Telal’s Lair.
Part two
Writers : Telal and Lecaeus (Severce) and Xia (CharlotteCarrendar)
*
The standoff continued for at least another minute, with the girl asking questions of her, wanting to know just who was behind the helm that was worn. Xia, decided to answer her.
“I fight for Lao’Taun.”
Least she told the truth, but this could also mean that she was part of HoL. The girl was unlikely to be able to tell, with the darkened glass giving her a sense of autonomy. Xia unfolded her arms, and then extended her hand towards the plasma gun that the shaking girl gripped onto. It was not done in a menacing way, more a show that Xia simply was not afraid. She could of just snatched it from her hands, but preferred a more straight forward approach. To the question on why she was not leaving, Xia simply stated. “I just got here, so I am not about to leave. There is a pod, over there, if you truly wish to leave yourself.”
Behind both of the females, a large volumetric map of the Telal Titan popped up, glowing fiercely with the markings illuminated in red of the various parts of the ship that had been damaged and breached. Xia’s hand fell away, as she found something else that had now seized her attention. The sheer scale and size of the Telal Titan was beyond belief. How had it taken to build such a marvel. Xia’s eyes scanned over the various streams of information, being cast by scrolling glyphs. So many decks were simply inaccessible, and others showed breaches in the hull. Damage to the sensor systems, and the inner core of the ship was locked down. The image kept flashing, vanishing then reappearing. A miracle really that it was even online. But..then two ship wide bulletins flashed, and what they showed, had Xia’s jaw drop.
The image of her mate, her Lord. Lao’Taun -Contained- Then, she saw her own image, with the word -Unknown- That meant only one thing. Lao’Taun had been captured by whatever had tried to decimate this ship. Anger swept throughout Xia’s form, her hair bristling, a dark aura appeared in her eyes. There was no time to lose, and she knew standing and arguing with a child who blocked her exit was not going to save Lao’Taun. Her mind made up, she stormed back over to the door, where the trembling girl stood and snarled.
“Out…of …my…way!”
*
The young girl tilted her head slightly to the left as she watched Xia. She fought for Lao’Taun or so she declared. The girl’s demeanour immediately changed, the fear that was there seemed to wash away as she closed her eyes for a second.
“NO!” she said sharply, drawing breath at the same time. “Quick!” she said, “Someone is coming.” she looked back at the door behind her, stepping out of the inner door so it could close again. “Come on we have to hide.” She said, looking around the bay for hiding places. She could hide herself well enough, that wasn’t the issue. Xia was a bit bigger than her.
“Get in the cabinet, and shut those noisy drones down.” The young girl that minutes ago had been shaking and trembling was now telling the Luminary what to do. She reached up, hands hitting the control panel, sending the room back into darkness.
Sure enough the child’s warning held some validity, in the hallway the sound of armored bootfalls could be heard, several of them. They were getting closer and louder, and the young girl bolted further into the room.
“Come on!”
*
“NO!”
“Someone is coming.”
At first, Xia wanted to smack her around the head, for denying her the right to pass through the doors, but apparently, this girl had heard someone coming. The march of heavy boots. Xia felt like she could take on a damn army herself, and she had the two droids for backup. However, the girl’s eagerness to get back into hiding, had Xia wonder for a moment. If Lao’Taun had been captured, and these troops belonged to the same ones that assaulted the ship, the Xia would be crazy to run out and head smack bang into them. She can’t very well save Lao’Taun, if she was a prisoner too. Snarling under her breath in anger at herself, for showing signs of weakness, she decided to follow the girl, waving back at the droids, a low sounding warning issued to them both.
“Get back in the boxes, and stay still till I command.”
Xia tried to find a spot in behind some crates, and then bowed her head, waiting for the threat to pass. Xia wasn’t going to go down without a fight, but she wasn’t going to let them find her easily either.
*
The Young girl hid close to where Xia was, as the footsteps drew closer she pulled a small device off her belt, and the screen lit up. She pressed her gloved fingers over it and slid it back into her belt.
The outer door opened, then closed. Within a few second the inner door opened and the sweeping sights of battle rifles swept through the room. The tiny laser dots moved back and forth, up and down as the soldiers began to walk in. There was eight of them in total, but there was something else with them. A tall standing creature, approximately six feet high with blackish-red skin and multiple stinger tipped tails which whipped through the air as it walked. The head was almost humanoid in nature but had a large manubrial fan that formed a bony crown upon it. Its razor sharp claws clicked against the floor.
The leading soldier had a slightly different body armour than the others, silver buckles with a non-UAR insigna was visible, the same patch that each of the other soldiers wore on their arms. A blue circle with a silver tree in the center.
“This is Bravo Team…we just checked the Med Bay on this deck…It was clear. Finishing up Damage Control and heading back up to the collection point. The other one must of gotten back to the Chanyosa.” the lead said over a communicator.
“Bravo Team make it quick. We got Marine Teams headed here to pick up the prisoner. Its only a matter of time before they get one of their ships operational again.” A female replied, a heavy Denebense accent tainted the usual Norian tongue.
Boot falls hit the floor in succession, sweeping beams of light moved side to side. Searching for movement.
*
Xia kept herself down as best as she could. The young girl close in beside her as they stayed hidden behind the boxes and crates. Sure enough, the enemy entered, eight soldiers, but one, that stood out from the others. A male; much taller than the rest and he had a blackish-red skin with many stinger like tails, that protruded from his back. Swishing back and forth fiercely. Naturally, Xia didn’t recognise this unit, but they were not HoL. She could see the arm bands, that had been decorated with the blue circle and a tree in the centre. Xia held her breath in as they spoke.
“This is Bravo Team…we just checked the Med Bay on this deck…It was clear. Finishing up Damage Control and heading back up to the collection point. The other one must of gotten back to the Chanyosa.”
On the mention of the Chanyosa, and the collection point, Xia realised that they were speaking about her, and the collection point must be where Lao’Taun was being held. THEY HAD HIM! It took all her will to stop from leaping out from behind the crates and using Godsmourn to start slicing off their heads.
“Bravo Team make it quick. We got Marine Teams headed here to pick up the prisoner. Its only a matter of time before they get one of their ships operational again.”
They spoke with a strange accent, but she understood them clearly. Were these the enemy of Lao’Taun? Why had he not told her of them? She clenched her fists in anger, rage building up like a capped well, but then the beams of light swept over the crates, and she knew she had to remain still, if she had any hope of rescuing him.
*
The soldiers swept their lights through one more time. The leader, obviously the one in charge got back on the communicator. “This is Bravo Team, this deck is clear.” He then motioned to the other soldiers in the group, before stopping in front of the massive creature that accompanied him.
“This place is clear, my friend.” he said to it.
The creature’s head lowered slightly, as a completely humanoid voice came from it. Feminine and deceiving it replied, “We should be hasty in completing our objectives. If one of these Leviathan vessels wakes up before we have finished. We will not survive.” The creature turned, tails whipping as they began to walk back to the door.
“This is Command, All available Teams proceed to Deck 77. We have resistance in the Main Engineering Bay. We have Four minutes before the Munin II is in the system. Lets not piss off Admiral Arterielle…”
The inner door opened, then closed. Then the other door respectively. The sounds of the soldiers boots faded off down the corridor.
The young girl pulled back out the device she had been looking at prior, and looked at it again, pressing a few keys. “You okay over there?” She asked Xia. The fear, the trembling game of innocence had now completely faded from her.
*
At the closing of the second door, Xia collapses and sits on her backside, her knees drawn up as she thinks. Processing the words that had been said. Xia and the girl had barely gotten away without being seen, and now left behind in the room, with two droids, and a girl she didn’t even know. Looking across at where the girl hid, Xia sighed not liking this situation at all.
“I’m fine…”
In truth, she really wasn’t. It took a few moments, to gather her thoughts, before she pushed herself up off the floor, and came out from behind the crates, checking the doors, to see if the soldiers had in fact gone. Coast was clear, and Xia knew a plan had to be forged, if she was to make her way about the ship, undetected. Returning back to where the holographic display of the ship’s map popped up earlier, she ran her fingers over the glyphs, trying to get it to show her again. Xia needed to find a route, that would lead her to the collection point, and where they held Lao’Taun.
“He’s here somewhere…I must find him.”
*
The young girl got up from her hiding place, approaching as Xia looked at the map. “If you are looking for Lao’Taun, that map is not going to show you.” She said. A certain confidence was in the girl’s voice. “Judging from your words, you must be Luminary Xia….” The young girl, reached up and undone the seal on her helmet, pulling it off. “There is atmosphere in this room…” she said, tucking the helmet under her arm. Her blue eyes seemed to glow with an intense power, matching blue hair cascading down her back as it was freed from the helmet.
“You also are not going to be able to do it alone, and your time is running out.” The young girl said. Stepping up to the console. She placed her hand over of the panels, like tiny strikes of lightning tendrils of bluish energy whipped off her and into the interface. The map flickered, and internal sensors became accessible from that station, showing the red dots which were intruder forces, and blue dots representing HoL forces, which were mostly confined in the ships galleys, and other areas where they had been confined by enemy forces during the initial boarding.
“That will help…” she said, in a quieted tone.
*
“Judging from your words, you must be Luminary Xia….”
The girl had figured her out. Hardly surprising, but still a damn good guess. The sound of the vacuum seal breaking on the girl’s helmet as she took it off and tucked it under her arm, had Xia contemplate doing the same. A pause, and Xia removed hers with the same audible shush sound, as the pressurised air escaped. Xia’s jet black hair flowed down her back, and Xia set down the helmet on the console. With almond shaped eyes, and skin the colour of alabaster, she looked very different to the young girl she stood alongside.
“I am Xia..” The Luminary admitted, keeping a straight face, not at all keen to display emotions towards this girl. Her gaze returned to the map, trying to see where the bulk of the HoL forces were being held, and found them in the ships galleys. Other places showed they were barricaded in by enemy troops. This was not going to be easy at all.
“You also are not going to be able to do it alone, and your time is running out.”
She had a point, as much as Xia hated to admit it. This girl had the strangest ability, to use electric like tendrils from her fingers, to get the map to even work. Something that Xia could not do. Xia didn’t like asking for help, but under the circumstance, she had little choice. Xia asked quietly;
“Where is this collection point they speak of? How do we get around their forces unseen?”
*
The young girl looked at the map as well, “Most of their forces seem to be concentrated near the secondary docking facility on deck forty-two. My guess is that is where they intend to get the Luminar off the ship. Detecting more than that right now isn’t possible.” The young girl stepped back from the table and looked to Xia.
“I must apologise Luminary, I wish this meeting of ours was under better circumstances.” She bowed forwards slightly. “I am Telal. I apologize for my form, it was the best I could do in the short time I was given before they shut me down.” The mind hive avatar looked towards Xia, it’s glowing blue eyes seemed to get brighter as her reflection was caught within them.
“Maybe we should work on getting some of our own people free, so we can have more numbers?” She offered, letting the Luminary decide how to proceed. Her feet left the floor, utilizing electrogravitic manipulation to bring herself to hover at eye level with the image floating over the table.
*
”I am Telal. I apologize for my form, it was the best I could do in the short time I was given before they shut me down.”
In that second that their eyes met, Xia saw something in behind it that she never expected to see. The phrase that this girl; Telal had just uttered, was not just an introduction. She had just told her exactly what the girl was. The very ship they stood on was the Telal Titan. Xia’s eyes darted towards the walls of the ship, then remembered the corridor, and the way the panels were layered in a manner like it was masking something behind it.
“You’re a leviathan….aren’t you?” Her eyes becoming incredulous, now knowing what this meant, answering her own question before the girl could offer a reply. “You’re this ship.” As to what the girl was even doing hiding in the maintenance room was beyond her. To understand this, the girl was like the Creator, in many ways. Only this was her humanoid form. Xia could have kicked herself, for speaking to the girl the way she had, but…Xia was Xia after all.
“Alright, lead me to where our people are held, and we fight back. Drive these intruders well off….you.”
*
Telal bowed forwards slightly then straightened, “I am this ship, I am a lot of things…My main mind hives are sleeping…most of the combine is. They must of figured out some kind of exploit…” The girl tapped a few things into the console.
“The nearest place where we have soldiers being held is on deck 76. I already have a team deployed on the deck below…in engineering, but they are not doing so well. An undestimation of things on our part, allowing so many to attend to assisting with security and repairs on the Yughoshi.” She said, the screen showing that they would have to ascend through a vertical maintenance shaft in the medical bay to get up to the deck where they needed to go.
“Did you see that creature that was with those soldiers?” Telal asked Xia. An image of the beast popping up above the table.
Somewhere on a distant part of the ship, an explosion rang out. Telal looked up absently and closed her eyes and then sighed. She had more to lose than most of the fleet; firstly she had the Luminaries aboard when it all happened, not to mention the rather large holdings in her ventral section. “Lao’Taun tried to send you back to the Yughoshi…but you must of been held in buffer when their pads when down. We should of been more careful with this….friendship…” she said, obviously she had been one of the Leviathans opposed to the treaty. “Their help with repairs has left us….crippled…” she said, regretfully.
*
It was all coming together now. Lao’Taun had tried to send her back, just as the guard had said. It was true also, he would not have left his sword, Godsmourn behind as he did. They must have attacked him the moment he arrived, and in his desire to send her back, he was taken prisoner. Telal explained how she was the ship, but her mind hives were sleeping, perhaps they were drugged. Without them, it made it difficult to fight back this menace. Xia kept quiet, listening intently to Telel’s report on where the nearest troops were stationed, and why they were not equipped to deal with this force. The soldiers were on deck 76.
When Telal asked; “Did you see that creature that was with those soldiers?” Xia nodded simply, but she had no idea what it was. “Was it an insectiod? It didn’t look like it supported the ones with the strange emblem, or was kin? Who was it?” Clearly wanting to know just who the enemy really was, and why they had gone to so much trouble to capture Lao’Taun.
“They mentioned the resistance was on deck 77, just one above. Is it possible to get past that, to reach the troops on 76? If there can be support raised, will our people fight back?
*
Telal pointed at the creature, “They are called Silori, biologically engineered soldiers of sorts…somewhat related to the Sepra. You need to stay away from them, cause if you are stabbed..” she pointed towards the tips on the creature’s tail. “You’ll be impregnated…and I assume you understand that if that occurs you will lose your place with your liege.” Telal tried to give warning where it was due. “There are many of them, in different forms that have come with these invaders. It might be wise..” she then poked her finger on Xia’s environmental suit. “…to find something a little less flimsy.” Telal knew herself, inside and out – it was one of the greatest advantages that Xia could have.
The Leviathan Avatar looked to the map with a sigh, “It is unlikely we would be able to slip past the fighting on deck seventy-seven, however if we were better armed we might find ourselves with more of a chance.” Telal pointed then to the map, to a place ten decks above them. “We could either try to get to this armoury here…” she shifted her finger, to another two decks above that, “…or we could get to this power armour bay.” there was plenty of red on the map either way.
Telal felt bad, her first meeting with this Luminary was while she was being gutted and the other Luminary in danger within her.
*
“I am not to be touched by anyone but Lao’Taun.” Xia said, a tone of disgust that the Silori could impregnate her simply by stabbing her with his tail. The very thought of losing her liege making her tense up, and she became distressed. Now more than ever, she had to get him back. Telal suggested that Xia needed something a little less flimsy than the environmental suit she currently wore. It certainly would not stand up to the damage inflicted by a Silori. Xia looked back at the map, where Telal pointed out where the armoury was , and there was more than one. The other had powered armour, just two floors above that. If it gave Xia more protection, then she was all for it.
“You’re right of course, I can’t fight in this. It’s not designed for combat; it’s simply an environmental suit.” Xia then realized something terribly important. She faced Telal and asked, “How much longer can you sustain what they are doing to you?”
*
Telal shook her head slowly from side to side, “I can sustain as long as I need to, it is just a question of how much will be intact when they are done. If I am to die here in service to the mandated leaders then that will be so.” Telal knew her own condition, her central core had not yet been breached and vital systems were intact, the rest of her was something that for the most part could be regenerated – the Leviathan had survived worse.
“Which way do you wish to go Luminary Xia?” Telal asked, the two different routes on the map flashing.
Telal could still utilize her exterior imaging systems; she knew she was not the only one under siege. The Yughoshi and the other Leviathans suffered as well, whoever had found out a weakness to exploit, they had managed to cripple the fleet and its mind hives.
*
The situation was grim, and though Telal stated she could sustain herself for as long as she needed too, Xia had a sneaking suspicion that the truth was far more serious. There were two directions to take, in order to reach the armoury, however it would be difficult to get past the enemy soldiers undetected. It was no time for second guesses, and while the idea of getting hold of the powered armour would be a godsend to finish the mission to rescue Lao’Taun, she had to be practical.
“The medical bay. We go there first, get supplies for those that could be injured and access the vertical maintenance shaft.” Xia answered, pointing to the blinking light that reflected the medical bay. “It’s the closest and safest route to take at this point.”
Xia adjusted her backpack, to prepare herself, but then recalled the two droids. She knew they were noisy, and could trigger attention, but they also would pack a punch, if they were to be caught by surprise.
“Droids….reactivate. Follow to the medical lab.” Xia said firmly, not forgetting she needed the blue access card to use on the panels.
“Are you ready?”
*
Telal nodded, understanding but the young girl seemed distracted. She looked up at the map, bright blues glistening for a second. She reached with a sudden motion, towards one of the groups of red dots, a look of sadness in her eyes as she did so. The sadness faded as she struck the console, sending the map flickering into nothingness – only anger remained. She hovered along the floor, “If you don’t mind, I need your help in the medical lab before we continue…” her words seemed colder than before, the unwelcomed guests had begun to press deeper into her most sacred places where even crew was normally denied.
“Ready…” Telal hoped that they would be successful, she watched as Xia reactivated the defence drones. This would be their struggle, their battle in what appeared to be a new war.
The Titan trembled, echoing explosions rattled along its hull reverberating in the floor plating, causing the internal structures to shift and groan under the stresses.
*
With the map fading to nothing, the last of the red dots that Telal reached for had Xia wonder just who they could be. Clearly, by the look of sadness that swept across her features, it was her people, that were dying to defend themselves against the aggressors. Xia exhaled loudly, before pursing her lips. This was no easy mission, especially when Telal asked that help would be required in the medical lab, before moving on. Not exactly sure if this was help for Telal or her crew, Xia silently agreed, nodding in respect, while behind them the drones re-emerged from their crates and hovered with a low whirring sound.
“Ready…”
“Let’s do this.”
Xia swiped the blue access cards, to get the first of the doors to open, allowing them to pass to the airlock in-between, and then Xia repeated the action, so the door on the other side opened, and they were back out in the corridor. A turn to the right, and the other door with the marking “Medical lab” written in bold letters. Watching to make sure that Telal and the droids made it through the maintenance room door, she swiped for the Medical lab, and as the doors slid back, she entered, knowing the others would follow. The moment the second door opened from the air lock, she was overcome by a strange smell, which must have been a strong disinfectant. Xia blinked a few times, not at all comfortable with the scent. Looking back for Telal, she asked.
“Tell me what you want me to do, Telal.”
*
Telal followed Xia into the Medical Lab, it was a typical zone medical facility – obviously not the main facility for the ship. It was unlikely they would be able to get near the Hospital which was close to the bridge. The blue-eyed avatar looked around, there was various beds, a surgical station and several lab seconds that were separated by blue transparent isolation walls with airlock doors. “I need you to go into the biological engineering lab…” she pointed towards one of the sectioned off areas that had several tanks. “I want you to synthesize a A-Cataclysm body type. It is on file…” Telal gave precise instructions, “Then I need you to upload the matrix saved in the local file buffer into it.” she said, trying to make sure she was understood.
“However, before you do that…” Telal motioned to Godsmourn. “You need to cut my head off.”
The Leviathan was hopeful Xia would follow her instructions; it was what needed to be done.
The Medical facility seemed quiet, overly so. Most of the systems were shut down, the labs sealed off. A few sorch marks on one of the walls showed that at some point the fire fight had reached there, but nothing severe.
*
The blast marks on the walls indicated that at some point the fight had made its way this deep into the ship. The idea that a fight could even occur near a medical facility was beyond her. Empty beds, and a surgical station were all but abandoned. No staff, or Doctors on standby, no pharmaceutical lab rats to do tests. Unsure of what was required of her, Xia looked back to Telal awaiting instructions.
“I want you to synthesize a A-Cataclysm body type. It is on file…” Telal gave precise instructions, “Then I need you to upload the matrix saved in the local file buffer into it.”
Xia understood the instructions clearly, and headed towards the biological engineering lab, when Telal asked her to do one more thing first. And what it was, froze Xia on the spot.
“You need to cut my head off.”
“What?”
Xia was incredulous, her eyes of blue charged as the emotions swelled within her. To kill an innocent; to kill a Leviathan, was simply out of the question. Xia found herself leaning back against one of the surgical beds, and the cold of the metal blade of Godsmourn could be felt against her buttocks.
“But..you’ll die…”
The silence of the room at this point, and the way that Telal was resolute in her decision, Xia knew that if this was what the Leviathan had ordered be done, then, Xia had to follow. Releasing the back pack of parts from her shoulders, she took it off and placed on the bed, before unsheathing Godsmourn; the weapon of Lao’Taun. With her fingers gripped tightly around the handle, Xia held the blade pointed down towards the ground. Her head bowed, taking a moment, reflecting on all that Telal and Xia had shared thus far. She was the only one, that Xia had allowed to get close to her, apart from Lao’Taun himself. Now she was to do the unthinkable.
A single blue tear, the first sign of emotion, that Xia had displayed outside the Inner sanctum, flowed from her cheek and as it fell towards the floor, Xia slid her right foot forward, then bringing in her left as Godsmourn was launched, drawn back in a single slice action; whistling through the air, then on the forward movement, left foot; Xia swung the blade for Telal’s neck, to slice straight through and decapitate Telal were she hovered.
*
Telal knew that the task given would not be easy. The emissary form had qualities with it, she knew full well that the preservation of life was still part of the Umarian way, even if their tactics were driven differently than most. Something deemed an asset and strong was worth preserving. The attachment to corporeal forms though was something that had long since passed for the older Leviathans, their mind hives, their very essence was already at a vengeance with other subspace faring life, or lack of life – depending on the interpretations of what was corporeal and what was incorporeal. Her weakened state only allowed for one Avatar, and she knew she was little use to Xia as she was.
“No, but I will die if you don’t…” the young girl’s form seemed to brighten. Eyes squinting shut as the monomolecular blade effortlessly slipped through her neck. The nature of the blade was that the cut almost seemed perfect, initial leading edge only one molecule in diameter. Her head dropped to the floor and rolled, body collapsing soon after. Her mind, the avatar itself was transferred into the local buffer and awaited transfer to the new body that Xia would hopefully make for her.
There was silence after the dull empty thuds of broken vessels, but only for a moment.
click, click, click, click
The sound was drawing closer, one of the blue doors to the biological samples lab opened briefly, but nothing visible emerged. Electrogravitic fields were being used, nestled upon each other to cloak the Miathatha Dissent from view, the only flaw showing every few seconds as the fringes of the field caused a rippling effect in the air. This Silori had prepared itself, biological processes focused upon the formation of spines, a nervous impulse moving through the creature’s skin caused the spines to vibrate against each other, creating a rattlesnake-like rattle which resounded through the Medical Bay.
*
The follow through of the blade as it swept effortlessly through Telal’s neck came to a stop, as soon as Xia heard the dull clunk sound of the Leviathan’s head onto the floor. Her body quickly followed, slumping down into a twisted pile. Xia let the blade edge hit the deck, her shoulders sagging for what she had just done. If it had been a foe, or the enemy, she would not have cared, but truth was….she did. Could the cold hearted Xia, actually feel for others? This was going against her very creation; her soul goal and purpose was to protect Lao’Taun at all costs. The last words ringing in Xia’s ears.
“No, but I will die if you don’t…”
Xia slowly raised her head, as the thoughts processed the earlier instructions. She had to go to the biological engineering lab, and create a synthesize a A-Cataclysm body type. This must be what Telal meant. The avatar needed a new form, in which to continue the mission to get to the containment site. Xia looked around, then saw the lab area, and practically ran over, sweeping up Godsmourn behind her. Reaching the panel, she leant Godsmourn against the console, and she stretched her arms forward, hands about ready to dance over the controls, trying to bring up the correct file. Hesitating, she started to press in activation codes, and then uploaded the matrix to buffer it. The terminal blinked and chittered away while she worked frantically to get it to come online. But behind her….a terrible sound.
click, click, click, click
Xia stopped what she was doing, her fingers poised over the glyphs, while the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Xia recognised the sound, from when she was in the maintenance room. A bead of perspiration appeared on her brow, and she pressed in the last of the controls, before placing her hand upon the handle of Godsmourn. One of the doors to the lab had been opened, a definite shush sound heard. The silence broken, as something moved into the room, a rattle-snake like sound echoing around the medical lab bay..
Xia spun around and whipped up Godsmourn, holding it horizontally across her body, breathing hard, and staring down towards the exit. The Silori was there, in with her. But would it show itself before it attacked?
*
The Miathatha Dissent stopped moving, the ceasing of the creature’s motion stopped the disruption visible with it’s cloak. Tap, Tap, Tap single middle claw on it’s right foot clicked against the polished black floor. From beneath it’s protective barrier the reflection of Xia danced within it’s glossy black eyes. The creature’s three tails were poised up over it’s massive manubrial fan, poised much like a scorpion.
“Look I found…” A female voice, misplaced within the lab seemed to shit in origin. Its nature was eerie, almost like a disembodied voice heard when conducting dealings with the dead. “You killed your little friend…not a nice one, are you?” The Miathatha swayed back and forth slightly, maintaining it’s cloak and distance from the second luminary. Slurries of chemicals rushed down the creature’s tails, the sacks filled with reproductive material bulging and shifting like a festered wound filled with maggots. “Uncivilized….” the word was followed by laughter.
“I could call for my commander…” the Miathatha said, the tapping of the claw growing slightly louder. “But your sweetness….” a sound of air rushing through snotted nostrils could be heard. “Is delectable….Come now, why not make this easy, take that suit off and give me yourself.” laughter followed once more, like a chorus of dead clowns who had come together for one last taunting requiem.
*
From only seeing a ripple in the very air, the creature became visible to Xia, when the Miathatha Dissent stopped moving. What Xia saw, was similar to the male one that had been in the maintenance storage facility next door. Xia held her ground, fingers wound tight around the handle of Godsmourn, hearing that tap tap tap, or the middle claw on the right foot of the creature. With the three tails poised up and over the head of the Silori, she was much like a scorpion, by her design. Telal had warned her of the danger in going up against such a beast. Able to inject the victim with the spiky barbs in her tail, and impregnate almost immediately. The worst possible scenario for Xia. Lao’Taun would never touch her again. Xia simply could never allow this….for she would rather die, than lose him.
“You killed your little friend…not a nice one, are you?”
“Being nice is overrated.”
The pulsating of the Silori’s tail, and the way she was obviously ramping up to make her attack on Xia, had the Luminary poised ready to make the first attack. She was not going to simply let this bitch prick her.
“Come now, why not make this easy, take that suit off and give me yourself.”
“You are not worthy to see what lay beneath this suit.”
Xia’s eyes began to change their colour, the aura within from the normal green, to a deep sea blue. A sly grin formed across her lips, as she did something rather unusual. She stomped the floor with her right foot, in the direction of the Silori, in an effort to get the creature to make a sudden movement, already poised with the blade held horizontally across her body.
“COME AT ME!”
*
The Miathatha Dissent was not just some petty creature. The Silori were a people, advanced in their own collective ways and they had their own nation outside of their cooperation with their allies. The words of defiance were expected, and the demanding and intimidating attempts to aggravate the creature into prematurely attacking were futile. “Stomping your feet at me? Does this game, of cat and mouse bother you?” The Silori bolted into motion, leaping up on one of the lab tables, a thundering crash as glassware and chemicals were sent crashing to the floor, claws dragging on metal, the weak flimsy top of the table warping downwards and popping back up as the creature continued on. The cloak around the creature faultered, the air rippling as it moved.
“At you?” clawed digits curled about one of the beakers and hurled it towards Xia’s head with alarming force. The creature’s superior strength coming into play.
As the Silori and Xia squared off, one of the tanks began to froth and bubble as the synthesis process had begun. A weaponized AI Avatar body was being constructed and at a very rapid rate, from skeleton to strange xeno-like organs layer after layer was completed in only a few minutes. The Mindhive personna that had been made as a last resort when the invaders came had been put in the form of a young girl only to ensure that there was enough time. Hopefully Xia would buy the time for this new form to finish taking shape.
‘Do not under estimate them….’ the voice of Telal whispered into Xia’s mind, trying to warn her of the impending dangers she faced.
*
At the leaping of the Silori up upon the lab table, Xia changed tact, sliding to the left side while facing her front on. The stomp was done purely to get her to move, for she happened to notice that the ripple effect of the Silori’s aura was affected by the actual movement. Surely that was part of how she would launch a strike from within her protective bubble. Glass and tubes, went crashing to the floor, and the rising scents of the toxic chemicals within and samples filled the room’s air. Xia breathed hard through her nostrils, snorting. Right foot crossing over left, sword still held in the same position in protection of her form.
”Does this game, of cat and mouse bother you?”
“Wanting to see if you could dance to my beat. Clearly it worked.”
Xia replied, having her watched her leap up and onto the buckling lab table. The protective aura showing signs that it was warping with every move. This was a game of strategy; at least until the weaponized AI Avatar body was finished building in the specialized tank. The Silori in her rage, hurled a beaker towards Xia with terrific force, and it hit the side of Xia’s head, causing a cut as it broke on impact. The shattered remains landing on the floor at her feet. All the while, the voice of Telal whispered into her mind.
‘Do not under estimate them….’
Xia didn’t underestimate, for she was building up her own force of protection. The charge in her eyes was just the start. The same electromagnetic charges, that Lao’Taun had used, to bind them together as they floated in the non gravitational room, would come into play now. Slowly Xia started to rise off the floor, while beneath her suit, the scars and markings made by her love’s own hands, glowed fiercely charging up as her will strengthened. This started to transfer to Godsmourn, giving it a brilliant blue hue.
“Here…puss puss puss.”
Xia teased, daring the Silori to move again, only this time, the counter was going to be severe.
*
The Silori laughed, watching Xia raise from the floor. “Oh look it flies..I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. The Silori moved, charging forwards, with such momentum that the electrogravitic field collapsed at the front revealing the reddish black sheen of its skin. Claws cutting at the air as it’s arms flailed wildly, propelling itself forwards with augmentation of its own electrogravitic field. A tension, a release, a volley of ten razor sharp spines released from the Silori’s left shoulder zipping towards Xia’s throat. Tails whipped through the air as it closed the distance between them, hypodermic ends dripping with the muscle relaxant cocktail that usually accompanied its thriving sex cells. “I think I’m in love…” the creature whined.
Meanwhile in the tank Telal’s new body continued to develop. Skin at first was transparent, and slowly gained what little pigmentation it would. Smooth alabaster curves housing a much more mature and feminine appearance as grey blanks became the familiar glowing vibrant blues. Through the circulating fluids of the tank, a distorted view of the combating Xia filled Telal’s eyes, helplessness was frustration. She wanted to help, to serve it was her job. She was the matron, the center and heart of the HoL movement which had devoted itself to the same like goals as Xia. This Second Luminary, was her Mistress, her new Commander in Chief.
“Fight wise…and hard young one…” Telal whispered through the still remaining vesper link.
A sound could be heard, the outer door of the medical facility being opened, then closing. It would only be a matter of time before the inner door would open as well.
*
It was all in split second timing, that the electrogravitic field collapsed before the Silori, who spoke with confidence, to see the Luminary float off the ground. It was the movement of the Silori’s charge that was what Xia had counted on, even though she heard the whisper of Telal within her own mind, to fight wise and hard. Xia had every intention too. With claw and arms flailing, she knew that the one to make first strike, was going to be in a commanding position. The last thing Xia wanted was to be struck by any of the barbs. Xia already poised with her blade held across her made a full on slice with Godsmourn, whistling through the air, as she pushed with her forearms, to give as much force into a hit. Aiming to take off one of the Silori’s arms (right) as it was waved in the air in the attack. But the jettison of the razor sharp spines that rocketed towards her, Xia had to act fast to avoid being struck, projecting herself hard left to zip across the room as Godsmourn ended its slice. She may well have avoided being hit, for so many coming at her at once was making the chances high. Xia grunted as she hit the wall of the other side of the room, with her left side, falling onto one of the hospital beds.
Xia witnessed out of the corner of her eyes, the forming of the new AI Avatar body and instantly realised it was unprotected. She had to ensure it finished its course to be built and cried out to the drones.
“Protect the AI Avatar body at all costs!”
But it was then the sound of the doors was opening again, and though she could not see who was coming she feared it was another Silori set to try and impregnate her. She growled fiercely and held Godsmourn in the grip of her right hand. Blood dripping from the wound on her head. She would fight both if she had too.
*
The Miathatha Dissent had made its rage driven attack, the utilization of momentum combined with the lash of aggression made it very hard to out manoeuvre the incoming slice of Godsmourn, it’s arm (right) dropped to the floor, twitching as the creature let out a loud high pitched squeal. It’s glossy black eyes darted towards Xia, the two drones whirling towards the lab to protect the developing AI form. The officer level Silori was enraged, wounded – it’s internal fluids squirting from the place where it’s arm had been as it worked to cluster femtomechanical bodies in its blood to aid with sealing the wound. “Smart girl…” it uttered, turning sharply, tails whipping as it seen her on the hospital bed.
The inner door of the Medical Bay opened. /Pop/ a single silenced discharge from a Multi-ammunition QPP combo rang out. A yelp came from the Miathatha Dissent and then it collapsed to the polished black floor with a dull deathly thud. The energized pulse round with solid titanium carbide munitions accelerated from the nozzle simultaneously had went straight through the Miathatha’s skull, cantered on it’s forehead, just above its eyes.
The sound of fabric, the wash of glossy black polymer-coated synthetic leather could be heard as hand swept back the lengths of the cape-like trench coat. The crack of a QPP energerizer and spent casing dropped to the floor with the empty cartridge, and another was loaded. Armorized boots echoed against the floor as the shooter emerged into the Medical Bay. The synthetic bodysuit material covering the masculine form had armorized plates and mesh engrained into it, exterior polished to a black PVC-like sheen. A pair of AI enhanced tacticle glasses covered his eyes, the faint blue glow evident behind them. The male was definately of some kind of stature, high raised cheek bones gave an evident air of imperialistic genealogy, swept bluish spikes enhanced by streams of black and silver were neat and collected, not covering the slender points of his ears.
He looked down at the Silori, “Friggin waste of a science experiment…” He could see the two drones moving, pistol at the ready but not fully raised as he looked around the room, noticing Xia in the dimness. “Hmmmm….And what do we have here?” He asked, eyes narrowing as the tactical glasses allowed him to get a better visual, providing enhancement. He was armed to the teeth, that was a given. A flat laser edged war blade strapped to his back, mines and grenades adhered to his belt.
*
Godsmourn had made its mark, slicing through the arm of the Miathatha Dissent like a knife through butter. The dull thud of the bleeding appendage dropped to the floor, only to be followed by the high screech of the Silori; enraged to be struck by what she deemed uncivilized. Xia readjusted her grip upon the handle of Godsmourn, taking short breaths, whilst part of her jet black hair covered her right eye. With blood seeping from the wounded Silori, who was trying in vain to stem the blood flow by using her own femtomechanical bodies in her blood, she seemed distracted enough from just what was coming through the airlock door.
“Smart girl…”
Last words the Silori would ever utter, as from behind she was struck by a silenced discharge from the guardian entering the medical lab. The yelp of distress was followed by the Silori collapsing upon the metal floor, eyes showing no life. Killed so easily. Xia was incredibly lucky, having played a game of cat and mouse up to this point, to buy more time for the A1 in the tube.
But from one situation, to another, Xia found herself facing her saviour. Only thing was she had no idea whose side he was on. Immaculately dressed in a PVC like leather trench coat, that swept to the floor behind him; AI enhanced goggles, and beneath the suit, a bodysuit that was fitted with armour panels. The spent cartridge from his weapon hit the floor as he reloaded, and holding his pistol at the ready, he spoke a curse against the fallen Silori.
“Friggin waste of a science experiment…”
At least that proved one thing; he was against the foul creatures. Xia was still elevated off the floor slightly, her eyes a brilliant shade of aqua blue, and her hair had the electric blue sheen upon the black strands. Still very much guarded, her eyes followed the droids that had done as she had asked, to protect Telal’s new AI form. Xia was more than aware she had been spotted by the well armed guardian, and she swallowed the saliva in her mouth, to clear her tongue, as he spoke to her with narrowing eyes.
“Hmmmm….And what do we have here?”
“I am Xia….companion of Lao’Taun….Luminary.”
Xia no longer cared to hide who she was, in fact, she was damn proud of it now. She gripped Godsmourn tightly in her hand and assumed a defensive position, drawing the blade across her form, ready to use it if necessary. Question was, would he take her on?
