The passenger ships had more guards buzzing round than before but with a coy glance at one or two enabled me to board my ship without much attention. The journey would take over a solar day so I snuggled into an empty chair to get some rest. I fretted over going back there but exhaustion ensured I fell into a fitful sleep. I lay dreaming of the control collar I had once worn and the pitiless eyes of Varla smiling at the contagion that threatened countless systems.

On waking I found myself alone; no doubt the other passengers were having a meal in the ships canteen. I searched my bag for the phials and injected the initial doses whilst I had the room to myself.

As the concoction flowed through my veins I almost fell as my body became limp. Tilting my head back into the seat my mind spun and a feeling of absolute ecstasy pushed out any other thoughts and emotions. I could hear myself laughing; part of me struggled to concentrate on where I was but I couldn’t focus for long enough. All I could see was a random series of images, some from memories and a few snap shots of reality on the ship.

I made out another form to the side of me, had they been watching. I forced myself to focus on one object and gradually brought myself back into my body. When I looked around I was once again alone, had I been imagining someone else, it was hard to distinguish.

A little unsteady on my feet still I made my way to the adjoining hallway, leaning my slight frame against the doorway I could see a silvery glow lighting the ship’s interior. Through the window that panned the corridor it was easy to see the source of the shimmering light, I had never seen it looking so beautiful, Nebari Prime. An overwhelming feeling of joy surged through me, home.



We docked within a quarter arn and I grinned my way through the security checks. I hadn’t felt so content in cycles, I breathed in the atmosphere outside, how vibrant the city was, children were playing around a statue, how long it was since I had seen a Nebari child. They were tracing pictures in the air with sparkling batons so free and innocent, then I remembered why I was here. I was once a child like them running freely without cares until I became of age.

I knew I had to find the Blackriver Inn so that I could find Neri but I didn’t feel any haste. I could smell the most delicious aromas around me, I would get something to eat first and enjoy the city a little. As I entered a nearby tavern I felt uneasy for the first time on my home world, I thought I felt a stranger’s breath on my back but when I glanced round there was no-one. Probably just a side effect of the potion, I shrugged it off and turned my thoughts back to the food.

Rather than eating in the shady tavern I found a table outside where I could watch the happy bustle around me. I rolled the food around my mouth it tasted amazing. Two figures appeared beside me,

“Chiana how good to see you home where you belong”

I felt a sharp jab into my neck and fell unconscious.

All I could see when I woke were blurred shapes moving around me. I was sitting down on a cold floor, metal maybe and it wasn’t stationery, I was in some kind of transit.

Something grabbed my hand and I desperately pushed my eyelids up to try to focus.

“Did you think we didn’t know you were coming, after your little exploits on the station” I heard a chilling laugh.

My speech seemed slurred as I still hadn’t gained complete control of my muscles “Hey, you’ve made a mistake, I was just eating”

“We’ve been following you” a female voice joined in. “You are here for Neri aren’t you, we knew he was back. You will tell us everything and then we’ll make you right again.”

“You’ve got the wrong girl honey; I’ve got no idea what you are talking about”

I shot of pain ran through every nerve of my body and I instinctively reached for my neck. There it was, the cold touch of the control collar. Every iota of panic I had felt before came back to me in an instant as I remembered why I was here and the horror I now faced.

I would be worse than dead, an empty shell that felt nothing other than what I was told. I would lose my memories; I’d forget D’Argo and what he meant to me. As strong as my feelings were I couldn’t fight a physiological change, they would alter my brain and I would lose everything.

Why had I not asked Orlan for a suicide drug, I would rather die now maybe I could provoke them into killing me. I wasn’t bound but I had the collar on and was defenceless against two. Maybe if I attacked the female the male would shoot me, would I have time to strike before they activated the collar.

I started to make out the features of the Nebari in front of me, I studied the male more closely, it was Meelak had Neri sent him? I searched his eyes which gave me nothing; he was expert at displaying no emotion. Kill the female it was, this could be my only opportunity.

“Maybe, maybe I wanted to come back, I’ve missed this place, really have”

I knew I wasn’t fooling them but I had to stall until I found an opening, she would look away at some point. As if to prove me wrong the dark eyes of the Nebari female closed in on me.

“Good Chiana, we are so happy to hear that, and don’t worry you will never want to leave again”. She laughed. Why did these frelling psychos always laugh to emphasise their cruelty, for now I would have to swallow my anger and I smiled back at her with equal venom.

A deafening crash came from the side of the transit and my captors were thrown against me, another blow came denting the metal panelling and agony swept through me as I felt my ribs shatter crushed against the wall. I didn’t care though, the pain would have to wait, I screamed it out as my legs found the neck of the female and I poured every ounce of hatred into snapping it.

It was swift, more merciful than she deserved. Meelak unclamped the control collar around my neck and then I realised he had been shouting at me.

“The door Chiana, its open, run before more guards come, the resistance is outside.”

“You’re not coming?” I staggered to my feet holding my hand out to him “they will know you were involved and they’ll, well you know what they will do to you”

“They’ll make it look good, just go, I have to stay it is too important, if you want to see your brother again run now.”

I wanted to help him; twice he had saved my life and risked his and this time I had made it easy for them. I was responsible if they caught him. I knew I had to now though, there was no time. I clutched my side and dropped out into the dirt road. There were large trees around us, and I was hauled up a steep bank my legs giving way as the pain coursed through me.

Pulse blasts echoed through the trees, I knew one of them would be injuring Meelak but I couldn’t look behind me. Narvoks, large canine beasts waited impatiently below us on the other side of the bank and I was gently placed onto the front of one. A male joined me, his hands encircling me trying to support my weight as I tried to balance to lessen the shock from riding against my ribs. There was a familiar scent over that of the Narvok beast and tears streamed down my face as I glanced over my shoulder, the hands belonged to Neri, I was home.

You're writing these bloody fast, Alex :lmao: ;)

:lol: my fingers are bleeding, the keys are a bit sticky now though :lol:

Nice image :x :lol:

Ah quit yer complaining and get back to w**k :whip: :whip:

:lol:

:lmao: only if you do :lol: :lol:

hey, War With the Gods part 2 is done and dusted sweetie. I just wanna see what happens to Chiana next, before I post it.

Way to go sweetie!!! That was great!

Is this the end? Or is there more (fingers crossed)?

:thumbsup: there is more, w**k in progress though :lol: aw Jamie, I want to read it now :lol:

that is wo.rk in progress, damn word filter :lmao: