|
The terror, was being unleashed upon them, like ‘lambs’ to the slaughter. In its presence, anything with a SOUL was easy pickings.
Gai had told to be quiet. A difficult task amidst all of the celebrations and NOISE? Screams and dying into the night, more than just the screams.
Ibet, had burst into the chamber, out of breath and gasping for air as they settled him for him to tell all. 
Gai knew straight away what it was.
A Soul reaper. That Matsupa bitch, had unleashed one of them upon them. “Seal the chamber. NO one in, no one out.
IT cannot break in. Also, it, will only collect, a certain number until it is sated, whereupon it, will wait, until it needs to collect more.”
THAT was a fact. IT had collected enough for now and turned, walked away into the evening mist. GONE, where?
It was NOT detectable, unless, you have the right ones present, to find it and destroy IT?
The Jester was listening in all that was being said. It could stop the Soul seeker but, was enjoying the togetherness of all present.
For what lay ahead, they had to pull together. To be together as ONE.
If they really thought, that the Matsupa had gone? There was a rude awakening coming.
IT knew, that in space Co Ooi was with her Aposso meeting, another, Matsupa space ship.
Transfer of new Zealot troops. A meeting, with other Matsupa Accolytes?
Possibly, a pure blood Matsupa ?!!
THEY, were not, disposed to be merciful, to those, who failed them and that, included
Matsupa Accolytes.
They had noted firing weapons at that ‘thing’ had done nothing. IT, had a protective shield so their weapons fire just bounced off it. Also, it was not good, for the person firing it, to be too close, the ricochet was just that, an energy burst.
They, needed, to know more and, the only reliable reference was ‘Tolgani the book of Legends’ ?
The archives did, indeed prove useful. To kill it, you had to have NO soul. A higher being with a SOUL could be killed, as well as those ‘primitives’.
“Where, will we find a soul less??” A trap, sprung by, a soul less creature. Plenty of them around?
Sentient lifeforms, that were silica based creations. Paid to hunt them down by the Galacia Federa?!
Perhaps, they, could send a distress call? Hopefully the Galacia Federa might pick it up? The Jester shook its head. The Matsupa had put a signal blocking satellite in orbit.
A transponder, that passed, anything transmitted, to them. The more they panicked, the more the Matsupa had updates and reasons to celebrate; on all that was happening in their absence.
Dola, had remembered the device, they had been given by Prie? “If, you find yourselves needing help, use the device?” The ‘Progestor’ had also reminded them, ONLY, to use, in a situation, they saw as truly desperate?
Replacing the device, Dola still not convinced, she should use it? Lys had seen her dithering. She waited until she had gone to rest to pick the device up and head for the river. A high point above it.
Clear night sky and, unsure, how to use it, she raised it, to peer closer at it when, suddenly it lit up. Bright and appearing to flicker momentarily, before it died back to nothing.
No matter, how she shook it, it did nothing. Now she had to take it back, put it in the place she had found it and hope no one had seen her?
The Jester had. IT smiled. I like you Lys. You are, a little impulsive at times, but that, is not such a bad thing. I wish some more of those around you, were as brave.
Knowing that ‘thing’ was still around had crossed Lys mind. Fear? She, had reasoned, it, was worth her life,
IF it, brought them help, much needed help.
The next day, she said nothing. The others around her were busy trying to work out what to do next?
No one, was keen, on seeking that dammed ‘thing’ out.
Some attempt, to restore communications, had had some modicum of success BUT, it was limited.
Short range only and NOT, going to send a signal, into deep space any time soon.
Even, the, all new mountain stronghold, seemed quiet. Hardly anyone talking. Morale, had dropped, to an all time low. Many, were resigned to their fate.
From the beginning, a lot of them accepted they were doomed. All the peace, the tranquility and happiness they had once shared for the local inhabitants seemed a distant memory.
IN space, deep space?
The Matsupa, had now met up. Their vessels transferring Zealots and others whilst the two Matsupa Accolytes talked. They would go back and with the two vessels set up the Chx device.
From space launch an aerial attack on all they thought they should destroy. Spread a little happiness. Terrorise, instil fear and show the power of the Matsupa before sending in their Zealot hordes.
IT had not gone unnoticed, re the destruction of the Zealots?
Wiped out and it was, still NOT known, by what?
Co Ooi was not forthcoming, mainly because she did NOT know of such a weapon that could do that, re being found on the planet?
Questioning her Aposolates, without her knowing, had proven to be difficult. THEY did NOT know either.
Whatever it was, had been so powerful, it had destroyed the Chx device, leaving, not even dust behind.
The questioning, continued with the others. Clerica was one of their most senior Aposo and she could only venture one opinion, that could deliver an answer to such devastation.
An OMINI? Co Ooi, was not pleased to hear, of those of her own, being questioned, behind her back?
As for, the ridiculous suggestion, that it had been the work of an Omini?
She feared Clerica would keep that supposition going to her detriment. IF a pure blood heard that and decided to investigate? It would be a death sentence for her?
Truth was, Clerica, had been furious, at the arrival of one of her most hated, of Matsupa Accolytes,
She, had been punished by her and punished again, over the latest debacle.
She needed rid of IT. The only way that could be achieved was proving she was incompetent, had failed the Matsupa? To that end she had secretly communicated her views to other Matsupa Accolytes.
Jealousy, spite, is a real trait between the Matsupa Accolytes. The desire to see others terminated is a real pleasure to them. Any good reason is good enough, well in some instances.
The Vae attacks, had been a huge loss of Zealot resources. Time, failures, for Co Ooi to arrive too late.
She, had been ordered, some time before her arrival and, decided to ignore; muttering, that some backwater bunch of primitives, should not be taking up her valuable time.
The deaths, the losses, the all too clear failures were NOT good, not good at all. She ordered Clerica to her. The moment she received orders to that effect, Clerica knew her death was imminent.
That bitch, needed, someone to blame; to execute. Doing so, would restore her power, in the eyes of others. BUT how could she, delay the moment of her execution?
She, set all the alarms off, re what we would know as fire alarms and, IF you think thatis ridiculously improbable just remember the plasma systems, volatile combustible fuels and more?
Think, she needed to think. Launching a small zimp to escape to a nearby planet in the midst of all the chaos? Might work. Either way, she was already as good as dead.
Enroute, the noise, finally dying away, as MOKs (Mechanic only knows).” Were busy checking systems and coming back, with no real issues? False alarms.
Clerica had reached the Zimps. Stepping into one to prime its systems whilst ripping out the tracking and remote controllers. NOW she could hope for a small escape hatch, big enough for a Zimp to pass through hopefully undetected?
Co Oii was getting impatient. WHERE was Clerica? No sign of her aboard their craft. She had removed the life signs tracker and punched the small device in her arm to stop it transmitting her whereabouts. 
Of course, she did not know, of the powers of the Matsupa Accolytes? She was there and then?
Full on terror, full on fear as she found herself before
Co Ooi, in the as one might say, blink of an eye.
She was on her knees, the pain rippling through her was like nothing she had ever experienced even when Co Ooi had punished her.
NOTHING like that, no this was far far more penetrating, intense; crippling.
“YOU dare to, challenge YOUR GOD? YOU only live, because I allow you to. We, the Matsupa, are YOUR GODS.”
Clerica managed, to summon up her last strength, as she raised her head and spat at her. “YOU are NOT my GOD.”
She was lifted, to be turned around and, in front of her, another being.
“This primitive, dares to commit heresy? Before her GODS!” The figure glared at Co Ooi.
“It seems I arrived just in time. YOU, are clearly incapable, of keeping, even these primitives, under control?”
Thrown down, to the floor, bones smashed, unable to move as she could see Co Ooi raised from her seat to rise mid air. “I am NOT, allowing such heresy, to continue.” The one most Matsupa Accolytes feared?
An ancient, pure blood, called XiLoc the destroyer. The power of a Jin and, the ability, to skin alive, smash every bone with just ITs breath?
It ripped Co Ooi apart. Every last scream, every last tearing of her flesh from off her bones, until she was dead. Dust? Nothing in the end, but the dust, to be sucked up and blown away, through the vents.
Liak, the remaining Matsupa Accolyte, had entered to witness the last dying throes of Co Ooi.
She fell on her knees before it. Not in fear, they do NOT know fear,.
