"Sire," 0130 said as she bowed. "I was only called Gillese for a very short time."
Derrick nodded as he turned toward the young male hologram. 0881's head still bowed he stated, "I was called Handrax Sire. Though also for only a short time. Sire? If I may ask are there many of us left?"
Derrick smiled as he turned toward the fifteen holograms that were behind the two new comers.
"Well," Derrick started, his smile getting larger. "perhaps you should look behind you."
With that, both turned large smiles on their faces, staring as the fifteen holograms there greeted them.
"I do not wish to put a damper on our victory, please remember, we lost Marco today." Here Derrick bowed his head as he almost whispered. "We also lost his human prime, Captain Mack Brown. This alone makes me far more angry than anything else. As soon as this business with the Delcron's is finished, we will hold a memorial service."
All the ships bowed their heads as they remained silent for Brown and Marco.
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Deep within the bowels of Johnathon, Jimison was hiding as far from the trouble as he could. He'd studied all that he could get his hands on. He knew almost every place to hide from the A.I., where it's sensors were almost nonexistent.
Equipped with everything that he thought he'd need, he foresaw no one finding him for quite some time. Well, that was 'til he felt himself being enveloped in an IMT beam. Shit he thought, as a moment later he appeared before Admiral Hartwell.
"How? I was..." Jimison started shocked that they had found him. "There is no way that the A.I. could have pin pointed me
Derrick turned toward Hartwell a moment before turning back to Jimison. "I also feel the same way, IF I didn't need you as badly as I do, I'd have ALREADY given you to them. You just don't realize the world of shit you're in do you?"
When Jimison could only stare at Derrick, Gunter almost slapped the man. Derrick's interceding was the only thing that saved the man any pain.
"Well? By all rights, the Delcrons have a legitimate claim to you." Derrick again growled. "Just what in the hell would you do in my position?"
When Jimison only stared at Derrick with a pissed off look, Derrick nodded to Ma
ry. Two electrodes slid from the wall, administering a short shock to Jimison. A few moments later when Jimison stopped shaking Derrick spoke again.
"I was expecting an answer from you. Now then unless you want more, what would you have done?" Derrick stated his arms crossed as he waited.
Jimison looked up at Shiloh, Grant then finally Derrick, with a look of anger. "In order to save everyone, I guess almost exactly what you did."
"YOU GUESS!?" Derrick shouted losing his temper a moment, then stepping close to Jimison. "Be glad I am not there I swear I'd damn near throw you in the brig, 'til she got there to take you away."
Jimison started to shake uncontrollably when Derrick growled then turned to Hartwell.
"I've got everything that you advised sir. We should be more than ready though I am not liking having five ships out of commission." Hartwell said a worried look on his face.
"We won a great victory today, though we lost also. We need to get this over with as soon as possible. Both sides need to grieve, before we go after those damn insects, I want them to pay, pay like never before." Derrick said ,the anger edging his voice, his hands clenched.
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It was taking all Emperor Kandra and the crew could do to keep the princess Difina from harming herself and the crew.
Kandra stopped at the infirmary, checking with the thirty or so that she'd already put there. They needed to get this over fast if she was going to remain sane. It appeared as if the mating fever, was far more worse than he at first thought.
The humanoid Emperor had said that they were only a day or two away from where they were going. With a sigh Kandra shook his head, he just hoped that she, the ship, and the crew survived that long.
Kandra was about to head off the bridge when, they received a signal from the humanoid fleet. Turning Kandra listened then took over the conversation.
"Emperor Kandra," Derrick stated with a slight nod to the feline Emperor. Kandra was returning the nod when the view moved to show, a secured Jimison with a look of defeat on his face. "I was showing you that he has been secured as per your traditions. We..."
A growling gasp behind Kandra, caught all there by surprise. "So there you are!" Came an angered female voice, "to run off after winning a prize like this." Here Difina turned to show each side of her trim, muscled feline body, then bowing to Jimison. "Since you failed to claim it, you must show just course under our laws as to why you reject me. If no such is shown, then I will have no choice than to destroy you."
Jimison started to open his mouth when Derrick spoke up. "Princess Difina, I ask your forgiveness in this matter. Your potential mate was under Imperial orders to return as quickly as possible. Otherwise, I am sure that he would have stayed."
Difina, then Kandra's eyes both opened wide at this. Difina's eyes seemed to clear as did her fighting stance relax. Bowing to her father, then Derrick she said, "I understand now. Maintaining ones duty does take precedence, This has brought even greater honor to me and both empires. I am afraid though that, now that a challenge has been issued, it cannot be revoked." Here she turned to Jimison, "I belong to you no matter what, there must be another fight to restore honor to both of us. Win or lose I am yours," here Difina smiled a toothy smile. "As I am sure, you are aware that you are mine."
Difina again bowed to Derrick and her father, her fur bristling at the other males on the bridge. Turning she left the bridge feeling her blood quickening at the coming confrontation.
"Well, it seems," Kandra stated, "a great many things have been resolved. It is good that the threat of war is no longer looming over both empires. Well, at least not with each other."
"I have to concur with that assessment, a strong ally is far better than an enemy." Derrick stated meaning every word of it. "I hope that things do continue to improve between our empires."
Both Emperors nodded again to each other, then the communication was cut. A moment later another communication opened.
"You aren't really going to believe him are you?" Came the voice of his head advisor. "They are after all filthy humanoids."
Kandra could only stare at the male as if he'd lost his mind. "Did you not receive the recordings of the battle? Are you so ready to destroy this empire to go against the power that they have? I should have you removed if, that is your thinking. They decimated forty percent of the Creagon fleet with ease. They honored us by allowing to battle with them, then ASKED permission to pass through our territory. Yes, I do believe him, he has shown more honor than you are at the moment. So I ask, do you wish to remove your statement, or be removed without prejudice?"
The image of the feline swallowed hard as Kandra stared intensely at him. "I..." the councilor started.
Kandra held up his large furred paw stopping the male. Narrowing his eyes at the male he said, "Think well on the next words that leave your throat."
Nodding the male was silent a few moments, "I remove what I said sire. It was not my intent to insult you nor your decisions." The male then stood silent fully aware that he very life was in peril.
Kandra watched the male for a moment, gauging whether or not the male had spoken the truth. Finally satisfied Kandra nodded. "It would do you and the other advisors well to remember WHO actually rules."
The head advisor trembled a bit remembering the last one who'd challenged the Emperor. Many were still talking about how badly the emperor had rent the body of the dead and defeated challenger. Actually the Emperor had been within his rights to slaughter the whole male's family. Shaking his head he had to wonder at some of the Emperor's decisions.
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On board Johnathon, Hartwell, was again wondering what in the hell he'd gotten himself into. He bit his tongue again as he watched Bee strip every bit of clothing off her body. Hearing laughter he turned to glare at his sister.
"Shut the hell up Lucie! This is in no way funny." Hartwell stated causing Lucy to almost double over.
A gasp escaped her lips as she tried to speak, "Can't help it." Here she started to laugh harder at the look of astonishment on Hartwell's face. "You have been so unfeeling for so long, it's good to see that you are human." A small growl from Hartwell had her shaking as the laughter came faster.
Bee went running to Lucie as she sat, the laughter taking her off her feet. "My lord's sister, are you well?" A worried look on Bee's face.
This almost immediately stopped Lucie's laughter as she could only stare at Bee. "What the hell are you on about?" Lucie asked.
"I was afraid that the lord sir might be punishing you. It is quite common to kill a female with laughter. Most times they stopped breathing; it is a favorite punishment of the males. I have never experienced it, I have seen a few killed in this way. What they put in the body causes this, the more used the greater chance of death." A trembling Bee stated.
This time it was Hartwell who had to calm his sister as her level of anger rose to a monumental height. "Those sadistic son of a bitches!" Lucie roared out, "they need to die! You were right Joseph; they all need to die!"
This of course was short lived as they both watched as Bee quickly was curling into a ball. She was trembling even more after seeing the look of seething anger on Lucie's face.
Lucie rose going quickly to Bee. She then paused as she heard Bee repeating over and over, "I and the others are doomed, they want to kill us all!"
Lucie tried to comfort Bee only to have her shrink even further away into the corner.
Lucie walked to Hartwell her head low. "I am afraid that I messed up all that I have done. I'm afraid that you and her sister might be the only ones that might reach her now."
"Me? She's far more terrified of me than you. I don't see..." Hartwell started.
"God! You really are more dumb about this than I thought. If I remember right she said that she belonged to you. If you reject her I'm afraid that she might not survive. Right now you are the only one she really seems to want near her. Go Joseph, you have to help her don't let her die, please!" Lucie stated this last word in a low whisper.
Hartwell had to do a double take, staring at the tears that Lucie was shedding. What in the hell was going on? Since when did his sister care that much about anyone not family?
Taking a deep breath Hartwell tried to steel himself up for the scene he thought was about to happen.
Sitting on the floor near Bee, Hartwell was having a hell of a time coming up with anything to say. Thinking harder he went through all that he and Bee had discussed before. Finally an idea hit him.
"Bee," Hartwell stated softly waiting for her to acknowledge him. When she looked directly at him he started again. "Were you serious about wanting me to bond with you?" Bee suddenly sat up nodding her head affirmatively. "Do you really think that I would wish you and the other females deaths? I know that you wouldn't want anything to do with me if that was the case."
Bee bowed her head a slight smile creeping to her lips. "I am sorry Lord sir; I do wish to bond with you. You saved mine and the others lives when we passed through the evil blinking eye. What must I do to help you, want to bond with me?"
Hartwell's eyes narrowed as he went over what Bee had just said. He had to be careful what he said next no telling what she was trying to talk him into.
"As I said before, I am considering it. After the battle I still haven't had the time to actually do that. I still need time to do so." Hartwell carefully said.
Bee's smile quickly faded as she looked up. "Yes Lord sir, please remember by the laws of my people I am not allowed to be separated from you."
Hartwell slightly groaned, no he hadn't forgotten that bit of information. Looking at Bee, then his sister, he knew he was in for the fight of his life.
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Derrick and the Delcron Emperor had been in constant contact after Difina had made her declaration. Now it seemed that they were finally approaching the planet that Derrick had designated for the contest.
They had decided the number of attendees Derrick and Shelby. Jimison along with Shiloh and Grant keeping an eye on him. Next came Onai and Kimison along with his mother Doctor Akira Fuwa Dempsey, apparently she was in an official capacity.
On the Delcron side was Emperor Kandra, along with Difina. Behind them were the three space fleet commanders. There was the head war General, plus two high ranking officers.
"I take it you wish to include all the military?" Derrick asked having already touched a spot on his chest. He'd already advised Shelby to do the same.
"Seeing as she and I are the only family that either of us have alive, I thought it appropriate." Derrick nodded as he was listening to reports come in from Shelby and Mary.
Kandra noticed Derrick seeming to listen to someone no one else could hear. Very wise, he thought, so I am not just dealing with another warmonger. A slight smile crossed his feline face as he too was listening to several reports that were coming in.
"I wish to introduce everyone, this is the empress Shelby, Jimison you already know. As I am sure you know the two males on either side of him." Derrick stated as Kandra nodded to Shiloh and Grant. Here is Colonel Kimon Dempsy, he is the one that taught most of us basic moves of his hand to hand defense. Next to him is his soon to be mate Onai Sakuta. Lastly is his mother Doctor Akira Fuwa Dempsey, she has volunteered her services." Derrick said.
