"Why did you agree to stay here Legate?" Robert asked Harper from the Earth Defense Command Room.
"I could ask you the same thing." Harper chuckled. "And since rank still has its privileges, I think you should tell me your reasons first."
"As you wish my lord. I am here because I wish to serve penitence for my crimes."
"And what would those be? From what I know of you, you have been one of the Guild's most loyal Star Generals."
"Yes... and that is why I need to serve penitence. If I had not placed such a high value on my loyalty, things might have come out different."
"I do not understand. Loyalty is the highest virtue for an officer to have."
"Even when the man to whom you are loyal is a monster, hurting the ones you love?"
"A man does have a choice about who he chooses to be loyal to," The Legate nodded.
"Well I chose the wrong person... I chose Gerick. I even threatened to kill the father of the man I loved."
"I see... so letting yourself die a noble death is your way to win the man's heart back?"
"No... his forgiveness," Robert replied. "So what about you?"
"Me... I'm not staying here for anything so noble as love or forgiveness. My remaining here is totally political."
"I don't understand... I thought politics was a survival sport."
"No, it is more of a gambling game, with power and influence as the chips in play."
"I see... so you think that by staying here while the Prelate, counterpart, and the three other Legates are gone, it will increase your power?"
"It already has Star General... with the others gone, I am the sole head of the government." Harper grinned.
"For the moment, yes... but how long do you think the Fungi or Chimera are going to let you sit on the obsidian throne?"
"That is why I am counting on you, Star General, to see that that day never comes."
"Then I guess you have not been reading the intelligence reports. We have found out where all these Fungi ships have been coming from."
"Yes... I know, I read the report. It seems that each time we destroy one of their vessels the enemy releases several spores that quickly grow into new ships."
"Yes... and that is what's happening right now. The spores have spread themselves out around the asteroid belt. Even if we did send a fleet to destroy them they are too spread out for us to get even a third of them."
"I know... that is why I have ordered our missile commanders to begin launching antimatter warheads into the asteroid field. Unlike our nuclear bombs they will not leave any spores to harass us in the future."
"But the number of missiles that would take..." Robert said flabbergasted.
"We have more than enough... do not worry."
"It is not that my lord... it is the amount of antimatter those many bombs would release that has me concerned."
"And why is that?"
"Because the antimatter will float through our solar system like a billion small mines, waiting to come in contact with real matter. Even if our missiles hit their targets there will be tons of antimatter left floating in space... more than enough to wipe out our extensive mining facilities in the asteroid field if not change the face of Mars and Jupiter's moons."
"If that happens it happens, we have already withdrawn our settlers from the outer worlds."
"But what if a few particles arrive here near Earth? What would happen to our fleet if they run into a cloud of antimatter?"
"You really think that is likely to happen?"
"I think a wise Legate who aspires to rule the Guild would consult with his military advisors before taking such drastic action."
"I did consult them, and they agreed with my decision."
"Strange that I was not at that meeting considering it was me the Prelate picked to lead the defense of Earth."
"Maybe I should reintroduce myself," Harper said as he took off his mask only to show that another mask laid behind it... a gold and white one.
"You are the High Inquisitor?" Robert asked as he took a step backwards.
"You did not think that old man we placed in front of the people was the real leader of our organization," Harper chuckled.
"What happened to the real Legate then?"
"I have always been the Legate. It is just that no one outside the Inquisitors ever knew that the High Inquisitor has always been one of the Four."
"But I now know." Robert replied nervously.
"Yes... you do." Harper chuckled. "And do you know why I told you Robert?"
"No... I do not."
"It is because of your loyalty... when all your friends pressed you to turn against Gerick; you remained loyal to him...Gerick, the greatest man to ever sit on the Guild Throne. For that reason alone we have decided to offer you this," Harper said as he handed Robert a white porcelain mask. Robert, keeping his hands by his side, did not move to take it.
"If I were you Star General I would take the mask. It will not be offered a second time."
Robert took the mask even though he hated himself for doing so. It was the only way he was going to find out how many Inquisitors had survived the purge and what they were planning.
"Good, Robert... I see you are still a loyal man of the Guild."
"Yes," Robert nodded with little enthusiasm.
"Since you are now one of us... I think you should be the one to confirm the order for the missiles to be launched." Harper said, not yet convinced by Robert's sincerity.
Robert, knowing he was being tested, made a quick salute. "I shall give the order at once Legate."
"See that you do Star General... see that you do," Harper said as he covered his face once again with the ruby mask.
Trak and John sat down on their knees, their heads bowed before the Mothers as they inspected the six women John and chosen to become the first hybrid Mothers.
"You surprise me brother... you have selected well. I did not think you would be able to find three, let alone six of the rebellious humans to mate with the old ones," Stavla clicked. "I wonder why."
"Their people wish to keep their independence... they believe having several of their woman as Mothers... in positions of authority... is in their best interests."
"I see... so human of them, not able to comprehend the greater good we are trying to achieve. They are only able to see their own selfish desires. No matter, we will soon breed that trait out of them."
"As you say, sister," Trak said, bowing deeper until his mandibles touched the sticky floor, as six massive old ones crawled into the egg chamber. "May I leave now sister."
"Why brother... since you will never take a mate I thought you would like to see the process for yourself."
"No sister, I am afraid I can not. We will be entering Earth's orbit very soon."
"Yes... the human's home world. Once it is ours, the enemy's desire to resist will melt away. Very well brother, you may leave us to command our forces. We will see you again after Earth has fallen."
"Not if my uncle has his way." Trak thought to himself as he stood up to leave.
Once Trak was gone, Stavla turned her attention to John. "So we finally meet, our mother's brother. I see Trak was foolish enough to leave too much of your humanity intact, but then again Trak is the most pathetic Chimera I have ever met."
"Trak is a good man... wanting nothing more than to help his people," John said angrily as he remained bowed.
"But who are his people? You will not make me believe that he sees the old ones or even me, his own sister as his people."
"He believes what my sister believed; that humanity is the future of the Chimera race."
"Why... because we need your souls?" Stavla laughed as she clicked loudly.
"Yes, is that not the case?"
"Not in the way my brother has led you to believe. We Chimera have never lost our soul."
"Then why do you need my people?"
"When we were forced to merge with primitive species in order to survive the scourge of the Fungi, we did not lose our souls as Trak believes. Those years marked not just the birth of the Chimera over-mind but the over-soul as well."
"So all Chimera share only one soul?"
"Yes... at first our people thought that in doing so we had achieved immortality but as time passed and our numbers increased the over-mind grew but the over-soul did not."
"So as your population grew the one soul you shared became stretched and thin?"
"As you humans would say... paper thin," Stavla nodded.
"That is why you want my people... you think our souls will merge with your over-soul, letting it grow and become stronger," John guessed.
"Yes, hybrid."
"Why does Trak not know the truth?"
"Because our mother made him special... making him in many ways more like you than his own people."
"How so?"
"For reasons that still baffle me and my sisters, mother decided that Trak would not share in the over-soul. His soul is human... free and independent."
"Yet you tolerate him."
"Because he is our brother and the eldest... the first of our mother's children. You, hybrid, I do not have to tolerate, uncle or not." Stavla hissed.
"So you have decided to kill me?"
"No... my sisters and I have decided to mate with you. You are the leader of the rebels... your children would be just as strong."
"What if I refuse?"
"You won't be able to... much of you might still be human but you are Chimera. When the egg in the center of the chamber hatches, a new Mother will be born, hungering for a mate. I am afraid you will not be able to deny her."
"Why do you want me dead?" John demanded, his eyes now frozen on the large pulsating egg in the middle of the room.
"For several reasons. First, we wish to see the effect that mating with an Assemblyman will have on our species. Second, we know that you are the leader of the hybrid riots that have been plaguing our ships. Finally, you have become too much of a distraction for Trak. He is spending too much of his time with you, instead of concentrating on the invasion of the human worlds. As the eldest, his role is to be war leader, not wasting time trying to live out the fantasy of a human childhood."
"I think your people would all benefit from a slower maturity."
"Why... we do not have schools or universities, we have no need for them. Everything our people need to know is in the over-mind. A newly born Chimera has no need for a childhood, its mind is born with the knowledge and wisdom amassed over several lifetimes," Stavla said before turning her attention to the hybrid women Trak had brought. "I see the mating has already begun."
