Risen cursed as the ship started going further and further off course. "Try to stabilize the damn ship," he yelled above the engine strain.
"Unable to comply, one of the stabilizing fins has been damaged. At the moment, control is ninety-nine percent impossible. Preset acceleration out of orbit must cycle through before control is re-established," the computer said.
Risen was pissed, those damn Xetherans, he had half a mind to destroy the rest of them. Hell, one continent wasn't going to be enough, no, more had to die for this offence.
A look at the readings showed that he wasn't even near the damn planet. A growl escaped his lips as he fought to gain control. The only problem was that everything he did had no effect.
"We are now bouncing off the atmosphere. At present speed we won't regain control for fifty-nine minutes," the computer said.
"Damn it!" Risen growled as he watched the planet grow smaller and smaller as the ship started to gain speed.
It was at that moment that he realized that the ship was spinning. "We're out of orbit, stabilize the damn ship!" Risen was almost screaming.
"Now bringing correcting thrusters online. Spin has been corrected, speed has now decreased," the ship A.I. said.
Risen was staring at the displays, where in the hell was the planet? "Alright damnit! Where is the Xetheran Planet?"
"The planet in question is several days' travel from our present location," the A.I. replied.
"What! You piece of shit, you better start explaining before I gut your circuits," Risen was growling.
"We were flung out of orbit at a high accelerated rate. Distance is still increasing, though with more control, that is slowing," the A.I. said.
"Good, effect what repairs you can. Make for the planet with all haste. Will we have full systems when we arrive?" Risen asked.
"At present, we should have all weapons, all drives except trans-warp. Trans-warp should be eighty-five percent upon arrival. Shields are the only system that will take longer. They are at fifty-five percent, upon arrival they should be at seventy percent," the A.I. said.
An evil smile came to Risen's lips, "open a channel to the Xetheran planet."
"It is open sir," the A.I. said.
"Well Queen, you and your people have angered the offling of the partner. Death is approaching your planet, death that will be brought to the entire planet. Those that thought to destroy, have sealed the death of your planet. I will return in a few days to turn your pathetic race into the corpses that they are," Risen said with glee in his voice.
"Can nothing spare our world?" Came the Queen's voice.
"I am not sure, the death of ALL that are opposing the Queen. I will know, my scanners make yours appear to be toys. Though, I doubt that the fool rebels will allow this. I am just going to turn your primitive mud ball into a smoking pile of flames. You have a few days to prepare," Risen said, issuing a truly evil laugh as he disconnected.
Another voice came over the com. "Ha! We showed that we are superior. You won't even get close to us!"
Risen started to laugh almost uncontrollably, "What fools. I can destroy your whole planet without ever entering your atmosphere. It will truly be a great day when your worthless race is wiped from existence."
There were several gasps from the comm, "none have that much power!"
Another laughing session, had Risen almost on the floor, "again fools. My power comes from the old emperors, it is more than sufficient. Prepare yourselves, you stupid fools. You have destroyed your world. I will make sure of that!"
Risen cut off the connection as an evil smile covered his face. Ah! The shrieks and screams of that world when he starts to severely thin their traitorous ranks.
________________________________________________
Three shapes that closely resembled shadows, drifted through the Delcron capitol streets. They were working their way toward an almost drab, unnoticeable building.
They were several blocks away when the attack happened. The shadow in front met the ten in the front of the attacking group. Less than a minute later, there were at least forty Delcons gasping for breath or bleeding from wounds.
Greeson nodded to the other shadows, then vanished into the shadows also. The closer they got, the more Delcrons that Greeson was meeting. The last group of over two hundred, had him a little winded. He could swear he'd taken out at least a thousand in just two blocks.
Greeson took a deep breath, "it appears they are far more devoted than we thought."
"Yes, it would appear so. Though, I have heard stories that the traitor's family could beguile a great many. I am also afraid that they have a great many more. You have done well. I will take the next," Kimon started.
"My intended, perhaps I should take the next? They appear to be sending more numbers, I do need the exercise," Onai said.
Kimon considered it a moment then nodded, watching as Greeson backed up. Coming up on the final block, an almost continuous stream of Delcrons came at them. Two minutes later, it seemed as if almost five hundred bodies were piled before Onai.
Onai turned back toward Kimon, nodding. "You were correct my mate, they hardly posses any skill at all." She turned toward Greeson, "I can also see how tedious it is to brush them aside. Mate? Do you think they will risk the entire clan?"
Kimon thought a moment then nodded, "as I remember, it was their way. They believe to exhaust an opponent, then the masters attack. A most dishonorable way to proceed, also deadly facing such as us."
"I fear then that this will indeed be the true end of their clan," Onai said as another group attacked them. This time it was a full three minutes before Onai stopped. Several hundred Delcrons were gasping, bleeding and lying at odd angles, then most of them stopped breathing.
A sad-faced Onai could only shake her head at the senseless slaughter that she and Greeson had dealt. "Shall I take over Masters? I have regained most of my energy," Greeson said.
Kimon nodded as Onai stepped back, Greeson getting into position and taking a stance.
They turned a corner, then watched as what looked like a moving tide of Delcrons moved toward them. A broad smile came onto Greeson's features as he started to sway, then spin. This didn't seem to sway the approaching multitude.
For well over ten minutes, Greeson had bodies flying away from him into those still approaching. The whole time, Kimon and Onai had been meditating. It was just at the eleven-minute mark that a few got through. They didn't live long enough to enjoy the small victory.
Though his master was slightly impressed, Greeson could feel his energy starting to drop.
A voice whispered in his ear. "Much better, my student. We will have to work on you overuse of energy," Kimon's voice said.
Greeson stopped as two blurs went past him. Immediately, bodies started flying away as if they had been scooped up and tossed away to the front. Greeson moved to his master and his mate, standing at the plain building's door.
"I am sure that you can handle the first of the masters. As I said, we will work on your energy wastefulness when this is finished," Kimon said to Greeson. Onai smiled, then nodded.
"So, this chameleon race? They were very much like Bee's race? Hartwell asked.
"In a lot of ways, yes, though over the centuries, I am afraid that a lot of their make up has been changed," Johnathon said.
"Yes, but Mary said that much of her chemical make up is closer now, to what it was back then. Is that because of the cure you made?" Hartwell asked.
"Only in part, sir; part was also from what is in your blood make up. You truly did save her life, whether or not you realize it," Johnathon said.
Hartwell was nodding as he looked at an alarm that was flashing on a nearby console. It was then that he looked at his sister. She was frozen in a daze, staring straight ahead.
"Ah shit!" Hartwell said as he moved to his sister. As he approached her, he could hear her talking.
"Yes, we are out here, we intend to get more of you. Yes, we will try to get all of you," Lucie was saying.
"Johnathon, are we able to trans-warp now? Is it safe with Bee now?" Hartwell asked.
"According to all data, she is indeed safe now," Johnathon said.
Still looking at his sister, Hartwell nodded, "as soon as she is aware, we need to go."
"Go sir?" Johnathon said.
"As you can see? My sister is once again in communication with one or more of you EIG's," Hartwell said.
"Yes prime, I have started the improved scan the emperor set up for us. At present, I am not detecting any of the life boxes. Neither am I detecting the new locator that the emperor installed," Johnathon said.
"Yes, I realize that though, as we have seen many times, my sister is far more sensitive than the locators," Hartwell said.
"Yes prime," Johnathon replied.
"So, Hartwell started, then heard a groan from the bio-bed. "Are you alright Bee?
"I am feeling strange, Lord sir. This is the very first time I feel no compulsion. There is no nagging need or pain. Do the others know of this cure?" Bee asked.
"No, not as of,..." Hartwell said as the holo-gram of Derrick appeared.
"I am here for a progress report. Have you truly thought this through with the bonding?" Derrick asked.
"Yes, sire," Hartwell responded, seeing Derrick still partly grimace. So, he was getting used to it, it appears. "I was about to check one last time. Johnathon and Mary have gone through the biological aspect of it several times. They are both standing by to remove me if necessary."
Derrick looked at Mary, "You are certain? Can you accomplish this? From all the data I have seen, I thought that once bonded, it was impossible to separate," a worried Derrick said.
"Yes sire, at first the data did indicate this. It was found though, that most males contain a chemical that can allow this. The thing is, sire, it can only be done once, then it is indeed deadly, to both," Mary said.
Bee was still staring, she still couldn't believe that, the lord sir was going to bond with her.
Lowering her head, she spoke softly to Hartwell, "I do not wish you to harm yourself, Lord sir, because of me. If the risk is too great, I will understand if you refuse."
At first Hartwell could only stare incredulously at her, the bravery and sacrifice he was seeing. He felt his chest swell with pride and something else, damn he thought, he really did love her.
"My dear Bee," Hartwell said, "the risk is nothing. To be without you? Leaves a hole in my life that nothing can fill."
Bee's gaze jerked up as she stared into Hartwell's eyes, then they both nodded.
Derrick's eyes were wide with wonder. Perhaps he thought his friend had finally found happiness.
"Alright, let's get this over with," Hartwell said as he laid back.
"Now commencing transfer," Johnathon said. "Fifteen, twenty-five, thirty-five, now at half. Mother, I am starting to see a few anomalies, sixty-five, transfer slowing. Now at seventy," suddenly alarms were going off. "Warning, Warning, transfer has stopped at seventy-three percent."
"Adjust antibodies, a hundred ccs more," Mary said.
"What the hell is...," Hartwell said, then his eyes started to roll back into his head. "Don't stop Mary, don't you dare stop! Together or not at all." Hartwell was immediately unconscious, as was Bee a moment later.
"Mary! She needs more of what's in his blood. Hurry, we're losing both of them!" Derrick was yelling.
Johnathon was moving as fast as he could, " I am still not getting a response from her. Prime has also stopped responding."
A moment later, both of them stopped breathing. "NO!" They heard from across the room as Lucie came flying to Hartwell's side as she started to push on his chest. "Don't you DARE die on me! You saved me, you can't die!" This time she brought both hands together in a huge fist as she struck his chest.
Mary and Johnathon turned to stare at Lucie as they heard Johnathon's and Bee's hearts beat for a minute. Then they both stopped again.
Derrick was rapidly running scenarios through his brain, then shouted, "shock him Mary. Start at 200 joules."
"Won't that," Mary started, then nodded, "applying electric shock."
Hartwell's body jumped, then to their surprise so did Bee's. "Does he have a normal rhythm?" Derrick asked.
"So far, though, if we can't adjust both of them, we will lose them. The last thing we did has Hartwell at seventy-nine. We need another six or seven percent before they respond on their own," Johnathon said.
Lucie had collapsed on the floor not too far away. She was whispering to herself, "don't you die Brother, don't you dare."
Derrick was sweating bullets, with everything that had happened, this was the second worst recently. The loss of Brown, no matter how brave his sacrifice, was still weighing heavy on Derrick.
He looked beside himself at Gunther and his daughter Shelly. So much was going on, with no time to alleviate any of them.
A voice beside him broke him out of his thoughts. "Mary, look over the cure that Shelly provided you, I think perhaps the answer might lie there," Empress Shelby said.
Mary nodded, then did as Shelby said. A look of surprise came to her features. "I have found the missing element," Mary said.
Immediately after injecting Bee, Hartwell's medical readings started to rise. A mere ten minutes later, his eyes opened.
Hartwell tried to sit up, then fell back, turning his eyes to Lucie. "You did it again, didn't you?" Turning to Johnathon, Hartwell asked, "how many are broken?"
"Johnnie!" Lucie shouted, "I thought you had died, again. Please don't do this anymore. Once was bad enough; this was far worse."
"I am seeing one broken, three fractured ribs and your sternum is bruised, as is your chest," Johnathon said.
