A SPARTAN'S WAR

RICOT FOUR

THE WILDS

Am'uur lowered the body of the Kochab mercenary silently to the ground, his throat neatly sliced from side to side. He held the foul smell mercenary in his death throes, before driving his Drow combat blade deep into his lower back, twisting the blade up to insure he died. The body was cooling quickly as all Kochab did when life left them. Am'uur lifted his hand with a clenched fist and raised two fingers. Two more Drow appeared from the shadows behind him and dashed forward with only the brushing of fabric on the ground to indicate any sound. Am'uur turned when his father settled beside him clutching the silenced version of the venerable HK74 that the Drow had adopted for these types of operations. The former SEAL Team Twelve weapon was perfect for them as it combined excellent stopping power and near silent slide action. All of the Drow in Am'uur's team were equipped with them, as well as silenced K14 Magnums and their personal assortment of knives.

There were seven of them assigned for this operation. The first of three such operations they would conduct before returning to Earth. They had been meticulously planned, each of Am'uur's Drow warriors knowing exactly what they were doing. His father had come because he was just as skilled as the younger warriors and he had vowed to Daba and his daughter that he would have retribution for what had happened to their people. Daba had wept as he held her and gave him her blessing only telling him to return to her safely. She and Ceneia needed him to return. Androcles had granted them their retribution and his as well Teya thought. To return to his beautiful Daba and her new elven lover would be worth remaining alive.

The Evolli they were after right now had sold information to the Kavalians in regards to two of the Drow outposts destroyed. He had done business with the Drow before and though they had always treated him fairly and with respect even after the Evolli war, he had chosen to betray them.

"That is guard four." Teya spoke in barely a whisper.

Am'uur nodded to his father. "There should only be two more between us and the Evolli in his chambers."

Teya grinned. "Do not be so quick to launch yourself into the fray my son." He spoke with a grin flashing his white teeth. "I am too old to die for something stupid. If you would be so kind as to confirm with the lovely blue skinned Vanari woman you have taken as your wife I would appreciate it."

"You don't trust me?" Am'uur asked with a grin.

Teya shook his head. "Not at all my son. I just trust her more."

Am'uur shook his head and tapped his jaw. "Tastia?" He spoke softly. "What is our status now?"

"Thermal and motion sensors are detecting only the two remaining roving guards Am'uur my love." Tastia answered. She had refused to be left behind after discovering what being with the ebony skinned Drow elf had meant to her. Tastia had never imagined she would discover such a man in her lifetime. Now that she had… she wasn't about to let anything happen to him. Her decision to remain had angered Coren immensely, but he knew as well as she did that their time together was long over. Tastia's skills in piloting and manipulating sensors were incredible to say the least and she fit in perfectly with the two Drow pilots of their corvette.

"Explain to me again how you got her to fall for you Am'uur my son? She is far more refined than you." Teya asked his son.

"I heard that Teya." Tastia's voice echoed softly.

Teya smiled when Am'uur's chest swelled with pride. "I am only asking a question." He said.

"Perhaps it is because he makes me shudder in his arms when he makes love to me. Or it could be that he tastes delicious and the difference in the color of our skin is divine." Tastia spoke. "Or the fact that his ears are so…"

"Enough!" Teya announced softly shaking his head in amusement. "I do not need the intimate details Tastia!"

"You asked." Tastia answered him matter-of-factly from the Drow Interceptor Corvette in orbit. "Vanari are not shy about our sexuality Teya. Especially when we discover a man such as your son."

"Yes… I am beginning to see that." Teya spoke. "A fine Drow wife you will make Tastia of the Vanari."

"Thank you." Tastia said. "Now shall we continue with our task?"

"Indeed." Teya spoke. "Time to deliver our message."

"Renin and Itelli have eliminated the two remaining roving guards Am'uur." Tastia spoke. "You are clear all the way into his chamber."

"How many inside with him?" Am'uur asked.

"Three." Tastia answered immediately.

"Very well. Stand by to pick us up at the LZ." Am'uur told her. He looked at his father. "Shall we Ilharn?" (Father)

Teya grinned. "We shall ussta dalharuk." He answered. (My son)

The Evolli they were speaking of was currently eating his dinner with three of his trusted lieutenants. He had come far since the Evolli War, barely escaping with his life. He had started up his business shortly after the war, choosing the life of an information trader and enterprising entrepreneur. He never dealt with Lycavorians or their allies because he still held a substantial amount of hate and distrust of them for their actions during the war. He completely discounted the fact that the Evolli were the ones who started the war after they felt they were slighted, or the fact that they killed thousands of innocent Lycavorian Union citizens and forced even more into brutal labor camps. He had built his organization from the ground up, and was doing quite good for himself when the Kavalians approached him about the Drow within The Wilds and what he knew of them. He knew from his experience in the war that Drow rarely left Earth, and the majority of them were almost fanatically loyal the Lycavorian King. He always suspected the Drow within The Wilds to be more than they appeared and this is the information he had given to the Kavalians at substantial profit.

His sins would catch up to him this night.

His eyes lifted as both doors to his chamber opened at the same time and he saw a rush of shimmering white hair and dark skin. His lieutenants were the best he could find, two other Evolli and a Kochab mercenary. They were ruthless and totally loyal to him because he paid so well. They did not come close to the seven black clad apparitions that rushed into his chamber with all the inbred speed of the elven species. He saw the tall for an elf Drow male step up to him and he could not avoid the butt stroke from the strange but wicked looking rifle as it connected with his jaw and sent him tumbling backwards out of his chair, pain registering all through his brain. He briefly thought about how they had gotten past his guards, but then Am'uur was grabbing his collar and yanking him to his feet dazed. He was shoved back into the chair and his eyes saw his three men with weapons jammed into their faces and chests. His beady yellow eyes cut to the doorway as the older Drow male walked in. He thought it strange that no females were among the team of Drow and did not understand the significance of that.

"What is this?" He roared finally getting his mind working again. "Do you know who I am?"

Am'uur hit him with an open palm slap hard enough to rock his head painfully to the left and sending pain lancing through his neck. "Shut up scum!" He snarled.

Teya smiled as he walked up to the Evolli in the chair. His son's men impressed him. He had not seen such precision since he had fought in the Battle for Earth with the King's forces. He looked at the Evolli in the chair and stopped two feet from where he sat.

"You are the Evolli fool called Sdunn." Teya asked.

"Fuck you Drow!" Sdunn spat at him. "You'll pay for this! This is The Wilds! You can't come here!"

Teya smiled at the man as he drew out the long bladed Drow fighting knife. "You are wrong Evolli." He spoke with a deathly calm. "You sold information to the Kavalian dogs that allowed them to kill and rape and butcher our people. That was an infinitely unintelligent thing to do!"

"It was business!" Sdunn shouted his eyes wide in fear now as he realized what was going to happen. "Information is my business! It wasn't personal!"

Teya looked at him. "It is personal to Soul Slayer and he does not agree." He spoke in a soft voice.

Sdunn's eyes grew wide. "Soul Slayer?" He gasped in horror.

Teya smiled then. "Yes. It is good you remember that name fool. This is not business to us Evolli scum. This… what we are about to do… this is personal. To Soul Slayer and to us. It is deeply personal. A pity for you."

"You can't do this!" Sdunn screamed.

"Oh… but we can. And the other two traders of information that betrayed the Drow and Soul Slayer. They will suffer the same fate as you… have no worries. You just happened to be the closest." Teya spoke. "Soul Slayer sends his regards by the way." Teya spoke as he stepped closer. Sdunn struggled against Am'uur's powerful grip holding him in the chair. "You may scream if you wish." Teya spoke. "It will not matter."

