The Chosen One

by AliZoe

Taken from Atlantis, the Wraith homeworld, and other various planets, "The Chosen One" gives some history of the Wraith and the war with Atlantis. Then, transporting to the future, the Atlantis Expedition makes a discovery that will change the course of Wraith and Humanity alike in the Pegasus Galaxy. Including original characters on all spectrums.

3. Chapter 2 - The Chosen One

The Chosen One

AliZoe

AliZoe (c)

Chapter Two

The Chosen One

Bring Me to Life

-"Bring Me to Life" by Thousand Foot Krutch

-"Fire It Up" by Thousand Foot Krutch inspired the fighting scene in the Arena

I cocked my head to one side as I leaned over in front of Zerrix, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Please, stand up."

He did as he was told and gazed through his mask down at me. He surpassed my height of five feet ten inches by eight inches easily. "Your Hive is eager to meet their new Queen."

I looked down, feeling his penetrating stare. I was surprised by my own inner emotions for this man. The man who had helped me many times during my painful and deadly transformation from Atlantean to Wraith. The man who saved my life countless times. This same man whoʼs face I had never even seen. I looked up at the mask that concealed his countenance, trying to find the exact place where his eyes would be. "If I may..." I uttered with great curiosity.

I reached up and placed both hands on the sides of his mask. He quickly grabbed my hands, which startled me. "Why are you so curious as to who I am? I am your humble servant. Queens do not bother themselves with such intrigue."

"I want to know the face of the man who rescued me time and time again from danger and even death. Will you not allow me that honor?" There was a pause between us as he thought about my question.

"Very well, my Queen," he surrendered with another defeated sigh. He let go of my hands and placed his behind his back with elegance. I continued to carefully pull off his concealing mask until it released his face. The mask secreted a clear slime that enhanced his breathing, sight, and other senses unique to Wraith. A thin layer of it covered his pale face as he struggled for air once the mask was removed. He appeared young, looking no older than twenty-five. His eyes were a bright lime green that had the same sharply elongated pupils that the Wraith queen had that I encountered back in Tirrianʼs lab. His jawline was strong with a soft square shape with an imperial soul patch that began at the bottom of mouth at his lower lip and lengthened down and off his chin in soft grey strands. He had the same Wraith characteristics that I had become familiar with present on his face: sharp shark-like teeth, sensory organ openings on his cheeks, sharpened nostril lines, high cheek bones, and the soft protruding triangular forehead structure over where his eyebrows would normally be.

I squinted my eyes and studied his physiognomy. He broke out in a sweat which added to the glossiness of his face due to his irregular breathing patterns. Clenching his teeth, he closed his eyes and scrunched his nose as he sat down slowly. Painfully light headed, he cupped his face in his hands. I stood there in awe, still holding his mask. His breathing was extremely heavy and staggered. "My Queen, please, my mask."

"The other men that were with you when you rescued me from Tirrianʼs lab werenʼt wearing masks. You look better without it," I quietly rebuttaled. I felt sheepish refusing his plea. "Must you wear it?"

"I always have since I was a young soldier." He hunched over into his lap, gasping for whatever air would allow him. I paused, trying to find the right words to ask.

"When was that?"

"Since the time I was placed in the category of Soldier Drone for this Hive."

"Oh, I see, but it is possible to breathe without one. And to see and sense? Am I right?" I asked slowly continuing to stare at him in concern. He exhaled in exasperation.

"Yes, but most uncomfortable to get used to when one has worn it for as long as I have."

I nibbled my bottom lip in hesitation. I sat down behind him, nervously wrapped my arms around his waist, held him tightly, and rested my body against his back. "Feel my breath," I inhaled deeply. "Feel me breathe in...now feel me breathe out," I exhaled slowly and repeated the process. "In...out."

He groaned in frustration. I continued breathing until his lungs matched my pattern. "There you are...that wasnʼt so hard. Itʼs the least I can do for all youʼve done for me," I whispered slowly.

"Thank you," he quietly cleared his throat, pulling my arms away from him. I stood up and walked around in front of him where I took my place on the ground. I began examining his face once again. The whole time he never looked me in the eyes.

He placed his fingertips together, rested his elbows on his knees, and gazed at theground in respect. Even though the aspects of his being were enough to be terrifying, he was very handsome. I never thought I would find myself attracted to an alien, but that didnʼt matter now. I was alienated as well. I tilted my head to one side and smiled.

"Look at me. Are you able to see?"

He blinked as he obediently looked up into my eyes. His facial expression hadnʼt

changed. It looked as though he was feeling uneasy. "Yes."

"What do I look like?"

He smirked, shook his head a little, and slightly bowed. "You are a very stunning Wraith, my Queen. You examined that fact yourself." He allowed himself to hold my gaze. "Was your question supposed to be rhetorical?"

I raised my now hairless eyebrows with a shy smile. "No, it wasnʼt rhetorical, but thank you. That was my point though. I am no goddess or extraordinary figure. Iʼm just like you. Please donʼt feel like you canʼt look me in the eyes and talk with me without your mask. You had that confidence before I removed it, please have it now."

"You are the Queen. It is out of respect-"

"You are my friend. I would feel disrespected if you didnʼt look me in the eye while speaking to me, and I, you. Iʼm not on some pedestal looking down on you."

He inclined his head slightly. "With all do respect, my Queen, you are the most eccentric Wraith, let alone Queen, I have ever encountered. Your views certainly are unique."

I smiled with a small giggle under my breath. "I suppose thatʼs the way I want it." The slimy substance on his face had cleared by now along with the sweat that dried away invisible. I averted my gaze and clumsily stood up, losing my balance. He caught me as he quickly came to his feet and brought me upright again. We both stood there in silence as I tried to ignore the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach. Shifting the mask nervously in my hands, I cleared my throat, "I request that you not wear this anymore. You donʼt need it having normality back in your breathing and sensing."

"I see. As you wish, my Queen, but I must warn you, Lord Narz will be quite displeased if he sees that Iʼm not wearing it."

"Lord Narz? Whoʼs Lord Narz? And why would he care? Iʼm the Queen right?"

He chuckled with a smile. "Narz, is the Lord of this Hive. He was Queen Breenaʼs First in Command. He was the founder of these masks and strictly enforced the use of them among those who were not ranked, which quickly became a trend to the other Hives as well."

"Queen Breena? Was that the woman who Tirrian slaughtered back there? And a Hive? You keep referring to this tribe I apparently rule over now as a Hive. What is it?"

"Yes, she was Queen Breena. She was the Queen of this Hive and Lord Narzʼs mate." I looked down with sadness at the information. I glanced back up with glassy eyes as he continued his explanation. "A Hive, my Queen, is a mass of Wraith that live in a central community. There is one female who rules over the mass, the Queen. She provides communication with the other Hives. Queens only communicate with other Queens, you see. She provides direction, order, and balance."

