Part 24: Mandy Oh Mandy
Amanda Delaroyale marched down the hallway of the Zardexian flagship with her fists clenched tightly at her sides. The flashing red lights illuminated her path, almost guiding her through the ship as she searched for something... was she searching for Clover? She had no idea if her blonde lover was even alive, let alone one of the intruders in this ship. For all she knew, this group was completely unrelated to the friends she'd left behind on Earth. Wishful thinking she supposed... but thoughts she needed.
"Zeninia?" A Zardexian voice sounded surprised when she marched through a small bedroom on her way to nowhere in particular. "Why are you here in human f-" The alien didn't have time to finish before Mandy plunged her fist into its core and hurled it against the wall. Her body flashed with violet energy that roared through her veins, giving her a strange glow for a few moments before dying down.
She left the bedroom through the opposite door and turned to march down the hall again. Her mind was racing now, perhaps a product of the strange violet power that ran through her body, or perhaps her old madness creeping back into the forefront. Either way, she could barely think recognizable thoughts anymore. She wanted to search... that was all she knew.
She turned down another hallway, then stopped when she noticed her entire body beginning to glow with violet light again. It rose from her body like a flame, but she didn't feel anything. The fiery glow moved toward the window beside her, drawing her gaze to it.
The sound of a whale's song entered her mind, like a scream for attention from the glowing violet energy that moved along the ship outside the window. It looked fairly small for something so otherwise impressive, only about as big as a normal person. After taunting her for a moment, it moved out of view up the side of the ship.
"Wait... wait!" Mandy charged down the hall, trying to pace it. The glowing violet flames continued to rise from her body as she ran, leaving a strange trail of energy floating in the air behind her. She ran faster than she knew she could, and was drawn by a force the likes of which she'd never known.
She burst through a door to find herself facing a small gathering of Zardexians, huddled in the middle of the room and watching a screen set into the ceiling. On the screen a series of symbols were being displayed... words Mandy could recognize somehow.
"Remain calm." The words read. "The intruders will be apprehended shortly. There is nothing to fear. Our might is unbeatable." The screen shut off and the Zardexians began muttering and whispering among themselves. Mandy tried to push through them to the door on the other side of the room, but one of the aliens grabbed her shoulder with one tentacle.
"How foolish are you, human?" It demanded haughtily. "To think you could walk through us without-"
It didn't have a chance to finish its taunt before Mandy whirled and plunged her fist through it, tearing into its stomach. It stiffened in shock, then began to wriggle and try to move away from her. Mandy yanked her fist out of it and watched it roll away before collapsing limply to the floor.
"My God..." One of the Zardexians murmured fearfully. Mandy turned her gaze on the gathered group. The entire room slowly moved away from her, shivering in astonishment and fear.
"Hunting isn't so fun when YOU'RE the prey... is it?" Mandy growled in a language she didn't remember ever speaking before. The silence returned until Mandy turned to leave through the opposite door. The violet glow had faded, but she could still feel its pull from somewhere near the front of the ship.
She approached a sturdy door that refused to open... so she wound up and knocked it clear into the offending inaccessible room. The metallic thumps of the door hitting the ground were drowned out by the panicked cries of the crew as the violet energy flowed outside the front window of the ship.
"Our fire doesn't seem to be having affect on it!" One of the Zardexians at the control panels exclaimed fearfully. "It's not getting any weaker, it's taken out most of our outer weapons array!"
"Fire more missiles at it!" The captain in the middle of the room shouted.
"Yes sir!" The helmsmen turned to their consoles to open further fire upon the violet creature out front. Mandy could feel it in her body... in her veins... in her mind. The violet power began to well up around her body again, stronger than ever. So did the call, compelling her forward across the bridge as the stunned Zardexians watched her.
"Zeninia, you should not be up here like that." The captain told her. "What has happened to you? Zeninia?" Mandy ignored them, marching through the bridge to the forward window. The manta ray-esque shape floated outside, glittering brightly in the darkness of space with the starlight surrounding it. She could hear the gentle whale's song in her mind again. Beckoning her. She had to reach it.
She lifted her fist behind her, pulsing with violet energy. "Zeninia! No!" The Zardexians around her screamed in fear, but she paid them no heed. Her fist broke through the window easily, sending the glass shards flying out into the vacuum of space. She gasped in shock when she realized what she'd just done, and tried to stop herself, but the suction was too strong and she was pulled out into the stars.
She blinked in shock, radiating violet energy. She could feel her lungs being compressed... the pressure of space was quickly taking its toll on her, despite her newfound power. Her chest began to ache... but suddenly the violet form swept over her, engulfing her. Suddenly she could breath again, blanketed by the warm purple light.