An unexpected voice on the other side of Hartwell sighed, "I can feel them, thank you Johnathon," came Bee's voice. "I promise you sister of my Lord sir, I will not allow him to do this again. The bond will help me to prevent it."
A relieved Lucie nodded, "then you really are like you are married!"
Bee went through what she knew from Hartwell's thoughts, "perhaps. Though we are closer than just marriage. We are linked to keep are lifeforces stronger. Many of our thoughts are linked also."
Lucie giggled a moment at the look of bewilderment on her brother's face. "I'm seeing the strangest things," Hartwell said.
"Unfortunately, you are seeing my life, such as it was before I met you," Bee said.
"Damn," Hartwell said as he laid back. "This is going to take getting used to." Then a growl issued from his throat, "I hope that you repay those bastards for what they have done," he said. "I am about ready to go to full-fledged war against the male population of the Tendraxians. What I am seeing is nothing short of physical and mental slavery," Hartwell nearly shouted.
Derrick smiled, if he could get Hartwell to control his rage, the plan he had would work. "Believe me, we have a plan that should deal more than justice. Admiral, remember that not all males were like the majority. It wouldn't do to destroy those that were in fact trying to help, true?"
Hartwell thought a moment then felt his rage start to dissolve. "That is true, though, how to separate them from the others."
Derrick looked back at Mary, who was nodding her head. "Oh, I think we have a way to do that."
Hartwell sighed then nodded, "Okay, if you say so sir."
Kimon stopped a moment before the door of the Rilcon order building. "So, they sent the weak hoping to weaken us," Kimon shook his head. "Disgraceful, to sacrifice half your clan against superior opponents. Especially when it is only to determine strength." Looking at Onai and Greeson, he continued, "perhaps it is time. Time to rid existence of their evil."
Onai and Greeson could see the look of displeasure on Kimon's face. "Mate," Onai started. "As has been passed down through the clans, this was not what the art was created for. It is the place and duty of all of Jitaku to preserve the art as it should be."
Kimon drew a deep breath. He knew all that she said was true. This was the only reason he was still moving forward, still killing like this? Had never sat well with him.
"I can feel that there are almost as many as you have met within the building," Kimon said. He turned toward Greeson, "you have expanded more energy than you should have. Stay on the edge, your energy replacement is also slower than it should be." Kimon had a frown on his face, then vanished, there was a fluttering around Greeson from head to toe.
Kimon appeared a moment later with several small darts. Greeson bowed, I thought I had gotten all of them, apologies master," Greeson said.
"Hmmm, only twenty, plus you are still maintaining most of your energy. Better my Gakusei, as I have said, we will work on it and more when this is finished," Kimon said.
"Hai masutā," Greenson said with a deep bow.
Kimon nodded as he watched Geeson's energy start to rapidly climb. A few minutes later, he nodded as the three of them entered the building.
They were immediately met by a great host of Delcrons. Kimon, shook his head. A moment later, there were many dead at his feet. Entering a larger room, he saw one sitting back from the others. Another moment and all there was down, Kimon at the other side of the room. The same Delcron suspended in the air gasping for breath.
"It is a shame that today marks the death of your clan. Many good things could have come from you had you not followed one so evil," Kimon said.
"You will never defeat,..." The Delcron started.
"Enough," Kimon said as he slightly turned his wrist, hearing the neck of the Delcron snap. He then dropped the body as if it were nothing.
With a sigh, Kimon said, "one of their lesser masters, no skill at all."
The next few rooms were almost a repeat of the last, though no masters appeared.
At the extreme back of the building, a shadowy figure appeared before the Grand Master. "Master," the shadowy figure exclaimed. "The three I told you of, have entered the clan building. They have destroyed over half of the clan."
The Grand Master nodded as he started to dress in the fighting ki that his ancestor wore. "I am afraid that the evils of my ancestors have come to exact payment for their deeds. You and others should depart to keep the clan alive. This should take precedence," the Grandmaster said.
"This I cannot do, clan honor demands that...," the shadowy figure stated.
"Yes, clan honor demands, it demands that we survive. Those that we face have been at the art far longer than us," the Grand master said. "Go now, before there is nothing of us left to rebuild with. My destiny lies along another path."
The shadowy figure broke protocol, throwing his cowl back, revealing a face that resembled the Grand Master's. "Father, I do not wish to part ways like this. Surely, there is something that we can do."
"I will deliver myself before them. I will buy you and the others time to disappear. Rebuild my son, remember all I have taught you, build upon it, grow far better," the Grand Master said as he placed more and more weapons.
"I will do as you say father, die well for the clan," the more human than Delcon said as he whirled. Outside, he gathered a small group, they then moved to the wall that opened, then they vanished.
Kimon was growing sadder as they moved through each room, leaving death behind them. He estimated that more than eighty percent of the clan was gone behind them. They finally came to a huge room. There weren't more than a few hundred there.
At the back of the room there were about twenty Delcrons, waiting against the back wall. One, in particular, held Kimon's attention. Looking closer, Kimon nodded when he saw the belt of the banished Jitaku clan around his waist.
In a rather loud voice, Kimon said, "So, at last we put to rest the last shame of the Jitaku. I am here to end that which my great-great ancestor could not. For too long have your clan gone unpunished."
"So," the Grand Master started. "It will finish much like it did centuries ago. Come the shame of my clan. Your ancestor should not have shamed this clan. Death was the only answer that he and the others refused. That will not be the outcome this day."
"No, with your death, all honor will finally be restored," Kimon said.
"We shall see," the grand master said seeing the belt around Kimon's waist. "A high clan leader of clan Dempsy, an opponent hardly worth my time."
A small smile formed on Kimon's lips, "if your masters are any indicator of your clan's skill? I believe that this will end soon."
With that, both of them vanished as thunderous hits were heard. Immediately, the last of the clan and the Masters moved toward Greeson and Onai.
Many were slightly surprised when both of them vanished. Then again, many were shocked as they felt their life drain from their bodies. Both started to cut a swath through many Delcrons before them.
They had defeated almost all of the lower clan members when the masters jumped into the frey.
Kimon was surprised when the one he was going against matched him blow for blow. All around them they saw the rest of the clan start to fall. Kimon started to notice that something was wrong. True, the male was fighting as well as his master. There was something missing.
Kimon nodded as he saw the last of the non-masters fall. Thirty minutes into their fight, Kimon knew something was going on. This has all the earmarks of..., Kimon looked at the male with a smile.
This, of course, had the male redoubling his efforts to kill Kimon. Ah Kimon thought, this was more like it! It was a moment later that he saw both Greeson and Onai defeat the Masters. It was also the moment that he noticed that they weren't true Masters.
"So, you have only delayed to allow the Master to leave. With the almost total destruction of your clan, it will be a very long time before your clan reappears," Kimon said as he got a glancing blow on the Delcron's arm.
The Grand Master backed up, his arm limp 'til he hit it. He then started to toss several weapons. Kimon cursed as the Delcron caught Onai on her back. To his amazement, Greeson took most of the hit.
Dropping like a rock, Greeson had a smile on his face. The Grand Master was laughing when he felt a sharp pain, then fell to the floor gasping. He got up, staring at Kimon, "them or me hmmm?"
Kimon nodded as Onai caught the unsuspecting Delcron across his neck. "It is over!" She shouted as the Delcron tried to throw another hit at her.
Almost unable to move, the Delcron laughed, then fell. Onai limped over to Greeson, who was gasping. In short breaths, a sharp upper thrust into his back had him sighing, then breathing easier.
Onai smiled as she turned to Kimon, who smiled, then sank to the floor. She looked one last time at Greeson, then limped to Kimon. Worry showed on her face as she could find no visible injury, plus his breathing was nonexistent.
"Let me masutā," a soft voice said behind her. Onai stared at Greeson, who had crawled after her. Taking a deep breath, Greeson hit a spot on Kimon's back, then another a little lower. Kimon gasped, then breathed easier. Onai started to thank Greeson, then saw he was unconscious again.