((OOC Notation: This is part of a continuing story about Sha?s fall in Arctic Bedlam and how it?s being linked to the Scarred events associated with Chained Inn boards. ? OOC Scarred string. This also takes place several weeks AFTER the Battle March))


?Liam!? Sha?uri called as she entered the Citadel. Her physical hunger had yet to be sated. The corpse she left in the dumpster outside of Stars End had been far too tainted and diseased for her tastes. Not that such things would kill her, but dealing with a cauldron of healing was not something she had wanted to do. She was not thAt desperate. Only his spirit had been used to satiate her hunger for power.

?Yes, M?lady?? Liam entered from the other room.

?Food.? She quipped, pulling spiked gloves from her hands. ?Something normal will be enough.?

Liam nodded. ?The rest of us had grilled salmon on a bed of jasmine rice pilaf and broccoli with cheese on the side. Will this be to your liking??

?That will do. In my quarters. And bring a bottle of blackberry wine from the cellars.. if there?s any left. If not, whatever you can find will do.?

The evenings events played through her mind as she returned to her quarters, and how tonights progression would go a long way to bringing the Citadel back in full operation. The battle had taken it?s toll on both sides, enough that the two retreated and would have to spend months for repairs and replenishment of forces. Her meeting in RhyDin had been the highlight of the last several weeks.

?So how?d it go?? Number One cast a look in the Original?s direction as she came into their quarters. She was, as usual, sharpening her blades and sipping on a glass of fine bourbon.

?Better then I imagined.? The Original smile like a cat who swallowed a canary.

?I can see that?.? Number One studied the other for a moment while excerpts from the nights event came to her through their bond. ?That was a surprising stroke of luck. So why didn?t you seduce him??

A demure smile formed. ?The thought crossed my mind, though I wasn?t going to let him know that. He already suspects me and rightly so. We didn?t used to get along, you know. He even reminded me about the oath I made wanting to put his head on a pigpole. I don?t think he?s ready to be seduced. Although I have to admit his younger form does have some ? youthful appeal.? The smile shifted devilishly.

?The man always did have a plethora in charisma, even if we didn?t want to admit it. Perhaps he?ll succumb. He did say that he, and I quote, ?find it interesting that you have taken a similar view to myself. I must admit that it is a welcome change. It makes you almost attractive.? Him? saying that. Doesn?t he have a hatred for dragons?? Number One grinned. Her depiction of the man was right on que, tonality, facial expressions and body language.

?Well, I always thought so. It would be fun to seduce him just to make him eat his opinion about that.... while he's eating me.? The Original laughed as she took off her armor.

Number One joined in briefly until Liam came in with a tray of food. ?On the table, Liam. I?d appreciate it if you?d get my dessert ready for me. That half Orc who wandered in will do nicely. Make sure he?s sedated properly. I want him weakened but still able to function with a clear enough mind.?

Liam set the tray of food down and gave a nod of compliance. Then he left as quietly as he came in.

?Brian is back in town.? The Original relayed, not having been part of the update. ?I? felt him in the Inn with some of his family.?

?That?s a surprise. I thought he was gone to? what was that place ... Applebuuuurb ble bug or something or other. Apple Festerville or Appleblimpville or whatever that place was. Was Jenai with him?? Number One inquired.

?I didn?t feel her there. But I did sense there was something?. Strained about him. Something happened to him. Something other then losing his sister.? The grin formed purring her seductive nature. ?I?d love to find out what. It felt? dark.?

?We always did think of him as a brother? Oh, could you imagine?.? Number One suddenly stopped talking and smiled ear to ear, sensing the thoughts going through the Original?s mind. She let the other entertain her fantasies for a few moments before she spoke again. ?You?re almost as bad as Number Three was.?

Shrugging off the thoughts, the Original moved to her plate of food and began eating. ?Yeah, I never knew I had that in me until I made all of you. Although I always thought Brian was attractive, extremely?. And Jenai was a very lucky woman. She?s very attractive, too. Yet for some reason, I never thought of them in that way, until my change. It?s amazing all the things that lurk in one?s mind, buried by etiquette and moral compass.?

?Bob really set us free didn?t he.? Number One left the question statement hang while she studied the other for a moment. It was true, they both knew it. Nothing kept them down, nothing held them back from doing most of the things they desired. Everything ranging from seduction to murder in whatever way they wanted, they did it.

The Original watched the other go. There was no argument from her as she went back to eating her food.

The night?s events had been profitable towards all the repairs and preparations that needed to be done. She continued to eat while she sent in orders to comply with the proverbial contract she?d made. Channels were set to receive incoming messages between her and her new business partner. A list of equipment and supplies were being made for the same along with contacts into slave trades on Exodii.

Sha?uri finished her food and sat back on the couch, lounging with her arm up, hands behind her head. She thought about all the possibilities and let her mind wander into her fantasies. A smile was back in place for the accomplishments.

