hands tore at his clothing and struggled to turn him over. He buried his face into the snow only to have his head yanked back by his hair. He watched in chilled exceptance as a baby crawled towards him, it's eyes flashing brilliant ice white.

Special Agent Bella was fighting her own battle against Whim. Once her comrade in arms the ice demon was proving a more than worthy apponent for the elite forces agent. She spun and smacked the demon across the face with her broom handle then grabbed a blazing chair which, which had been dropped by a fallen local. Like a lion tamer she fended off the demon. She almost lost concentration as she saw the baby connect with her superior and had to regain her composure in an instant as Whim saught to squeeze the advantage. She jabbed and spun away before facing the beast again.

The Stranger, Patsy and Maxine where surrounded. Around twenty or so Ice demons including Andrea were closing in on the trio from all sides. 'Okay' said the Stranger ' On my call we charge that red headed one. 'I'll take her out you defend the sides and we keep running until we get to the town hall as there are no more fires from here on. Clear!' The girls nodded and on his signal they charged.

Groucho watched as the demons started to crash down his door. Dispite the construction of the oak fram and the door it contained, it buckled in an instant beneath the weight of numerous beast and their desire to get inside. The bloated, sleazy looking guy stood from the bed, grabbed his illegally obtained flame thrower and walked to the door to his safe house. Once there he lit up the weapon and on a count of three he swung open the door. Within moments of it being open he let rip with a flame that streatch the full length of the club. The alcohol he had poured round earlier ignited as did the ten or so demons which had made it inside. Their screams caused his ears to bleed as the pitch burst his ear drums. He winced in agony and didn't see the demon which charged him via a small gap within the wall of flame. As he looked up the beast was almost ontop of him. In a panic he fumbled with the flame thrower and dropped the gun peice. The demon was far more focused and accurate and brought the old man down. Groucho did not die in vane though as seconds after the demon kissed him the draps across the ceiling collapsed down on top of them. Burning brightly the curtains turned the club owner and his demon to steam.

Whim finally slipped up and Bella finished the job with a final stab of the broom handle backed up with a lunge of the flaming chair. She looked around for her next target and saw Johno stood before her, breathing heavily, his eyes burning ice white. He roared and as chaos continued around them the two warriors sized each other up then the battled commenced.

***********************************************

Andrea screeched as the Strangers make shift lance passed through her body. He didn't stop running dispite the weight on the end of the pole. Instead he appraciated how his burden reduced as the evil Andrea melted away.

Coastie I confess I hadn't read the Somba tale until now didn't know of my Dr status until a post by Crit drew my attention to it. I have now read through this amazing story creeping now looking for a good part in the next oneit looks like I am in time for my inevitable meltdown.

Det. PJ stumbled out with another armful of floor boards and dumped them before the barracade. With a moments carfeul thought he began placing them strategically along the ever developing wall. He was now working alongside Rob and the old man's spritelyness was putting him to shame. The years of alcohol and cigarette abuse finally coming to the fore as he undertook this urgent, heavy labour. Mayor MissG and Lt. Jakeyboy were working on the other barracade and each team was making around the same amount of progress.

Inside Tonee continued to rip up floor boards and swear as she stabbed her self on any splinters of wood.

***********************************************

Maxine wasn't sure at first wether she had fallen or had been pushed from behind but suddenly she was flat on her face, staring into a pool of slush. She looked up to see the dissapearing feet of The stranger and Patsy as the raced away from the demons. Maxine felt her heart die before she was rolled over by cold hands to face her fate.

Flyo once again awoke to the sensation of flying. He opened his eyes and turned to his left to see the trees of the forest rushing past at an alarming rate. Turning to his right he saw Eternity, Tigereye and Crystal Lights easily keeping pace as they leapt and sprinted along beside him. Lifting his head slightly he looked beyond the instant pain this caused and saw nothing but the constant onrush of white snow. 'Weird.' he thought 'Where's the dog's?'. Slowly and painfully he looked up and slightly behind him. His heart stopped cold and he felt his body go completely rigid for there he saw the upper body and face of Isis. She had one hand out stretched out before her and it seemed that this action alone was propelling the young man along a few feet above the snowy ground.

'Forty five minutes out!' came the updated postion report from the helicopters pilot. Nox signalled the information to her squad and each acknowledged receipt. The tension in the cramped cabin was almost claustrophobic and Voice was having to focus her thoughts to the sight beyond the tiny windows. She caught her first glimpse of the trouble at Brandell as whisps of black smoke rose up from the town. The veteran agent swalloed hard as the reality of the situation she was about to become part of hit home. Marmoset was doing a final wepons check and the proceeded to annoy the rest of the team by gently thumping her head rythmically against the aircrafts metal shell.

Sgt. Floopy realised she was more than a little outnumbered and as another innocent local fell to her right the public servant decided it was time to cut her loses and run. She heard screams from others who were taken by the demons as her legs and feet responded to the adrenaline pumping round her body. A roar to her right went ignored as she continued head down towards the town hall. She felt a presence behind her as she ran and she knew deep down her time was almost up.

Patsy had been in the school sprint team and had no problem keeping up with the Stranger as the pair raced round the last corner and continued their sprint towards the hall a mere two hundred meters away. The could see Lt. Jakeyboy waving a hand to give directions as to where they should head for in order to pass through the barracade. Suddenly Patsy went flying sideways and rolled onto her back in utter panic her weapon raised. She saw the last of the flame that had once served her die on the end of the pole. She was about to lash out at the figure beside her on the ground when the Stranger yelled 'No!'. In that instant Patsy was face to face with a terrified Sgt. Floopy, an Ice demon clinging to the officers back. The Stranger already had his broom stick through the demons head and the creature was rithing and screeching in a way that hit the back of their teeth. Patsy leapt up and dragged Floopy from beneath the freak.

Flyo could see the edge of town rapidly approaching and panic began to grow inside of him and way that he had never known before. He wanted to leap clear of this flight of terror but as it was the only part of his body he could move was his head. Even though he clearly wasn't bound by anything his arms and legs were fixed in the stance of a luge rider. He had tried to cry out only to find that the words caught in his throat, choking him and then making him feel nauseus. His brain tried to calculate just how long it would be before the Ice Princess and her three cronies reached the already devastaed town. The numbers simply wouldn't come so instead he simply fixed his eyes on the sky and prayed silently for all those he knew as well as for himself.

***********************************************

Several other demons had followed Sgt. Floopy in the same way that several more had followed the Stranger and Patsy. The trio managed to join ranks and fight off the nearest of the attackers before fleeing again towards the uncertain safety of the town hall.

Lt. Jakeyboy and Det. PJ yelled them on and prepared flaming 'swords' of their own to provide cover once the runners made it to the 'gate' they had left open in the wall of wood.

***********************************************

Special Agent Bella side stepped her former leader, rolled and thrust her blazing weapon up into his side. Part of her was saddened by this necessary act but she dwelled only for a moment before leaping to her feet and racing off towards the town hall. She had to leap demons as they blew death into victims and she had to dodge flaying arms at they sought to stop her and make her one of their own. Tears began to roll down her face as she heard the screams of the dying and she forced herself to accept that there was nothing more she could do for them. It was a desperate state for her a person who had dedicated her life to the protection of others but at this time there was no other option, the humans were losing.

***********************ABRIDGED VERSION 20*********************

Flyo is on a less than joyfilled ride with the ice princess Isis. Tigereye, Crystal lights and Eternity are skipping alongside them towards the town or Brandell.

Chief Nox and Agents Marmoset and Voice along with a few miscellaneous extras, are steaming in via helicopter to assist but will they arrive on time?

Sgt. Floopy has just been rescued by Patsy and the Stranger and the trio are almost within the walls of the town hall along with Lt.Jakeyboy, Det. PJ, Mayor MissG, Rob and of course Tonee the tart! Maxine was not so fortunate...

Special Agent Bella is running for her life towards the town hall having finished off Whim and Johno.

Mazwad is still terrorising the locals and Groucho has been turned into a puddle!

