Chapter 1

Searienne, a young and exuberant woman of twenty-two, crouched expertly behind a craggy out cropping of rocks. Her eyes narrowed as she stalked her prey. The bulky form of the Istme shifted slightly as it found a new patch of silvery grass to consume, and as its attentions were diverted to its belly, Searienne leapt forward with controlled and well practiced agility.

The skillfully sharpened stone head of her spear dug into its tender underbelly and the creature released a piercing scream before beginning to buck madly to and fro. Another youth, Eichi, appeared immediately after, and when Searienne bared the creature's throat to him, he buried his own spear into the Istme's esophagus. The great beast gurgled helplessly deep within its throat before collapsing, “You were a bit sluggish there for a minute, Eichi.” Searienne said, pulling her spear from the Istme corpse and cleaning it on a small rag that she quickly produced from a pocket in her Eservien robes.

“Aye, I was at that.” He muttered, following her lead and cleaning the blood from his own weapon, “Sorry about that.”

“If I had been a novice I would surely have been gouged by its great tusks. Look at these beauties; they're worth at least eight thousand vearas!” She patted the great tusks with respect and enthusiasm.

“Your mashel will be very proud.” He said, grazing his lips across velvety surface of her own.

“Aye, she will be very proud at her davelle.” She said with a smile, wrapping her thin, muscular arms about his waist, “but she will be even more so of her Affelle, for his success in his first hunt. You are now truly a member of our family. Our Union has nearly been fully sealed.”

Eichi smiled, “Of course we can not all be so very good at hunting this great brute.” He said with a wink, chucking her chin slyly, “Now then, we need to deal with this Istme before the Griends show up looking for a good snack.”

Searienne shuddered, “those little troublemakers are fast too. Let's load it on the shetér then, love.”

Together they dragged the Istme onto the shetér, tied it down tightly with a braided rope, and headed back to Searienne's estate at a leisurely pace. “The dark phase is fast approaching.” Eichi pointed out at last, breaking their standing silence.

The land behind them had darkened considerably and the shadows were racing to keep up with their quickened pace. There was a roar overhead and Searienne looked up just in time to see a large, metal, cylindrical object roar past. “What is that?” She asked breathlessly, curious for a moment before releasing the shetér and beginning to run, “it's headed straight for our village, leave the Istme, now!” She was nervous and her heart contracted painfully in her chest as she picked up her pace.

She ducked automatically as the object hurtled past their position again, its speed slowing slightly with each orbit of her home world. Eichi matched her stride for stride, and shortly they were both stumbling over each other as they closed the portal that led into Searienne's home. “Davelle?” The elderly woman was startled as she stepped cautiously into the room, “What is going on? You frightened me so!”

“Look outside, mashel, that thing, what is it?” For she was pointing now at the object that was coming through for the third time and beginning its descent right on their front lawn.

“Oh dear!” The woman gasped, bringing her fingers up to her mouth, “they've finally noticed us.”

“Who have noticed? What do they want?” Eichi was confused as he grasped the shoulders of both women.

“There's no time, we must hide before they come around again and finally land.” Annetlanine said quickly, “I don't know exactly who they are, but my great grand-mashel told me that they would one day come to destroy us once and for all.” She began to pace as the loud roar of engines approached for the final time.

“Can't we just fight them off with our spears, mashel?” Searienne asked frightfully, tightening her grip on the one that she carried still within her fingers.

“No, I wouldn't think so. They're from another world; they have contact with every galaxy, even the one where we came from before. No doubt their weapons are very sophisticated- Searienne, where are you going?” Annetlanine cried out as her daughter opened the portal.

“I cannot let our homes be destroyed by these invaders. Forgive me for my foolishness, but it is my duty to protect our people.” And with that she closed the door behind her and approached the heated metal with caution.

A loud, ear piercing screech emitted from the object, and slowly a platform lowered to the ground, releasing another screech and a bout of hot steam. Searienne cringed as her eardrums pounded, but she didn’t back down. No, more rather, she tightened her grip on her spear and pushed back the last of her qualms.

Two figures stepped cautiously from the dissipating steam and caught sight of Searienne, who stood poised for battle. She gulped heavily as she took in their appearance- both of them wearing some strange types of full body suits equipped with a helmet that molded perfectly with their faces. She couldn’t see them per say, but she grew frightened at the cruelty of their steps nonetheless.

She backed away from them defensively as they approached, crouching low to the ground and releasing a guttural growl from deep in her throat. “Searienne, get away from there!” Eichi cried from the house, terrified for his loved one’s safety.

One of the strangers lifted their arm and Searienne saw a strange weapon that gleamed darkly before releasing a burst of ear-shattering fire. She watched in horror as Eichi’s body convulsed before crumpling to the ground. “Eichi!” She screamed, tears falling from her eyes as she raced over to him, “Eichi, please…” She sobbed, shaking him.

His eyes opened momentarily, rolling about and finding it difficult to focus on her. His silver robes were quickly turning red, as were Searienne’s own as she pulled him adoringly into her lap.

Searienne thrust her face into his chest and clutched at the colored fabric of his robes. After a moment she stood, heaving for breath and glaring at the strangers. Her fingers closed painfully about the spear and she ran forward with a cry of outrage.

Caught off guard she managed to thrust her spear through the faceplate of one, having time only to pull back her spear and leap backwards before he collapsed forward, unconscious. For several seconds his body convulsed before finally stilling with death. His companion brought forward a meaty hand and struck Searienne hard across the face. She fell immediately at his feet, her spear spinning out of her grip and landing several feet away.

Her head throbbed painfully and she simply sat there, stunned for a moment. He stood over her triumphantly before Searienne reined in her fuzzy mind and lashed out at his ankle, catching her foot behind it, and knocking him over. She quickly stood and moved back to Eichi’s side, grabbing him up into her arms and dragging him towards the house. Searienne thrust him through the portal before closing the door behind them. “Mashel!” She cried, “E-Eichi is hurt!”

Annetlanine clucked softly as she rolled up her sleeves slowly, “He is near death Searienne.”

“What was that… that thing that strange man used? It sounded like it was exploding in his hands!”

“I don’t know.” Annetlanine sighed, seating herself over Eichi’s prone form, “I only know of what the elders told me many years ago.”

“What have they told you?” Searienne asked breathily.

“In a time that our people thrived the star systems fought in interplanetary wars. They wanted what their planets could not possibly even dream of harnessing. Metal birds screamed in the skies, destroying cities and the lives of many, many people. They bore weapons that could cause damage much like what was done to Eichi. Our people were destroyed because of the greed of the universe.”

After a moment Annetlanine extended her hands over his body and closed her eyes slowly, allowing her power to flow through every fiber of her being. Suddenly she saw Eichi’s torn tissue and ruptured organs from within. Annetlanine thrust forward with her mind, and the strange metal was forced from his body. She then began to fuse his organs and torn tissue, healing him from the inside out.

Her eyes fluttered open as something slammed viciously into the portal from the other side. “Searienne, help me with him!” She hissed, waving her daughter over and balancing the unconscious man between them.

The door exploded into small fragments of wood, startling both women into picking up their pace and making their way through and out of the back portal, all the while lugging Eichi behind them. “We could- hide Eichi, mashel. Hide him somewhere where they can’t find him so that he will be safe.” Her legs shook beneath her through strain and exhaustion, “We- we had built the cellar of our home. Just over the hill. It is well hidden.”

“You are certain he will be safe?” Annetlanine huffed, exhausted herself.

“He will be safe there, I do so swear that. I would never put Eichi somewhere that wasn’t safe in his condition. But if we stayed then we would be letting our people down. We need to warn them of the invasion while there is still time.” Searienne said, leading them towards what was meant to be the beginnings of her home that would be shared by Eichi.

“You are a strong willed girl, Searienne. I hope that you do not lose it in the hard times that are to come.” Annetlanine said softly, gazing affectionately on her daughter.

“We will fight mashel.” Searienne said firmly, “I won't let them ruin the peace that we have here.”

She led her mother to a nicely sized plot of land and lifted a small, hidden hatch in the ground, “We built this mainly for protection against the meteor showers that we occasionally get.
It's very strong and highly unlikely to be found.”

Annetlanine almost couldn't help but smile proudly at her daughter as they descended into darkness. Searienne activated a light wire, and immediately the room was illuminated with a dim glow. “We've stored some of our food and water down here as well. Eichi should be fine for at least a few phases before needing to come out to hunt.”

Annetlanine helped her to lower her husband's form to the ground, “I hope that the two of you will be able fully seal your union soon.”

Searienne nodded, “come now, we must hurry!” She said quickly.

The two of them swiftly exited the cellar, covering the entrance once more, and took off at a run that would have shamed a veesha. When they got to the village it was all but impossible to hide gasps of horror and dismay. The buildings were all in shambles. “M-mashel,” She gasped, clinging to the older woman's arm in horror, “we're too late!”

“Hey, there are more of them people over here!” A large man called to his fellows, and immediately a group of seven descended upon the two weary women.

Searienne growled and took a defensive stance. “Why are you here?” She ground out, “this is our territory.”

“You speak the intergalactic tongue.” A smaller man with an almost feminine voice purred, “Good, that means that we won't have to struggle to teach you language and obedience.”

