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Author	Topic: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
SilverBlaze09 Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 12/8/05 10:20am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	shrouds himself in, uh, humility, yeah We shall eagerly wait for the next installment, sir. In the meantime, we shall lurk over your door and watch for the evil plot-breakers that would come and take your story away... XD Seriously, congrats on your comp getting back up and running, and I shall await your return with chapter piece eagerly. bows SilverBlaze09 -----signature----- Christian American, and proud of it Only male padawan of the supreme Jaya Solo. ph34r ^that means I'm number 7 backup when they go campaigning Bring the liberal media up on charges of treason. When in Rome... Eat lasagna and pizza
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 12/16/05 9:25am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Strange: my comp has no eyes, yet when I show it a hammer it starts working just fine. Me and my comp have an essential understanding. FORGED WORDS! -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 1/5/06 9:51am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	FORWARD! And your Calgary Flames are doing very well, Whiskey. -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 1/11/06 10:04am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	SPANK! SPANK! SPANK! SPANK! SPANK! That's the sound of Team Canada's treatment of the Russians in the GOLD MEDAL ROUND, BABY! Sorry for the long silence, folks. Between Christmas, a small dose of the Black Shakes, Project Entropia, and a killer head cold, writing's been a little tough to fit in. However, I actually have a significant amount typed out and will be posting probably tonight or tomorrow. Have faith. -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 1/12/06 6:59pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Always I have faith. FOWARD those who seek words to tell..... -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 1/12/06 9:44pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 1/12 - Chapter 17
	Ok, at long last Chapter 17 begins. Again I apologize for the delay. Hopefully I'll be able to post more often soon. We'll see what happens. And so, without further ado... Chapter 17 – A Princess’ Destiny He hadn’t spoken since they’d left…not since the limping wreck that once was the Tiger’s Paw had blasted out of the Hive’s hangar, bound for a destination no one really knew, but rather felt. He sat in the chair normally occupied by his daughter…a brave, fiery young woman who’d ensured his continued existence at the cost of her own only a few hours before. He manipulated controls designed for another’s grip…one whose hands had dealt both life and death in their brief years of life. He’d seen her slice an opponent in two with her lightsabre in one moment, and heal an injured child in the next. What other potential had those hands possessed? What great things could she have done, had she not thrown her life away? It took all of Dalan’s concentration to keep the crippled freighter flying straight, flanked by several immense Aiga platforms and other transports that now carried the remnant of the Invid race. Though largely comprised of Stage 4 Invid, several of the less evolved ones had been recovered and placed in nutrient fluid tanks. There they would remain in a kind of stasis until their minds could be stimulated once more by…by… By whom? The tiger had never felt such hopelessness as he did now. With no Queen, only the Enforcers and Shaylear remained of the Invid race. Even with precise guerrilla raids reminiscent of the Rebellion, this small clutch of creatures was no match for the ever-growing army of the Yuuzhan Vong. The numbers simply didn’t add up this time. No matter where they ran, or what they did to defend themselves, the Vong were simply too many in number. The Invid would die here…and he would die with them. This very thought – the thought that he would die on this alien world so far away from anyone he knew and loved – made him grip the controls that much tighter. Was this what the Queen meant by she didn’t see him being here much longer? Was that her grand vision…some kind of hope-filling prank? If it was, even his most sarcastic of moods failed to see any humour in it. He heard a noise in front of him and gazed down momentarily at the chair he normally occupied when flying this ship. Shaylear was weeping quietly, curled up in the chair as much as she could. She’d been instrumental in helping coordinate the remaining ship launches before finally boarding and departing herself, at which point she curled up in the gunnery chair and wept clumsily. Emotions like despair and loss were new to the Invid tigress, and the manifestation of tears was a bodily reaction she’d yet to fully understand. Dalan watched her cry and felt a pang of sympathy. He wanted to comfort her, but the ship had no auto-pilot anymore. To let go of the controls would mean the end of they and the ship, so for now Shaylear had to mourn alone…under his watchful eye. Two Enforcers streaked by, moving towards the head of the convoy. No less than a dozen of the evolved Invid soldiers were flying throughout the convoy, on the lookout for the Vong or renegade Invid. So far there had been no attacks, but time would eventually catch up to them, as would the Vong. Hopefully by then they would have reached this mystery destination and set up some kind of defence. Despair washed over him again as he thought about that…about a defence. Of course, it was pure instinct talking now…never go down without a fight…take as many with you…all that combat garbage. It would almost be smarter to simply fly towards the Vong fortress and ram it head on…assuming the ship could make it that far. Fighting back now only delayed the inevitable. Of course, there was the other alternative, namely sit and wait as the Yammosk devoured the life energy of the world, growing strong enough to dominate every Invid on the planet…making them mere pawns of the Yuuzhan Vong as they had so many other races. Perhaps their Shapers could figure out a way to replicate them, and in doing so discover their true potential…the potential Dalan had seen in full a lifetime ago. Even if the Queen had listened to him, he now wondered if it would have made any real difference. The attack had been so swift, no amount of effort on her part would have created a strong enough resistance. Against fanatics, more fanatics worked best, and even then, would not the new soldiers merely have fallen under the Yammosk’s sway? It would have been the ultimate tactic on the Vong’s part…possess the Invid as they emerged from their birthing tanks and destroy the hive from within. Had the Queen done as Dalan asked, the fight would have been over before it had even started. Had the Queen done what Dalan asked… Realization came washing over the tiger as the truth revealed itself to him. She knew…somehow that eternal being knew his strategy wouldn’t work. She knew if she began mass breeding soldiers that they’d all succumb to the will of the Vong and become their soldiers. She knew…and she died to keep her children from them. Brilliant…utterly brilliant. Now, though, one question remained? What next? There were times when Dalan wished he was as attuned to the Force as his students were. So often he wondered why, when discussing matters of the future, they were always so cryptic in their words. If he could have seen what Triel had seen in those last few moments…before she sacrificed herself for them…perhaps then he could make some sense of all this. Why was it so important that Shaylear survive? What was her purpose in all of this…and how did he fit into it? If only those Vong had been a few metres back…if only she could have told him…if only… “There’s something out there.” The weak voice snapped Dalan out of his thoughts and he looked at the tigress who was now looking up at him. When their gazes met, he noticed her pointing to something on the horizon. He squinted for a moment, then noticed the ghostly shape looming in the distance. “Everyone seems on a course for it,” said Shaylear. “Looks like some kind of island,” remarked Dalan. “Maybe an extinct volcano.” His voice was cracking from not having spoken in so many hours. He swallowed hard, trying to regain a tone that didn’t betray his emotions. “Why would Mother send us here?” she asked, gazing once more at the looming island. Of course, Dalan had no answer and instead concentrated on flying. The other ships in the group were beginning some kind of approach vector, so the tiger followed suit, keeping formation as best he could. As they neared the island, Dalan could see that he had indeed guessed right. This small dot of land in the middle of an endless ocean was indeed a volcano…a very large volcano. Dark and foreboding, its peak was hidden by low cloud, giving it an almost supernatural appearance. His keen eyesight could make out patches of green on the volcano’s slope…an indication that it had been dormant for many years. The island created by the volcano was nothing short of paradise. A lush, green canopy greeted the ships as they found clearings in which to land their craft, the light of the day almost completely hidden by the tree cover. It was dark enough that when the Tiger’s Paw began its descent, Dalan had to activate the landing lights just to see what was going on. The ship landed amidst a spray of sparks and small explosions as the last of the repulsorlifts finally gave out. The tiger sighed as he unstrapped from the chair. “Well, at least they got us this far,” he said more to himself than to Shaylear. He approached her and hesitantly laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “How’re you doing?” he asked. “So this is where we die,” said the tigress. Her voice was now hollow…defeated. “This is where we face our end…in a grove of trees away from the sun.” She stood up, not facing Dalan. “The eternal line of the Invid ends here with naught but a whimper of defiance.” A year ago, Dalan would have responded to that comment with a ‘yeah, good riddance’ and left it at that. However, now sharing the same fate as the Invid, he stifled the thought. Instead, he put a gentle hand on her shoulder, squeezing ever so gently. Gods, she felt so much like her…even the texture of her fur was the same. “Shaylear,” he said softly, “for what it’s worth, both your mother and my dau…Whisper…knew something about this place that we don’t. There must be something here…something that was worth…what they did. “But what?” pleaded the tigress, the desperation in her voice growing. “what could possibly be out there for us? Why would Mother send us here without telling us?” “We’ll find out,” said Dalan, using his best encouraging tone. Shaylear wasn’t fooled, though. She knew the tiger who was trying so hard to comfort her was just as frightened as she, but at least he was trying to put up a brave front. She finally turned to him and nodded. The two were met by Azar as the exited the ship. The Invid Enforcer bowed slightly to the pair with a reverence that made Dalan feel a little uncomfortable. Granted, by rights Shaylear was indeed the new Invid Queen, but she in no way possessed the abilities needed to resurrect the Invid to their former status on this world. “I have sent several Enforcers to learn more about the land,” reported the Invid. “They will return when they have seen all they can.” “Good work, Azar,” said the tigress. “How…how many of us are left?” There was a long pause before Azar spoke again. “Three hundred of us are here, Mistress. Only Enforcers and Pilots…no Harvesters.” Dalan noticed several Stage 4 Invid milling about, garbed in what looked to be a flight suit of some sort. He smiled thinly, half-wondering what his comrades would say about his ever-evolving knowledge of one of the Milky Way’s worst nightmares. “Three hundred…we were scores times that only a day ago.” Shaylear held back the tears of loss and realization of the inevitable. She felt herself begin to shiver and her breath grow short until Dalan laid that comforting hand upon her shoulder once more. Slowly she regained her composure. This was no time to show weakness to those who looked up to her, no matter how dire or desperate the circumstances were becoming. “Find us the moment the patrols return with news,” she said. “Dalan and I will see how the other ships fared.” “As you command, Mistress,” said Azar with a bow. He turned and walked towards one of the Aiga craft, leaving Dalan and Shaylear alone. After wiping the tears from her eyes, Shaylear began walking and Dalan moved to keep up. Wordlessly, the pair walked in and amongst the surviving craft, surveying any damage and offering what little solace they could. In Shaylear’s presence, the Invid seemed hopeful, as if this last carrier of royal blood would somehow save them. She offered a smile and, Dalan suspected, some form of mental message that this would all end soon. Watching her, Dalan’s mind suddenly travelled back to another time…another place far from here. He, Shiana, and several others were aiding many of Benaglis’ downtrodden. It was a normal thing for the Clans to do around special occasions and holidays. Dalan remembered how caring and compassionate Shiana had been during a dinner event…how she moved from table to table, ensuring everyone was well-fed and in good spirits. He remembered gazing at her for a long…almost too long…time, his heart filling with absolute admiration for her. ‘But it’s not her.’ Again, the little warning went off in the back of the tiger’s head. This was not Shiana, nor was she even Bengalan. He had to keep reminding himself that no matter her form, scent, or even mannerisms, there was nothing even remotely similar between the two. The Queen had taken her form from the tiger’s memories of Shiana and impressed them upon what was once a glob of green goo deep in a Genesis Pit. Yet, for some reason, there was no longer any anger behind that thought. Perhaps it was their shared fate that awaited them, or perhaps the simple need to have at least one friend in this gods-forsaken place, but the tiger was beginning to see Shaylear less as some Invid construct and more like a living, breathing person capable of thoughts, emotions... Emotions…he wondered…did she know about… “Are you all right?” Dalan blinked twice, his thoughts screaming back to the present day to notice Shaylear looking directly at him. He shook his head to clear his mind of the old memory and nodded. “I’m fine,” he said. “Just…thinking.” She seemed to think nothing more of the exchange as she rejoined him and the pair continued on their informal inspection of the surviving craft. True to Azar’s claim, there truly were very few Invid left, and those who’d survived the journey looked utterly lost and afraid. In spite of possessing higher brain function than their less-evolved brethren, the Stage 4 Invid still had a connection to the Queen. Without her, many of these survivors would simply fade to nothing. Devoid of function or assigned purpose, they would sit as statues until starvation claimed them. For many of them, a quick death at the hands of the Hated Ones would have been preferable. * * * When the last ship had been inspected and its passengers consoled, Shaylear sat down on the ground and exhaled loudly. Her body ached from all the walking, and her physical state only helped accelerate the growing anxiety in her mind. In the span of only a few hours, she’d personally visited every last surviving member of her race. What had once been the dominant species on this world was now a mere handful of creatures, scurrying around like rodents away from an ever-approaching enemy. It was almost too much to take. She felt a warmth cover her back and her nostrils were filled with the comforting scent of a male tiger and worn leather. She clutched at the jacket offered her by Dalan and held it close. Her apprehension began to ease somewhat as she breathed in the scent of one of her few remaining friends. She looked up at his gentle face and smiled warmly. “Thank you,” she said. “For everything.” “You’re welcome,” he said, taking a seat next to her. The tigress leaned against him and, to his surprise, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. “Triel used to love the woods,” he said after a time. “Growing up she loved running in the forest, climbing trees, picking up little treasures along the way.” He chuckled, thinking of the many times Whisper had brought home an egg that had fallen out of a nest. It had hatched before Dalan could return it to the wild, making their little family larger by one more for a while. “She got that from you,” said Shaylear, purring softly against him. Suddenly, she tensed when she felt his gaze upon her. “I…I’m sorry, Dalan…it’s just that…the memories…I…” In response to this, Dalan merely kissed her on her forehead, surprising Shaylear somewhat. “I…I don’t understand,” she stammered. “She said, ‘You’ll need her as much as she needs you,’” said Dalan softly. “Your mother…before she died she pulled me close and whispered that to me. I think I understand what she meant now.” “And that is?” Dalan turned away, staring at the ground. “I’ve lost everything, Shaylear…my home…my family…and now the single closest person to me since arriving in this gods-forsaken galaxy. Now I’m staring down the barrel at a real, tangible, imminent death…it’s something I’ve never felt before.” “But…all the times in the past,” said the tigress. “All the fighting…the hunting…” “I never felt myself grow afraid any other time,” he said softly. “Somehow I managed to either suppress my fear, or simply not feel it. Maybe it was my own ego or sense of bravado, but until today I’ve never been afraid of dying.