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Death and Life
Chapter 1-14
© Aenea Endymion

ïåðåâîä íåñêîëüêèõ ãëàâ

Ýòîò òåêñò ïðèíàäëåæèò © Aenea Endymion, è âûëîæåí çäåñü ñ îõðàíåíèåì àâòîðñêîé îðôîãðàôèè è ïóíêòóàöèè.

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http://littlelexx.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=669



Death and Life

*Disclaimer*

Epilogue

Xev lay in her big, circular bed on board the Lexx. She slept and dreamt for the thousandth time of Kai. The only man in her life she was really addicted to. Her love was very one-sided, because Kai was dead. For this reason he was incapable to feel - or to show only the slightest reaction to her sometime really desperate efforts to worm some out of him.
In her dreams now, he was maximum alive, and in her fantasy, she acted out everything what wasn’t possible in her reality.
A smile appeared on her face and she snuggled deeper in her silken pillows and blankets. She pulled a pillow closer to her and embraced it tightly. In her dream it was Kai. Smiling she whispered his name and wanted to kiss him – but, as always at this point, her dream faded away and she woke up. Disappointed, Xev opened her eyes when the cold reality hit her, a reality cold as Kais body really was. She struggled with her blankets and put them away with a sigh. Slowly, she dressed herself, her thoughts far away in her recent erotic dream. It was one of the few things that kept her hope up, the hope that her dream would come true anytime.
Hope – could there be any for her' For Kai' Sometime, maybe, but until that day would come, she was doomed to wait. Xev left her chamber, she decided to go to the bridge, maybe there were news which distract her a bit. But her feelings directed her to the cryochamber first, automatically.
The chamber was quiet. Only the constant humming of the cryo-units was hearable. It was very cold here, and Xev shivered a little, the clusterlizard inside her didn’t like the cold.
One of the cryopods was occupied and she stopped in front of it. Inside laid a black clad figure, apparently sleeping peaceful and calm. Xev often stopped by to talk to her deep frozen love, to clear up her feelings. It was easier when he was frozen and sleeping than awake. She couldn’t expect any reaction in one way or the other, so it was less painful if he wasn't wake.
Sometimes she only stared at him and was lost in reverie. Kai was a very attractive man, the paleness of his skin stood in deep contrast to his black clothes and the raven black hair, which was stuck together in a complicate bun on his head, except for his lovelock at the left side and the braid on the back. Xev's eyes searched his face, his expression was calm. >Nearly peaceful< she thought. Her gaze wandered over his right cheek, where the burgundy tattoo was. Both, the hair and his tattoo were so unique for his people – the BrunnenG. Kai once had explained her that the tattoo marked the way of his people from the DarkZone into the LightZone. Many thousand years were gone since that day. The BrunnenG had been abolished, like so many other people destroyed by the hands of His Divine Shadow. Kai was the last one alive – well, existing was the more correct word. In physically meaning Kai was dead, killed in action during the last heroic battle between the BrunnenG and the armies of His Divine Shadow. Kai's destiny had been sealed this day, an unimaginable, inhuman destiny. As last of his people, he had been killed by the hands of His Shadow himself. His soul and memories were stolen as well, everything that Kai once was, had been wiped out in one merciless moment. But that hadn’t been the end. His Shadow, as the insect he was, hated everything human, especially the BrunnenG, which once had destroyed his own race thousands of years ago. He wanted revenge…he wanted to punish Kai's people beyond their death. Kais body had been taken to the Cluster, to the bioscholars, who changed him into an unstoppable, indestructible killing machine. The leading assassin of His Divine Shadow and all successors for 2000 years. An instrument of horror, a dark legend among all those other assassins. He killed and he tortured all of His Shadow’s enemies, without asking – without call it into question. As the mindless assassin he had been, he followed the orders of his Shadow without hesitation. Until the day he had met them and got his memories back.

Xev wiped a tear from her eye. How many wrongs can be done to a single human being' Every one of them had his own sad story, but in Xevs opinion, Kais destiny was the teariest. 2000 years doomed to murder, no volition, no soul, no memories, far longer no feelings, no wants. His condition now was better, but far from being a fair existence. It was her deepest wish that he could be alive some day. It must be possible to unban him anytime – without annihilating his existence. “Oh, Kai”, she whispered. “I wished that my hope will fulfil itself, you don’t deserve that!” Xev painted a small heart at the frozen top of the cryopod. “Life – and death, can be so unfair sometimes!” Full of sadness she turned after a while and continued her way to the bridge.



Chapter 1

A small incident surrounded by boredom

They hadn’t stopped since three weeks. There were no news, nothing to explore. This edge of the universe seemed to be really empty. Uninhabited planets, civilisations long gone. The last time Xev, Stan and Kai had been together, was when the Lexx had received an emergency call. It came from a space station, orbiting around a little brown-green planet, as they discovered soon. Xev remembered the desperate people there. They were scientists and researchers working on the space station. Their work went out of control, when a super virus had been created in one of their bio labs. Within a few hours he had infected and killed half of the people there. The other half fled to a secure sector of the station and survived. After their government refused to let them return to the planet, although they were not infected, it was the only possibility to set an emergency call and wait for help. A slim hope – but the only one. It was obviously that the government shirk responsibility and so, it abandoned the people on the station to their fate. The Lexx received the emergency call, but Stan wasn’t very enthusiastic when he heard the reason of the emergency. He wasn’t in the mood to get infected with a virus and would have continued their flight immediately – if Xev hadn’t “convinced” him very fast of the opposite. She had argued with him that it was better to help those poor people, and besides, they could sent Kai to evacuate them. A virus wouldn’t have any effect on him. Xev had to smile when she thought about Stan's growling agreement.
They evacuated the relieved scientists back to their home planet. The government wasn’t amused and tried to anticipate their efforts. An exasperated Stan stopped the arguing very soon. He threaten to destroy the parliament building with Lexx's immense firepower. That was to much for the government, and they gave in.
Kai inspected the station during that time and gave advice to destroy the station – with it the virus with all its danger. The Lexx solved the problem within seconds. The scientists had been so happy that they invited them to stay for a while. They gave them fresh food supply and everything they needed. It was the time when Stan finally melted – and of course – the whole rescue action had been his idea from the beginning. Both, Xev and Stan were happy that they could eat real food again after such a long time. They both were sick of the green goo produced by the Lexx. Kai was dead, so he needn’t any food at all. He returned into cryostasis right after the inspection. It disappointed Xev, but two days full of best food and entertainment lifted her mood a bit, even though the sadness remained about the fact that Kai would never participate in something simple than sharing fun with each other.
Then, they continued their way.

This had been three weeks ago. Three weeks of slowly trickling time and pure boredom. Xev reached the bridge and 790 greeted her loudly: “There she is – the dream of my sleepless nights – my beauty queen!” Stan, who had fallen asleep in his commando stand, blinked and growled annoyed: “Shut up, you ugly, pertly tin head. I need my sleep!” “I wished it would last forever….!” Answered 790 and bared his digital teeth. Xev sighed and asked herself why she had come here. After her sweet dream and the heavy thoughts in the cryochamber she felt a little swamped with those squabblers. “ Is there no day without arguing'” she asked. “Uh-oh, hi Xev!” Stan sit up a bit. “I would stop, if he delivered himself into space…” 790 announced malicious. “Now, I wouldn’t do that … but I could throw you into space …” Stan gnashed. “Stop it, both of you!” Xev interrupted. “News'” Stan shook his head. “Nope, a med-station, six uninhabited planet-systems. Not really exciting, isn’t it'” Xev sighed again: “Alright, I think I’ll take a shower then…!” “Take me with you, my delicious likable flower!” 790 begged. “No, no way…” That would be the last thing she needed – 790 observing her under the shower. “Please, pleeease Xevvv…” 790 cried digital tears. Xev shook her head and was just about to answer when a loud ringed through the Lexx. She looked astonished and inquiring at Stan: “What was that'” “It came from the cryochamber.” He remarked. Xev froze for a second, then she whirled around: “Kai!” She stormed off the bridge.



Chapter 2

Awakening

When Xev had left the cryochamber minutes ago, she already had been to far away to hear the waking sequence of Kais cryopod. Kai had programmed the system in a kind, that Xev, Stan and even the Lexx could wake him everytime if necessary. And with the modified time-slice-programming he could check at his comrades from time to time on his own, if they ever get into trouble and had no chance to reanimate him. But this time, none of these cases happened. It had been the system control of the pods, which initiated the wakening sequence itself. The system control was programmed to register every change in the bio values of its inhabitant, if there were unusual changes it has the order to initiate the waking sequence immediately. In Kais opinion there was no need to control his condition, as he lacks the required bio values, but Xev insisted on it and reminded him that some parts of his brain were still functional. Besides – one never know! Kai had finally given in. After all, it seemed that Xev's stubbornness paid off. The system registered irregularities with his brain activity and initiated the waking sequence.
Cold…it was unbelievable cold. Far to cold to breathe. Every try resulted with a burning in the lungs. Breathing. He remembered.
Breathing?
Why should he do that?
Wasn’t he long dead?
His thoughts only flowed slowly, they seemed to come to him from far, far away. They weren’t nearly detectable in his mind.
Coldness.
Anything from far away told him, that it was cold.
Coldness?
Memories of a snowy and icy landscape appeared in his mind. Thoughts were forming itself slowly like a constant flow of ice. It was cold, too cold to move one's limbs. A chilliness which…hurts , first of all when you breathe.
Breathing.
Kai opened his eyes.
The dead don’t feel coldness. The dead don’t feel pain and they certainly didn’t breathe! And he was dead since 6000 years!
Did he dream?
No, he hadn’t dreamt for 6000 years, too. The dead do not dream.
What happened here?
Completely confused he tried to clear his mind. But that was difficult. A new wave of sensations, he shouldn’t have, swept over him.
Confusion. Disorientation.
What was that for a reality he was in' Was it real at all'
Kai recognized the cryochamber and risked a step out of his cryopod. He realized that his movement wasn’t as smooth as it should be. He opened his mouth again to draw breath. It ended in a dry cough, but slowly the sharp pain in his lungs faded. He tried to diagnose his condition. Without success. Only a small part of his microscopic biochemical implants responded to his request. Was he going out of alignment again' That seemed to be the most logically explanation to him – but…there was something different, something strangely different.
His millennia old memories offered him another explanation:
He was able to feel…
Kai's rational intellect rebelled against that. How could that be' After 6000 years of undead subsistence' From one moment to the other – alive again' He couldn't believe that. But didn’t he feel' The pain in his breast, the chilliness on his skin…he could feel that. Kai couldn’t deny that. What happened to him' Kai faltered and crashed against the cryopod. With huge effort he finally sat down at the bottom of his cryopod and covered his head with his arms. A flood of memories swept over him; weird, alien memories of other people, memories of not longer theoretical concepts of emotions…It was to much for him – for his untrained mind. He barely noticed Xev and Stan, when they raced into the room.

Xev was the first who arrived in the cryochamber. Her eyes searched hectically for the cause of the noise she had heard. Finally, she recognized the empty cryopod and at the bottom the dark figure of Kai. “Kai!” she screamed and ran at his side. “What happened to you'”

With sheer willpower he accomplished to concentrate. There was something within him, what hadn't been there before … sensations … and something more. Kai anticipated anything bit by bit, but he was far from certainty. He had to long been dead for that. He had forgotten what alive really meant.
“Kai' Are you okay'” he heard someone asking through dense fog. Slowly he lifted his head. As he opened his eyes he looked straight into Xev's anxious face. She knelt in front of him. Kai shook his head. No, nothing was okay.
Xev was extremely worried. Kai was far away from acting normal. She feared protoblood-failure and asked him: “Do you have sufficient protoblood?” Kai closed his eyes half and nodded. This had been one of the first things he had checked on. Xev seemed to be at loss and looked at Stan. “Oh no, don't ask me! You know what happened the last time he acted…weird!” Xev nodded. But this was different. She stood up and checked the cryopod control. Several lights were glowing red. “Do you know what that mean, Stan'” she asked. Stan joined her and checked the system again: “Hm, no idea, really. I'm not aware of any similar case. But none of us woke him, the time slice has four days to go. I can't detect any malfunction. Must be the system control, which initiated the waking sequence.” Xev's face turned reflective and looked back at Kai. “Do you know the reason the system woke you'” she asked. Kai opened his mouth to talk. “N-o.” It sounded terribly rough and hoarse. Kai closed his eyes and tried again. “No.” Far better, but it was difficult for him to coordinate breathing and talking, he was unaccustomed to it. Xev frowned and touched his hand apprehensive.
This now, lead to Kai's frist truly visible reaction: He jerked. Xev advanced backwart –startled. What was that'
Kai wondered – he had felt her touch! The warmth of her skin let tingle his own cold flesh. He held his hand up and looked at it. It was truly different. “I...” he gulped, “ I felt that Xev,” he looked up into her face, this time with a clear visible expression of astonishment on his face. The only other person showing more amazement was Xev. “You felt'” she asked. “You felt that'” Kai nodded. A chuckle made its way up her throat.
This couldn't be real – or could it?
But he had told her that he felt it, hadn't he' And his facial expression! “Kai…” her voice nearly broke. “How…do you feel'” The ex-assassin tilted his head and thought about it for a moment. “Confused…” He looked back at her. “This word should describe my condition as best.” Xev tried to stay calm. Was it a dream' She nipped into her skin. No, that wasn't a dream. It was real – none of her dreams. She touched her mouth with her hand, tears sprang into her eyes. “Oh boy,” she heard Stan say. He leaned on the control-unit and looked at them both. She breathed deeply. Her hands were trembling – all this happened really!
Kai watched her curious. “Are you okay'” Xev burst out laughing. “Sure, I never felt better!” Hear heart beat faster. It was unbelievable. “Maybe 790 could check on him'” suggested Stan. It was obvious that one of them should retain control at least. First of all, if a deadly ex-assassin wasn't sure what was happening to himself. Xev nodded: “Yes.Yes why not. Kai'” The BrunnenG agreed. With 790's help they might could diagnose his condition more dependable. His own system diagnose was no help any longer. Still his most important systems were running, the protoblood supply for example, but the question was, how long would it last' Kai didn't note that he suddenly tip to one side and lost his consciousness. His mind needed a downtime – It was all to much for him. Xev apalled and held him. “Kai'” she asked anxiously. But he showed no reaction. Xev laid him down on the floor and touched his cheek softly. She frowned, did she err or was he really a little warmer than usual? Stan returned with 790 and put him onto the cryounit control. “It's better when we check him…he isn't acting normal!” Xev nodded absent. “790'” “Yes my sweetheart'” “Please check Kai, okay'” “Must I'” the robothead asked unwillingly. “Yes, you must. Stan, please help me to put Kai back into his cryopod. I want to know what's wrong with him!” “Are you sure tin-head is able to find out what happened to him'” asked Stan niggling. “You ugly fourth class protein bag! Of all things you must questioning that? You, who isn't able to cope his everyday life' Grrrr…” 790 was pissed. Xev rolled her eyes. “Stop it! We have more important things to do!” Stan poked his tongue out at 790 and assisted Xev by moving Kai from the floor back into his cryopod. “Do only I think so, or is he really less heavy than before'” Xev was confused. Normally Kai was very heavy – in consequence of decarbonisation. She stroke some of her ringlets back. “790'” A holographic picture of Kai's body appeared on the console, when 790 started to scan Kai's bodyfunctions. He started with the brain, compared the new data with older information he saved on his memory chip. He mumbled and muttered. In his opinion it would be better if nothing would change with the saved information, if this dead one would stay dead! Then only Stan would remain to be rid off, before he could finally be alone with his love – Xev. A very savory imagination! He mumbled on, but no, he had to check this inanimate piece of flesh. Admittedly…hm…790 was confused a bit, after he compared scan after scan, he seemed to be less dead than he had been. The old data in his memory showed no activity in his limbic and primitive brain. Only parts of his cortex had shown some activity. But he had to actualize his data. This wasn't the fact any longer. “Now, what is it?” asked a highly impatient Xev with truly visible fear for Kai's well-being. “I'm detecting some changes…let me say…explicit changes, to be honest.” “What for…changes?” Stan wanted to know. He still wasn't sure what he should think about all. 790 rolled his eyes, instead of an answer he projected an old scan and the brand-new scan next to each other onto the console. One of the scans stayed mainly dark, only few regions were glowing orange, the colour for activity. But the second scan was very different. He was competely coloured orange. “What does it mean'” asked Xev. “Give me a kiss – and I let you know!” 790 looked amorously at her. Xev sighed, sometimes he could really be a pain in the ass. But she wasn't in the mood to argue. “If you want…” She bend forward and gave him a quick kiss on his metal surface. “Oh my dear, my love pumpkin!” 790 rolled his eyes ecstatically. “And…'” she pushed. “His brain is fully functional now, what describes his ability to feel…this parts weren't definetly functional before!” Xev looked from the holographic images to Kai, then back to 790. “You mean he is…'” “…alive?” 790 continued. “Yes, unfortunately, it can be described in that way. Anyhow, I'm the only one who loves you!” “How is that possible?” aked Stan curious. Xev has held her breath when she listened to 790's diagnose. This was the acknowledgment! Her heart started to beat faster. “What's with his other bodyfunctions, 790?” “If you're interested in that minor important information…” answered 790 bored and started to scan the whole body of the BrunnenG, comparing the new scans with the old ones. Columns of data flickered over the holoimage. “I detect some insignificant changes. Because of his altered body I haven't had any significant data until now. But I can detect some changes in his protoblood structure.” “What do you mean with changes'” Xev wanted to know. Stan bend forward and looked curiously at the holoimage. “The structure is changing on a cellular/molecular level. Maybe a virus. Whatever exactly it is, it is highly aggressive and changes the structure very fast. We can see the results with his brain and I suspect that it will effect his body as well. Recarbonisation is only one effect.” “A virus'” asked Stan. “Maybe this virus he came in contact with on this space station?” he shrank back. “I hope he won't infect us!” “Is there any risk for an infection for us. 790?” Xev demanded to know. “No, the potential virus is absorbed by the protoblood and was isolated there. But if Tweedle feared an infection, he could sterilize himself in space…” 790 grinned malicious. “For some this virus meant death – for him he it maybe meant life!” Xev whispered. “What will happen to him now'” “I assume by means of my data, that the infected blood will spread all over his body, once he had left cryostasis. That means that a possible regeneration/transformation of his body is in full activity. To express it in rough words.” “And what will happen to his non-biological parts'” she asked on. “His body will repel them.” “Does this process mean any harm to him'” “Potentially. If you still have use of him, I would advise to remove those parts.” 790 grinned through gritted teeth. He already knew Xev's answer. But what should he do' To deny any help meant to hurt her. And this was out of the question, he couldn't do that! “Of course…” she started. “Ahhh….Xev,” Stan interrupted her, “You're talking about a surgery. Don't you think that this might be a number to big for us'” “Not for us, 790 and the protein-regenerator.” Xev was hell-bent about that. “Asides from that, his body isn't still that alive. If we remove his , we are not going to damage him seriously. He will recover with the help of the protein regenerator when his body will contain protein again.” “Nevertheless, you can strike my name off the list. I have my problems with – surgeries.” Stan agitated. Xev growled: “You won't sneak out of it, won't you' Or let him down' Now that he could need your help' After all, he had saved your ass often enough!” Stan cleared his throat: “Hmm, now, see…” The snarl turned into a suspicious lizard growl. “I'll do my best,” he agreed finally. “Alright, 790, when do you think he will reach the point we can start with it'” “I'm not sure, hours, maybe days…it depends on the speed of the process.” “Good, you observe him, 790, otherwise we have to wait, what else should we do'” Xev sighed. Stan nodded: “I'm looking for some tools for the surgery. We can't do it with our fingers only!” “Thank you Stan…” she smiled grateful. “It's okay,” he mumbled and walked out. 790 shut himself into diagnose/observation mode and Xev wanted to leave, too, when she recognized a small movement.



