Author's Note: This is a filler chapter, written to help me settle a few issues I was having with the story. Therefore, it is a break from the main story. While overall it is still important, you can skip this chapter without issue. Also, because of this chapter, the rating for this story has changed from T to M. I hope this won't be a problem for any of you readers, but now you know. If you dig the increase in violence, then this is probably tame. If you're not a fan, you have been warned. Now, ONWARD!


Miriva growled in frustration, turning the knob to the left while her other hand pressed two different wires together. The signal sputtered, slowly coming into focus, but still not clear. Where was the blasted signal? She just had it. Releasing the two wires, she fiddled around, finding two more. The signal grew stronger, the static changing into words. Yes. Yes, she'd found it again. She turned the knob a hair more, hoping to clear up the last of the static. Almost...

The transmitters suddenly popped, the machinery frying as the wires overloaded the systems. Miriva leapt back, yelping as she was showered by sparks and black smoke. She coughed, waving away the smoke before releasing a growl. Open flame ate at the inner panel, and black smoke poured from it like a charred husk. She'd busted the transmitter, and with it her hope of getting more information here was gone.

She stepped back and punched the Fallen device in frustration, a large cracked dent opening in the side and throwing off sparks, allowing small bits of fire to seep out. She'd forgotten to watch her strength again. With a grumble, she moved to the door, stepping over the Vandal corpse she'd made when she'd arrived. So far, her quest to find this, House of Dust, was a hit and miss. Despite the many secrets that the Devils worked with, and that the original message belonged to them, their communication signals had little on the Dust. All she'd been able to glean from the info was a possible location of the House. Southern Mexico. But nothing else. No info on what they were, their strengths or relations.

Stepping back outside, Miriva closed her eyes as the cold wind blew her face. The wilds of southern Russia was always calming to her. Far removed from the oppressing Kings, it allowed her to be more relaxed in her behavior. Not that she could let her guard down, her nerves prevented her from doing that, but she could be more lax. However, despite her efforts, something prevented her from relaxing. Something on the wind itself. Then it hit her. Blood.

She could smell it on the wind. Death and decay; fresh spilt blood staining the ground and riding on the wind. A guardian attack? No, couldn't be. Their beacons never went this far south, and a hunter would never kill enough to make a smell like this. Perhaps….

A muffled snarl drifted through the air, hitting Miriva and causing her to drop to the ground out of instinct. It came from the same place the smell did, and that snarl was something she'd recognize anywhere. Hive. Now it was starting to make sense. A fight with Hive, which would explain the blood and the snarl. Perhaps they had valuables, or better yet, information on this "House of Dust" which apparently studied the Hive. Deciding that stealth was important, always, she glided over the ground in the direction of the blood and distant snorting.


Cleo sits in corner. Lick Light from claw. Much tasty yes. Cleo buried Motes in mold. Save for later. Much great idea. Yes yes. Useful much when Cleo worm gnaws. Theo nice nice. Gave Cleo Motes snack. Much nice. Theo care for Cleo. Save from Wizards. Save from Luna. Wizards bad. Hurt Cleo. Make Cleo...do things. Make Cleo new, said Wizards. Weapon on Light. Cleo no know. Theo find. Theo save. Theo bring Cleo new life. Safe safe. No pain. Much nicer yes. Cleo feel new thing. Worm puzzle by it. New feel in Cleo. Theo make Cleo warm. No understand. Cleo like though. Much like yes. Nice nice.

Glance at door. Silent strange. Theo back usual time now. Cleo concern. Perhaps Theo trouble in. Perhaps Cleo check. Move to door. Listen close. No hear. Glance back. Theo forgot chain. Cleo free move. Perhaps. Glance at door. Theo may mad get. But Cleo must see why quiet. Cleo can do this. Long since, remember still.

Place hand on door. Cleo focus hard. Been while since last. Can do. Press hard. Hand vibrates. Funny feeling. Cleo start push through, hand through door. Slow. Much slow. Cleo have head through. See room yes. Dark. No light. Is fine. Cleo no like light. See dark much better. Push farther. Cleo through door now. No sound. Silent, like ghost said Wizard. Cleo breed to break in. Shakes head. Clear thought. Bad thought. Bad time. Before save. Theo save. Now focus. Theo focus. Where be Theo?

Glance of room empty. Strange things room fill. Known not what is. Cleo look at things, move round. Much see. No understand. Strange bottles. Boxes. Glowing things and smelly things. Cleo touch bottle, pulls back. Burn claw. Hot yes. Touch other bottle. No hot. Cleo pick up bottle. Stuff in. Blue color. Look close. Smell. Taste. Cleo puts back shaking head. Bad taste. Much nasty.

More room. Table with things. Not know them. Move closer, looking at box and stuff. Touch white box. Smooth like door. Table have things. Thing like far room but no. More small. More spread. Smell come to Cleo. Smell Light! Light here to find. Tasty Light. Smell different but good. Must find.

Cleo smell wall. Find wall, no Light. Smell but no see. Cleo frustrated. Worm be sated. No pain, but Light good. Make look be worth. Cleo go too far room. Jump on soft table. Sink in, strange feel on feet. Nice feel. Cleo sink in like rest. New soft table nice. Cleo stay little time.

Sound Cleo hear! Door to room. No Cleo door, other door! Theo say hide when door move. Cleo hide! Move to sit behind soft table. Skin go away. Make Cleo hard see. Wizard say make hard to find. Easy break in. Cleo find thought bad. Skill good very. Use can be used yes. Now good time.

Door open. Man come in. Man in mask. No see before. Can no tell. Man close door in hurry. Move to room center. Look round.

"How-how bad is it?"

Who talk to? Who be. Cleo think sound close. Theo yes? No tell.

"Growth has spread from bound down the arm and up the neck. Slowly approaching brain. Recommend immediate treatment."

New voice who be? Cleo may heard once? No tell. Robo voice much weird. Cleo no tell where from.

"Remove arm guards."

Man lift hand. Hand flash bright. Cleo cover eyes. Duck head. No wish spot.

Cleo glance back up. Man arm bare. Band on arm. Glow red. Spike much. Red veins. Wrap arm. Squeeze flesh down hand to. Man look at arm. Move to white box. Look at silver plate on box. Much odd. Man look at arm on plate. Lift hand. Pull off mask.

Theo? Theo strange look. Strange smell. Eyes green, glow little like Hive. Face thin, face pale. Red veins. Like arm. Up neck. Squeeze flesh. Close to jaw. No know what be Theo wrong. Cleo scared. Hide stay. Watch learn.

"This is getting out of hand. May I recommend…"

"Shut up Jarvis! Don't lecture me on my choices. I just need to keep it in check."

Theo move. Turn to large boxes. Pull out small boxes. Move quick. Start growl. Looking like Cleo, try find thing. Open small doors. Pull out tables. Strange thing. Still watch. Theo seem scared. Upset perhaps.

"Come on. Where is it where is it? I know it's here somewhere."

"Perhaps it's…"

"Jarvis, I swear I will shut you off if you don't shut your mouth!"

Theo move closer. Angry seem. Cleo start scared. No see Theo this like. Theo look at boxes, open box up. See Light! Light be there! Small tube. Needle end. Strange tube. Why Light be there?

Theo pick up tube. Seem calm. Happy now. Long breath.

"Ahh. There you are. Thank god."

Stick needle in arm. Light gone! Where go! Theo eat Light. Theo change. Eyes back normal now. Face full, color back. Red veins leave. Vanish from flesh. Up arm. Down neck. Back to band. Band no glow more. Look fine. Theo look normal. Happy.

"Ahhh. Yes. Much better. Hmm. Much better."

Theo put needle back. Rub arm, stretched fingers. Touch face.

"Apply arm guards.

Theo arm glow. Now armor again. Much strange. Cleo confused. What happen here?

"Infection has regressed. Presence of foreign substance reduced to less than 2%. Again, I must recommend that you cease these actions Theo. The effects they may have on you..."

"Are worth the risk. I told you not to worry about it. This is for the benefit of us all. I just need to be more careful. I need more Motes. I'm so close. I just need more time."

Theo turn, move back door. Leaves. Cleo alone. Cleo confused. Pokes head out. Theo worry Cleo. No understand word spoke. Theo have Hive smell but other. Cleo no understand why. Her from? No. New smell. Hive smell. Odd smell. Not know. Concern Cleo. Friend Theo trouble may be. Cleo hope no. Theo all Cleo have. Cleo no wish alone be again.


Miriva slowed her pace, dropping to all six to creep up the hill. She was down wind now, her scent would be far from these Hive. She could hear them much clearer now. Grunting, snarling. More animalistic than most Hive. But they were definitely Hive. The smell and sound were unmistakable. Old, dusty and slightly rotted. She was close. Climbing up on a rock, she peaked over the edge and gazed at the scene below.

It was absolute carnage, so much that it caused Miriva to gasp. Chitin plates and ash coated the ground in a huge swath of destruction. Black ooze, Hive worm discharge, seeped into the ground and off of some of the helmets. Some Hive bodies remained, heavily wounded but not yet dead. Thrall and Acolytes. However, what surprised Miriva is the types of Hive. Most of the carnage was red, showing them to be of the Hidden Swarm. However, the other type was odd. Orange, coated with black ash like substance. Then her eyes fell upon a living Acolyte with the same color armor. Its body looked burned, charred and covered in ash. The ooze that dripped from it was orange, and the ash that seeped from its body was black. Was this one of the "fire based Hive" that the letter mentioned? Another muffled groan filled the air, and Miriva tore her eyes from the burnt Hive, finding herself surprised again.

A third group of Hive was here, picking through the ruined pieces of chitin, with emphasis on the still living Hive. One of them resembled an Acolyte. The armor was bleached white, clean and clear, without blemish or crease. Or at least it would be, if it wasn't splattered with dripping black and pale grey blood, shattering the appearance of cleanliness and purity. The beasts had a massive, distended jaw, filled with jagged sharp teeth. Its claws were likewise massive and its eyes shone a blank, white in color. The few Thrall were the same, with massive distended jaws and claws. They were even more savage, tearing into wounded Hive like animals, ignoring the black fluid and ash the stained their white flesh.

The feral, white Hive viciously tore at the downed Acolyte, snorting and snarling loudly. It was eating it alive! All of these white, albino Hive had these savage traits and were EATING any surviving victims. Those not eating were dragging the few survivors across the ground towards a large hole which had opened up in the ground.

What in the world were these new Hive? She'd never seen or heard of anything like them, and how where they ripping the other Hive apart without disintegrating them. Perhaps it had to do with the green glow coming from their mouths and claws.

A large snarl snapped Miriva out of her thoughts, and she flinched, ducking down. One of the Acolytes approached a feasting Thrall. It snarled loudly, its jaw dropping farther than Miriva thought possible as it roared at the Thrall. The smaller Hive flinched, quickly glancing up before hesitantly stepping off of the brutalized Hive. The savage Acolyte grunted, then proceeded to grab it by its sole remaining leg and drag it towards the hole in the ground.

Miriva watched as the Acolytes did the same with the other survivors, chasing off the Thrall before dragging them towards the hole in the ground. As they entered it, there was a faint flash of light, then they appeared to be gone. Was something down there? She looked closer, and realized that the "hole" looked more like the gaping jaw of a worm which had burst out of the ground. She could make out what looked like possible teeth and maybe even some flesh, and the foul smell was clearly coming from it and not the Hive bodies. She'd seen enough for now. Better to remain hidden.

It was a full 3 minutes after the last Acolyte and Thrall vanished into the hole before Miriva started moving again. She sat up, glancing down at the now empty battle ground. Slowly, she stood up, eyes drained on the "mouth" as she moved down the hill. A stupid plan perhaps, but this wasn't her first time sneaking into a Hive hole.

Stepping towards the hole like mouth, she glanced in, then had to pull her head back to keep herself from gagging. The smell was foul, far more foul then she'd ever smelled before. She glanced back, and saw why the smell was here. The walls were not only flesh, confirming that it was biological, it was also coated in blood and gore. Some of it old and hardened, but most fresh and dripping. Mixed in with the bloody, fleshy walls, long strands of viscera stretched between the few teeth that jutted from the walls. Whatever this thing was, it was an unholy abomination, even by Hive standards.