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I always thought I’d meet my end in the presence of friends and family, not in a place like this. Somehow I always made it home after a mission. Sure, I had days where I was pretty banged up, but I always made it home.” His voice was beginning to crack. “But now…I don’t think I’ll be going home this time…I…oh gods…” Shaylear reached a hand up and stroked the side of Dalan’s face. Memories of him filled her mind with the same clarity as though she’d actually been there at the time. She’d never known him to know fear, or to back down from a fight. She knew that when the Hated Ones finally came, scores would be sent screaming to their destinies before one landed the fateful blow, ending Dalan’s life. She craned her neck up and nuzzled him gently. More memories came rushing to her conscious mind as she inhaled his scent deeply. She knew that in spite of the paths their lives had taken, the bond forged between Dalan and Shiana somehow transcended all other relationships in their lives. They were both married to different people, yet even beyond matrimonial dogma, they shared a friendship far deeper than any husband and wife could. This was the meaning of Ke’la…of friend above all else. Dalan closed his eyes as he felt Shaylear’s muzzle graze him. Her scent was perfect…with his eyes closed he could at least pretend that Shiana was here and that it was she who’d come to comfort him in his last hours. He stroked behind her ears tenderly, nuzzling her and pulling her into a deep, warm embrace. Gone from his mind now were any shreds of doubt or apprehension about her. She was no construct…she was his Ke’la…his equal in spirit and heart. At this moment in time there was no one else with whom he’d rather be. If…when he died here, he would do so in the arms of his truest friend. The sound of approaching footsteps made Dalan’s ears perk up. He hesitated for a moment before breaking his embrace with Shaylear and turning. On reflex his 44 Magnum Desert Eagle slid into his hand in a practiced motion. If the Vong had already come for him, then the first soldier to clear the bush line would be the first one to die. Relief filled Dalan’s mind as he saw the form of Azar emerge from the bush. While his armour had no real way to indicate excitement, the Invid Enforcer was radiating what Dalan’s senses interpreted as enthusiasm. “Azar?” asked Shaylear, standing. “What is it?” “Something has been discovered,” he said, his tone of voice seemingly cheerful. “Something interesting.” Hopefully that was all right. -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 1/18/06 11:01am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	DOH! You snuck a post on me after I posted! I'll get to reading it as soon as I can, Whiskey, you sneaky Canadian you! -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 1/18/06 7:55pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	That was emotionally excellent, Whiskey! The despair and the loss of Triel to Dalen was reflected very clearly and warmly there. It would not been for naught for the story if it did not reflect all of Dalen's pain. It shows that no Ravage can save him from this. Without Shaylear, Dalen actually has nothing else to live for; he might as well had stopped breathing if it weren't for the presence of the clone of his one time beloved. Shaylear has her own issudes, and not only is she experiencing them with memories not truly her own, she sharing them with someone else experiencing them that she knows so well when in fact she has not know of him long enough. The perpetual gloom must give way the new dawn. I think Azar's something interesting will lift those spirits. As always I wait with great patience. FORWARD! -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 1/25/06 8:17pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come
	I have to admit that this story as well as its predecessor have been two of the toughest challenges I've ever made for myself. Trying to add depth to characters, as well as fallibility is no easy task, but I'm glad for this challenge. Well, now that we've seen how the heroes are doing, let's check in on the villains, shall we? Greatl was perplexed…something she didn’t like to be. Seated in her quarters she pored over report after report written in Chazrach blood on strips of their own skin. Many of the reports were by her own hand, and done with a precision so fine, even the best offerings of the hated technology would be hard-pressed to duplicate them. Greatl was a Shaper…a master scientist of the Yuuzhan Vong. Like her peers during the battle with the many factions of this galaxy, one of her primary assignments had been to find a way to enslave the hated Jee-dai with their powers intact. During the war there had been some limited successes, but after the cataclysm on Dantooine very little of that research remained. P’alo Kwezach had nearly succeeded in swaying the mighty Mara Jade to the cause several years ago on Corellia, but that plan had been thwarted by the Jee-dai and several others. In the end none survived, not even Nom Anor, the third most powerful Vong in the galaxy during the height of the war. Most of Kwezach’s research had been destroyed, but enough remained that Yaq’Ma Greatl could extrapolate a solution and sway some of their growing number over to the cause of the Purity. A stirring off to her right made the Vong Shaper lift her head. Suspended in a vessel filled with dark green liquid floated a creature long since dead. She surmised it to be one of the natives of this world…one charged with harvesting the strange pink flower that grew so abundantly on this planet. It had been seized during an encounter with a clutch of them some time ago, and since then she had also been charged with learning about them. An autopsy on one of the many specimens yielded very little in the way of physiological function. The organs were crude and the brain primitive with one exception: One area of the creature’s brain was highly developed and attuned to frequencies of a psychic nature. She noticed how, compared to the rest of the corpse, this small section of its brain was evolved well past what many in this galaxy would consider a ‘higher life form.’ She deduced that these creatures functioned under a hive culture. The corpse had been a mere drone in the hive, taking orders via some massive mental link from a central intelligence. She also noticed that this evolved section of the brain was linked to the rest of the creature’s bodily functions. Once the psychic receptor was disabled, the creature would simply crumble to the ground, as if someone had cut the puppet master’s strings. This was made apparent a mere two days ago when a Vong strike force located and destroyed what appeared to be the hive. The moment the central consciousness was eliminated, all of Greatl’s live specimens simply died. Any attempts at reviving them were fruitless, regardless of her efforts. She tried modifying the coral polyps normally used to enslave the unwilling to the Vong cause, trying to attune the creatures’ brains to the Yammosk’s mental frequency, but to no avail. Their minds were simply to primitive and proprietary to accept anyone else as their life source. This had disappointed Greatl at first…until the strike force returned to base with a fresh load of new specimens for her. By far, these new ones were physically superior to the others, and she could only surmise that this race had been a type of caste system not unlike her own. What she had been working on before were some kind of worker class, while these still-living specimens were obviously bred for something more. Judging from the armour they had been wearing, she concluded they were some form of warrior caste. Interviews with the returning warriors seemed to confirm this hypothesis, as she was told one tale after another about these creatures burning through scores of lesser warriors before finally succumbing to the might of the Purity. The Shaper shivered with ecstasy as she recalled those tales. Like all Vong, she was prone to masochism, but for her, pain as a whole was an immense aphrodisiac. Be it giving or receiving, jolts of lustful energy coursed through her when she thought of it. When soldiers spoke of their exploits, her body tingled and the more graphic the story, the more intense her feelings. As a Shaper, she was trained in the art of pain delivery and reception…something she relished with near-addictive fervour. Had she been in charge of the Jee-dai project from the start, the entire lot would have been turned by now thanks to her. Her gaze shifted from the worker corpse to a cylinder a few metres to the right. There, also suspended in green liquid was one of the warrior caste, heavily sedated at the moment. She had already done more than a dozen live autopsies on this caste of creature, seeing a far more evolved physiology than with the other. Were it not for several key similarities, she would never have believed that these two creatures were of the same blood. Returning to her notes, Greatl sighed. Two castes of creatures…one central mind to control them…and this strange plant. Her eyes flitted over a drawing she’d made of the flower. The digestive tracts in both creatures suggested that this was their only means of nourishment, yet when fed to several volunteers from the soldier ranks, they all collapsed and writhed about until they died at her feet (something she found immensely arousing). Biologically the flower was of the same structure as any number of plants she’d seen before, but with a few seemingly insignificant anomalies. She had also learned the liquid in which both beings floated was a derivative of this flower. The lesser being was incapable of surviving outside of it the way a fish would struggle out of water. The warrior, though, was less dependent on this liquid and could remain away from it for a time. It seemed to her that these creatures and this flower were somehow connected…a type of mutual interdependence. One needed the other in order to survive. Finally, Greatl stood up from her seat, leaving her notes behind and walking in between the two cylinders. Beyond them stood a doorway, sealed by what appeared to be some kind of mucus-like secretion from a slug-like creature hanging from the top. When she approached the curtain, the slug shifted itself, pulling the sheet of mucus to one side, allowing her passage. It had been trained to recognize her pheremones and those of several other Vong in the fortress. However, any who the slug did not recognize were not only barred passage, but could expect a writhing, suffocating death from being ensnared in the mucus. Greatl’s body began to tingle as she passed into the next room. To some, this chamber was one of horrors. To her, it was a playroom. Every device capable of delivering pain and allowed by Vong doctrine was here, from self-heating blades to microbes that consumed your flesh but saved the nerves for last so you would feel every agonizing second of it. In other places…on other worlds, a chamber like this was often referred to as the Den of Screams, for even the toughest Vong warrior retched when Greatl was at work. She walked by her collection of modified amphistaffs…modified in the sense that when returned to their normal form, their serpentine hides were riddled with sharp barbs that secreted a mild yet painful acid. She would let them crawl over her victims, exulting as they screamed in utter pain. Were her methods not so effective, few believed she would have ever been allowed to become a Shaper. Once past them, she stopped and gazed upwards. A smile of the purest evil twisted on her face as her eyes beheld a site so erotic to her that she actually moaned lustfully. Suspended on the ceiling of this place was the most effective Vong torture device ever invented. No matter one’s movements or pleas, this creature continuously delivered one thing and one thing only… Pain… It was the Embrace of Pain…a device built for one purpose: Torture. Any caught in its clutches was instantly condemned to eternal suffering. The brain was not allowed to simply turn off its pain receptors thanks to this living device’s abilities. No matter your position, breathing pattern, or mental focus, the pain was always there. While it did ebb and flow on a whim, there was never a time when its victim was not experiencing some form of pain. Some had been known to go mad from the torture, their minds coming completely unhinged from this reality in an effort to relieve the suffering. Others with more disciplined minds often stopped their hearts from beating, preferring death to continuous pain. Few were those who could survive an ordeal like this and stay sane. Greatl’s eyes travelled over the body hanging in the device’s grip. Every gasp and squeal of pain made the Shaper shiver with lust. Every vain attempt the victim made to break free of the Embrace only made her more aroused. Her mind began entertaining lewd thoughts of ‘breaking in’ several of the younger soldiers. The lower ranks were always willing to do anything to improve their station and she knew full well how to take advantage of that. Of course, none of her conquests would ever survive her appetite. To her, the ultimate release was only achieved when she watched her partner die in front of her from some grievous wound or mere asphyxiation, whatever tickled her fancy at the time. A small vessel composed of Yorik Coral lay on the floor beneath the struggling victim. As per Greatl’s design, the Embrace had opened a tiny incision, allowing the victim to bleed out. Now, hours after the first cut, the vessel was nearly full, and would provide the Shaper with yet more test material. Of all her specimens she’d gathered since coming to this wretched world, this recent addition to her collection was by far the most curious. Its mere presence here suggested to her that this place was not perhaps as secure as her leader had originally thought. However, in spite of this, the Shaper felt more at ease now than she thought she would. She picked up the small vessel and took one last look at the suspended being. A twisted smile crossed her lips as more sadistic thoughts danced through her perverse mind. If her hypothesis was correct, then this specimen would surely die a ragged, horrible death at her hands, and prove to her Master that a weapon of immeasurable power did indeed dwell here…ripe for the Vong’s picking. “You should feel honoured,” she said as she made her way towards the exit. “If your blood tells me what you refuse to, then your death will be forever remembered as the final downfall of your kind.” Only a mewling whimper was heard as a response. -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 1/27/06 4:18pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Oh man! The Vong just don't know any boundaries. You did a great job capturing that, Whiskey. Just another reminder of what the Vong are and what lengths they will go to win. Of course, now I gotta wonder who it was in that torture device. Anyone we might know, and not just a Star Trek red shirt not named Scottie? FORWARD! -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 2/17/06 9:19am Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	So, when's that Ladies U.S. vs. Canada Hockey final? -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 3/2/06 3:06pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Hey all. Just a quick update: My PC decided to take a huge, cleansing cosmic DUMP last week and it cost me a new power supply and hard drive. Thankfully, the machine is now back up and running with no data loss whatsoever. (whew) That being said, I logged onto my website and noticed that there was nothing there. I was in the middle of updating it when the dump happened, so for the past week it's been nothing but a blank page. Oops. Well, that' changed now. TDG is back in business with a new look and some new features. I'm starting to take some Dreamweaver and Flash courses from a local university, and as I learn more this little site'll just keep growing and growing. In story news, I'm just reviewing my latest bit to post before I actually send it up. With luck it'll be up tonight. Thanks to everyone for hanging in there and keeping their flames to themselves. More yummy furry destruction is on its way :P -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
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Whiskey in the Jar-Jar Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 3/5/06 3:37pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 3/6 - Chapter 17 Continues
	And, without further ado, we continue... It didn’t take Dalan long to deduce the obvious: Whatever he was currently looking at, it was by no means a natural formation. In fact, the precision with which it was created all but screamed to him that someone…or something…had been here before. At the base of the volcano, a tunnel of some sort had been created. Far smoother and more symmetrical than the result of a lava flow, it measured fifteen metres across and nearly ten metres tall. With some careful navigation and a skilled hand, an Imperial AT-AT squad could traverse this cave rather comfortably. “Those who found this went deep inside,” reported Azar. “They reached the end, but found the only way to continue was to descend.” “How far down?” asked Shaylear, who was also marvelling at the cave entrance. “They did not descend,” replied the Enforcer. “There was something else there…something that they wanted you to see.” “Might provide some better shelter from the elements,” noted Dalan. “And the Vong, should they ever show up.” “Good point,” said Shaylear. “I’m interested in what the scouts found at the end. Azar, choose two other scouts to accompany us.” “Very well, Mistress,” said Azar. He nodded towards two other Enforcers who stepped up. “The place is rather dark, so you will have to remain close to us.” Shaylear nodded and the group entered the cave. The darkness was inky…dense…even with their piercing lights the Enforcers did very little to cut through it. Their devices merely cast beams of light into the darkness, illuminating very little past its most intense radius. Dalan’s feline eyesight and whiskers were the only things guiding he and Shaylear, who’d taken his hand the moment the darkness had surrounded them. They group traveled for what felt like an eternity before the trio of Enforcers finally stopped. Dalan moved up beside Azar and peered ahead. “What is it?” he asked. “It is something I have never seen before,” answered the Enforcer, panning his light over what lay ahead. “It appears to be dead, though.” The light revealed what appeared to be a gnarled, blackened branch, not unlike a tree limb long since dead. “The scouts chose to go no further, thinking The One would know what this is.” Shaylear stepped towards the object. Azar’s reference to her as ‘The One’ made her shudder. She knew full well what that title implied and in spite of her accepting the responsibility of being the Invid leader, she also knew she had a lot to learn and not nearly enough time to do so. “I’m not sure,” she said with false confidence as she reached up to touch it. “It looks like some kind of…” The moment her hand brushed the object, it began to glow. From deep within, the branch she had touched began to emit a deep indigo light, which soon turned to bright purple. On instinct the tigress recoiled, but the glow remained. Dalan’s eyes grew wide with surprise, and he quickly made his way to Shaylear. “Are you all right?” he asked. She was holding the hand that had touched the branch, but the tiger could see no apparent damage. “Y…yes,” stammered Shaylear. “What…what happened? It was as if I…I brought it back to life.” Dalan moved towards the branch and touched it on another part. When he drew his hand away, he noticed that his handprint was barely visible on the branch’s surface, but quickly faded away. He gazed at his hand, and then back to Shaylear, beside whom Azar was now standing. “What is it?” asked Shaylear, moving back towards the branch. “I don’t know,” replied Dalan. “But I think it needs Protoculture to survive.” He touched it again. “I don’t have much of it in my body,” he said. “But you…I mean you’re practically the very manifestation of the Flower’s essence.” “Y…you mean…I can give life to this thing?” She seemed doubtful, but gingerly she placed her hand on the branch again. This time the glow was stronger…brighter. It slowly began to spread out across the surface of the object, highlighting it against the inky darkness and revealing to all its true size. Azar and the Enforcers took a collective step back as the object illuminated. The branch Shaylear and Dalan had touched was but a mere tendril of a much larger organism, it seemed. Azar moved forward once more, curious to see the true size of this thing that The One was seemingly bringing back to life. The tendril led the Enforcer to look over the cliff and see before him a plant of some sort. Several metres tall and rather macabre in appearance, its central trunk had attached to it several large circular pads that glowed with some inner white light. Finally, Shaylear released her grip on the plant, and the glow remained. “I…I didn’t feel a thing,” she said as she approached Azar. “I gave this plant life…yet I feel as though I did little more than palm a light switch.” “Looks like some kind of stairway,” commented Dalan, also now peering down. “See? Down there.” He pointed to an opening, barely illuminated by the glowing plant. “Whatever this place was, I’m betting this was how one got from one level to another.” As if to prove his point, the tiger leapt from the cliff towards the nearest pad on the plant. He landed with a ploof sound, kicking up a little bit of dust or pollen as he did so. “Solid as a rock,” he said, stomping his foot down a bit. Shaylear leapt as well, and soon landed next to Dalan. “This is incredible,” she said. She spotted the next closest disc and jumped for it. Like before, she landed with a pronounced ploof and kicked up a bit of pollen. Dalan followed suit and soon the two were alternately jumping from pad to pad all the way down. Azar and the others merely let their armour carry them down and met the two felinoids as they touched down on the floor of the cavern once more. In spite of the odd spectre of mystery surrounding them, Dalan and Shaylear both smiled, revelling in their brief moment of play. However, as the tiger looked at the tunnel before them, his cheerful demeanour soon faded, replaced by the calm attitude of a hunter. Not a word was spoken as they entered the tunnel, following it down a long, twisting pathway until it opened up into a vast chamber. The size of it, though, wasn’t what made Dalan suddenly freeze and look around in horrified amazement. Rather, it was what was occupying that space that had given the tiger pause. Nestled around the many natural pillars and other rock formations were what appeared to be cylinders of some sort. Some were hanging from the uppermost ceiling, while others were gathered in clusters nearer to the ground. The cylinders were all a pale green in colour…seemingly lifeless. So mesmerized were everyone, they never really noticed that they were all drifting apart. Each of them had their own silent questions about this immense chamber and this odd decoration, and each one seemed determined to answer their questions in their own way. Dalan, for his part, found a cluster of the cylinders perched upon what appeared to be an island of some sort. It wasn’t really an island, but part of the cavern floor was covered in some kind of substance that seemingly isolated the cluster from the rest. The substance was rather putrid smelling, making the tiger’s muzzle crinkle in disgust. He guessed that whatever it was, it had once been organic, but had turned like spoiled meat many ages ago. Shaylear found herself drawn to the side of the cavern opposite Dalan, and found what appeared to be a collection of damaged cylinders. Unlike the others, these were scattered about in random piles…perhaps a dozen or more. Cracks and chips littered the surfaces of these cylinders, and the tigress guessed that whatever had been inside was now long dead. Gingerly, she reached out to touch one of the cylinders and was shocked at its texture. It was smooth as glass, but felt supple…organic. Her mind quickly flashed the thought of a caterpillar’s cocoon to her, and she began to wonder. With growing