"Iʼm the only woman?" I scrunched my eyebrows in puzzlement. "How-?"

He smirked, capturing my hesitation, knowing what I was going to ask. "Yes, we are capable of younglings, my Queen, but they are rare. Most of the Wraith alive today developed from our tiny ancestors. They fed upon humans abundantly until the embryos of their young possessed human DNA. From there, my Queen, is where Wraith breathed life. It has been over fifty years since my birth, and almost one hundred years since the evolution began," he explained. "There is not enough food to go around, so we do not breed often."

"Oh, I see. Youʼve been alive for over fifty years?"

"Yes, is that not common for the Lanteans?"

"Of course, but-" I paused. "You look so young."

"Our food keeps us youthful. The only thing that seems to age in our bodies is our hair. My grayness will eventually turn white, which is common for males ofour race. However, when females feed, their body transmits the energy even to the of their hair, preserving the pigment pristine. Only few Queens have allowed their hair to age as well."

My eyes widened. He chuckled with a wide toothy grin. I looked down and smiled, feeling extremely ignorant.

His chuckling quickly ended as his attention went to the cave entrance. I felt the minds of two personages approaching. I turned towards the cave opening, only to find no one there. Within seconds, two men walked through the mouth of the cave. It was strange to me to know who was coming before they were even visible to the naked eye. These men were tall and lean. They werenʼt as tall as Zerrix, but shared a resemblance.

The first man looked older than Zerrix, about thirty, while the other looked no older than twenty-one. I knew this was not so due to the fact that the older one had white hair that was long and pulled back in a half ponytail, and the younger oneʼs dark brown dreadlocks were greying at the roots.

Zerrix bowed his head immediately, avoiding either of their gazes. I glanced from the elder to the younger. The elder man kept a stern, serious face with an intensely piercing gaze. The younger man inclined his head and smiled warmly. Of course, both men were Wraith.

The elder had lime green eyes with two knife-like winged tattoos that waved into jagged edges on one side, almost as if they were wings. The tattoo over his left eye was identical to the one found on Queen Breena's face. The tattoo on the right side of his face matched the left except that it separated with a round edge, not crossing over his right eye. He had a goatee that matched his hair in color and was neatly kept, lengthening off of his chin into a small braid. There was a cluster of hair that flowed down the right side of his face with a small band separating it into two sections. He wore black leather that resembled the carapace of the Iratus with four belts crossing his figure: one over his left shoulder, crossing over his chest to the right side of his waist and the three belts on his waist. His leather trench coat was long and reached down to his ankles with a propped up collar and shell-like, pointed layers that decorated his shoulders and sleeves. His slacks were black as well, along with his ornate shoes. In other words, he was the best dressed out of all three men. He looked familiar. Digging through my memories, I concluded that he was the man from Tirrian's lab who roared in moarning at the deathbed of Queen Breena.

The younger man had Tirrianʼs goggles on his head. He had done some kind of alteration on them that I couldnʼt quite make out. He had pushed the goggles to the top of his forehead as three short dreadlocked bangs hung underneath them and one longer strand of hair flopped over the goggles and the right side of his face. His eyes were also green like the elder and Zerrix. He also had facial hair. He had two thin beards that started at the corners of his mouth at the bottom of his lip and lengthened off his chin, hanging to mid-neck. His clothes resembled armor, but not nearly as heavy as Zerrixʼs nor as complicated. The grayish brown leather covered his black, sleeveless shirt and had bolts lining the top of the two horizontal sections. Two belts were wrapped around his waist as the brown leather continued into a waist coat. He had black leather cuffs on his forearms that covered them completely and came to a V on either end with the points facing outwards. His pants were a smoke colored leather with thick boots to match. I noticed he had tattoos on both of his arms on the biceps. The one on his left bicep looked like a simple design of reverse wings that were open. By the looks of them, they connected by a single line, wrapping itself around the back of his arm and connecting in the front again. The one on his right looked almost identical to the one on the left, except they didn't wrap around his arm. Instead, they broke off from each other into a point, one downwards, the other upwards. Glancing at them, I noticed a pattern of the same variations of the shapes on his cuffs, the elder Wraithʼs eye tattoos, the elderʼs leather shoulder embellishments, and also on Zerrixʼs cuffs.

"Hive pride, my Queen," Zerrix mumbled, reading my thoughts on the matter.

"So. This is Queen Luna," the elder man spoke. "I see that your metamorphosis has completed with success. I am Narz. Hive 25 is at your service now, seeing that you are our new Queen." He spoke with sternness with a barely detectable bite in his words. "This is LexʼZvas. He is our chief scientist and has already begun analyzing the many advanced technologies of the Lantean scientistʼs laboratory. He will give you a briefing on that as soon as he is finished." Narz paused as he glanced over at Zerrix who was still bowing his head. Narz turned towards him, tilted his head, and sauntered in front of him. "Why are you not wearing your face, brother?"

"Brother?" I blurted. Zerrix groaned as Narz ignored me.

"You know the penalty, younger brother. Hold out your hand, the dominant feeding hand," Narz continued with a face of austere. Zerrix hesitated but did as he was told, holding out his right hand in a fist, pursing his lips as he braced himself for what was coming. Narz placed his hand on the handle of the acquired sword from Tirrianʼs lab, slowly pulling it out from his belt. I gasped and placed myself between him and Zerrix just as he was raising it to make the slice.

"HOW DARE YOU!" I shrieked.

All three men gaped at me. Narz was the first to recover from the astonishment and stood with a bitter facial expression. "I was only enforcing one of our laws, Queen Luna. You wish to defile them? That would leave us with anarchy," he defended hotly.

"I asked him to remove it! It is not his fault!" I rebuttaled. He raised his eye ridge and pursed his lips.

"With all do respect, my Queen, he must return it to his face for ample sensing."

"I commanded he not wear it. Do you dare defy me?" I justified, feeling out of place. All three men stared at me in stupefaction.

Narz blinked as he tilted his head and bowed slightly, "Of course not, my Queen." He then, shot a barely noticeable glare at Zerrix. "Now, your Hive awaits you," he added, turning on his heels and exiting the cave, hotly. LexʼZvasʼ wide grin returned as he looked from Zerrix to me and back to Zerrix.

"Quite the eccentric Queen, eh brother?" he chuckled as he turned to leave as well. I took a deep breath, realizing that I had probably caused some kind of contention between Zerrix and his eldest brother. Zerrix softly groaned in his throat as he outstretched his hand towards the cave entrance, indicating for me to go first. I did so and followed LexʼZvas and Narz who were a considerable distance ahead of me.

