2023: As he materialized, the scene unfolding before him didn't at all
surprise him. A battle was about to begin and he saw them, the
Incarnations of War, Slaughter, Conquest, Pestilence, and Famine posed in
readiness.
"Hey ya Death, good day for a war." called War cheerfully.
"Not in my book, Phelbo." the cloaked figure of Deathstalker replied.
"You forget that Deathstalker loathes violent death." Pestilence said to War.
"You know me too well, Euchexia." Deathstalker said.
"As do we all. Some more than others." said Slaughter.
"This is true, Euthansia. Well, get on with it." Deathstalker said.
"Patience, you'll collect your allotment of souls no matter when War
gives the word." said Famine.
"Sadly yes, Dearth." Deathstalker said.
"Come on Phelbo, give da word already." Conquest griped.
"Go Overthrow, you and Euthansia and stir them up." War replied.
Deathstalker watched as the two rode their robosteeds into the ranks of
warriors. They yelled encouragements and such as the two factions clashed.
Even after the bloodshed he'd wrought in his day, he still felt queasy as
the agonized cries and spilled fuel filled his senses. His internal clock
hit zero time and he approached his first client. This was done several
times until the battle was called off. Conquest and Slaughter were most
vehemently disgruntled.
"Pah! What wimps!" Conquest growled.
"I agree, my dear." Slaughter said, "That had to be a record for the
shortest, goriest battle we've had the pleasure to direct."
Deathstalker collected his last client and inquired, "I guess you two
have coupled up?"
"We did." Slaughter said, "So've Famine and Pestilence there."
"Hey, didn't I hear ya went and found a mortal?" War asked.
"Fate had her fickle finger in that all right. But I'm not
complaining, she's a good woman."
When he got home, Deathstalker was a bit surprised to find Time and Nature
there.
"Why the call Tempes, Dendra?" Deathstalker asked.
"Its about your future..." Time began.
"My future? What about it?" Deathstalker inquired.
"I had Tempes check it out for you, as a favor to an old friend of
mine." Nature said.
"Who would that be, Dendra?" Deathstalker queried.
"Why your wifes mother of course." Nature replied.
"She lives?!" Deathstalker asked incredulously.
"Oh quite, she's getting up there in age, almost as old as you would
be if your weren't an Incarnation. She heard about her daughter and Death,
got her notions and.." Nature began.
"Who told her?" Deathstalker asked.
"No one, she found out for herself. She's the eldest facet of Fate
now." Time said.
"Excuse me, I must meet with Fate." Deathstalker said and was out of
his place and in Fates' in the span of a blink, "Fate. It is I, Death. I
wish to speak to.."
"Me?" said an elderly feminine voice.
He turned toward her and saw what one could call a being not at all the
age he supposed. Her optics betrayed her wisdom and he knew by the look
of her that this was Dreadstarrs' mother.
"You are a good looking one. My youngest did well, of course it was
fated to be." she smiled at that, "Talk to me, ask what you will, I've
nothing to hide."
"Fate.." he began.
"Steorra is my name." she smiled.
"Steorra, are you really her Mother?" Deathstalker asked.
"It depends on an individuals' concept of mother. Am I her creator or
did I bear her? Either way mother can be attributed. So yes, I am her
mother." there was a long pause before she cautioned, "If you insist on
reading my mind, ask permission first."
"May I?" he inquired.
"No harm in it." she shrugged.
He did so, not too surprised at what he found, "You are an incredible
female, Steorra."
"And you a male, Deathstalker. I must say I'm a bit jealous of
Dreadstarr. Your type doesn't come around too often, and when you do,
you're snatched quicker than one of our kind changes forms."
"Could I..?" he began.
"No. I'll show myself to her and her sisters when I'm ready. Now, off
with you, I've strands to cut." she smiled.
With a nod, he left and wished he could spend more time with her.
surprise him. A battle was about to begin and he saw them, the
Incarnations of War, Slaughter, Conquest, Pestilence, and Famine posed in
readiness.
"Hey ya Death, good day for a war." called War cheerfully.
"Not in my book, Phelbo." the cloaked figure of Deathstalker replied.
"You forget that Deathstalker loathes violent death." Pestilence said to War.
"You know me too well, Euchexia." Deathstalker said.
"As do we all. Some more than others." said Slaughter.
"This is true, Euthansia. Well, get on with it." Deathstalker said.
"Patience, you'll collect your allotment of souls no matter when War
gives the word." said Famine.
"Sadly yes, Dearth." Deathstalker said.
"Come on Phelbo, give da word already." Conquest griped.
"Go Overthrow, you and Euthansia and stir them up." War replied.
Deathstalker watched as the two rode their robosteeds into the ranks of
warriors. They yelled encouragements and such as the two factions clashed.
Even after the bloodshed he'd wrought in his day, he still felt queasy as
the agonized cries and spilled fuel filled his senses. His internal clock
hit zero time and he approached his first client. This was done several
times until the battle was called off. Conquest and Slaughter were most
vehemently disgruntled.
"Pah! What wimps!" Conquest growled.
"I agree, my dear." Slaughter said, "That had to be a record for the
shortest, goriest battle we've had the pleasure to direct."
Deathstalker collected his last client and inquired, "I guess you two
have coupled up?"
"We did." Slaughter said, "So've Famine and Pestilence there."
"Hey, didn't I hear ya went and found a mortal?" War asked.
"Fate had her fickle finger in that all right. But I'm not
complaining, she's a good woman."
When he got home, Deathstalker was a bit surprised to find Time and Nature
there.
"Why the call Tempes, Dendra?" Deathstalker asked.
"Its about your future..." Time began.
"My future? What about it?" Deathstalker inquired.
"I had Tempes check it out for you, as a favor to an old friend of
mine." Nature said.
"Who would that be, Dendra?" Deathstalker queried.
"Why your wifes mother of course." Nature replied.
"She lives?!" Deathstalker asked incredulously.
"Oh quite, she's getting up there in age, almost as old as you would
be if your weren't an Incarnation. She heard about her daughter and Death,
got her notions and.." Nature began.
"Who told her?" Deathstalker asked.
"No one, she found out for herself. She's the eldest facet of Fate
now." Time said.
"Excuse me, I must meet with Fate." Deathstalker said and was out of
his place and in Fates' in the span of a blink, "Fate. It is I, Death. I
wish to speak to.."
"Me?" said an elderly feminine voice.
He turned toward her and saw what one could call a being not at all the
age he supposed. Her optics betrayed her wisdom and he knew by the look
of her that this was Dreadstarrs' mother.
"You are a good looking one. My youngest did well, of course it was
fated to be." she smiled at that, "Talk to me, ask what you will, I've
nothing to hide."
"Fate.." he began.
"Steorra is my name." she smiled.
"Steorra, are you really her Mother?" Deathstalker asked.
"It depends on an individuals' concept of mother. Am I her creator or
did I bear her? Either way mother can be attributed. So yes, I am her
mother." there was a long pause before she cautioned, "If you insist on
reading my mind, ask permission first."
"May I?" he inquired.
"No harm in it." she shrugged.
He did so, not too surprised at what he found, "You are an incredible
female, Steorra."
"And you a male, Deathstalker. I must say I'm a bit jealous of
Dreadstarr. Your type doesn't come around too often, and when you do,
you're snatched quicker than one of our kind changes forms."
"Could I..?" he began.
"No. I'll show myself to her and her sisters when I'm ready. Now, off
with you, I've strands to cut." she smiled.
With a nod, he left and wished he could spend more time with her.