Chapter 9: The Vengeance of Exile

… the image on the screen, is that of pure terror. As they look ahead their eyes are in disbelief as well as any other part of their bodies that had the displeasure of encountering the display.

The figure speaking through the screen is what seems to be either highly deformed or genetically mutated. The face looks extremely animalistic but the body is more or less that of a human female with the exception of fur or extra hair and a tail.

Magno manages to compose herself long enough to make a statement, " Hello, I am the Captain of this ship. So if you would kindly state your business with us, we could move this along quickly and be little hindrance to each other." The creature seems to emit a low sounding growl and gaze rather callously towards the crewmembers before responding.

" It is our knowledge that you are the group of beings responsible for ending the Harvest preformed by those appalling Earthlings." B.C. speaks up quickly but not lacking the usual straight forwardness. " Yes, we defeated them less than a year ago. Is that a problem?"

The creature's face shifts into the disgusting sneer or smirk, difficult to get a straight read off of something when you're not even sure what creature it is comprised of… and not sure exactly what it is. But shortly after making the strange face it speaks, " We are actually quite happy about this. For it was the Earthlings, namely, the one known in our history as The Father, that created the first few of my people. Our great founder, and my great-grandfather was the very first genetic experiment of Earth scientists. Part man, and part Hyena he was the original, followed shortly there after by a handful of other freaks composed of various other animals. After the first few were created, all funding was cut off… and to attempt to hide this travesty to God and humanity, they send us into the dark abyss on space ships, hoping we'd just drift and die. This event happened about 300 years ago, so it was a few generations before your migrations to Taraak and Mejere, respectively."

Magno and B.C. exchange glances as Magno turns to the screen and speaks, " How is it, that you know so much about us, yet we know so little of you?" The creature stares coldly through the screen and replies, " Our spies have accumulated much knowledge, that, and unlike your founders, we kept old records and made ancient knowledge accessible to our future generations. So, we know much more then most of all existing humans."

B.C. grits his teeth and inquires in a subtle yet slightly irritated tone, " So what exactly is the purpose of your transmission?" A smiles spreads across the beings face and it begins to speak, " We wish for your unconditional surrender… and to feast upon you inferior bodies. For… even if it is Earth we have the grudge against… you are all former Earthlings, so new or old, their blood is yours, and we shall feast upon it."

Before B.C. can jump to any conclusions Magno quickly responds in a calm voice, " I can understand your pain, and dislike of our race… but we will need some time to think this over. Be it a war or a massacre, the choice is ours to make… and I request that you give us some time to deliberate."

The female Hyena creature nods slowly as her eyes narrow and she speaks, " You will get two days… I will then send another transmission to your ship. Your answer must then be immediate… either we engage you in war, or you surrender and allow us to get our revenge. It is your choice… remember, two days." With that last statement the screen goes black and the transmission dies.

Hibiki is quick to speak after that scene, " OLD WOMAN! What do you mean we need time to think? I say we attack those freaks and show them who's gonna be bleeding!" Magno glances down at Hibiki and shakes her head, " Still and impulsive hot head…"

After those words Ezra interrupts, " I hate to interrupt you both, but it seems that the ship is moving further away reaching the edge of our capabilities… and will most likely pass out of our range in about ten seconds." B.C. chuckles slightly before addressing that fact, " They are smart, they know that we know nothing about their battle capabilities, their species, their home planet… or anything. We are really in a tight spot, cause unlike the battle against the Harvest, these things… are human… sort of. At least they are obviously sentient… and facing a living being is much more difficult then a program."

Renz looks down at his hand which he didn't notice til now was being held tightly by Meia and she seems to be standing very close to him. Thinking she may be worried he quickly speaks, " B.C. allow me to run a few diagnostic tests. I can whip up a 3D simulator, and due to another invention of mine… I may be able to find programs or something on the behavior of these animals, or possibly even this experiment." Meia looks over at Renz and smiles as if she knows he did that to try and put her at ease while B.C. nods in agreement to what Renz said.

" Great idea, I want you to get working with Duelo and Parfait a soon as…" B.C. trails off as he notices that they aren't around. " Gasco… I thought you said everyone was present!" Gasco then glares at Bart and barks at him, " Bart! I thought you told me you got everyone!" Bart's eyes widen as he then looks down at the ground and starts to twiddle his thumbs slightly due to nervousness, " Well… I thought you got whoever I missed. So, I got lazy… and curious… and well, this wouldn't have happened if you just used the intercoms!" Gasco's left eye twitches a little as she can fells herself almost want to rip Bart's head off, " If they were working, I would have used them from the beginning! But I was working on them all day because something was malfunctioning within the console, so I had to disable the intercoms. Sorry to inconvenience you oh great one." The last part said with extreme mocking and sarcasm as Jukkai quickly speaks up as to try and quell the squabble.

" HEY! Let's not fight over why they aren't here and let's just go look for them… alright?" Gasco and Bart look at Jukkai and nod as Magno smirks and says in a soft tone of voice, " Fine… Jukkai… you and Bart shall go look for Duelo and Parfait. And if you don't find them soon… I'm going to feed you to those freaks myself. Now you may go…" Jukkai and Bart look at Magno in disbelief and then towards one another then back at Magno. " But umm… where should we look?" they say at the same time in lost and kind of stupid way.

Alexei quickly responds, " They were supposed to be building a replacement escape pod… so go wherever that area would be…" Bart and Jukkai smile slightly and nod in thanks to Alexei as they run off, with Bart leading the way.

The others remain on the bridge talking amongst themselves about the freakish monsters and if it's possible to defeat them and what they could be capable of while Bart and Jukkai continue there trip to find Duelo and Parfait.

" Hey Jukkai, this way!" Bart calls over to him, yet right before they run into the room Bart sees Paiway standing out in the hallway in a state of shock. The two men walk up to the young girl as she looks up at them blankly and doesn't speak or show any signs of recognizing them.

" Umm, Paiway… are you alright?" Bart asks in an unsure timid way. Getting no answer out of her Jukkai walks up next to her and gives her shoulder a sharp pinch.

" OW! You jerk!" screams Paiway as Jukkai just smiles and laughs, " Okay… she's alive." With those few words Paiway blushes and looks down exceedingly embarrassed.

Bart tilts his head and inquires, " Umm Paiway, what's wrong? Why are you blushing?" Paiway doesn't answer, she just points into the room to the mostly completed escape pod.

" The pod? What's so special about it?" asks Jukkai as Paiways glares at him to some extent and responds rather arrogantly, " Go look for yourself you giant pain in the butt!" After saying that she runs off down the hallway towards the bridge area.

Both men just shrug and walk in and as they get closer they notice the pod is moving slightly. " What the hell?" And as soon as Jukkai says that, both he and Bart look in and see Duelo and Parfait engaged in an act that involves no clothing and lots of heavy breathing. After seeing this both men's eyes bug out as they fall over with nosebleeds and begin mumbling incoherently. Neither knowing why… it just seems to be the correct reaction.

Fifteen minutes pass and Renz walks down hoping to find the now four missing people after hearing Paiway telling Magno and B.C. about Duelo and Parfait doing something in the escape pod.

" I swear, if this is just a stupid story, or something highly irrelevant. I'm going to be forced to beat someone up…" After finishing that statement he enters the hallway and sighs. Once he enters the room he sees Bart and Jukkai in the same position he and Meia found Jukkai in earlier, when he was in Jura's room. " Why the hell does that keep happening?"

After asking himself the question Renz looks into the escape pod and sees exactly what the other two men saw and his eyes widen and he shakes his head. " Whoa… Duelo is making a baby with Parfait… whoa…" He places a hand up to his head as he then comes back to his senses and throws the two babbling morons over his shoulders and walks back up to the bridge.

When he returns to the bridge he throws the two men on the floor and looks at B.C. " Well Commander… I found Deulo and Parfait… and well Jura won't be happy with what they are doing, but needless to say, it is not my place to stop it." B.C.'s eyes flare after that last part, " What do you mean not your place? The whole ship is in danger… what is more important then the safety of the ship and it's crew? And why the hell would this upset Jura?"

Renz smirks feeling a little awkward as he answers B.C., " Well Commander… Duelo and Parfait are in the process of making a baby in the escape pod they were creating. I'm guessing it is mostly sound proof taken that they didn't hear Paiway or the thud against the ground that these two prolly made when they fainted." Jura quickly reacts to this new information, " WHAT! Duelo and Parfait? No way… Parfait's not even half as beautiful and sexy as I am, why does she get the first baby? Renz quick come with me to my room, I want to make sure I win!" Renz looks at Jura astounded that she thinks such an act is equivalent to a mere race. But before he can say anything Magno cuts in, " That is a very sacred thing they are doing. And since we have two days it is not of dire importance right this moment. So I say we focus on making sure the Vanguards and the Dreads are up spec. And also, do a quick scan to see if the new men's Vanguards can fuse with any of the current pilot's Dreads. So, for now, you are all dismissed. We will meet again early tomorrow morning, so rest up and yes, we will talk to Duelo and Parfait then. Not now." With no more then a wave of her hand, Magno sends everyone off as she turns in her chair and calls B.C. to her side.

" Yes Captain?" Magno looks at B.C. and smiles, " This is critical… I want you to utilize every last bit of your military knowledge when dealing with in combat and out of combat situations. We can't take them lightly… and we most definitely can not lose this." B.C. nods and salutes and takes his leave to prepare.

As they all exit the bridge Renz glances over to Alexei who smirks and nods. And without even a word the two men begin dragging Bart and Jukkai off while serious thoughts of battle, thoughts of life on the Nirvana in such a crisis and the reflecting on the new knowledge of the first male and female created baby in over 100 years are racing through everyone's minds. There's only a matter of time before the questions are all answered, but will the outcome be positive, or dreadfully negative?

To Be Continued…