Chapter 3

First steps

Kai stirred again and regained consciousness. His emotions were sharper and more concrete now, a lot less chaotic. Unconsciousness had been a true release after this shock.
He realigned himself and a new strange sensation crept into his mind. He felt weak, shiftless. Slowly he opened his eyes and found himself back in his open cryopod. The robot head stand on the control-unit and, judging from the data columns in his digital eyes, was diagnosing something. Kai groaned a little: “What happened?” he asked unstable. Xev, who had turned around a second before, stepped back. She appeared in his focus, a mixture of fear, delight and worry on her face. She explained to him 790's diagnose in short words. “That…avowed a lot,” he commented after she had finished. He looked at her for a moment until Xev got embarrassed and dropped her gaze to the floor. Kai stepped forward carefully and left the cryopod. Already this small movement was enough to let him get dizzy, and he faltered again. Xev noticed it and supported him immediately. She helped him to sit down at the bottom of the cryopod. Kai closed his eyes for a moment, after he had felt her touch again. It was a truly strange sensation to feel another ones touch. It was in some way…comfortable to feel warmth in this cold room. Xev let finally go of him, hesitating, because she wasn't sure if it was agreeable for him to be touched. Kai noticed it and took her hand before she could draw it back completely. Xev froze when she felt his hands wrapping hers. She looked at him inquiring and wide-eyed. “Your skin…is…warm,” his fingers stroke over her back of the hand, her palm resting on his other hand. Xev closed her eyes and prayed that she won't lose self-control. To be touched in that way by Kai, let act up her hormones. Her feelings whirled around.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes again – directly in his ones! Xev thought for a moment that she would pass out, but, of course, that didn't happen.
Kai didn't miss Xev's reaction. He must have been blind not to notice how she reacted to his proximity. When he moved carefully through his chaotic sensations, he was able to feel something not unknown to him. He had experienced exactly the same a long time ago – in another life. Kai swallowed as it became clear to him, that his presence on board the Lexx, had been more than to use his free will to protect Stan and Xev. There was more…but it eluded him, as hard as he tried to find out what. He felt something…for this woman… something beyond the simple task to protect her. He examined her eyes - the bright vivid green of her eyes reminded him to the fact that she had always been the most lively person of the crew - her facial expression, bothered to hide her true feelings she had this moment. But Kai already knew them, he remembered. Regret crept into his feelings. She never had stopped loving him. Against all reason. The dead do not love. And the living? He asked himself. Xev was more than an appealing woman, one you can't cut down to her outwardness. And she caused sensations within him, he hadn't been able to feel for thousands of years. The last time he had felt them - Kai's innermost tensed when the image of his first love showed up – had been the day when he told her goodbye. He once had loved and was loved, with a force that often amazed himself. And now it was back, this intense sensation like a crackling in the air. Kai let go of her hand, it was unbelievable. At once he missed something.
Xev thought that she would lose herself in his eyes. She felt as if he was able to look into the deepest depths of her soul. His gaze bond her and she first woke up when he unclasped her hand. Xev sighed inwardly , she still could feel his touch. She had loved him from the very beginning, when she first laid eyes on him – but now, as she saw his usual impassible indifference fading, she fell hopelessly in love with him. She lifted her hand and touched his cheek, relieved when he didn't draw back. Her fingers traced his cheekbone and stroke over his lovelock .
Kai tilted his head and closed his eyes. The sensation overwhelmed him. Now he knew what she must have felt when he had touched her unintentionally…He understood. It must have been hell for Xev when he never responded to that. The dead do not feel. Kai felt sorry, poor Xev, he must mean a lot to her if she was up to endure that - it must had been like a constant attack against a growler.
“I'm sorry Xev!” he whispered. He simply had to say that. The emotion that pushed him was strong. Xev looked astonished at him, took hold of his hands again. “What for'” “For my incompetence to feel, I…hurt you a lot…” he said. “I'm beginning to…understand.”
To be disapproved had been something she had to go through her whole life, he hadn't made an exception. This hurt him, because…actually he liked her a lot. Kai lowered his head.
Xev was surprised, but she sensed what he felt like, but was he able to help it' Needless to say that he had hurt her a lot, but the fault was with those who made him what he had been for such a long time. Xev bend forward and put her hand under his chin. Slowly she lifted his head. Now or never … she wanted to tell him what she felt. She had done this often, but now there was a slim chance for a reaction…also she was afraid. “I have loved you from the first day we met, Kai. It kept me going, I never gave up hope. I never had many wishes in my life, only one…you should live again…!” Xev gulped, a tear ran down her cheek. and that you would love me as well she continued in her thoughts. “I was happy for every day you were around, woke and near me,” she finally said.
He could see the teary mist in her eyes, behind it her love, her hope and her fear too, the fear of new refusal. But he wanted to take her fear away, there was no need for that any longer. He might have been incapable for emotions for 6000 years, but this was over now. He reached out to pull her into his arms.
Xev started to tremble for a second, when she felt his arms surrounding her waist, but then she felt the rough fabric of his clothes next to her cheek and she realized that it was really true.
Xev sighed deeply, she admitted the hope that he may liked her. Maybe more. When she felt his arms around her, it sank in that she needed him badly. No one had ever embraced her like this. She felt secure and salvaged, something she had missed her whole life.
Kai felt steadied, his mind cleared up a bit more and he took a deep breath. He felt the warmth of her soft body and sensed her pleasant fragrance. It was…he hesitated…similar to what once had been.
Love. Only one simple word – but so strong feelings. He couldn't deny that he felt something for Xev. Not as the result of a sense of guilt – it was more, “Xev…” he softly whispered her name. Had it always been flown so soft from his lips' Xev broke the embrace and looked into his eyes. He smiled slightly, it was the first true smile she saw on his face. She smiled back, examining his beautiful face, his eyes, the smooth structure of his skin, his lips…she didn't want to wait any longer, so she took her chance…
She bend forward and pulled him closer, then her lips touched his and he got the first kiss in his new life. Xev closed her eyes when he returned the kiss. Completely soft. Inwardly she screamed for desire. Her libido kicked in and she had to reprehended herself sharply. She didn't want to lose control, although it was difficult for her. The kiss seemed to last an eternity and after a short break, their lips came together once again. Both of them curious to repeat this overwhelming experience. Unfortunately the moment didn't last any longer. They were interrupted truly unromantic.
790's voice let them wince: “Let go of my woman, you once dead bastard!” He just wanted to pause his diagnose mode for a moment to look for Xev, and this is what he discovered. 790 wasn't amused. When Kai and Xev part startled, Stan also came in. He had to grin when he spot the situation. “Does he interrupt you with something'” he asked. “Hrmpf,” she growled and stood up, Kai remained on the bottom, he was to groggy to stand. 790 snarled: “Does he hurt you, my darling'” “No, 790, far from it…!” she smiled dreamily down to Kai, who shyly looked aside. Stan shook his head and changed the subject: “I found only a few tools we can use…not very much.” He laid it down in front of 790. He looked from Xev to Kai and back again. “What'” she asked, when she noticed his gaze. “Oh, ah, nothing…!” “Never saw anyone kissing'” she asked enervated. “Ahh, yesss,” he extended. “Kai for example.” Xev rolled her eyes, Kai only knitted his brows. After a moment of awkward silence, Xev picked up Stans commentary about the tools. “We have to do the surgery here'” she asked. “Yes, I can't guess any better place.” Stan answered. “Ok. Kai'” she lowered herself down to him. He looked inquiring at her. With anxiety in her face, she asked: “Are you ready for a surgery if the time is near?” “I do not have any choice, do I' The implants have to be removed. Most of my has failed when I left cryostasis,” he explained. “Like on fire'” “No, it's different. I'm not out of…alignment if you mean that. But I'm not able to communicate with 90% of my mechanical devices. It seemed that they were shut down when they came in contact with my infected protoblood. The few information I still can receive, tells me that a complete system failure isn't far. We do not have much time. I do also feel pain where my implants are located. 790's assumption is right, it seems that my body wants to get rid off this mechanical devices.” Xev understood, Kai's situation wasn't very comfortable, she could imagine that. “We will drug you, you won't feel any pain…” Kai nodded slowly. He felt far more pain he admitted so far. He was still able to control himself, but only because of the few biomechanical systems which were still in alignment. Still. How he had said, time was running down. His main system control was designed to function under major damage as well – but everything has a limit. He was never designed to life! Troubled he heaved himself up. Xev was at his side at once and supported him. With a sigh he leaned back into his cryopod. “I assume that it we still have some time until you can start the …surgery. I suggest that you lay down to relax. 790 can observe and call you if something is wrong,” he proposed. Xev hesitated, she wouldn't leave him alone. “Go,” he smiled, but it acted a bit agonized. She gave in. “790, check on him and call me immediately if anything changes, yes'” “Yes my luscious dish, I'll keep my eyes peeled!” 790 tried to look threatening, but he really couldn't convince anyone with it. “Ok, I lay down,” Xev kissed Kai once again before she left. Stan wanted to follow her. “Stanley'” Kai held Stan back. “Mh'” “Thank you!” “What for'” Stan asked surprised. “For supporting Xev. For being there for her, when I couldn't be around!” Stan dropped his gaze shyly to the floor. He never expected that someone would thank him for anything. “Yeah, you know…family…we're like a family, don't you think' And it's normal to care about each other, isn't it'” Kai nodded. A strange kind of family maybe, but they only had each other and the ship. “Promise me, if something…will go wrong…keep an eye on her!” His question wasn't causeless. He wasn't sure if everything would go smooth, like Xev imagined, so what choice does he have' Like Stan had said, they were a family. “Kai' Something wrong'” Stan thought he misheard. Kai sighed. There was a lot not alright. “Just promise me, Stan!” Stan still looked skeptic. He knew that the surgery was a big risk, but that Kai bargained for the worst… But after a moment he agreed and nod. “I promise, but no guarantee that Xev is happy about that. You know her…!” “I do,” Kai smiled. “But it…but I feel better if I know that you're there for her.” Stan smiled back: “Okay, I think…I'm going to eat something now, I'm not sure that I will get a chance for that later…or that I'm able to eat right after…” Stan walked to the exit, turned around a last time and said: “We will succeed, don't worry…!” Then he vanished into the dark corridor.
Kai was alone. 790 had shut himself down into diagnose mode, he wasn't in the mood to talk to any competition at Xev's love. He looked at the holoimage. More and more parts were colored in orange. His pain was equally rising with the process. It was strange to feel pain again. His body was fighting more and more against those foreign matters, foreign matters which had kept him going for 6000 years.
Suddenly, memories peeked through his mind, more sharp and more clear than anything before. Memories full of pain, fear and death. He experienced again the final battle against His Shadow.
He saw his home world perish in fire, again he heard the outcry of millions of BrunnenG, dying in the twinkling of an eye. All of them died, except for him. He had been the last of them to die. There, on the bridge of the Foreshadow he laid. Paralyzed with pain, he could express his hatred and rage with few words and gazes only – before he was killed by His Divine Shadow. Kai groaned, as he remembered the moment when the cold metal of His Shadows knife penetrated his body. The next moment everything exploded in pain – then, darkness surrounded him. In the past he had died, here and now, Kai lost his consciousness. The changing process of his body doubled its speed, time was really running down now. 790 registered it only seconds later. He started to scream. “Xevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv, the former dead assassin is waiting for the surgery!”



Chapter 4

Changes

Xev just has slept for half an hour, when she heard 790 screaming. Without hesitation she raced back to the cryochamber. Stan joined her a second later. Xev realized Kai's collapsed body, and his unconsciousness. Xev took a deep breath. It was time. “790' Please narcotize him!” “Why' He is sleeping!” he objected. “790. You know exactly that the is unconscious, and if I start to remove his equipment he will wake up because of the pain!” ”Not so bad at all…” growled the robot head, but he activated the anaesthetic gas. “What should I do'” asked Stan. “Could you arrange our tools'” Xev shivered when she thought about those few useful tools for the surgery. “…and Stan…'” “Yes'” he turned around. “ Thanks for helping!” she smiled sweetly. “Have heard the same not long ago…” he muttered and smiled back. “You're welcome!” He started to arrange the tools on the cryopod control unit.
Xev checked on Kai, if he really was narcotized and began to take off his clothes. “Wait, I'll help you!” Stan hurried at her side, when he saw how she struggled with holding him and removing his jacket at the same time. He held him, whilst Xev opened the zipper on the back. “Thanks Stan, that's how it works!” She removed the jacket and Stan laid him back. Xev put the jacket aside, it was a heavy fabric; she remembered the last time she took it off, when Kai went out of alignment. It had been the first time she had seen Kai without clothes. His muscular and strong body fascinated her, although the mechanical devices disfigured parts of his otherwise handsome body. They really had scared her a bit. She once again was very attracted to him and suppressed the urge to touch him. Xev concentrated on her work.
First of all she looked closer to his protoblood supply. The pump was inserted where his heart once had been. From there, she had to remove all of its connections to the other implants in his body. Most of them were on his left side, the function of them were unknown to her. She detected, that his skin turned to a more natural color than the pale and grayish color it had before. Also, it showed damage where the implants were embedded. Xev touched the savvy skin, it started to bleed immediately, a weird combination of orange protoblood and red human blood. The time has come. Xev looked into the face of the unconscious BrunnenG and gave him a quick kiss: “I'll start now, fingers-crossed that we'll do it!” she whispered. “Stan, knife, gripper,” she ordered. Stanley looked over his careful arranged tools and picked out what she demanded for. Then Xev started, under 790's guidance of course, making her way all through his many implants.
Hour by hour went by. The protein-regenerator was at full speed. More and more electrodes were connected with Kais body. Xev worked obsessively to free him of this , how Stan named it. She reached his legs. When she removed his pants to get access to his most delicate part, she was surprised. When she had removed the rods from his control unit on fire, she had been sure that the bioscholars had removed a certain highly important part of him. But she was at fault. Fortunately they hadn't removed anything irreplaceable. To be serious, who wanted to have an assassin with a high pitched voice. She assumed that Kai wasn't sure about that fact as well. How should he know about certain parts of his body? The dead do not undress and look at themselves in the mirror.
At last she removed the complete weapon system from his right arm. The deadly weapon lost its horror when she held it useless in her hand. Xev shivered when she thought about all those people killed with it. She didn't know how many he had killed with it, but it must had been some hundred thousand. 2000 year had been a long time, even for an assassin. Xev sighed and put the weapon away. She looked into Kais face. It was keen, but he slept deeply and firmly. She remembered the implant in his head, attached to his brain. She knew that she couldn't remove it, the risk of a lasting damage was too high. To repair an injured brain they needed more than a protein regenerator. So she let it where it was. It might could be a weakpoint, because of the programming, but it needed someone like Brizon to endanger him, because he had known who he was. Xev attached the last electrodes on Kais arm, then she was finished. “That's it!” she sighed heavily. Stan put the tools together to clean them later. He had observed the holoimage during the surgery and assisted Xev. A huge part of Kais body gleamed orange now, where the infected protoblood had already activated the regeneration of his body. There was sufficient protein now to heal all injuries with the protein-regenerator. The remaining protoblood would continue the process of transmutation. There couldn't be done else but waiting. Waiting until every injury healed. Xev nod, she made a good job of it. She caressed his body lovingly with her eyes. It hurt her to see him injured like that. The open wounds still bled, he looked as if someone had tried to slaughter him. It was senseless to wipe the blood away, so she gave in. Of course, it was a reason to touch his wonderful body, but she knew what effect it has on her. She wondered if Kai knew, how he came across as, especially to women. Maybe he had, before he died.

“I'll take a shower Stan, I'm really beaten…” she said. “Yes, we must have been hours in here!” Stanley moaned. “Six hours, forty-two minutes and thirty-six seconds,” commented 790. “Should I watch him'” he asked niggling. “Yes, would be kind of you 790!” Xev smiled and pat him. “But only because of you!” growled the robot head. “Thanks. See you later Stan!” “See…” he yawned “…you later, I'll go to bed.” They both left the cryochamber.

Xev dropped her clothes to the floor and went under the strange trunk, which spread clear, warm water over her, after she had activated the shower. Now she realized how exhausting the last hours had been. But she pushed it aside when she thought of the minutes together with Kai. She smiled and her thoughts whirl as she remembered. Kai was alive – and he felt! And he seemed to like her. She couldn't believe it. Her heart beat twice as fast when she remembered the kiss he had returned so passionately to her in the end. Kai felt – and he would be alive again – truly alive! She couldn't repeat it often enough. Would they use the opportunity to get together' Would he use the chance to live his life now – this life which had once been stolen so cruel' Could he love again' Xev deeply hoped for that. Life and love was something she had been designed for. And nobody else was able to match her better than Kai. His people once had been full of love and life – otherwise no one would have calledçîâ, ïðèçûâ them a race of romantic warriors. And she knew that Kai truly had been one of them – before he… Xev froze. It wasn't everything he had been. He still had another past. A violent and murderous past. He may haven't had any conscience and conscious for 2000 years, when he had killed countless people, but now he felt again, his soul returned to him – what would that mean for him now' Will he drown in a sense of guilt' How will he think about his past' Will he able to recognize that he only had been an instrument of His Shadow, with no will of his own' Xev couldn't hardly imagine what for a burden he had to carry now. More fear crept into her heart. No, there wasn't only love waiting for him…he had to cope with far more than any other human being in this universe. Was he ready for that' Was she able to support him' Xev started to cry. It would be the best for him not to remember. But she knew that he would … someday. She had killed herself. On the med station, when she transformed herself into a clusterlizard. But she wasn't a cold blooded killer, she only defend herself and wanted to save Kai. But when she remembered, she felt guilty sometimes. So she had a glimpse idea how he would feel about – with the difference of murdering a lot more people! Xev deactivated the shower and took a towel. she thought, whilst drying her beautiful body. Of course, she didn't know how.
Who can say…only time. And fear now went with it. Xev finished with a sigh and left the shower.

Except for 790, everyone was sleeping now on board the Lexx, at least for a while. The protein-regenerator was working all the time, observed by the robot head. Kais regeneration proceeded, but there were surely a few days to go until he would wake. 790 smit time with a new poem for Xev.
Time went by and his worshipped darling woke up late the next day. Fully relaxed she joined Stan in the galley. He had eaten recently and was on his way to the bridge. “I think, I will check on Lexx, he needs some attention again!” he fancied and held out a plate with goo. “Alright, I'll go later to check after Kai.” Stan nod and left the galley, Xev ate her goo hungrily.
790 was happy when Xev showed up and greeted her enthusiastic with a new love poem. Xev sighed: “Thank you 790. How does it go'” “Och, always him, what about me' Doesn't I deserve a kiss and a praise after all'” 790 was disappointed. Xev smiled: “Of course, thanks for your help!” She gave him a smack onto his left eye. “Ohhhhhh…” 790 sighed and two pulsing hearts appeared in his small eye screens. “My love pumpkin!” He remembered her question and answered: “It will take time. The electrodes will loose, if the part is completely healed. They will appear green on the holoimage.” Xev determined no such case. She looked over to Kai and sighed, patience has never been one of her strongest talents. She closed the distance between them and stroke softly over his face. He acted more fraught than before. “He is still narcotized'” she asked worried. “Yes,” confirmed 790. Xev nod relieved. She didn't want to leave him in pain. She kissed him softly. “Get well soon, Kai … we need you…” and I need you badly she added in her thoughts.
Slowly she turned around and collected the tools she had used. She started to clean them, as well as his biomechanical devices, she had removed. A few of them had been destroyed whilst removing, but maybe they have any use for them in the future. Kai won't need them any longer, but maybe they could be used as spare part for the protein regenerator. Kais weapon was the last she cleaned. “Ouch,” she murmured, she cut herself with the sharp blade. With a closer look she examined the deadly object. She never had seen it that close, and over her fascination she forgot the sharp blade. After a moment staring at its weird material, she put it away, not together with all the other things, no, she put it in her belt. Then, Xev picked up Kais heap of clothes and decided to get them washed. Not a fault after 6000 years! She knew it was self-cleaning, but as a signal it would be fine. She wanted to wash away his past, clean it. If that would work on Kai as easy like that! Xev left the chamber after a last long look at his naked body.



Chapter 5

Doubts

Time went by very slow. One day followed the other, then a week was over, finally three. Xev had folded his stuff and laid it on her bed after drying. When she wasn't visiting Kai in the cryochamber, she stared at his clothes. She sighed, waiting could be cruel. Besides her worries, of course. It already took far too long.
After nearly 25 days, the final electrode loosed and 790's diagnose program shut down. Regeneration was complete. 790 screamed for Xev: “Xev, my darling…the dead is ready to rise from the dead!” By pure chance she was on the way to step by. “Already here, 790, is he wake'” The robot head sighed inwardly. His delicious Xev was ever the opinion that a finalized process was immediately followed with a reaction. “No, sweetheart, his sleep would last for a moment longer. Until the effect of the anaesthetic gas will vanish.” Xev was disappointed. “How is it'” asked a voice from behind. It was Stan, he had heard 790's bellow, too. “I think it's okay, he's still sleeping,” she replied with a gaze at the full green holoimage. She shoved the protein-regenerator away and freed Kai of the remaining wires. After the length of the procedure his body acted emaciated a lot. But how should he regain his strength without eating' Everything he got, were some nutrients, after his metabolism started to work. When she touched his skin, she discovered that he felt really hot. “Why is he so warm'” Xev asked. “His circulation still isn't working very well, it's not stable, my princess, he has fever. It could take some time to go down. His immune system has to get used to its normal functions.” “Oh, that's good.” “And now'” Stan wanted to know. Xev shrugged: “Waiting' Until he wakes up'” Stan grunted: “I would prefer to wake up in a bed, it's less cold there!” “Good idea, but where'” Kai never was in need of a bed. “What about your bed' It's big enough,” he suggested. “And don't tell me you're uncomfortable with that idea! You'd like it, to see him in your bed, won't you'” Xev shook her head: “I'm not uncomfortable with that. But I'm not sure if this is the brightest idea, maybe he wants to be alone at first. Hm, I could stay on the bridge for a while…” “There's some space in my bed, too…” Stan grinned. Xev knitted her brows: “Forget it – Stanley H. Tweedle!” “Knew it…!” he growled. “Very well, Xev…don't let this arrogant proteinbag seduce you!” tampered 790. “Arrogant'” Stan asked annoyed and turned around. “Who is arrogant' You self-important tin head!”
“Stop it! Stan, please help me to carry him over!” Xev pulled Kais body towards her, whilst Stan grabbed Kais legs. “Ok, he may not be decarbonized any longer, but he's not a lightweight one…” Stan groaned. “That's the difference, Tweedle, he has more muscles on his left arm than you have in your whole body!” sputtered 790. “You're containing a lot more fat…” “Oh, shut up, robot head!”
It took them a few minutes until they reached Xevs chamber. They laid Kai down onto her bed. Xev placed some blankets over his body. She was happy, that she learned sewing during her wife training on the cluster, so she had been able to sew a few of her silky pieces of cloth together. “Alright, that's it for now. We have to wait…” Xev announced. Stan agreed. “Lexx hasn't discovered anything so far. Really empty edge of the universe. I suggested to change the course, maybe we'll get somewhere with it. I'll go back to the bridge.” “Me as well, I can't do anything here right now,” Xev followed Stanley.

Darkness. Silence.
There was a calm, peaceful sensation he felt, when he slid over from unconsciousness to dreamless sleep. But not for long. Dreams weren't always dreamless… His subconscious mind started to work again, after a 6000 year lasting sleep. It only took one moment – then it was free…
Kais memories broke through – chaotic, disordered – freed from all bonds which had held them back for such a long time. During his undead state he had been able to look at them like an outsider. He wasn't able to feel or express them. Only access them for information, for explanation…
That had been, and now something changed…
He dreamt again. He dreamt about this moment he faced His Shadows invasion. Feelings ran through him, he seemed to relive the moment he had crashed onto the cold floor of the Foreshadow's bridge. Unspeakable wrath about this act of aggression, hate, deepest sadness about the end of his friends taking part in the battle, about the end of his people, those who he had loved. He had known. Untold anger about his own failure to destroy His Shadow, to fulfill the prophecy.
Kai tried to escape his dream, he didn't want to remember this moment of his destiny. The memories faded and silence came back for a moment.
The he heard someone breath. Gasping. He could sense fear. But it wasn't his own, he determined astonished.
Single beam spots were moving by.
Bulbs in a dark street.
Buildings on the left and the right.
He was walking down this street.
In front of him appeared the end of the street – a dead-end!
A figure crouched anxiously in a dark corner. He heard it sobbing, panting.
“Please…please…I have a woman and children, I haven't done something wrong…please!” The figure sank on his knees, the light of a lantern touched his face as he bend forward. He was terribly frightened, wept and lifted his hands.
Kai was curious: why was this man so frightened?
“Sirius Bold - You were accused to support and put Ostrol B heretics up. You have been found guilty for this crime. I'll kill you now in the name of His Devine Shadow!” he heard someone say, it was a familiar voice – his own.
Something clicked and a well-known was hearable. Only a second later his opponent was headless.
Kai was shocked.
That wasn't possible. Was it him who had killed this man'
It hit him like thunderstruck – then suddenly, out from this shock, a flood of unpleasant memories washed over him, and he understood.
Murder after murder happened in front of his eyes. Always different victims, but too often the same reasons. The more he saw, the worst it went. “Stop it!” he whispered in his sleep. But they didn't. To long had been the time they were held back. Once freed, the memories showed him over and over again everything he had done in those 2000 years in the service of His Divine Shadow. Unspeakable cruelness.
He knew about it. But the dead don't have felts, don't have even a conscience. But now he had.
Guilt. Remorseless guilt hit him every moment.
Deepest regret, horror about what he had done. What he had become.
His Shadow and his successors ordered assassination mission after assassination mission. All of them accomplished by him, without challenge – so mechanically.
Kai sank deeper and deeper into his horrible memories, they hunted him…like a nightmare.
Kai wasn't able to elude of them. He was stuck in a merciless maelstrom and it drag him under.
Would this nightmare never end'
Finally it was his physical part, who redeemed him.
With a agonized scream he woke up.
Kai propped himself up hastily, he was completely disorientated. His whole body was covered with cold sweat and he breathed fiercely. Kai supported himself when he got dizzy. He felt the soft bed and some blankets under his palm and tried to concentrate to his environment.
He was on board the Lexx – in Xevs bedchamber. How did he get there'
He groaned. First he woke up in the cryochamber, with heavy changes.
Kai furrowed his brow’s as he remembered. Hesitantly he stripped the blanket off his body. It was damp with sweat. Slowly and with bated breath he put his hand over the place where thousands of years ago his heart had beat – and he nearly toppled down…when he felt it beat again under his palm. A soft rhythmic beat. Kai gasped and looked down. There were no implants – no artificial devices left, which had replaced parts of his body for so long. Blood rushed through his veins – as he concentrate, he could hear it rustle in his ear.
He stretched out his right arm – the weapon was no longer there – apart from his own thoughts and memories, nothing remembered about his existence as divine assassin. He was alive!
Kai sighed and fell back. It was a strange sensation to be alive. To feel his body, to feel other things. But as alive as his body felt – as numb felt his mind. Kai closed his eyes and the images came back. He winced. Fear and death, violence, murder, the screams of men, women and children specified his memories. It was horrible. He buried his face in his hands and groaned. He wasn't able to describe exactly what he felt, everything was like a huge wave, which threaten to slew him. He felt desperate, when he remembered. After he got his memories back from one of His Shadows predecessors and was set free of His Shadows control, he had gone on to take lives. Nearly Stan, the five teenagers – and once again nearly Stan and Xev. The reason, being programmed wrong, wasn't comforting him.
“Stop it, please…!” he begged.
Kai stared wide-eyed at the ceiling.
Tears starting to obscure his gaze.
Deep down from his innermost a sob made its way up and he started to cry. How many lives had he extinguished' He couldn't count them. They were to much. So many…
The memories of His Shadow and the predecessor he had absorbed, showed him the lives, the evil emperor had takençàâîåâûâàòü , but it was like sarcasm that he beat him far with that. He banned those alien memories into the darkest corner of his mind. He didn’t want reminded to those two evil dominators…
Kai wasn't able to stop his tears. He wanted to scream – but he couldn't – no sound escaped his lips.
He started to ask himself the reason of being alive again. He of all his people – he, who had killed thousands.
It seemed not balanced to him. He couldn't understand. To be alive was nothing he ever expected – and, in fact, didn't want. If the dead might could wish – it always had been his wish to die properly . He had been caught in a world between death and life. No possibility to join his people in the DreamZone. To a place where his soul could rest in peace. Now it was life what returned to him – not death. He already asked himself, if it was an ironic kind of punishment what awaited him after all he had done. Kai felt cornered like an animal – ironically most of his victims must have felt the same before he had killed them. His desperation grew. “Why'” he sobbed. “Why'” His body started to shiver and the emotional pain exhausted him more and more. Anytime he stopped crying – he was beat – there were no tears left to cry. Kai stared darkly at the wall. How precious was his life' He wasn't able to find an answer. Kai knew that he could end it, faster than the blink of an eye, after all he knew every imaginable possibility to do suicide. But he hesitated, he needed answers first. If he was able to find any possibility to clear up the chaos in his mind. Kai sat up and looked around.
Xev wasn't near, only his carefully folded clothes were lying on the bed. Kai swallowed hard when he looked at his almost black uniform.
This once so colorful clothes of a newborn BrunnenG – now faded and gone . Black like death.
He struggled out of bed and touched the fabric. It was the only thing left over from Brunnis 2, besides him. Kai closed his eyes.
Last of the BrunnenG.
Kai sighed deeply, there were no better words to describe his loneliness. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his thoughts. With a quick gesture he wiped his tears away. He felt miserable and his skin was unnatural warm.
Fever. he thought.
He considered to take a shower. He wasn't dirty – but he felt like. Troubled he got up, ignored his clothes, instead he grabbed one of Xevs blankets and head for the shower.

Kai met nobody on his way to the shower. But this was alright for him. He didn't felt for doing conversations at the moment, nor with Xev. When he reached the shower he let his blanket slid down to the floor. He looked at the shower cell, surrounded with its pink membranes. He had killed Laleen here. Kai gulped and fought the memory. He groaned silently, no – if he didn't find a possibility to stop this horror, then … yes, what then…' He might go insane or something else. His thoughts went back to this one single question: Why alive' When he was dead, he was at least able to protect Stan's and Xev's lives efficiently. A mortal, vulnerable human body wasn't designed for that. He knew, he would rather walk in the line of fire, than admit their death, but he only could do that once. There wouldn't be someone in the future to help them. He shook his head. So why?
He reached to the top of his bun and loosed his hair for the first time after 6000 years. Slowly he put out the pins that held his hair in its place. The shining black hair fell down, and after he had disentangled his braid, it reached far down below the middle of his back. Xev had hang up a mirror on the wall some time ago, and he lifted his head to look into it.
He really hadn't changed. Still pale from sun-avoided life. His pitch-black hair underlined his paleness additionally. A tired, red-eyed face looked back at him. He touched the tattoo at his right cheek and thought of his ancestors, who had fought so heroic and bravely against the insect civilization, who had risked the long dangerous journey through the fractal core into the LightZone. Every BrunnenG was reminded to this adventure with the burgundy tattoo, given to them when they reached the adult state, around the natural age of 20. It should also remind them about what they once were, about their heroic past – but the BrunnenG forgot.
Quenched by the aggression of other humans, when they turned once again against each other, after their common enemy was destroyed, they hid under their shield, their sphere of silence - and forgot. Over time they shrank, they got small. Until all of his people had gone decadent, hard-bitten, dull and old. Eternal life they had reached – they had broken a limit, once called unbreakable. But what had they learned' What had they done with all this knowledge' Kai sighed. For the newborns it had been hell. A society deprived of all liveliness, curiosity, innovation. Everything a young person needed to live. So it was no wonder, that they had been the only ones who wanted to fight, who didn't want to see the BrunnenG defeated without a struggle. They knew that it was their end, but they wanted to die fighting and died well. Kai had the hope to fulfill at least the prophecy, that His Shadow would die with them, but he couldn't know that 2000 years had to pass by, before that day would come. To a point in time when his people had been long dead and an almost forgotten legend – and he had become a more dark legend.
Kai asked himself frustrated, if he was worth it, to call himself a BrunnenG. The BrunnenG warriors once had been proud, honorable fighters, legends, he and his friends followed suit.
They finally became legends of their own – told in tales throughout the LightZone as long as it existed. But Kai now felt more as a murder, and he was far from being proud about his inglorious past as assassin. He stroke with his fists frustrated against the wall next to the mirror and dropped his head. A murder, nothing more. That's what he was.
Kai turned, incapable to look himself into the eyes any longer. He activated the shower and stepped under the warm tempered water. He asked himself if the Lexx contained enough water to wash away all the blood he was stained with. Kai stood motionless for minutes under the flowing water, his fingers baled to fists. New tears mingled with water and flew down together. Then, every strength left him and he sank down to the bottom. He put his arms around his legs and lowered his forehead onto his knees. He couldn't cope with this new rush of guilt and sadness.

Xev spend some hours on the bridge, talked a lot to Stan and 790. Mostly about her concern towards Kai. The situation was all new for them. Stan tired sometime and said goodbye soon. Xev put 790 onto the command unit platform. “I'll go to check on Kai, maybe he's wake,” she announced and pat 790. “Ohhh, noooo, stay here with me!” “I'm sorry 790, but you know that he isn't that healthy.” “Me too, me too…” pouted the robot head. “Oh 790, come on, you're ok…” She gave him a kiss and left.
The first thing she saw, when she returned to her bedchamber, was her empty bed. Xev looked astonished at her rumpled pillows and blankets. She really hadn't expected that he woke up so early. She called: “Kai' Where are you'” No answer. She tilted her head and listened carefully. She thought to hear water rush. Had he gone for a shower' Maybe. She followed her intuition and walked to he corridor towards the shower.
She was right. She heard the water rush more clearly now and found one of her blankets in front of the shower cell. “Kai'” she asked discreetly. She didn't want to disturb him, if not necessary. But when she didn't receive any answer, she peeked around the membranes.
She discovered him sitting on the floor under the flowing water stream. He had put his head onto his knees, and his hair hang all around him like a dark curtain. It covered his body everywhere at middle-back length.
It was the first time she saw his hair down and free. She had imagined this thousand times and more – but her fantasy was nothing compared with reality.
“Kai'” she asked once again and deactivated the shower, as she still didn't get any reaction. Xev knelt down in front of him, her eyes examining his nudity. She could sense his tensed demeanor. She stretched out her arm and touched his left shoulder with her fingertips. Hesitantly and slowly he finally lifted his head, eased his grip around his legs a bit.
Xev was shaken to the core when she looked into his face.
Never in her life she had seen such a sad and broken-hearted expression on somebody’s face.
In his hazel eyes she detected endlessly sadness. He looked terribly lost. He must have cried a lot. It nearly broke Xev's heart. “What's with you'” she asked in a hushed tone. Kai dropped his gaze to the floor and shook his head slightly. “What happened' Do you want to talk'” Kai raised his eyes again, started to shiver lightly. Xev noticed it and stood up to fetch the blanket from outside. She placed it around his shoulders. He watched her dumbly, didn't move an inch. Xev touched his forehead carefully. He still had high fever. The trembling didn't stop. “Should we go somewhere else'” she asked softly. Again he shook his head. His body felt numb and weak. Apathy overwhelmed him.
What's expedient' What should he do' Talking' Maybe.
Silent tears ran down his cheeks.
“They beg.” A pause.
“They scream.”
Another pause.
“Hundreds of them, thousands … then I kill them. Without mercy. Without compassion. Remorseless,“ he finally said with a teary voice.
Xev bit her lip. There it was, the time she feared most. His past had caught him up. “I'm a murder, Xev, a monster…” he shook his head in despair. “What have I done'” Xev tried to comfort him. “You aren't responsible for it, Kai, His Shadow controlled you, he used you, abused you. You can't blame yourself for that, please!”
But once again he shook his head. “I have a lotó÷àñòü, äîëÿ, ñóäüáà to answer for, so many people…I have killed countless people, Xev. I don't deserve to live, everything must be a fault…” his voice faded.
“The day I had died first, should have been my end!” Kai raised his gaze to the ceiling. Xev had listened silently to his self-reproach. How she longed to carry his burden! To damp down his sense of guilt. It must made his life a misery, otherwise he wouldn't talk like that. Declaring his new life a fault. Xev wasn't his opinion. His life had once been stolen away from him by murder, and it was only a fair compensation that he retrieved it now. But it was also clear to her, that it wasn't easy to deal with all those memories from his past.
It hurt her to see him in this desperate situation, to see him dropping his gaze when she tried to look into his hazel eyes, as if he feared she could see all those things his memories showed him, too. Kai sat in front of her like a picture of misery, unable to free himself out of this cycle. “Come to me,” she whispered softly and put her arms around his shoulders, tried to pull him closer. For a moment she felt resistance, then he gave in. He let go of his legs, he had clutched the whole time and Xev could pull him close to her. She sat down and Kai leaned on her shoulder. Xev covered his still trembling body with the blanket. So, she simply held him for a while, tried to give him some badly needed comfort. “You never have been and you never are a murder, Kai,” she began calmly, “A murder kills people because he has fun with it, or to take advantage of something, or maybe because he wants to hide another crime…”
“Or if he was ordered to do so…” he whispered scarcely audible and closed his eyes. Xev sighedâçäîõ inwardly. “Maybe, but a living being always has a choice. A dead one without memories and will doesn't! That's the difference, Kai. Don't blame yourself. His Shadow controlled you, used you like a weapon. You can't blame a weapon for being fired off. It's always the one who controlled this weapon responsible for murder. His Shadow is responsible for the death of this people, not you! You only have been the weapon – he controlled you!”
She paused and stroke softly over his wet hair. It was unbelievable long and tender. Another inward sigh. This man was the far most attractive person she ever met. She hoped, she had put enough persuasion into her voice to reachâíóøàòü, óáåæäàòü him. She gave him some time.
No, destiny hadn't been fair to him. Should it continue forever like that'
“If someone deserves to be alive – then it must be you!” she whispered, her eyes filled with tears as she continued: “He took everything, Kai, your home, your family, your friends, your whole people…” she fought back her tears and squeezed his slim body closer to her. “…your life, your personality, your soul, the memories and your will,” Xev's voice was barely hearable in the end.
Kai's gaze was directed numbly at the wall. He heard her words through a thick fog of guilt, sadness and shame. He could sense Xev's own sadnessãðóñòü, ïå÷àëü – she suffered with him, cared about him. When does someone care about him for the last time? he asked himself. It had been an eternity away. It had been another life – a life he barely remembered. But he knew that Xev had always cared about him, even so he was dead. She had returned to the cluster to fill up his vanishing amount of protoblood – to preserve his existence. She had… a new wave of sadness swept over him … sacrificed her own life for him. Could his life – his existence – be more worth than he thought? Could a individual, guilty for countless crimes, granted forgiveness, love again – and be loved? Kai closed his eyes. Could he start anew, live a new life, freed from His Shadows control, freed of this mockery of life he had been before? Maybe. But would he ever be free of his murderous past? He didn't believe in that. He couldn't. It pressed down on him, on his conscience. But one never know – maybe only time could show.
“Come with me, I'll take you back to my chamber, it's warmer there.” Kai lifted his head when he heard her words. Her eyes were wet of tears, but they shone full of love and sorrow for him. He felt his inwards, his soul, touched with it. A wonderful, new sensation of comfort filled him. He felt his own tears on his cheeks when he sensed this feelings. Feelings so deep and intensely he never had felt before. Neither in all this memories he carried, nor in his own. “Xev,…”he erected himself, supported his weight with his hand.
His facial expression hadn't changed visible, but in his hazel eyes she could see a slight glint of hope. “Help me, please, … don't leave me alone…!” his voice broke down again, his gaze dropped to the floor. Xev pulled him into her arms tightly. “I'm always there for you, Kai, I promise, I 've always been.” Softly she put her hand under his chin and lifted his head. “I love you more I can say, Kai. I always waited for that day to happen, the day you would be alive again – and I won't give up now! I want a future for you – a future without a torment past.” Kai felt new tears well up inside him. Her words touched him so much. With what he deserved so much love and sympathy, that Xev felt for him' The guilt welled up again: “I…nearly killed…you” he thought, as he remembered the day he had accidentally been woken up wrong. Went on a deadly rampage, run amok, only stopped in time, because he ran out of protoblood. He groaned and buried his face in his hands. “Shhh….nothing happened Kai, we're both still alive,” she calmed him softly. Kai noticed startled, that he had said those words aloud. He felt his hands pulled away from his face and he looked up. Xev touched his cheek fondly and wiped his tears away. “I'll always be there for you, neither me, nor Stan, will ever blame you for something, we both know that this wasn't your fault.” Kai nod hesitantly. „I…I feel so much guilt and shame. I'm not sure if I will ever get over it, Xev!” he swallowed and his voice trembled. “You're not alone!” She kissed his forehead. “We ought to go, or you'll get ill!” She stood up and pulled him with her at the same time. Kai felt weak and uncertain afoot. He had to prop on Xev, even if his pride didn't want to admit it.

Xev adjusted the rumpled bed, whilst Kai was sitting on the edge, holding his black pants undetermined. “Should I help you'” asked Xev and sat down next to him. He shook his head. “The memories…” he pointed out with agonized gaze. Xev drew off the pants from his hands and put them aside. She freed him of his wet blanket and started to dry his body.
Xev sharply controlled herself, not easy for her, too fierce was the will to jump onto him right here and now. When she let the towel slid slowly over his back and chest, she felt his strong , wiril body under her palm. It was really heavy to elude her feelings.
Kai let pass this procedure unresisting – nearly impassive. But he didn't miss her inward fight. Her body spoke a clear language. He sensed her increased heat, her slightly flushed cheeks. He knew very well how he affected her …
But she did the same to him…...if he have nît been so weak and exhausted… It surprised himself a bit where his thoughts were going to. But Xev was an adorable person . With her body and with her soul. He felt a lot for herå . She kept him grounded. he thought, it was such a long time ago…
“Try to sleep for a while, Kai, you need some rest. Your fever is still high!” Kai nod absently, he wasn't able to concentrate properly. He climbed onto the bed and lay down. Xev put a pillow under his head and covered his naked body with some blankets. She couldn't resist to touch him. He felt so good. So warm – so alive! How she longed to feel his naked body next to hers…Her libido screamed of lust. It was getting more and more hard for her to push her erotic thoughts back, to control her accelerated libido. Her whole body radiated of heat. She clenched her teeth and hoped that Kai didn't determine to much of it. “Sleep,” she whispered. “If you want…I can stay…here…with you.” She hoped that she hadn't gone too far with this offer, but she wanted to stay with him now, and Xev was relieved when he agreed.
He wasn't sure if he was able to sleep. His whole body felt numb, his head burnt of fever and the memories, he tried to get under control. He felt Xev lay down next to him and the touch of her hand, her fingers wrapping his. “Thank you…” he whispered. The sensation not to be alone any longer, filled him with peace and gratitude. He felt himself slide over into a calm sleep, untroubled by memories. Xev smiled lovingly and closed her eyes, too.



Chapter 6

To love and be loved

She must have slept some hours, Xev thought, when she woke up. Kai was still sleeping next to her. He had let go of her hand anytime and placed it under his head, his other hand rested on his belly. Xev smiled and observed his shape lovingly. It was still strange for her, to have him here in bed. He acted so innocent and vulnerable in his sleep. Xev turned onto her belly, put her arms under her chin and watched him steadily, listened to his deep, constant breath. He would need a lot of time and benefit, to accept his past, that was now clear to her. Only time could heal the worst. She wanted to give him all time he needed, no question, the only thing that counted now, was that he didn't break under this burden. She had waited such a long time – what meant time to her now' Xev sighed soundlessly. Her accelerated libido had an opinion of its own, she knew that, but what could she do' In moments like this, she cursed her transformation.
Her gaze wandered over the attractive BrunnenG. His beautiful, thick, long dark hair surrounded his head in a snarl. Xev reached out for one of his streaks and let it glide through her fingers. Kai murmured something in his sleep and moved a bit. His blanket slid down a bit and gave her gaze free access to his strong right thigh. Her unbelievable strong longing for him came back at once. Her reaction frightened herself a bit, she couldn't explain those strong feelings towards him. That wasn't only physical attraction. She felt so close to him like to no one else. Not that she met many people, especially men, in her life…but something between her and Kai was different. Even when he was dead, he had been the only one she could talk to in a reasonable way .
After he got his life back now, this invisible bond deepened. She could feel his pain, his brokenness, his agony so very intensely. The sadness surrounding him was nearly visible for her. And – of course – there was this deep, overwhelming love for him. It was such a strong sensation that often caused her to cry. Days had gone by since their first kiss, but she could still feel this intense sensation on her lips. She smiled, when she thought back.
Her attention suddenly turned back to Kai, he moved uneasy. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his body was covered with perspiration. He groaned slightly. Xev propped herself up worriedly. She took a cold, wet cloth and cooled his face with it. It was a short fever attack. She pulledíàòÿíóòü the blanket back over his body and waited for the fever to draw back. After a while he got calmer, the crisis was over. Xev wiped a last time over his forehead, when she suddenly felt fingers wrapping her wrist. Her hand was softly pushed aside. Kai opened his eyes and looked directly into her face. Their eyes locked and Xev froze. She let her hand fell down on his chest. Kai's hand rested loosely on hers. His other hand touched her cheek, stroke a restive curl of her hair back behind her ear. “You're so beautiful, Xev…” he whispered, Xev flushed and smiled shyly, she dropped her gaze. His glance was very intensive and seemed to touch her soul. The air crackled again.
Xev felt her libido kick in once again and breathed deeply.
Kai felt her unease more concrete than before. Her sexual attraction had grown over the last hours. Once again he wondered why she was so attracted to him. What was it, that made him so attractive to women' He couldn't explain it, he only knew that it was a fact since his birth. Even during his undead existence he hadn't lost this attractiveness for the female sex.
He felt more than physically attraction for Xev. It was her unmistakable character, her inner beauty that made him feel something for her. Besides his first love on Brunnis 2, he never met a woman, who attracted him so much. Well, the last 6000 years it really hadn't been an issue.
He let his finger playfully slide down behind her ear, down her neck. Her skin was soft and tender under his fingertips.
Xev had closed her eyes, she swallowed. Excitement filled her and let her body tremble. She enjoyed every moment of this unique sensation to be touched by him. She hadn't expected that so soon.
It was overwhelming for Kai to feel her like this. Long lost sensations showed up again. A warmth spread over his body and for the first time in his new life he felt only positive feelings running through him. He felt his injured soul touched with them, they comforted, they soothed his pain. Kai dared to believe, that he had found a possible way to heal his soul…maybe one day that will happen. For now, he was thankful for the comfort Xev gave him with it.
His slim fingers reached her shoulder, stroke over her collarbone to the middle, rested in her small dip between both collarbones. Xev felt a new shiver ran through her body. “Xev'” he whispered. She opened her eyes and looked inquiring into his truly handsome face. She swallowed, when she saw his eyes shone full of desire, his expression slightly confused and uneasy at the same time “I'm … a bit out of practice, but…” Xev stifled the rest of his words in a passionate kiss. She softly plunged her tongue between his lips into his mouth. She felt a hot wave running through her, when their both tongues met. She give a groan and began to explore his mouth, as he did too. Softly she caressed his lips with the tip of her tongue, only broken by sweet, deeply passionate kisses. After a while both stopped, out of breath. They had edged closer to each other. “Out of practice'” she asked breathless. “Hmm'” Kai asked innocently, rising his brows. “I just want to know how it is, when you were !” she teased him. His kisses were the best she ever experienced in her life. Kai smiled, he felt passion and desire rushingíàïîð, íàòèñê,ñòðåìèòåëüíî) through his veins. With all his reawakenedñíîâà ïðîáóæäàòü senses he knew that he hadn't forgotten anything from his first life. “Then let us (find out… ” he whispered keenly . His finger slid between her breasts. He softly stroke her visible curvesçàêðóãëåíèå over her clusterlizard top. Xev gave a loud groan, her fingers clutched around the cloth on her bed. He touched her cheek with his left hand and gave her a new kiss, his right hand followed upwards, too, rested on her shoulder. His left loose from her cheek and slid downwards her neck, guided slowly to her left shoulder.
His both hands wandered simultaneously , under the straps of her dress, slid them down over the side of her shoulders. He leaned forwardâïåðåä and kissed her neck and throat tenderly – his hands moved to her back and unzipped her top. The long hair stroked gently over her bare shoulders. He freed Xev of the top and let it fell aside. His lips caressed her skin softly and he looked up into her face, sharing another kiss with her. She could feel his free hair tickling her skin, her now bare breasts. Her body started to burn of desire. His hands climbed up again, to her firm breasts. He cupped them with his hands, stroked over her curves, over her nipples, which hardened immediately. Xev groaned impulsively and threw her head back. Kai smiled delighted about the success of his endeavors. He bend down to her breasts and kissed her erected nipples. He touched them with the tip of his tongue, circuiting them lazily. Xevs desire grew. She sank backwards down, twined ecstatically under his touch. Kai's palm stroke over her belly, continued the way of his kisses downward. He stopped for a second at her navel, circuited it with his tongue, before his hands slid down to her well formed thighs – to the end of her mini skirt. He let them glide up on the inside of her thighs, until they reached the soft, sensitive skin, directly next to her abdomen. Xev let out a gentle clusterlizard growl. Kai had to smile, he nearly had forgotten this special part of her. With one fluent movement, he caught her skirt and with it her underwear and removed it. He dropped it next to her boots, she put out before they went to sleep. Xev gasped, she laid completely naked in front of him, her legs slightly straddled. Her chest moved up and down fast. Arousal spread over her whole desirable body. On his way back up, his hand caressed her pube, his palm pressed slightly to her cunt. Xev moved her hips and pressed harder against his palm. She felt a well-known throbbing deep there. She wanted him to silence it., but not yet – not yet. She let out a cry of passion when he felt his finger exploring her hot wet depths, touching exactly her tender spot. He nearly brought her to the edge of ecstasy. But before he admitted her this release, he drew back. He laid down next to her, kissing her again, another endless passionate kiss. Her arousal carried over to him long ago. But he waited for Xev to a bit. He could see the passion burning in her eyes. Her wonderful green eyes shone full of love and longing for him. He had still recognized, that only the slightest touch of him was enough to arouse her. Long suppressed craving, now unloaded in waves over and over again. As evil his lack of emotion had been for him, as bad must have been Xevs constant fight against her hyperactive libido. Xev breathed deeply and turned to Kai. It was her turn now. She pulled away the blanket, which still was somewhat draped around his abdomen and started to explore his absolutely amazing body. Her fingers stroke over his strong, wirily muscles all-over his upper body. Softly she caressed his explicit strands of muscles, clearly visibly under his smooth, warm skin. She placed a few kisses down on his belly, leaving a small wet trace with the tip of her tongue all the way up. Their lips met again and their tongues fought another duel. Xev gasped for breath and looked deeply into his greenish-hazel eyes. She saw the soft light of love and passion gleaming in them, but also this echo of sadness, that inhabit him, that would forever be a part of him. She hoped, that she was able to take away this deep pain of his, at least for this moment. Her hand wandered down again and found what she looked for. She broke eye-contact, before she could get lost in his eyes. There was anything undeniably mysterious and ancient in his gaze, what attracted her. Her palm pounced on his erected member. Xev stroked tenderly over its tip and took it in her hand. Kai closed his eyes, his reaction similar to hers not long ago. He groaned loudly when he felt her warm hand wrapping his cock. His lust grew and he felt something new, an electrifying warmth exploded from the depths of his stomach all-over his body. And there was something else he sensed. After 6000 years of loneliness and numbness, he felt a part of him – completed, united, reconnected. His body started to burn of longing for Xev, and he completely forgot his past and his pain for this moment. Xev's impatience alienated to him and he started again to touch her. Together they let ran their hands over their heated bodies. Their joint breathing and moaning filled the chamber, as their exploration went more and more passionate and intense. He massaged her breasts, stroked hard with his thumbs over her nipples, squeezed them. Her reaction was fiercely, she screamed in excitement and straddled her legs and sat down on his thighs. When the tip of his member stroke her cunt, both groaned with pleasure. He slid his hands down to her butt, pulled her closer. He kissed her breasts, sucked her nipples. Xev gasped hard, arched her back. The craving inside her, went to the limit, the throbbing between her legs went beyond all bearing. She couldn't hold out very much longer, especially when her hip movement pressed his cock closer to her opening. “Kai, please…..I….ahhh…” She wasn't able to speak a comprehensible word. One hot wave after the other rushed through her, let her cry out again – another clusterlizard growl followed. Kai seemed to understand, he pulled her close, pressed her tightly to his body and rolled them over. Xev straddled her legs widely and Kai lowered himself down on her. Carefully he slid his cock into her hot, wet opening. For a moment they held their breath, none of them wanted to miss this magnificent moment as their hungry bodies united. But not only their bodies connected – their souls as well - two souls which craved so long for true love in so different ways, didn't get the love they needed or wanted. Xev gasped heavily, looked deeply into his eyes, as he did the same.
If someone had told her, that this would ever happen, she had laughed at him. But now, now it happened…
She was lost in his eyes. Eyes that had seen far too much – never wanted to see the most of it. Eyes which screamed hungrily for love. Sweat covered their bodies and she loved to see them glinting in the pale light. She felt his member filling her completely, how it made them both one. She heaved her hips, twined her legs round his waist, when he started to thrust slowly into her. He gave her time to show him her rhythm, kissed her luscious lips. Xev groaned loudly as their bodies started to move rhythmically. Ecstasy washed over them and after a moment, both closed their eyes overwhelmed. Kai stroked over her body, her breasts, sucked them tenderly and drove her to the edge of ecstasy. With every thrust Xev gave a loud groan, she felt her climax near, but she didn't want it happen so early. She let go of his waist and broke their connection. Kai allowed her. She propped herself up and pushed him tenderly onto the bed. She straddled her hips and sat down on his thigh, gave him newly access to her opening. Kai let his cock slide in and both continued their amorous play. When she was riding him, he cupped her breast, send new shivers through her body, whilst squeezing her sensitive nipples. She moaned and arched her back, pressed her abdomen fiercely against his, when she pushed down. He felt her strong contractions massage his shaft, they shorten more and more. Kai pressed his lips together, controlling the urge to cum. He grabbed her shoulders and rolled their sweated bodies over, with him on the top. The sweat allowed them to let their hands slide fluently over their bodies. Xev was near the edge of sexual ecstasy. She reared up under him, put her legs around his waist again and tried to get him deeper inside her cunt. Kai doubled his efforts and thrust harder and deeper into her, until she came in a vast explosion. Her hunger for sexual satisfaction was immense, and she took what she lacked of. Xev was prancing underneath him for a last time – let their fusion went beyond their deepest depths and screamed and groaned his name as her orgasm shot through her perfect body. Kai climaxed the same moment, when his member entered her so deeply, and he moaned loudly as their shared climax let their bodies tremble.
He collapsed onto her. Xev loosed her grip around his waist and threw her arms around his heavy breathing body. He shifted them to one side. Xev put a leg over his thigh and let them experience the aftermath of this precious moment. Huddled together, they waited until their bodies calm down. Xev felt a tear of joy ran over her cheek, she was so unbelievable happy, it had been her biggest wish for years…and now it came true! She smiled and cried the same time. She loosed the grip a bit and touched a strand of his dark hair, wrapped it around her finger playfully. She loved his silken hair. Kai smiled and stroke some of those unruly streaks back. Xev sighed when she looked at him. She could forever look into this angelic face. He was so beautiful. Especially when his raven black hair was down. It underlined his beauty a lot. She touched his full lips with her fingertip, felt him kissing it. “Thank you…” she finally whispered. “I love you with all my heart!” Kai's lips curled with a new smile. He kissed her softly on her lips, nose and forehead. “I will love you forever, Xev, I promise.” It was the first time he said those magic words, and it sounded like an oath. He kissed her again, less passionately, but endless lovingly. The kiss of two lovers.
Kai felt a relief he never expected. There was a peaceful feeling inside him he thought he would never have again. He was so grateful, their love was something that soothed his pain, something that put a part of him together again, gave him new strength. A strength he bitterly needed to adjust his new life. He looked at her lovingly, thanks to her, this all was rendered possible. Because of her hope, her stubbornness. She had done so much for him – he felt guilt for his behavior towards her, dead or not. He reproached himself that his lack of emotion had hurt her like this. The exigency to apologize to her was keen. “I…often hurt you Xev, I've been very unfair towards you … I feel so sorry for that. I wish I could change it. Even if I had no control over it – I'm sorry…” He dropped his gaze ashamed. Xev swallowed, yes, he had hurt her a lot, he had, but she didn't blame him. He haven't had any sense for something like that. But this was the past. She concentrated on the presence, and a now more promising future. “Let us leave the past behind, Kai. Everything that counts is now - and the future,” she said warmly. Kai kept silent for a moment. The past – something he couldn't leave behind that easy, there was to much to work out. “My past will forever be a part of me, Xev, but maybe, anytime, ….I'll be able to accept it. I don't know!” It cost him quite an effort to say this. He lacked the faith in it. Xev smiled encouragingly at him, she knew that he would forever be marked with this melancholy, this cruel past, but it would be wrong to ignore it. That wouldn't help him. “You've all the time you need!” she said fondly. Kai raised his eyes, his voice softened and went more serious: “I know, Xev, I'm deeply grateful for your patience,” he stroke gently over her cheek. “I'll always be there for you, I won't admit anything happen to you – I never had, and I never will. Xev, if necessary I would die for you…!” Xev shivered: “I hope this won't be necessary.” Only the thought about one of them to die was terrible. Now that Kai was mortal, it wasn't ruled out that he may die sometimes. She shook off the thoughts about such a scenario. There was no reason to think about such circumstances, he was alive, and so she bend forward to kiss him. She wanted to feel him close now, as long as possible.
Their kiss turned more passionate and soon their bodies inflamed anew with longing. They took up time to explore and get to know each other deeper. After they reached another, high passionate climax, they lay down to sleep, totally exhausted, cuddled closely together.

Stanley, on his way to the bridge, sighed deeply. He couldn't miss their second climax. They didn't care about. Ok, why should they' 790's cant was some kind of comfort for him. Besides, he granted them this release. Especially Xev. Now she finally had what she wanted. Stan wondered about all those changes going on here. He often thought about how blue Xev had felt, if Kai was around and acted so dead. Well he was dead. Had been dead. Her visits to the cryochamber, how she often had declared her love to him – exactly knowing that he didn't return it. Unfulfilled love could be horrible, he should know this. He felt a bit sorry when he thought about his, sometime, really rough words at her. Maybe he should talk to her anytime. He reached the bridge and Lexx reported to him: “I have received signals, Stan, should I follow them'” Stan climbed on his pedestal. “Can you show me the signal'” “I'm sorry Stan, it's too weak, we have to get closer!” Stan sighed. Signals, this could mean everything, a ship, a planet. Both of it could mean trouble or … variety. “Oh, the heck with it! Follow those signals, Lexx, keep me updated!” “Yes, Stanley!” Maybe, with some luck, there were a few nice females which weren't allied yet. 790 hadn't said anything so far, and he wondered about that, normally he didn't miss the chance to throw some insults at him. But the robot head was to busy to moan about Xevs absence. He was about to leave, as 790 finally broke the silence. “Tweedle…where is my Xev' Answer me you wrong programmed individual!” Stan turned, a smirk in his face. “Hm, I miss some courtesy in your tone, 790, so I'm not in the mood to answer…” “Grrr….” he heard 790 growling. “Tweedle, tell me in an instant where she is…!” “…p-l-e-a-s-e!” “What'” “To be polite, you need this little word,” Stan nearly chuckled. 790 curled up his digital mouth. “Please,” he finally snarled. “She's in bed,” Stan answered, lifting him from the floor. “Such a long time'” the head asked suspiciously. “You hide something, Tweedle!” “I'll admit, she's not a-l-o-n-e in her bed.” “Waaaaaaaaahhhhhh…!” yelled 790. Stan put 790 back and smiled benignly. He turned to leave, but before he stroke out for the deathblow. “Ah, by the way, they sounded v-e-r-y busy, if you ask me!” 790's following wails surely had drown Kai and Xev out, at least it followed him far down the passageway. He felt better now. Before he reached his own bed, he couldn't resist to sneak a peek into Xevs bedchamber. All was silent and he saw them sleep like spoons. Stan sighed, if he ever would have such a luck…! It comforted him a bit, that he triumphed over 790 recently. He chuckled to himself when he lay down on his bed. With a giant yawn he outstretched and started to doze, if something happened…the Lexx would attract attention to oneself.



Chapter 7

Improvements

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SEXUAL TOPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE DON`T READ THIS CHAPTER IF YOU ARE UNDER 17 (OR DO IT ON YOUR OWN RISK); OR IF YOU FEEL NOT ADULT ENOUGH, TOO PRIM OR WHATEVER....

Two other weeks went by. The Lexx was following the new course and Stan got more and more bored. It seemed that everyone had forgotten about him. Kai and Xev didn't show up very often, but that didn't mean they were together all the time. Kai had a lot to work out with himself and he often retired from the world. As much as he appreciated to be with Xev, and the love he shared with her, as painful were his memories of the past. He tried to believe in her words, that he had been controlled, that he hadn't had another choice, but it stayed difficult for him. The memories were his own. And compared to before – this time they hurt. His conscience screamed in horror about what had happened. On some days, his sense of guilt was much too strong and he realized that he hated himself for everything he had done. It acted like a dark, deep abyss, that draw him closer, a maelstrom he barely could escape. He got depressed and thought about more than one time to end this life that was returned to him recently. What was his right to live, if so many people were killed by his hands' Besides, the thought about death wasn't very uncomfortable to him. Now he finally could die properly! After all he was alive, mortal. No bonds would held him back if he wanted to end this life. Bonds that held his soul over 6000 years away from its assignation – to join his people in the DreamZone. He couldn't, because he hadn't been really dead. But now…this aspect had changed. If he wanted, he could…but then his thoughts often went to Xev, and this on the other hand was good reason to go on, love was a good reason to go on. She often looked after him and brought him comfort, pulled him away from this ultimate, adamant abyss. She was the only support he had – he needed so urgently. If she wouldn't be there for him, he hadn't guaranteed for anything. Too worse were his memories of those countless murders, tortures he had been ordered to do. He couldn't understand that there were humans who killed in this manner – with full awareness of their conscience, their emotions, their own will. That was the difference, Xev had told him, this fact should remind him that he shouldn't feel responsible, but regardless to that, he had killed, wasn't he a murder for this reason' Deepest desperation filled him when he thought about this issue. Wasn't he a murder, because it was His Shadow, who was responsible for those killings, because he controlled him' But he had killed with his own hands, so he was a murder, wasn't he' He sighed, so many questions so less answers…sometimes he thought it would be easier if he would be dead, then he hadn't to deal with all this. But no, to took his own life wasn't the solution. There wasn't anything honorable in this action, to run away from problems, from life with all its problems. He had done a lot of dishonoring things in life, but he didn't want to do anything like this of sound mind. He didn't fear death, he wanted to die, but not a senseless death. He had caused so much pain, he didn't want to cause more, especially not to Xev.
Kai looked at the opposite wall in this small chamber, somewhere deep inside the Lexx. He had been here since two days. Here he was alone with his doubt, his guilt, his fear, with all those feelings he had been incapable to feel for 6000 years. At least, the memories of His Shadow and those he had killed didn't trouble him. Most of them were too alien and weird, he didn't want anything to do with. Maybe they would be useful one day…but not at the moment.
With his own memories it was another story. Besides his horrible sense of guilt, he felt frustration and anger. Frustration that he had been so powerless, that he never had a chance to save his home world, that he hadn't been able to prevent those countless murders. It leads to an untold anger towards destiny, a predicted destiny, that denied him to save the BrunnenG, that had condemned him to such a mockery of life – made it possible to serve their greatest enemy and kill for him. Kai slammed his fist against the wall. Pain shot through his knuckles and he clasped surprised his other hand around it. The pain brought him back to reality. Carefully he moved his fingers, looked fascinated at his grazed skin, which went red immediately. The human body was very vulnerable, he nearly forgot that. Kai sighed. His wrath faded already. His thoughts went back to his old life on Brunnis2. How had he been before destiny predicted his future. A lot more green, more innocent than now. His urge to explore, not to accept everything that kept society in its frozen state, had brought him more than once into difficulties. He mainly thought about the day he had visited the Time Prophet. He hadn't only found out about his peoples destiny, no, he had been thrown into prison right away, accused and sentenced to die, because he had broken the protective shields of his planet. It was terrifying for him to recognize their disinterest, when they learned that he had told the truth. This hadn't been the BrunnenG he had known, he had coped with so long. For him, the BrunnenG always had been great people, the winners of the insect war, and he always wanted to be like them. At least, he had reached this aim. After his girlfriend had freed him, he and his other Newborn friends had fought against His Shadow, honored those ancient BrunnenG warriors with it. At least they didn't die without a struggle. A melody appeared in his mind and he hummed it in a low voice, it was the song he had sung when they met this little theater in space:
If this should be, our final stand,
we will stand together with pride
We will honour the past, and fight to the last,
it will be a good way to die
It matters not, if the cause is lost,
and we can not stop the tide
We will fight to the end, and then fight again,
it will be a good way to die

This moment will live on through time,
if anyone ever asks why
The Brunnen-G did not fall on their knees,
you will know they found a good way to die

But a lot time went by since that day. The prophecy finally had been fulfilled, but in a completely other way Kai had expected. The price had been high.
In the meantime the LightZone had also been destroyed. He was pretty sure that, except for him, Stan, Xev and 790, nobody knew anything any longer about the BrunnenG. He wasn't sure if this was good or bad. But whether it was or not, this part of universe’s history was over. His not. His new life has just begun. He sighed. The last of an once great race of warriors. Deserved or not, he had to get his life under control, at least for a while, this was something he owed Xev. She didn't earn it to be at constant sorrow for him, it was time that he was there for her. She had done enough. He owed her more than he was able to return. Without her he had given up, he was sure about that. She believed in him – maybe it was time to start to believe too - in himself. He looked up and considered how long he had been here in this small room somewhere deep inside the Lexx. One, or two days' Definitely. His stomach was growling and he missed her. The decision to go back wasn't hard. He needed her, at least this would distract him from his dark thoughts and so he made his way back.

He didn't find her in her chamber, nor on the bridge or the galley. She couldn't be found anywhere. First he wanted to ask Stan, but the Captain of the Lexx slept tightly. If she hadn't gone on a tour with one of the moths, what he considered implausible, because none of the moths were missing when he had landed with his, she only could be in the cryochamber or – elsewhere. He decided to check this first. When he passed the shower, he heard water rushing. There she was! He entered the room and watched her. She stood under the nozzle and enjoyed visibly the warm water flowing over her amazing, adorable body. Kai felt this electrifying sensation in his stomach again. He knew how she felt when she was near him, saw him naked, but did she have any idea how he felt when he saw her perfect body' He experienced it only once in a lifetime, in his former living-life. But he was still astonished how intense his body reacted when he saw her or was near her. Xev could drive man mad with her flawless body. Quietly he removed his clothes and loosed his hair. He entered the shower cell soundlessly.
Xev winced startled when she felt his arms moving softly from behind over her hips. “Kai!” she cried out rebukingly and turned her head around. He made a sheepish face, once again he had forgotten his special skills, skills he had used as an assassin, skills that still were present in his brain-implant, programmed for his special tasks. Without the connection to his other implants, those which Xev had removed, it hadn't a purpose any longer, except that the programming still was a part of him, and would ever be. “Did I scare you'” he whispered into her ear. Xev leaned back in his arms, relaxed immediately. “A little…how are you'” she asked a little worried. After all, he had been away since two whole days. He hadn't done this for the first time, but fortunately there wasn't any danger anymore. The first time he vanished for such a long time she had been in fear. She had searched for him for hours, exactly knowing that if he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't be found anywhere. Finally she did. He had been in one of Lexx's countless small chambers. Deeply caught up in his painful memories. It took Xev a long time, much strength, comfort and love to haul him out there. It had hurt herself deeply, when she saw him so close to surrender. So far, she succeeded to pull him away from this abyss, but she felt her own exhaust in this unfair fight. She had asked herself how long she could stand it. The worst day date back a week now. The day he had nearly committed suicide. Since two days he had contemplating suicide and Xev had talked a lot to him, tried to convince him that there had to be a reason for being alive. But she had realized early enough, that he barely listened to her. Even so, it surprised her that he had left the room with the words: Xev was left behind, on her bed, and had shaken her head. For one or two minutes she got really desperate. How should she help someone who didn't want her help' His words slowly had crept into her mind, and she had realized them seconds later first. Her alarm bell rang and her angst had been enough to cause her a transformation to a clusterlizard. Only with the high speed of her other half she had been able to reach him in time – before he could himself throw off the edge of the bridge. She had pushed him away from the abyss, knocked him to the floor, with her on the top and talked wailing at him for good half an hour. She needed all her physical and psychological strength until the crisis was over and Kai had given in. They had hit rock bottom. Kai had given her the promise this day, not to do it again. she had said. Kai really was a hard piece of work. But he was worth it. And she knew that he would keep word. He still vanished for hours, days, but he was always returning. Sometimes she looked after him, if there was a strong sense that he needed her. But now it seemed that he was able to manage this fight on his own – a visible progress, and so she gave him this freedom, without fear for his life. Maybe she had looked for him today, but only because he had been away for so long. Well, he was here now. She turned her head again to have a better look at his face and to hear his answer. “A bit…better.” His eyes had cleared up a bit, his facial expression acted more relaxed. Xev was relieved, she looked back forward, a smile on her lips. “That's….beautiful!” she whispered. She felt his hair caressing her skin, as he laid his chin down on her shoulder, nuzzled his left cheek to her right. His hands folded tightly across her belly. Xev sighed, she felt every detail of his strong body, when he pressed himself slightly against her backside.
His gesture – an invitation, an excuse for his long absence.
Hot waves of arousal ran through her body. “Oh, Kai!” she groaned. His lips touched her cheek. He left a trail of kisses down her neck. His hands moved up simultaneously, cupped her breasts and massaged them gently. Stimulated by the warm water and his touch, she turned around, pressed her abdomen demanding against his. A wild, passionate kiss followed, whilst she draw back to one of the walls, pulling him with her. Hot haze surrounded them, engulfed them. As Xev felt her back pouncing the wall, she heaved herself up and twined her legs around his waist. Two days without him have been far to long for her. Not because of sex, no, she loved it to talk to him, to cuddle into his arms, to feel him next to her so close. Admitted, these situations often ended up in bed, but weren't always her first intention. Kai often grasped the nettle of it. He enjoyed their closeness, the physical contact with her, to made love to her was an equal level to feel his new life, his vitality. Xev could see it in his eyes, she was happy about that and was more eager to get him satisfied. This time, her arousal and longing were so high, she didn't want a foreplay. She leaned back on the wall and let him enter her. The sensation of it nearly was enough for her to orgasm. Kai thrust two or three times into her, as she reached her climax and cried out loudly. He stopped in an instant, waited until she recovered. He smiled gently and watched her astonished. Xev opened her eyes and smiled back shyly. “I missed you,” she said with a hoarse whisper. “What's with you, don't you…” “I do…but it was…arousing to…watch you!” “Oh, a little peeper, hmm…'” she teased and moved her hips closer to him. She knew that only minutes were necessary to regain her desire. “Let me feel you, Kai, please…” she begged and sank back to the wall, allowed him to enter deeper into her. She loved it, to feel him like this, to know that they both were as close as they could be. Now it was Kai's turn to groan loudly, when he thrust deeper into her hot, wet depths. He stopped again, his breathing more fierce, he groaned. “Oh, Xev…I'll lose control…” He felt his body reacting completely detached. She gasped: “Do whatever you want…give me everything you have…!” He began slowly to thrust his cock in and out, but soon he felt his natural instincts overwhelming him again and taking control. He supported himself with his hands on the wall, whilst Xev cupped his butt with her hands and tightened her grip around him to pull him closer. His thrusts went more fiercely, harder and faster. Their world was reduced to this rhythmic movement and Kai lost the final control over his body. Xev groaned and cried out loudly, he never had taken her like this. This wild and rampant variety had something real exciting. She felt his member pushing hard into her, stroking her inner walls. Xev gasped and guided her hands to hear breasts. She stroke over her erected nipples and leaned her head back to the wall. It was an absolutely amazing feeling. She looked into his keen passionate facial expression, his mouth slightly open, gasping, his beautiful eyes closed, his raven black hair in a damp mass around him. He was such an experienced lover…of course, he once had had another life, and all the memories of it. Xev trembled when she felt him penetrating her suddenly very deep inside, he never had been thus deep inside her before, and Xev felt her second climax coming. She never experienced an orgasm like this. It came not only from this special place deep inside her, no, it seemed to come out of her stomach, her mind, all at the same time… She heard Kai groan loudly with his deep baritone voice, when he thrust into her for a last time and then she felt him cum. Xev pushed her abdomen forward and arced her back. She clung to his upper arms and stabilized her hard trembling body. She opened her mouth and screamed his name when this strange, special orgasm shot through her body.

It took a while until both of them found back into reality. Kai steadied her back with his arms and waited until she loosed her grip around his waist and he slid out of her. Xevs feet touched the floor and she leaned heavily breathing against his wirily body. Kai kissed her forehead gently, both to much out of breath to say something. This moment lasted for an eternity. She leaned her head on his shoulder and a smile appeared on her face. No, there was nothing in the universe that could compare with this love! She felt him stirring and herself lifted into his arms. He took her back under the warm stream of water. Xev smiled grateful up to him, after the heat of their passion, it started to get cold outside. Kai smiled back and both kissed. Xev threw her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his chest. Kai completed the embrace, by putting his left arm around her back, with his right hand he stroke over her head. The warm water rained down on them and washed away the coolness and the sweat. He laid his head onto hers and both remained motionless for minutes. It amazed him how fierce his body reacted when he had been so deep inside her. Sometimes he asked himself if his alive body remembered those 6000 years of numbness, and that he wanted everything back at once. However, it was magnificent. Xev sighed soundless, from one moment to the other she got so tired, she would sleep, if she stood like this for any moment longer. So she stirred and raised her head. Kai let go of her, but kept her hands in his. Xev looked at her beloved BrunnenG, her heart overflowing with emotions. “I can't go on without you any longer, Kai … I can't live without you…!” she whispered and looked deep into his greenish-hazel eyes. Eyes that had such a soft, lively glow, that radiate an unbelievingly love. Kai tilted his head, nearly absent he touched her face. He took her words to heart. It was still a strange sensation to be loved, to be needed. But it was comforting. He knew that Xev had loved him since they first met – but now he could understand and feel it. I can't live without you Xev's words didn't loose him. He had thought about many things during those last hours and days, and he was finally sure about at least one thing: He got a new chance to live, to feel, to love. Whether he deserved it or not, Xev really didn't deserve it to worry about him, because of one foolish moment he wanted to commit suicide. It wasn't easy for him to deal with his past, but he didn't want to throw his new life away senseless. This wasn't fair towards Xev. Besides, she was a real good reason to go on, to try it with this new circumstances – and he wanted her to know this. “Xev,” he started, softly stroking over her cheek, “I love you. I'm so…happy…to be with you,” he hesitated for a moment, it was real hard to put his feelings into words, maybe an effect of his long lack of them. But a memory told him that it was quite normal, for never finding the right words. “I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. Without you, nothing of all this would exist. Without your motivation, I lacked off, we would never have fulfilled the prophecy. I would never returned to life. Xev, I'm still unsure about the cause of my retransformation, uneasy if I deserve life – if I deserve you … but I'm sure about one thing – I'm happy about every moment with you!” Kai sighed. “I'm sorry if I cut a caper,” he smiled contritely, “You didn't deserve that after all you have done…I should be there for you now, Xev, because I love you so much!” Xev smiled with tears in her eyes when she heard his words. She never experienced real love in her life, and since Kai was alive she felt in paradise. For the first time, somebody declared his love for her, felt something for her. It was overwhelming. Nameless. And she finally realized everything what happened those last weeks. Xev started to cry, let everything out that burdened her for the last weeks. She had put so much of her own strength into her worrying about Kai, to be there for him, that she forgot herself completely. In the past this never had been a problem, because she never expected any reaction, love or gratitude for her actions. But her innermost had craved for those words since he was alive. After all, her waiting was rewarded. And this plucked her heartstrings. She stroke over his hands, her head sank back on his shoulder. She felt his strong hands unclasp hers and caress her back, her head. He might have killed thousands with them, but for her, they meant protection and love. His past never had any meaning to her. “Thank you, it meant …” she sniffed whilst talking, “…a lot to me. You mean a lot to me!” “I know, Xev,” his fingers touched her chin and he lifted her head, looked deep into her eyes. “Finally I know it!” There was a hint of sadness in his deep voice, because he remembered how he hadn't known before. Xev was lost again in his mystery, ancient eyes. There were no words necessary now. He just pulled her closer and held her tight.

Sometime later they parted and finished the shower. Kai's stomach was growling more rigid now, it sounded unpleasantly loud. Xev had to laugh. She looked wry at him and Kai smiled shyly. “I think I'm hungry…haven't eaten anything the last two days!” She laughed again and put her cloths back on. “Come, I'll help you with the hairdressing, then we're faster in the galley.” Kai closed his jacket and allowed her with an amused gaze. “What'!” she asked. “Are you sure'” he replied, as he gave her the hairpins. “I'll wangle it!” Xev took them and her brush. Nobody put anything past her. “I think we women are specialists with hairstyle, my dear, no panic!” she said self-conscious. He shrugged his shoulders: “Good, give it a try…” He sat down on the floor and gave her access to his hair. Xev started to brush his hair. She put the upper part together into his traditional bun, the lower hair she braided. Carefully she loosed his lovelock. She let it slid through her fingers. She loved this silky touch of it. “You really have beautiful hair, Kai,” she smiled and signalled him that she was finished. He stood up and looked into the mirror. “Perfect,” he pursed his lips. Xev looked over his shoulder, grinned into the mirror. “Disbeliever!” she teased him. Kai's corner of the mouth twitched. He never doubted her, but she wasn't aware of the brunnish traditions. He turned around, looked at her half amused, half serious. “If we would be on Brunnis, you just would have pointed out that you're ready to agree to a long term relationship.” Xev raised her brows. “Oh….!” He laughed as he saw her confused expression. Xev smiled coyly back. This thought wasn't uncomfortable at all. She didn't know about the relationships among the BrunnenG, but they had been surely more pleasurable than to married from the wife bank. “Oookayy, if this is what it says….” She smiled nervously. Kai raised his brows but didn't say anything further. It was to early for them to talk about such issues, and both switched the subject. “Let's go to the galley, I'm really hungry Xev…” “Sure,” she slid her hand in his and both made their way to the galley.

Chapter 8

A strange incident

With his chapter the main part of my story begins. I have to introduce you to a little thing now. It's only about the spelling of those names and words which will appear in the following chapters. If you see a name like Te'ran, Arcan's or so, the ` is spelled as i. That's all.
Of course, I forgot to say something from the beginning: My story took place after the third season – and you all wondered why 790 is in love with Xev, and not Kai. Well, I reprogrammed him. You'll see it when you read my story. Only for explanation. Alright, enjoy the story!

When they reached the galley, they saw Stan sitting already there and pecking discontented at his food. He looked up when Kai and Xev entered. “Hey, nice to see you again,” he said sarcastically. “No- don't ask, I'm fine, really. I mean, it's not that I'm bored, or that something might have happen to me. But, I'm used to your undivided attention…..really,” he continued ironically. Xev let go of Kai's hand. “We're sorry Stan.” Stanley shrugged his shoulders and held out two plates. Xev took them and filled them with the green goo the Lexx produced, she gave Kai one of it. “But I've been with you yesterday on the bridge, and the day before…don't forget that!” “Yes, because he wasn't wake!” murmured Stan offended. It really wasn't surprising to him, he always took a back seat in the presence of her, but since Kai was alive he was definitely no longer in demand. Kai heard his last words and raised his brows. Stan sighed: “I'm sorry, it's because…you know, I'm feeling a bit neglected. 790 is getting on my nerves, I'm bored. No planet, not a sign of anything near…!” Xev interrupted him: “I know Stan, but please try to put yourself in Kai’s place, do you think it's easy for him to deal with all those new things'” Stan looked back at Kai, who lowered his gaze down to his meal. “Xev, please,” he said low, “Don't let us talk about those things now!” Kai sighed. The last thing he would do now was to talk about his problems and indispositions. Xev bit on her lip. Stan harrumphed embarrassed and took his attention back to his meal. An awkward silence arose. “Ahem,” Stan piped up after a moment. “How are you, generally, I mean' If you don't mind asking, of course!” “I'm alright, thanks for your request, Stan, but I have to cope with a lot of things…” “I understand…I mean…it's definitely not easy for you, this new circumstances, I can imagine that!” Stan smiled helpless, he didn't know how to tell. But Kai seemed to understand. He looked at Stan: “It's alright, Stan…” The Captain of the Lexx nod and gulped when he looked into Kais eyes for a moment. It was as if Kai was able to look deep into his mind and Stan become flustered. Not that he feared Kai any longer, but he had a lot of respect for the ex-assassin – and of course, all those recent circumstances were very eerie to him, like Kai sometimes. He dropped his gaze, incapable to keep up eye contact any longer. Xev had to smile when she observed them. Even she had to control herself to resist his intensive glance sometimes. Kai finished his first portion and took a second helping. Stan stared dumbfounded at him. “Don't tell me you like that stuff!” he groaned. Kai shrugged his shoulders. “It's not that bad at all,” and continued to eat. This time it was Xevs turn to groan: “I take it as an excuse that you haven't eaten for 6000 years!” Kai didn't answer. He had rather interchanged with everything. Better to eat Lexx's goo than to exist as a mockery of life for such a long time. Troubled he pushed those thoughts away. After all he was able to control most of them now. Well, he knew that he couldn't fool Xev, but it didn't bother him really. It was good to know that someone was there if the circumstances would change. If she had noticed anything now, she didn't let on. Again silence fell.
It was 790 who broke it a few minutes later. He came in on his small cart. “Oh my lovely buttercup, here you are…and in bad company I want to remark!” 790 glowered at Kai. He was deeply convinced that Kai had seduced Xev with false promises and blurred her mind in this way. Stan growled: “What is it 790'” “The Lexx found the origin of the signal he follows.” “That's news!” Stan said enthusiastic. “Finally some news!” He stood up and headed for the bridge. “Coming'” he asked. Xev nod and picked the robot head up, when she moved forward. “Sure. Kai'” The BrunnenG swallowed down the remain of his meal and followed her out the galley.

But they hadn't reached the bridge when something shook the Lexx. “Stanley! I want to change our course, that stings!” the ship said. “What's happening, Lexx'” Stan asked worried. “I have been hit by something, it hurts a lot!” The voice of the Lexx became very snivelling. Another jar ran through the Lexx. Stan hastened forward. “I'm coming Lexx, I'm coming!” Kai and Xev with 790 followed suit. Stan climbed onto his command stand and clanged to the metal construction when another shockwave shook the Lexx. They could clearly see flashing lights outside. “Get away from here Lexx, as fast as you can!” Stan ordered. “I try to do that, Stan!” The Lexx changed its course and tilt to the left side. For a moment there was silence and when they observed the view screen, they saw many ships firing against each other. Then, again something hit them. “What the heck is going on outside!” Stan cursed and rubbed his head, he had been thrown against the iron bars of the command pedestal. Kai steadied himself on Stans right side, his left arm protectively grasped Xevs waist. “Some objects follow me and are shooting at me!” Lexx said. “Try to get rid of them!” Stan commanded. But it wasn't that easy. The Lexx changed his course many times, but those strange objects stayed in touch. “790, can you tell us, what follows the Lexx'” Xev asked and laid him down on the command pedestal. “Ships, my heart,” he said after a moment, checking some data. “They were made of some kind of metal and use energy weapons similar to the Lexx, very strong weapons. It seems that we accidentally blunder into a fight between two different parties. I can locate another type of ships outside, but they weren't made of metal, they're organic…” “Organic' Like the Lexx'” Xev asked. “No, but some similarities I can detect,” 790 answered. “They advance backward.” “Ouch!” The Lexx was hit by another impact. “So it's obvious that only those metal ships were firing at us!” 790 added unnecessary. “Maybe they think we're related to those organic ships'” Xev thought aloud. Stan shrugged his shoulders. “That doesn't matter to me, I'm fed up with it. Lexx! Turn around, destroy the metal ships!” “As you wish Stan!” The Lexx stopped and turned around. Meanwhile their view screen was activated and the face of a male human showed up. He was advanced in years, wore some kind of uniform. They could see a lot of activity in the background. “Do you need any help' It seems that our enemy also tries to take up a fight with you!” Stan made a face: “Ah, and who are we talking to'” “Sorry, may I introduce us' We're the defence force of the Arcannean Alliance. I think you accidentally blunder right into a fight between us and the Pr'karesh.” The man answered seriously. “It seems that they think you're part of our troops!” Xev made a step forward. “Why are you fighting against each other'” she asked. “That's a long story…but we can't admit that uninvolved strangers were roped into our problems. If you want to retreat, we'll try to prescind them from you. Also we will face a serious loss with it.” The man on the screen just wanted to gave suitable orders, when the Lexx fired two times at those metal ships. The first ring of fire destroyed their attackers, the second one destroyed the whole force of metal ships. The man on the screen froze. Dumbfounded he asked: “What was that' I've never seen or heard about such an enormous firepower since the great war!” Stan leaned back self-content. “Yes, the Lexx is the most powerful weapon of destruction in the two universes. This is something you really can believe me!” “Who are you'” the man asked full of interest. “Travellers…on the quest for a new home!” Xev answered carefully before Stan could. “Well, maybe we can show ourselves thankful by offer our help in this quest' You have averted an awful danger and defeat for us and our Alliance, also saved many lives. May we invite you to our home world'” He looked at them respectful. Stan looked at his comrades. Xev immediately agreed. Kai, who had observed everything calmly from somewhere behind, shrugged his shoulders. Stan sighed, asking himself, he had to admit that he longed to find one's feet as soon as possible, more than he was afraid of trouble this time. So he agreed. “We're honoured. My name is Te'ran, please follow us to those coordinated we transfer to you now!” The screen went dark. 790 received the coordinates and the Lexx set course for them. “What do you think about it'” Stan asked Xev. “Mh, not sure, maybe a new…” She leaned over to him, “…adventure'” Stan rolled his eyes: “I don't like adventures, but I really need fresh air and some good food!” “Strange to hear something like that from you, Captain!” Xev smiled. “Yeah, Kai, pal, what do you think'” The ex-assassin moved forward. He had observed everything in his calm and silent way, a habit he even hadn't abandoned after his resurrection. “ I haven't seen any threat in it, so I assume that your decision may not a wrong one.” Xev smiled radiantly: “Could be fun to visit a new planet! Maybe it's a lovely one where we can stay!” 790 said: “I prefer a planet where I can be alone with my honey!” “Oh come on 790…it's more fun to be together there…!” Xev stroke over his metal surface. “That's a point of view…by the way…talking about a planet, the coordinates we're heading to, are the origin of the signal we received,” he added. “Mh, how long until we reach it'” Xev asked. “In five hours, twenty-three minutes, if we keep our speed at this rate!” “Good, time enough to rest for a while,” Stan grunted, “See you later!” he left the bridge. Xev shrugged her shoulders and looked at Kai. “I'm not that tired, but I have no other idea what to do…so, coming'” Xev made her way back through the passage way to her bedroom. Kai followed her, deep in thoughts.

“Do you think we'll find ourselves a home soon'” she asked. Both had lain down on her bed again. She had placed her head on his chest and played with a single strand of her blonde hair. “Kai'” she asked again when she didn't receive an answer. She lifted her head and looked into his face. Kai stared at the ceiling. “Kai'” “Mh, oh, sorry, I didn't notice you asked me something!” He said and drew his attention fully towards her. But he couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes. Xev felt a sting in her heart – he looked so sad. “What's with you'” she asked and touched his cheek gently. He closed his eyes for a moment., a single tear was running down his cheek. “Don't ask,” he said and took her hand, “ You know what's going on inside me!” He didn't want to talk about it, not at the moment. He knew Xev would always listen to him, but it was time to give her a break. Xev washed his tear away with her fingertip. “I wish I could bear your burden,” she murmured. “Even if you were able to do that – I would never admit it, Xev, no one deserves that, least you!” Xev remained silent, she felt that Kai didn't want to go on with this topic and so she posed her former question again. “I know that you and Stan are on that quest for such a long time, and now, that I'm alive, I feel the same,” he answered her question. “Do you think we can trust them'” “I don't know, we have to wait until we meet them!” Xev nod and snuggled against him, she didn't want to sleep, but she had no chance…seconds later she dozed off. Kai stroke over her hair, gave her a soft kiss, which let her smile in sleep. He covered her with a blanket and watched her sleeping. He, of course, couldn't. Every time when he tried to sleep, those nightmares were coming back to him, hunting him, torturing him. They scare him. So he tried to concentrate on something different. He shifted his weight a bit, carefully, because he didn't want to wake Xev. He enjoyed to watch her sleeping. It gave him a pleasurable feeling to know that he finally was able to gave her warmth and closeness, a basic human need, so long denied to her, like life to him. Both really complement one another perfectly now and Kai knew that it couldn't be an accident they met. He sighed, she really was a gleam of hope in his new life. “Thank you Xev,” he whispered softly and smiled. Than he lay back and closed his eyes to find a little rest himself. He didn't expect to fell asleep, but he dozed off a few minutes later and started to dream.



Chapter 9

Dreams

He was back again on Brunnis. Together with some other children, in total they were nine or ten, he walked along a wide corridor. The corridor was decorated with beautiful paintings, inscriptions and many other things of art. Kai remembered that day. He and his friends of the same age had been the only children on Brunnis at this time. Children had been something unusual in their society, but they were taught everything a BrunnenG should know, because someday, these newborns would be old enough to become a regular part of their society – and for that it was necessary that they knew everything. This day, they had visited the . A huge museum, built to preserve their history. They reached the entrance and Kai saw again the wonderful carved inscription on the huge wooden door.
They walked through the door and entered a gigantic room. The view was terrific. Kai remembered every detail. Display cabinets, brimming with objects of art, science and other strange things. Attached to the sidewalls of the hall, he could see weird, foreign objects and in the rear he recognized the tiny insect crafts. Except of them, it seemed that no one had been here since a very long time. Important evidence was the thick layer on most of the exhibitions. Of course, no one in the BrunnenG society cared any longer of their past. In some places, one could reap sharp glances if he talked about their great past. So no one had really understood why the newborns wanted to come here. But children were always curious, so they had let them. Their teacher, she seemed to know everything about their past, had been very happy to guide them. She had been relieved that at least someone wanted to go there and be informed about their history. The elders had been the opinion that over time, they would lose interest, but they had been at fault. Not less than one had been amongst them, who never forgot that day.
Kai heard the voice of his teacher: “What you see here, is part of our great past, a past we want to learn more about today. We discussed some issues during our lessons at school, but this place is more than appropriate to learn more, and…” she smiled and glanced at their curious faces. He remembered her friendly gaze like it was yesterday. “…so to satisfy your hunger for knowledge. The artefacts you can see in this hall date back to the days when our people still inhabited the DarkZone, our origin planet Brunnis. In those days we fought great wars and had quenchless scientific curiosity. As you know, it's something that has changed.” Her smile faded a bit. When he remembered that, the thought that she didn't seem pleased to what their people had changed to. But of course, at that age he was far too young to understand something like that. But now he realized many things he hadn't that time. Maybe it was a form of protest of his teacher to teach them far more than it was necessary about the past, … She continued: “Most of everything you can see here, are relicts of the insect wars. Our ancestors developed a kind of hybrid technology out of insect technology. So these ships and weapons were created. We were in need of a new advantage badly in those days, the insects were dangerously close to a victory over humanity. But with this new kind of technology we had the required advance to defeat them. So human kind finally won this most important war in history.” She guided them to the tiny insect crafts in the rear. “But we shouldn't forget that the courage of our warriors had been an important part in this war. War is a horrible thing we can't imagine any longer in our days. But this war had been a horrible one. We should be very proud of our ancestors, and of course, of all the other humans involved in this war. You must know that many people fought in this war, we hadn't be the only. Alright. So take a look around, write down the most important information you can extract from this exhibition, note down your questions – we can talk about them later.” She scattered them and smiled happily about her inquiring students. Kai saw, how his younger self examined the insect ships totally fascinated. No, this younger self didn't sense anything of the incidents that would bring him and his friends back again, many years later. To take those ships and start their defence attack against His divine shadow, the only survivor of the insects, in the meantime he was aware of that. How an irony that after millennia these ships were used again for the same purpose they had been built for – to fight against an insect! The scenery faded and his dream continued somewhere else in the museum. He saw himself standing in front of a huge holographic star map. It showed the DarkZone. “This is the explored part of the DarkZone, like our ancestors knew it. I'll show you now a specific segment of the map…” she touched some symbols and with a golden shimmering the map changed. Planets and stars were much larger now. “This is the part of the DarkZone where the final battle between humans and insects took place 15000 years ago. Far away from Brunnis, the planet of our ancestors…” “How far'” asked Dragomai, Kai remembered the name of his comrade. “Oh, very far away, you needed two weeks to get there from Brunnis,” the teacher answered. She pointed at two star systems: “Exactly here, between Varion and Arcannea the battle took place. It had been home of two very high developed human races and allies in this war. This war destroyed planets and whole star systems. This battle had been enormous, it covered both systems and alongside the destruction of many planets, including the home world of the Varion, many human died. It had been a very high price for a victory.” “What happened to the Varion'” he heard himself ask. “They all died, like so many other nations. As I said, the victory demands an immense sacrifice, without it, we maybe had lost this war.” “And what about the alliance between humans, after the war'” he had asked. “It went the usual way after such wars – the alliance went to pieces. Space is much too big to control everything. Finally we had to abandon Brunnis to relocate into the LightZone to a new home. But in those days the contact between the old allies had been completely gone. I don't think that anyone would have noticed our disappearance,” she explained. “What happened to the BrunnenG warriors' What did they do after the war'” he asked on. “That's a very short story, too short as measured by their deeds and merits. The warrior guild wasn't required very often after war. There were no enemies to fight against. And after we had crossed over into the LightZone, the guild broke up. There was no interest in war any longer, no interest to get involved into a new one. Like those took place in the LightZone. Men fighting against men…an issue we don't want to get involved in. So we advanced backward, under our huge defensive shield…which protect us from everything evil outside our world!” This in fact, had been a bitter fallacy, but who would have known it in those days' Maybe he himself. He had been sure that someday they would be in trouble because of their retreat from everything outside - and he should be right. Kai remembered his huge juvenile fascination for his ancestors. Not only during his youth, he corrected himself. The urge to explore had been part of his nature his entire life. He wanted to learn more. His whole life he was geared to the old BrunnenG, those BrunnenG who were full of adventuresomeness, pride and glory. His environment never understood him – like he never accepted the way of life his people lived now. It made him a misfit. But he followed his ideals without hesitation, against all antagonism of this decadent and dull society. A fight against the bonds the society had placed around them, especially the newborn. Maybe Xev was right and at all times he truly was a warrior in his heart. Anyway, facing death and destruction, he and his friends lit all the glory and pride of the BrunnenG up for a last time, before the deathless dark shadow engulfed and killed them all. Kai felt a bit pride deep at heart for a moment – they truly had been warriors, but no one of his people had been there to witness and give an account of the newborn’s heroic deed. How they tried desperately to avert harm, harm that couldn't turned away – like he learned from the time prophet before. Mourning and sorrow crept into his mind and the dream faded.
A rebel and warrior in life – an eternal dark existence as assassin in death – what would become of him now'
Then he woke up.
Kai opened his eyes. A weird dream, more half memory, half dream, but the last question bothered him most. He had experienced both extremes, death and life. He even remembered his own death, the very moment he had died. An experience that let him shiver. Now he was alive again. A second life. But why' What purpose does this life has, that he was here' His first life served to fight, against the rules of his society, against His Shadow, and it ended like most warriors ended: they die. His death on the other hand served to fight in a different way. As reanimated corpse he killed numerous innocent people, finally His Shadow in person. It was clear to him that a living human being hadn't had the possibility to do that. But if he had to be dead for only this purpose – why couldn't his existence have ended' Why does he have to live again' He didn't know. Destiny he thought down. His thoughts went back to his dream, it showed him again the little boy he once had been. At least he remembered being young, something most BrunnenG seem to have forgotten. No wonder after thousand of years. Kai shook his head. He now had the same age like the oldest of his people, but he reached it under different circumstances – it was an irony, his people sentenced him to die slowly, by aging, but now he had a similar age without aging visibly. Kai asked himself for a moment if his now returned life would end when he grew old enough to die … if he ever…He stopped this thoughts. He won't end up in this terrible circle of thinking and re-thinking about a valuable or worthless life again. Kai sighed, sometimes he wished to be the little boy again. He had to smile when he remembered his serious interest and curiosity about history and his ancestors. Why did he remember or dream of exactly their visit in the museum' He analysed the memories and stopped suddenly when he saw again the star map. What were the names of those star systems his teacher had mentioned' Varion and … Kai rocket upwards when he recalled … Arcannea! Could it be that it was the same system they were now going to' He had to check on that, immediately. He put on his clothes, his boots and left the bedroom. “790'” he asked for the robot head, when he reached the bridge. “What do you want' Where's my Xev' Have you killed her'” snarled 790. “No. I want to ask you something. Can you check on something for me'” “Why should I'” Kai sighed. “I try to find a new home for Xev, do you remember' This could be important to reach this aim!” Kai hated to lie, even to lie partially, like in this case, but he knew that he would never find out anything without 790's help. But his insults were far better than the addiction he had shown before. Even for the dead had it been an enervating situation. Admitted, he had shown an unfamiliar motivation when he reprogrammed 790, but now, alive, he was relieved that 790's love-slave programming was focused on somebody else. “I hope it's really the reason for your question, so let me know what you want to know!” growled 790 after he considered Kai's request. Kai nodded and gave him every data he knew about the part of the DarkZone he had dreamt or better remembered of. The information mainly consisted of planetary configurations and distance specifications between Brunnis1 and Arcannea. Not much, but there weren't many planetary systems with this typical formation. After all, they had the coordinates of their destination and where Brunnis1 had been located before it was destroyed in this supernova they witnessed. Maybe this was helpfully enough for 790. “Well, that's not much, and if I'm right, I count 792 billion 562 million…possi…!” “I know, 790, please try to find out if both Arcannea are one and the same thing, and tell me immediately after you've found out anything!” Kai put 790 down to the bottom of the command pedestal and connected him to Lexx's data flow. “Only for the sake of my darling Xev!” 790's digital eyes changed into binary code and he started to compare data.
Kai thought. It would be a weird coincidence. He had never thought about the old alliances and if some of them could have survived until today. When he looked at their high developed ships on the other hand, it appeared logic that they might be this old people, the BrunnenG had fought with against the insects. He sighed ever so slightly. What could that mean' Such a weird coincidence must have some meaning, he was sure about it. But first he needed 790's confirmation about Arcannea, as long as this was unsure, he wouldn't mention it towards Xev or Stan. At least he hoped that this Arcannea would be a place where they could find some rest. Xev all above. He just wanted to leave the bridge, when 790 switched back into normal mode and announced some results: “Ahem, the data you gave me seem to fit perfectly to our destination. The distance calculation is highly accurate and the configuration of the planetary systems is nearly the same as our destination. Noticeable is the unusual degree of destruction of planetary systems in this part of the DarkZone. I can detect a lot of debris, maybe planetary debris, and they are not natural! But this must have happened a long long time ago, 15000 years plus or minus!” Kai turned. He wasn't surprised. “The destructiveness of the greatest war human kind had ever fought in!” he murmured. “Can you show me our destination'” he asked aloud. 790 projected a solar system onto Lexx's view screen. “It's a planetary system with eight planets, three of them, the third, fourth and fifth are inhabited, whereas the fourth and fifth form this significant double-configuration.” 790 commented shortly. Kai closed his eyes for a moment, recalled the pictures he saw in his dream. He had seen a ten-planetary-system, but the position of the three inhabited planets was exactly the same. Maybe two of the once ten planets had gone or were destroyed during time. Much could happen in thousands of years. “What about their neighbour system'” he asked on. “Four planets and a lot of debris. I can't detect any life there.” Kai nodded slowly. This was right, too. Varion had been destroyed, as well as nearly all the other planets of the system. Now he was virtually certain. This must be the same Arcannea. He asked himself. Did they know about their past' About the old human alliance against the insects' Whatever, one thing was sure, they were potentially one of the last human nations who survived the past 15000 years, different from those who were extinct, had emigrated or, like his own, had been destroyed. He decided to act with caution. If they remember their past, he wouldn't be recognized as BrunnenG, at least not now. “How long, until we reach Arcannea, 790'” “About half an hour!” “Thank you for your help, 790!” Kai left. “Yeah, yeah,” 790 growled.
Kai woke Xev. “Did I sleep for long'” she asked. “Mh, we have some minutes left,” he watched her thoughtfully. “Everything alright'” she asked and started to rearrange her hair. “Yes, I think so.” Kai started to comb his own hair quickly and braided it into one single plait. “New hair style'” she asked and smiled. He cocked his head and answered: “It feels unfamiliar, but it's not bad at all.” Even his traditional hair-do would have given away too much, when they met the Arcannea. The BrunnenG had had this hairstyle for millennia, just like him. No wonder it felt odd to him. “That's right!” Xev agreed, “I like it!” She crawled forward on her bed and pulled his lovelock out when she reached him. “But this is something I missed!” Kai smiled slightly. Xev left her bed with a sigh and put her clothes back on. Her gaze dropped to the weapon she had kept since the day he got alive. “Kai…” she started hesitating. She took the weapon and held it out to him. “Do you want to take it with you' I mean, we don't know what will await us…” Kai looked down to her outstretched hand, where the deadly, weak glittering weapon lay. He touched it hesitantly with his fingertips. Memories flooded through his mind again. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, tried to push the emerging outrages back. Abrupt he retracted his hand. “No…I…I…cannot. If you're the opinion we're in the need of a weapon, take it.” He looked sideward. Xev let the object fell down on her bed. “I'm sorry, I didn't want to…” she touched his arm softly. “…It's alright,” he interrupted her, he had to control his memories badly in future, whenever he would be confronted with objects or situations referring to his past. “Why did you keep it'” he then asked. “I'm not sure, I had this...feeling that we may need it someday.”
Like all the other equipment> she added in thoughts. Normally she should have thrown them away, but something, a weird feeling she couldn't ignore, distracted her from it. The thought scared her, why should he still need those parts' Kai was living, and so not relied on his old equipment. Xev didn't mention her thoughts to Kai, it wasn't necessary to remind him of this part of his past.
“Maybe, Xev, but not today, let us go!” he interrupted her thoughts, put forth his hand. Xev took it and both head for the bridge. Stanley arrived with them, still rubbing his eyes. He noticed Kai's new look “Nice hair-do,” he said and climbed on his command pedestal. Kai only furrowed his brows. “Lexx, how is it' Are we there'” Stan wanted to know. “Yes Stan, we are. And Stan'” “Yes Lexx'” “The planet we're approaching to is looking very delicious, may I eat it'” “No, no, Lexx, you won't eat any of this planets, you hear me'” Stan said sternly. “Ok, Stan, but I soon have to eat, I'm very hungry!” Lexx answered. “Alright, we're looking for something to eat for ya, Lexx,” Stan calmed the huge ship. “Thank you Stanley,” “Do I mention that Lexx is really greedy at the moment'” he asked his crewmembers. Kai shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know when he ate for the last time.” “Well, that's a couple of weeks ago…when we stopped at this space station.” Xev reminded him. Stan grunt and watched the approaching planet, better said planets. Xev lifted 790 up and asked him: “Can you tell us something about those planets'” “Always my honey pie…. The third planet of this planetary system is at 95% covered with water, only a few islands, the fourth planets, they were circuiting each other, are different. One of them is a very fertile planet with lots of vegetation, water, high share of population and of course, very high developed. The other one is less beautiful, it seems that it's a resource planet, low population, high industrial facilities, something that the other planet lacks completely.” 790 reported detailed. Xev put him under her arm and thanked him. “At least not a desert planet or something else…” Stanley muttered. Xev nodded: “I think I like it…” Suddenly the planets disappeared and Te'ran appeared on the screen. “Welcome to the Arcannea system, the home of our alliance. If you have any possibility to get to our space station between Arcan's and T'uara, they're the double planetary configuration you can see, I'll suggest one of our fighters will escort you there. The area is very crowded at the moment, as you soon will see. Our larger ships are staying away from the station and planets and we're using small shuttles to get there. Our president will greet you in person – it seems that your little demonstration had caused a stir.” He smiled mischievously. “I think everything else you will hear later. I'm pleased to meet you in person.” The screen turned black and then it showed again the planetary system. For a moment there was silence on the bridge, then Xev smiled and said: “Well, let's go, I'm curious why their president will greet us in person!” Stan shrugged his shoulders. “So, why not, at least they seem to be friendly.” “Yes, captain, maybe this time we have a little bit more luck with a planetary government!” She bounced forward and jumped into a moth. Stan and Kai followed her. The moth left the Lexx and they met one of the small, pitch-black fighters outside. It was Te'ran himself, who flew it. “Stay close, just follow me!” Te'ran instructed them. Xev navigated the moth into the same direction. “These ships are looking really unfamiliar and weird, never seen anything like that, “ Stan said, when they passed some of the real big warships, orbiting the planets in huge distance. They were pitch black, (I'll insert a picture of those ships later), but their shade didn't remind him of something he knew. But a relationship to the Lexx or another insect ship he couldn't deny. They had something that commemorate at it, even if he couldn't tell what. “They're made of organic material,” Kai answered, whilst watching them fascinated. They remind him of a crossing between the old insect ships and modern non-organic streamlined ship designs. “Organic' Like Lexx'” asked Xev. “No, not similar to the Lexx. Lexx is a living organic ship, with very little inorganic material. These ships are made of bioorganic material, with regenerative skills, they're not living creatures like Lexx, they even don't have a life of their own. It's a different kind to the technology my ancestors used, but a very high developed one, too. It needed a few thousand years to get to this level of development.” “So, you say, that they're maybe an older civilization'” Xev asked. Kai nodded. Every detail he discovered fit more and more into his assumption that they were the descendants of the old ally of the BrunnenG. “I hope they're wise enough to treat us friendly!” Stan muttered. “Well, they didn't shoot at us, that's a good start, isn't it'” Xev smiled. Stan nodded. “Even when I'm sure the Lexx is superior…I don't want to mess with their ships!” He added. “Yes, they look really dangerous, but if they are at war, they need this demonstration of power. What do you mean, Kai'” She peeked at him. He nodded absent, watching the approaching planets with the space station in-between. Te'ran didn't understate. An enormous traffic dominated the space around the station. As big as the space station even was, it would never carry this huge amount of ships outside. Many of them showed heavy damage, and so some repair ships supported those, which weren’t able to fly any meter. Their escort flew skillful through the teeming mass and navigated to the station. As closer they got, the better they could see details of the station. It was an interesting construction. The center of the station was the hugest segment as well as the largest level, because above and beneath every following segment was smaller than the precedent. So the station could be described as diamond-shaped. Otherwise it was made of the same material than their space ships. The communication-system cracked and Te'ran reported: “Please follow me to segment 37, level 12, hangar 305. Stay close, because we don't have a guide beam.” Xev confirmed and decreased the speed of their moth slightly. After a moment they raced over segment 37 and they could see numerous hangars. Kai assumed that the space station contained thousands of those small space fighters. After a sharp turn around one of the four edges of the station, Te'ran tilted his fighter and dived into one of the small hangars. Xev followed without hesitation and landed the moth next to the fighter. The flight deck wasn't very big, and Xex asked herself how many accidents might happened in the past, if one of the pilots hadn't found the right angle to land. She sighed and wanted to abandon the moth. Kai caught her arm before she could lift the lid. Puzzled she looked at him. “Wait,” he said. “Why' Is anything wrong'” she asked startled. Kai pointed with his head at the rear. “Don't leave the moth before the hangar doors are closed, otherwise…” “…it's getting a bit uncomfortable inside!” Stan finished the sentence, whilst watching the closing doors. “Oh,” meant Xev, she hadn't thought about it. Kai loosen his grip and let go of her. Xev sighed inwardly, as always, she felt his touch resonate for a long time. Almost entreatingly her glance begged for another touch. But he wasn't responsive to her.
When they saw movement next to the small fighter, they also left their vehicle. “Wow!” Stan said in awe. “It seems that nearly everything is built of this organic material!” He drew nearer to the wall and touched it carefully. It wasn't very different from those inside the Lexx, this one vibrated softly, too. “I'm also fascinated every time about this material, isn't it unbelievable what can be built with it'” Te'ran approached them with a curious look on his face. “I'm pleased to meet you!” He put forth his hand and greeted them individually. Both sides examined each other. Te'ran was of middle height, slim with a well-fitting uniform. A smile appeared on his chiseled face and he stroke back his unruly brown hair. Despite his warm smile, Xev could see many worries shining through, his bright green eyes weren't laughing with the rest.
Te'ran wondered about this remarkable bunch standing in front of him. This scantily clad, beautiful woman, the man with the red jumpsuit, who seemed to be nervous all the time and finally his direct opposite, the tall, slender man in black, who observed his environment with the cool and calm behavior of an experienced warrior. And of course, there was this robot head. He had so many questions he wanted to ask them, but no time for it. He pushed his curiosity back and asked them to follow. He guided them into a neighboring meeting room, where the announced greeting committee awaited them.



Chapter 10

Welcome to Arcannea Part 1

They were five.
In front of them stood a tall, slender woman in a deep blue sleeveless dress. She had black hair, which was riddled with red streaks. Her skin was tanned from sunlight and Xev discovered strange marks, assumedly tattoos, running down her neck on both sides, across her shoulders and arms down to her wrists, where they end in a devoured pattern. She recognized the surrounding aura of authority immediately when she looked into her face. Her face didn't give her age away, even if Xev discovered visible traces of responsibility and worries in it.
Her escort wore civil clothes, too. They were three middle-aged men and a younger woman. One of the men showed similar tattoos like her, but she couldn't see them completely, as they vanished under his long sleeves. Xev drew her attention back to Te'ran when he cleared his throat and rose to speak: “Our highly worshipped president of the Arcannean Alliance: Shereen!”

The tall woman made a step forward to greet the crew of the Lexx. “I'd like to welcome you here on our Arcannea Space Station and to our home, the Arcannea planetary system.” She paused a second, letting her gaze wander over the three humanoids. Xev determined that her eyes were silver colored. “I'm sorry that you got accidentally into the line of fire of this conflict. I hope you and your ship weren't damaged somehow, if, we'll support you in every way possible, of course.” Stanley shook his head and calmed her: “Don't worry, Ma'am. The Lexx isn't that easy to damage or destroy. I'm Stanley H. Tweedle, captain of the Lexx.” Xev noticed relieved that he didn't gloat over it like usually. It seemed that the authority of this woman didn't fail its effect on him. Shereen took his presented hand and smiled friendly at him. “Xev Bellringer,” Xev introduced herself as next, not surprised by the firm and resolute handshake of Shereen. Yes, this woman was every inch a true person of authority. Shereen smiled, as if she had read Xev's thoughts.
Well, it wasn't that wrong.
Shereen knew her effects to other people, but this was one cause why she had been chosen for this presidency. She led the council since 46 years now, a strong president they truly need in those difficult times. Shereen originated from Sha'ra, the third planet in this system, the water planet. Her ancestors only survived on their hostile planet because of their fierce power and their strong will to survive. The Sha'ran race hadn't lost this and many other talents to this day. Shereen was a telepath, nothing unusual among her people. But for the presidency it was an important requirement. So, most presidents of the Alliance came from Sha'ra. It was no surprise to her family that she stepped into their shoes. She followed suit the former president, when his power diminished. The skills she had were important to rule the Arcannean Alliance. No technology was as fast as a direct contact with her council or her counselors, which often were spread all over those many planets, belonging to the Alliance. Over the last 3000 years it had proved to be really useful, any decision could be made without time delay. Of course, it wasn't that easy all the time, she never really had leisure-time. But when she needed some time-out for privacy or other important meetings, her personal counselors, fulfilled this task during that time. One was with her now, so Shereen could throw her whole concentration to this meeting and to the weird crew of this far more weird ship, which evoke some unpleasant memories. Her skills weren't designed to spy on people, but she wanted to be sure, that this people weren't some threat to the Alliance. Especially when she thought of the ship and its destruction potential. They weren't able to afford a two fronting war. She concentrated to find out more about them. It was often enough to observe their vacillation to learn if they were trustworthy or not. When she shook hands with Stan and Xev, she couldn't determine any animosity. Stan seemed to be a man-in-the-street, admitted, with a lot of complexes, but over all he seemed to be an honest man. Xev now, she was very friendly, but she could sense another side of her, a strange part she wasn't able to classify. It calmed her that everything else seemed to be friendly. When the robot head introduced himself as 790, she was very surprised and a bit amused, too. This was the strangest personality she ever had met. Even if she wasn't able to detect anything besides complete addiction towards Xev, she never had thought of him as a threat, maybe because of the absence of a body. “Why only the head'” she asked curious. “A little accident…” Xev smiled and patted 790's metal case. “It's a long story!” “Ah,” Shereen smiled back, when she felt Xev's merriment. A part of her hoped to hear this story sometime. Then she turned to the last crewmember. Kai took a back seat the whole time. Despite this new situation, the sensations and everything else that had changed for him, the assassin inside him was still present and wide-awake. If needed, this part of his personality would protect Xev and Stan against every danger they might get in. But so far, he couldn't detect anything threateningly, what relaxed him a bit. So he observed the Arcannea to learn if they might really be the old allies of the BrunnenG. “And you are…'” the president cut his train of thoughts. “I'm Kai, Mrs. President,” he answered friendly and shook her hand. Shereen winced ever so slightly when she touched his hand, but Kai didn't miss this reaction. She didn't retract her hand at once, instead, she closed her eyes for a moment as if to cope with a huge flow of information or sensations, because he saw her features flicker with sorrow and regret. There was no other explanation to him, that she was able to read his mind, or at least his sensations. In his countless memories he found numerous hints referring to this skill, and he protected himself immediately. Before she withdrew from his thoughts he heard a clear I'm sorry, echoing through his mind. Whether it was meant for her intrusion or for what she had discovered, he didn't know, but with a barely visible nod he accepted her apology. Shereen was relieved that no one took notice of this strange incident. For the first time in her life, she was happy that her training for control was at last worth something. He had less in common with his friends. The flood of sensations and the disordered structure of his mind shocked her. She had never experienced something like that. It appeared to her that not all of these chaotic thoughts were his. But she couldn't explain why. Another thing she recognized, were his deep and painful sad sensations. This man radiated a darkness she had only felt within bad persons or very unhappy people. It calmed her, that she couldn't detect any ferocity inside him, but whatever had caused this, it must have been a real tragic occasion. She now was very eager to hear their story, but before, she still had a few questions. “Your ship is very interesting. I've never seen anything like that!” she said, continuing their conversation. “It is unique. Lexx isn't only a ship. He lives, he is intelligent – well, to a certain degree, if he gets hungry, it's getting complicated, but otherwise it's quite easy to handle with him,” Stan explained proudly. “It lives'” Te'ran asked. “That's interesting, but how do you control a living ship with his own mind, I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't want to know any secrets, but as I'm a pilot I'm really interested in this matter.” Stan scratched his chin and considered his question for a moment. He looked at Xev and Kai, waiting for any objections, but they didn't say anything. “The Lexx obeys only my orders. No one else can. It's a kind of key I possess,” he answered carefully, leaving out further details. They always had had enough trouble in the past, because of this key, so he became more careful with any information referring to it. “Mh, I understand, but despite all this advanced technology, it's still an insect ship.” Shereen said sharply, calling a spade a spade. Kai looked at her and spoke for the first time: “You know insect ships'” Shereen sighed: “I'm sorry, you really don't know anything about our history, I think I should start at the beginning to explain why I knew insect ships, but unfortunately there is so little time for long stories. But you must understand, we're at war, and even though you saved many lives on our side, I have to be sure that you're no threat to us. I'm sure about that now and I really want to hear what brought you here, but I have to return to the council soon. So I want to invite you to stay with us, on Arcan's. There were plenty of quarters and many possibilities to have fun. That's only a small offer we can give you in return for now, but we'd be very proud to welcome you as our guests.” Shereen offered them. Xev smiled, mentioning an invitation on one of their planets with good quarters and fun excited her. “Why not, I'd love that. What do you think'” she asked her companions. “Where ever you go…I'll be with you!” 790 whispered. Stan nodded in agreement and Kai tilted his head slightly. “We're honored. Te'ran will explain and show you everything. I think we'll meet tomorrow, I want to invite you for dinner, so maybe we can exchange our stories. To tell stories in combination with a meal is tradition amongst my people. I hope you will accept'” Xev spoke again for her friends, exactly knowing that the chance of a good meal would made them agree. “That's fine by us!” “Good. I'm sorry that there's not very much time, but this war needs our full attention at the moment. It broaden, and we're almost with our backs to the wall.” Shereen sighed. “How does this war start'” Kai asked. The president looked at him: “We were caught off guard. We thought we were so high developed, that some potential enemies were no threat to us – but I think now we're disabused. When we survive this war, for future we've learned something important: You should never overprice your own acquisitions and you should always watch beyond your borders.” Kai nodded slightly, this was an issue his own people had forgotten, too – to take a look outside. Shereen turned to her escort and nodded shortly at one of the men. It was time to go, he had transmitted to her that the council was about to meet. “Let us talk again tomorrow, I have to go now,” she smiled warmly and left the room. Te'ran stayed behind and now it was his task to look after their guests. “I'll take you to your quarters on Arcan's, if you'd like to follow me, please'” “Wherefrom she did know, that she had to go back'” Xev asked curiously when they left the room. “No one had told her…” “She's …” Te'ran started. “…a telepath,” Kai closed the sentence without turning around. Te'ran looked astonished at the tall man: “That's right, wherefrom…'” “…I have this knowledge' I felt it when she greeted us. A part of me has some…experience with skills of this kind,” Kai explained, it was difficult to describe someone his source of information without further explanations. There was no need to do that for the moment. “Oh,” Te'ran nodded, this people were really strange. But if Shereen saw no concern to invite them, he would never argue against it. He changed the topic, when they walked through different corridors of the station. Huge observation windows let them look outside. They could see all those big ships orbiting the station far away. “A fascinating ship,” Te'ran said, when the Lexx passed. “The most powerful ship in the two universes!” Stan said. “Two universes'” Te'ran asked. “There's only one, at least what I know. Where do you come from, that you believe in something like the existence of two universes'” “We're from the Cluster, it's in the LightZone. There we've stolen the Lexx and passed through the fractal core into the DarkZone, well, that's where we're now!” “Cluster' LightZone, DarkZone, fractal core' I've never heard about it. Alright, the thesis about the existence of two universes I remember…. Some of our scientists deal with it. The assumption emanated from some old recordings, which were rediscovered not long ago. History and astronomy are my hobbies, you must know.” “How old are those recordings'” Kai asked interested. “My god, very very old, ten till twelve thousand years,” he chuckled, “Don't tell them that you're from another universe, they would tear you apart until they knew everything.” He stopped and let them enter another hangar, where a shuttle waited for them. He identified himself to the security control and then they boarded the shuttle. He navigated them with high speed down to Arcan's, and then he slowed down to give them a sight seeing flight. “Beautiful,” Xev murmured, when they flew in half an hour over coasts, sea, cities and different landscapes. “Yes, I love Arcan's very much. It's my home. I was born on the southern hemisphere. That's where we live, when we're not on Sha'ra.” “We'” asked Xev. “Shereen and me. Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't mentioned it, she's my wife!” he explained smiling. “Ah, so she's not from Arcan's'” Xev asked. “No, she's from Sha'ra, the water planet. It's a very beautiful planet, too, whether life is much harder there, even today. But if you're origin from a water planet you always have to go back…there's no compare with other oceans.” Te'ran said, revealing a little more about himself. “I don't like water planets…” Stan murmured. “The last time we visited one, we only were in trouble, not to speak about the experience to drown…!” “Desert planets are worse,” Xev answered. “Both are, it's only the other extreme. So I like planets which look more like this jewel…” Stan pointed at Arcan's. “If you know Arcan's that good…how is it here to… you know…. have fun, to meet…yeah, nice, pretty women'” “Forget it Tweedle, who wants to walk along the beach with such a ugly, incompetent, cowardly guy like you!” 790 snarled. “Oh, shut up, 790! At least I'm able to walk – unlike you!” Stan threw an angry look at the robot head. Te'ran watched them amused. “It's nothing unusual,” Xev grinned. “Xev, darling, he is not normal, someone should do a lobotomy on him!” “790! Stop it!” Xev warned the head. Te'ran looked questioningly at her. “Well, 790 is completely in love with me, since he got the love slave treatment instead of me.” “Love slave treatment'” Te'ran asked. “Yes, I was altered into a love slave, when they put this sentence on me for failing to perform my wifely duties. When they transformed my body, a cluster lizard had eaten 790's body and I had freed myself. 790's head was the only thing that remained, and so he got the love slave treatment, because I put him under this device. Since that day, he is completely addicted to me, because I have been the first person he saw after the treatment.” “Don't forget to mention that he was in love with Kai for some time,” Stan grinned. “That's not true, bah, I've never done something dirty…ugly…Xev-betrayingly things…. unless I have had a malfunction!” 790 revolted. “You have, 790, and you weren't malfunction.” Xev patted his metal case. “Wuahhhh, no, that's not true, never….””Hey, whatever it was, it's over now, isn't it'” Xev calmed him. “You're right, my delicious one…don't let us talk about it anymore!” “Where do you come from where such weird punishments were done'” Te'ran asked. “It's a real long story…” Xev sighed. “I think I have to wait till tomorrow because we have reached our destination. But I'm very excited to hear it.” He slowed the shuttle down and landed it softly on the ground. “If you want to have fun and the opportunity to meet women,” Te'ran smiled, “ Then you have to go to the center of Shar'ta'n. There you'll find everything what makes fun. Bars, restaurants, dance, music, theater…everything. Come with me, I'll show you where we have landed.” Te'ran left the shuttle and the Lexx crew followed him. Leaving the shuttle, the first thing Xev enjoyed was the warm weather and the sun shining from the sky. They had landed on a free space in a huge, well-kept garden. Beautiful flowers and trees were growing everywhere, foreign animals were audible and a small ditch wiggled some meters through the grass. Te'ran pointed to the right, where she could see some low, one-storied houses, under the huge trees, she also spotted a glittering amongst the stems, and asked: “Are they built right next to the sea'” Te'ran nodded: “Yes, it's a cove, very idyllic. I think you'll find it very suitable. How many quarters you'll need'” Xev looked at Kai questioningly, but his attention was elsewhere, so she decided for them both. “Two are enough, I think, one for Stan and one for me and Kai. Is that ok for you Stan'” “Of course…as long as 790 stays with you both…!” Stan agreed. Xev laughed, she knew from the beginning that she wouldn't have any choice, even though it was not very comfortable to have 790 around when she wanted to be alone with Kai, but like she thought before…she had no choice. Te'ran gave her two silvery cards and said: “They're the keys to your quarters. If you want to go to Shar'ta'n center, to the nightclub district, you just have to walk along the beach, it's only a few minutes. If you want to know anything further, you can use the information network, you have access to it in every quarter. If there ain't any questions, I have to go back, I'll be back tomorrow to fetch you up, I'll let you know. Welcome to Arcan's!” Xev smiled thankfully and Te'ran went back into his shuttle. The three stepped back a bit to let him start, and a few seconds later he was gone. Xevs smile wasn't able to fade. She breathed deeply to enjoy the flowery scent and let the sun warm her up. The clusterlizard inside her growled in excitement. “I really like it!” she said happily and started to explore the garden. With 790 under her arm she walked from one flower to the next, sniffed here and there a bit and let the cool water of the small ditch run through her fingers. Stan also couldn't deny his interest in this beautiful place. He forgot his usual concern about everything and anything and let sank the beauty in. Kai still stood where he first had stopped. Each part of his body had to cope with this new experience. It was the first time he was outdoors, on a planet, since he was alive again. So there were many new things he had to adapt to. He blinked into the sun, let the warmth heating up his face. His head nearly swirled from all those scents and noises he was able to hear and smell. But he also felt a wonderful satisfaction when he looked around. Xev was right this was a wonderful place. He only had seen some kind of this in his memories. The small gardens on Brunnis, located underground like everything else, hadn't been as beautiful as the real ones outside…
He closed his eyes for a moment, he could stand here for the rest of his life if necessary. The peaceful sensations inside comfort him and he was glad to feel something simple and strong again.
“Kai'” Xev's voice woke him finally. She stood a few meters away, Stan next to her, it seemed that they wanted to head to the quarters. With slight regret he closed the distance between them and looked inquiring at her. “Stan wants to go to his quarter, maybe we should go too'” she wanted to know. Kai nodded slightly. Xev put out the two silvery cards she got from Te'ran. “How do we find the right one'” she asked with knitted brows, studying the symbols on the card she wasn't able to read. Stan looked closer at them, took one of it: “I think, we just have to compare the numbers, imprinted onto this cards, with the equal number on those buildings!” “Oh…” Xev said. “They're numbers, seems that my flat has number 8,“ Stan announced happily. “Should have known….” Xev stopped, she felt a bit sheepish about her disability to read and write. But for her, as a woman raised up in a box, and educated in the wife-bank, this skill wasn't needed or wanted. She was trained to obey her husband to be, and everything else to make him happy – not herself. So there was no need to learn writing and reading. Furthermore, it hadn't been predictable, that her carefully planned life finally ended up this way. Until now, she was never in need of these skills.
Embarrassed she looked sideward, when Stan walked happily whistling towards the small houses. It was obvious that he wanted to go to the town soon after he had inspected his quarter and maybe taken a shower. “Don't get into trouble!” she called after him. “Not me…!” he shouted back. “I hope that you'll get into trouble!” 790 growled loudly. “Then they'll lock you away and you can rot!” Stan ignored 790 completely, the insane robot head wasn't able to diminish his good mood. He waved back and then he vanished behind those huge trees. Kai looked at Xev: “What's with you'” he asked softly. He had noticed the sudden change in her humor, and it could only be a serious thing that was able to trouble her mood like this. Xev shook her head, glanced back at him for a second before she dropped her gaze back to the floor. Was she stupid, because she couldn't master something rudimentary' Sometimes she felt like it, especially in Kai's presence. He was long before her birth and his own death a very intelligent and cultured man. Added to it, he carried the memories of those who had been killed by his shadow, amongst them surely a lot of high educated and genius people. In those moments she regretted that she had never enjoyed a proper education, and then she felt very very small. Like now. She raised her gaze, when she felt his hand touching hers. He still looked questioningly at her. Xev hesitated, normally she was too shy to tell someone about it, but every time she looked into his eyes, she knew that she needn't be afraid or ashamed to tell him about her inadequateness. He would never laugh about it. And so it came out in a sigh what depressed her. Kai seemed to be a little puzzled about this, but he replied seriously to her, that there were enough possibilities to change that issue, if she wanted to. “How'” she asked shyly. “I'd teach you…” he offered simply. “Is that possible'” she continued asking. “Why not' You may not have the knowledge of some things, but you're intelligent. You're learning fast, why shouldn't it be impossible to learn reading and writing'” She nodded, it sounded logically to her. “Besides that, to have knowledge doesn't mean to be a genius…or a high intelligent person. You still need your brain to use this knowledge,” he added. Xev smiled again: “I know. I'm glad that you'd help me…I hope we can start with it soon!” Kai nodded, it was at least something he could give to her in return. She looked around one more time, when a twinkle caught her attention. Some distance away she saw a large object glinting in the sunlight. She wondered why she hadn't seen it before. She pointed it out to Kai, and started to move into the direction. “Coming'” Soon she saw that it was placed in a special place in this garden. Many beautiful flowers were blooming there, a fountain babbled low and some benches were placed around. She put 790 down on one of the benches and moved closer to the object. The twinkle decreased when she drew nearer, and she was able to see single parts of it more sharply. The object was made of a white crystal material and was placed on a low socket. It was about two meters high and very impressive. Xev identified a large, insect-shaped life form surrounded by several human figures. Fascinated she observed this detailed work. The humans showed grim, resolute features and seemed to fight against the weird life form, because they carried weapons and threatened the creature with them. Xev shook her head in wonder, the being really looked like an insect, slender body, wings, a long tail…even a little like the Lexx. None of the humans looked like the other. Every single one of them had different clothes, different weapons and other significant characteristics. Her gaze wandered to the insect's, or whatever it was, head, where one of the humans was in the very act of thrusting his weapon into its neck. She didn't believe her eyes when she recognized, whom this human represented. “Kai!” she whispered. But her mate already drew the same consequences. “It's a, that's a…!” “…BrunnenG,” he closed the sentence without surprise. Besides all the other evidences, this was the ultimate one, which confirmed all his assumptions. “How’s that possible'” she asked, but the realization already hit her, when she observed the insect shaped creature. “The insect war'” she said. Kai turned to face her, but his gaze directed at the sky. “Yes,” “But that's thousands of years ago…” “21000, yes,” He looked back at her. “But how' I mean…wait, what's this'” she leveled herself to the bottom of the socket and pointed at some inscriptions. One of them seemed to be familiar to her…Brunnis; she had seen it on Brunnis, the planet of Kai's ancestors. Kai knelt down next to her and looked at the inscriptions. “Can you read it'” she asked impatiently. He couldn't read the first lines, but he was sure that they were the arcannean script. But the lines beneath he knew very well…
“In respectful and grateful memory to our ancestors and the victory of the human race against the insect civilization in the great war. We honor the dead and our past!”

Kai read the brunnish script without any problems. Admitted it was long ago, that he had learned and read them the last time, he even counted out his visit on the origin planet of his people. There hadn't been much to read, besides some symbols.

“In gratitude to our allies:
the Share'n, who always fought at the front the Varion, who fought until their last warrior died and who sacrificed their home to save our lives the Fallea,….”

Endless names and earnings followed till the closing rate:

“We bow before the most bravest warriors our universe ever has seen. It was their courage and their desert we won this war – honor and thank to the…. BrunnenG,” he stopped.
Kai traced the writing with the name of his people with his fingertips. Softly, Xev touched his shoulders: “Kai'” He sighed: “I never expected that somewhere a place still exists where my ancestors are remembered as the great warriors they once were.” “They really must have been great warriors!” Xev looked at the memorial, then back to Kai. She remembered his story. The discovery of never ending life might have diminished the BrunnenG to an old stagnant society, but the heir of their great past had survived in their newborn. Kai was the best indicative for it. His heroic tries to stop His Shadow left no doubt to it. “Like you!” she finally said. Kai dropped his head. “They were…. but…” Xev interrupted him:” Stop it, you're so similar to them, with all you courage and bravery, don't lie to yourself.” Kai looked at her in surprise, when he heard her stern and resolute voice. “Haven't you told me ' When you made a stand against His Shadow' Like your ancestors did, when they fought against the insects, uncertain if they ever come back, but certain by the fact that they would face death with pride and without fear. So did your friends – and you! You're truly a BrunnenG, more like all your people at your time, don't count what had been between your lives, everything what counts you can find here…” She laid her hand on his heart, “And that's still inside here…! I am right, ain't I'” Xev looked deep into his eyes, fierce and adamant. He kept silent, remembered the day, when he had put himself into question. Had he listened to his heart this day' No, probably not. It was right, they had made stand against an invincible enemy, without hesitation, knowing exactly that they would never leave their tiny ships alive. Kai felt deep inside, that Xev was right, he hadn't listened to his heart in the past, his mind had been too busy to deal with his guilt, and so he forgot to ask another voice of his. Kai gulped, he had been a warrior, someone who had done his ancestors credit. And he would have been died this way – hadn't His Shadow had other plans and ideas. Destiny had spoken. Kai closed his eyes. It was difficult to accept what happened between his two lives. Maybe one day he could, and maybe his memory to what he once had been would help him to find this way. There was nothing more important to him as to retrieve what he had done during his 2000 years of assassination in the serve of His Divine Shadow. Maybe it was not an accident that they had come here. Maybe it was another twist of fate. His dream, their meeting with the descendants of an old ally, who were now involved in another war with an, obviously superior, enemy. Was it their fate, his fate, to help' He wasn't sure, that dependent on what else they would learn about the Arcannea and the war. “Kai'” Xev asked. She hoped that she hadn't gone too far, when she talked at him so resolute. His soul was an open wound, and far was it from her to rub salt into his wounds. Kai raised his gaze. She wanted an answer and she deserved one. It wasn't easy for him to talk about, but he could fool neither her nor himself. “You're right,” his voice trembled lightly, “2000 years of murder and other cruelties let me doubt about many things, first of all to myself, Xev.” The sorrow in his voice was clearly audible, he couldn't prevent it. “I once was like them, but I still have another past, a past I'm not very proud of. This is, what makes me doubt to call myself a BrunnenG. Both issues are opponents, they're like fire and water. Is one moment of heroism enough to delete, or forget 2000 years of assassination' I don't know, Xev. I don't think so. The decision is not on me.” “Then I'll do it for you,” Xev swallowed hard. “You're not a mindless assassin anymore, you once were a warrior, and you still are…and you're a BrunnenG. That's what I think and what I believe in!” She put her arms around him, squeezed him slightly. “It's a bitter irony,” he said after a few moments and freed himself of her embrace. His eyes were gazing sadly at her. “What'” she asked. He pointed at the memorial. “The BrunnenG once defeated the insects – but by their retreat from everything outside their world, because of their disinterest in other human races, they let another insect conquer and destroy humanity again. If my people wouldn't have discovered immortality, they hadn't withdrawn and they could have helped so many in the LightZone.” A bitter smile shone on his lips when he said those words. “Or maybe, if I could have killed him, many other people could have been saved,” he added. “Destiny is a cruel game. What would it do to us now'” Xev asked. Kai sighed, he wasn't sure about, but maybe it was at the time to tell Xev about his dream and the discovery he had made. So he told her about his dreamlike memory and the connection he discovered between it and this planetary system and its people. “You already know this planet'” she asked surprised. “I've never been here, Xev, but like I told you, I've learned a little about the human alliance at school. That's all I know about them.” “Hm, now we're here too, what do you think'” she mused. “About what'” came his reply. “About this situation, I mean, it's a strange coincidence, isn't it'” “I'm not sure if it really is a coincidence. Many strange things happened of late. First I got my life back, second, I dreamt about something I've learned as child about the insect wars and the human alliance, and third – we met one nation of this alliance by accident…. only strange luck or is it maybe more'” he told her. Xev nodded. If it was a coincidence, it was the most remarkable one. “And what if it's no coincidence'” She asked carefully. “You mean if it's destined that we have to be here' I don't know. Maybe we should help them with their problems. It seemed that they are threatened by a superior enemy,” Kai said. “Maybe. We've seen that the Lexx is strong enough to defeat them. But on the other side…who tells us who is right in this conflict' Why we should interfere…” Xev hesitated. Yes, the people they met, were nice and friendly, but Prince had been friendly in the beginning too…she never want to make the same fault again. Sometimes it took time to discover the real enemy. “We still have interfered, Xev. We have destroyed a whole fleet of ships, their enemies. I think for their enemies it's clear which side we have chosen. I only see two possibilities, to adopt a neutral position, or help the Arcannea,” Kai explained. Xev shook her head. “We still have so few information, to be on the safe side we must learn more, Kai!” “You're right, we have to. I want to know more about their past, I'm almost certain that we can learn a lot about them if we know more about the past 20000 years,” Kai agreed. Xev looked back at the memorial. It was really strange that they were constantly confronted with insects, remains of His Shadows reign and other weird things. His Shadow. Xev shivered. He had been an insect too, the last surviving insect. He must have managed somehow to cross from the DarkZone into the LightZone. Potentially the same way the BrunnenG took. With the difference that the arrival and discovery of this last insect meant thousands of years slavery, war and death for most humans in the LightZone. They had to pay for something that happened in the DarkZone. Until the wrath of this last insect finally hit those who were mainly responsible for the destruction of his race – the BrunnenG. For the first time she was able to look at the whole story. Since she had met Kai, she had learned a lot more about all those things, which had led to His Shadows reign of terror, his plan to extinguish the human race. It was a horrible imagination to see all humanity gone. His Shadow hated all humanity, but unlike Mantrid, who really destroyed a whole universe with its entire people in a short time, His Shadow wanted to let the humans suffer. He enslaved them, put a reign of terror above them. She was sure that his thirst for revenge had reached a new peak when he destroyed Kais planet and with it the entire BrunnenG race, except for Kai. He saved him to punish the BrunnenG beyond death. And what was the worst one can do to people who had fought and won against the insects' You make the last of them a slave for your own evil plans. So His Shadow did. He turned Kai into an undead killing machine, a mockery of life, two things so dishonorable to every BrunnenG – a slap in the face to this old legendary people. And of course he wanted to demoralize the whole resistance, first in line the OstrolB heretics – by making a mockery out of the prophecy many people had put all their faith and hope in, these days.
Xev pushed those unpleasant thoughts back. What happened in the past was tragic enough, especially for her beloved. She had only a glimpse idea how he must feel when he thought about his past as assassin. Not only because he had killed, no, there was still the other aspect, to be a BrunnenG and the slave of an insect at the same time. As a mindless assassin it hadn't meant anything to him, she wasn't sure if it had meant anything to him, when he got his memories back, for he was not able to feel, but she was sure that now, it was something what troubled him and he had to deal with too. She suppressed her sorrow for him and asked in a, hopefully, normal voice: “Should we go to our quarter, too'” Kai nodded: “Yes, why not.” They left the memorial and Xev picked up 790 on the way. “I just want to know how they will react when they learn where you're from,” she said. “I hope they don't get it wrong,” he answered calm. “You mean, if they recognized you as BrunnenG they might have seen some symbolism in it'” she pointed at his hair, now understanding why he avoided to wear his usual hair-do. “They recognized our ship clearly as insect, Xev, we also have fought with modified insect ships. Maybe you can imagine what might had happened, if a BrunnenG returned after 18000 years with such a ship…and they are in trouble!” “You won't awake false hope…”she said thoughtful. “My people were gone, Xev, they left the DarkZone 18000 years ago – they hadn't have any contact with them since, and we both know that my people were extinguished 6000 years ago, something they don't know, too. The BrunnenG won't help them, because they can't!” his voice was barely audible with the last words. Xev saw him dropping his gaze to the ground. “Maybe one is enough, don't forget that we have the Lexx, the most powerful ship in both universes!” Kais shook his head slightly: “Whereby we're back with the issue about destiny…let us talk about this tomorrow, when we meet president Shereen. Maybe some things will be more clear to us!” he said, closing the topic. “Good idea. It lead us to nothing to brood over this topic without more information, you're right.” They reached the entrance of another small garden, which was surrounded by a low fence. A few meters inside they saw some steps leading down to two small houses. They were built under some huge trees and close to each other. Xev could see the symbol painted to the front wall, next to the door. It was equal to those at the card. Kai took the card and said: “I guess Stan took the right domicile, number 8, so we have to take number seven.” He pointed at the right house. “So those symbols are numbers'! This is a seven and this is an eight,” she made a mental note of it. Better to start learning now. Kai nodded and walked to the door, opened it by drawing the card through the card reader. The door opened to a bright and friendly domicile. “Wow!” she said surprised. The entrance, a short corridor, was lit up with lamps, and led directly into one small room. She entered, while Kai closed the door behind them. Xev looked around in this comfortable arranged room. Several windows, embedded at the ceiling and the front, lit it. A larger suite was arranged in the middle of the room, on the right wall she saw a large screen, maybe a communication system, because she recognized a service panel next to it. Some stylish furniture completed the arrangement. Curiously she put her attention to the front windows. She drew nearer and looked out. Te'ran was right. Right behind this house was a small terrace, followed suit by a pretty beach, and, of course, the sea. It was a small bay, their domicile lay on the outer left side, only three other similar houses were built in this bay. She put 790 down to the ground and opened the door. Kai still stood halfway between the corridor and what seemed to be the living room. He didn't say a word, instead his gaze followed Xev and he had to smile. She once again was on a discovery tour. He watched her slipping through the door and walking over the beach. Then he put his attention back to the arrangement of this room. He picked up 790 and put him onto the desk in front of the screen. He was sure that it was a communication system as well as a multimedia system, very similar to those he had used on Brunnis2. He switched it on and connected 790 to it, he asked: “Can you please record every information you can find about the insect wars and this current war'” “Why'” the robot head demanded to know. “Please, Xev is as much interested in it than I am.” “I'll ask her!” 790 said grimly. “If you like…!” Kai answered calm. He knew exactly that Xev would agree to everything he wanted to know from 790, and he also knew that this was something 790 would also know. So it wasn't any surprise to him, that 790, after he threw the gloomiest gaze he could at Kai with his digital eyes, agreed: “All right…” He latched into the system and mumbled at himself. His Xev was so easily persuaded, and the fault was clearly with those intriguer, brainless proteinbags called Stan and Kai. They really were the worst company for his princess. At least he was this opinion. Xev always wasn't. She clearly was a victim by circumstance, and he deeply hoped, that someday he would find a solution for this problem. Well, now he couldn't do anything, so he started the requested investigation.



Chapter 11

Welcome to Arcannea Part2

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SEXUAL TOPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE DON`T READ THIS CHAPTER IF YOU ARE UNDER 17 (OR DO IT ON YOUR OWN RISK); OR IF YOU FEEL NOT ADULT ENOUGH, TOO PRIM OR WHATEVER....

Kai looked back to the glass front and decided to follow Xev outside. He had already recognized the salty air when they neared the house, but now, the scent was quite more intensive. Fascinated he slowly breathed in. The memory of another sea crept into his mind. On Brunnis2 they also had have white shores and sea, but he only had been there a few times. The BrunnenG society had been located underground. To be on the surface, had meant to risk harm through injuries, or damage through the environment. And so, their subterranean world wasn't only artificial, but their food and air, too. Everything was strictly controlled. It had been a much too restricted life for Kai, so he had ignored the advice to go to the surface more than once. Of course, it wasn't really forbidden to go to the surface, but only very few had taken the risk to get with some imaginary threats outside. But he had been different from the beginning and he never had cared about the fear of the elders. It had brought him trouble enough to be such a rebellious mind. But what could he have done' He wanted to explore, there was so much to explore outside…something only the other newborns could understand. Not all of them, but most. The experience to go outdoors, to breath fresh air, not filtered air, had been indescribable at those times. It made the cleaning procedure after they returned, less uncomfortable. Of course, no one wanted some germs or other invisible threats in their subterranean world. So they had to visit the cleaning chamber first. Or like Kai had preferred to call it: disinfections chamber. Hadn't their bodies been immune against nearly everything, he was sure that he had become rather ill from this treatment than from the environment on Brunnis` surface. But to see nature, to see the sea was worth to sit three hours naked in a cold chamber with his friends and discuss about this senseless treatment. Kai closed his eyes and concentrated to this peaceful, calm atmosphere the scenery produced. He listened to the soft rolling waves, heard them softly swashing over the shore. Finally he relaxed a bit, he was grateful to be able to experience all that again. When he heard Xev's giggling somewhere in front of him, he opened the eyes for a short moment. She bounced through the waves, played with them like a child. Kai smiled and tilted his head slightly, he could understand her oh so well… For the first time since they met, he saw her that happy and hilarious. And he was glad about it. She never had had an easy life, too. And she certainly hadn't have a real childhood than he had. He might have had a more violent past, but at least he had had parents who really loved him, who had cared about him when he grew up. Xev never had. Her parents didn't care about her, didn't love her, so she neither had a childhood nor parental care and love. Instead she had to grow up in a holocare home. As an assassin, it was nothing he had to care about, but he had been there once, he was ordered to go there, because one time the heretics tried to infiltrate His Shadows system in this way. Who could suspect a child for being not what it pretends to be. In fact, those children had been children on the outside, but in reality they were older than 20 or 30. His memory of this order made him shiver when he thought about this holocare home, one of so many. It was so like everything the Cluster had represented: cold, inhuman and sterile, an evil place. Those children didn't get love or even a life! And Xev had been one of them. Her situation hadn't changed after she grew old enough to leave the holocare home. She had to attend the wife bank right after. And this place hadn't been anything different.

She first started to life when she fled from the Cluster. Real love wasn't included at this point in time. No love. She really hadn't experienced this so important sensation before. He couldn't barely imagine that. He remembered something Xev once said: A loveless love slave. It made him feel sorry that at least he hadn't been able to give her some love for such a long time. After all she had done for him, there hadn't been anything equal he could give her back in return. Sometimes he asked himself how she turned out the woman she used to be now. So full of care for other people she was addicted to, so strong-minded and…full of love for a man who hadn't been able to return this love. He shook his head slowly. Poor Xev he thought I wished life had turned out in a more comfortable way for you> It must have been very difficult to love someone who couldn't love, who couldn't feel anything at all. Once again he thought about his decision to stay with Stan and Xev and to protect them. Maybe this decision was born out of the addiction Xev had shown towards him. Maybe it was his way to show his care about them, about Xev. When he returned to life, it was one of the first things he had felt -love, for her. Oh yes, love was such a strong sensation that even the dead can be touched by it, in a complete different way, but maybe this was the cause for his, under normal circumstances completely illogical, behavior.
Kai determined that it was a strange sensation to think about himself in this way. To remember what he might have thought as a dead man was nearly impossible now. His way to think had changed with all this emotions stirring through him. This person had gone completely foreign to him. And he partially was glad about it. There was enough left over from this person. He opened his eyes again when he heard her footsteps drawing nearer to him. “Thoughts'” she asked. He nodded. Xev came closer and touched his cheek softly. “Bad one's'” her face expressed her concern. Kai smiled: “No, not really.” But then he got more serious: ”Xev, whatever will happen…I'll be there for you – forever!” “Shhh,” she silenced him with her fingertip on his lips. “You ever was, I know that!” Kai nodded and looked deep into her eyes. There were no further words necessary, they could get along with each other in this way without problems. This moment lasted forever…if you're in love, you know this magical seconds where eternity can nearly be touched. They were first distracted when the sun flamed up in a glorious sunset. Xev sighed, leaned at his shoulder and looked over the small bay and the sea. The Arcan's sun dipped the scenery in a deep-red light and the sky seemed to glow like fire. It was a breathtaking spectacle. “How beautiful…!” she whispered. The sunset only lasted a few minutes, and then it was all over. The red-glowing sun vanished behind the horizon. “Let us go inside,” he whispered in her ear. “Good idea,” she agreed and both returned hand in hand inside their domicile.

Xev laid down her boots next to the terrace door, and asked Kai: “What do you think, is there a bathroom anywhere in this house'” She cleaned her feet gruffly from the sand she had walked through barefoot, but a shower would do better… “Sure, you still have three doors left,” he answered smiling. “All right, let's see…” She walked back to the short corridor, where she had seen one door right after the main entrance on the right side. She opened it and found another bright room, it was colored blue and a comfortable huge bed was placed inside as well as a wardrobe. “Definitely the bedroom,” she called, “It looks damn comfortable,” she added seductive smiling when she returned to the living room. She crossed the room and opened another door, which was located left-sided to where the communication system was. “Looks like this is the kitchen, hey, maybe we can prepare something to eat later…I'm really hungry and I'd like to eat some real food again…!” She closed the door again and walked to the opponent wall where the last door waited to be opened. “Wow, looks like I've found what I've looked for…!” she announced, when she discovered the friendly equipped bath. The room was quite big, contained a toilet, a washing facility and something that take in half the seize of the room. It was a dark blue pit, embedded in the light blue colored floor. “What's that'” She asked astonished. “It's a bathtub, admitted a real large bathtub, but it seems to serve this purpose,” Kai answered her request, when he threw a glance inside. “Bathtub'” she asked. He leered. “I think it will suit you,” he whispered in her ear. “You don't say! Why don't trying it directly…'”she asked with a wry look. “I'll join you in a short while, why don't you curl up in the meantime'” he answered with deep voice. She looked as if she was close to pouting. What's so important? her gaze asked. “I'll have to ask 790 something, I told him to search the database we have access to now.” “Ok, but not too long...!” she looked at him imploratory. “I'll speed up a bit, promised,” he said and kissed her nose. He slipped back through the door, while Xev activated the water, what poured immediately into the bathtub.

Back in the living room he sat down on the sofa and asked 790 for news. And the robot head really had found some information already. Back to the time of the insect wars, there were several reports available. Maybe he could take a look at them later. He was at the moment more interested in their history after the insect war. He read some short, but useful and informative issues about their history.

