THE VIOLENT FLAMES DIE WHEN THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW THROUGH THEM
Location somewhere in the galaxy, standing in dock nine on the Iron Year science vessel.
I died it almost doesn't seem real. It feels like a memory that I didn't quite live but I was standing there. Watching some strange things happen that I really can't comprehend. Even if I wanted to I couldn't find the words there just not there and there even harder to speak. I mean how to thing or even speak about something that just seems so unreal, almost dreamlike? It could have been a dream…I say dream but that ugly looking Yautja felt more like some nightmare. A nightmare I don't feel ready to relive in my mind. What in the hell was that anyway? I mean it was just horrible all I could smell was rotting fresh and burning bone was it came closer to me. The smell made me sick to stomach it was that rancid. Hell I've seen people with there inside hanging out and there bodies cut in two yet it didn't get to me like that being did. That being chilled my insides in every possible way. The worst thing about all this is I saw my father, which doesn't seem possible because he's dead! There two many questions going through my head right now.
There are also not enough answers, which only makes me feel even more insecure about what's just happened. Geeze…I could even smell the rusty iron smell on my dad's clothes. I can always remember that smell so clearly, I mean he used to come home from work and I used give him a strong tea and watch him put his work jacket on the chair. I got used to that jackets smell over the years, I mean no matter how much it was washed the smell of gritty iron never really came out. I remember that when he passed away that jacket was left on his chair, which nether Ian or me sat in. It's almost like a monument to his memory nether of as want to forget him as long as we live. He was there when no one else was. He was there to scoop as up as little kids and play catch with as in the Eros desert. He was the one who made all the problems go away. He always stuck up for as despite the flack he got from others about our childish misbehaviour. I'll be honest that was more my misbehaving than Ian's.
He didn't carry any spite for our mother despite her walking out which he never really talked about. No he was just happy to have as and be a good father. He only ever wanted what was best for as and he always pushed our interests. I mean Ian he taught him the finer points of mining the raw metals and drilling. With me he made sure that there was enough money that I could buy books and study as well as go to the science institute. Makes me remember how much I miss him now thinking about all this. I'd almost forgotten because I was so wrapped in up in turmoil over these months about everything else that I ether couldn't face or was afraid to. Makes me realize that I can never forget where I came from and whom I've met along the way. You meet so many people in your life that sometimes you just forget the importance of your roots and where you came from. It's something I'm not going to forget again or let it vanish in my mind. I had so many good memories on Eros.
Memories I wouldn't trade for the world, just like the time I've been with Jeuki. Those memories are so important to me, I wish dad had lived to meet him I guess if what he was saying in my vision was true they would've gotten real well. Now here I stand back from the dead just happy to back more happy than I've ever been. I wish I'd seen Jeuki smash in Oni Jui's face I would've like that, still I'm just glad he won the battle and is alive and well. I wanted to help him smash that son of bitches face in. Still from what I've just been told there's a punishment waiting for Oni Jui, which is horrible beyond words. A traitor's punishment only kept for bad-blooded hunters. I can see the fear in his eyes he's a mess. He has two bleeding stumps where his hands where. He has lost a lower mandible and has broken armour in which green blood is running through the chest plate. I feel sorry for one of the young bloods, the poor guy took a beating and one of his lower mandibles is badly broken.
He's taking it well though despite that he having trouble speaking in his own races language. I admire that he came to help Jeuki at the cost of breaking something. I know he's the one who called me puny, I got the impression he didn't like me. Not that I blame him I guess his race must find excepting Jeuki's relationship with me hard. I'm just glad my lungs have stopped aching it's felt hard to breath in I kept having to breath in through my oxygen mask. Emma turned slightly as Jeuki clamped her shoulder cannon back in to place he slowly fixed one of cords to her sight lens. Emma looked up at him. "Thank you." Jeuki tapped his upper right mandible. "You feel any better?" Emma moved her hand up running it across his lower mandibles. "I'm fine I just need help to stand." Jeuki looked down slightly. "Is the pain in your chest gone?" Emma nodded slowly. "I just ache, I'll be fine." Jeuki opened his mandibles slightly in concern. "Will you be alight to pilot the ship?" Emma patted his chest plate. "Jeuki I'm fine, just help me up."
Jeuki slowly stood up taking hold of Emma's waist and pulling her gently to her feet. "If you feel light-headed just say something. I don't want you to pass out." Emma grabbed his plating pulling him down slightly; she gently kissed on his mandibles causing him to go quite. "Stop worrying about me Jeuki. I'm here and I'm going to be fine." Jeuki nodded calmly in understand meant he pulled up slightly watching as Idosoi winced in agony as rubbed some of blue liquid on his broken mandible. The young blood leaned down, taking one of the other tools from Erisoki med kit. He felt sorry for these two they didn't have the advanced med kits that both Emma and himself and Erisoki had. They only had the lesser version, which came of the back but opened sideways and was more crude and lacking in painkillers. He watched as the young blood pulled out some liquid bandage ripping it slightly. He sighed as the younger hunter fiddled with it trying to wrap it around his broken mandible with out success.
He had the same problem when he'd been hit the face by the power surge. He moved closer watching him look up trying not to show his pain. He patted his shoulder slightly. "Let my mate do it for you, because her hands are small she can wrap it very easily." Idosoi grunted in annoyance. "No offence but I don't need her help." Jeuki leaned forward narrowing his gaze. "Okay how's about we just let you not tie it right. Causing your mandible not to heal properly then you'll find you can't speak properly for the rest of your life." He opened his mandibles slightly. "Imagine that being mocked for your speech just because you didn't let my mate tie it." Idosoi growled aloud. "Fine! I get the message." Jeuki turned seeing that Emma was looking at Oni Jui who was still kneeling in total submission in front of Erisoki. He eased up his clawed hand. "Emma could you tie the bandage for this young blood he's having difficulty?" Emma turned slightly ignoring Oni Jui's sudden howls of agony as blue liquid was put on his wounds by the other young blood.
She looked around seeing the other young blood look up at her. "One second I just need to do something first." Erisoki turned watching as the female ooman stood still in front of Oni Jui. He moved his gaze slightly what was she doing? She couldn't kill him by the law of the Tosuji clan it was forbidden. As he was waiting for his punishment, he though Jeuki had told her that. Emma watched as the young blood moved back slightly. She could see both were watching her intensely she watched Oni Jui's gaze met her own he flared his mandibles in disgust. She pulled back as the young blood smacked him with his staff side hard causing him to lower his head instantly. Emma narrowed her gaze in anger. She felt her wrist blades fly out as she clenched her fist. "I can't wait to see the look on your face when they punish you Oni Jui! I want to see the look of fear when you see your death staring you in the face." Oni Jui snarled raising his eyes slightly. "Disgusting ooman female." Emma leaned closer. "You call me disgusting yet you don't even kill your prey with honour."
She smiled evilly. "Doesn't it just get to you that a human has more honour than you do?" She laughed slightly enjoying Oni Jui's anger as he flared what was left of his mandibles. "Your own prey out classes you…that must get to you mustn't it you filthy coward." Oni Jui looked slightly. "You'll never be a real hunter just an ooman wearing Yautja armour!" Emma leaned closer. "You don't even deserve your armour, I pity the hunter who ever gave you the right to wear such armour." She narrowed her gaze. "I mean you're always going to be scum. You know what the best thing is about you being scum? You get to meet your end knowing that a human who's hunter got to see it!" Oni Jui snarled aloud. "Filthy little ooman!" Emma leaned forward grabbing his helmet from its clamp. She watched him roar only to be smacked harder by the young bloods staff. "I might be a filthy ooman to you but I'm the one who's going to keep your helmet as a trophy item! Since I'm the one who put blade marks in it."
Oni Jui flared his mandibles in anger. "You didn't kill me ooman, you don't have the right!" Emma eyed him before slamming the helmet across his face causing him to howl in pain. "I have every right! You're a disgusting unworthy bastard who killed me! I have every right to take away anything I want from you since your dishonoured!" She snarled smacking him again full force with the heavy helmet. "I'm so glad my mate was the one to bring to your knees! Believe me I wouldn't have been so merciful. I would've killed you outright since you worked with one of my own kind to make a hybrid hard meat queen! My species my not approve of me but I hate that they've had to suffer on this ship because of what you and Oran started!" She turned away watching Oni Jui shake his head painfully. "Still I'm more hunter than you'll ever be, despite how I feel personally your clan has laws and I have to follow them." She turned eyeing him. "I'll follow them even if means I don't get to kill you, despite that I think you should die." Oni Jui snarled in anger. He pulled back as he was hit full force with the staff.
