Danielle continued to gaze into Mor’relock’s eyes, feeling down to his soul, “I am passing the test, am I not?”
“Yes, my Empress, you pass the test.” He released his grip on Danielle and smiled, “This is the one.”
“That’s it?” Race protested, “You two just look into each other’s eyes and do a who blinks first game? There’s got to be more to it than that!”
“Race,” Mor’relock answered, “Do not be disappointed. If she had failed the test, I would have sent her to Revein’sev by now...like this!” Reaching for his pearl inlaid dagger he thrust it at Danielle.
Danielle instinctively recoiled just in time for the tip of his blade to tear her garment. Then she grabbed his forearms and leaned close to the tip of the knife, “It is not over yet, I will have your heart!”
Mor’relock tried to lunge forward, but could not, “I can see you are strong with this Kron’Shulooka.”
“You will withdraw your blade!” Danielle demanded.
The room quieted as the struggle of unseen powers continued, “Can you win my heart, my Empress?” Mor’relock whispered.
“Kron’Shulooka! Ma’kaech Luma! Morgesh Bea’goth...Mae’sheen!” Danielle shouted.
Mor’relock fell back and dropped his dagger, “Morgesh Bea’goth Mae’sheen my Empress.”
“Can somebody please tell me what the hell is going on?” Race pleaded.
“She has indeed passed,” Mor’relock nodded.
“Yeah, well that’s what you said right before attacking her!”
“This time it is finished, my above-land human friend.”
Darnash, Mister Thelix, and the rest of the Sasquatch band, were on bended knee as Danielle spoke the ancient sacred words and repeated after Mor’relock, “Mae’sheen...mae’sheen.”
“There is no question,” Mor’relock said, “She is the Empress, and she does have the Blood Spirit, the Kron’Shulooka.”
“See, my Father,” Ruki’ added, returning to her seat from kneeling with the rest, “I told you she was the one.”
“Yes, Ruki’, you were correct, my Daughter,” Akua praised.
“The test was to see if Mor’relock would kill Danielle?”
“That was the test,” Mor’relock answered, “Did you expect us to have her drink poison or something?”
“Well, this is new to us, so ya can’t blame me for thinkin’ the worst, okay?”
“It is alright my new friend.”
“Ah gee, I’m so grateful to be called your friend. I don’t even know you!”
“Race!” Danielle scolded.
“It is all right, my Empress. Now it is time for you all to understand our heritage and why the Empress’ arrival is so important.”
Race began to speak, but Danielle raised her hand interrupting, “And we already know you’re all ears.” He lowered down an inch in his seat and remained quiet.
“It is true that we are Antarian,” Mor’relock explained, “We have been here one-hundred Antarian generations, as the written scroll foretold.”
“That’s fifteen-thousand years, in case you didn’t know...” Glares from Danielle and Mor’relock quieted Race.
“As I was saying, we have been here on this planet,” he glanced at Race, “for fifteen thousand years. We’ve managed to remain in hiding for the most part. However, these are very dangerous times for us. We are constantly on the move to avoid being spotted by the above-land seekers.”
“Yeah,” Race again interjected, “I watch the Discovery Channel, and I’ve watched ‘Finding Big Foot.’ Man, what those guys would give to be in my shoes right now.”
The group again glared Race into silence.
“When the strange warrior form an unknown house arrives on Earth, she will proclaim the throne as Empress of the Rising Star Antares. A test will be given and a test she will pass. The hidden scroll that she seeks, much understanding and truth will follow. Then the Empress will know why she has been called to this, that must be done.”
“Is that in the Blood Scroll?” Danielle asked.
“Yes, my Empress. Those were some of the words the seers in our tribe wrote thousands of years ago.”
“How is it that Danielle knew those sacred words so well, anyway?”
“My, this above-land human is curious.”
“He will grow on you, Mor’relock, give him time,” Mister Thelix assured.
Race elbowed Thelix, “Thanks a lot, big guy.”
“My Blood Song sang those words to me,” Danielle said.
“Yes, the Blood Song, the Blood Song...the Kron’Shulooka...” Mor’relock shook his head, “so sad.”
“Sad?” Danielle asked.
“None of you really fully understand what has happened with our ancestors?”
“No,” Darnash answered, “I have studied the ancient writings. Never have I found anything relating to this clan on Earth.”
“That was by design, Lord Darnash.”
“Please do explain, my mind is open to what secrets this Blood Scroll holds.”
“Just over fifteen-thousand years ago, the House of Delema sent prophets to the newly discovered moon. The House of Gornash was not the House you know it today; they were not always the warring type. They made war, but in a different, not so cruel manner.”
“Different?” Thelix asked.
“The House of Gornash were warriors, this is true. However, after the event occurred, they became...Evil. They lusted for blood. More so than at any other time in our history.”
“What was this event, Mor’relock?” Danielle asked.
“My Empress, we sent ships from both Houses. What we found on Serintin would forever change the face of the Rising Star of Antares.”
“You speak of the blood of the Boreshog beast, do you not?” Darnash asked.
Mor’relock slowly nodded before answering, “What our first landing party discovered on our third moon were large flying creatures that could kill with a flick of a claw. If you ventured too close to its jaws, you were chomped in two and consumed. What better creature to hunt than one that could have you for its meal?”
“Quite the challenge for the House of Gornash.”
“Yes, Mister Thelix, it was. We created the Serintin Games where a warrior would be dropped off in an area where we knew a Boreshog would be. If they battled the creature and won, they would drink of the blood of its heart. The Warrior’s strength would increase for several cycles of Serintin and then would wane once more. It was a time for the warrior to grow and celebrate. The games would be held upon every first cycle. As the warriors continued to hunt the Boreshog over the next few hundred years, their craving for the blood grew.”
“How long before you fled Serintin?” Danielle asked.
“My Empress, you are already gaining an understanding. You already know we fled because of the games.”
“No, it wasn’t because of the games, Mor’relock. It was the blood of the creature.”
“You see, my Empress, you are in tune. You are correct. It was the Blood Lust Games that turned.”
“The event didn’t happen for many cycles, am I right?”
“Hundreds of cycles, and well into populating Serintin. The Moon became the sacred ground and thus, the Emperor’s Palace was built. The leader would run the Antarian Empire from this sacred moon.”
“When did it change?” Thelix again asked.
“My new friend, Mister Thelix,” Mor’relock continued, “It was close to fifteen-thousand years ago or more from now. The Emperor of the time was fascinated with the Blood Games and ordered a hunting party to form. He wanted to drink of an Adolescent Boreshog. Many of his staff were concerned that hunting a smaller and younger creature was a sign of weakness. Nonetheless, he ordered them on the hunt.”
“What was his name?” Danielle Asked.
“Emperor Ma’Gott of the House of Serintin.”
“Sounds like maggot to me,” Race whispered to himself.
“He was not a good Emperor,” Mor’relock
answered.
“He was not of Gornash?”
“No, my Empress, he was of the lineage from the first born on Serintin. They became the sacred leaders. They are who our Clans came from.”
“Once we arrived here on this planet, we changed our Clan name to Ma’Getch to signify our new beginning.”
“...and Grey’con was our Clan being first from Earth, right Mor’relock?” Ruki’ added.
“Yes, Grey’con is of the Earth born clans.”
“What happened when Ma’Gott drank of the Adolescent’s blood?” Thelix asked.
“That is when the blood of the creature took over the Emperor. It corrupted him. He had a hold over all Antarians. It was not long before they discover that the blood of the adolescent creature must be renewed every few cycles. The Emperor forbid any other Antarian from hunting the Boreshog; only the Emperor would be allowed.”
“We were told that the Boreshog were hunted to thin the herd? Have we been wrong all these years?” Darnash asked.
“Lord Darnash, the thinning of the herd was practiced when we first settled. There was a truth that if the Boreshog were left to overrun Serintin, the new Antarian House would fall.”
“...and that would have led to the collapse of the Empire?” Thelix surmised.
“Yes, Mister Thelix, since the Rising Star of Antares was now ruled from Serintin.
“But the Blood Games mutated. Instead of Antarians hunting Boreshog, they created an arena where they pitted various alien species against each other. The winner would share their adrenaline filled blood with the Emperor to fulfill the Blood Lust of Serintin, and by doing so, strengthen the Emperor’s hold on the throne. There was no need to consume the blood of an adolescent upon every cycle. As long as the games were held every few Cycles, the Emperor would retain power over all Antarians.”
“This is why your ancestors left Serintin, isn’t it, Mor’relock?”
“My Empress, there is no need for you to read the Blood Scroll. You are gaining understanding with each passing moment.”
“I find it an odd sensation,” Danielle admitted.
“There were members of our Ma’Gott clan that knew this was evil. They were somewhat immune to its effects, but not entirely. This sect opposed the games and the killing of the creature. That was the first civil war the Warlords had known. The Blood of the Adolescent creature was at its strongest just before hibernation and weakened after it awoke. Once the Spirit of the creature’s blood multiplied within our own...”
“You mean when it genetically altered your blood into a symbiotic relationship,” Artemis nodded.
“Yes, my Eridonian friend, the Blood Spirit. We called it the Kron’Shulooka. It is what drives the Antarians today. It is why Danielle has her hold on me. I am not able to kill her; I tried. She passed the test.”
“So your ancestors fled, but how did you choose Earth, and why is my being Empress of Antares so important?”
“There was no way for us to stop what was happening...at least not yet.”
“The seers.”
“Yes, my Empress, the seers of Delema, part of the Ma’Gott clan. They prophesied about the strange female warrior from an unknown house. The warrior would have to become Empress in order to right the wrong. There was some confusion among the seers. They could not agree whether the outcome would be positive or negative. This Empress would either save them or destroy them, but she would have to partake of the Adolescent’s blood.”
“What is she supposed to do?” Race asked.
“The Blood Scroll says that her blood will forever remove the Kron’Shulooka.”
“...or it may forever destroy you all,” Race finished.
“Very astute, my above-land friend,” Mor’relock turned to Danielle once more, “You have noticed that the Blood Song fades quicker each time, do you not?”
“Yes, each time I’ve taken it. My power over the Antarians diminishes faster.”
“That is because of your unique immune system and the properties within your blood.”
“So, you’re saying that my blood could be the cure the Antarians have needed for fifteen-thousand years? How in the hell is that possible? Why me? Why my blood?”
“The seers did not create this; they merely were the writers that saw it come to pass. They also saw that this Empress would find us on Earth, and in one-hundred generations. That is why we took the Blood Scroll and headed to Earth. The seers saw where we had gone before we even devised a plan to leave. We had to hide the scroll or risk our ancestors finding Earth prematurely. If Earth was annihilated, as all the other systems the Warlords have encountered after the Kron’Shulooka, then our people would be doomed in this evil forever. Our Spirit will have no honor within Revein’sev.”
“My blood continues to sing to me even now. How will I take away this Kron’Shulooka?”
“How many times have you taken blood from the adolescent Boreshog?”
“The adult creature Darnash and I slayed was the first blood. That’s when I had power over Dumakas, the current Leader. His blood spirit was taken away and replaced with mine. Then the Adolescent that was slayed, and twice more from another young creature.”
“At least two or three times from the vial,” Darnash added.
“It was only twice, Lord Darnash,” Danielle reminded, “You wouldn’t let me take the entire dose when we were departing for Earth.”
“I gave you some, my Empress,” Ruki’ added, “In the cave before we left for under-land.”
“Yes, you once again became sick from the Erontos venom, my Empress,” Darnash explained. “That is what healed you to make the journey.”
“An Erontos bite?” Mor’relock said with raised brow.
“Yes, we ran across one recovering the clue from the wings of swords.”
“Well, that could confirm that your blood is different.”
“Different?”
“Yes, you see,” Mor’relock answered, “I believe had any other Human received a bite from one of those Antarian creatures, death would occur in minutes.”
“You could have died?” Race exclaimed.
“Just one more piece of evidence,” Mor’relock nodded.
“What must I do, Mor’relock? What does the Blood Scroll tell us?”
“You must experience Kron’Shulooka seven times.”
Ruki’ held up the vial to Mor’relock she continued to carry, “I have some left over, see?”
“That will be only the sixth dose,” Mor’relock counted.
“Wouldn’t that be the seventh?” Danielle quizzed.
“No, only the adolescent blood counts.”
“...and I must take of that last amount soon.”
“Once you have completed seven full cycles of Kron’Shulooka, you must have the Emperor take of your blood once more. That is what the Blood Scroll shows us.”
“That’s going to be tricky since they destroyed my ship.”
“Let me contact Admiral Fitz,” Race pleaded, “I’m sure we can work something out.”
“Do you think he would help me?”
“There’s no tellin’ unless I ask.”
“I am afraid that will not be possible,” Mor’relock said.
“Why’s that? Just take me somewhere that my transmitter’s signal can be picked up.”
“We are over eight miles beneath above-lands. Your transmitter will not work down here for safety and security reasons.”
“Eight miles? We never held our breath for an eight mile swim to this place.”
“It is very complicated to explain, Race Jennings,” Mor’relock explained, “Releasing you to above-lands would be too risky.”
“Well, unless you have another way for Danielle to get to Serintin, without being shot out of the sky before even making orbit, I’m your best shot.”
“He’s right, Mor’relock,” Akua said, “Our ships have long been dismantled. We kept none.”
“Can you refer to the Blood Scroll?” Danielle asked, “Mayb
e that will hold the answer?”
“We must travel the corridor to across-lands were the Blood Scroll is kept.”
“Swell, sounds like a fun journey to me,” Race chuckled. “We’d better get started.”
CHAPTER TEN
________________________
Sol System
Moon Base Operations
________________________
“Tell us your name!” Sergeant George Clausen ordered, jabbing his Taser into the neck of the large Antarian, he depressed the trigger.
Fifty-thousand volts surged into the Antarian, gritting his teeth, he groaned with pain.
Sergeant Clausen let up to allow the prisoner to rest a moment, “Think about how this feels,” Clausen said.
Lieutenant Abe Becker leaned close to the Antarian’s face, “I can have my Sergeant make this even more unpleasant.”
The Antarian growled as he pulled against his restraints; each wrist fastened with two handcuffs and attached with another to the chair arms. His legs required three around each ankle and then fastened to the chair legs.
Supervising Lieutenant Carol Smith poked her associate in the side, “Let’s give him more to think about, shall we?”
Lieutenant Becker returned a grin, “Sergeant? Hit him again!”
Sergeant Clausen chuckled, “My pleasure, Sir.”
The Antarian pulled his arms and tightened his legs as the surge of power ran through this body from the Sergeant’s pain stick.
The fourteen remaining Antarians listened to Ker’s screams down the corridor.
Ma’har, the Empress’s tactical officer stood and inspected their holding cell, “How much longer will we tolerate these puny Humans torturing us?”
“I agree with Ma’har,” Getera answered. “We can break though these thin walls and capture one of their ships. If I could get to communications, I might be able to send a message.”
“I agree, Getera,” Ma’har nodded, “I will do all I can to destroy this base of theirs. I am sure there are communications relays somewhere in one of these wings we can use.”
They cringed at the sound of more screams.
“We are Antarians! We shall break free from our captors, or die trying.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Getera nodded. “Have you discovered a weakness in these walls?”
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