Operation: Phoenix, X'ehmahr's Fate, Pt. 1

        by CyberPyro (cybrpyro@iac.net)

        [Author's Note: This sequence of events starts at the very end of 
Samhain's "Vengeance" story.]

        Trooper Charcharadon trudged along, letting the harsh, metal claws of 
two X'hirjq's BattleArmor guide him; he no longer cared after seeing his 
leader and long-time friend Samhain murdered by X'ehmahr.  The uniform black
of the company matched his mood; if he lived or died -- so what?  He was 
supposed to carry the memory of Samhain's death back to his people, but he 
doubted ...
        Inertia interrupted the dobermensch's thoughts, his captors abruptly
stopping and releasing him so that he could pitch forward, balance lost.  As
the primal fear of falling seized his brain, so did two large, powerful
claws.  Effortlessly, a X'hirjq clad in bright blue set the Trooper on his
feet, her hands spanning his shoulder and razor sharp nails resting lightly
near the human's spinal cord.
        As he looked at the towering, 9' 6", frame of his new captor, an 
inarticulate wave of emotions broke over him.  Charcharadon knew he was going
to die, and that at long last, this day would be over...
        [No one will harm you.] said his captor, her thoughts entering
directly into his mind and that every X'hirjq present.  The voice -- did he
detect _kindness_ in it? -- struck calm throughout his mind and body.
        [Trooper Charcharadon, tell us what you witnessed...] thought the
X'hirjq to his captor's right, clad in brilliant scarlet.
        [...and you will be released.] thought the other, on his captor's
left, clad is stunningly bright canary yellow.
        [You freedom is assured; you will tell what you know.] finished the
X'hirjq in blue.  The human felt safe, protected, by these three X'hirjq for
whom authority flowed in such a raw, primal stream that he doubted anything
ever occurred without their permission.
        The DE Trooper lifted his head, comforted by their presence, and ran 
the sequence of events over in his mind, trying to sort out the jumble of 
emotions, sensations, memories, and shock.  He couldn't decide where to
start. As the first noise stirred in his throat, the yellow robed X'hirjq
interrupted him.
        [Thank you, honorable human.  Your memories will be most helpful.] 
        [Your testimony will be instrumental in the Empress' decision.] said
the blue robed X'hirjq.
        [You are free.] stated the wearer of red, her eyes narrowed slightly,
and Charcharadon teleported to the opposite side of the ruined W.E.D.J.E.E.
HQ where he collapsed onto the soft grass.  He desperately needed to process
all that had just happened.
        [X'ehmahr of the Clan G'l'zakk, you will report directly to the 
Empress' throne room.  There, She will address you personally for your
slaying of the Marked One, Samhain.] said all three X'hirjq in unison.  With
a pop of collapsing air where matter had been moments before, the trio
disappeared.

...

        The transport repulsed off the human homeworld's surface and climbed
rapidly, escaping the planet's gravity with ease.  The solid black transport
slid unnoticed past a Jihad WarShip, traveling to engage their expeditionary
group from their main fleet.  All the X'hirjq aboard the transport E'qaa'xhq
held their heads slightly bowed, keeping their comments and thoughts bundled
inside of their throats and minds.
        As the E'qaa'xhq flew across the bow of one of their fleet's massive
carriers, headed for a deep space rendezvous with the Empress' ship, 
X'h'lixssz spoke:
        [X'ehmahr, you fulfilled our death oath against the one know as
Samhain.  For this, I am sure the Empress is quite pleased.]
        [Against his Right of Survival, earned when our sisters failed to
make him prey.] countered O'qq'zuu.
        [X'ehmhar's killing of Samhain fulfilled our greater objectives]
intoned X'xhytt'q, an experienced huntress.
        [Samhain's Honor and Rites of Prey were ignored.  This is a fact
beyond dispute] countered Z'qx'hij, agreeing with O'qq'zuu.
        [Samhain's death furthers our Cause] replied X'h'lixssz.  [We are
here to...]
        [ENOUGH!] snarled X'ehmahr.  [Let the Empress, She Who Holds the
Laws, judge my actions.  She is the one who wears white, no one here can
claim that right.]
        [Agreed] said X'xhytt'q, her experience and rank helping to end the
debate.  X'ehmahr transferred Samhain's head from between her feet to her 
claws as she stood and walked out of the compartment.
        [I have mail to send] she said, the doors sliding open silently and
then closed behind her.

...

        After sending her message to the pitifully protected JihadNet, 
X'ehmahr returned to her station for the transport's jump.  Outside, the 
distant red dot of Mars shimmied, then blurred with the entire star field as 
the vessel broke the light barrier.

...

        The starfield resolidifed with a bright blue star shining in the 
distance.  Patches of black, like holes in the starfield, cluttered the sky 
before the E'qaa'xhq.  Soon, the transport skidded past the edge of a
carrier, its form only distinct at close range.
        Six small patches of darkness fell into formation around the
transport, escorting it into the heart of the X'hirjq fleet.  The fighters
peeled away, a wall of darkness completely obscuring the starfield, the
transport continued on its vector, velocity never decreasing.
        In the troop section, conversation died in silence, all aboard
feeling the ancient presence of the Empress at the back of their minds.
X'ehmahr placed Samhain's head between her armored feet and balled her claws
into fists, lest any of the crew detect the slight tremors in her hands.
        They had arrived at the MotherShip.

        To be Continued in "X'ehmahr's Fate, Pt 2"

                                                        CyberPyro

Copyright Pyrokinetic Productions, Inc.  (1996)