“According to the interplanetary laws and deeds, we own three of the seven moons that encircle Fivald, while the other four are used simply for vacationing and tourism of great lords from other galaxies. This, the fourth moon, otherwise known as Ashivar, belongs to the Honorable Board Members of Fivald. This is not your territory any longer- if indeed it ever was.” Sneered a third of the seven men.

“Please, just leave us to our peace.” Annetlanine pleaded, wanting to avoid any more discord than had already occurred, “We have lived here for over three hundred years with no previous conflict with your people or any other in this galaxy.”

The fourth brought out a weapon that was similar to that which had nearly killed Searienne’s husband, and in terror she threw herself at her mother, “mashel!” She nearly screamed as they hit the ground with a soft thud.

The stranger didn't aim the weapon at them- instead he pointed it straight into the air and fired. There was an explosion, and suddenly Searienne found herself writhing upon the ground, her hands clamped earnestly over her ears, trying to block out a hideous high-pitched whine that seemed to reverberate in her very brain.

There was another sound that blended with the whining, and after another minute Searienne registered the fact that it was her voice. She was screaming in her agony, she saw her mother who seemed to have stilled. Searienne gasped, “Mashel...” She sobbed before she, too, descended into a blissful darkness.

Searienne awoke some odd time later. Her appendages ached and were being held forcefully at her side. When she tried to sit up it came as a shock to realize that her body was being held firmly against some icy, metallic object, “What's going on?” She snarled aloud, struggling against her bonds, “where am I?”

She wanted answers- what had happened? The last she could remember was some strange, piercing pain that had reverberated throughout her entire body. “Mashel, mashel, help me!” She cried out for her mother as any child would do after such a frightening and painful ordeal.

“Still yourself.” Searienne froze momentarily at the icy tone of the voice, before her gaze began to rove about- searching for the owner of that voice.

“Sir.” Searienne’s eyes fell upon a small boy who was around the age of eleven.

His eyes were deep pools of black, with ragged hair that matched in color. He was thin- she could practically see his ribs through the shirt that he wore, and he practically shook in the older man’s presence. “What?” The man’s voice was still cold, however, this time; it was filled with a malice that threatened injury to the boy.

Searienne felt a shiver of terror race down her spine- noting that the boy had begun to quiver visibly and shrank towards the door. “T-the collar is ready for the girl,” He whimpered, “and the others have already been fitted with theirs. They have been returned to slumber already.”

“Good.” The malice had disappeared, and in its place was a dark satisfaction.

“Who are you people?” Searienne found her voice again and spoke out angrily, pulling against her bonds.

They groaned and quivered beneath her wrath, but other than that her bonds remained firm, “What do you want with my people?” Whatever had bound her left wrist snapped and fell to the ground as she finally yanked her arm free.

The man, who had remained cleverly hidden from her realm of vision, appeared suddenly and clamped his hands in a vice-like grip around her thrashing shoulders, stilling her immediately, and he quickly bound the wrist again. “My lord will like this one.” He said after a few minutes of scrutinizing, his brown eyes flashed in mild amusement as she growled deep in her throat, “She will excite him greatly.” He cupped her chin in his hand, and when she shook him off he frowned, “the others will be dispersed throughout the galaxy.”

Searienne’s face paled as he wrapped his fingers about her throat and reached for something behind him with the other hand. Her own slender hands would have reached up and torn his away from her throat had they not been resting uselessly at her side. She let out an exclamation of pained surprise as his hand was replaced with a cold metal that shot needles into her throat, attaching themselves to her nerves.

Her body slumped and she stopped her fighting as she attempted to cope with this strange new pain. “There now,” the brown-eyed man said with a shrug, “isn’t that better now?” He stroked her cheek mockingly.

Had he not moved his hand away quickly he would have lost several fingers as she whipped her head to the side and snapped at them. “Ah, still able to move about then?”

Searienne simply glowered at him, “w-what is this thing?” She asked, cursing herself for the weak stuttering.

“It is called a Tain collar.” He said boredly, “Used to enforce obedience in new slaves. Now be a good girl and go to sleep.”

Searienne felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over her and fell into a light slumber- still able to hear the happenings about her.

“M-master Zatyl, what's the matter?” She heard the boy as though through a fog.

“It's strange how these people remained hidden for so long. They're rare now- and could be worth over three million Vearas.” He grinned, “And you know we managed to steal at least fourteen million Vearas from their homes! It makes me wonder where they got so much money... perhaps they brought it with them when they had to flee their home world. Our currency, after all, hasn't inflated or anything in over seven hundred years.”

He was talking to himself more than to the boy, “please inform my master over the telecom that we have brought him a delectable gift.”

“Y-yes sir.” Searienne heard a rustle of cloth and the boy was gone.