"You..." A soft voice echoed in her head. Despite its softness, Mandy could feel a palpable hatred radiating from it. "I thought I killed you before you could take over my life... my name..."
"M... Mandy..." Mandy muttered softly. "You're the real... original... Mandy?" She whispered.
"Of course I am!" The voice howled back angrily. "You life-stealing, manipulative little murderer!" Mandy blinked, then howled as the violet energy began to surge through her body like a lightning strike. It felt like her nerves were on fire.
"Please... stop! STOP!" Mandy howled. Finally the energy stopped and Mandy hung limp in the glowing violet aura, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I... I don't remember being... a murderer..." She gulped. "I don't remember anything..."
"Why should I believe you? Why does it matter? Nothing would make me happier than killing you right now." The voice rumbled deep inside her mind. Mandy shook her head furiously.
"Please... don't." Mandy begged. "I AAAAAAGGGHH!" She howled in pain as another wave of energy swept through her, tearing through her nerves and igniting all of her senses. She was sure her body was going to explode any second. "P... Please... no..." Mandy begged desperately as tears flowed down already moist cheeks. "I don't... wanna... die..."
The energy stopped again and Mandy fell limp, sobbing uncontrollably in pain and helplessness. "I... I don't remember... I don't remember wanting to hurt anyone..." Mandy gulped.
"You don't remember?" The voice growled in her mind. "I'll make you remember!" The voice rose to a scream, and a stream of energy rushed through Mandy's brain. Mandy let out a tortured scream, her entire body convulsing under the assault on her mind. She shuddered in pain and horror, feeling like her mind was going to snap until suddenly memories began to trickle back...
"Just a little while longer, Zeninia..." One of her crew-members informed her with a cold, official tone of voice. "We're beginning the genetic resequencing... now." Zeninia looked up as the ceiling above her opened, and the mechanical arms moved down toward her bulbous Zardexian body. She closed her eyes, thinking of the last moments she'd spent with her lover before being sent on this mission.
"Once this is over..." He'd told her tenderly, with his limbs wrapped around her, stroking her. "Our people will be fed for years to come... we will be able to relax and enjoy our time together."
"I will make sure that we have that peace, my love..." Zeninia replied.
"Beginning memory implant." One of the scientists outside her tube stated. Zeninia twitched with her new human limbs as a flood of images entered her mind, spreading to every part of it. She could remember everything, from the faces of Mandy's past to the events of her death. It was remarkable... never had a Zardexian been infused with such powerful memories. Memories of hatred... pain... anguish... love. All mixed together in a complex cyclone. It was more than she could bare, and she leaned against the glass.
"Zeninia!" One of the scientists shouted worriedly. Suddenly the warning lights began to flash.
"Sir! We've spotted something approaching us on radar!" One of the pilots shouted. "It... it looks like a patch of static. We can't identify it with any of our sensors."
"Could it be a malfunction?" One of the scientists asked.
"Possib... What is THAT!?" One of the pilots screamed. Zeninia forced her eyes open through the flood of painful memories. A shining violet shape soared through the crisp, blue Earth air toward them, a cry of sheer anger piercing the minds of everyone on board the ship. It flew straight toward them, pulsing with energy.
"Avoid it! Now!" The captain shouted quickly. The ship turned, but not nearly fast enough. The violet form tore through the hull like it wasn't even there, ripping the ship apart like a child's toy. Zardexian screams and the sound of metal tearing from metal filled the air, until the glass around Zeninia cracked open. The arms that were operating on her gave way before they could finish their work, plunging Zeninia into a state of confusion.
She felt the floor under her feet give way, torn apart by the force of the entity that moved down upon them. She gasped in shock as the violet shape swept over her, engulfing her in violet energy that felt so familiar... it was like she'd lost it and only just now found it again. This feeling held until she lost consciousness within the violet energy field.
Mandy's eyes opened finally, to find the violet energy once again surrounding her as it had before. "You... I... don't understand..."
"I thought you would die. I wanted you to suffer, I thought if the impact didn't kill you, starvation would." The voice told her darkly. "If I knew you would survive, I would've killed you like I did the other filthy murderous vermin."
"Please... don't kill me." Mandy begged. "I know I seem like I probably deserve it..." She closed her eyes. "But... I didn't hate anybody..."
"Shut up!" The violet energy poured through her again, tearing into her. She screamed in agony. "You're a blight on the universe, you and your whole Goddamned race! I may not be strong enough to do anything about them... but I can have the satisfaction of taking you out just like that sleaze ball you called a comrade, The Reverend! Now shut up and die!"
Mandy howled in agony as the power roared through her. No... not Mandy... was she? This was Mandy... Mandy was the being trying to kill her... and rightly so. Everything she'd gone through... Zeninia knew very well. She knew better than anyone could. This pain she felt now felt like nothing compared to the kind of torture Mandy had gone through in her life.
"Y... you're right!" Zeninia screamed into the pulsing violet cloud. She must have caught Mandy off guard, because the torture ceased for the moment. Zeninia relaxed, sobbing in pain and hugging herself in a desperate bid for comfort. "You're right..." She sniffled. "You're right... what... what we did to you... is unforgivable..." She closed her eyes. "But I didn't know... exactly what was happening..."
Her memories were slowly returning, but she found herself wishing they weren't. Looking at her life through the human perspective Mandy's memories provided left her with only one conclusion. "I... am a monster... we all are..." She shuddered in revulsion. "I never even realized... but I don't want to be a monster anymore... I don't want to kill anyone that way anymore!"
"Are you asking me for forgiveness? For pity?" Mandy's voice scoffed in her mind. "You're barking up the wrong tree, Zardexian. I have no forgiveness for you or your kind."
"Please..." Zeninia begged desperately, lowering her chin to her chest. "I'm not a Zardexian anymore..." She squeezed her eyes shut, choking back her sobs of fear and pain. "I don't want to be a Zardexian... I've felt what humanity can be like. So calm... so gentle..." She trailed off for a moment, then opened her eyes and lifted her chin high again. "I want to be human..."
"Bahahahahaha!" Mandy's laughter echoed in her mind mockingly. "You? Human? Don't make me laugh. You're not talking your way out of this."
"Then... please... at least... let me help set things right. With the humanity that remains... and with Clover..." Zeninia begged softly. "Then..." She gulped. "I'll let you kill me."
"Let me kill you? Like you could stop me." Mandy mocked.
"Clover's in danger. I... you... loved her once. Her... and Alex." Zeninia replied. The voice in her head fell silent. "As long as the Zardexians exist they're in danger... but I think together we might be able to make a difference..." The voice remained silent for a long time, as the violet energy swirled around her in random patterns.
"Okay... we'll do what we must first." Mandy told her. "Then you will die."
"Fair enough..." Zeninia replied softly. "We should move fast... there's no telling what they'll do now..."
TO BE CONTINUED
Amanda Delaroyale marched down the hallway of the Zardexian flagship with her fists clenched tightly at her sides. The flashing red lights illuminated her path, almost guiding her through the ship as she searched for something... was she searching for Clover? She had no idea if her blonde lover was even alive, let alone one of the intruders in this ship. For all she knew, this group was completely unrelated to the friends she'd left behind on Earth. Wishful thinking she supposed... but thoughts she needed.
"Zeninia?" A Zardexian voice sounded surprised when she marched through a small bedroom on her way to nowhere in particular. "Why are you here in human f-" The alien didn't have time to finish before Mandy plunged her fist into its core and hurled it against the wall. Her body flashed with violet energy that roared through her veins, giving her a strange glow for a few moments before dying down.
She left the bedroom through the opposite door and turned to march down the hall again. Her mind was racing now, perhaps a product of the strange violet power that ran through her body, or perhaps her old madness creeping back into the forefront. Either way, she could barely think recognizable thoughts anymore. She wanted to search... that was all she knew.
She turned down another hallway, then stopped when she noticed her entire body beginning to glow with violet light again. It rose from her body like a flame, but she didn't feel anything. The fiery glow moved toward the window beside her, drawing her gaze to it.
The sound of a whale's song entered her mind, like a scream for attention from the glowing violet energy that moved along the ship outside the window. It looked fairly small for something so otherwise impressive, only about as big as a normal person. After taunting her for a moment, it moved out of view up the side of the ship.
"Wait... wait!" Mandy charged down the hall, trying to pace it. The glowing violet flames continued to rise from her body as she ran, leaving a strange trail of energy floating in the air behind her. She ran faster than she knew she could, and was drawn by a force the likes of which she'd never known.
She burst through a door to find herself facing a small gathering of Zardexians, huddled in the middle of the room and watching a screen set into the ceiling. On the screen a series of symbols were being displayed... words Mandy could recognize somehow.
"Remain calm." The words read. "The intruders will be apprehended shortly. There is nothing to fear. Our might is unbeatable." The screen shut off and the Zardexians began muttering and whispering among themselves. Mandy tried to push through them to the door on the other side of the room, but one of the aliens grabbed her shoulder with one tentacle.
"How foolish are you, human?" It demanded haughtily. "To think you could walk through us without-"
It didn't have a chance to finish its taunt before Mandy whirled and plunged her fist through it, tearing into its stomach. It stiffened in shock, then began to wriggle and try to move away from her. Mandy yanked her fist out of it and watched it roll away before collapsing limply to the floor.
"My God..." One of the Zardexians murmured fearfully. Mandy turned her gaze on the gathered group. The entire room slowly moved away from her, shivering in astonishment and fear.
"Hunting isn't so fun when YOU'RE the prey... is it?" Mandy growled in a language she didn't remember ever speaking before. The silence returned until Mandy turned to leave through the opposite door. The violet glow had faded, but she could still feel its pull from somewhere near the front of the ship.
She approached a sturdy door that refused to open... so she wound up and knocked it clear into the offending inaccessible room. The metallic thumps of the door hitting the ground were drowned out by the panicked cries of the crew as the violet energy flowed outside the front window of the ship.
"Our fire doesn't seem to be having affect on it!" One of the Zardexians at the control panels exclaimed fearfully. "It's not getting any weaker, it's taken out most of our outer weapons array!"
"Fire more missiles at it!" The captain in the middle of the room shouted.
"Yes sir!" The helmsmen turned to their consoles to open further fire upon the violet creature out front. Mandy could feel it in her body... in her veins... in her mind. The violet power began to well up around her body again, stronger than ever. So did the call, compelling her forward across the bridge as the stunned Zardexians watched her.
"Zeninia, you should not be up here like that." The captain told her. "What has happened to you? Zeninia?" Mandy ignored them, marching through the bridge to the forward window. The manta ray-esque shape floated outside, glittering brightly in the darkness of space with the starlight surrounding it. She could hear the gentle whale's song in her mind again. Beckoning her. She had to reach it.
She lifted her fist behind her, pulsing with violet energy. "Zeninia! No!" The Zardexians around her screamed in fear, but she paid them no heed. Her fist broke through the window easily, sending the glass shards flying out into the vacuum of space. She gasped in shock when she realized what she'd just done, and tried to stop herself, but the suction was too strong and she was pulled out into the stars.
She blinked in shock, radiating violet energy. She could feel her lungs being compressed... the pressure of space was quickly taking its toll on her, despite her newfound power. Her chest began to ache... but suddenly the violet form swept over her, engulfing her. Suddenly she could breath again, blanketed by the warm purple light.
"You..." A soft voice echoed in her head. Despite its softness, Mandy could feel a palpable hatred radiating from it. "I thought I killed you before you could take over my life... my name..."
"M... Mandy..." Mandy muttered softly. "You're the real... original... Mandy?" She whispered.
"Of course I am!" The voice howled back angrily. "You life-stealing, manipulative little murderer!" Mandy blinked, then howled as the violet energy began to surge through her body like a lightning strike. It felt like her nerves were on fire.
"Please... stop! STOP!" Mandy howled. Finally the energy stopped and Mandy hung limp in the glowing violet aura, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I... I don't remember being... a murderer..." She gulped. "I don't remember anything..."
"Why should I believe you? Why does it matter? Nothing would make me happier than killing you right now." The voice rumbled deep inside her mind. Mandy shook her head furiously.
"Please... don't." Mandy begged. "I AAAAAAGGGHH!" She howled in pain as another wave of energy swept through her, tearing through her nerves and igniting all of her senses. She was sure her body was going to explode any second. "P... Please... no..." Mandy begged desperately as tears flowed down already moist cheeks. "I don't... wanna... die..."
The energy stopped again and Mandy fell limp, sobbing uncontrollably in pain and helplessness. "I... I don't remember... I don't remember wanting to hurt anyone..." Mandy gulped.
"You don't remember?" The voice growled in her mind. "I'll make you remember!" The voice rose to a scream, and a stream of energy rushed through Mandy's brain. Mandy let out a tortured scream, her entire body convulsing under the assault on her mind. She shuddered in pain and horror, feeling like her mind was going to snap until suddenly memories began to trickle back...
"Just a little while longer, Zeninia..." One of her crew-members informed her with a cold, official tone of voice. "We're beginning the genetic resequencing... now." Zeninia looked up as the ceiling above her opened, and the mechanical arms moved down toward her bulbous Zardexian body. She closed her eyes, thinking of the last moments she'd spent with her lover before being sent on this mission.
"Once this is over..." He'd told her tenderly, with his limbs wrapped around her, stroking her. "Our people will be fed for years to come... we will be able to relax and enjoy our time together."
"I will make sure that we have that peace, my love..." Zeninia replied.