Farther down into the tube, Miriva could make out a faint green glowing orb of some kind, floating within the "gullet" and taking up most of the space. Nothing else. These Hive must have went all the way it. She swallowed, grimacing and lifting a hand to her face. Was her desire for knowledge worth a trip down a worms rotting gullet.

Unfortunately, to her, yes. Her personal insanity with her heritage prevented her from doing otherwise. With a groan and one final suppress gag, she stepped inside. But she almost hurled again as her foot sank into the organic substance with a disgusting slurp.

She moved in deeper, grimacing with each disgusting step she took. The green light was just in front of her now. As far as she could tell, the only place left to go was forward. Slowly, she stepped towards the orb, extending a hand to touch it first. Her fingers brushed the orb, and a tingle shot up her spine.

Miriva let out a yelp as she was suddenly yanked forward before colliding with the ground, face first. She groaned, shifting her weight before rolling onto her back. She noticed three things by her first blink.

One: Whatever she had touched had just pulled her through to the other side, confirming that it must be some Hive magic.
Two: The floor she'd collided with and lay on was no longer organic, but stone and earth. Natural.
Third: The awful smell, while still present, was greatly reduced from what it had been before.

She sat up, using her lower arms to support her weight while she placed an upper arm on her face. Mask was still intact, though the bone didn't really give her face much padding when it hit the floor. Her eyes opened and she scanned the area. She could see the green orb, still drifting in front of her, unchanged. However, what was odd was that behind it, she could clearly make out a solid wall. She rose a brow, then turned to look behind her. Instead of seeing the opening she'd entered through, she spotted another tunnel. Had she been… teleported? That would certainly explaining the flashing before, but this concerned her. There was no telling where she was at all. She could be deep underground or on the other side of the planet for all she knew.

Jumping to her feet, she decided that it would be best to take this new situation while standing and ready. With stealth she'd practiced hundreds of times, she crept through the darkened tunnel without a sound, a hand against the wall to make sure she'd have some sense of direction. As she went deeper, the smell returned as she got deeper in, and she lifted a hand to her mouth, trying not to gag. Why was it like this? It was horrid. She rounded another corner and froze, kicking herself for asking for the smells source.

A large room lay before her, the ceiling high, making it quite spacious. Or it would be, if it weren't for the massive chained hooks and the bodies dangling from them! There were dozens and of all different species! Fallen, human and even other Hive, all strung up by their throats or shoulders, dangling slightly as blood dripped from their bodies. Many had their stomachs slashed open, allowing their organs to hang out and drip over their legs. Other's had limbs torn off, and still others looked like they'd been partially eaten before being hung. However, in some ways, they were all alike. All had large amount of blood dripping from their bodies, staining their clothes and dripping onto the ground to form a miasma of swirling colors. And all seemed to stare straight at Miriva, their eyes blank and faces drawn in expressions of pain and horror.

Miriva stepped back and hurled, bracing herself against the wall as she vomited not once, but twice. The torn flesh and mixing blood smelled horrendous, and the appearance was something she'd never wished to see? It reminded her far too much of her mother. The way she'd been brutalized, beaten and battered, bleeding and broken, left to die why she watched. She grabbed her head, shaking it to clear the nausea and painful memories. She could not afford to breakdown here, not within a place like this. She needed to get out, before anything that may be down here found her.

As if to prove her point, a barking sound came from the tunnel behind. She glanced up, eyes wide as she wiped the vomit from her teeth. Something was coming down the tunnel towards her. She stepped back, hands creeping across the wall as she frantically looked for an escape. But there was no way out except….

She turned, grimacing and shuddering at all the bodies that dangled before here. There was no other way except through the slaughter. She whimpered, whispering a silent prayer to Oryx, then stepped into the room. She held her breath, trying not to slip on the slick, blood covered floor as she squeezed between the dangling corpses. The barking got louder, and she quickened her pace, shoving past bodies and trying not to touch anything open or splash too loudly, but in these conditions, it was nearly impossible. Bodies slapped against her, coating her with blood, and her feet splashed loudly in the pooling fluid, her feet occasionally slipping on a fallen organ. Her breath was picking up and nausea was twisting in her gut again. The barking got louder still, but she didn't care. She had to get out of here!

