Operation Phoenix:  The Hunt For Samhain


Part 11


 
	The charging X'hirjq slowed after entering the clearing, upon 
seeing that Samhain was still there.  Apparently, they'd been informed of 
his location and sent there from some distance, so hurried thinking he'd 
probably left the area, which he probably should have...

	They slowed to a stop, and stood looking at Samhain, which gave 
him a chance to look at their uniforms and the insignias on them as well 
as to size them up a bit.

	They all wore yellow armor and uniforms rather than the normal 
dark greys, and each had an insignia of some kind on the neck of the armor.  
It looked like a pair of crossed blue lightning bolts on a diamond-shaped 
black background, with a circular spiral in the center. Other than that, 
there wasn't anything too different... 

	There wasn't anything massively different about them physically, 
either.  
they were the same lizard men with big eyes, big noses, big teeth... "All 
the better to eat you with..." Samhain almost laughed as that thought 
crossed his mind... still, though, there was something very different 
about them, very dangerous... but he couldn't quite tell what.

	A voice in his head told him directly what that difference was.
[Samhain.  Your time to die has come.  You cannot defeat or escape us.  We 
will hear whatever last words you care to say, and give you a brief time 
to pray to whatever deity you choose.]

	Samhain chose his reply carefully.  "I have no words to say, no 
pleas of 
mercy to make.  I only ask that I may know who you are, that I may know 
who killed me, and for what reason I die."

	[You are honorable, and admirable in your own way, human.  Know, 
then, that we are part of the X'hirjq psionic elite.  We have been 
sent to 
aid in the removal of certain powerful figures in the Jihad.  You die for 
opposing our Ally, B'harni.  You may now pray or meditate if you so desire.]

	"I am at one with the earth, with nature, with myself, and with 
The Three.  I am prepared to face you."

	[Know this then.  We are the last of the force in this forest, 
save the commander.  Defeat us, and him, and your part of the agreement is 
complete, and you may leave this forest.  Thank you on behalf of all my 
kin for the hunt, and challenge.]

	Suddenly, Samhain was slammed in the chest and knocked backwards 
by a powerful psionic blast.  He reeled in surprise, but managed to stay 
on his feet.  "Wow, these guys are tough.  The Solar Ishtari would enjoy 
facing these guys, but I guess it falls to me..."

	Samhain quickly raised his mental shields to defend against mental 
attacks, and instantly felt mind-whips coming at him and slamming against 
them.  He drew his katana, knowing he had to be close to use it, but 
thought he could manage... or hoped so, anyway... he focused, and figured 
out which of them was attacking his mind directly.  With that, he began 
using his acting skills to the best of his ability...

	Samhain whipped his head back with the impact of the next blow, 
and turned his back to them.  Another physical blow hit his chest 
immediately, and pushed him backwards... towards his foes.  He staggered, 
reeled, with the blow.  He blinked his eyes rapidly, as if trying to clear 
them.

	They were all grinning now, and took small steps to keep them just 
out of his reach.  He made a couple feeble attempts at a couple of them 
with the katana, and staggered with a couple more blows towards the one 
attacking his psyche, allowing his mind to cry with pain at a couple of 
the blows.  He swung halfheartedly at the psionic attacker... who didn't 
even need to duck it, and made the mistake of thinking Samhain far more 
affected than he was.  He tried to catch the katana, and was taken by 
complete surprise when Samhain deftly whipped the blade sideways with a 
quick swish right across his neck.

	The mental attacks stopped suddenly with the surprise, and Samhain 
swung again, this time severing the neck completely.

	The physical attacks became more fearsome at the death of their 
brother, but Samhain was no longer acting, and called on his own training 
from the Ishtari on how to defend against attacks, and raised a psionic 
shield.  The blows deflected off and he approached them.  "Not so easy to 
kill, am I?"

	2 more of them stepped forward, and started glowing with a bluish 
energy... it looked like electricity flowing around them, and leapt at 
him.  Samhain couldn't do much to defend, holding up his defenses... but 
they didn't intend to hit him, rather, they landed next to him and grabbed 
his arms.  They each released a tremendous electric surge into him, and 
Samhain screamed in pain, dropping the katana as he did so.  He dropped to 
his knees as they built up another charge, seeing that the first one 
didn't kill him.

	Samhain looked to the gathering clouds, and summoned all the 
concentration he could and focused on them.  Thunder rumbled in the 
distance.

	[Now, Samhain, you will die.] One of them thought at him.

	[yeah?  really?  You intending to electrocute me?] he thought 
back, and grinned.  [you like electricity?  you've got it...]

	The expression on the X'hirjq's face changed suddenly as he 
realized that he was in real danger, but it was too late.  Lightning 
flashed, and struck straight down on Samhain.  The explosion of the air he 
repressed, but the electric charge he passed sideways through his arms 
into his attackers.  The electricity rippled and flared around them, as 
they burned and writhed, then fell to the ground, dead.  3 down...

	"What?  they didn't tell you guys I like lightning?"

To be Continued... 


"The Hunt for Samhain"
Copyright 1995, David R. Hibbs
All Rights Reserved.