****************************************

Lt.Commander Minklemar stepped out from her senior officers office and stared hard at the tiled floor as she digested what she had just been ordered to do. After a moment or two she tooke a deep breath, counted slowly to five and headed for the crew room. Sat slumped on a battered old armchair and bouncing a tennis ball back and forth against the wall, looking every bit like Steve McQueen in the Great Escape, she found Lt. Islandman. He caught the ball and stood up eager to hear the reason why they had been called back from their weekends leave. Lt.Com. Minklemar shared the orders she had just received and the pair parted company as they went and changed into their flight suits.

As the Stranger, Patsy and Sgt. Floopy squeezed through the barracade Lt. Jakeyboy saw that there was no-one else likely to make it through what appeared to be a near solid wall of approaching ice demons. With saddness in his heart he raised his burning rod and with a unified nod from the others he began to lower it onto the petrol soaked wooden defence wall. The fuel had been sucked from the tanks of the three cars in the car park and was set to go up a treat the instant the flame met with it. Within an inch of ignition Det. PJ yelled 'STOP!' Everyone looked up to see the sprinting form of Special Agent Bella dart out from a side alley just ahead of the demon army. She was only a few metres away and those already behind the wall cheered and called her on. Just two meters ahead of the nearest demon Bella dived through the gap in the fire wall and whoosh Lt.Jakeyboy dropped the flame. In the same instant the Stranger dragged Bella clear of the gap so Det.PJ could block it with the ready made gate. It quickly ignite also instantly ending three demons lives as they lunged after Bella.

'Thank-you' gasped Bella as she hung onto the Strangers leg staring at the flames as they rose up in defiance of the ice warriors beyond.

'No problem' replied the Stranger, helping her to stand. As she became erect she found herself face to face with the most beautiful and handsom man she had ever seen. She smiled like a school girl and to her embarassment he smiled back causing her heart to skip a beat.

'We'd best get inside!' suggested Patsy interrupting the moment, very much on purpose.

'Yes we had' replied the Stranger leading Bella towards the door to the hall. Then a roar came up from the opposite side of the building and Lt.Jakeyboy and Det. PJ sprinted towards the other barracade their torches at the ready.

'Go on inside' yelled Jakeyboy as he passed the Stranger and two ladies. MissG came over and hurried them along as Rob tried to follow the younger men. He managed a few steps and then wham, his chest felt as though an elephant had just taken a nap on it. He crumpled to the floor clutching at his shirt as his faced reddened from the strain. MissG saw him fall as they others dissapeared inside the building. She ran to his side and saw the desperation in his eyes, then only peace. Frantically she checked for a pulse but found nothing. She rolled him onto his back and began CPR. A moment later the Stranger joined her and they both engaged in a very personal battle against death.

'It's not fair' sobbed MissG between compressions as the Stranger did mouth to mouth. 'After all this...he can't die from a heart attack...come on Rob you silly old fool!' she cried as another cycle began.

Mazwad and Maxine bounded over the barracade just prior to the men with the flaming torches reached it. Neither man stopped their initial quest and soon the second barracade was aflame. It was only then that the humans turned to face the demons. 'Right you witch' gruffed Det.PJ as he advanced towards Maxine. Lt.Jakeyboy needed no prompting to go after Mazwad.

Bella saw what had happened from the door of the town hall. She had been about to assist MissG and the Stranger with Rob but now she saw a more urgent requirement for her talents. Darting to the first and nearest barracade she grabbed a burning plank of wood and advanced towards the two duels taken place along the street.

***********************************************

Chief Nox made a final weapons check of her own and then focused on a spot on the toe of her right boot as she prepared herself for battle.

***********************************************

Flyo felt himself slowing down and looked forward once more. To his horror they had reached the edge of Brandell and Isis was carrying right on in with only the slightest reduction in speed.

The alcohol and tobacco abuse once again came back to haunt Det. PJ as with only the second block of the demon he felt the puff drain from his body. Maxine noticed her superiority and lunged repeatedly at the rapidly tiring man. Each defensive swing became a bigger struggle as even the adrenaline failed to ignite his tired muscles. The flame on his stick went out and PJ felt all in when Maxine leapt again and he resigned himself to the inevitable and closed his eyes. Nothing happened...strange he thought as he opened one eye. His second eye quickly snapped open as he saw Bella rolling around on the floor with his nemesis. The pair battled and rolled neither releasing their grip on the other. Bella had been unable to get a decent swing in on Maxine due to his closeness to PJ so instead had opted to rugby tackle the demon clear. Det.PJ felt a sense of rebirth as his body filled with life again and he grabbed up the wooden plank Bella had dropped and slamed it down on the demons head as Bella held it up and away from her face. Maxine growled and leapt off Bella, latching onto the detectives leg and biting down. PJ yelled in pain as Bella leapt off the floor and grabbed the pole PJ had been using prior to the flame going out. She raised it high above her head and brought it down hard. It ran clear through Maxines body and the creature roared in anger releasing her teeth from PJ's leg. He moved away and brought the buring plank down on the demons head. Again and again in quick succession PJ repeated the head bashing until Bella stopped him took the plank and held it on the struggling Maxine until her clothing caught alight and she turned into a pile of slush.

'He's gone' declared the Stranger to a disheartened MissG.

'I know' she sobbed as he helpped her up and walked her away from Rob's dead body. He caught a glimpse of the battle between Mazwad and Lt. Jakeyboy and fouth the reflex to rush and assist. This action was easier in light of the fact that he also saw Bella and PJ finish off Maxine and head to help the officer.

Other demons moaned and cried from behind the flaming walls as on occasion they tried to come through only to catch alight and melt away. Then a strange thing happened. Everything went quiet, even the sound of the burning fires reduced to nothing. MissG and the Stranger were at the door to the town hall where Patsy had been waiting with Tonee. All eyes turned to the fight as their grunts and cries became mutted and their actions a mime. Each of them checked their hearing and queried the others with a look. Hand signals made it obvious that none of them could hear anything any more. Tonee became frightened and started to panic, silent screams bursting from her mouth. Patsy tried to comfort her but instead the other woman ran back into the building hands clasped to her head.

Distracted by the change in sound Lt.Jakeyboy looked the wrong way at the wrong time. Mazwad pounced him and and the instant he instinctively looked to see what was on top of him she lip locked him. 'Oh no you don't you freak!' mouthed Bella as she brought the plank down on Mazwads head then placed the flame near the demons clothes. In that instant Mazwad broke her lip lock with the young man and jumped up and round to face Bella and PJ. Her facial expression changed from rage to a distorted scream as her body melted away into the snow. Bella rushed to the fallen Jakeyboy. He mouthed the words 'Kill me' as his body started to tremble. PJ tried to stop her as Bella placed the burning plank across the Luietenants body but she pushed him effortlessly aside and completed the job. Then surrounded by silence she grabbed PJ by the arm and dragged him towards the town hall entrance.

OMG I'm puddled and not for the first time either. Thank you for imortalising me in print Coastie.

Patsy headed inside the building closely followed by Mayor MissG. The Stranger held the door open for Special Agent Bella adn Det. PJ. It didn't take the pair long to fly past him and into the sanctity of the town hall. He was about to close the door when he saw something that yanked the breath from his body. The burning walls of defence started to freeze from the ground up. He wanted to draw Bellas attention to this phenomena but she was busy collecting wooden planks with PJ to place across the door, and hey it's not like shouting would help in their silent world. He took one last glance at the blood freezing sight and closed the door, sliding the two bolts into place and turning the large key. Suddenly the sound returned and an almighty roar caused the door and walls of the building to tremble. Bella and PJ placed their wood and then along with the stranger they retreated to where MissG was waiting, holding the hatch to the cellar open for them. The front door began to splinter as first MissG then PJ and Bella and finally the Stranger descended into the darkness beneath the old building. No one looked back at the door as they went instead the focused on where they were placing their feet. The Stranger closed and secured the hatch and the six survivors huddled together in the and awaited the next horror that would befall them. Sgt. Floopy had managed to grab a torch and a few bits of wood and PJ produced an old lighter from his pocket. 'So do we kill ourselves or let them do it?' he asked dryly.