I couldnʼt help but feel apprehensive as the foliage grew thick. I was going to lead this Hive, these Wraith, and was anxious with the thought of not knowing their form of government, their rules, their boundaries, their values. What was I getting myself into?

"How did he know my new name?" I asked Zerrix, almost whispering.

"We are connected psychically as a Hive. That is how we keep track of each other and communicate over long distances. I kept him updated on your progress," he replied, quietly. I pondered about that, feeling intrigued.

"And how long did it take exactly? To fully become Wraith, I mean."

"It was a rather slow process. I would estimate, close to three months. You spent most of the time unconscious or delusional," he said matter-of-factly. My mouth dropped agape. I almost couldn't believe it. I closed my mouth and shook my head slightly. This knowledge only worsened my uneasiness.

We spent the rest of the time in silence. After several miles of hiking, I felt the minds of at least thirty different beings. My apprehension grew. We came to a clearing where they awaited. They were all Wraith and most of them had the same masks on that I removed from Zerrix. There was another Wraith Queen standing upon some higher ground, almost like a pedestal at the head of the group. She stood there with commanding grace. Her attention went to me as I entered the clearing. I felt nervous, like a child who has to face their parent after disobeying them. LexʼZvas walked and stood next to a group of mask-less Wraith, while Zerrix paused behind me next to a line of Drone Soldiers. Narz kept leading me until I was standing next to the Wraith Queen. Her gaze was piercing. I couldnʼt look her in the eye. Her hair was long and wavy and it was peppered with white and black streaks beautifully. Her clothing was very similar to that of Narz, except with dark grey accents and a more feminine look. She also had a long cape draped behind her, majestically. Her skin was a very pale green which made her golden-yellow eyes more intense. She began slowly walking around me, examining my person. The Wraith congregation watched intensely. I finally broke the silence as she paused and took several steps away from me with her back towards me. "Is there something wrong?" I asked, nervously.

"I smell fear on you!" she snapped with arrogance.

"Do you not know what I have just been through?" I rebuttaled, taken aback.

"Your First in Command has made me aware of your time of incapacitation. His concerns regarding you are now realized to me. You have much to learn before you are fit to rule this Hive."

"With all do respect, but who gives you the right to judge me?" I questioned, feeling slight frustration. She turned and smirked.

"There may be some hope for you yet," she said matter-of-factly, looking out into the group until her eyes fell upon Zerrix. She scrunched her nose and muttered something in a language I did not understand. Zerrix bowed his head and shuffled his feet uncomfortably. She quickly turned towards me. "Why has this soldier removed his mask?!"

My eyes widened and I felt anger rise inside of me. "I commanded him to! Is that a crime? I have been informed that this is my Hive now, and I may do as I wish! In fact, all of you! Take off your masks! DO IT NOW!" I roared to the men. They hesitated, but obeyed. I breathed heavily as I watched them remove their masks and slowly get over the initial shock without them. Their breathing stabilized and all bowed their heads towards me. Feeling a sense of triumph, I turned and looked at the Queen.

She was smiling, smugly. Folding my arms, I kept her gaze, waiting for her next move. She continued smiling, approvingly.

"You will learn quickly the ways of the Wraith and how to be a proper Queen. I am the Queen of a neighboring Hive. I shall visit to give you instruction and to oversee your integration." She, then, hissed to the two Wraith behind her as she turned to make her exit. They bowed as she walked in between them and followed her into the foliage out of sight.

I turned and looked over at Narz. His look of disapproval was apparent. "I want to meet my Hive, individually." His eyes widened slightly as he pursed his lips.

"Of course, my Queen," he replied. There was a noticeable bitterness in his voice. He led me down to the men. "These are your scientists," he began introducing, acknowledging the four Wraith standing with LexʼZvas. They all bowed as he acknowledged them. I smiled and nodded my head. "These are your Hunters and Commanders," he motioned towards the five Wraith who led a line of four Wraith behind them. They also bowed. They had similar uniforms to the one he was wearing, except without so many belts. I assumed his belts marked his rank. "And the rest of them behind your Commanders are the Soldier Drones, which you have just clearly unmarked as such."

I turned to look at him. "If you have a problem with my authority and my decisions, please, make it known to me. I have decided this and my decision is final," I voiced in superiority. His face scrunched in disgust and anger. He bore his teeth and creased his eye ridges.

"If I may be so bold as to say that you are unfit to rule in Queen Breenaʼs stead. Your decisions are irrational and extreme. My only hopes are for the other queens to teach you how to properly lead this Hive before anarchy ensues. We are a small Hive compared to them, so if you make any more poor decisions we are easily overpowered. I am humiliated at your presence and your actions when the other Queen was here!"

I swung my hand and slapped the side of his face in irritation. He looked at me in great surprise, his eyes widened and his breathing quickened. "I am not Queen Breena, nor do I intend to replace her. I empathize with her loss. Try to comprehend that I have just lost my father and my people to the greed of one man. I will prove to you that I am fit for the honor of being your Queen." I held his gaze as he calmed himself. "I just need time."

The entire Hive was still and uneasy with the silence, anticipating what was going to happen next. Narz looked around and surrendered in exasperation. "Very well, my Queen." He took several steps back and put his hands behind his back. I held his gaze for a moment and then, turned towards the Commander of Zerrixʼs line.

"Commander."

"Sysra, my Queen," he introduced with a bow.

"Commander Sysra, you and your brigade will accompany me to the Atlantean facility where Queen Breena was killed. I wish to take a look around and shed some light on some questions I have."

"Of course, my Queen."

"LexʼZvas, you will join us," I added, turning towards him. He bowed with a mischievous smile. I turned back to Narz, "You will be in charge in my absence." He bowed his head. I motioned for Commander Sysra to take the lead. He bowed once again.

"The Queen takes her leave," Narz announced to the Hive. Each Wraith bowed their heads and parted, leaving an aisle for me to walk through. Commander Sysra took the lead towards the forest. I started walking once Zerrix had reached my side. His face had a flicker of satisfaction. Some kind of victory was won when I removed their masks. It was apparent to me, now, that he never enjoyed having them.

There was some time of silence while we were hiking. I had so many questions that I wanted answered. What happened to my crew? Were they still alive? What was the in depth history of the Wraith? Why was there discord between Zerrix and his brother, Narz? What other horrible things has Tirrian done? I needed to discover the truth.

LexʼZvas was walking next to me with Zerrix on the other side. "How are you three brothers? Your age differences are quite grand and you are nothing alike." LexʼZvas snickered. "We come from the same insect queen. She was one of the first to give birth to Wraith. Our elder brother, Narz, was the only one to live from her batch of eggs that season. The same for Zerrix and me with close to twenty years in difference between batches, for that's how long it takes the eggs to mature. Can you not see the resemblance, my Queen?" he asked, playfully.

