A SPARTAN'S WAR

PUMA'S PRIDE

FEBRUARY 5TH, 1145 HRS, EST

The deep voice woke her up and Serale lifted her head off the pillow. She saw her brother Danim still sleeping soundly on the floor so she knew it was not his voice she heard. She sat up slowly, trying not to make any noise as she heard Kalis's voice speaking. Slowly she got out of the bed, the lightweight jumpsuit conforming to her body. She had slept in her clothes since coming onto this ship and it had almost become second nature for her. The jumpsuit that Kalis had secured for her fit her like a second skin, and while she would not have picked it out of a store because it was so revealing, the almost leather like fabric kept her warm and made it very easy to move around. She crept quietly to the large sheet that Kalis had erected over the single open arch doorway to his bedroom and gently pulled it aside to look into the main living area of his spacious quarters.

Two days they had been here now and he had not spoken to them unless needed. Serale did not go out of her way to speak with him, especially with the hate Danim felt for him, but she could not deny the desire too do just that. He cooked for them, very good food actually, which both her and Danim ate quickly. He allowed them full access to his quarters when he wasn't there, a surprising move until they realized there was nothing left they could use as weapons against him or in an escape attempt. Not that they could go anywhere. They were buried within the bowels of this ship and neither she or Danim had any idea how to reach the upper decks. He was always reading from that strange looking data pad he kept on his desk. She and Danim had tried to access it when he was gone the first time, but no matter what they did, it never activated as the data pads normally would by their touch. It must have been keyed to his bio-signature, which was technology Serale did not think the Kavalians had. If he knew they had tried he never said anything to them about it. It seemed that he was almost embarrassed to talk with them now. He had been true to his word though, and Serale had spoken to her mother just last night. Ceale was not able to tell her much, only that she was reasonably certain that Kalis had been right and she was in no danger among these Kavalians.

Serale held in the gasp of surprise when she saw Kalis. He was completely naked and sitting on the cold floor of the main room staring at the holo image of a young man Serale recognized without hesitation. Androcles Leonidas. He was wearing only a plain white pair of pants with crimson trim and appeared to be pacing calmly in front of a large fireplace. Serale let her dark green eyes wander over Kalis's body, taking in the wide shoulders and exceptionally powerful back. She winced slightly when she saw the scars that crisscrossed his skin. They were long since faded, as if he had gotten them some time ago. His skin was deeply tanned and glistened with a fine sheen of sweat as if he had been working out. Her eyes went back to the moving image of Androcles Leonidas and she realized it was a recording of some kind.

"…will become like second nature the more you practice cousin. And you must try to practice as often as possible." Androcles was saying. "You will only need to see it in your head and it will happen. In a few years you will not even need to do that. You need to master the little things Kalis… and this will come with time. Be patient, concentrate and when you become frustrated cousin, shift back and review what you just attempted. You will need to judge the surface beneath you with your paws, the feel of the air shifting around you. When you shift, your sense of smell will become ten times what it is in human form, be prepared for this. Everything will become sharper and clearer. Your vision. Your hearing. All of your senses will elevate to levels you are not used too. As you master them you will be able to draw upon them even in human form. You will be larger than normal Lycavorians even though you are half Kavalian. That is the strength of the Leonidas blood within us. Our grandfathers were nearly four feet at the shoulder and over three hundred pounds of muscle and teeth. Our fathers are nearly their equal. Use this to your advantage when you can Kalis but never abuse it. As you master these skills, other Lycavorians will sense the blood within you easily. They honor our name because of our grandfathers, and the actions of one of us affect us all cousin."

"Is it possible to block a scent that affects us strongly?" Serale heard Kalis ask the holo image and her eyes grew a little wider when the holo image flickered for a few seconds and then she saw the vision of Androcles shake his head.

"A scent that triggers stronger than normal emotions is usually caused by an event you witnessed or a female that has… a female that has certain potency to her scent that tickles your senses beyond normal if that is the definition of your question." Andro replied.

Serale realized then that whatever he was watching was a very sophisticated interactive holo program. Most definitely not the type of technology the Kavalians should have had access too.

"I will use Sadi and my other mates as an example for you if that is your meaning. All of them have a certain flavor to their scent that… for lack of a better explanation… that sets my blood to burning. I could track any of them across thousands of kilometers of a planet or across the stars simply by their Mindvoice and Etheric resonance. You will know when you taste that flavor on a female's scent. It will… it will excite you, make you feel full of energy and above all else, it will make you want to claim them as yours with an almost overpowering urge. It will make you want to protect them at any cost, even your own life, and you will not care about the price you might have to pay. It is easy to detect a similar emotion from females of Lycavorian descent, not so much in those who are not like us, and that is why grandfather taught our males to harness that part of ourselves. You will gain far more in treating the woman you wish to scent or become closer with as a precious gem as opposed to forcing yourself upon her. You will learn what makes her feel, what makes her breath. You will feel it within you and instinctively you will know what will make them quiver in your arms. If they desire you in a similar fashion, believe me, the pleasure you will feel is beyond words. That is what a female can do to you cousin. Knowing… knowing what the future with them could bring to you gives you power and strength. It makes you a better man."

Serale watched as the image of Androcles paced and then stopped to stare into whatever was recording the program.

"I have taught you all I can teach you using this manner Kalis." Androcles told him. "To be honest… I never thought you would get this far along." Androcles bowed his head. "For that you have my apologies cousin. I would be honored to run with you here in Sparta cousin. You can join my brothers and I and we could teach you so much more. This program… it was made by my father specifically for you Kalis. To show you what you could have! What could be yours! You do not need to forsake the blood the runs in your veins cousin. You do not need to follow in the footsteps of someone who has forgotten all our grandfather taught him. I am inputting the code so that you may retrieve my father's last message to you. I will leave you with this Kalis… make the choice from within your heart!" Andro brought his fist over his bare chest. "Draw it from deep within you before you proceed. Make the right choice… the choice I believe you wish to make if you have come this far. Make that choice and I will stand with you against any foe! Against any odds! All of us will! No matter what it may cost us… because you are family." Andro moved a little closer. "Make the wrong choice Kalis… make the wrong choice and there will be no place within the entirety of the galaxy where you will be able to hide from me. And while I may weep while doing it, I will drive my Nehtes through your chest and watch as the life leaves your eyes." Andro stepped back. "I don't believe that is the choice you wish to make cousin. I… I believe now you wish to discover what has never been shown to you. You have tasted it… and now you want more. A future awaits you Kalis my cousin… a future with your family. With your blood. Make the right choice."

Kalis sat there as the P1 powered down the program and he retrieved it from the floor. He typed on it for several seconds and confirmed that a code had indeed been released. He saw it there on the screen and his finger hovered over the activate button. That is when Kalis's focus opened more and he smelled her sweet cinnamon and cherry scent and detected the quickening of her heartbeat. He had spent the last four hours shifting back and forth, exactly as Androcles had spoken to him. This last week, learning to master his body while in wolf form had been exhaustive but so very rewarding to him. Androcles telling him it would only get easier with time and practice made Kalis want to remain as a wolf for hours and days on end. He could not do this he knew, so he spent the last few hours of every night going through the exercises with Andro's voice filling his head. He hadn't got much sleep this way, but his desire to discover something beyond what he had here was fuel for the fire that drove him.

Kalis reached out and pulled the sheet from the nearby couch and then rose to his feet slowly. As he placed the P1 on his desk he inhaled deeply and let Serale's scent flow through him. Incredibly, just as Andro had said, her scent rushed through him and charged his body and senses. He turned to the sheet covered doorway.

"You may come out now Serale." He spoke softly. "I know you are watching and you do not have to fear me. Ever."

Kalis watched the sheet moved a few inches to the side and then she stepped into view and quickly pulled the sheet back behind her. She turned to look at him with a sheepish expression because she had been caught. Her hands trembled because she did not know what he would do and she certainly did not want to anger him.

"I… I heard the Prince's voice." Serale stammered. "Forgive me… I did not…"

Kalis tucked the edges of the sheet tightly around his waist and crossed the distance to her in three strides. Serale gasped softly but did not back up which shocked her. She stared into those beautiful blue eyes of his as he looked at her for a long moment and felt the flush his gaze caused within her. "I will never hurt you Serale." He said softly. "If you believe nothing else I tell you… believe that."

"Where… where did you… how did you get that?" Serale asked. "How is it that you have an interactive holo program with the Crown Prince?"

Kalis smiled warmly. "Not just my cousin… my Aunt Dysea and Aunt Anja as well." He answered. "My Hadarian Aunt is very colorful in her choice of words. Are all Hadarians like her?"

"What?" Serale gasped. "Like the Queen? Heavens no! I wish I was like her."

Kalis turned away and moved back to the desk where he poured two glasses of the juice. He turned towards her and offered it out to her. Serale and Danim had refused anything he had offered to them personally because they feared him so. Serale decided there was something very different about him and the fear that had been there before was nearly gone. Without thinking she stepped forward and took the glass. Kalis smiled at this and turned back to the table, picking up the P1. He faced her once more and held it out to her.

"It is something my Uncle gave to me on Enurrua." He told her.

Serale looked at the odd pad as she sipped the juice. "You mean… you mean King Leonidas?" She said.

Kalis nodded. "Yes." He answered. "Take it."

Serale reached out hesitantly… watching his eyes as her fingers closed around the pad. When she had it fully in her hand he released it and lifted his glass to drink. "You… you know what this is?" She asked him as her eyes dropped to the pad to inspect it.

"Apparently it is a very sophisticated data pad." Kalis answered. "One that every member of the Leonidas family has. My uncle said it was somehow derived from the amazing advances they discovered on that ship."

Serale looked at him. "The Mindvoice ship?" She spoke.

Kalis nodded. "Yes. It has… it has opened the door into a world I never knew existed." He told her. "A world that I very much want to reach."

Serale met his eyes as she held it back to him. "How… how did you get those scars?" She asked.

Kalis turned away from her and placed the P1 back on the table. "When I was fifteen I made my father angry." He answered turning to look at her. "His punishment was fifty lashes."

Serale's eyes grew wide in horror. "You mean… like from a whip?" She gasped.

Kalis nodded his head. "Something similar yes."

"What… what did you do?" Serale stammered.

"I questioned what he told me to do." Kalis told her. He motioned to the couch and Serale didn't hesitate much to her further surprise. She watched him sit in the chair opposite her and finish the rest of the juice before settling his eyes on her. "I will protect you and your brother Serale. I will die before I allow harm to come to either of you. I promised your mother this and I will begin to live my life honorably by fulfilling that promise. I don't… I don't want you to be afraid of me."

Serale blinked several times and then did something that she had heard Queen Anja say once in a speech. She took a leap of faith.

"Tell me of yourself." She asked him.

Kalis chuckled. "You do not wish to know about me." He said gently.

"What… what if I do?" Serale asked him.

"I would say you are crazy." Kalis answered with a smile. "My life has not… it ha snot been pleasant."

"Will it be the truth?" Serale asked him.

Kalis met her eyes. "Do you wish the truth?"

Serale nodded quickly. "Yes."

"It could take some time." Kalis said.

Serale looked around the room. "I don't think I'm going anywhere." She said with a small bit of humor.

Kalis's lips turned upward in a smile. A smile that made Serale's heart flutter and caused delicious sensations to ripple through her.

"Very well." He said.

ARC ROYAL

2142 HRS, EST

THIRTY MINUTES FROM ORBIT

"…detecting any lifesigns on the surface or within the facility itself." Martin spoke as he used his fingers to move the holographic images around on the Chart Table. "However… given our recent luck we're not going to take any chances and we are going in heavy." Aricia stood to his left while Isabella and Dysea stood to his right. Around the table also stood Wayonn, Helen, Danny, Julie, Fedor, Miseo and Muton. "This is a pure Pralor science facility according to Wayonn and we could possibly get a wealth of information and material from it. Lucky for us… the first of Ben's supply shipments should link up with us mid morning tomorrow. Avi will be among the group of Durcunusaan and engineers that he is sending." Martin looked at Akemi. "You'll have your full Science Department then Akemi."

The Captain of the Arc Royal nodded with a smile. "We'll need them out here Milord. Especially Avi. We're finding things that we've never seen before in probe scans."

Martin nodded and turned back to the Chart Table. "Ok… though the facility is huge, it precludes us from bringing any dragons into the interior of the facility so Arzoal and Torma are going to remain outside and provide aerial recon with Isheeni and Iriral. For'mya, Endith and Tina will remain airborne in the STRIKER after they drop us off and monitor things from above. Miath will be covering the north entrance here which is our main point of entry. Aurith will be doing the same on this west entrance. Mark the points on your data pads from the map here. Anything happens inside, beat feet to one of these entrances. If it ain't wearing one of our uniforms, Miath and Aurith are going to burn the shit out of it if it follows us out of the facility."

Danny leaned forward now. "The Skipper, Julie, me and five members of our team will be point and don't no one complain. This is our kind of Op and we need to know what each one of us will do in a given situation. Fifty meters behind us will be Aricia's group with Isabella, Cirith and Fedor. They'll have the bulk of the Science team we are sending with them and the rest of our team. Wayonn… Tony is going to be sticking to you and Helen like glue so you don't wander off."

"I have no intention of wandering off Daniel Simpson." Wayonn said as the others smiled at Danny's comment.

Danny grinned flashing his white teeth. "He'll make sure of that."

Muton leaned forward. "Forgive me Martin… why exactly am I going?" He asked. "I am not a scientist. I'm a doctor... not a very good one either I might add."

Martin nodded. "Anja and Dysea will be in the last group fifty meters behind the second. As soon as we move to the medical wing here…" Martin pointed on the map. "You and she will then set up a medical evacuation point. And Red requested you Muton. You have extensive experience in field medicine and that's what she wants. The four medics going with you will be taking orders from you and her."

Muton nodded after a moment. "I will make sure to thank her for her recommendation." He stated.

"Once we reach the medical wing and establish a perimeter we're going to start breaking off into teams to try and obtain as much data and material as we can." Danny continued. "We'll determine makeup after we get set in the facility. Miseo… you and your team of Monitors… they will be the security for Anja's third group. They are the only medical team we are sending so you got our lifeline if anything goes to shit."

Miseo nodded his head confidently. "We are ready." He said.

Helen looked at him from across the Chart Table. "Martin… is it wise to bring all of your Queens with us?" She asked.

Martin met her eyes and shrugged. "I was already told in very definitive terms what will happen if I leave them behind." He stated embarrassed. "It wasn't pretty."

Aricia gave him a gentle elbow in the ribs. "We are bringing extra security Feravomir." She said with a smile. "That is why Miseo and the Monitors are coming. We will be safe."

Helen knew better than to argue with any of Martin's Queens and she nodded her head. "Very well."

"There are five areas we want to inspect that are priority." Danny spoke adjusting the Chart Table. "Jules has worked out the COM frequencies for each team and all we need to do is upload them to our implants. This place is fucking huge so we need to stay in constant radio or Mindvoice contact. No exceptions. Obviously… the power core is central. According to Wayonn, the Research labs are here, four levels down from the medical wing using either stairs or an elevator if we can get it working. We…"

The soft chime caught everyone's attention and Martin pulled his P1 from his vest. He looked at it and then back to Dan. "We're good." He stated quickly. "Keep going Danny." Martin glanced at Helen before Danny began speaking again. He ignored the looks Aricia and Dysea gave to him before turning and moving off to a quiet portion of the TCC.

Martin lifted his P1 and typed his code into the pad.

-PRIMARY TARGET COMPLETED HISTORY PROGRAM 10.4 HOURS AGO-

-FINAL CODE HAS BEEN INPUTTED AND AUTHORIZED-

-NOTIFICATION OF SPARTAN 11 HAS BEEN INITIATED-

"Has it been accessed?" Martin asked softly.

-NEGATIVE-

"If Final Code is activated I want an immediate connection." Martin spoke. "Full safeties and security protocols."

-AFFIRMATIVE KING LEONIDAS-

"Once Avi is on board download any signals received to his neural link and have him monitor them twenty-four seven." Martin spoke. "I want…"

"Nauta Melme?" Dysea's soft voice interrupted him and he turned to see Aricia, Bella and Helen standing with her.

"What is it Beloved?" Aricia asked. "Is it Kalis?"

Martin looked at them intently. He had shared what he was doing with his Queens and Helen only. Aricia, Anja and For'mya liked the idea while Bella, Cirith and Dysea thought it was too dangerous. Helen knew why he was doing it and she was the only one who knew what would happen should things not work out the way Martin wanted.

Martin held up the P1. "He… he completed the program." He said with a half grin.

Dysea's eyes grew the widest and she stepped forward. "He completed it?" She asked. "Are you sure?"

Martin showed her the read out on the P1. "He completed Andro's portion ten hours ago and the code was automatically downloaded to his P1. I told you how I set this up in the very beginning. There is no way he would have gotten this far if Pusintin was involved in any way. He completed it in half the time I calculated he would, which means this is all he has been doing."

Isabella took the P1 and gazed at the readout for a moment. She looked up at Martin. "I… I never believed he would complete it." She said softly. "This… this is…"

"It changes things." Dysea said gently her stunning emerald green eyes focusing on Martin. "This changes things a great deal. Forgive me for not believing in him at the outset."

Martin shook his head. "I had more doubts than anyone." He stated. "I still have doubts."

Aricia shook her head and took his arm in her hands. "You believed when many did not Beloved." She said.

"Yes you did." Isabella commented. "I… I must have let my hatred for them overrule my belief in you."

Dysea pressed close to Bella and slid her arm around her waist. "I am guilty of this as well Bella." She stated.

"That does not matter now." Helen told them as she moved closer. "What we do now does Martin?" Helen asked. "What has to happen?"

Martin shook his head. "He has to activate the last code in order for us to know." He told them.

"You are sure about what you felt?" Helen asked him.

Martin nodded his head. "He may be half Kavalian but I could smell it all over him. The doubt. The fear. Beneath all that… it was there Helen. He only has to reach for it to let it out. He could… he could be just as powerful as Res or Dorian for all we know. And if he discovers what I hope he discovers… if he embraces it… then there will be no doubt."

Helen met Martin's eyes. "Then if he activates the last code Martin… we must retrieve him. You will have shown him a different life and in order for him to truly believe in that life we will need to go for him."

Martin took a deep breath. "Then I will." He stated firmly.

Dysea moved closer to him as did Isabella. "No. We will." Bella spoke.

"You must tell Fedor and Eirene Martin." Helen said now. "He is their brother… they have a right to know."

Martin nodded. "I know. We will tell them after this mission." He said. "I need them focused right now. Fedor already has enough issues."

"The Kavalian girl. Iama?" Helen asked.

Martin nodded. "She's got a hold on him something fierce."

"Does she even feel the same thing?" Helen asked.

Aricia nodded. "If what I have smelled from her is accurate… yes. She just does not… she is hesitant and unsure. It is almost as if she thinks of herself unworthy if her surface thoughts are any indication. She is not used to the emotions I can smell swirling through her."

"Well… we will need to bring an end to that sooner rather than later." Dysea said. "Bella and I both have heard she is…"

"What?" Martin asked.

