Happy 100th story from me.
I know I retired Talia Xanatos, but I realized I left a big mystery regarding The Weird Sister's vision of her destiny. This was one of the only things I planned for the anthology, but I forgot where my notes were for a bit.
For those that don't know, in the gargwiki, it's stated that Alex would be kidnapped by the Space Spawn. We don't have a ton of information about the Space Spawn so this is just my guess of how it could look.
Talia would have saved Alex from the Space Spawn, but the invasion of Earth would have freed Queen Mab. Talia would die during the war to control Avalon.
Discovery
Ta' X4 nodded as the rest of hir "coworkers" left. They were all willingly to stab each other in the back if it meant getting more power. Zie got up from the metallic/organic fiber woven cushion. There were some things zie couldn't hide and hir connect to plant life was one of them. Even alien fibers helped ease the pain of being away from home.
"Ta', Grand General wants to see you." Sh, G7 stood in the doorway.
"Really?" Zie asked.
"You better not have done something stupid, you really can't survive being pushed any lower." Sh,'s form flared.
"Don't tell me what I can't survive!" Ta' snarled with the ferocity of an ancient force.
Sh, paused. Zie had never seen Ta' act like this. Maybe there was hope for hir yet. Sh, hated seeing Ta' getting bullied.
"I didn't mean to say it like that, Sh,. They were extra mean today." Ta' pouted. Sh,'s maw curled, maybe Ta' really need hir after all…
They walked to Grand General's chambers. The deep emerald walls contrasted with light red furnishings. The materials were absolutely not for the common Spawn. They were spoils from past conquests. Grand General was sitting at a gold trimmed table with a small platter of food. She dismissed her servants and Sh, G7. Ta' sat on the chair, noticing the cushion on it. The two left regarded each other.
"I know that is comfortable for you, Ta' X4." Grand General told hir.
"My time on Earth had done permeant damage. No one knows how." Ta' allowed the Alusfious tea to be poured.
"Even the damaged can contribute." She sipped her cup. Ta' mirrored Grand General's.
It tasted like pine with a hint of peppermint. Ta' spit out hir drink, but it was too late. Zie howled as hir Space Spawn form was taken from hir. In hir place was a human. Or at least something close to a human.
Grand General decided it was a mixed race woman. Her long black hair smelt of cosmic dust. Intense jade eyes brought more attention to her hawkish nose. Rings, necklaces, and other jewelry adorned her naked body. Her tan skin was covered in strange markings. She recognized a long forgotten word and realized those were blueprints. How many of them did the woman have on her?
"Whatever you're going to do, at least stop staring." Her voice had a subtle music to it.
"You killed my son and changed yourself into a Labor Spawn!" Grand General growled. She should have been Royal at the least!
"A prince for a prince." The woman bit into a Locarerien pastry. It was smeared all over her cheek.
"Why put yourself in danger like this? Who is your prince?" Grand General asked.
"The mortals will drive you back. I'm just helping them along." She drank an entire bottle of Earth wine, burping.
Grand General paused. One of her high priestess had told her that the Spawn would not be able to keep Earth. That they should have left Earth alone.
"You should have listened to her." She continued to eat.
"What are you?!" She asked.
The being's eyes glowed, growing brighter and more hypnotic, Grand General's head spun, she spoke. "I am your downfall."
Grand General blinked and suddenly felt ill. Poison. Ta' X4 called for her servants before collapsing. So weak, but yet… Grand General knew, had always known there was something in the young Spawn. Something she needed to coax out.
Ta' X4 woke up in the medical bay. Sh, G7was at hir side instantly. "You and Grand General were poisoned. Once the traitor is found, there will be a holovised execution. This is inexcusable."
They were transported to Sh,'s quarters. Ta' was on hir bed. Zie coughed, sitting up.
"Ta', stay still." Sh, tried to get hir to lie down. "How did we teleport here? There's no teleporters in the bay."
"It's been 49 years since we met, Sh, G7. You are my ally, are you not?" Ta' asked.
"Ta', what's going on?" Zie asked.
"Answer me." Ta' growled.
"Yes, I am, but I-"
A whirlwind filled the room. A human woman replaced Ta'. Sh, knew that this was no ordinary human, but the scariest part was that this being was young.
"How old are you?" Sh, asked.
"248-"
"You're so young! You're a baby!" Sh, shrieked.
"No, Shauna, it's different for me, Shauna, listen. I'm… a teenager. My magic became a part of me when I was brought back from the brink of death by my father. My name is Talia." Talia told hir.
There was a long pause. Talia's face twisted as she tasted the wine. Red wine was gross, but it gave her enough energy to wipe Grand General's mind. A pang of guilt racked her as she remembered Kai. Her protector and guardian of her home, her children. She broadcasted a message to him and hoped he would get it soon.
"Are you a teenager by Children standards or…" Sh, asked.
"Biologically. My aging slows as I get stronger. And apparently space magic counts." She put some clothes on. A shirt and jeans. "I embody all three Earth races. I'm what's known as a Chimera Halfling. Half mortal, half Third Race, Child of Oberon. Chimera because I have multiple different magicks active. Spawn is technology based, Children are energy based. Learning how to tap into space energy was difficult, but I did it…"
"What kind of magic do you have?" Sh, watched her.
"Trickster, Power, and Fertility." The bracelets jangled as she stood up.
"Why shouldn't I tell any Spawn about you?" Sh, frowned.
"See those stars outside? The bright ones." Talia pointed. Sh, nodded.
Talia shifted her hand into a Space Spawn's and stuck it out the window. The lights flickered as Talia drew their power to her. Rain soaked, stone rich earth mixed with undertones of apple spice and lilacs filled Sh,'s senses. She glowed uncontrollably. Wind whipped around the room and became stronger as the stars' energy reached her.
Then she let it go. Talia sat back on the bed, buzzing. Sh, G7 straddled Talia's lap. Talia growled, fangs grazing Sh,'s neck, as zie rubbed hir body against hers.
"Ta', you've been denied pleasures you deserve for too long." Sh, whispered.
"Shauna, if you mate me-" Talia warned.
"Our offspring will be strong." Sh, yelped as she was pinned to the bed.
Two work cycles passed before any Spawn realized Sh, G7 was missing. Halfway down the hall to hir quarters, all the Spawn who were sent turned back. Sh, was mating with some powerful being. Some were jealous and others wondered who zie had submitted hirself to.
Sh, lay next to Talia, stroking her freshly washed hair. It was barely comparable to silk. Talia was covered with scratch and bite marks, even a few hours after their last mating. Sh, was careful not to injure her. Humans were very easy to scar.
Talia rolled over and yawned blearily. "Adri?"
"No, Shauna." Sh, said softly. Zie had gathered that Talia had had many lovers, but 'Adri' was among her favorite.
Talia frowned briefly before remembering. "When did I shower?"
"I washed you. I know a sorceress. She can help you." Sh, said.
"What part of low profile don't you get? I'm trying to keep things as smooth as possible." Talia said, stretching.
"You need a magic teacher. Te- S0 is among the strongest." Zie argued.
"Shauna, you have to go against Grand General. Can you do that?" Talia asked.
"You are stronger than she is." Sh, told her.
"Yes, but I need as many allies as possible. I need to show the other races I mean business." She warned her.
"You do what you must." Zie said.
"But I can't show my powers off every time to convince a Spawn to keep my secret." She growled.
"Oh, that's not a problem. We've mated a lot." Sh, smiled.
"What's that mean?" Talia asked.
"The other Spawn know I have been claimed by a powerful being. They don't know it's you. If you let a little bit of your Earth power show through while dominating them as Ta' X4, they'll submit to you. I didn't believe you and Ta' X4 were the same at first, but I know now." Sh, G7 nuzzled her.
"That explains the bath. Kai's gonna be sizing you up for years." Talia groaned.
"Who is Kai?" Sh, asked.
"My servant and lover. He's guarding my house and children until I come home." She explained.
"We must save them. There is a planet that-" Sh, started.
"My destiny is to save Earth from Spawn rule and maybe from something else, but that's not important right now. How long should I be in the bay?" She said.
"A few more cycles. You drank the entire cup of tea." Sh, nodded.
"… Go get your sorceress." Talia's stomach growled.
"After I get you food." Sh, G7 got up and left.