Jeuki watched as Emma clamped the helmet to her side. "Okay I'll tie that bandage for you now." Jeuki eyed Oni Jui's helmet hanging off her armour. "Trophy?" Emma watched as the young blood leaned down so she could tie his bandage. "The gash marks over the left eye where made by me, I assume that makes it mine." Jeuki nodded slightly ignoring Idosoi'syelp of pain as Emma tied the bandage tight. "All his armour will be stripped anyway as soon as we get out of this place. So you can take what ever you want, I want his shoulder cannon personally." Erisoki breathed in deeply clamping his med kit back in to place. "We need to leave now!" He watched as Adarmi dragged Oni Jui to his feet. Jeuki watched as Idosoi picked up the huge queen trophy. "Ready here." Jeuki looked at Emma. "Were ready." He turned looking at their huge ship, which was still in its place along a long stretch of docking bridge. "We are going to out of here as fast as possible!" Erisoki watched Jeuki and his mate run forward he ran after them watching the others follow.
8
Oran eyed the door in front of him, which was a jar. He growled aloud kicking it open he was sick of locked doors and dimming lights. His gaze turned as he gazed at the docks central control room. The darkness of the room was irritating. Who the hell had turned off the lights anyway? He moved forward to the panel typing slowly. His gaze turned as he heard a scratching sound behind him, he growled watching as the lights came back on. He turned swinging his shoulder cannon around as a set of black four mandibled jaws came at him. The next moments caused them to be blown apart as the first cannon fired followed by the second, which hit the Xeno's head. He watched as it hit the floor its acid blood slowly burning through the floor. His gaze turned as he looked at the bloody footprints, which had been made by him. He followed the red blood slowly to what looked like a torn apart body. He moved closer, it was hard to tell who it was the face had been ripped clean off ravelling a screaming skull.
He could see that the now skeleton hands had been chained to a cupboard and a broken chain lay where the feet where. He narrowed his gaze, noticing the holes in the upper lab coat where the toothed tongue had penetrated over and over again. He moved forward looking at the caress closer it had been a women he could still see long hair. He moved a little closer seeing the tag. He pulled it off wiping the blood off with his finger. He pulled back in shock as the smiling face of Julia Ibos came in to view. He growled throwing the card to one side. Some asshole was killing his important people on purpose! He kicked the door near by hard noticing that it was locked. Emma Wingates doing no less! He growled aloud his gaze turning as he looked at the electronics. It had to be Wingates she'd re routed power from other systems! He leaned over his gaze narrowing; the power had been taken from his office! He slammed his fist down hard How dare she do this! He was going to have her head this!
He turned typing in to the panel watching as the locks on the door flew back as the main door was opened. His gaze drifted to the dock bellow he could see his ship sitting bellow. His gaze turned the altered drop ship wasn't next to it though, he smiled no doubt the two marines he'd assigned to look after it had taken it out of the dock to keep it safe. He looked at the dock his gaze drifting as black figures slowly started to come out. He narrowed his gaze Xeno annoying hybrids who had been hiding! He typed faster watching as the docking clamps came free he didn't have time for these bastards right now! He grabbed his pulse rifle moving his shoulder cannon he'd kill them all! He turned kicking the door open harshly watching as Xeno jumped on to the docks platform hissing. There were at least fifty of them all hissing and flaring there mandibled jaws. He turned crying out in anger as the came towards him full speed. He was not going to be stopped! He was the god of this place not them!
He narrowed his gaze as his gun went off filling the air a roaring sound. He laughed as limps where blasted apart followed by the fire as his shoulder cannon which carried on firing. He watched as more fell as he carried on firing. He turned sharply slicing one of them across the head with the blades as it jumped at him. It dead body hit the ground hard as it landed with the other bodies. He turned raising his gun seeing the others remaining Xeno's hiss before turning and fleeing back in to the lower dock. He smiled moving forward ignoring the dead bodies, his altered marine gun was working far better than the normal pulse rifle. He turned looking at his ship before calmly typing the code. He pulled back as the door slowly opened he walked in slowly watching as it closed behind him. A wide grin spread across his face he'd made it. He narrowed his gaze throwing his rifle down before walking forward and sitting in the front chair. He turned looking at the open dock before turning on the switches.
The low roar of the engine hit his ears he grabbed the controls. He had to get to the Iron Year! They'd no doubt be getting ready to blow this place to hell. He raised an eyebrow so much two years work in a shipyard to build this vessel. What a waste of manpower he'd make sure to build a bigger and stronger ship next time. He grunted aloud feeling the ship move as he moved the controls. He moved them slightly back feeling it lift of the floor. He smiled widely at least something still worked his beautiful ship still had power and no doubt it's Yautja hyper drive. He felt the force of the engine as he reversed back. His hands gripped the control as he pushed them forward feeling the force as he sped out of the dock.
8
Emma watched as Jeuki pulled up a clawed hand. He quickly typed the code in to the door watching as it slowly started to open. She smiled slightly. "I never thought I'd be so happy to be back here." Jeuki turned slightly he slowly eased off the breathing collar watching as it sides went inwards. "Me nether." He slowly passed it to her. Emma quickly put the collar on feeling it clamp back in to place around her throat. She found herself coughing slightly as it readjusted to her air. Jeuki pulled out his lower mandibles as the doors came down fully. "We just had to do the codes inside and then we can get out of this place." Emma nodded calmly. "Ready when you are." Erisoki looked at the ship. It was in really good shape, it had even had new work done to make it look better by the looks of things. He lowered his gaze looking at the now opened door. Emma and Jeuki slowly moved in side followed by the others. He looked at the ship; he would have talked to them about this beautiful handy work if there had been more time.
He moved in side looking at the clean inertia, it wasn't dirty like when he'd had a visit last time but very clean. Every item was stacked neatly and tidily he watched as the little ooman grabbed some strong cord out of one of the long draws. This was normally used to tie up the hard meat queen. She tossed it at Adarmi who caught it. Adarmi looked at the cord before eyeing Oni Jui figuring out what the little ooman wanted. He nodded calmly then grabbed Oni Jui harshly moving him to the back of the ship. He turned slightly watching Erisoki close the huge door, before turned to watch Emma and Jeuki as they both typed codes in to ether side of panels. Jeuki looked up as the huge ship came to life. "Tie Oni Jui to the side wall tightly!" Erisoki turned sharply it wasn't worth giving Jeuki or his mate orders here this was there ship they knew it better than he or the others did. He looked at Oni Jui who was being tied by his arms to the wall. He eyed Idosoi who was looking around him while holding the huge trophy, which was having problems carrying.
Jeuki turned sharply. "Trophy rooms the huge room on the left pick a wall there's plenty of space!" He turned watched as Emma ran her fingers down the panel before typing bringing up the hologram of the dock. "Is this going to be difficult?" Emma looked at the hologram. "No there are still ships leaving we just have to avoid hitting them." Jeuki turned back quickly. "Well we've got in here we can get out." Emma began to type listening the engines come online. "We can do this I mean we got here we can get out." Jeuki nodded before typing in to the panel. Erisoki felt the sudden jerk as the ship rose upwards from the dock. He eyed Adarmi and Idosoi as they both backed up against a wall. This was going to be a rough ride he felt the ship jerk again as it moved backwards from the dock. Jeuki narrowed his gaze typing in one of the combinations. He watched as Emma typed fast causing the ship to swerve pulling away. She felt the ship move forward picking up speed as they came towards the tunnel leading out. Jeuki moved a clawed finger hitting the combination, which cloaked the huge vessel. He turned ignoring the screeching sound as the collision beeper as it started go off. Emma turned moving the ship so it avoided the cargo vessel, which moved past them. She breathed in typing faster looking the hologram trying her best to move the ship as other sped past as they moved through the huge tunnel leading to the opening.
8
Eddy looked up from his chair as the sergeant Sierra turned sharply. "We are loosing the tunnel sir! We can't hold it much longer!" Eddy breathed in deeply. "Hold it longer!" The sergeant looked up sharply. "We are starting to loose men sir! We can't do this any longer! We have to retreat and destroy the Iron Year! Eddy looked around sharply. "How many people are still left on the Iron Year?" The sergeant looked down. "I don't know sir but we have no choice!" Eddy turned sharply to the female marine at the computer panel. "Has the Ultra Sera had any word on ether ships?" The marine looked up. "None sir." Eddy turned watching as Bishop looked up. "The ship must be destroyed Sir." Eddy breathed in deeply, he turned in his chair putting both hands together. "Tell all marines to retreat from the tunnel." He put his closed hands to his forehead. "Tell them to blow up the tunnel permanently." He breathed in not liking what he was going to say next. "Point all forward cannons at the Iron Year and destroy her."