determination she began pulling at the cylinder, breaking off tiny bits at first, but soon snapping off larger and larger pieces. Her feline eyesight cut through the darkness, revealing to her the occupant of the vessel. Her heart began to beat faster with each piece removed, as a growing feeling of horror and familiarity welled up inside her. At last, with the last piece pulled away, she stepped back to fully behold that which she’d uncovered. So transfixed by it was she, the sound of Dalan and the others approaching barely registered with her mind. She nearly jumped when the tiger placed a hand on her shoulder. Azar trained his light on the opened cylinder, illuminating what lay within. It appeared to be a suit of armour, roughly the same height as Azar, but seemed far older in design. While the Enforcer armour was gleaming white and relatively bereft of accents, what lay before them was midnight black, and radiated an air of ancient times. Adding to its appearance of menace, the armour sported not only what appeared to be a plasma cannon, but a forearm mounted blade almost too arcane-looking to be considered standard issue. The serrated edge looked to Dalan that it did more than merely deliver a cut…it inflicted a wound that left a message to anyone else. The tiger leaned in close to inspect the armour. His muzzle crinkled once more as the same putrid odour he’d smelled before entered his nostrils. He recoiled slightly, shaking his head reflexively. “Ugh,” he chuffed, standing back up. “That seal broke a long time ago.” He looked at the top of the armour at the helmet, his eyes zeroing in on the crimson eye in the middle of what looked like the demon’s mouth. “Gods,” he whispered. “How old is this thing?” “What is it?” asked Shaylear. “Invid armour,” replied the tiger. “Very old Invid armour.” He looked around at the cavern, noting the numerous amount of cylinders strewn about the place. “There’s an entire horde in here,” he commented. “All preserved for all this time.” “Do they still…live?” asked Azar, panning his light around. Dalan shrugged. “Hard to say,” he said. “Even if they were, the second they came awake that Yammosk would possess them.” He looked back at the ancient Enforcer. “I’d hate to see what those would do to the rest of us.” Shaylear looked at the armour, and then scanned the cavern. Realization crept into her mind slowly at first, but soon the floodgates of revelation few wide open and crashed over her. “This is what Mother meant,” she said, her excitement growing. “This place…this is what we were meant to find. This is why we were sent here.” Dalan turned to her. “What do you mean?” “Don’t you see?” she said, placing her hands on Dalan’s arms. “This…this is a Genesis Pit. We’re inside a hive, Dalan…the first Hive. This is where Mother first settled when she arrived here.” Mere days ago, the knowledge that he was inside an Invid hive would have made Dalan’s heart stop. In his personal journals, he’d equated entering the Hive to voyaging into the domain of the Dark One himself. As it was, the realization of it, combined with the deathly silence made him tremble slightly. “She travelled for eons,” said Shaylear, looking once more around the cavern. “Seeking a place where she could raise her children in peace…and no longer have to worry about fighting and war. She began from here, learning about the planet and once she deemed it peaceful…” “She placed her warriors in stasis,” finished Dalan. “To sleep eternal…until…what?” At this, Shaylear seemed to tense. Dalan noted the strained…somewhat saddened look on her muzzle before she turned away. “We need to keep moving,” she said with an authority that gave the tiger pause. “Through the tunnel at the far end…that will take us where we need to go.” Without a word, the Enforcers fell in line behind Shaylear and Dalan jogged to catch up. He was about to ask Shaylear what was going on, but the icy aura she was currently projecting kept him quiet. The Enforcers also seemed to have changed, now becoming less like the personable Invid he’d gotten to know over the past few days, and more like the cold-blooded killers he’d known from years past. Fear grew in Dalan’s mind as he walked with the quartet of Invid. His fears were somewhat quelled, though, when he felt the tigress’ hand slip into his own and squeeze tightly. Instantly, the tiger understood. Shaylear was beginning to realize the reason for her mother sending them here, but as more was revealed to her, she was having an increasingly hard time keeping her emotions in check. She was terrified. He squeezed her hand gently in reply, assuring her that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together, and whatever lay at the end of these seemingly endless tunnels, he would be by her side… No matter what… -----signature----- Stranger in a Strange Land - CHAPTER 19 BEGINS http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_stories_classic_jc_board_reply_only/b10016/9857098/p11
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 3/8/06 7:40pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	Everyone's slipping posts on me. But I'm glad I checked my posts. At last, Sheayer may have found Mother's calling. By the sounds of it, it could be an Invid army that she can power up and control. If so, then the Vong are in serious trouble. But does that mean things might change between Dalen and her? Will she become suspetible to the power programmed into her being? If the Vong are done in, then what then? Oh, it's too much! :P Great post, and waiting anxiously for more! -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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Casper_Knightshade Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 3/18/06 1:49pm Subject: RE: Stranger in a Strange Land - Part 7 - Our Time Has Come - UPDATE 5/2 - Chapter 16
	MISSION! Everyone together! We must save the Drunken Gungan from his computer! :P -----signature----- "I recommend less salt." - Lars Breck, from "Issues" 7/18/2008
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