"No!" Sdunn roared. "No I…"

Teya lifted his blade and the screams of agony began.

LENTANI

ROTHRYN HOMEWORLD

She guided Sehri easily through the throngs of men and women crowding the streets going about their daily lives of shopping or work. Lentani was a planet slightly larger than Earth, but much more heavily populated. Oceans only took up half of the planet and allowed for more development than the planet the Rothryn had originally come from nearly fifty thousand years ago. Their original planet had become the largest colony world of the Rothryn now, while Lentani was their government and population center. Sehri allowed her to maneuver them through the groups of men and women and children into the clothing store and into the rear of the building. They moved into a small storage room with no exit and Sehri watched as she lifted her arm and called her SensorTool from Flatspace. She typed a code into the holographic tool and a small section of wall activated, lifting up into the ceiling to reveal a staircase that spiraled down. They entered immediately and the section of wall fell back into place seamlessly.

Ilossa looked at Sehri as they began to descend the stairs and she smiled. The soft spoken young woman was calm and confident in her actions, just as all her instructors had said she was. She was supremely intelligent and her surreal beauty was completely devastating. Coupled with her lush body, which was encased in a form fitting dress wrap under the cloak and cowl, Ilossa wondered how her father and mother kept the young men at bay when it came to her. Her glaucous colored blue eyes were enrapturing, and filled with wisdom. Very little rattled her and she had no desire for male companionship at this time it appeared. That would change in time Ilossa knew, especially if the right man came along who stirred her female aura in that way. It was enough for a Shaman of such a young age to hold such control over her natural instincts, but combined with her obvious Etheric abilities, it was overly impressive as far as Ilossa was concerned.

Sehri had been brought to their organization by Praetor Dyack himself. It had frightened the members of their group until they realized that Dyack and his mate Aleatia believed as they did. The Rothryn Academy had become nothing more than a means for powerful old men to exert their control over men and women who showed more promise than they did when it came to Etheric abilities. When Sehri began to show signs of such advanced abilities at so young an age, the Praetor had brought her to them immediately to keep her out of the clutches of the Rothryn Academy. She was incredibly gifted and surpassed even several of the Shaman Masters in raw Etheric power. Ilossa had no doubts she would ascend to Shaman Master far sooner than any before her. Ilossa turned her head back forward as she led her down the stairs into the secret complex. At the bottom of the stairs they were greeted by a short corridor leading to another door. This one was steel reinforced and appeared very heavy. Ilossa walked right up to it and once more called her SensorTool from Flatspace, entering in another code. The door clicked once and began to swing open. She and Sehri waited until it was fully open and they were looking at two men and a women dressed as they were in long cloaks and cowls. Behind them stood an additional three young men armed to the teeth.

"Cleric Mother." The older of the three men spoke holding out his hands.

Ilossa smiled as she took those hands. "Shaman Master Lassim." Ilossa spoke with a smile. "It is so very good to see you."

The tall Rothryn smiled as she squeezed his hands. "It has been some time Ilossa." He spoke.

"Nearly a year." Ilossa told him looking at the other man and woman. "Shaman Master Harira. Shaman Master Shael."

The woman smiled. "It is an honor to be among you again Cleric Mother." Harira spoke warmly.

Ilossa smiled. "It is an honor to be among all of you." She turned to Sehri. "I present Shaman Sehri… daughter to Praetor Dyack and Aleatia. It is she who has set our course in action."

Harira stepped forward and took Sehri's hands. "Our blessings to you child." She spoke just as warmly.

Sehri bowed her head. "It is a true honor Shaman Master Harira."

Harira reached up and ran her fingers across Sehri's cheek with an affectionate smile. "I see the claims of your beauty do not do you justice young lady." She spoke. "The young males must drool at your feet."

Sehri smiled. "It is unbecoming of them Shaman Master."

Harira laughed. "And you possess a sharp wit and tongue!" She spoke squeezing Sehri's hands tighter. "Oh child… that is refreshing."