He watched in silence as the sergeant turned backing out orders through the panel. He leaned forward in chair looking down sadly. Of all the order he'd ever had to give in his life this had been the worst. He knew full well that there probably people still alive aboard the science vessel as well as people who were still leaving through the docks huge opening. He looked up slightly as Bishop android put a hand on his shoulder. "You're doing the right thing sir." Eddy breathed in leaning back in his chair. "There's nothing good about condemning people to their death." Bishop turned slightly. "No there isn't but you've saved so many who wouldn't have been saved." Eddy turned slightly. "If I could I'd save every human being." He leaned forward in the chair watching as the sergeant barked out the order to blow the tunnel. "So many have suffered this day, to many." Bishop put both hands behind his back. "Our last general believed that human losses where expectable." Eddy narrowed his gaze. "Unlike your last general, I believe that human life is precious and losses aren't expectable."
Bishop raised an eyebrow. "My I ask where you came to think in such a way Sir?" Eddy tapped his fingers on the arms of the chair. "I met someone very special, safe to say she taught me lot." Bishop turned slightly. "Sounds like you to were a couple." Eddy laughed slightly. "No we weren't, she's in love with someone else, I envy him." He leaned back further in to the chair. "I only hope she makes it out." Bishop eased up a hand. "I'm sure she'll be okay sir." Eddy watched as the Sierra turned sharply. "Ready to blow the tunnel on your order sir!" Eddy sighed aloud he looked out of the space glass to the right which showed the Iron Year's back half. He lowered his gaze. "Blow up the tunnel."
8
Lucy moved forward, watching as fire blasted out in to space as the tunnel between the Iron Year and the Sirius was blown apart. The huge battleship began to pull away slowly from the burning tunnel, which came apart harshly. Marcus turned the ship seeing Xeno's fly out in to space as the yanked itself free full force. The remaining tunnel was severed free from their doors it slowly came free floating in space. The massive battle ship began to turn slowly it's huge guns coming out of the ports as it slowly lined its self up to fire at the science ship. He pulled back as another blast of fire shot out from science vessel it's force smashing the huge plain of glass of level forty. The ship was coming apart fires were alive all over it. Somewhere blasting in to space while others burned inside glass windows his gaze moved as he saw more ship trying to get free through the huge dock opening. Lucy breathed in. "There getting ready to blow it aren't they?" Marcus looked at her. "Yes, I believe so."
Lucy leaned forward. "I hope Emma and Jeuki make it out." Marcus slowly leaned over putting a hand on hers. "They'll make it." He turned looking at the dock as more ship flooded out desperately. He turned sharply seeing what looked like a black ship fly out of the dock. He narrowed his gaze. "That bastard he's gotten out!" Lucy leaned over seeing Oran's ship fly past them full speed, it came to a stop next to Sirun. "Son of bitch!" She leaned over slightly. "I'll just send Eddy the message." She looked at the black ship feeling her rage boil in the pit of her stomach. That asshole didn't deserve to live! He deserved to die with his ship and its crooked experiments. Marcus turned back watching a huge cargo ship pull out the dock. His gaze turned as it slowly made it's way out, moving away from the huge dock, which was starting to close. "Come on Emma!" His gaze turned to the Sirun as the huge cannons turned fully to the huge science vessel. He breathed in sharply watching as the first gun fired. The others followed it, which pounded the huge ship blasting through it. The massive vessel bent and broke as the suction of space began to take hold. Fire blasted outwards in massive steams lighting the darkness of space it's huge body turned in space as it broke he watched as the cannons carried on firing repeatedly. He pulled the ship back as one of cannons fired its missile slamming through the great vessel full force. All his words left him as the huge ship blasted to pieces followed by a huge fire wave, which flew through space. Its broken body parts burned in the darkness while crooked chunks moved through the air each showing destruction and death as they floated by, drifting in to spaces dark abyss.
End of part 24
Silvermoonlight