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“obvious” ambush point that would drive Stark to alter his course to the actual, hidden ambush point? The concept was added to Stark’s file. Aramis, after his scolding, was praised for maintaining the Damper long enough for the transport craft to arrive. The Leader was deeply concerned by the Hunter’s report of Stark’s ever-growing Energy levels, and charged Aramis with identifying mechanisms by which he could increase his own level of power with the Damper to counteract Stark’s growth.
    As the leader of the Hunters, Athos was praised for the overall successful execution of the Hunt plan, as well as for having the foresight to obtain the syringe of the serum used to create the disorientation Stark experienced. Despite the improvisation by Aramis, they’d gotten Stark in custody and nearly onto the transport, a completely successful Hunt until the very end. Athos was reprimanded for bringing only one dose of the serum, however, and the Hunter admitted he should have required the labs to produce multiple doses and had each Hunter carry at least one loaded syringe. The Leader was satisfied with this recognition and future adjustment to the approach to Hunt Will Stark; however, he noted that Athos’ true failure was that he’d not anticipated the possibility that Will Stark would overcome any obstacle thrown his way, given sufficient time.
    Porthos was complimented for Tracking Stark to a location where he could be subdued away from the notice of humans. The Leader was particularly impressed with Porthos’ improvised comments about executing humans, comments that distracted and unnerved Stark and enabled Athos and Aramis to knock Stark unconscious a second time. He was criticized for not helping move the immobile prisoner upon landing the flying craft. That reprimand earned a smirk from Athos, directed at Porthos; the latter responded with a rude gesture The Leader could not see.
    The blade used by Stark against Athos had been lined with a coating which prevented healing of the open wound. The surgeons informed Athos that they could spend hours performing surgery in an effort to eliminate the scar, but the skin in the region was dead and would never heal cleanly. The downtime to perform the work and recover afterward would keep Athos from his next Hunt. They’d sealed the wound on the transport, but without the surgery Athos would most assuredly have a lasting scar on his face, a terrible affliction for a vain man like Athos. There was a small chance surgery could repair the mark, but the lead surgeon indicated that it was doubtful. “Whatever it was Stark used, it worked well,” she noted.
    The Leader nixed the idea of cosmetic surgery. “Let it serve as a permanent reminder of your failure yet again to capture Stark. You will be leaving again on a Hunt very shortly and I do not want the trip delayed due to your vanity.” Athos, ever the good soldier, remained silent, but privately planned to visit the same wound on Will Stark if the opportunity ever arose.
    Porthos explained, in sullen tones, what had happened at the end of the encounter. “His Energy seems to be gone. I think the repeated blows to the head and my stabbing of him combined to finally drain his Energy. He may be dead, though I tend to doubt that’s the case. Until he emits Energy again, I won’t be able to track him. Perhaps he won’t be able to cause trouble without the Energy he’s always had.”
    The Leader glared at him. “That’s highly unlikely, Porthos. Stark will find a way to cause trouble; he’s always excelled at that. And tell me this… if you cannot Track Will Stark, then what use are you to me? You cannot provide me with confessions or crush the Energy of the deserters.” Athos and Aramis smirked at Porthos.
    “Stark isn’t the only one to leave, you know,” Porthos snapped, before realizing his mistake. The departures were, inevitably, seen as a referendum on The Leader. It was not wise to remind the man that any