Isis stepped through the now ice barracade as if it didn't exist and dissapeared from view. Flyo craned his neck to see where she had gone but found himself restrained by Eternity, Tigereye and Crystal Lights. Since the Ice Princess had released him from her spell he had regained the full use of his body, however the beautiful dancers were not allowing him to use it dispite his best efforts. Around a thousand Ice demons were stood around them all hungry to get their lips on him and yet they didn't approach the tiny group but rather they fixed Flyo with cold stares and rocked gently back and forth. Flyo knew this part of Brandell and was able to recognise the roof of the old town hall. He guesse this is where the last of the twons folk would be holed up and he could feel a sense of imense dispair at their plight. Around him he saw old freinds in demon form and again he felt saddened and deflated. 'Why keep me?' he asked of no-one in parrticular. 'Why keep me?'

Lt.Commander Minklemar climbed into the drivers seat of her F14 and strapped herself in as Islandman climbed in behind her. 'Okay, lets do this!' she said as the canopy came down and locked into position. Within a few minutes the roar of the twin jet engines filled the surrounding area and then a few seconds after that the jet fighter, with its full load of weapons, shot down the short runway and off into the air.

***********************************************

'Ten minutes' heard Cheif Nox. 'Darn thing could be over in ten minutes' she cussed to herself.

Isis touched the door to he town hall with her right index finger. The wood turned to ice in an instant and she tapped it gently with her staff. The door shattered and she stepped inside.

***********************************************
(note there are seven not six survivors)

In the darkness PJ, Floopy, Bella, MissG, Tonee, Patsy and the Stranger waited each willing their hearts to not beat so loudly as they heard the footsteps approaching from above. Tonee was quivering uncontrollably and Patsy and Bella wrapped and arm round from each side secretly willing the terrified woman to remain silent and not scream out no matter what.

Agent Marmoset was the first to catch a glimpse of the devastation in the town and for once she felt a pang of fear. After she had closed her eyes and counted to five she indicated the scene to her fellow agents. 'Oh my goodness' gasped Voice as she tried to take it all in. The entire town was ablaze and there didn't appear to be a single person alive. They were rapidly approaching the town hall and that's when Chief Nox realised the magnitude of the situation.

'They said they would retreat to the town hall if all else failed right?' Voice nodded as she to saw the thousands of Ice demons milling around outside the front of the building. 'Okay' said Nox spying the empty carpark at the rear. It seemed the demons were focused on only one thing. 'Put us down in the cap park!' she said into her helmet mike. The rest of her team who had all seen what was out there looked at her as if she was barking. 'If we can get through the back without the demons noticing anyone alive down there may still have a chance!' she explained with conviction.

*******************ABRIDGED VERSION 21******************

Det. PJ, Sgt. Floopy, Special Agent Bella, Mayor MissG, Tonee, Patsy and the Stranger are all hiding in the town hall cellar.

Isis the Ice Princess has arrived and is inside the town hall having left Flyo in the hands of her dancers, Crystal Lights, Tigereye and Eternity.

Chief Noxie has just requested her team be put down in the car park at the rear of the town hall in a vain attempt to rescue anyone who might have survived the two thousand plus demons milling around out the front.

Lt.Commander Minklemar and her Rio Islandman are airbourne in an F14 which is fully loaded with weapons.

Harry Redknap probably isn't returning to Portsmouth.

**********************************************

Isis was almsot on top of the hatch that led to the cellar and those beneath it held their breath. The Ice Princess was about to open the door on their refuge when she heard the sound of the jolly green helicopters rototblades overhead. A flash of anger blazed across her eyes and quickly she retreated back outside. The seven humans gave a collective sigh and then 'Do you hear something?' asked Sgt. Floopy as she tilted her head towards the ceiling. Everyone concentrated on trying to pick up on the noise.

'It's a helo!' explained Special agent Bella moving towards the steps.