"Yes, I do. You all share the same eyes and facial structure," I smiled. "Why were you the only survivors?"

"We were the strongest," Zerrix replied, smirking. I raised my eye ridges with mild surprise. It made sense.

"Our Hive is made up of the offspring of close to five different queens, Queen Breena being the only female out of them. Our small relatives are made up of hives, the queen leading them. It was only natural that we followed the same pattern," expounded LexʼZvas.

"I understand, but why the contention between you three if youʼre from the same mother queen?"

There was a pause between the both of them. LexʼZvasʼ grin widened. Zerrix rolled his eyes in irritation. "Narz is unforgiving. I am physically stronger than he is and larger in stature; therefore, he feels threatened," Zerrix expounded. That made sense too. "When Queen Breena chose him, he wanted to reduce me even further. He created the masks to make the others of similar size faceless as the back bulk of the Hive. That became trend to the other Hives."

"I didnʼt realize it was a contest."

They both smiled and chuckled to themselves. "We are male, Queen Luna," LexʼZvas commented satirically. I couldnʼt help but grin inside. That shouldʼve been obvious. The dominant male earns the right to be with the female.

"Then, why wasnʼt he threatened by you, LexʼZvas?" I asked sarcastically. Zerrix laughed quietly to himself. LexʼZvasʼ smile faded a bit, but he recovered quickly.

"I was too young for her." Zerrix laughed a little harder. I was glad the mood lightened, but only for a moment. LexʼZvas inhaled deeply through his nose. "I smell something." The others with us all drew in deep breaths.

"Heʼs right," Commander Sysra agreed in front of us. We all paused. "Protect the Queen!" Zerrix gently pushed me behind him. They all hunched over as if on the prowl. I couldnʼt help but do the same and follow closely as two other soldiers stayed close behind me. Commander Sysra carefully walked further ahead of us, taking care to not make any sound. Without warning, a giant explosion erupted in front of him, killing him instantly. We were knocked off our feet by the blast. I could hear Zerrix growl as he made his way to his feet again. The rest of us soon followed. Then, I heard some familiar gunfire. My eyes widened as I realized who it was. I quickly pushed my way past the men to place myself between our shooter.

"What are you doing?!" Zerrix hollered.

"Rivolliere! Donʼt shoot! Itʼs me, Alisia!" I yelled putting my arms up in front of me, trying to calm Rivolliere. He was completely drunk with adrenaline. The left half of his body was completely bandaged up.

"Is this an illusion?!" Rivolliere screamed back at me. "I was told you were dead!"

"Did Tirrian tell you that?"

"Yes, right before he released something in our life support systems and quickly left! Iʼve been in such blinding pain, I donʼt know what to believe anymore!" He was deranged and drenched in sweat.

"Put the gun down Rivolliere, weʼre here to help." He was breathing heavily, the gun shaking in his hands. I could tell he was thinking. He slowly lowered his gun and fell to his knees. I heard the Wraith behind me growling in their throats.

"Whatʼs happening to me?" he moaned. I slowly walked over to him and bent down in front of him. I peeled off the bandage from his face. I was shocked to see that the left half of his face had become Wraith. "Looks like he got to you all too."

I turned to look back at Zerrix and the others. They were alert but slowly walked up to us. "Where are the others?" I asked Rivolliere.

"In stasis cells inside the ship. We were all sick with an unknown disease and were dying, so I put them to sleep until we could get proper medical attention. Our communication systems have been damaged somehow and our ship's maneuvering systems are offline as well. We haven't been able to contact Atlantis."

I was disgusted with Tirrian. Zerrix quietly commented, "Looks like the Lantean spares no one." I agreed. He only brought them down here to experiment on them. Most likely after seeing what was happening to me.

"Is the base close?" I asked the group.

"Yes, just through the vegetation," Zerrix answered, pointing to our left.

"Let us see what we can find there," I mentioned, hoisting Rivolliere on his feet again. He regained his composure and nodded his head in thanks. It looked like his mutation was quiescent for the time being. We all made our way through the trees and bushes where a barely noticeable entrance was located. I lifted my hands up in front of me to see if there was any shielding present. Tirrian must not have returned, the shields were down and the cloak was disarmed.

We cautiously entered. Walking through the hallways, I noted many rooms that had dead Wraith inside. One in particular caught my attention, a room that had a deceased queen. She was on an autopsy bed, opened up, her organs exposed. By the looks of it, she had been dead for months. "This was a neighboring Hive. They went missing and were not heard from again," Zerrix commented, gazing down at the dead queen. He turned and walked over to a beautiful, ornate outfit draped over a nearby chair. He picked it up and turned towards me, "Take this, my Queen. Your Lantean attire no longer suits you. The other queens will take you more seriously with this as your garment. You will honor her by doing so." It was a black top with enlarged Iratus bug scales as sleeves with similar scales cascading down the back. There was a section of silver reptilian scales that began at the neckline and stretched down to mid-waist. Silver, circular studs of various sizes decorated the piece over the stomach and on either shoulder. It had a flowing, silver, cape-like fabric that began at the base of the back and extended to the ground. There were black leather pants and heeled shoes to match the style of the entire outfit. The final touches were the charcoal fingerless gauntlets that appeared to extend to mid-arm. There were slits in them over the palms that left the feeding organs exposed.

I hesitated, but took them from him slowly. "Very well. We will properly bury this Hive tonight. Find yourself a Commanderʼs uniform from one of the late. With the death of Commander Sysra, you will be the new commander of your brigade." He looked at me in surprise as I walked past him and out of the room. The rage and sorrow was unbearable as I contemplated the wickedness of Tirrian. How could one man go so far? I just wanted to be alone, to think. Finding Rivolliere again, I asked, "Where is the ship? I need to meditate."

"I will lead you there. Is everything alright, Captain?" he asked. I paused as I tried to gather my thoughts. Looking around, I could see Zerrix walking out of the queenʼs room with a face of foreboding. LexʼZvas, though striding through this graveyard of Wraith, was examining the computer systems with exhilaration. The other three soldiers with us kept roaming in and out of rooms, exploring the lab. "I told you this planet was cursed."

I forced a smile and shook my head. "The curse was Tirrian, Rivolliere. There is no mistake about that."

"What are we going to do? Shall we find some way to contact Atlantis in this facility? What will become of us-?"

"No! Atlantis sees us as dead, most likely to believe in Tirrianʼs deceptions. We must help these people. They are victims of his crimes."