The second man leaned over and planted a soft kiss on Ilossa's cheek. "We have been monitoring Vanari Communications grandmother." He spoke with respect. "There has been another transmission from the Alpha Quadrant."

Ilossa looked keenly at her oldest son's first born child. "Unsecured Shael?" She asked surprised.

"It apparently was something of a spectacle within Union space. Since arriving in Vanari space the Union ships have been feeding public news broadcasts to the Vanari with the SBR's permission. Unencrypted and using QCR tech. It was fascinating. The SBR agreed to this which was a surprise, but we believe it is only so they can use it against them in the end. We have been cataloging the transmission into sections for easy access."

Ilossa looked at him and then the others. "What do you mean it was a spectacle?" She asked.

"It appears that Shaman Sehri was correct Ilossa." Lassim told her. "The intercepted communications was some sort of interview or conference the Union Prince was giving. Sehri was correct. It is the Prophecy."

"Show us!" Ilossa gasped.

Lassim motioned with his arm and they moved down another corridor into a massive room with a very advanced QCR system built into the center of the control core. Half a dozen Shaman apprentices operated the three different control panels.

"Apprentice Shatar… replay the first section." Lassim spoke.

The entire room lit up with the activation of the holo generators and suddenly they were standing among what appeared to be hundreds of men and women that were seated in neat rows all facing the elevated podium where the young man sat with four equally stunning females, two on either side of him. Ilossa heard Sehri gasp and she turned to look at her.

"Sehri?"

"That's… that's him Cleric Mother!" She hissed softly staring at those mesmerizing azure blue eyes. "The one I saw in my mind. It's all of them. Minus the Vanari Caliria."

"He has taken a Vanari as one of his mates?" Lassim gasped.

Sehri nodded. "As has his brother Denali. Yes. Both of them daughters to Regent Re Mydala."

"Regent Re Mydala? He is one of the most powerful and influential members of the SBR." Shael spoke.

Lassim nodded. "Indeed he is." He spoke turning back to the transmission. "From what we have seen so far of this Prince, he is having to fight elements within his own government and people who do not believe as he does. This took place a day ago. He just appeared at this function, something that he apparently does not do very often if the commentary of the reporters is accurate. Based on the channel and frequency modulation of this transmission we have been able to tune one of our QCR relays to monitor this traffic from Union space ourselves."

"The Union ships around Austrova did not try to stop the transmission?" Ilossa asked.

Lassim shook his head. "No. They were beaming it to the planet in fact. Apparently they are trying to make inroads with the Vanari as a whole. We have compared the transmission Sehri sent to us with other transmissions from this frequency and everything is as she said it was. This Lycavorian Union has declared war against a species called the Kavalians. A feline like species like the one that was killed."

Ilossa looked at him. "The manner of his death?"

Lassim looked at Sehri and then back to her. "For lack of a better description Cleric Mother… this Prince Androcles… he crushed him within the grips of Etheric power unlike anything I have ever seen before. It was…"

"Andro." Sehri said in barely a whisper.

Ilossa looked at her once more. "Sehri?"

"He prefers to be called Andro." Sehri spoke quickly. "No one calls him Androcles except his family and only when they are angry with something he has done. Sadi… his KertaGai... she calls him Androcles when she…" Sehri stopped talking and suddenly became very embarrassed.

"How do you know this child?" Lassim asked.

Sehri met his eyes. "I don't know Shaman Master… I just do."

"KertaGai means Eternal Heart Cleric Mother." Shael spoke. "It is the ancient language just as the Tomes spoke of."

"Then they speak the ancient language?" Ilossa asked.

Shael nodded. "It appears many within the Union do. He referred to names in the ancient language for all of them except the dark skinned one. He used a language we are not familiar with for her. Ilythiiri Tessai he called her."

Ilossa looked at Sehri. "Sehri?"