John watched proudly as the six volunteers lay on the ground stoically as the arachnid old ones sent out their tentacles, hovering above the women. John had personally bitten each woman, delivering a small dose of poison to leave them numb during the mating.
As soon as it was over, as was the tradition, each woman buried her venom filled fangs into the old ones, killing them quickly. John was soon distracted however by the cracking sound of the egg hatching. Darting his eyes back to the center of the chamber, he saw a long insectoid leg sticking out of it. He was running out of time.
With a slowness that was painful to watch, John looked on as the six volunteers each reached into the mouths of the old ones and struggled to pull one of their large fangs free. At the same time he saw Stavla and her sisters keeping their eight eyes on the hatching egg, ready to welcome their new sister.
The Mothers did not notice as each of the hybrids tore a fang free or their struggle as they climbed out from under the hulking corpses of the old ones. They did turn when the hybrids made their way menacingly towards them, however.
"Sisters, you should rest. Your bodies will need their energy to grow your eggs." Stavla said, even as she tried to back away, her massive, egg filled body not letting her get far. Her many eyes focused on the dripping green fluid coming from the fangs each of the hybrids held like knives.
"Kill them... kill them quickly." John shouted, even as he heard the other Mothers clicking franticly for their warriors.
As one, each of the hybrids jumped high into the air, landing on the backs of their chosen targets, driving the razor sharp venom filled fangs into the Mothers bodies. Flaying about, the Mother's shook their attackers off, crushing some of them with their massive bodies, but it was too late. With the deadly toxin flowing through them, their nervous systems soon gave out, and each one collapsed to the floor, dead.
Out of the six women, John saw that only one remained standing after the deed was done. "Kill the last female." John commanded, pointing to the hatching egg.
Limping, with a broken leg, the hybrid made her way to the half open egg, falling down the broken top. There was a short struggle then silence as all movement in the egg stopped.
Standing up, John examined the carnage, hearing only a weak clicking sound from one of the hybrids, half crushed by the egg sac of a dead Mother. Walking over to her, John sat down next to her, running a clawed hand through her hair tendrils.
"Were we successful?" She asked as she gasped for air, clearly in pain.
"Yes... all the Mothers are dead," John nodded.
"Good... keep your promise to us."
"No... there has been enough death today," John refused. As part of the pact he had made with the six volunteers he had agreed to make sure that, if they were successful, none of them would live to produce a single egg.
"Keep your promise Guild's man. Keep your promise or I will see that my children eat you alive."
"Forgive me Clare," John wept, calling out his sister's name as he dug his claws into the woman's chest plate, to squeeze the life out of her heart. After that John did not move to get up, but sat on the ground crying, the guilt of sending six of his people to their deaths eating him inside.
The silence was only broken when Trak reentered the chamber. "Uncle?"
"Yes Trak?" John asked as he looked up.
"Is it over?"
"It is over," John nodded.
"Good... I will order the old ones to leave the ships carrying your people. You're free now."
John ran a clawed hand down the body of the woman he had killed. "My people will never be free Trak... the chains we wear are in our blood, our souls are already being drawn away into the Chimera over-soul."
"Then killing my sisters was pointless?" Trak said in disbelief. He had thought John would have been happy.
Standing up, John made his way toward his nephew. "No Trak, it was not pointless. My people... our people now have at least a chance... a small chance to get back what was stolen from us."
"I hope so uncle... I really do."
"How soon till we arrive at Earth?" John changed the subject.
"Our fleet is already at the gateway... just waiting for my command to attack."
"So why have you not given it?"
Trak extended his mandibles and brush John's face. "I wanted to make sure you were safe, uncle."
"Thank you Trak. Go order the ships out of the Void... now that the Mothers are dead we need humanity more than ever."
I hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter. For those of you who haven't read it yet, The Centurion Series has been published and up for sale on Amazon at 25% off for the holidays. Soon the third book in the series, Angels Ascending will be on sale as well so keep an eye out for it. As usual the complete story can be found on the yahoo group. You'll also find the cover for the new Centurion novel shown there as well so give the site a peek. Take care.
JMH trandar2002@yahoo.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultwritingworkshop/