-1Epilogue
The oval room was dark. One would think that no one was in it, but its occupant rather liked the darkness. He was sitting in his office chair, staring out the window. A knock came at the door.
"Enter."
A man dressed in a business suit pushed the door open and walked in. "Mr. President, our spies send word."
The president smirked. "What do they say?"
"Heralding's dead," the man replied. "They think the hive was responsible. They recently had a large battle there. The colonists allied with the xenomorph hive against a rogue hive. The battle left both the hive and the marines' armies well depleted."
The president smirked. "Excellent, this will make things much easier. Have you initiated plan B?"
"Yes, sir," the president smirked. That's what he liked about his aid. He didn't need to be told when to do something. "The GGE carrier is being fueled and loaded, even as we speak. The crew have been given our state of the art prototype pulse rifles."
"Excellent," the president said obviously pleased. "I had faith in Heralding's abilities, but it appears even he was no match for those xenomorphs. So much for the diplomatic approach, now we go to war."
The president closed his eyes. "Any word on Genecorp?"
"They either don't know, or don't want in," his aid replied.
The president shook his head. "They're slipping. If I knew Tom, he would have been all over this. He was a worthy adversary."
"The crew have christened the carrier the Lilith," the aid said.
"How… quaint," the president said. "I see Colonel Leeson has not lost his flare for names."
"Sir?"
"Lilith," the president began. "was the first wife of Adam. She was cast out of Eden because she wouldn't submit to him. All of Lilith and Adam's children are supposed to be the evil spirits of the world. A very fitting name for the task that ship is undertaking, don't you think?"
"Yes, sir."
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Two praetorians lay curled up together in the center of the hive. Both of them possessed flesh colored markings. Snarl was fast asleep, while Scar lay awake, troubled.
(You okay?) Okay, perhaps Snarl was not completely asleep.
Scar sighed. (No. I'm worried. We've dealt with Heralding, but that's not the end. Those white house jerks are going to keep coming till they get what they want.)
Snarl frowned. Trying to think of a way to comfort her mate. Finding no words, she just pressed herself up against him reassuringly. (Xena'll think of something.)
(I hope you're right,) Scar sighed. (I don't want to have to hand that stuff over to them.)
The female praetorian stood up. (What do you mean? You destroyed all of it, didn't you?)
Scar shook his head. (No, I said before that I saw Heralding snooping around, so I removed a few vials from the crate and hid them, just in case.)
Snarl smiled. (Good work.)
(I guess,) Scar replied glumly.
(You stop that,) Snarl growled. (I won't have you moping around.)
Scar chuckled. (Why are you so optimistic suddenly?)
(Maybe it's because I've got you,) Snarl suggested.
Scar finally smiled. (Oh, yeah?)
(Yeah.)
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Weyvin traced his claws over the scar on his chest. Ever since his defeat, he had been thinking.
Since the praetorian had spared his life, he could now no longer honorably hunt him, or his hive for that matter.
That hard meat was also definitely smarter then average. He had been denying it until now, but now he believed that drone had definitely been sentient.
Weyvin got off the chair he was sitting in. He knew what he had to do. He entered the ship's cockpit and started the engines. He was about to make a life changing decision.
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(To be continued in Devil's Dance.)