"It is the ancient language of the vampires of the High Coven." Sehri answered her question. "It means Drow Blossom."

"You understand this?" Lassim asked stunned.

"Yes Shaman Master." Sehri spoke.

"Cleric Mother… this is not… Sehri is not a Shaman Master." Lassim spoke evenly to her. "How could this be? The Prophecy… it spoke of first contact being made with the Bearer of the Prophecy and a Shaman Master. Sehri… she knows things that… she knows things that she should not."

Ilossa nodded. "Apparently the Prophecy was wrong; or slightly misinterpreted through the years." She said. "It is only a guide to what we believe will happen Lassim. Not everything is set in stone. There is a reason Sehri is seeing these… visions if you will. A reason she can sense him… all of them on so deep a level."

"I was there Shaman Master!" Sehri urged him. "I was there for a fleeting moment awash within the minds and auras of him… all of them. I know what I felt and saw Shaman Master Lassim."

Lassim nodded his head moving over next to her and placing his hand on her arm. "I do not question your visions or your feelings Sehri." He spoke to her quickly. "Your skills and abilities are well known to all of us. You are much more attuned to the ebb and flow of Etheric power than many Shaman Masters double your age from all accounts. Do not mistake my questions for doubt of you."

Sehri dropped her eyes quickly. "Forgive me." She said.

"There is nothing to forgive child." He spoke.

"We are certain this is Etheric power we are seeing?" Ilossa asked. "There is no mistake here?"

"It can be nothing else grandmother." Shael spoke.

"It was gruesome." Harira spoke softly. "He didn't blink… he didn't pause. He simply went ahead and crushed this man."

"What is more important is during this briefing he mentions the Ancient Ones several times." Lassim spoke again moving to stand beside her. "And he puts a name to them Ilossa! He called them Pralors. If what he said is to believed then it is as we originally feared, the Ancient Ones, these Pralor, they are extinct now. But their blood and DNA lives on within many of those Lycavorians inside the Union. And so do the miracles of their technology. He spoke of a ship designed and built by these Pralors that orbits his planet. And how they have derived much of their own technology from this."

"So the Prophecy is true to its design." Ilossa whispered softly. "He has the blood of the Ancient Ones within him. This means all of his family does." She looked at Lassim. "All we have hoped for is true. They are us and we are them! The Prophecy that we would one day be reunited with them is coming true."

Lassim nodded his head. "After all these millennia we have finally found them." He said softly.

Ilossa turned to Sehri. "You must return to your father and tell him this Sehri." She said. "Tell him the Prophecy is true. And the Bearer of the Prophecy has made himself known to us. Through you."

Sehri stepped closer to her. "The Rothryn Scientific Academy will denounce this as soon as it goes public Cleric Mother." She said. "They have dismissed the Prophecy for centuries. They will not change their minds easily, if at all. They will denounce this fervently."

"Then we will keep the knowledge within our ranks and your father until the time is right. Sehri you must ask your father to obtain a sample of their DNA. Preferably from this Androcles." Ilossa spoke. "He appears to be the strongest that we have seen so far. His DNA will tell us the truth of everything."

Lassim nodded. "His father is off world somewhere he will not reveal. He only told these news people that he is doing something that needs to be done to secure the future of their Union and its people. He did not go into specifics. A sample of his father's DNA would be the best as he is King and would have the closest ties to the Ancient's bloodlines, but this Andro will do for now. Their own broadcasts have said he is the strongest behind only his father."

Sehri looked at him. "What about from the brother who is on Austrova? Denali is his name." She asked.

Ilossa nodded. "We can use that as a barometer but what we need is his DNA." She spoke motioning to the frozen image of Androcles.

Sehri looked at her. "Cleric Mother… the only way to do that without causing an incident is to tell them the Prophecy. You have seen bits of his personality through what I have shown you. He will not just hand over his DNA or that of any of his family. He won't." She said. "My father is already concerned that Anroth will inform Barnak of what they have discovered up until now. He is wary that Barnak will attempt some misguided action to try and obtain what he wants. What he has always wanted."

Ilossa nodded. "The ability to manifest Etheric power into the physical realm. To use it as a weapon as this Androcles has shown can be done. In order to use it and push his family to rebel against your father's rule and claim the leadership of our people himself."

"Yes Cleric Mother." Sehri said.

"Barnak is a fool and that is why your father leads us. Barnak may attempt something in regards to her once it is realized she is the conduit to this Androcles." Harira spoke. "Cleric Mother I request that I accompany Sehri back to Austrova. It is obvious to all of us that the Bearer of the Prophecy has touched her, at least in some manner, and he may well again in the future. Perhaps my skills will be better suited in helping her to try and establish a more definitive connection to him as well as be added protection for her."

Ilossa looked at Sehri. "The decision is yours child." She spoke. "I will not force you to move this forward if you choose not to."

Sehri shook her head quickly. "I want to Cleric Mother." She answered quickly. "I…" Sehri paused for a long moment embarrassed by the flush that coursed through her or saying anything in front of Lassim and Shael.

Harira took her hand causing Sehri to look at her. [He stirs you child? Doesn't he?] She asked.

Sehri nodded instantly. [In so many ways Shaman Master. They all do. I want… I want them all. But… but then I don't. Does that make sense?]

Harira nodded. [Indeed it does.] She turned to Ilossa. "Cleric Mother?" She asked.

Ilossa nodded. "See to your transportation back." She said. "Try to get Praetor Dyack to grant you a meeting with this Denali Leonidas. According to Sehri's earlier report, his brother is coming here to the Beta Quadrant at some point in the near future to finalize the merger of the Protectorate into the Lycavorian Union."

"They are merging?" Lassim gasped.

Ilossa nodded. "Yes… I was surprised as well."

"We have never had good relations with the Protectorate Cleric Mother." Shael said.

"For reasons which we never understood." Ilossa answered. "Now we do. The Bearer of the Prophecy was never among them as we thought. He was among these Lycavorians from the Alpha Quadrant. Their merging is not a surprise to me."

"And the Vanari?" Shael asked her. "They have never really cared for those in the Protectorate."

"The Vanari are arrogant fools." Ilossa spoke. "Their Board of Regents sells their own people into slavery. At least quite a few of them know of it anyway. The OSG is no threat to us, and the Eridiani know not to play games with your father Sehri. He has already showed them the error of their ways once." Sehri looked at her confused and she smiled. "Ask him about it sometime. It happened many years ago, long before Kelelm was even born."

"Andro has threatened to void all of their trade contracts with the Vanari." Sehri spoke.

Ilossa looked at her. "Truly? For what purpose?"

Sehri shrugged. "I do not know. My father has asked about it but the Vanari are being very closed mouth about it."

"That is a very large portion of their annual income." Lassim spoke. "I could try and find out with my contacts among the Vanari."

Ilossa nodded. "Be discrete Lassim." She spoke. "That information will not be public knowledge just yet. And to know why he has threatened this would be interesting. The more we discover about this young man the more I like him." She said with a smile. "He has a certain backbone about him that is lacking among many of our own kind and the Vanari."

Harira took Sehri's arm. "Come child… there is still time to catch the last transport to the starport and take your ship back to Austrova."

"Sehri… report anything you believe to be relevant." Ilossa said. "I will keep you advised of what we discover after viewing these transmissions."

Sehri bowed her head. "As you wish Cleric Mother." She stated.

"Go with the gods Cleric Mother." Harira said.

"Both of you as well." Ilossa spoke as Harira took Sehri's hand and they began to leave. She turned back to Lassim quickly. "I want to view this entire briefing Lassim. Do we have it all recorded?"

Shael nodded. "I'll start it from the beginning." He said.