Author's Note: Merry Christmas all. As promised here's the chapter, right on time. And hopefully an end to the cliffhanger last chapter, one way or the other.
Yeythwei growled deep in his throat. Something was going on in the hive. Less than an hour ago he'd watched them escort a large praetorian, at least comparatively large, into the hive. Presumably captured from the other hive. A small amount of curiosity was present, even his kind had never seen how the khainde amedha carry out an interrogation. But, with so much of his equipment destroyed or stuck in his ship, it would be suicide, the ooman weapons couldn't be turned invisible and were insufficent for anything beyond a minor hunt.
Instead he continued his task, doing his best to ignore the goings on of the hive, he watched as the water boil, the liquid a familiar red as he boiled the flesh off of the skulls. Despite his earlier scepticism they would prove decent trophies.
He chuckled as a thought occurred. The only other species that had proven skilled in the destruction of the hard meat were the oomans. The khainde amedha killed the oomans, the yautja killed the oomans. The oomans killed the khainde amedha, the yautja killed the khainde amedha and occasionally the oomans and khainde amedha killed the yautja. It was like some kind of bizarre circle or triangle.
Yeythwei shook his head, philosophy wasn't natural to a yautja.
The Queen rejoiced. Mere minutes ago a runner had come in and announced the capture of a praetorian. It represented a huge inroad into the war, not only was the other hive down a praetorian, apparently a very senior one from the report but they would soon know, with accuracy, the numbers of their foes, the location of their hive and where it was weakest.
She looked around her chamber, noting the sudden restlessness of the royal guards, no doubt worried for her safety. It was a needless worry, even stuck to the ceiling laying eggs she was more than a match for a mere praetorian.
With something nearing joy, she watched the entrance to her chamber. And then the praetorian entered, flanked by a swarm of drones, two of the newer praetorians and five warriors, not taking any chances.
"Hello mother." said Piusnex.
Piusnex ran on all fours, heading home. Far too eager to return home for the more sedate pace of walking, unfortunately for her, she had discarded caution in her eagerness afterall there was no need for such caution in the hive's territory.
Which was why she had little to no warning when the drones jumped her, three of them leaping from the rooftops onto her back. She lost her footing, rolling expertly back to standing, managing to impale one of the drones with the spines on her back, then she turned, using the motion to whip her tail around, hitting nothing but forcing them to back off if only for a moment.
She allowed herself a brief moment of confidence, two drones against a praetorian was an easy fight. But they didn't strike, almost as if waiting for something.
"Why do you attack me?" Piusnex asked them, not expecting a reply from drones but hoping they'll at least listen. "Can you not tell I am kin?"
She knew they were of the hive, they smelt of home. But she didn't she realised, there was no way they would know her, she'd have to find a praetorian or she'd be forced to slaughter her way through to home.
Fortunately the drones didn't attack, content to wait until reinforcements arrived. And arrive they did, two warriors and an unfamiliar praetorian.
"Can you call them off please?" Piusnex asked, once again the nearest equivalent of please was an order between praetorians which didn't have to be followed.
"Who are you?" The praetorian asked suspiciously, disregarding her request.
"I could ask the same?" She replied, annoyed.
"You're in no position to ask. We have you outnumbered and surrounded." The praetorian replied, clearly confident in his authority.
"Why are you even doing this?" She exclaimed, "I'm hive. I'm with you." There was almost a pleading note to her voice, if it weren't unbecoming of a praetorian to plead, to have come so close to going home to be killed now would be... cruel.
"I'm not an idiot, I do know all the praetorians of the hive and you aren't one of them. Still if you would be kind enough to surrender without a fight then we'll take you before the Queen, she will probably want to talk with you. Ask you about your hive."
"You're an idiot, but ok, I surrender." Piusnex said with a heartfelt sigh, she'd finally defeated the blasted human but rather than the hero's welcome she'd expected she was going to be brought before her mother as a prisoner. She only hoped she'd be the one allowed to punish this arrogant git for doing this to her.
Author's Note: Yes I'm evil, no I'm not telling you if Alec is dead or not... yet. That will have to wait until Piusnex has caught up on events in the hive. Also it occurs to me that some new characters are in order.