Chapter 11

The subtle buzz in her palm warned Xena that her pistol was running out of ammo. "Hear that?" she murmured. "There's more of them coming from behind us."

"Now what?" Boa panted, putting his hands on his knees, trying to get his breath back.

"We keep... going?" Xena cocked her head to the side.

"Xena! Can you hear me? Open your mind," a feminine voice rang in her head, full of authority.

"Who said that?" Xena looked around, confused.

"I didn't say anything," Boa responded quizzically. He hadn't heard anything.

Still looking confused, Xena lowered her head and gently touched her temple. Suddenly she snapped up. "We keep going," she announced robotically.

Boa was dragged along behind in her wake, like some kind of magnetic pull. This is crazy! he thought. Boa Fett, out of Ursa by Fett, what are you doing! Run back the other way! There's about a million Magog who all want to eat you up ahead! Hi legs refused to listen to his mind, however, and he continued walking.

Xena appeared like a completely different person. Her shoulders were thrust back and her stride was sure. Her bone blades flared as she raised her hands to sweep her sweaty chestnut brown hair out of her eyes. She looked like a queen about to appear before her loyal advisors.

Up ahead, the Magog smelled fresh blood.

Their leader grinned and let the uniformed leg he had been gnawing on fall to the deck. "C'mon, boys!" he grated out. "At 'em!"

Xena walked around the corner. She slowly waved her right hand once across her body, and half the Magog froze where they were. She flicked out her left hand and a green glob flew from her fingers, enveloping the others.

Eyes flashing, Xena moved her right hand again, and the Magog slammed into the wall. Sweat beaded on her face and dripped into her eyes. The Magog shifted uneasily, and Xena could feel her control slipping as she walked by all of them. For a split second she could feel the malevolence in the Magog minds.

"Let the boy go first," the voice said in her mind. "You are one of us."

"Who are you?" Xena asked aloud.

Boa cocked his head curiously. The Magog snarled warningly. Xena looked back with eyes like daggers, and they quieted.

"We are you. You are us."

"What?"

"We'll be coming for you. No matter what happens, we'll ensure your survival."

"Huh?"

The Magog tensed and Boa looked around nervously, wondering if Xena had finally lost it. She's talking to invisible people, he thought. He couldn't hear the voice Xena did.

"Naganna and Siriel are keeping the savage creatures at bay through your body, but it won't last. Have the boy get to where he needs to be. No matter what happens, I'll keep you alive."

"Selena, we're losing it," came another female voice. As if in response, the Magog growled and unsheathed their claws. This voice was light, but with an air of malevolence behind it.

"Have him go now," another voice ordered. Deeper than the other, this one was also female, with a rich tone of nobility and righteousness. "Where he needs to be isn't far."

"Fett, run!" Xena yelled. "Go!"

Boa knew better than to argue with her when she got that look. He ran, and the Magog took no notice.

As one, the creatures converged on Xena.

She screamed.

-xXx-

Boa ran, trying to ignore the fact the deck seemed to be vibrating beneath him. He knew it was only the fatigue of his leg muscles. He stumbled, fell, and rolled to end up on his feet and run again. I'm a mechanic, not a marathon runner, he thought. He just wanted to fall in a heap on the floor and sleep for days, but he knew he couldn't. Boa kept his eyes focused on the deck below him, watching his feet to get his mind off the distance.

Right, left, right, left, right, left, right... wall.

Boa tried to halt his momentum, as the door to Command seemed to just appear out of nowhere. Failing to stop, he slammed into the door, falling backwards.

As the door refused to open and Boa rose to his knees, a wave of hopelessness and anger swept through him. To have come so far and not be able to get in! "Open sesame?" he groaned halfheartedly.

Much to his surprise the door hissed open, and Trance offered him her hand. "Come in, Fett. We need you."

Boa took the offered hand and once again felt the deck vibrate again as he stood and walked in. "Cap'n, sir," he saluted wearily. "Point me to the thingy." He waved his hand vaguely, too tired to try and remember what he was talking about. "The thingy for the ship."

Trance smiled and led him over to (whatever the hell that funkadelic yellow thing is.)

Boa fell to his knees, barely noticing the pain. He pulled a small, canvas-bound bundle from a pocket, revealing an astonishing array of tools that would have gotten him arrested on most planets.

"Have you seen Gaheris? Veghn?" Boa looked up and saw worry hidden behind her calm façade.

"No ma'am, I haven't seen Veghn, but I did see two Rhades. Neither were seriously injured." He paused. "I gave one the PSB."

Preview of Chap12: Harper completes the weapon. Gaheris has to volunteer for a suicide mission.