Operation: Phoenix, X'ehmahr's Fate, Pt. 2 by CyberPyro (cybrpyro@iac.net) [Author's Note: These events happen less than 24 hours after Samhain's death at the hands of X'ehmahr.] The transport E'qaa'xhq slid through the bay doors of the X'hirjq MotherShip, landing silently on the shiny black metal deck. The interior of the ship, to humans, appeared dark and murky, the occasional computer panel or floor light providing the greatest source of illumination. X'ehmahr walked down the landing ramp, holding her 'trophy,' to where a lone figure waited. [Greetings, Servant of the Empress] stated X'ehmahr, recognizing the simple white staff in the claws of her peer. [You are expected.] said the Servant, motioning for the other to follow her. Both climbed into a sleek vehicle and sped silently into the depths of the massive WarShip, the E'qaa'xhq silently reversing out of the docking bay behind them. ... [The Empress has returned from the morning's hunt] informed the Servant. X'ehmahr twitched on her bench, the uneasiness in her growing exponentially now. She balled her claws into fists and stood. By force of will she held her claw steady as she stooped to retrieve her prey's head from the floor. [I am ready.] she said, following behind her peer. The duo walked down a long, wide corridor which, like everything else in their vessel, was crafted from a matte black metal completely without feature save for lighting or control panels. X'ehmahr noticed one extreme difference between this corridor and all others: No control or lighting panels were present. In their place, forged directly from the metal, were the symbols of her people's goddesses. They served as the only decoration and source of light. The noise of feet talons clicking on metal stopped X'ehmahr's advance. Her escort looked at her, quizzically, noting that she had her claws fully extended. With an embarrassed burst of air from her snout, X'ehmahr retracted her claws and resumed her walk -- far too many of her emotions were showing. [This is the final act. Everything is already complete.] said the Empress' Servant as she shifted her staff from one claw to the next. [I am just ... uneasy.] countered X'ehmahr. She found it increasingly difficult to maintain her mindset. She could feel the ancient presence of the Empress with every breath. Her mind seemed more and more consumed by trying to ignore that feeling -- maybe she was loosing it. ... On top of the grand staircase that opened onto the main floor of the throne room, X'ehmahr knew what real terror was for the first time in her life. What her eyes saw took her brain several seconds to register, tide and counter-tide of information fighting for dominance. Placed about this massive room, with its ceiling vaulting into darkness, were the skeletons on each Clan's predator: the Uz't~iiq, a fast and deadly land hunter; a X'uul'hzijq'o, the burrower that few others dared attack; the G'l'zakk, powerful arboreal creatures. The other creatures at the top of their native world's food chain: the L'iuou'xza, Ha'o'dir'zqa, Aa'iei, Qq'xola, and T'qaal'xqa were also strategically placed around one enormous skeleton. More terrifying than the awesome spectacle of these skeletons were the beings present. Around each stood multiple figures in brilliant blue, red, and yellow. Punctuated throughout by a light gray robed kindred. X'ehmahr knew one thing: the immortals of her race were here to witness her judgment. And then her attention snapped to the center of the room. The X'hirq'a'al, by far the largest, deadliest predator of the their native world, sat in the center, its massive skeletal bulk overshadowing all the others even though it was not upright. The spine rested on a gently inclining metal slope, its vertebrae pointing sharply upwards as the rib cage spread outwards creating a parabolic wall of bone decorated only with sacred paintings, cloth, blades, and musical instruments as one walked down the spine. Sitting above the highest rib was the bottom of the 'Devourer Beast's' massive jaws, known to either swallow X'hirjq whole or bite them neatly in two. The creature's jaws were wide open, displaying it massive rows of razor sharp teeth, strong jaws, and a simple bench anchored where the bones began curving up in the skull. On either side were the symbols of Clan X'hirq'a'al, who dominated the X'hirjq Clan system like the creature dominated its habitat. On the bench anchored inside the X'hirq'a'al's jaws sat a X'hirjq clothed in blindingly white robes, flashing even in the murk of the throne room. Looking up at her judge, X'ehmahr knew what she had been told as a hatchling was true: the Empress, after shedding her first skin, ritually hunted and made into prey a X'hirq'a'al to prove her Rite of Leadership. A hunting pack with plasma weaponry and heavy armor would be lucky to prey on a X'hirq'a'al. The Empress performed this task at the beginning of every incarnation without weapons, armor, hunting fellows, or clothing. The Rite of Leadership testified, before all X'hirjq, Her power and abilities. [Greetings, X'ehmahr of the Clan G'l'zakk] thought the Empress, her thoughts ringing in the mind of every X'hirjq present like a 500 watt sub- woofer. [Greetings, Empress] answered X'ehmahr, feeling distinctly uncomfortable holding the head of Samhain while the immortals watched her. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, her tail twitching and curling reflexively as a realization came to her mind: _all_ of the immortals of her race were looking at her, not just the ones present. [X'ehmahr, your Clan stalked and failed to make prey of Fleet Commander Aurelius Invid Manticore Samhain of the Doberman Empire near his home in Iowa. Your sisters paid for their weakness in blood as he earned a Rite of Survival. To revenge herself for this dishonor, your Clan Matron ordered the destruction of W.E.D.J.E.E. HeadQuarters near the same locale. Do you dispute any of this?] queried the Empress. [No, I do not.] answered X'ehmahr, bowing her head in a sign of submission. [In the assault on W.E.D.J.E.E. HQ, you disobeyed formation and struck out on your own. After a short search, you located Samhain. Is this correct?] [Yes, your Majesty.] [You attacked him?] [Yes.] [And you killed him, _without_ honor despite your Matron's orders to the contrary? Despite your kin's complaints? And *despite* his Rite of Survival?] said the Empress, the force of her thoughts causing X'ehmahr to stagger backwards. She lost her grip on her trophy, Samhain's head rolled slowly in the Empress' direction after it hit the floor as if, just for spite, it was intent on making the Empress' case stronger. [No, I do not deny this.] pleaded X'ehmahr, her black scales becoming a light gray, indicating fear and shock. She had believed herself prepared to handle this interrogation, but now found herself failing miserably. [And, finally, do you deny that your ignored the Rite of Prey in your slaying of Samhain?] [I do not. I accept your judgments.] said X'ehmahr, feeling completely overwhelmed and powerless before her ruler. [X'ehmahr of the Clan G'l'zakk,] thought the Empress, leaning forward on her bench, [you have performed an invaluable service for all X'hirjq. As your reward, you shall become what no X'hirjq has ever been. Until that time, you are relieved of all duties and commanded to hunt in my personal grounds. Feast and make yourself strong. You will need it.] [...] started a stunned X'ehmahr. She struggled to understand why. [Judgment is passed] intoned the Empress, signaling for the G'l'zakk member to leave. The only mortal in the room turned and left, her trophy forgotten at the feet of the X'hirq'a'al. What looked like her death moments ago was now a reward: unique status among her race. Thinking of the Laws, X'ehmahr found what must have been the basis of the Empress' decision: The Creed of T'txxxq'qxi, the War Goddess. With a rasping of satisfaction deep in her throat at this good luck, X'ehmahr followed her escorts to the Empress' personal hunting grounds. To Be Continued, and Concluded in Pt 3! CyberPyro Copyright, Pyrokinetic Productions, Inc. (1996)