“I am not here, to deliver judgment on YOU.
Your meeting, up with that heretic, does not count by me, as YOU being, in any way responsible, for the failure on ITs part, to do as her GODS ordered her. 
NOW, that HERETIC, what are you going to do to appease my temper?” Liak moved towards Clerica.
Her body, moved by her, a kind of telekinesis? She tore her clothing from her, now naked, the blade in Liak’s hand, sliced her, from top to bottom.
Every drag of the blade down her, was felt by her. Split open, as hands, now leaned in, to not CUT her heart out, BUT drag it out, with such violence whilst she smiled.. SMILED.
Blood splattered. over her face, across her lips as she licked it back. raising the heart to drink from it?
XiLoc, took the heart from her, to raise it, drink from it, before throwing it at what had been Clerica.
“NOW we, are going to go to that accursed planet. we, are going to install the Chx device and every living thing on it, will be taught WHO, their GODS are.
THEY, WILL, bow down and beg for mercy. Every last one of them.
We will butcher over half of them, the rest will become our slaves, our food, our sacrifices.
I will leave YOU, to rule over those primitives. I will gift to you four of my favoured Oposo. One of them likes to eat flesh. I will have the pleasure of forcing those on that miserable hole to see IT tear some of them apart and eat them alive. “
She dropped to her knees, bowed. “I am your servant, YOU are MY GOD to be obeyed and I will pledge my life to making sure YOU are a GOD to be NEVER forgotten.
I shall, tear them apart, just as I have, before you here, with such pleasure, to please YOU; my GOD The rivers will run red with their blood, the skies will turn red with the reflection of their blood.
In the shadows, IT looked on. IT could with one wave of ‘her’ hands wipe them from existence, even the Jin. BUT no.
The game, was about to be played. For now the presence of the Jin was an unfair advantage almost cheating.
She would send HER. The favoured one of Tolgani, Lysa. Yes that was her name, gifted by and protected by; Aphrodite.
HER Jester, would make sure, she could do as she pleased. Another wild card, but making things fair. Even the Jin, had NO power over Lysa.
Lysa? It had been a sudden temporal shift. NOT that she was unfamiliar to such things.
It seemed, that Aphrodite, wanted her, to be somewhere and, she did not disappoint her benefactor.
Outfit, was really good. Would blend in well with most of the locals here. The senses, were telling her Aphrodite, wanted her, to infiltrate her new surroundings. 
It would be Lys, her namesake who would see her for the first time.
Though NOT knowing her, it did not cause her any real concerns.
She liked, the way, she was dressed. Good talker, friendly and soon they, were taking in some drinks, whilst Lys, told her all about what had been happening?
The Soul stealer? That ‘thing’ had made its way into the Vae sucking up a few lost souls on the way? NOW outside the INN where they were sat talking, drinking?
Several locals, now rushing in, screaming about the ‘thing’ being outside? Cowering in fear? Lysa stood up calmly walked to the door and, told Lys to close, secure the door behind her?
The ‘thing’? IT stared at Lysa, as she stepped into the street one might say, high noon, springs to mind? IT suddenly realized she had NO soul.
Was a silicon based lifeform? ALL that it feared, dreaded, now manifesting itself in front of IT.
“Come give me a hug.” IT tried to turn, to escape? Too late, Lysa locked her hands onto it. The ‘thing’ shook the lights on its body flickered, the light dying to nothing.
IT screamed. The screech from it as it turned to dust? DUST! She clapped her hands shaking off the last of the dust. “Ah well Aphro, they owe me for this. NOW, I, need to finish my drink.”
The Jester smiled, I think your companion Tolgani, would be pleased, to see you, taking care of that ‘thing’. Good to see, I will NOT need to ‘babysit ’YOU. Hell is on its way and we, need to stop them from cheating, re the game now in play!
Aphrodite has gifted YOU, some impressive powers, Of course, YOU, can NOT be killed. ONLY Aphrodite herself, can end YOUR life. I like the way you can transform into anything re clothing, how you appear and of course your strength is NOT to be tested, by any, stupid enough to do so.”
Acknowledgements : Lysa = image copyright is
These Images are designed and produced by EmeraldApple and are released under ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://www.patreon.com/c/AI_EmeraldApple
|