Rivolliere stared at me in concern. "What shall we do then, Captain?"

I shook my head and sighed. "Iʼm still trying to figure that out. I just need a little time to assess our situation. Which way to the ship?"

"Very well, itʼs this way," he guided. I glanced at Zerrix who was passively waiting a little ways behind us, his acquired clothing draped over his arms. He turned his head to look at me, knowing that we were about to leave.

"Have the others return to the Hive and bring more men back to retrieve as many of the deceased as possible. We will honor them tonight with a burial. This is Rivolliere. He was under my command on the Atlantean ship that is somewhere on the planet. We are going there. You are to join us."

He bowed his head, "Of course, my Queen." Standing up straight again, he let out a loud echoing growl. The other Wraith immediately responded and began entering rooms and extracting the dead. LexʼZvas walked over to us in confusion.

"My Queen, I wish to join you on your quest to your ship. It will be most enlightening. With your permission, I will accompany you for observational purposes," LexʼZvas proposed. I nodded my head; he bowed with a crooked smile. I looked over at Rivolliere, who then, proceeded to lead us out of the lab.

We traveled only a short amount of time before we reached the ship. Rivolliere pulled a remote from out of his pocket and pressed a switch. The ship de-cloaked as the ramp lowered for us to enter. Zerrix and LexʼZvas marveled at the sight. Rivolliere smiled at their gawking as we made our entrance. The ship came alive as we walked through the corridors. It was so quiet and eerie that I shook from the icy chills running down my spine. I paused and took a deep breath. "I need some time alone. Rivolliere will answer any questions you might have and vice versa. Iʼll be in my quarters down this hallway."

The men all nodded in understanding. I quickly turned on my heels and glided to my personal chambers. Feeling the anxiety overwhelm me, I gasped for air as the tears began to run freely upon my entrance to the room. I allowed myself to fall to the floor and weep, feeling overcome by all that had happened. What was I to do? I was now over an entire group of Wraith, whose culture was still so alien to me, that were looking to me for guidance and order. My father was dead. Tirrian, the once love interest in my life, was a murderous, unethical, betraying liar to all things the people of Atlantis believed in. My crew was mutating into Wraith, which made me cringe thinking about what I had to endure to complete my own transformation. I was in distress.

Regaining my composure, I walked into my washroom and proceeded to wash my person. The heat from the water was soothing on my aching muscles. The steam helped stabilize my breathing as I inhaled deeply. I closed my eyes and let the water stream down my face. It unwound my uptight mind. Shutting the water off, I dried myself. Gazing down at the elegant attire the queen once wore, a fire ignited in me once again, knowing what I was to do. I carefully prepared myself, it was a perfect fit. I folded my Atlantean attire and placed it on my bed, leaving my Stargate necklace around my neck. I ran my fingers over it, therapeutically. Glancing in the mirror, I gasped in surprise. I examined my Wraith features slowly, my once curly hair lengthening linear, noting that my eyes were green and catlike just as Zerrix had said. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath through my nose. I was ready.

I opened my door and found Zerrix pacing slowly down the hall. His attention came to me as he made his way over to where I stood. I felt his gaze, but I didnʼt return the honor. He had changed into his Commanderʼs uniform, making his presence more subdued. There was silence as he put his arms behind his back with elegance, waiting for my command. I took in another deep breath and looked up at him. "We take our leave back to the Hive."

He bowed his head as I walked passed him. He turned and followed. We found Rivolliere and LexʼZvas on the bridge. They both stared as we entered the room. "The look suits you, my Queen," LexʼZvas commented as he examined my new attire. "If I may." He walked up to me and proceeded to pull out the silver studs and rearrange them in the pattern recognizable as our Hive, the winged shapes. "We will brand your uniform when we return, brother," he added to Zerrix.

I smiled at LexʼZvas, finding closure about being a part of the Hive. I walked over to Rivolliere who stood in attention. "You are to stay here and sleep until further instruction. I am certain that your greetings by the...Lord of the Hive, would be most unwelcoming. I will revive you all in time, but I need to ease the Hive into this. Thatʼs an order. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Captain," he replied, looking at me with concern. I inclined my head and lifted the corner of my mouth, trying to reassure him. "Take my remote locator." He handed me the same device that uncloaked the ship. "You will find us using this. Until we meet again, Captain."

My smile widened as I took the mechanism from him. I nodded my head once again and turned towards Zerrix and LexʼZvas. They parted with a bow, allowing me to walk in between them. We left the ship as the sun was setting, revealing the three moons in orbit around the planet. With the flicker of a button, the ship was cloaked once again.

As we reached the clearing where the Hive gathered itself earlier, Narz approached us. He walked up to me, examined my new attire in approval, and bowed. "We did as you commanded, my Queen. The deceased Hive has been retrieved," he reported. He caught a glimpse of Zerrix in his new uniform and let out an exasperating groan. He looked back at me. "I heard of Commander Sysraʼs death and how his body was in such carnage making revival impossible. My brother will need to go through much scrutiny before I can rank him as the commander of his brigade."

I furled my eyeridges. "Is that not for me to decide?" I questioned.

"I will do it, my Queen," Zerrix interrupted. He walked up next to me and leered at Narz. I gazed up at him in surprise, but he held his ground. Narz cocked his head and gave a crooked smile. They both looked at me and waited for my response.

"Very well, but after the burial of the Hive," I sighed. "Where are my men?"

"You must call them telepathically. We will teach you to connect with us and our minds," Narz explained. My eyes widened, not knowing how to do that. He sneered. "It is not hard, my Queen." I scrunched my nose in frustration. "Focus on the minds you met."

I closed my eyes and tried to remember the feeling of their presence from before. After a moment, I suddenly felt transported into a colony of thoughts and aura. Even with my eyes closed, I could see Narz in front of me and Zerrix next to me. Narz voiced clairvoyantly, "We are listening; you must gather your Hive."

I felt and saw all of the Wraith I had seen earlier, turn their heads as if they heard him. I thought the word, "Come," it echoed in my mind. Immediately, all the Wraith began to move towards us. I saw them enter the clearing and gather around us. I gasped as I disconnected my mind when my eyes opened again.

"Well done, my Queen," Narz smirked. There was a silence as I felt all eyes on me. Narz cocked his head to the side once again. "Well? We are waiting, my Queen," he taunted. I pursed my lips.

"Do you have a traditional way to honor the dead?" I inquired. He inclined his head, smiled in a mocking manner, placed his arms behind his back, and kept my gaze. My vexation grew and he could tell. He lowered his head and gave an echoing growl. All of the men surrounding us began to move and make preparations for the ceremony. I just stood there in my irritation. He inclined his head once again and turned to walk away.