With a final shove and splash, Miriva tore herself free from among the bodies and sprinted down the nearest tunnel. She couldn't take it! She didn't care if anything heard her now, she just needed to get out!

Rounding another corner, she found herself face to face with one of the savage Acolytes. Up close, its own appearance was even worse to behold. Its massive fanged jaw hung slack, black drool and fresh blood dripping from between the massive teeth. Long streaks of blood dripped down from its chest, falling from the jaw and staining the armor. More blood of all different shades was splashed against the arms and legs, all of it sticking out prominently from the white armor. However, she probably looked 10 times scarier than normal herself, soaked with the dripping blood of so many bodies. The Hive's eyes went wide with shock, caught off guard by this blood soaked figured sprinting down its halls. But Miriva didn't give it time to think on this, or anything else.

With a snarl, she ripped her knife from its sheath and slammed it into the Hive's throat. It released a pained grunt, which morphed into a gurgle as the blade punched out the back of its neck, sending dark, tar like ash and black ooze dripping from the wound. She then ripped it free, throwing the body to the ground where it crumbled to ash on contact.

A larger snarl came from behind, but Miriva ignored it. Without wasting any time, she sprinted down the hall, praying that she didn't encounter any more of those gross Hive. The snarls turned to roars of alarm and fury, and they echoed through the tunnels. If she didn't find an exit, her nerves and these beasts would slaughter her and hang her up by those hooks!

She rounded anther corner and spotted another floating green orb! Without hesitation, she hurled herself through the portal, making sure to tuck her body so she'd land properly. A flash filled her vision, then Miriva felt a sloppy wet floor collide with her shoulder as she rolled, then flew forward, landing on her feet.

She dropped to all six, eyes closed as she panted, breathing heavy. Clean crisp air filled her lungs, soothing her. Calming her. Thank Oryx she was out of that hell hole, she was almost hyperventilating. When she tried to open her eyes, her vision was fuzzy, showing just how badly that stuff had affected her. Slowly, very slowly, her vision began to clear and her breathing returned to normal. She glanced up, inhaling deeply, then turned and glanced behind her.

Another one of those worm like holes lay behind her a couple feet away. Her roll had, thankfully, thrown her out of the mouth as she exited the portal, and she was once again standing on solid ground. But, when she took a look around, she realized, she wasn't in Russia anymore. The carnage of battle was gone, as were the shrubs, snow, and dirt. Instead, bare rocks and sand covered the landscape, flowing and swaying up and down in gradual sweeps. The sun was setting, and the hot air was vanishing with it. It was quiet unlike anything she'd seen. The sun turning the sand and air a fiery red color, accented by gold and orange. Her troubles left her for a moment, and she stared at the horizon, losing herself.

Slowly, the sun dipped out of sigh, and the light faded. Now relaxed, Miriva glanced down at her arms. They were dripping with blood, soiling her armor and no doubt throwing off a wretched smell. She needed to get it off of her. Fast. But first.

She reached into her pelt, plucking out the engraved metal note and opening it.

"Must contact House Dust, ask for information regarding new Hive."

She glanced up at the sand and stone around her. This wasn't Russia, but perhaps it was the land she was looking for. At any rate, she was NOT going to turn back now. All she could do was trudge on. Folding the note back up, she placed it in her belt, then withdrew her wire rifle. She then took off towards the nearby by mountains to the north. Her quest continues.


Authors Note (again): This took longer than it should, but it's done now. As I said before, this chapter increased the stories rating and with it, violence will probably increase as well. I also, hehe, must apologize for Cleo's perspective. I know it was probably difficult to read, but the style fit Cleo's personality, so I kept it. I apologize again if you were bothered by it. If it makes you feel any better, writing it was like putting my brain in a blender. At any rate, I hope you fine readers are doing well. It seems this story is getting quite a bit of attention. Next chapter will come out….eventually, though my report on Hive Sects will probably come first. But have no fear, next chapter will be worth the wait. Things will get more interesting. Please comment and review! I want to hear what my beautiful readers think! Check out my other story, "Some Chosen Tales" for more information concerning the world of "The Chosen Few". Until next time, this is ZOMAN, signing out!