Recovering their offspring was harder than he’d thought… or maybe it was as hard as he thought it would be…
It had taken three months to track down their third child, and now they would have to negotiate its release. Luckily, they weren’t in GalCore space, so Vorchans definitely got the upper hand in these negotiations. Especially Vorchans with fire support.
Is he gonna give you the egg? Flames asked.
What do you think? Fawkes replied rhetorically.
They had been speaking to Mr. Cane for nearly an hour now. Nyx had been very diplomatic thus far, asking him as nicely as she can to return her child. But Cane took none of it to heart, dead-set on having a Vorchan tend to his fields. Their Vorchan.
“Mr. Cane, I don’t think you completely understand the gravity of this situation.” Fawkes growled calmly and politely “While you may have a slave permit on our child, you are not in GC space; therefore, the slave permit is only valid on an Outer Ring planet, and will only be reinforced by forces associated with Outer Ring systems.”
“Powerful forces!” Cane replied threateningly.
Very powerful… Flames mocked, staring down the four defence cruisers that had settled around him.
“This is your last chance.” Fawkes said. It always came to this. He was getting really good at getting to this too. The last two recoveries had ended like this.
Rifles charged as Cane’s guards took up defensive positions. There were eight in the room, seven more outside in the hallway, and two at the front entrance that led out of the building.
“This is yours,” Cane said, “I’m sorry about your kid, but a deal is a deal. If you’d like to pay the—“ Fawkes bit his face off. The resonant shock gave Nyx enough time to unfurl her wings and open fire with a volley of twelve-gauge rounds, peppering the entire room in shrapnel in under three seconds.
In the fourth second, Fawkes already had his HF radar active and was lining his two gauss guns up on the incoming guards.
The first person to enter the room disintegrated in a cloud of red. The rest ran away.
Nyx made her way over to Cane’s desk, gingerly stepping over the pool of blood that had collected itself by Cane’s chair and gently picking up the egg that was inside the cabinet. She stroked it. “Let’s get out of here. This one will hatch soon.”
Fawkes nodded. Flames fired a koveran-explosive round into the wall of the building, giving them a new way out. The shuttle was already waiting for them amidst the sound of air raid sirens.
–
“That’s three…” Fawkes said, drinking a Sarune’s Whiskey in the lounge.
My port hull hurts. Flames complained. One of the cruisers had exploded too close to him.
“How long till we get to the start of four?” Nyx asked, knowing this one might take a lot of tracing as well.
“Less than an hour.” Fawkes replied, checking over Flames’ flight plan. With the new nodescape information from Thanatos’ family, they were able to cut weeks off their journey.
He yelped as she pounced on top of him, “Then we don’t have much time!”
That subconscious fear of her was always there, and he had to work hard to keep her tail at bay. He’d never succeeded in having a completely tail-free session yet.
There was a resonant clang as Fawkes’ tail deflected her tail’s advance as she settled on him.
“Why do you always break my rules?” Fawkes asked.
“Can’t help it!” she replied with a grin, kissing him softly.
He knew what she was doing, making him let down his guard. Clang. “Nice try!”
“We’ll see how long you hold out!”
Transmission! Flames exclaimed, Fawkes’ excitement mirrored by the ship.
Go away Flames!
Important transmission! It wasn’t Fawkes’ excitement, it was Flames’.
Fawkes extended his awareness out to the communications systems, querying the identity of the caller.
“No…” he winced. Nyx took the opportunity and got the tail in. Fawkes pushed her back with his paws.
“What is it?” she asked, whipping her tail clean as they decoupled, she was circling him avidly, wings perked and tail up.
“Martock…” he replied.
Her stance stiffened. She instinctively looked around, “Where?”
“Here.”
“Fawkes!” exclaimed Martock over the comms system.
“How did he find us?” Nyx asked.
“That wasn’t very difficult for my good friend Helios.”
Flames had his AHC pointed at the pearl-white Puritan. He could tell it was terrified, but not from the Descendent.
“What do you want, Martock?” Fawkes asked. Flames was already scanning Martock’s ship, looking for the reason that made him think they wouldn’t fire. He wasn’t too surprised to see it lying there in one of the rooms. It was still alive, but that was all Flames’ sensors were able to gather.
“I want to continue where we left off, with no interruptions this time!”
“How many of our children do you have?” Fawkes asked.
“Only this one… for now.” Martock replied.
Fawkes wasn’t sure if he was lying or not, but Fawkes’ instincts told him he wasn’t. Martock didn’t seem to be the type of man who had to lie.
“So you want to take me back to the cavern.”
“That’s right, and punish your little serpent mistress for leaving.”
“Nova curse you!” Nyx hissed, pacing angrily, tail striking the floor in agitation.
“What’ll it be, Fawkes? Your daughter or you? Will you be the heroic father or not?”
Father…
Fawkes had a father once. He barely remembered him, but he knew he was a proud Vorchan. What would his father say if he knew the things he’d done…
“F—“
He was about to give in when Nyx interrupted him, “Destroy him.”
“What?” “What?” they asked.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t want my offspring living in slavery.”
“Oh it’s the usual demands, Nyx: You give yourself up and I sell your child.”
“No. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of you. We have a chance to end your life right here, right now.”
“And you would sacrifice this poor Puritan’s life in the process?”
That was when Flames knew they didn’t have a link, because now the Puritan’s color began to change as it betrayed its anxiety. Globules of koveran energy rippled across its lower hull as it considered trying to escape.
“I would.” Nyx said, “As well as the life of my child – to see you gone from this world.” she turned to Fawkes and said what he’d thought he’d never hear her say. “Shoot them.”
Flames aimed his AHC, loading a koveran-laced round.
Martock was laughing, “I like this. I like the new you!”
“Eat it!” Nyx yelled.
Flames activated the firing sequence, nothing happened. Fawkes confirmed the firing sequence. The koveran-laced round exited the ship, screaming towards the Puritan. Its nanosecond flight took an eternity in Fawkes’ mind: Futures he’d never see flashed before his eyes; futures that would never exist.
The koveran round was absorbed by a shield, and a lash of koveran energy cut out towards Flames, damaging the outer hull.
What the hell was that? Puritan’s can’t do that! Flames transmitted frantically, taking a defensive position and raising his shields.
