0001 – Tempro

0003 – Conner- Thomas

0097 – Ace – Zimmel

0098 – Lucy

0101 – Shelby (mother ship)

0125 – Lars

0130 – Gillese

0200 – Ellen

0250 – Tendra

0301 – Rodrick

0403 – Johnathon

0778 – Jan

0798 – Celeste – Shelby (human)

0805 – Toran

0808 – Radella

0881 – Handrax

0908 – Tara – Mara

1000 – Sherry

————————–

Ungrown – unnumbered

————————

0100 – Derry (father ship)

Rescued from Tendraxians

so far

———————–

4 on Shelby 2 in re-gen

8 on Lucy

——————————–

Known and OR numbered

——————————-

0501 – Thaddeus

???? – Lena

—————————

missing – 0667 – Marco

0999 – Zan – still lost

——————————————-

Greeson awoke with an almost blinding, throbbing in his head. Barely able to turn his head, he groaned louder when he saw the restraints of the bio-bed. Just outside the door, he caught a glimpse of a sandy blond female. At first nothing came to him, then he felt an almost uncontrollable rage.

A voice beside him, calmed him immediately. “To have such anger, without knowing why, seems a great waste of energy.”

“Could it also not be, something that could save one’s life?” Greeson threw back.

“It could though,” here Greeson turned his head to see Kimon Dempsy in a bio-bed beside him. “One still needs all the energy one has to survive.”

“Spoken as a true master,” came a female voice past Kimon.

Greeson knew her though nothing was coming to mind. A moment later his eyes flew wide a shadow of a memory came to him.

“Master Oni? Master! I beg both of your forgiveness for harming master Oni.” Greeson said.

A smile spread across Oni’s face, “unnecessary. It is always good to know that one’s art is not perfect. Though I am a master I still have more to learn.”

A movement by the door had all three turning their heads that way. Derrick O’Toma walked into the room shaking his head. Derrick walked straight to Kimon a frown on his face.

“You realize that my two best ground leaders, are in a bio-bed.” Here Derrick shook his head again glancing at Greeson. “Basically, because they beat the hell out of each other. Are there any other conditions of your art that I need to know about? I need the both of you alive,” here Derrick looked at Oni. “I also don’t want any more civilian wounded understood?!” Derrick nearly shouted.

Both Greeson and Kimon lowered their heads mumbling, “yes sir.”

“What was that!?” Derrick shouted, making both men’s eyes open wide.

“Yes sir!” Both shouted back.

Derrick looked at Oni seeing a smile creeping on her lips. Oni glanced at Derrick who winked at her, this of course made the woman blush deeply.

“Now then, I expect you both out of bed as soon as possible.” Derrick said then moved to beside Oni. “I wish to express to you and your family, my regret that you were injured. I will express this also to your father.”

“Great exalted one, It is I, who wished to apologize to you. I was not as prepared as I thought, getting injuried while helping you was an honor. Though I feel that I might have,” Oni was saying when a shimmering beside Derrick quieted her.

Isamu Sakuta appeared looking at the three confined to the bio-beds. “I see what you meant exalted one.” Isamu said. “Though they do not appear to be torture devices, they do immobile far too much.”

“Father!” Oni started. “I was apologizing for my,” Oni said.

“As the exalted one explained, if he was experiencing the Ai no nikushimi, you did extremely well. The fact you survived speaks great volumes for your skill.” Oni’s father said.

Oni’s eyes were wide as she briefly glanced at Derrick. “You, have greatly honored me exalted one.”

“It was my honor, to have you aid the empire by saving Captain Greeson. I am sure that your father is also honored and proud.” Derrick said seeing the pride on Isamu’s face.

The pride became more evident on Isamu’s face when he said. “Thank you, my Lord.” Isamu said. Derrick nodded to all four then his holo-gram winked out.

“The three of you should heal as soon as possible.” Here he turned to Kimon. “Your mother has been in contact with me and both clans. I do believe she is also excited; I wish that you father was here to see this. He was a good friend and clan leader, the Jitaku lost a great soul the day he passed.”

Kimon was quiet a few moments remembering his father. “I thank you sir, for your words, for the honor you have bestowed on my family and clan.”

Isamu nodded to the three in the room then his holo-gram winked out.

“Well,” Greeson said. “I guess we can rest,” Greeson started.

“NO,” Kimon shouted startling Greeson. “You, need to resolve the conflict inside, about your intended. What you think is the situation, is not what is actually happening.”

“I,” Greeson started, “what?”

Oni took pity on Greeson, “I believe that you took what was seen and said wrong. What was said was not what you thought it was. I have spoken to her, this time when she speaks, listen with this,” Here Oni pointed to her heart. “Not with this,” here Oni tapped her head.

“Did I not just say that?” Kimon said.

Oni rolled her eyes, “to almost all others?” Oni said watching Kimon nodding. “No, if anything it was confusing.”

Kimon thought a moment then slowly nodded his ascent.

Greeson tensed up when Oni motioned for Mara Callie to enter the room. A look at both of them, she slightly shook her head, this was going to take all her skills to set right.

———————————————————————–

Hartwell was going through all that Bee had stated about their battle formation and tactics. What she’d said held

more than a little merit. She’d also mentioned a few other diversionary tactics that at first, he had to run. Shocked when they not only worked, they worked better than anything they came up with.

The whole time Hartwell was starting to develop a new respect for the female. A few hours later he stopped in the middle of all he was doing to stare at Bee. My god he thought, was he falling for her?

Bee was happier than she’d been in a very long time. The lord sir was not only listening to her, he was finally allowing her to be near him.

Bee’s body had started to display symptoms of withdrawal. Bee took a deep breath she had lasted far longer than the others had. She just hoped that when her Lord Sir found out he wouldn’t punish her too severely.

There was a lot that no other race knew about her people. The fact that the females were addicted to a male that they imprinted on, was a very well-guarded secret.

The fact that so many males had been destroyed in the battle with the beast emperor’s people might ease things a lot at home. A great many of the truly evil males had been destroyed, hers especially. She’d heard him boast that he had developed a stronger addictive drug to the males of her race.

Bee shivered at the thought of a stronger addiction to the males on her planet. At least an injection a month to keep the females alive, so they were told. She herself had gone almost a month and a half, though she had, had difficulty, she had survived.

Hartwell saw Bee shiver, thinking to Johnathon he asked, can you run a scan on Bee? Something seems to be off with her. I need the results as soon as possible.

Compliance came Johnathon’s response. I am picking up highly increased levels of what would be considered dopamine in your brain.

Dopamine? Hartwell asked, the chemical that contributes to the experience of pleasure but also plays a role in learning and memory? Can you determine why she is experiencing this? Hartwell asked.

As of yet, the only thing I can see is her closeness to you. I am afraid that I will need a sample of what her people have for blood. As I remember the last time when I tested her sister, that was a near life and death struggle to get.

“Bee?” Hartwell asked.

“Yes, Lord Sir?” Bee said.

“I know from the time your sister was here, that your people don’t like to have fluids removed. I,” Hartwell was saying when Bee interrupted.

“Lord Sir, it isn’t that we do not like it, we weren’t asked nor told why. Since you are considering bonding to me, I will submit to any of these tests. I know that you won’t do this to harm me.” Bee said a sweet smile on her face.

“I need Johnathon to take a sample to test, I want to make sure you are as well as you appear. Plus, you are not the same race that I am, we might have pathogens that the other cannot resist.” Hartwell said.

Bee considered all that Hartwell said, Most of what he said, she could see he was truthful about. The thing is she felt that he was holding something back.

“Lord sir,” Bee said, “Is there perhaps something else that you are worried about?”

Hartwell shook his head shit, when in the hell had this female become this observant? Taking a deep breath Hartwell decided in this case honesty was the best policy.

“I have noticed that when you are apart from me for an extended time? Your body reacts almost as if you are going into shock. My people would say that you are addicted, that you would die if you are apart from the one you are bonded with.” Hartwell said watching how Bee reacted.

Bee’s face had a worried look flow across her features then, just as suddenly it was gone. Hartwell nodded, so it appeared, that there was some type of addiction going on.

“I,” Bee started then a look of extreme worry came to her face. “I cannot really talk about it. Much like the bond, we have very limited knowledge of it.”

“The medical facilities on the empire ships, are far beyond anything that a great many have seen. If there is an addiction, these medical machines will find it, possibly remove it.” Hartwell said with sincerity.

Bee nodded this sounded far too good to be true. She and her sister had been the first to receive a new medication. For many years the males of their race had been trying to increase the dependence of the females. They had both had managed to go more than half a day before they had to be near their bonded.

Bee took a deep breath then sat, “I am ready Lord sir.” She then held out her arm watching tentatively as a needle came out of the wall. Her eyes then got large as, she watched a blue liquid flow from her arm into the tube at the end of the needle.

“I trust the Lord Sir, I trust the Lord Sir,” Bee started to almost chant in a low voice. A moment later there was a pneumatic hiss as the needle and tube vanished behind a panel in the wall.

“I hope that it didn’t hurt you too bad.” Hartwell told her. Bee turned to stare into his eyes seeing something that she was very unsure of. She knew that, she was slowly starting to erode the wall that the Lord Sir had erected. Though, this was a look that she was completely unsure what was.

A small smile started to dominate her features, a moment before her body started to convulse. Hartwell grabbed her body securing it to the nearest bio-bed.

“Johnathon!” Hartwell was yelling above several alarms that were going off. “What in the hell is going on?”

“Oh my, it appears that whatever is in her liquid stream is causing an adverse reaction. Now administrating a counter to the reaction. Now reading a full reversal to harmful toxins that were being released.” Johnathon said.

A worried look crossed Hartwell’s features. “Is this something that is natural to her people?” Hartwell asked.

“From all information that mother, my brothers and sisters plus our three ships that were near their planet amassed no.” Johnathon replied. “It appears to be a synthetic that has been administered over the course os their life. I will have to analyze the sample before I can make a true determination and suggest a reversal of the effects.”

“Shit,” Hartwell growled, good thing Bee was out of it. He looked down at her then his anger started to grow to heretofore larger proportions. He turned away from Bee, a myriad of thoughts of revenge against the males of her planet.

Taking as deep a breath as he could he tried to calm, turning back to Bee he felt the anger melt away. My god he thought, it was true, he’d damn near do anything for this female. The realization shocked him more than anything in his life before. Hell, he thought, finding that his sister and brother were still alive was probably the only thing that had been as shocking.

——————————————————–

Derrick had just sat when he got a direct com. call. Oh, shit Derrick thought when he saw who it was. “Hello Grams, what.” he started then was cut off.

“Boy, I know you’re busy though, that’s still no excuse for ignoring your frail mother and I.” The holo-gram of Milley O’Toma said as she stood there staring angerly at Derrick.

Derrick grimice suddenly turned to concern, “Frail? What’s wrong with mother?” A now very worried Derrick said.

“It seems she took ill after the wedding, plus she refuses to seek medical attention. I know something’s up as she has completely refused to listen to me at all. to be honest Derrick I am a bit worried about her.” Milley O’Toma said.

“Alright Grams I’ll check on her.” Clicking off Derrick looked at the wall. “Mary?”

Mary appeared bowing ton Derrick. “Yes sire?”

“I am about to contact my mother; I want you to do a scan on her. It appears that she is not well, plus it appears that she is somehow masking it from your sensors. While I am talking to her, I want a full, intensive scan internal and external done on her. We’ll determine what to do after wards.” Derrick said.

“It will be done as you ask sire, I apologize if I was remiss in my duties to the Queen mother.” Mary said.

Derrick shook his head, “No, I don’t believe you were. I feel this has to do with the sect, possibly even that damn Duke Risen. You still have no contact with his sip since he left his planet?”

“I am trying several avenues, though as of yet the energy trail left from his ship dissipated far faster than I thought the decay rate of it was. So far, I have a direction far deeper into the galaxy, mostly towards the far side of the empire.” Mary said.

“You referring to that area of the empire where, hardly any contact has been made for over a hundred years?” Derrick asked. “We have to start remedying that.”

“I had thought of that, I had already started to trade at the boundary that the Republic had established. So far, we have had ten more planets reaffirm their loyalty to the empire. There are of course a few hundred more systems, a few thousand worlds to get reintegrated within the empire. I calculate that at this rate, we should have all of the two systems back within a month.” Mary reported.

Derrick shook his head, the greatest empire in history, now reduced to less than half what it was. “Keep up the good work Mary, there are too many worlds out there in our own galaxy. Too many places where traitors could be hiding.”