'What are you doing?' whispered Mayor MissG hoarsely.

'Look whoever or whatever it was up there has gone. There's a helicopter in the area, which I'm guessing has been sent to help us. I'm going to find it and high tail it out of this joint. Are you with me?' asked the agent.

Everyone surprised themselves by nodding to the affirmative and then they formed a line behind Bella for the climb up.

The helo hovered inches above the tarmac and Chief Nox, Agents Marmoset and Voice along with seven other warriors dismounted the aircraft in seconds allowing it to move right and away and in turn clear of the disaster zone almost immediately. Nox indicated the direction they should head and the team fanned out as it progressed towards the rear door of the town hall a mere hundred yards away. It was two of her team to the left that gave the initial alarm and their leader was shocked at the sight of two of her team becoming like ice within moments of firing their flamethrowers. Even the flame which had just started to exit the end of their weapon, appeared frozen in midair and then Isis turned the corner.

***********************************************

Minklemar could see their potential target ahead and decided to do a fly pass over the area, she indicated as much to Islandman who gave her the course she would need to take to pass right over Brandell town hall.

***********************************************

Bella and the others listened at the rear door whilst each keeping half an eye on the main entrance to the hall. They shivered collectively as they heard several screams from the outside then suddenly there was a thump against the door. Bella instictively tried to keep whatever was out there out but then the sound of frantic thumping and human calls for access reached her and she indicated to the others to retreat back into the hole. They did and she opened the door. Nox, Marmoset and Voice tumbled in and quickly slamed the door behind them. Bella simply pointed the way to the cellar as Marmoset held the door closed behind her. Bella shot the bolt across and turned to join the others. Suddenly Marmoset screamed. Voice was almsot down the steps and Nox and Bella were at the hatch when they looked round to see Marmoset freeze to the door and then shatter.

The helicopter pilot had seen the horror below and felt helpless but knew what had to be done. The pilot put out a call to base informing them that the extraction had failed and giving them the position and approximate enemy strength. At that moment Minklemar shot past in her jet and the helicopter pilot knew what was about to happen.

***********************************************

Lt. Commander Minklemar heard the order through her headset and gave her acknowledgement. 'Well IM this is it old buddy. The day we prayed would never come!' with that she began a wide arc to bring her back round on the correct line for her next run into the hot zone.

***********************************************

Nox grabbed Bella and pretty much threw her down the steps before slamming the hatch shut. Bella tried to reopen the hatch so her superior could join them but heard instead she heard the cry that said Nox had succumbed to the Ice Princess. Shortly afterwards the hatch began to ice over and all those beneath cowered back into the darkest corner of the cellar.

***********************************************

Flyo had seen the helicopter and the jet and was frantically kicking and yelling as he fought to get free of his captures but alas for their hold on him was vice like and he simply couldn't shake free. 'Relax' said Tigereye stunning Flyo into silence as this was the first time he had heard any of the ice dancers speak. 'Relax for soon you will be the ruler of all you see and more!' Flyo gulped as he felt his heart almost stop completely from the shock of what he had just heard.

What happened next caused the foundations of the town hall to shake and crumble. Bits of timber fell from above and a huge lick of flame burst in through the disintergrated hatch. Isis screeched as her gown caught alight and dispite her efforts the flames would not die. Then the entire builing collapsed above them and beneath the weight of rubble the floor gave way causing a complete collapse and covering the nine humans in debris.

***********************************************

Flyo had seen the bombs drop from the F14 and was thankful rather than scared as they landed and sent flames in all directions. His last thoughts were 'Well done and thankyou' as a huge tidal wave of flame swallowed him and all the demons up.

***********************************************

After a minute or so the worst of the fire past and the helicopter pilot swung back round. Only a few demons remained, wandering aimlessly around the edges. The pilot decided it was time for a bit of payback and landed the giant helicopter expertly on the remaining tarmac at the very back of the car park. The four remaining demons immediately headed for the aviator who quickly grabbed up a blazing wooden plank. 'C'mon' came the determined challenge.