*
The heavily armed man smirked a bit as Xia answered his question. “Oh, so you’re the one they are after.” He looked her up and down, his right brow crooking upwards slightly. “Apparently the Celestial Liege has some taste after all. Better than that last piece of ass we had to cart around from spiral to spiral like some kind of intergalactic call girl.” He holstered his weapon and leaned down over the body of the Silori. He pulled his gloves off, first the right and then the left and then placed his hand against the rubbery reddish-black flesh and closed his eyes. The place where his hand made contact with the creature’s flesh illuminated and then went back to normal.
“Useless peice of shit…” he uttered. “Should of had all your trash species put in the furnace.” he sid withdrawing his hand.
“So, I guess you could say…I am supposed to be your enemy.” He said, stepping forwards a bit so that the illumination of one of the dull emergency lights reflected off the Toyotomi Zaibatsu symbol on his coat buckle. “But then again, we did have things wrapped up pretty tight before the invasion.” He extended his left hand, the sigil of the HoL appeared above his hand, the volumetric signal engrained right into the genetic marker embedded into his palm. “I take it you have some sort of plan?” He asked, then motioned back to the door. “Cause there is at least a hundred troopers getting ready to storm this section…maybe a few more ugly bitches like this one.” He motioned at the fallen biologically engineered soldier.
*
“Oh, so you’re the one they are after.”
This male was self assertive, and spoke with the confidence of an Officer, or one of high authority. Trained for situations, like the one presented before him. His manner, and how he holstered his weapon, before checking on the state of the downed Silori, had Xia lower her guard just a little. The edge of the blade lowered, but she still kept up the tension in her body just in case this was a trap. While he placed a bare hand upon the Silori, Xia started to lower to the floor. Her feet finally met with the metal surface, and she brought down Godsmourn, when the man said he was supposed to be her enemy but the an alliance of sorts had been dealt. It was the sigil of HoL that caught her attention, and she lowered the blade fully so it blood covered tip touched the metal.
“You are one of HoL…”
Xia was usually one of few words, as she felt speaking was overrated and actions were greater. He had proved himself thus far with the felling of the Silori, and now wanted to know of her plan. Gesturing to the tank that held the growing AI, Xia said;
“Telal is making a new vessel. Tis what I was trying to protect. She is the ship. As for plans, we intended to take the vertical maintenance shaft once we have medical supplies to take to those below. “
Xia took a step towards the man with the outstretched hand, and said;
“We need to get to the armoury; these environmental suits just won’t do against the hundreds you said are coming.”
*
The blue haired warrior looked towards Xia. “Armoury? Not likely…” He said, motioning towards the maintenance shaft. “You might get to the Power Armour Bay or maybe even one of the secondary lockers…but you will be facing a mess if you try to get near that Armoury..they have several decks above this one booby trapped.” He said, shaking his head as he pulled his gloves back on.
“So this Leviathan, she is actually conscious?” He asked, wondering how the Titan somehow managed to get itself into a body prior to the activation of the Sinker Units. He looked at the tank where the new body of Telal was being formed. Body formation was a slow process, one that had them waiting when they should be moving.
“So, where is your ‘companion’? He asked, having been crawling through the guts of the ship since he had gotten off the Toyotomi transport that he had snuck in on. It was his only way home, to what would of been a terminal mission – grateful, he was still committed to his duties.
“As for who I am…” He reached up and slid the tactical lenses off his eyes, looking towards Xia with intensely glowing light blue crystal-like eyes. “I am Chrystalian Lecaeus…I was assigned to the Toyotomi Corporation and its related industries as an operative of the Hand of Lao’Taun during the preliminary stages of the Lorenzian invasion….” He ran his fingers back through the blue spikes of his hair. “I’m the one who handed over the Unmei to our Leige…” He said, trying to explain who he was. “Other side just sees me as a traitor, he smirked a bit. This treaty is a big crock of shit…” he motioned towards the dead Silori. “..as you can see.”
*
“So this Leviathan, she is actually conscious?”
“I can hear her…she whispers to me through the hive mind connection. I am not sure if she can hear you.” Xia said, re-holstering Gosdmourn upon her back. Following the merc to the tank, she stood alongside him, and answered his question about her companion.
“When I arrived on the teleportation pad on one of the other decks, all I found was his trench coat and his sword. The place had been torn apart, and the guards killed at their stations. Whatever struck was large, and I could smell…honey.” Xia said, looking towards Lecaeus. “All the way along to here, has been destruction, a damaged train line, guards everywhere torn to bits. One I came across, had his legs sliced off, and he told me, that they had “him” . Lao’Taun has been captured and is now being held in a confinement bay. That is where the Luminary and I were heading, when the Silori found us.”
Xia reached for the spare parts back pack, and placed it on her back over Godsmourn, when the mysterious warrior finally revealed who he was.
“I am Chrystalian Lecaeus…I was assigned to the Toyotomi Corporation and its related industries as an operative of the Hand of Lao’Taun during the preliminary stages of the Lorenzian invasion….”
So he was on their side. A glimmer of hope in this god awful mess. She knew nothing of the Toyotomi Corporation, or much at all of the Lorenzian invasion. The treaty too, was beyond her knowledge. Xia didn’t like not knowing or understanding what Lecaeus spoke about, almost embarrassed due to her “age” Xia reached up to where her head was cut, and drew her fingers back to see the blood on the tips. Her concern now rested with Telal who was still not yet finished in the creation of the new vessel.
“We must wait till she is finished, before heading to the armour bay.”
*