?Ah? Travanix... Trav... Travie .. once my enemy is now my business partner. We?re going to have fun aren?t we. I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine.. any way we please.? She purred in that sultry seductive voice. Her hand went to the com badge as she called in. ?Liam? I?m hungry for dessert now. Come to bed.?

?With Pleasure.? Although he was forced to do many things against his will, this was one thing Liam had grown accustomed to looking forward to. It had become an addiction for him?.Spice without the drug.

Getting up, she peeled off layers of her armor and clothing from her lithely shaped muscled form, revealing the large dragon tattoo across her back and shapely tribal tattoos down lower across her backside. Her fingers ran through thick black silken locks gently combing out the tangles while she moved out of the main room and into the bedroom?.

((continued from Stars End boards in Scarred - the Blockade))


The battle had raged in RhyDin not only in the town but above the planet orbiting in space. The Exodian fleet and other factions raged against the Abyss, but it had all been in vain. There was no way to win that battle, as outnumbered as they all were. The most the Exodians could do was hope to protect their gates. Shields were enhanced while the forces fought. And then as quickly as they had appeared, the Exodian forces vacated RhyDin space...


Silence still prevailed in the place the Armegeddon appeared to over Exodii. With that same bright flash of light that pulled them from their location above RhyDin, another burst of light flashed above the Exodii planet, depositing the Armageddon in orbit. The ship?s cloaking kept others from scanning them to where they arrived, or scanning them after the fact. It also drained the power and left them for several moments drifting?.

There was a slight lurch felt by the occupants within while all this occurred Lights flickered and phased out for several moments, leaving them in the dark?. Most were unfazed by this.

?I don?t doubt that, Admiral? Welcome aboard the Armageddon. I know she?s not much to look at.. at the moment? but the Armegeddon is Exodii?s pride and joy.? The female?s voice held dry humor in otherwise formal tones, yet tones with reassurance as she continued. ?I?m sure the lights will flicker back on any moment.?

As if on cue, the lights phased back on and the Admiral was greeted with a warm smile. ?I?m Lt. Harper from security. We?ve been sent to escort you. Admiral Arrowny is in his office. If you?ll follow me, we?ll take you there now.?

The security team, though armed they did not have weapons pulled. Lt. Harper moved ahead while the other two moved in behind, and they escorted Admiral Aldritch through the ship. They took him to a room off the side of the bridge.

Inside, the room was furnished with a desk and a few chairs in front of it. To one side was a couch and a coffee table. On the table was a tray containing refreshments. Towering over the tray was a tall, thin elven figure, strawberry blonde locks pulled back into a pony tail and thoughtful emerald hues gazed down at his task, which was not interrupted by the entrance. Alex was just finishing pouring a bright neon green liquid into a glass of ice.

?Admiral Arrowny, this is Admiral William Aldritch, commanding officer of the Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance's 157th Expeditionary Task Force.? The lieutenant gave the introduction.

Alex set the pitcher down, but kept the glass in hand while his gaze moved to greet the other Admiral with as much of a smile as he could honestly bring himself to do, in light of the situation. His gaze briefly glanced to the lieutenant, who nodded and vacated the room with the guards. Then the two admirals were left alone in the room to talk freely. Alex?s gaze returned to William?s.

?Welcome aboard. Can I offer you some refreshment? Mothberry tea is actually quite good? very refreshing. Gives a good energy boost with a soothing edge. Some equate it with the flavor of dragon fruit and boysenberry, and the calming effect of chamomile.. if you?re familiar with those. Anyway. help yourself.?

Taking a good sip from his glass he motioned to the other glass on the table before he sat down. His gaze offered Aldritch a place to sit as well.

?I know you?re not here for entertainment? You probably want to reunite with your crew and I would like to help you get there. But? at this moment I don?t know where they are. We are scanning. They won?t find us though. This ship is cloaked and a few solar systems away from the one we ? met in.. I have not contacted them since the jump and I won?t until you and I talk. At this point, I?m unfamiliar with your people.. but I only really needed to know one thing? that you were against Travanix and his abysmal crew before I stuck my neck out to help you.. I know why I stood up against him?. But what?s your reason? Not that I?m not grateful ... but for all I know you could just be someone who had a bad business deal with Travanix and are just as bad as he is.?

His tones were calm and without accusation, more with curiosity then anything else. Though his keen gaze made note of William?s features and his senses were attempting to tune into the man?s emotions.

There was much he needed to learn about these people. He knew that those who could seem like an ally could also turn the other way quickly. Yet still he knew the enemy of his enemy could also be his friend? Alex was no fool. He could only hope the Admiral wasn?t playing with him? or rather.. toying. Alex had no time for head games. His patients, though currently holding out, could quickly snap to explode. All those people on the surface of RhyDin? he could still hear their screams.

Alex put on his poker face, took another sip from his glass and watched this other Admiral?s reactions and listened to his response.... or lack of. Either way, it would tell him much of what to expect in future.