"He was teasing you, my Queen," Zerrix commented under his breath. I glanced up at him disapprovingly. Zerrix smiled. "It is just his nature." I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. He chuckled to himself.

After some time had passed, we gathered once again in a separate clearing. The bodies had been placed in a deep trench. We surrounded the mass grave, Narz at my side and Zerrix at the head of his brigade on the other. All eyes gazed at the ground. A chilling silence engulfed us. I glanced over at Narz who closed his eyes. He raised his head towards the heavens, flexed his hands, took a deep breath, and let out a roar. The other men soon followed. I stared at the group, feeling out of place and uncomfortable. The uproar silenced once again as Narz knelt on the ground. He grabbed some dried weeds and struck them with some flint. Sparks flew and a fire started. He tossed the flames onto the bodies, setting them ablaze. We continued our watch; the flames stayed localized. I examined each of the faces of my Hive as the flickering of the flames lit them up with dazzling shadows. Each one was so unique and strong. Sadness was prevalent in their daze. They looked as though their hope was dwindling. I wanted to change that.

Narz turned towards me and broke my train of thought, "I have notified the neighboring Hives of my brother's exam. They have agreed to come and help as well as provide ample observation. The other queens will aid you in making proper judgments as he performs."

"You just don't waste time do you? And just what is it that he has to do?" I questioned, feeling annoyed that he thought me incapable once again.

"Not die, of course," he tilted his head to the side and responded, matter-of-factly. His smug smile widened as I stood there, flabbergasted.

"You intend to kill him?"

He laughed at my ignorance. Zerrix took a few more steps closer to me and explained, "The success is not having to be revived. If I simply survive, I will have proven myself the strongest and worthy to lead a group of soldiers. If I do not, then, another will be put to the same test until one rises to victory. If I am killed, I will be revived."

Sighing in exasperation, I could only imagine what he would have to endure. I shuttered at the thought that he could die, still not used to the fact that Wraith could pour life back into someone. "If you would follow me, my Queen, the other queens and their hives are ready and waiting," Narz motioned.

"Very well," I sighed once again. He led the way as the rest of the Hive followed behind. Hiking some distance, there was a buzz of different thoughts that I could hear with my newfound psyche. There must have been over two hundred Wraith in attendance. We came to the largest clearing I had seen thus far. It was built up extremely high with rocks and dirt to resemble a stadium of sorts. The same red muscle grew all along the walls and floor that I had seen in the cave Zerrix kept watch over me. There were large trees that had grown overhead with their branches intertwining and locking together to create an organic roofing. The muscle had grown up and around the branches as well. I hadn't noticed that the dawn was approaching. I didn't feel fatigued at all. The sun rose as we walked through the stadium's ground towards the center where three queens were waiting, the rays of the sun beaming through the cracks of the ceiling. The queen I had met yesterday was standing in the middle.

The queen to her right was very slender with the darkest hue of green skin I had seen thus far on a Wraith. Her veins were visible in a darker shade of the green as her pale green cat eyes watched me with a piercing gaze. The dark violet eye shadow and lipstick she wore only enhanced her being with a more daunting presence. She had a black tattoo on her right cheek near her jaw line that appeared like a very ornate reverse "S" with a small, clawed half star shooting out of the top. Her hair was black and had been pulled up and out of her face through a black leather tiara that had the Iratus scales as decoration. She also had small braids throughout her hair as it cascaded beautifully behind her. Her black corset was tight and resembled that of the Iratus carapace as well, with long, fingerless gauntlets to match, the one on her right arm breaking in two separate sections. The top of the corset wrapped itself up her collar bone and around her neck, almost like a necklace, leaving her shoulders bare. Her skirt-like cape was similar to mine except it was a simple yet elegant black fabric that reached down to her ankles, with a slit starting at the waist, revealing her textured black leather pants with pointed boots to complete her look. She gave me a once look over and continued to look at me with a face of disapproval.

The queen on the left was the thinnest out of all of them. Her goldenrod eyes beamed maliciously as she smirked slyly. Her hair was long and a deep red in color that was pulled back in a half ponytail with two smaller ponytails framing her face. Her skin was extremely pale which made her red lips even brighter. She had very pale violet veins showing through her skin. Her dress was plain yet beautiful. It was white and fitted her body with ease. The large long sleeves did not rest on her shoulders but draped over mid arm. The dress itself was floor length with simple white shoes that were barely noticeable underneath. She wrapped her arms around themselves as she inclined her head slightly.

"Queen Luna, welcome to the Arena. It is our pleasure to finally meet you. I did not believe the gossipping thoughts that were whispering in the air," the red headed queen in white began. "This is Queen Taina. You wear her sister's clothing well. You may call me the Keeper and may refer to her as the Primary. I doubt you would be able to utter our designations properly anyway," she continued as way of introduction. The darkest green queen on the far right referred to as Queen Taina continued to glare at me, and now I understood why. Her sister was the dead queen in Tirrian's lab that we had buried not hours before, and I wore her attire. I scrunched my eyes a little wondering what the titles of "Keeper" and "Primary" meant as she pointed to the queen I met yesterday and herself.

"Where is the soldier who will be tested?" the Primary announced. Zerrix stepped out of the crowd, making his way on the other side of Narz. I glanced over at him; he was completely calm. I admired that for I must have taken all of his apprehension upon myself. "Remove your jacket and shirt. You must perform exposed."

Zerrix obediently unhinged the two belts he had around his waist; removed the long jacket; and finally his shirt, tossing them to the side of the Arena. This revealed his very strong torso, shoulders, and arms. I couldn't help but stare. Shaking my head out of my awe, I was caught off guard by Narz's odd stare. He was looking at me as if I had said something confusing. I raised my eye ridges and turned my head to face the queens again. Narz gave a small growl of annoyance in his throat. The Primary grinned slightly as did the other two queens. I felt perplexed as to what they were all smiling at. She cleared her throat. "Let us begin. Queen Luna, follow us to the upper level. The rest of you, into position!" she commanded.

I stepped forward as my Hive stayed behind. They made their way to the edges of the Arena and climbed the walls with ease, joining the other Wraith in these stadium-like seating. We climbed up a flight of organic stairs to a room that was overlooking the entire Arena. We walked up to the opening. Zerrix was alone in the middle of the floorfloor. He interlocked his fingers and slowly pushed his palms towards the ground, closing his eyes, and exhaling deeply through his nose. I was distracted by the Keeper standing next to me. "You must learn to not be so obvious with your emotions, Queen Luna," she said passively. "Your Lord does not seem very pleased."

I squinted my eyes. "I'm not sure what you mean. You seem open with yours," I rebuttled. She laughed.

"That is not what she means. Keep your pheromone levels under control," Queen Taina commented, bluntly. I widened my eyes in great surprise, feeling a little perturbed.

"She is still quite young, my sisters. She will learn. She is under my supervision. Besides, Lord Narz needs to be humbled. His pride and boldness are growing, and I do not approve of it," the Primary remarked. I looked at her in bewilderment. Queen Taina rolled her eyes in disgust.

The Primary inclined her head towards the Arena and announced, "Begin the first wave!"

We all turned to watch as a Wraith climbed the wall to the ceiling. He launched himself towards Zerrix with his hands flexed in front of him. Zerrix opened his eyes and lunged backwards, grabbed the other Wraith by the neck with his left hand, and shoved him to the ground. The other Wraith coughed with the breath knocked out of him. Zerrix, then, dug his right palm into the Wraith's chest and roared. The other Wraith cringed as he slowly aged. Zerrix left him, barely alive, on the ground and stood upright again. I watched, dumbfounded.

There was an uproar from the audience as another Wraith from the audience tried to tackle Zerrix from behind. He jolted to his left and uppercutted him with little effort, turning his back towards us. The other Wraith fell over backwards, unconscious. Zerrix had a large black tattoo of what he called "Hive Pride" on his back, the open wings that spread diagonally from his right shoulder blade down to left side of his waist with what looked like small flames decorating the centers of each of them. I gasped as a flash of memories came into my mind from when I was ten years old, present on this very planet, observing the third settlement take place. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? Was this the man who gave me terror so many years ago?

I watched, feeling slightly horrified as he easily disabled five more Wraith. The Primary roared, silencing the crowd. Zerrix turned towards us and bowed his head. "What is the matter, Queen Luna?" the Keeper asked. I jumped, startled by the sudden break of silence. "Fear shows weakness."

I groaned loudly in frustration. All the Wraith looked up at us in confusion. The Keeper stared at me in slight concern. I turned and stormed off to the stairs. When I reached the bottom, I exited through the opening at the base of them, wanting to be alone again. I could hear the rumbling of thoughts still going on in the Arena as I continued to walk some distance away, far enough that they eventually faded. I took a deep breath and exhaled.

I jumped as I heard footsteps behind me. Turning, I found Narz there. "VAI VIA!" I roared. He took several steps back, disillusioned. I realized I was yelling in Atlantean. Closing my eyes, I shook my head slightly in my irritation. "Leave! And tell your brother, Zerrix, to come and have an audience with me!"

He did as he was told, pursing his lips. I watched as he left and walked the distance until he was back inside. After a short amount of time, Zerrix came out of the Arena and jogged over to me. "What can I do for you, my Queen?" Zerrix asked, graciously.

"Era tu! So che era tu! Tu in memoria teneo. Estne mea verba verit?" I began blurting quickly in Atlantean again.

Zerrix placed his hands in front of him in defense. "Forgive me, my Queen, but I do not understand the language you are speaking. If I have displeased you with my performance..." he paused.

I closed my mouth and looked at him. He was staring at me in utmost alienation. I was distracted once again by his strong torso. "TURN AROUND!" I roared. He looked around even more confused and did as he was told until his back was towards me. His tattoo brought back my memories. "NO! Don't!"

He turned to look at me, this time with concern on his face. "I'LL just turn around!" I growled.

"My Queen, you are acting very oddly. Have I done something to displease you?" he repeated himself.

I turned away from him and sighed, feeling like I could think again. "It was you, was it not? You were the man in the open field that was hunting me. Am I wrong?"

There was another pause. I heard him exhale as he was thinking. "I am unsure as to what you are referring to."

I sighed again, turning to look at him; maybe it wasn't him. "Sixteen years ago, I came here with my parents and several others to plant the seeds of a new generation of people that would inhabit this planet. I was distracted by some movement in the greenery. I followed it until it brought me to an open field. There was a man standing there with his back towards me, who had a tattoo identical to yours on his back. Apparitions began racing around me. I was frightened. The man roared at me to run away and I did. I found my parents once again, unharmed."

His eyes looked around as he thought about what I was telling him. There was a sudden realization on his face. This confirmed my fears; he was the man from so long ago. "I do recall this…" he trailed off as he furled his eye ridges.

"Why were you hunting me?"

"I was hungry…" he began slowly, trying not to upset me. "And I was disobeying my brother. I had removed my mask and was away from the Hive, out of range of their thoughts. I wanted to feel some freedom, to taste the air that was away from his oppression."

I took several steps away from him. I felt betrayed that I was being hunted so long ago, but then I felt foolish because he didn't know it was me. He had no idea who I was back then; he was merely following his instincts. I scrunched my eyes together tightly and shook my head again. "Why did you let me live then?"

He held his breath for a moment and then, exhaled. "Would you believe me if I said a voice told me not to?" I opened my eyes and looked at him again. Opening my mouth, I closed it again without saying anything. He shook his head and broke my gaze. He looked off into the distance. "I was obedient to this voice for it was unlike any of the queens I have heard. I also did not want to be discovered out of the boundaries of my Hive. I would have been severely punished for doing so…" he paused. He took a few steps closer to me until he was right in front of me. I folded my arms and looked away, feeling uncomfortable. He gently picked up some of my hair and ran his fingers through it. I gasped as my heart rate began to increase with the rush of adrenaline flowing in my veins. "That was a long time ago. I now find it interesting how fate has crossed our paths again on a more allied course."

He carefully released my hair and placed his hands behind his back. I couldn't help but shake slightly out of fear. It was easy to hear the unsteadiness in my breathing. He tilted his head to the side, trying to catch my gaze. I averted my eyes and closed them, letting my terror continue to grow. The monster of my childhood nightmares was so close to me.

He placed one of his large hands on the side of my face. I jumped, blinking rapidly with my erratic breathing ever increasing as he delicately brought my face to look at him. Letting my tears of panic roll out of my eyes, I gazed up at him. His facial expression was that of burdened melancholy. "You are afraid of me; I can smell it. I assure you, I would never harm you, my Queen. My name says it all. That is why I watched over you during your metamorphosis. I am the protector, the guardian. That is why my brother gave me the task. As Wraith, we do anything for our queen. She is everything. Do you understand?"

I nodded my head almost robotically as he wiped my tears with his thumb. "You need not fear me. Fear shows weakness-"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I questioned, feeling infuriated.

"It is a principle we live on. Any form of weakness is terminated." My eyes widened as I frowned.

"Then, I'm good as dead!" I blurted. Zerrix chuckled softly in his throat with a soft reassuring smile.

"On the contrary, my Queen. I have seen and sensed greatness and courage in you. Now is not the time to speak of this. You must show the other queens, especially our Primary, that you can lead us. This test was not just for me...my brother, in his cunningness, plotted to put you to the test as well. Do not crumble now. Your Hive believes in you."

"Narz does not seem to…"

"He will in time. Time is all you need, my Queen. As Wraith, we have plenty of time. We are a patient race."

I took a deep breath and exhaled, calming myself. Zerrix wiped away one more tear from my face and removed his hand, placing it behind his back again.

"Gratias…" I paused. "...I mean, thanks." He took several steps back away from me and inclined his head with a smirk. "Who was the voice you heard so many years ago?"

"Now is not the time for reminiscence, my Queen. We must return."

"Right," I breathed, wiping away the rest of the wetness from my face. "Let us go." He bowed his head as I took the lead. He followed me back to the Arena where he took his place center stage once again. I climbed the stairs to join the other queens.

I could feel their piercing gazes. Avoiding them, I walked right up next to the window. Searching, I found Narz in the crowd. He had every definition of anger present on his face as he watched his brother in the middle of the Arena. "Shall we continue, Queen Luna?" The Primary asked with a complacent smile on her face. I inhaled deeply through my nose and looked back at her. She outstretched her hand towards the opening, signalling for me to continue the test.

I cleared my throat and folded my arms. "Our brief intermission is over! Let us continue!" I announced to the Arena. Zerrix placed his palms together and popped his knuckles loudly. He glanced up at me and smirked wickedly. The other queens joined me on either side.

A rush of fifteen Wraith charged at Zerrix at all different angles. My eyes widened and a smile slowly spread across my face as he quickly moved and shattered the offense of each and every one of them. The uproar started once again. "He is performing highly, Queen Luna," the Keeper commented on my left.

"Is that your hive?" I asked her. She turned to look at me.

"Indeed it is, a few of them."

Turning my head, I raised an eye ridge. "Is that all you've got?"

Her eye ridges twitched at my question. I had caught her off guard. She grinned widely and squinted her eyes, laughing in her throat. Leaning over the ledge of the window, she flexed her hands to her side. She inhaled and roared loudly. The clamor grew more intense. Zerrix began laughing loudly out of sheer pleasure as what seemed like her entire Hive of fifty plus Wraith made their way towards him, encircling him in their mass. My eyes widened. I kept myself calm as I watched. They paused, waiting for him to make a move. He slowly circled on his feet, searching for the weakest point. His gaze went from one face to another until he settled on a Wraith commander whose hair was a light brown. He must have been a lot younger than the rest of them with less experience. He roared as he charged at Zerrix. Zerrix picked him up by the collars of his jacket and launched him into the group, knocking down a large portion of them.

They rushed him to the ground and piled over him. We all watched, I in apprehension. The Keeper laughed to herself. "Not as strong as you thought."

I growled in my throat in disquiet. "COME ON!" I hollered. The Keeper kept laughing to herself. Her amusement ceased as we heard a low growl from underneath the mass of Wraith. The smile on her face faded quickly. Suddenly, Zerrix hurled the ones on top of him off with a loud roar. They rebounded and tried tackling him again. He quickly squatted to the ground, flinging his arms at his side as he jumped to the ceiling. It surprised me that he could jump that high. He grabbed onto the intertwined branches, his body dangling. A Wraith jumped and grabbed onto one of his legs. He dug his claws into his flesh. Zerrix flinched at the pain but quickly kicked the Wraith in the face, knocking him unconscious. The Wraith promptly let go of him and landed on the ground with a loud thud.

Zerrix hoisted his body upwards, using his strong biceps, until he could wrap his legs around the branches. He hung upside down as more Wraith crawled their way up the wall and ceiling towards him. He jabbed and punched so quickly that I could hardly believe it. Aiming for their faces, heads, and necks, he immobilized them quickly, knocking them to the ground again. Another Wraith jumped from underneath him and grabbed onto his long, dangling hair. Zerrix roared in pain. They struggled, the other Wraith swinging his body in attempts to knock Zerrix off the ceiling. Zerrix grabbed his own hair and heaved the other Wraith closer to him. The other Wraith grabbed onto Zerrix's shoulders and dug his claws into him. Zerrix growled again, shaking slightly. He jolted his torso towards the ceiling and grabbed hold of the branches with his hands. The other Wraith pulled himself up and wrapped one of his arms around Zerrix's neck, choking him. Zerrix coughed and clutched onto his adversary's arm. The other Wraith growled and laughed maliciously, tightening his hold. Wrapping the arm that was attached to the ceiling more firmly around the branches, Zerrix released his legs so both of them swung downwards. He curled his legs towards himself and rapidly kicked both feet at the other Wraith's torso as part of the whiplash of their swing. This knocked the other Wraith off of him and sent him flying to the ground. The power of the thrust made Zerrix lose his grip on the ceiling and land on the ground on his stomach. He groaned as he gasped for air. Rolling onto his side, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The other Wraith had recovered from the fall and charged at Zerrix in a rage. Zerrix quickly rolled onto his back and curled his legs up close to his face where he placed his hands behind his head, palm down on the ground. Hoisting his body upwards, he kicked the other Wraith once again, this time in the chest. Using the momentum, he landed on his feet. The other Wraith hit the floor on his back. Zerrix quickly walked over to him, kneeled, and punched the side of his head, knocking him unconscious.

The Primary roared and the audience went silent once again. Zerrix stood up straight towards us and wiped away the blood dripping from his mouth with the back of his hand. He bowed his head, breathing heavily. The Keeper brought her hands up and slowly clapped with a smirk on her face. "Well done, soldier. Well done." She folded her arms and looked at me. "He has just disabled the majority of my Hunters and Commanders, including my First in Command as the final fall…" She leaned in close to me and muttered, "He would do well in a higher position than just the Commander of some Drones…" She glanced in the direction of Narz and smiled slyly. "I'd reconsider your First...if I were you."

I looked at her in surprise. She backed away and inclined her head. Turning away, I glanced down at Zerrix once again. His body was bruised, cut up, and bleeding; yet, he continued to amaze me as he stood there, calmly. My mind wandered, thinking about demoting Narz. I was positive that Narz would probably kill something if that were to happen. The thought amused me, imagining his face when I were to tell him the news.

"You have performed well, soldier. We have seen enough. You have taken down most of the Keeper's Hive and a few of Queen Taina's and my own. Your queen has seen enough to make a proper judgement," the Primary began. She turned towards me and nudged me forward.

Clearing my throat, I folded my arms once again. "I have never seen anyone fight as boldly and precisely as you have shown us. You fought rapidly and fiercely. The cleverness in your strategies has proven worthy of a new position amongst your Hive and brothers," I paused and smiled shrewdly. "You will be my new First in Command."