She finally slipped into a deep slumber and didn't awaken until she felt the chains loosen and her body tossed carelessly over a thick and muscular shoulder. Searienne growled her discontent as she was taken out into a blindingly bright port.

There was noise and confusion everywhere, and the air smelt rotten. She shuddered as the arm tightened about her waist, keeping her firmly in place as gnarled hands reached out and stroked her hair and whatever parts of her body they could touch. “Back off.” She heard her captor's chest rumble as he spoke roughly and felt his body move quickly, as though to dodge a blow, “listen you vagrants, try and steal my cargo again and I'll lop off your heads.”

Searienne opened her eyes slowly, forcefully and noted that she was looking back on a filthy and rather broken crowd. Men, women, and children stared at her lustily, as though she were an object that would rid them of their poverty. She glowered at them and kicked her captor hard.

He collapsed and she stood immediately detangling herself from him and running. She ran quickly, dodging groping hands and filthy clothing with subtle ease, making her way to small space between several buildings and climbing a tall, strangely made, set of stairs until she stood on the roof.

She looked over the packed and filthy streets with disdain, her nose curling in disgust as she took in the rank smells, “It reeks like an Istme after seven light phases,” She muttered as she sank to the ground and put her head in her hands miserably, “I want to go home. Eichi- did they find you too?” She wondered aloud, “or are you safe still?”

Searienne’s head snapped up as she heard footsteps on the ladder that she had climbed only moments ago. A patch of blond appeared before she was gazing into the cold, brown, eyes of Zatyl. “Amazing,” He grunted, “is your body truly already used to the gravity of Fivald?”

Zatyl pulled himself onto the roof and sat against the ladder, arms crossed. Now that she thought about it, Searienne felt as though something were pressing ominously upon her body. She frowned deeply and glared at him pointedly, wondering what he had in mind. Immediately a shock raced through her body, causing her to gasp and her hands to fly to the collar that had her throat ensnared. Zatyl laughed cruelly and stood, making his way slowly over to the panting girl.

Searienne pulled herself to her feet slowly and ran at him, tackling him to the ground and wrapping slim fingers about his tanned throat. She felt a deep rumble and realized it to be his laughter. She was taken aback for a moment, before another terrible shock caused her to collapse, practically writhing in his arms- arms that had closed tightly about her waist. “Let go!” Searienne shouted through the pain, trying to pull away from him.

“I'll admit you do have more spirit than the others,” He crooned in her ear, “however, that very same spirit will kill you in the end.”

Searienne shuddered, but stopped moving, “why are you doing this to us? We have done nothing wrong.” She said softly in feigned defeat.

“Why? What an absurd question.” He grinned as he stood, still holding her firmly too him, “Why you ask? Because we can. It is as simple as that.”

“What a cruel people.” Searienne muttered, “to imprison others for that insipid a reason.’ Just because you can?'” She scoffed, ignoring the pain that had dulled considerably and was now simply a distant memory, “Your people are fools if that is their philosophy.”

“And your people are fools for not believing in that philosophy. It’s because you are weak that you were captured so easily. Living forever in peace with no war does not make you a better galactic people, more rather it weakens your sense of judgment. It’s because you’ve had no war, no conflict except that with the beasts, that you were as bothersome as a mosquito of earth. Had your people been smart enough to train an army, even one with such dwindling number as yours, your people would probably still be there.” He smirked down at her.

“We are not weak!” Searienne said angrily, “we have fought many great wars with what you call the beasts of Loáwe! My people have lost many lives in those wars; do not call weak what you do not know!” She bit his arm furiously, drawing blood.

Zatyl howled in pain and threw her to the ground, grasping at his bleeding appendage in fury, “If you are not weak, then how were you so easily captured?”

“That is simple. We did not know your weapons.” Searienne spat, wiping his blood from her lips, “and besides, I killed one of your beasts when they first landed.”

“What foolishness.” Zatyl scoffed, lowering his injured arm, “his faceplate cracked, it happens all the time with faulty equipment. Your people’s weapons are far too primitive to do any real damage.”

“Our weapons may be primitive to yours, but that does not make them weak!” Searienne lashed out with her fist and caught Zatyl unawares just beneath the chin.

He fell backwards, landing heavily upon the ground. Zatyl looked up at the dark fury that lined Searienne’s face, “The quality of a weapon does not make the warrior. The warrior makes the weapon.” She glowered, “Don’t you forget it!”

“The warrior makes the weapon, huh?” Zatyl rubbed at his tender jaw before lashing out, kicking her legs out from under her.

Searienne landed with an ‘oomph’ of surprise, “Your people are fools if that is their philosophy,” He smirked triumphantly down at her.

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