"She is searching for something Nauta Melme. And she is allowing herself to be taken advantage of in the process." Dysea answered.

"She has already slept with three members of the crew." Isabella told him. "Cirith was coming back from the mess lounge and saw another this morning leaving her quarters."

Martin's head tilted. "She is searching for something so she is making herself easy?" He spoke in a low voice that said he found that hard to believe.

"Nauta Melme… she is acting out the only way she knows how." Dysea said. "She was a sex toy for the Kavalians for so long. Forced to bed men who she cared nothing for. She is strong to have kept her wits about her as she has, but it is the only way she knows how to look for what she is seeking."

"And what is she seeking?" Martin asked still not convinced.

"We have no right to judge her." Bella spoke softly. "What she is seeking is her business and how she goes about it is her business. Believe me… I have been where she is. I think we all agree based on what you have smelled that Fedor is what truly interests her… but like Aricia said… I think she believes she is not good enough for him. And she believes because his birth was accelerated he is no more different than the Kavalian clones she had to endure for so long. We have to let this play out on its own."

"Bella is right." Helen spoke. "We can watch and guide but we must not interfere in any way. She is coming on the mission yes?"

Martin nodded his head. "The food processors are one of the areas we want to see if we can salvage. It would help her feed all of us without spending hours in the kitchens."

"I believe she likes that part of her duty… but if we can acquire devices to help her… all the better." Helen said. "Let this play out Martin. Fedor is no fool… and I think he will begin to see what he needs to do."

Martin nodded and looked over to see Danny bringing the briefing to an end. "Ok… all this goes on the back burner. We have a mission to go on and I want everyone focused on it." He saw the nods from all of them. "Let's get moving."

Aricia drew Isabella and Dysea with her as they headed back to the Chart Table, but it was Helen's hand that stopped Martin. He instantly felt her throw up heavy shields that he immediately reinforced and they both felt Torma and Arzoal instinctively add their own power to them.

[You have a plan if this doesn't work don't you?] Helen asked.

[Helen…] Martin began to speak and she squeezed his arm tighter.

[We are Paladin and Mage now Martin my boy. What affects you will affect me.] She said. [I am not your queens and I do not think like them. If this is all a ruse by Kalis… if he has only done this at the behest of that foul ronnus Pusintin… what do you intend?]

Martin met her eyes. [I had Avi installed a very small fusion device in Kalis's P1.] He told her. [If this is not real… then I will trigger the device.]

[I know why you are doing this Martin.] Helen said. [Your Queens do not… but I do. Is it truly worth it?]

[I intend to make my brother pay for everything he has done Helen! For every touch he laid upon my Kinsoaurgai! For funding the scum who took my Melda Min and abused her! For raping Yuri and forsaking Lisisa in the manner he did! For everything he forced her to suffer through until I found her! For every innocent member of the Union he has killed! For depriving his children with Jalersi the right and the knowledge of their bloodline! For everything he has done!] Martin hissed his eyes changing and becoming yellow orbs and the tips of his dual fangs extending slightly. [I intend to make him pay in the most painful and horrific way that I can possibly imagine Helen! Taking his last child from him is part of it yes… but I will love that boy as if he is my own if it happens! You know that! He is a Leonidas and I know what I smelled and felt from him on Enurrua! Is it worth it? In intend to fulfill the promise I made to my mother and I will remove the stain upon the name of Leonidas! Yes! It is worth it!]

Helen stared at him for a long moment and finally nodded her head slowly. [Your Queens would not approve with the possible exception of Aricia because she is Spartan born.] She told him. [They would not understand this part of you. It is a part you have never shown them I sense! I do understand however, and I approve Martin. Just be sure to never reveal this side of your nature to your Queens. They… they might find it hard to truly understand.]

Martin nodded as he began to calm down quickly. [I will.] He said softly. [Thank you Feravomir.]

Helen squeezed his arm. [Let's go see if we can discover more of our history shall we?]