***********************************************

Minklemar and Islandman flew back over heard and could see the helicopter on the deck. For the breifest of seconds the watched as the helo pilot finished off the demons one after the other.

Minklemar put in a call to base to report the results of their bombing raid and the controller requested she return to base. 'Negative request we remain onscene until we have confirmation that all demons have been destroyed along with the principal target over'. Her wish was granted and so she swung round again to make another pass.

***********************************************

The pilot finished off the last of the demons and headed for the ruins of the town hall. Clawing along the flight suit clad figure finally came across the first signs of people. On the rolling back of a few blocks of rubble the face of Tonee appeared, her features concaved and her eyes completely lifeless. The pilot moved on. Mayor MissG and Special agent Bella were found grotesquely entwined, their bodies crushed by a large peice of masonary neither breathing. The pilot found Patsy next her head severed clean off her shoulders by a sheet of metal that had once housed the old boiler. The pilot began to lose heart as the next two bodies were that of people that only minutes ago had been onboard the helicopter. Marmoset and Voice had been crushed by masonary and bleed out quickly. There was a groan and the pilot swung round to see from whom it had come. A short distance away from the others was Sgt. Floopy her body trapped by numerous bits of wood and brick. The pilot began rapidly removing the injured womans burden but then the sergents hand reached out and touched the aviators hands. She coughed up blood and passed away much to her potential rescuers pain. Det. PJ had been complete cut in half, a large chunk of masonary seperating his legs from his torso. The pilot struggled on over the debris and then another moan and the Stranger was found trapped by several planks of wood and a lump of concrete on his leg. His face lit up at the sight of the aviator and soon he was free and being assisted to his feet. His leg was broken in three places but there was no way he was waiting for medical assistance to arrive, he wanted out of this town and now. The pilot half carried him to the helicopter and placed him securely into the back before climbing into the cockpit and starting up the engines. They were airbourne within minutes heading rapidly back to the military base eighty five miles away. The Stranger donned a set of head phones and he and the pilot conversed little on the way back.

Minklemar and Island man flew past them and waggled their wings as they headed even faster for home.

'Guess they'll get there before us' said the Stranger.

'Yeah I reckon so' agreed the pilot.

'What's your name?' asked the Stranger.

'Coastie, what's yours?'

'It's Haydon'

THE END...there is no more......you now have to wait until 2006!

********************CLOSING BIT***********************************

Well that's it then for another year. Everyone bar the Stranger and of course the writer died...oh and Minklemar and Islandman in their jet.....but hey what a ride!

No animals were harmed in the telling of this story, unless you count PJ, and the town of Brandell doesn't really exist nor does Skeg so don't bother trying to book your holiday's there.

Coastie and Haydon went onto open an organic farm together in the heart of Sussex.

Minklemar and Islandman still fly but only in hot air balloons.

And now let us remember those who died for the sake of 'nutty' literature:

Dolores (died early on and lost her face to Buzz)
Secrets (tried to fight back on his skido but failed)
Jaycee (had everyone freaked for a while as she was a headless body and giant angry blood clot)
Joey (Can't remeber how he died! Somthing to do with glass I think)
Karen(erm....)
Dab(ooh he was a bit horrid he was for a while but Bonnie finished him off)
Sheoque Erm..do do)
Bonnie Having put up a pretty good fight she became a demon and then died)
Ceri (Died at the hand sof someone)
Crit I'm not going to say how anyone died anymore just list 'em!)
Kittencat
Claire
Flip
Mars
Cat
Scooby
Flyo
Popsicle
Whim
Pem
Johno
Mazwad
MissG
Blink
Tigger
Andrea
Kooky
Maxine
Isis
Eternity
Crystal Lights
Tigereye
Bella
Nox
Marmoset
Voice
PJ
Rob
Groucho
Woodstock
Sharky
Floopy
Jakeyboy
Patsy
Ils
Tonee
Taffy
Cockney
Buzz

Final death toll = 49

And finally...meet the author!

http://pbskids.org/backyardjungle/files.php/503549_discovery_f.jpg

***********************THE END******************************