"Beginning memory implant." One of the scientists outside her tube stated. Zeninia twitched with her new human limbs as a flood of images entered her mind, spreading to every part of it. She could remember everything, from the faces of Mandy's past to the events of her death. It was remarkable... never had a Zardexian been infused with such powerful memories. Memories of hatred... pain... anguish... love. All mixed together in a complex cyclone. It was more than she could bare, and she leaned against the glass.
"Zeninia!" One of the scientists shouted worriedly. Suddenly the warning lights began to flash.
"Sir! We've spotted something approaching us on radar!" One of the pilots shouted. "It... it looks like a patch of static. We can't identify it with any of our sensors."
"Could it be a malfunction?" One of the scientists asked.
"Possib... What is THAT!?" One of the pilots screamed. Zeninia forced her eyes open through the flood of painful memories. A shining violet shape soared through the crisp, blue Earth air toward them, a cry of sheer anger piercing the minds of everyone on board the ship. It flew straight toward them, pulsing with energy.
"Avoid it! Now!" The captain shouted quickly. The ship turned, but not nearly fast enough. The violet form tore through the hull like it wasn't even there, ripping the ship apart like a child's toy. Zardexian screams and the sound of metal tearing from metal filled the air, until the glass around Zeninia cracked open. The arms that were operating on her gave way before they could finish their work, plunging Zeninia into a state of confusion.
She felt the floor under her feet give way, torn apart by the force of the entity that moved down upon them. She gasped in shock as the violet shape swept over her, engulfing her in violet energy that felt so familiar... it was like she'd lost it and only just now found it again. This feeling held until she lost consciousness within the violet energy field.
Mandy's eyes opened finally, to find the violet energy once again surrounding her as it had before. "You... I... don't understand..."
"I thought you would die. I wanted you to suffer, I thought if the impact didn't kill you, starvation would." The voice told her darkly. "If I knew you would survive, I would've killed you like I did the other filthy murderous vermin."
"Please... don't kill me." Mandy begged. "I know I seem like I probably deserve it..." She closed her eyes. "But... I didn't hate anybody..."
"Shut up!" The violet energy poured through her again, tearing into her. She screamed in agony. "You're a blight on the universe, you and your whole Goddamned race! I may not be strong enough to do anything about them... but I can have the satisfaction of taking you out just like that sleaze ball you called a comrade, The Reverend! Now shut up and die!"
Mandy howled in agony as the power roared through her. No... not Mandy... was she? This was Mandy... Mandy was the being trying to kill her... and rightly so. Everything she'd gone through... Zeninia knew very well. She knew better than anyone could. This pain she felt now felt like nothing compared to the kind of torture Mandy had gone through in her life.
"Y... you're right!" Zeninia screamed into the pulsing violet cloud. She must have caught Mandy off guard, because the torture ceased for the moment. Zeninia relaxed, sobbing in pain and hugging herself in a desperate bid for comfort. "You're right..." She sniffled. "You're right... what... what we did to you... is unforgivable..." She closed her eyes. "But I didn't know... exactly what was happening..."
Her memories were slowly returning, but she found herself wishing they weren't. Looking at her life through the human perspective Mandy's memories provided left her with only one conclusion. "I... am a monster... we all are..." She shuddered in revulsion. "I never even realized... but I don't want to be a monster anymore... I don't want to kill anyone that way anymore!"
"Are you asking me for forgiveness? For pity?" Mandy's voice scoffed in her mind. "You're barking up the wrong tree, Zardexian. I have no forgiveness for you or your kind."
"Please..." Zeninia begged desperately, lowering her chin to her chest. "I'm not a Zardexian anymore..." She squeezed her eyes shut, choking back her sobs of fear and pain. "I don't want to be a Zardexian... I've felt what humanity can be like. So calm... so gentle..." She trailed off for a moment, then opened her eyes and lifted her chin high again. "I want to be human..."
"Bahahahahaha!" Mandy's laughter echoed in her mind mockingly. "You? Human? Don't make me laugh. You're not talking your way out of this."
"Then... please... at least... let me help set things right. With the humanity that remains... and with Clover..." Zeninia begged softly. "Then..." She gulped. "I'll let you kill me."
"Let me kill you? Like you could stop me." Mandy mocked.
"Clover's in danger. I... you... loved her once. Her... and Alex." Zeninia replied. The voice in her head fell silent. "As long as the Zardexians exist they're in danger... but I think together we might be able to make a difference..." The voice remained silent for a long time, as the violet energy swirled around her in random patterns.
"Okay... we'll do what we must first." Mandy told her. "Then you will die."
"Fair enough..." Zeninia replied softly. "We should move fast... there's no telling what they'll do now..."
TO BE CONTINUED