“I nave managed to get the system monitoring working on those new planets sire. It has extended our view of what we have of the empire. So far I have not detected any problems beyond the newly added members.”

“We need to help the Rangers, inform them of the new territory that has been added. I, sir, it appears that the Ranger commander is wishing to talk.” Mary said.

“Sire,” the older man said bowing as soon as Derrick’s face appeared. “It is good that you have started to reacquire those planets. Isn’t that area close to those old shipyards?”

Derrick’s eyes gleamed a moment then he nodded, “I need to start having the trans-warp engines installed within the Ranger ships. Mary? How long would it take to refit the ship yards?”

“Most of the dangerous radiation has been removed. I have an excess of a few thousand robotic guards that could do the job in less than seven days.” Mary said.

“If the radiation won’t hurt the guards, then I’ll have you deploy them.” Derrick turned to the Commander. “I’ll have an EIG bring two ships at a time. According to Mary the new engine shouldn’t take more than a day to install and test.” Derrick said.

“I believe that we will need to upgrade the weapons at the station also. As I remember there are still a lot of pirates in that area.” Mary added.

The Ranger Commander had followed the conversation with interest. “Alright Commander, within a week we should be able to refit the Ranger ships. The Rangers are about to become far more effective and faster.”

The Commander nodded then bowed, “I thank you sire; I look forward to helping the empire.” Derrick nodded then clicked off.

“Alright are you ready Mary?” Derrick said taking as deep breath.

Sherry O’Toma was feeling bad, most of her thoughts were a jumbled mess. The worse thing though was the more she tried to think, the worse her thoughts got jumnbled.

Mary suddenly appeared, “Queen mother, the Emperor, your son, wishes to talk. Are you receptive for that right now?” Mary asked.

Shaken a moment Sherry said, “of course I always have time for my son.” A moment just a moment Sherry had a flash of clarity that her mind clung to.

“Mom, I heard that you weren’t feeling well, anything I can do to help you?” Derrick asked watching his mother closely.

Sherry felt most of her mind trying to shut down, quickly she started to nod her head yes, even as he mouth said no.

Derrick watched as the scan Mary was doing appeared on a screen near him. “Alright mother,” Derrick said as he nodded to Mary.

Sherry O’Toma was shocked when she was suddenly secured to a bio-bed. “Mary? Why am I here?”

A shimmering across the room had Derrick appearing. “I don’t know who you are, though I do know you are there.”

“What!? You are mistaken I,” Sherry started.

“Look, I know my mother, you are not her. So, before you die, want to reveal who you are? Otherwise, I’ll just get it when you are locked away.” Derrick said right before a different voice came out of Sherry’s mouth.

“You are pathetic, to think that you actually have the brain power that you do. Unlike the failed attempt by my ex-husband’s sect, I cannot be removed easily, if at all. I am ingrained within her body and mind. I have control of almost all her systems.” The voice stated.

“Then of course you would be dead.” Derrick said.

“That matters not, my Corporeal self is still out there so no fear there, as long as I help her.” The voice said.

“Hmmmm,” Derrick said as he nodded to Mary who’d appeared behind Sherry O’Toma. “I don’t think you are as ingrained as you think.”

“That’s what you, what have you done you bitch!” The voice screamed. “I think I’ll kill this whore just for that!”

Mary nodded to Derrick again, the voice started to shout and scream more. “I believe I have the entity isolated more now sire.”

“Sire! What a joke you are no more fit to rule than that joke ex-president Murry was. That’s about the only good thing you did.” The voice said.

Derrick finally smiled as he saw from the reading just who it was, he was dealing with. “So Trianas, you think you hold all the cards. My A.I. is a lot more advanced than you think, especially since I have been upgrading her since we discovered each other. Oh yeah once your dead? That’s gladly the last time the universe will ever have to deal with you.”

“You lie, I am the best at the art,” Trianas started.

“So, came another voice from the door. “That which is dead, has managed to partly return.” Kimon said.

“YOU! I will have my revenge,” Trianas started.

“No, I think not, yes, I know of your pitifully skilled son. He as well as you are both gone. Had I known that there was any of you left, I would have destroyed that also. I guess I still can.” Kimon said as he sat in meditation. A few moments later there was a scream as they all heard Trianas’s voice start to grow weaker.

A wicked laughter escaped Sherry’s throat, “This isn’t done there are more of me out there. I will have my revenge on all of your team.” There was a pneumatic hiss, then Kimon was across the room reaching out plucking a dart, then another out of ther air. The voice screamed then Sherry’s body relaxed as her eyes closed.

A shimmering past where Kimon was holding the darts revealed Derrick standing there. “Mary?! Is she alright?”

A beam shot across Sherry rapidly, Mary turned to Derrick, “I have extracted ninety percent, all autonomic systems are operating on their own. I sire it is dying would you like.”

“Shut the hell up you bitch; you’ll never download me before I delete.” Trianas voice said.

“As if I would want to.” Derrick snarled as he hit several switches. “Enjoy you death you bitch!” Derrick said as he flipped a final switch.

“No! It isn’t possible, you,” Trianas was saying.

“It’s very easy after watching you die at Dempsy’s hands the first time.” Derrick growled.

“Pitiful, just like that embarrassment of a son of yours, calling for his mommy when I ended his existence.” Kimon said as he got into Sherry’s face. Know that it was I who destroyed both of you.”

Trianas let out a last scream before the room was silent. “Thank you, Colonel Dempsy, I was able to get far more than I thought I would. Sire, I believe I have the location of at least another twenty implanted personalities.”

“Make sure that this cannot be done to her again. I also want my Grandmother treated. This is the last damn time I will have my close family threatened like this.”

Derrick suddenly looked over to where Kimon was standing. “Just how in the hell did you get out of the bio-bed?” Derrick said looking sternly at Kimon.

“Sire, you know that those in the art can speed their healing greatly. I tried a few times to teach all on you. My Kyōdai seems to be the only one who took it to heart. Though my Gakuseis seem to be learning it also.”

“I was going to ask you how they were doing.” Derrick said.

“Honestly sire, I wish I had a few more weeks with them. They have gotten much better; I am afraid that they aren’t where I wsh them to be. I need at least another week, then perhaps I would feel they could handle almost anything. Apart they are deadly, together? I could make them an unstoppable force.” Kimon said with a bow.

Derrick thought as moment then looked at the wall. A shimmering appeared then cleared to the visage of Emperor Kandra. “Emperor Kandra, it appears that your daughter and her intended need another seven days training. I was thinking that I could take most of your ships back so you can attend to your empire.”

Kandra’s eyes were wide a moment, “you would permit some of my troops to remain here to guard them?”

“I don’t see why not, besides after only three of my ships show up with all of yours, you think there will be a problem?” Derrick asked.

Kandra started to smile then to chuckle, “I’d say that two would straighten them out three? With their firepower? I would love to see them go in their pants, yes, might be worth it.”

Derrick started to chuckle himself, there were nobles and a few others, he’d had the privilege of seeing doing that.

“It seems to be well worth considering, I’ll give you an answer tonight plus, a few stipulations if we agree.” Kandra said.

Well Derrick thought, at least something is going right. With a turn hr took another look at his mother then walked to the door.

“I have to get back to their training, at least a day without Greeson. I just hope that Oni can help them.” Kimon said as her walked with Derrick.

“I didn’t know she was a doctor.” Derrick said surprised.

Kimon only smiled as they walked on. with a slight shake of his head if you only knew Kimon thought.

—————————————————–

Risen was laying on the make shift bio-bed. The poison along with the counter agent were burning through his body.

Risen thought that he ought to go to orbit, bombard the planet. With a sigh he shook his head, no it wouldn’t help his plans any to not have them as another diversion.

A tone went off letting Risen know that it was time for another shot. A look at the time, let him know he had half an hour before the antidote was ready.

He’d reseived several calls from the Queen’s court, at the moment he wasn’t about to answer.

Half an hour came, with Risen taking the antidote. As it raced through his body, he tried to hold his anger.

Finally feeling and breathing better he answered. “I am calling the Queen, if I do not hear from her, I WILL blow a sizeable hole through the hive.”

“That will not be necessary. I regret that my ex first mate was brainless. What can I do to remedy this?” The Queen said.

“I suggest you destroy its entire family, that way there is none to come after me nor ruin more of your plans.” Risen said.

“It will be done,” responded the Queen. “We will alert you when it is finished.”

Good Risen thought as he clicked off, it was going to be a good day after all.

---