Martock was still laughing over the communications band. “Nice try! Now you can see your daughter die in front of your eyes.” They heard his plasma pistol charge and his footsteps as he began walking.
“NO!” Nyx cried.
–
–
Red was tired, but she felt like something important was going to happen. She calmly opened her eyes, hearing footsteps.
It was a nice room, an entire wall dedicated to the beautiful stars. The door was across from it. The floor was decorated with a red carpet. She had fallen asleep on a comfortable plush purple bed. She did a cat stretch, wondering what had roused her.
The man entered, he was holding something. He pointed it at her.
Suddenly she felt an intense pressure building in the back of her neck.
Her world turned red.
–
–
They heard the gunshot over the comms chip.
Flames, feeling the rage in his Captain’s neural link, opened fire frantically, each round back-lashing and scarring his hull. He switched to kinetics, they bounced off.
“I’ll kill you!” Fawkes declared, aiming Flames for the hull of the Puritan Martock was on. Flames tucked in his skids, his sharp point glinting in the type-B star’s rays.
They accelerated to ramming speed; the communications band was silent.
Moments from impact, the Puritan disappeared, jumping to freedom.
.
.
Nyx collapsed. She didn’t cry, but she closed her eyes, not sure if she’d ever want to move again. Flames stared out into space with his Captain. Neither of them could comprehend what had just happened.
Intruder! Flames reported instinctively.
Internal Security Turrets deployed in the bridge as the origin of the incursion was detected.
It was another Vulcan, fully grown. There was a big gash on her neck. In her jaws was a hatchling, a pitch black hatchling with red wings. The hatchling was put down in front of them.
Nyx immediately ran to the hatchling. She started to cry. “Is this her? Was this the hatchling?”
The Vulcan nodded. She was glowing red, starting to fade away.
“Who are you?” Fawkes asked.
The Vulcan disappeared.
Martock’s ship jumped out of range. Flames reported, helping return his captain to reality.
Right, and the Vulcan?
Unknown origin and destination.
Okay, get us to the next co-ordinate. Fawkes said, watching Nyx nuzzle the hatchling instinctively. It must have been Dhrom’s.
Flying… Flames replied, increasing his speed towards the fifth hatchling.
–
–
Martock couldn’t believe what had just transpired. Where he had expected to see the satisfying splatter of Vorchan blood on bed and window, all that remained to prove he hadn’t gone completely insane was the sizzling plasma round fragment. The ship had deployed an electrostatic membrane to keep the room from decompressing, its Puritans instincts not allowing a single person to die by its hand… or wing… or whatever these ships used for doing things.
“How nice of you!” Martock exclaimed, testing the membrane with his finger. It sputtered and became an opaque white where his finger came into contact with it. “It’s unfortunate your instincts make you too pathetic to kill me.”
“I’m not a murderer…” Helios replied brokenly.
“No, that you aren’t—“ Martock raised a finger, “but a tracker!” he exclaimed. “That, you excel at! In fact,” he began pacing, “I’d say you’re good enough to track the origin of whatever creature rescued this lucky serpent hatchling from my clutches!”
“I lack the capability to track ethereal beings.” Helios replied uncertainly.
“Do you, Helios?” Martock replied, sensing the lie, “Let me confirm that with your captain!”
He could hear the subtle hiss of adrexin leaking into the chambers as the starship became anxious, its wounded captain still recovering from his last session with Martock.
“You’re evil.” the ship replied coldly.
“Where is the culprit?” Martock asked levelly.
“I can take you to the planet it went to—if you promise to leave my captain alone!” it pleaded.
“Very well! Aiyes gets a temporary reprieve from satiating my desires as I instil my vengeance on this ghost-like entity!”
–
The planet wasn’t very impressive. It was too blue, and the temperatures got very cold in the winter. It would have been an expensive terraforming operation, one that most likely wouldn’t have netted the Coalition a significant amount of revenue.
He would have made this colony a protectorate.
“You better be here when I return.” Martock said, holding Aiyes’ chain in his hand. The pathetic man was whimpering weakly as Martock tugged him along. “Otherwise: You couldn’t even begin to imagine what I’d do to your precious Aiyes.”
He walked and walked, pulling Aiyes along beside him. He knew where Vulcans liked to live, so he’d settled his Marauder on the most Vulcan-friendly volcano on the planet. The entire thing must have been able to fit thousands.
–
He only saw a few, and they weren’t very impressive…
Well it seemed he’d have to push for an audience the way he did on the previous planet.
He raised his plasma pistol…
His shield flared as something tried to strike him from behind. His world was a flurry of claws and tail before his combat enhancements kicked in and the battle became comprehensible.
He immediately deployed his whip, wrapping it around the culprit’s neck. She cried out in pain and surprise. She began to glow and fade, but Martock tightened the whip, knocking her to the ground and squeezing out her power.
“How do you posses these powers?!” Martock asked in surprise, squeezing the whip until her skin began to bleed.
She was crying now. Oh how he recognized that guttural, pathetic wail. She thrashed her tail at him harmlessly, only to have him tighten the whip to within an inch of her life. Her red skin was turning blue.
Other Vorchans were gathering now, hissing amongst each other.
She was muttering something. It seemed to keep the others at bay.
“That’s right! Fear the great Martock! Fear my capabilities!”
He focused his attention back on this glowing Vorchan. She was barely breathing. “This is your final chance to give me the origin of your powers, in exchange for this information I will spare the others, though I fear that for you it’s already too late.”
“I… am… a Queen…” she moaned.
“A Queen?” he loosened his whip-grip on her neck. “Tell me more!”
“A colonizer… my abilities… are inherent.”
“Interesting – yours were not the result of the Koverax?”
She shook her head. It exasperated the bleeding. Suddenly she went limp, falling victim to exsanguination. The other Vorchans began to cry, mourning the loss of their mother.
“She might not be dead.” Martock said, drawing his plasma pistol and firing several rounds into her head.
He tipped his admiral’s hat to the crowd, “Good day to you all.”
He returned to Helios with Aiyes.
“Heartless…” Helios muttered, seeing the blood-stained whip. Martock lashed at Aiyes with it, silencing the disgusted ship as both ship and Captain shuddered from the pain.
With his honour satisfied – he continued onwards towards the next tracking signal.
–
–
They dropped the hatchling off at Emerald, giving her to Carey in person. Regardless of the time they lost on the jump there and back, Fawkes knew that there was always a chance that they wouldn’t return alive, and he felt better knowing he wasn’t endangering the lives of those he had already saved in an effort to gain a precious hour to a flight that would only take a few anyways.
His Puritan looked fast.
I’m more worried about that koveran ability it possesses. Fawkes said.
I’ve never seen a Puritan do that. Only Ash had ever been able to wield koveran energy like that. It pained Flames to be reminded of his old comrade. Flames had revered Ash. Broiled emotions made him reach for comfort, for his memories. Violet: He had been able to see her again on his short return to Emerald. She hadn’t said anything, being encased in all sorts of medical packages and barely awake. But the knowledge that she was alive and safe filled him with comfort. Fiona was there, too, assisting in keeping watch as Flames travelled.
Then there was his other memory: It had happened right after he’d dropped the hatchling off. It was Kite who had suggested the idea, “Now that we know Martock can track the hatchlings… there’s always a chance that he’ll come here. We might need your help.”
“I’ll come.” Flames had said reassuringly, but he knew there was an issue with his statement. He wouldn’t hear them on the beemspace band, not without having bonded with one of the ships.
Flames hadn’t bonded with a willing partner for over ten years. What’s worse, he was given the chance to choose! To choose between any of them… except of course for Violet… who he’d have happily bonded with. But she wasn’t even completely aware of reality, let alone healthy enough for accostment.
It had been a difficult choice. He had considered Kite. Bonding with her would have been pleasant and a slap in the bow to Thanatos, who wasn’t particularly happy with the idea. Then there was Macaria, a black Puritan with a reputation for being violent and seductive. Bonding with her would be unbelievable, and she was the most eager, too! And then there was Fiona. He didn’t know too much about her, and it seemed she was only agreeing because the others were.
So he was torn between Kite and Macaria.
“Kite!” he’d exclaimed, but then Thanatos had rammed him, “Macaria!”
Flames revelled in the memory of that bond. It only took an hour for her to appear in his nodescape.
“Don’t tell Violet…” he’d said to them before leaving, ventral hull still glowing.
Macaria is definitely something… Fawkes said, reviewing the memory with him. The fact that she was black made his hour with Nyx all the more pleasurable. And if Nyx ever learns how to ask you… I meant her, of course.
Of course.
Macaria even alleviated the pain of that damned tail.
You really have to do something about that.
I tried! She outfences me with that fucking thing!
Then start learning new tricks!
Easy for you to say… you barely have any movable limbs at all.
I don’t know. I felt pretty flexible with Macaria. he recalled a memory at full intensity, knocking Fawkes back from the sensations.
No comparison to the way I have to contort myself with Nyx. We’re Vorchans! You’ve lost, our lovemaking knows no bounds!
Our bonds are supposed to last for twenty-four hours!
Like you’ve ever lasted more than an hour.
That’s only because I’d gotten into the habit of killing my mates! Flames replied defensively, but judging by Fawkes’ solemn presence in the neural band… So I guess I won’t be killing mates anymore?
No. It was the symbiote, and it’s gone now.
Or not paying attention to us…
Hmm – do you think—
Martock! they came to the conclusion at the same time.
–
–
“I don’t remember my parents…” Luna admitted to Augustine one day.
“Really? I can’t imagine what that’d be like.”
“It’s not that bad.” she said reassuringly. “I like it here; I’ve got it good.”
“Yeah well they don’t give you carriage-duty, or make you trim the hedgerows, or – this one time: They made me heat up that lovetub of theirs while they did it!”
“Ewwww.” they both squealed.
“What are you two on about?” Darnabeth asked, entering with her butlers. Their faces were red from the heavy load they had undoubtedly been forced to heave from the carriage. “Just put these on Augustine’s back.”
Augustine sighed, kneeling on one paw as the butlers awkwardly placed the luggage on her saddlestraps. “Why doesn’t Luna ever have to help with the bags?”
“Oh she’s far too young!”
“But I was almost five when I started!”
“Don’t complain dear, and who would want to ruin such a beautiful hide? Look at that hide!” she ran her hands along Luna’s back proudly. “The most beautiful ocean blue I’ve ever seen!”
Luna posed proudly, flicking a tongue at Augustine as she trotted off with the luggage.
“I heard that hide could sell for quite a bit on the market!” Augustine called down.
Darnabeth laughed, “Oh you two, never stopping with the bickering.”
“It’s Augustine that bickers. I just stand around looking beautiful.” Luna said innocently.
–
They awoke the next morning to a loud thunderclap. Well Luna did. Augustine was still passed out from the hard work she did last night.
Luna did her usual cat-stretch, yawning in an exaggerated fashion to try and wake Augustine.
She didn’t stir.
Luna poked Augustine with her tail.
“OW!” Augustine jumped out of bed, hitting the wall and sliding down to the floor. “What?!”
“I heard something!” she hissed.
“It’s just your imagination… ow.”
“It wasn’t that hard!”
“My muscles are still sore…” she complained.
“Let’s go.” Luna said, leaving their chambers.
“No!” but Augustine was following.
There was angry yelling outside. It was Richard Charlesworth.
The two of them inched closer to the commotion, ears perked to try and hear what was happening. “What gives you the right to come crashing in on our property!”
“We’re—“
“I don’t care what you’re here for… I know what you’re here for. The answer is no! A deal’s a deal.” Charlesworth then went inside the building and whispered something to Bernadette. She immediately ran to the telephone.
“Mr. Charlesworth!” the other person growled. There was no delay between his speech and Luna’s recognition. It was a Vorchan! “I don’t think you understand the gravity of this situation! While you may have a slave permit on our child, you are not in GC space; therefore, the slave permit is only valid on an Outer Ring planet, and will only be reinforced by forces associated with Outer Ring systems!”
“We have our own resident defences.” Charlesworth called back to the Vorchan, “As well as a group of dragonslayers!”
There was no response from the Vorchan.
“Not that brave now are you?” Charlesworth continued. “Didn’t think we had dragonslayers? We do, and we aren’t afraid to call them. There’s some on their way right now!”
“Mr. Charlesworth…” the Vorchan replied calmly. “This is your last chance.”
Charlesworth was already grabbing a rifle from the cabinet. It was glowing red.
“Charlesworth don’t!” Luna called, coming between him and the door.
“Out of the way, Luna!” Charlesworth demanded.
Luna looked behind her, catching a glimpse of the Vorchan. He was dark red, and had two rifles pointed at her back. “Don’t shoot each other!”
“Luna?” the Vorchan asked, “That’s a nice name – get out of the way Luna!”
She shook her head. “There will be no violence in this house!” Luna yelled, trembling.
Suddenly another Vorchan was embracing her, sniffing her intently. “Oh Luna! You’re mine! You’re really mine. Your colours – you must have belonged to—“
“Who are you?” Luna asked, watching Charlesworth aim the rifle at the Vorchan that was smothering her. The look in Charlesworth’s eyes betrayed an uncertainty. He wouldn’t fire.
“I am Nyx! Your mother!” she replied.
“Mom?!” Luna asked in surprise, their wings tangled as they hugged and licked at each other, sniffing. Luna could recognize her aroma, a very homely scent.
“Let’s go home.” mom said.
“You can’t just take our dragons!” Charlesworth exclaimed.
“This one is rightfully ours!” mom replied.
“I will not allow it!” Charlesworth aimed the rifle.
The other Vorchan came into the room, angling himself so his massive cannons could get a shot. “Don’t do it.” the Vorchan warned.
“Don’t shoot him!” Luna cried. “He’s a good person.”
“You’re their slaves.”
“They love us!” she retorted.
–
More contacts. Flames reported, he was already being watched by three Descendents and a Puritan. Now there were six people with koveran signatures within a kilometre of Fawkes’ position.
This could get ugly very fast. Is the shuttle in position? Fawkes asked.
Five hundred meters behind you in hedgerow. Flames replied.
Good.
These Descendents have koveran-laced rounds. I don’t think I could beat them; and that Puritan is probably a tracker. I won’t be able to outrun them.
You’ll do fine. Fawkes replied automatically.
I was as good as dead the last time! And there’s no symbiote to save me this time!
You’ll do fine! Fawkes repeated, aiming his gauss rifles at the guards. They were riding Vorchans…
“Flames… they’re on—“
“I see that.”
“Leave us and I will forget this ever happened.” Charlesworth said.
“We won’t leave without our child.” Fawkes replied.
“Father?”
Fawkes shook his head. Luna ran to him, hugging him anyways. The six slayers orbited on their Vorchan steeds. “I have a good life here. You don’t have to risk your life to save me.”
“You’re a slave…”
“We all are, in a way!” Luna replied, “At least I have all the comforts in the world!”
“We treat our dragons quite well.” Charlesworth said, watching Augustine. She wanted to say something but decided against it. This wasn’t the time to complain over petty things.
The koveran signature is emanating from their weapons. Flames reported. The other ships were very close to him now; if they engaged it would be fast and messy.
Dragons was such an archaic word. Fawkes had never heard it used before. “Why do you call them dragons?” Fawkes asked.
“That’s what you are.”
“We’re Vorchans. Our progenitors were dragons.” Fawkes replied.
“Not true. You got your name over a misunderstanding.” Charlesworth explained, “There was a time when you were all dragons, but then war came. You began calling yourself war dragons. That ended up as Vorchans.”
“I heard a similar story.” Fawkes said, “But the Empire considers themselves to be Vorchans, so that is what we are. Many don’t accept our mythical dragon heritage anyways.”
“I have dedicated a good portion of my free-time to studying dragons and your ancestry.” Charlesworth said, lowering his rifle. Fawkes powered down his gauss rifles.
“Is everything alright here?” one of the slayers asked.
“What is this world? Why do you have slayers and carriages and these primitive wooden houses?” Fawkes asked.
“It is how we choose to live.”
“And those swords? They are koveran-laced.”
“They are crafted from Ryanktsu mountain.” Charlesworth explained, turning his attention to the slayers, “I believe your help will not be needed. Am I correct in assuming this, dragon?”
Fawkes nodded, disabling all of his weapons. Nyx did the same, nuzzling Luna.
“You use koveran shards?” Fawkes asked.
“You can call it that, yes.”
“Then you are in danger. Martock is—“
“Martock doesn’t invade anymore. He puts out orders, remember?” Nyx interrupted.
“Martock! He is an honourable man. He traded us these dragons.” Charlesworth said.
“He’s crazed and delusional.” Nyx replied.
Fawkes could see the defence fleet pulling away from Flames. They weren’t pinging him as aggressively anymore either, only giving him the occasional passive sweep with their sensors.
We could strike now. Flames suggested.
No. It’s too risky… and… dishonourable. Fawkes sighed.
Honour too? Flames asked in surprise.
Luna didn’t want to leave. You heard it yourself. She seems to like it here. “What is the name of your planet?”
“We call this world Gaia.” Charlesworth said.
“Martock might want to take Luna away from you.” Fawkes warned.
“He would not. He would not turn back on a deal.”
“Then he’ll re-purchase her.” Fawkes sighed.
“Perhaps, but our law gives us the power to deny the offer. I have faith that Martock will not pose a threat to us.”
“Martock will do whatever it takes to make sure we suffer.” Nyx said bitterly.
“I don’t believe that. Come inside. Bernadette – tea!”
“I don’t think we should—“ Fawkes said meekly.
“And he’s changing.” Nyx continued. “We believe the symbiote may have affected him.”
“I’m not sure what that is, but I’m sure Martock will overcome it.” Charlesworth said.
“Luna, you are sure you don’t want to come?” Nyx asked, realizing that they should get going to the other co-ordinates.
“I’m fine here. I don’t like the idea of moving again. I’ll have to make new friends.”
“Fine. We’ll visit!” Nyx said, hugging her daughter.
“You better not harm her.” Fawkes warned.
“We won’t.” Charlesworth replied. “You’re sure you won’t stay for tea?”
“We have to make sure our other children are safe…” Fawkes said.
“Maybe once that’s done!” Nyx suggested.
“Definitely.” Fawkes said, “We’ll come visit then. We’ll bring your brothers and sisters too. It’ll be a great reunion.”
“Sounds good.” Charlesworth said, extending a hand. Fawkes clumsily raised a paw and shook his hand, making sure his claws were retracted. “It’s a pleasure to have met you two… dragon and dragoness, what were your names?”
“Fawkes.”
“Nyx.”
“I hope you come visit soon!” Bernadette chimed in.
Fawkes and Nyx smiled, leaving the building and flying back up to space in their exosuits. They beat the shuttle up, and had to wait several minutes in the hangar. The shock of their social encounter was beginning to fade.
“I hope she’ll be happy there. She must have been Gaius’. Gaius had polar ancestry.” Nyx said.
“Gaius…” Fawkes repeated idly.
“We should let him know once we recover our other children.”
“Definitely. What if he wants to see her?”
“Then we’ll bring him to visit!” Nyx exclaimed, as if it were obvious.
“Right, right. Our family tree is complicated…” Fawkes sighed.
“It happens when you have so many concubines…” Nyx replied, swaggering.
Fawkes looked away, knowing where this was going. She was going to role-play again. He glanced for the exit and readied his tail for parrying duties.
She had that evil glare. Fawkes had Flames set a course for the sixth hatchling as Nyx lunged for him.
Fawkes pushed himself out of the way with his wings. The shuttle bay was massive, and there was plenty of room to manoeuvre. “Is the course set?” Nyx asked.
“Yes!” Fawkes replied, panting already.
Nyx rammed into him, knocking him into the ground with a powerful concussive force. “We should take off the suits.” she suggested.
“You first!” Fawkes replied.
“Okay…” the suit slid off, and Fawkes pounced her.
“HA! Who’s stronger now!” Fawkes exclaimed, restraining her with his own suit’s abilities.
“Cheating! You’re cheating!” Nyx replied, pinned by the augmented muscles.
Fawkes growled seductively, knowing he rarely got such a chance. “We follow my rules this time!”
–
–
Martock was brilliant. “I am brilliant! Why hadn’t I thought of this before Aiyes?”
Whimper.
“You should really say more.” Martock replied with a whip.
“You said you wouldn’t harm him if I got you to the co-ordinates!” Helios cried.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” Martock composed himself, taking a deep breath. “ONWARDS! To the rings! They must be hiding there!”
“I don’t think that’s—“
“You question me, Puritan?!”
Helios set a course for the rings, carefully evading the sharp ice crystals and loose debris.
Martock punched the ship’s hull and felt himself seeping in its energy. It flowed through him and he shuddered in pleasure.
“Don’t do that! I can’t fly straight!” Helios moaned.
Martock was beginning to lose it. His vision was a red blur, with the walls around him satiating bright red swirls that he had an uncontrollable urge to devour.
He lunged for Aiyes again, biting into his arm. Aiyes screamed in pain, but the blood and flesh made Martock’s vision return to normal. He felt better now. He took another deep breath.
Aiyes was wounded but he would recover. Helios’ drones were already tending to his arm.
“Yes, yes that’s better. Get us closer! I can sense their life energy!” Martock exclaimed, seeing a bright red mote off in the distance.
“The rings are sharp, they’ll destroy my hull.”
“Fly before I destroy your hull!” Martock roared.
Helios continued onwards. The mote became larger, and larger.
“Yes… yes!” the mote was visible now on the vidscreen. It was a Bedang, “No… no…”
Martock stumbled as Helios pulled heavy gees to try and outmanoeuvre it, but he was too slow, and got swallowed.
“CURSES! Bloody Bedang! Bloody Puritan!! Jump us out! It’s a trap!”
“I can’t get out!” Helios cried, getting sucked farther down the creature’s throat. Acid was eating away at his outer hull. “I can’t believe this is happening! Get me out! GET ME OUT!”
Helios landed in a massive chamber full of acid. He immediately re-activated his gravimetric lens and burst up towards the ceiling. His lower hull’s skin had been badly burned. The open wounds made it difficult to concentrate. He instinctively sent drones to the affected sections, sealing and disinfecting.
“I don’t want to be eaten alive!” Helios cried.
“Neither do I!” Martock exclaimed. “Weapons?”
“I have none!”
“What do you have?”
“I don’t remember. Nothing for killing Bedangs!”
Martock ran to the cargo bays. The hull trembled. “Don’t you dare fall apart on me Puritan!”
He started looking through containers. There were several. “Manifest!” No response from the ship. “MANIFEST, Helios!”
“It’s by the entrance somewhere… on the wall! The acid on the ceiling is burning into my upper hull.”
“Is there a way out?” Martock asked.
Helios scanned the area frantically. The pain made his returns distorted. He couldn’t make out an exit. “No.”
“There has to be! We could go up from whence we came!” Martock said.
“I don’t see anything!”
“Then I’ve decided to take a neural link! Give me a link!” Martock demanded.
“I don’t think I can administer one in these circumstances, and you’d feel the pain. It’s disabling.”
“You don’t know pain!” Martock said, stomping the floor below him with his symbiote strength. “The link!”
“Hold still.” Helios chirped.
Suddenly Martock felt like he was on fire, he flailed around wildly. It’s a phantom signal. You have to ignore it.
Bloody hell it’s been a while since I’ve had one of these. Martock recalled the manifest from the ship database, looking over their inventory.
You’ve had a link before? Helios asked curiously.
Occasionally. Martock replied automatically, looking through the manifest.
Did you kill them too? Helios asked.
I didn’t. But they died. A flash of combat entered the neural band as Martock recalled a distant memory.
How?
You’re far more curious with a link aren’t you? Martock asked rhetorically, jabbing into the ship with his symbiote strength. The pain coursed through him too, and they both shuddered. He collapsed to the floor. Damn it.
Now you know what it feels like! Helios exclaimed.
Martock? But this is against Heron’s law. the transmission was different. It wasn’t the ship.
Aiyes! I see you’re more talkative here as well. Martock reviewed Heron’s law, an ancient rule dictating that only one Captain may be linked with a ship. Well I can make sure we abide by that law.
Don’t kill him! Helios cried, his pain and anguish at the thought of losing Aiyes stunning Martock.
Fine! Stop feeling, it’s driving me insane!
The band went silent as the ship and Captain sulked. It gave Martock time to think. He utilized Helios’ mind, the ship’s powerful neural plexus augmented his own thought processes.
Okay. You are losing power. We have to get you situated. We have to find this creature’s throat. Martock transmitted.
He looked through the ship’s ocular strips. There were holes where the acid had burnt through, but he was able to compensate with his experience, seeing the lining of this monster’s stomach. There.
He didn’t have to tell Helios to go, he merely had to will it, and the ship began to move towards the exit. But there was something wrong.
My capacitor’s almost dry. Helios said. I’m going to fall…
Martock could sense the hope fading from the Puritan. His lens began to destabilize. Martock held it in place and made it give off a spasm of energy before it went out completely. The spasm shot them towards the exit and wedged them in the thin walls there.
Okay, get your bloody energy thing recharged. I’ll get us secured in this creature’s throat.
How.
Tethers! Martock recalled the inventory file with the tethering and grapple equipment. He was already at the cargo bay with the equipment. He tethered the cables to the floor on the bay, wincing as the hooks dug into the ship’s skin.
How are you going to tether me to the lining? It’s a—
No it isn’t. Martock interrupted, showing Helios the pressure levels outside. Unfriendly, yes, but we won’t get sucked away. Open the doors.
There was a slight breeze as the massive shuttle bay doors creaked open. The smell was horrible. He aimed the grappling cannons at the wall. There were four in total, massive cylindrical tubes that spanned five meters each, holding a composite wire with a harpoon-tip. He hoped the tethers he had attached to the floor of the bay would keep the cannons in place.
Here we go! He tapped the master fire sequence button and all four grappling cannons fired, their harpoons digging into the side of the creature. Their entire world shuddered as a guttural howl was heard.
The acid! It was rising. Martock watched it level off a few hundred meters below them and start settling again. He began tightening the tethering wires, securing the starship in place. We’ll wait until you have the energy to break free. Get rest!
I really don’t think I can—
Get rest NOW! Martock demanded, using his link to pacify the starship.
It was working. The ship’s presence began to fade as it gave in to its exhaustion. The neural band was quiet again. Aiyes was sleeping too.
Martock wiped the sweat from his brow and collapsed against one of the cannons. “It’s just one of those days…”
–
–
Darwin was staring at their newest member in awe. Her smell…
“Do I know you from somewhere?” Darwin asked. The attack had gone off without a hitch. She was their two hundred and fiftieth member. He had entire divisions dedicated to logistics and resupply now. That boost a few weeks back was all they’d needed, and now they were unstoppable. But this made him double-take.
“I don’t think so… wait! Oh I remember now!” she exclaimed excitedly, nuzzling him. “Oh that was enjoyable wasn’t it? I see you found your mate?” she looked over at Lucienda, who was giving them the death glare.
“You should be proud of your mate! He let me pounce him to save your life! Broke all of his vows to ensure you’d live on!” she nuzzled Darwin some more.
“You said…” Lucienda had turned red with fury.
“But you said I should have done it!” Darwin whined.
“You did! You cheating bastard!” she hissed.
“It was to save your life!” Darwin argued.
“Have fun with your… your whore!” Lucienda flew off, right in front of his entire troop. They all just looked at him awkwardly, some snickered.
“Bulldog, take the fleet home. I have to settle this. It’s nice to see you again, Desert.” he said, nuzzling her back formally and then flying off after his mate.
“I never even got your name!” the Desert said, following him.
“You shouldn’t have said all that!” Darwin hissed, reality catching up.
“I couldn’t help it! I was so glad to see you. After I got pregnant you were all I could think of.”
Darwin froze, the Desert crashed into him. Reality had gone and passed. They both nearly hit the ground. “What?”
“Didn’t you know?” she asked.
“No.”
“Oh…”
“You’re pregnant?” he asked.
She nodded excitedly. “And now I know our child will be free!”
“Our child?” Darwin asked. It reminded him of the eggs Lucienda had lost, that she didn’t even know about. “I—“
“It’s okay. I know why you did it. I’m just so happy to see you. You were my first!” she said.
“How old are—I don’t even wanna know.” she looked young. “Get to Bulldog, you’ll be safe with them. You need a suit and weapons.”
“I’d feel safer with you.” she said, pressing up against him contently.
“Look! Desert! I’m the General of an entire resistance army. I can’t be seen as a Vorchanessing vagrant!”
She kissed him. He could sense her adoration. “I missed you so much.” she said, there were tears in her eyes. He felt horrible.
“Okay. Hold onto me. Like this.” he grabbed her underside, her tail wagged and she mirrored him, clutching him. She closed her eyes against his chest, content. “Okay, now get your tail clear, here.” he grabbed her tail with his, and pushed it down, away from the jetblast. “Now hold on.”
He activated his thrusters and they were airborne, heading straight for Lucienda. He was flying using neurovision, a display system that gave him an entire avionics suite in his mind. Lucienda was a bright dot four nautical-miles away.
“Lucienda!” he transmitted. “Come back! I would have told you. I’m sorry!”
Lucienda’s signal stopped moving. She landed in a clearing off in the distance. There was a house nearby, it looked abandoned.
Darwin landed fifty meters away from her. “You can let go now.” he said to the Desert.
“What’s your name?” the Desert asked.
“Darwin.” he said.
“I’m Amber.” she replied.
“Wait here.” he said. “I have to talk to Lucienda.”
“Okay…” she said uncertainly, looking around.
Darwin scanned the area. “You’re safe here.” He began walking to Lucienda, who had her back turned, wings furled up and stance frozen. She was glaring at the ground, her tail bringing up sand as it flicked back and forth in agitation.
Amber was following him.
“I don’t think you should be following me.”
“Please?” she asked, bright-eyed. They were a light brown, and very pleading. He had barely looked at her when they’d mated. But he remembered those eyes now, and those moments.
“Did he treat you well?” Darwin asked.
“He did, because of you. I was his prized possession. But when the war got out of hand people started selling their Vorchans, getting them out of the area.”
“You belonged to Hades.” Darwin said. Owen’s brother.
“I did.”
Darwin wondered how much fallout Owen and Hades had now, if they even took this personally.
“Lucienda.” he pleaded.
She didn’t say anything, but she’d stopped flicking her tail. “What’s she doing here.” she enunciated the pronoun in disgust.
“She’s scared. Look, I didn’t want to tell you because I…”
How could he say this without hurting either of their feelings?
“Darwin why did you lie? I thought we were beyond that! You could have told me. Are there other secrets you’ve been keeping from me?” she asked. Now there were tears in her eyes too. He couldn’t handle all this emotion, he looked away. “Is there?” she repeated, sensing his trepidation.
“I—“ He didn’t want to tell her about the lost eggs, or about Amber’s pregnancy.
“Darwin! I know we haven’t spent a lot of time together the past few months. The war has been difficult, and I know it’s taken a lot of your time. You have an army to manage. If you don’t love me anymore I’d understand. Just don’t lie to me!”
Darwin didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t thought about not loving Lucienda. Lucienda was his mate, it was as simple as that. He didn’t have time to analyze it any deeper than that.
“I don’t know.” Darwin said.
“Then leave me alone!” Lucienda hissed. “And I’m sorry I called you a whore.”
“My name is actually Amber!” Amber replied in a friendly tone.
“Have fun with Darwin.” Lucienda spat, unfurling her wings.
Darwin grabbed her tail, keeping her from getting airborne. “Don’t leave!”
“I’m heading back to our firebase. You can follow if you want.” Lucienda said, whipping her tail free.
Darwin waited for Amber to grab on and they followed Lucienda home. The thrusters made it a quick five minute trip.
When they landed, maintenance immediately took his suit and prepared it for the next sortie. Vorchans were moving back and forth getting equipment ready and briefing the next assault. The entire system was almost autonomous; he just had to make sure they had targets to hit.
Lucienda went into her chambers, which was also his chambers… though they hadn’t slept together – or at the same time – for the last few weeks.
Darwin followed her in, with Amber close behind. “Amber. You should attend the briefing, see what’s going on. Ask questions. Speak to Ears, he can get you oriented.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s a Vulcan, red and black, over there.” Darwin motioned towards the corridors at the opposite end of the firebase. “Look for him.”
“There’s a lot of Vulcans here.”
“Give me some time!”
“Does she know I’m—“
He pushed her out the door and slammed it.
“Do I know what?” Lucienda asked, curled up on her bunk. Her head was resting on the tip of her tail, and she was still giving him that death glare.
“Stop looking at me like that.” Darwin sighed.
“You cheated!” she growled.
“You told me to!”
“You lied!”
“I did… I’m sorry.”
“Why did you lie to me?”
“To protect your feelings!”
“You don’t have to protect my feelings.” Lucienda said. She seemed calmer now. She’d stopped chewing her tail.
He contemplated getting up on the bunk with her, but he wasn’t sure how she’d react, and he couldn’t handle the pain of her jumping clear and leaving him there. He paced below her, contemplating. “Okay… but then there’s other things I have to tell you to. And all of it is bad.”
“Have you been mating with other Vorchans too? Is it Lynx? I always knew you loved Lynx!”
“No. I haven’t mated with other Vorchans, but there is news I’ve been keeping from you, and it’s horrible news. I didn’t want you to know! I didn’t want anyone to know.” he didn’t even want to know.
“What?”
He jumped up on her bunk. She uncurled, looking at the floor, judging her jump to get clear of him. He could see her readying her leg muscles for the pounce. He put both paws on her side and gently clamped her back with his jaws. “Stay!” he pleaded.
She bit into his neck, drawing blood. He jumped back to the edge of the bunk in surprise, the entire bed swayed. He felt like she’d bitten into his heart. He didn’t want to say anything anymore. He looked away, resting his head in his paws, fighting back a whimper. He could hear her footsteps as she landed on the floor. He’d lost her. She left the room.
He wanted to curl up here and die. She should have bitten him harder, severed his arteries.
The door opened.
“Amber… go away.”
She jumped onto his bunk. He was furious, he spun around and was about to attack when he realized it was Lucienda, teary-eyed.
“Sorry.” she cried, licking his wounds.
He relaxed, letting the adrenaline fade.
“I shouldn’t have bitten you. I’m so sorry. That was out of line.” she nuzzled his neck.
“It hurts…” Darwin said, in the most innocent voice he could muster. It was hard not to smile.
Lucienda laughed. “Aww.” she mocked.
“But I did have something important to tell you.” Darwin said. He was so glad she’d come back.
“What is it?”
“It will hurt. I should have told you earlier.” he explained.
“Just tell me.”
“When you were injured that first time – during the attack… when the fighters first appeared.”
“I remember.”
“You almost died. I almost lost you.”
“So you slept with a Vorchan when you thought I wouldn’t recover?”
“Listen! No! This is serious! You were badly injured… and—“
“And what?”
“There was an egg. It died.” he was still lying to her, it wasn’t the entire story.
“What?”
“I had to choose.” he divulged. “I had to choose between the egg and you. It was small but it could have been incubated, but the extraction would have killed you.”
He was talking too fast, he wasn’t sure if she’d heard him. “I killed it!”
“I see…” she said… looking at his neck.
“You can kill me if you’d like. If it’ll make you feel better.” Darwin said.
“That’s crazy.” Lucienda replied, scanning the floor again.
“That was my secret, that’s it – wait, no. There’s more.”
Lucienda stopped eyeing the floor, giving him her full attention. “Amber… err… she…”
“What about her?” Lucienda scowled.
“She… ok maybe it’s better I say this with you on the floor…” he said, backing up against the wall the bed was attached to. She came in closer, targeting him with that glare.
“What is it?” she hissed. “What can be worse than me losing my unborn child?”
“She… Amber… she…” he was trapped, cornered. Why had he put this bed in the corner? He revealed his neck as he said it, wincing, “She’s pregnant with my child.”
He prepared himself, expecting the jaws to come clamping down as rage set in.
They did.
He gasped as she pressed him against the wall with the force. Her incisors were inches from his vital arteries. He stayed limp, submitting as best he could, letting her instinctive rage wash out. Finally, after a few minutes, she stopped suffocating him, and let go of his neck.
“Anything else?” she asked.
It was hard to breathe, and there was a lot of blood on the mattress. “I think that’s it.”
“So you killed my child… and impregnated some young Vorchan?” Lucienda asked.
Darwin was too weak to nod; his neck hurt terribly, the muscles sprained from her attack.
“Well thanks for being honest.” Lucienda said. “Should I get a medic?”
Darwin didn’t say anything. He still wished he was dead. He closed his eyes. He wanted to wake up a day from now. Lucienda curled up next to him, lying beside him as he slept.
–
The next morning Leoven was knocking on their door. “Message for you Darwin.”
Darwin awoke with Lucienda asleep on his chest. His neck still hurt. The wound must look terrible. He thought of ways to cover it up…
Darwin opened the door with a blanket over his body. “Hi.” he said.
“Hey.” Leoven said. “The heating fail?”
“Yeah, you know how cold it can get on desert planets.” Darwin replied cynically.
“Are you alright?”
“Fine!” Darwin snapped, “What’s the message.”
“An ambassador from Terra wishes to speak with you.”
“…what? Now? What the fuck is Terra?”
“Your home planet.”
“Oh right. Oh wow, they’re going to help us?”
“It looks like it. The ambassador is here, now! Get groomed and down to the officer’s lounge. He’s waiting for you there.” Leoven closed the door.
“Shit…” Darwin muttered, in no condition to be speaking with people.
“The ambassador?” Lucienda asked.
Darwin sighed, looking at his wounds in the mirror. “You almost killed me.”
“Consider us even.” she growled.
“How am I going to speak to him looking like this?”
“Let’s take a shower, I’ll help you patch up that wound so it looks more war-like.”
“There are rake-marks, it’s obviously from fangs – you’re showering with me?” Darwin asked, suddenly realizing what she’d said.
She nodded. She hadn’t showered with him for quite a while. “I can’t trust you to look good enough for the ambassador on your own.”
He didn’t kiss her, afraid she might bite him, but he obediently walked into the shower chambers. Being the General, he was given the luxury of their own bathing facility. The water was warm, too. He watched the wound begin to bleed again, the blood swirling around the drainage shaft like a galaxy of red.
Lucienda was very thorough, and he really did look better at the end, and it really was just a shower, well – up until he asked if it really was just a shower, then it wasn’t just a shower anymore, then he came out relieved and content. Lucienda put gauze around his wound, and covered his neck in a medical package.
“I look silly.”
“You look wounded and not bitten.”
“My men will know…”
“They won’t say anything!” she replied reassuringly, kissing him, having calmed significantly after the ‘shower’.
–
He arrived at the officer’s lounge an hour after being called down.
“Long shower.” Leoven commented, eyeing the medical package. “What happened?”
Darwin could see the ambassador. “Artemis?” Artemis had saved him when Martock had first attacked their planet.
“Darwin? Is that really you! My boy! A General?” Artemis patted him on the back with his massive wings. “And wounds too! What a night that musta been. I recognize a Vorchaness touch when I see one.”
Well there went his disguise. “We got into a fight.” he said honestly.
“Over all the females you’ve accosted undoubtedly?” Artemis joked.
Darwin laughed meekly.
“How is Lucienda?” Artemis asked cautiously, “She is still alive I pray?”
“She is.”
Artemis looked relieved, “That’s a wonder to hear. Sorry I couldn’t return sooner. I had to get a few Vorchans reunited with their families on Terra.”
“How is Terra?” Darwin asked.
“It’s wonderful! We have nearly a hundred Descendents that have rallied to our cause. They know the threat Martock poses, and they also know the slaves must be rescued.”
“I have a manifest of all the slaves on this planet. I’ve been launching recovery strikes on their general locations.” Darwin reported.
“Yes, I’ve heard. Your enemies seem to be on the verge of surrendering here. With the reinforcements I’ve brought you will be able to start focusing on other planets.”
“I don’t know if I can co-ordinate something of that scale…” Darwin replied.
“Nonsense! You are the first planet to overthrow your Raumen overlords.”
“That’s only because the president here is not stepping in to stop me. He is actually supplying our war effort.” Darwin said frankly.
“Excellent. You should speak with him regarding expanding your efforts once the people here surrender their Vorchans. I have Descendents that will reunite the separated Vorchans with their loved ones, while those that lost everything could fight on in their loved ones’ names!”
“That sounds great, Artemis. I will send your men the location of the Vorchans. Tell them to remember ROE and to move carefully. I don’t want to end up killing those we’re trying to save.”
“No need for me to tell them anything! The soldiers are under your command. They are your men now, as are the Descendents they are situated on.”
Darwin had never dreamt he’d have Descendents under his control.
“How many Descendents?”
“Two, each carrying four hundred and fifty of our finest. The Descendents’ names are Titan and Litigus, their Captains are Zack Heshburn and Ganon Leighes.”
“A pleasure to meet you, General Darwin.”
“It’s good to have you with us.” Darwin replied automatically, not believing he was talking to actual Descendent captains. Warship captains!
–
The Raumens surrendered their Vorchans the next morning. The Descendents had done a low pass, firing on strongholds on the surface. The Raumens didn’t have a chance, and finally decided to let all the Vorchans go. The collars had de-activated, but Darwin made sure his men checked all the rescued Vorchans and removed the death chips manually.
“So now it’s on to other planets.” Darwin said.
“Unbelievable, I’ve never seen anyone do an uprising that quickly. When I had to overthrow this planet it had taken me years. You freed your people in a fraction of that time!”
“Only with your support.” Darwin said. Styx and Seyrhe were both nuzzling him contently, glad to see their father again.
“It was well worth giving. The weapons market has never been better. There are Raumens purchasing equipment on Fort VI for a counter-attack, while Artemis’ fleet is doing the same. There have already been two skirmishes in the area. What’s your next plan of action, Darwin?”
“We find more slaves, free them.” Darwin said simply.
“Good plan. I have the course Martock’s city ship has taken thus far. The habitable planets within jump range of it are your best bet. He undoubtedly had hired-beems supplying Vorchans from his ship. It was how you had ended up here all those months ago.”
“Then we will take the war to them, and demand they surrender their Vorchans.” Darwin growled.
–