After the war, the level of destruction had been real high, and they had needed a very long time to adjust everything again. So their technological development slowed down for many centuries. But this was caused also in the destruction of so many human nations, a lot of allies were gone, as well as trade partners, who had the necessary equipment to develop new technology or continue to built consisting technology. This war must have caused an unimaginable destruction, but when he remembered what only one insect could do, he understood. He found several passages devoted to his own people. They really had been the most important ally and trading partner for the Arcannea, so it was no wonder that their gaining and success was also mentioned. A little pride crept into his heart, when he read it. At least, here his ancestors weren't forgotten, not their courage, not what they had done to save humanity. It was something that would live on forever. Kai felt a hint of sadness running through his mind. But what had happened to them… Humans are not designed to live forever he thought bitterly. No, in no case. He marveled at the arcannean advancement, what they had reached. There was no need to look for immortality, really not, there were so many other higher aims to reach for a nation. So he was glad for the Arcannea that they didn't have to spare the destiny of his people. The secret of immortality had died with them. Fortunately. He had died before he was old enough to get his body altered into that state. Besides, he would never have reached immortality, even if he had stayed alive, and his people as well. He had been sentenced to die by aging, for breaking the shields. Aging and dying – two things so alien to his people, that they had locked away the accused to get rid off this once normal reality. But reality caught up with them soon – death took them all in the end. Kai sighed. Oh yes, this nation could be very happy to be spared by such like they called it once. The development of a nation doesn't end because they have to life with death. Kai switched to the next topic, records of the current war. It wasn't sufficient information he found. A few reports, that the Pr'karesh, their enemies, attacked some outer colonies, and a few reports from fugitives. Otherwise, everything else underlay secrecy. That was interesting. The people here had access to every information they want, they knew about this war, but despite this all, there wasn't much information available, at least in publicity. But he didn't want to give up. It must be possible to get more information. He asked 790: “Can you please try to get access to all restricted information'” “I could…yes, all right, I'll do it!” 790 gave in when he saw Kais facial expression. “ I think I have to have a serious talk with Xev!” he muttered. , this was Kais catchword, he got up and looked at 790. “Do it, 790, but I'm quite sure that it won't lead to anything,” he said smiling. “Yes, because you've turned her head…that's not fair! Because she had turned mine!” 790 pouted. “Like I had before, hm'” “How dare you say that' I was malfunctioning!” “Yes, of course you were!” Kai's smile grew a little brighter. “Let us make an agreement…” Kai suggested. “What agreement'” 790 asked suspiciously. “I don't mention it ever again, in return you'll help me with any inquiries I'll ask for!” 790's digital eyes narrowed: “What about you'll leave Xev alone and never mention it again'” Instead of an answer Kais corner of the mouth twitched in amusement: “I'm not sure that she wanted to be left alone…” “That's the problem, ok, I accept the agreement – for now!” 790 said grimly. “Thank you 790, I knew that you're a reasonable robot head,” Kai disappeared from 790 view and walked towards the bathroom door. On the way there, he slipped out of his top and threw it careless over one of the chairs, and his boots were dropped down to the ground next to it. His hands reached back to his long braid and he disentangled it quickly. Long and heavy fell his loose hair over his bare back. It was still unaccustomed to feel it tickling his skin. He wrapped one strand around his finger and examined the shining pitch-black hair. Kai stopped walking when he remembered his childhood again. His mother once had brushed this hair every time before he had gone to bed. At that time it had still been to short for the traditional hair dress – and he of course had been much too young to be allowed to wear it in this way. His mother then had calmed him with the words that one day he would have very long and beautiful hair – he only had to be patient. Like with growing up. He remembered that he always wanted to be grown up so very fast. You'll be tall and grown-up soon enough, for eternity. Enjoy the privilege to be young and small, Kai his father once had told him. He hadn't really understood at that time – and he didn't want to understand. His childish impatience had been as fierce as his urge to explore later. Kai smiled a sad smile and pushed the thoughts back. At least he remembered his childhood – and his parents. Kai let go of his strand and opened the door to the bathroom. Soundlessly he slipped in.

Xev sat broadly smiling inside the bathtub, the hot, steaming water whirled round her neck. She played with the white foam, which covered the surface nearly everywhere. “There you are! It's really great, come on in!” She held her hand with some foam up and blew it in Kai's direction. She giggled and came back to the edge of the bathtub. She didn't want to miss anything when he started to undress his trousers. With a dreamy smile she watched his muscular nude body, and she couldn't help but to remember their recent passionate love acts . It didn't stay unaffected and a new desire started to burn inside her. Kai dropped his trousers to the floor and sat down on the edge. He didn't miss her reaction, and it wasn't surprising that he reacted the same, when he watched her looking up at him. He bent forward and kissed her on the forehead. “You're so beautiful,” he whispered against her skin. Xev caught his wrist and pulled him towards her, inside the warm water. “Nothing compared to you…!” she answered. Kai let himself slid inside the bathtub without resistance. He sprawled and let himself float. The bathtub was really large. It could contain two more people if necessary. Xev pushed herself away from the edge and float next to him. She reached out for him and touched his belly with her palm. Softly she stroke over his wet skin up to his chest, perceiving every well-developed muscle, finally she remained where his heart was. Xev felt its calm, rhythmic beat under her palm – one of the most wonderful sensations she knew, because it was the evidence that he was alive.

Kai's gaze wandered over the soft and exclusive body of hers, which shimmered seductively through all the foam. He felt this electrifying feeling in his tummy increasing once again. He looked up to her face and both their eyes met. He saw endless love in Xev's green eyes, a warm and gentle embrace for his tormented soul. After 6000 years full of loneliness, coldness, death, violence and numbness, every cell of his body cried for love and remission. Xev gave him a lot love, so much it made him cry sometimes. It was an overwhelming sensation to be loved. But he didn't want to think about remission, this was another topic.

“It feels so good,” she said, stroking the skin over his heart with her palm. “I'm so happy that you're alive.” Kai turned sideward and reached out his hand, stroked her cheek softly. “I love you, Xev!” he said in a low voice, then he pulled her in his arms and kissed her gently. Xev threw her hands around his body and pressed herself fierce against his. When she felt his strong body next to her, a new wave of heat rushed through her and she felt her libido going in action again. A passionate kiss followed suit and it grew more intensive the longer it lasted. Xev had to submerge a groan, her needs started to get the upper hand, but she didn't want them. It seemed not fair to her to hassle Kai that often with her wants. But Kai wouldn't be the sensitive man she loved so much, if he hadn't recognized her inner fight. So he grasped the nettle of it. He put his arms around her waist and drew her into his lap. Xev closed her eyes grateful for a moment, before she put her legs forward and spanned his hips. Kai held her tight and directed them to the left part of the bathtub, the water there was very even and for that a wonderful playground for them. Xev groaned low when she felt his member pushing softly against her inner thighs. She felt the bottom of the bathtub under her ass, and leaned back, gave Kai full access to her breasts. Kai caressed them softly and seductively. Xev closed her eyes for a moment and felt her libido going into full speed. She sank down backwards, felt the warm water underneath her, softly washing over several parts of her body, then she spread her legs. She didn't loose any time, she wanted him, she needed him! When he stroke over her cunt with his fingers, plunged them into her wet hot opening, she groaned full of passion and her hands stroke fierce over her own breasts. She looked at him beseeching, she wanted to feel him inside…now! Kai lowered himself down on her body and let his cock slid into her opening. She was more than ready, and her fierce contractions let his member swell ultimately. Xev cried out in lust when she felt it. “Ohh, Kai…!” she breathed. Kai closed his eyes, tried to get some control back, but it was nearly impossible. The urge to take her, to push inside her with soft force nearly won, but in the end he controlled his appetite. Slowly and steady he started to thrust into her, down into the water and out. Xev pushed her hips upwards when he pushed his hips down, she wasn't able to speak any comprehensible word any longer. “Harder, Kai…oh…yes!” Kai kissed her breasts and stroke them fiercely. The heat of passion grew more and more…their hands were nearly everywhere and Xev once again cried out in passion. She folded her legs more tightly around his waist and pressed his hips more close to her when he came down. She still hadn't enough: “Harder, Kai, please…!” Kai closed his eyes: “Are you…sure'” he gasped. “Yes, yes, I am…please…!” The intensity of their passion seemed to overwhelm them both, and Kai realized for the first time that it never had been that hard to maintain control…There was nothing more he wanted so badly than to thrust fierce into her, to feel her contractions that strong around his shaft. His world was reduced to this part when he looked down at her desirable, naked body spread out in front of him. Her keen passionate expression showed him that she was serious about what she wanted and so he slowly let his control slip away. Xevs body arched underneath him as his thrusts begun to get fiercer. She groaned and he let his body its free will. He kissed her breathless and his hips went down more forcible, he slid into her so very deep and hard that she started to scream for desire again and again. He heard her cry out his name again and again when she came, felt her body tensing underneath him, only a few seconds later his own orgasm rushed through him and pushed him nearly beyond consciousness. He pulled her body close to his, deepened their connection for a few moments more, and expanded their climax unbelievingly long. He was sure he had screamed as well, but it didn't bother him.

Slowly, both of them found their way back to here and now. The first thing he realized was her happy smile. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him softly, waited for them to calm down a bit. How she loved to have sex with him – he knew exactly how to make her happy, how to make her burn of lust. Normally she was designed to make men happy, but thanks to the missing brainwash, she had her own needs too. Needs, Kai satisfied perfectly. He was a very desirable man, in more than one way. He was passionate, looked outrageous good and was a wonderful character. Most important of all: he loved her. She felt it with an enormous power when they were united like this. He needed her love as well – it was the first step to a healing process. She wasn't really surprised how he hungered for her love. Love was the only alleviation for this deep pain he carried in his soul. She felt his lips pressing against hers and smiled, he still was out of breath. She felt water covering her body completely and opened her eyes. He had drawn them back into the other half of the bathtub, where the water was deeper. He cancelled their connection and Xev sighed relaxed. “It's a very nice thing, this bathtub. I really like it!” Kai smiled back and placed a little foam onto her nose. Xev giggled, twitching with her nose: “It tickles!” She put another fistful of foam and placed it right on Kais head. He twisted his eyes and sank slowly under the water surface. Xev laughed. But when he didn't show up after a while she got worried. She searched for him where the foam still was, but he wasn't there. “Kai'” she asked, “Where are you'” She looked around but the water surface was as calm as before. When he vanished so soundless, it made her shiver and it was eerily. But then, a massive rain of foam suddenly hit her face. “Hey!” she laughed and tried to see something. Kai took advantage of her blocked sight and grasped for her hips and started to tickle her. Xev screamed and snorted, she splashed helpless with her arms and tried to escape his fingers – no chance. She laughed and gasped until she was out of breath. “Stop it…please!” she begged. His face appeared in front of her, and his fingers stopped penetrating her. He smiled whimsically: “I really doesn't expect clusterlizards to be so ticklish!” “It seems…” she gasped,” That you're the first one didn't get eaten, after he had found out about it!” “I'm very indigestive, believe me!” Xev laughed once again, she dived and swam back to the edge. But Kai, as fast as always, waited for her when she emerged from the water. He put his hand forward and pushed some of her strands away, which got entangled by the water. “You're wonderful, Xev,” he said softly. Xev smiled whether this compliment and laid her hands on his strong shoulders. Kai touched her face gently and they were lost once again in a tender, lovingly kiss, which let explode Xev in happiness. This was reality – not one of her dreams. Sometimes she had to repeat it again and again – it was too wonderful to believe. Xev touched his body, stroke over his back. She nestled to him, laid her head on his shoulders. “I love you!” she whispered low against his wet, thick hair. “I could lie in your arms forever and ever!” “Whenever you like, Xev…” he answered. She embraced him tightly and grateful for a moment, then they parted to get themselves ready. Xev couldn't avoid sating another appetite – she was hungry.

Whereas she was searching for something to dress, Kai entered the kitchen, only a towel around his hips. Suddenly dizziness engaged him and he had to support himself at the door. Sometimes it was very exhausting for his body to coordinate all those impressions and workflows, also the sex with Xev could be wonderful as well as exhausting. Those were things he still wasn't accustomed to. It became clear to him that he had to be more careful. His body wasn't any longer able to work well under stress. After a moment the gone feeling vanished and he was able to realign in the kitchen. He discovered some different types of vegetables and fruits, at least he could divide them into fruits and vegetables after he tasted a small red thing from the left bowl. It tasted wonderful sweet. Kai was fascinated by this experience and took a second one. He asked himself, if he would relive all this new indulgence in the same delicious way. It was truly one of the far better parts of his new life. Kai sighed and looked for a possibility to prepare some food for them. The kitchen contained a device where food easily could be prepared by simply filling the different ingredients together into it and selecting the adequate program. Kai put some rice-looking edibles, some of the vegetables and some powder and water into the device. After only a short time, a complete meal appeared at the bottom of the device, where two dishes were placed. Hot rice with vegetables and sauce. Curiously he tasted the meal and he liked it immediately. It was so different to Lexx's mushy food he had eaten so far. Kai stopped for a moment. This was going to be his first real food after 6000 years…Kai sighed. The past weeks were still a mystery to him, like everything else a living human being had to deal with, but slowly and constantly he got used to it again. Kai carried the hot meal outside, put it down on the living-room table. “Xev'” he asked for her. “Yep'” it tinged from the bedroom. “Dinner is served!” “I'm coming!” Xev peeked round the corner, “Mh, this looks quite good!” She left the corridor and grinned. Slowly like a mannequin she walked towards him. She had found some very nice clothes. She wore a blue top and some kind of pant skirt, which was ankle-deep and blue, too. She had braided her wet hair completely and turned slowly in front of him. “It's a fantastic material, I nearly didn't feel it on my skin! You like it'” she asked when he still hadn't said a word. “It's nice, blue suits you...” he answered with a slight smile. Xev dumped down on the sofa and jumped at her meal, she was really really hungry. It wasn't any wonder that in a very short time her dish was empty, whereas Kai ate visibly slower, because it was odd for him to eat solid food. Xev noticed it. “Everything okay'” she asked. Kai nodded: “It's still difficult for me, but it's getting better…”

“Xev, darling…why have you been so long in the bathroom'” 790 barged in and stopped their conversation. “What do you think I may have done there'” she asked back. “Now…” with a viperfish gaze at Kai, he retorted: “I hope you only were there to have a bath…” “This, 790, is in the eye of the beholder. Of course, we've taken a bath.” “Argh, I fear the worst,” sniveled 790. “Why, oh why' My dearest darling, don't let yourself be fooled! He's planning something, he wants to take you away from me, he…” “790,” Xev interrupted him and picked him up. “I really esteem you, but you're only a robot head, you can't give me what Kai now can give me…” “Oh yes, I can do that!” he protested. “I have a tongue…. and I can let it slide over your perfect skin, lick your lips, my mouth will kiss your full lips…” 790 got lost insinuating. Xev patted him and put him back to the desk. She rolled her eyes, whereas Kai had to grin. He knew 790's poetic and his addiction so very well. “Is it possible that he wasn't that worse before the last reprogramming'” she asked. Kai shrugged his shoulders and laid down his fork, he was full. “I only know, that he had even been bothering for the dead…” “Oh, well, that's truly bad then,” she smiled and pointed at his half-empty dish. “Aren't you hungry any more'” Kai shook his head, to be honest, he wasn't well. “I have to rest, Xev, I think it was all too much for me, today…” Xev moved over worried…he actually looked a bit pale. “In fact, I wanted to take a look around…” she said and laid her hand over his forehead. “Why don't you go and look after Stan, maybe you both can take a look around'” he suggested. “You're a little too warm, Kai, maybe I should stay…” Kai took her hand and shook his head. “Go, I'll be alright,” Xev looked at him with mixed feelings. Hesitating she finally agreed: “Alright, I don't stay long…!” Kai nodded and stood up, wanted to escort her to the door, to show her that her worries were for no reason, but when they reached the bedroom door, again dizziness and frailty overwhelmed him. Xev supported him quickly and took him to bed. “And you're sure about it'” she asked sarcastically. “Yes, I am, it's okay, it’ll go away soon. It was simply all too much for me, today.” Xev arranged some pillows and covered him with a blanket. He smiled weakly,” Go, don't worry about me…” Xev sighed and kissed him quickly. “I always do worry about you, you should know that!” “I know. But this time there's no need to abstain from fun!” She stood up and left him alone, not without a last look at him. But Kai had already closed his eyes and tried to find some rest. She returned to the living room and put her boots on. “Take me with you, honey-pie!” 790 howled. “No, not today, 790!” “Then I refuse to help Kai with his quest for information!” “790,” she sighed again, “ Next time, okay'” , she added in her thoughts. “Please continue with your search for information!” “Ok, but only because it's you!” “Thanks 790, see you later!” “Ciao, Xevvv!” 790 said sadly. Then the love-slave left the domicile and headed towards the nightclub district. Maybe she discovered something interesting…well, men weren’t an important topic any longer, but she was sure that there had to be something else.



Chapter 12

Welcome to Arcannea Part 3

Stan had already left his domicile after a bath and was now walking through the nightclub district, only a few hours before Xev also headed towards it. Te'ran was right. There were so many interesting locations…he couldn't count all of them. He saw one place where movies were shown, not such he had seen on the Cluster, full with propaganda and boring, no, those had a story line, were a lot more interesting, and the one he watched had really been funny.
After, he didn't know where to go to, so he followed most of the other visitors to a place where they sat down to drink, eat and to talk. He learned that this location was known as restaurant and bar. After a while he got accustomed to it, and he started to enjoy the drinks and company there. So it wasn't any wonder that he soon stroke up a conversation with a woman named Yareena. She was at his age, not an adolescent beauty, but a jolly and friendly person. Stan never had much luck with women, but this time something was different. The relaxed atmosphere there let him start a more careful and uncomplicated conversation with her and it was soon obvious that she seem to like him too. They talked long about this and that, about their jobs.
      Yareena worked as security chief at the huge station they recently had visited. At the moment she had a few days off. “That's incredible! I'm hardly a few days not there and –boff – something new happens!” she commented when Stan explained where he came from. As security chief it was of course her job to know everything, but never before happened something like that! She was so curious to hear about his whole story. But Stan wasn't sure if it was the right place to tell her…earlier experiences told him to be careful, who knows who might listen to this story as well. Finally Stan asked her hesitantly, nearly shy, if she wanted to come with him, to his guest quarter, he considered it a better place to talk about it. Of course she wanted to hear the rest of his story, but not only for this reason she wanted to go with him… They left the district, which meanwhile sparkled and gleamed in the darkness like a jewel. On the way they met Xev. “Hey, Stan! You're looking quite happy!” she called smiling, surprised at his company…this planet seemed to cause wonders to them all. “Hey Xev, that's Yareena; Yareena, it's Xev, she's one of my crewmembers I've told you about,” Stan introduced them, smiling broadly. The women shook hands.
      “Alright, then, if you don't mind, we're up to something…” Stan grinned and turned to leave…”You should try those bars…they're real great!” he said. “Thanks, I'll take a look,” Xev replied, at least, these bars seemed to be good to find company…if you look for one, of course. “By the way, where's Kai'” he asked puzzled, since his both were nearly inseparably. “He's not very well at the moment, he laid down to sleep, so I went out alone,” she answered, a hint of sadness in her voice. “Oh, okay, see ya…!” “I think you've liked your trip there…!” Xev laughed and pointed at the district in front of her, when she watched them continuing their way in a slightly unsteady manner. Stan nodded and waved without turning, and then they vanished around a corner. The short conversation made Xev more curious…and she was eager to explore what Stan had called a bar…and he was right. For an open-minded person like Xev it was very easy to get some contact to other people. But she refused any invitation for more than a nice talk, she just wanted to spend a nice evening with talkative people – something she never thought she would enjoy that much. But since she and Kai had come together finally, she was able to think in a very different way about other men. The love slave inside her was always hungry, but the true love she had found suppressed any want to be together with other men. So she forgot time when they sat there at the bar, drank and talk about everything.

Kai had slept for one or two hours and had recovered a little. He decided to take a closer look at 790's collected information when he got up. He wanted to know more about the Arcannean history, so he started with this chapter.

The Arcannea were an ancient civilization, only slightly younger than the BrunnenG. When the Arcannea started to travel to the stars, it didn't take long until they became one of the furthest developed and leading people in the DarkZone. Far ahead the insect war, they built up several trade connections with other human nations, also with the BrunnenG. This contact was at first limited to trade, no political issues were discussed for several centuries. But this changed very soon…after the first conflicts between human and insect civilization, they were one of the first, who laid the starting point for the human ally against the insects. Together with the BrunnenG, they got the first force going and went into battle together. More and more nations followed their instance, the great human ally grew until nearly every human race of the DarkZone was at war with the insects.

The insect war lasted a very long time. Whole human nations were extinguished in this desperate fight, as well as whole planets. The humans tried to defense their individuality and their claim to power against the insects…whose power grew more and more, because of their unique flexibility. Fight after fight, battle after battle was fought, until finally the humans under the leadership of the BrunnenG and their newly, insect-based, developed technology, could adjudicate the final battle for the benefit of themselves. The hunted got the hunter, and the humans went after the insects and destroyed them all. This last big fight took place in the neighboring planetary system of Arcannea, the Varion-system. Eyewitness account told about an immense battle, one couldn't see the stars because there had been so many ships…the home world of the Varion was destroyed and with it all its inhabitants. It was a real tragic story, but at least their sacrifice hadn't been senseless. The insects were stopped just in front of the more important human planetary systems – Arcannea had been one of them.
      This also had been the end of the insect wars. The vengeful humans hunted the remaining insects throughout the whole DarkZone until they were sure that no insect was left alive and any possible threat in future. Then it was time again to care about themselves. They had to mourn their dead, to built up again what had been destroyed…all this took a lot of time, time that seemed to pass by so very fast…the war vanished from their minds slowly…the allies broke apart, contact got lost between more than one nation…time moved on mercilessly.

For the Arcannea the loss of contact to the BrunnenG was more than tragic, with it they lost their last close friends and allies. The last life-sign of them dated back 18000 years. Then they never heard anything from Brunnis again. An investigation flight to their home world only showed that it was abandoned. Only their sun stabilizers were still working. Everything that was left behind was their brilliant architecture, their Memory Chamber…nothing else. Their vanishing became an enigma, no one was able to explain what had happened. Their speculations were that the BrunnenG had left Brunnis, because of their not longer life-giving sun. But why they hadn't left any information behind, where they had gone to, was very strange.
      So the Arcannea were left behind as the last great nation who survived the insect wars. Millennia went by and someday the Arcannea built up a new alliance with far younger, but also high-developed civilizations and their own colonies. It started as an experiment, but since 6000 years it was a very successful organization. They had fought several conflicts, but nothing was comparable to the insect wars. Most of the time it was a peaceful ongoing development between those nations. No enemy outside this alliance ever attacked them successful…the high-developed technology of the Arcannea was insuperable.
But…well, like so many times in history, to be superior had its disadvantage…one was easily entrapped to get careless…so no one really counted on a threat from the inside of the alliance.
It was a fatal mistake to think in this way.
Reports about a massive force building in the Pr'karesh sector were ignored, as well as the reports of fugitives who managed to get out of this sector because of the decreasing economic status. The Alliance had reached a point where it had grown far to big to get properly administrated and ruled. So the Pr'karesh overrun a huge part of the other Alliance planets, before the rest was able to react.
790 interrupted and told him, that all following data was classified as non-official material, then he continued.
The Pr'karesh left the Alliance with all conquered planetary systems and the war started with full force when the Arcannea tried to salvage what was to salvage. They succeeded to draw a more or less clear borderline between their territory and the now founded Pr'karesh Empire. This had been 20 years ago. Since that day, it was a constant stalking, defending and attacking. The Pr'karesh Empire broadened, but not as fast as in the beginning. The data 790 was able to decrypt said, that to this current date, the Pr'karesh Empire spanned 200 planets.
Kai took a short look at several military reports, but they weren't that interesting. Far more interesting were the reports of the last nine months.
They said, that nine months ago, the Pr'karesh attacked a huge number of planets in the borderland at the same time and conquered them. The Alliance force was helpless…they couldn't defense neither the planets nor themselves properly. The Pr'karesh force was far too strong, the Alliance couldn't mess with their superior firepower. Their only chance to bring them down was before they were able to shoot. The situation grew more and more hopeless for the Arcannea Alliance. They lose more ground by the minute and there was no way to free the now conquered planets. The fate of all those humans was unknown. The few things known about the governmental power, were reports of fugitives and spies. They talked about a totalitarian structure, controlled by military and other governmental forces. The people there were forced to live in a strictly controlled society with no rights and no freedom.
For Kai, it all sounded so well known, the parallels towards the League of 20000 Planets was really uncomfortable. But how else should such an aggressive broadening Empire be reigned''
He assumed that the last incident, where they had accidentally ran into, mirrored clearly this situation. The Arcannea were in real trouble if they weren't able to defense themselves properly against this uprising Empire. Kai wished, 790 could have found out more about it, but the robot head hadn't found anything further.
      The few pictures available, only showed their ships and the damage their weapons had done to some arcannean ships. Kai compared the information he learned about with his memories, but there wasn't anything to compare. The only thing he had as lead was this enormous firepower. From the memories of the divine predecessor he possessed, he knew that the Foreshadow, which once destroyed his home, had been one of the first very powerful weapons of the divine order. The bioscholars constantly developed new and more and more powerful weapons…the Lexx had been the end of this long developing process. There had been nothing similar in the LightZone, and so far anything in the DarkZone too. The Lexx was able to resist the Pr'karesh firepower, unlike the Arcannea. And of course their president wasn't stupid, she knew very well what possibilities the arrival of such a powerful ship like the Lexx may open to them. He was sure that Shereen would clutch at straws and she may would ask them for help, even if this was against their ethic…
Kai rubbed his head. To access his memories was very exhausting, and it made him tired again, so he deactivated the screen and decided to go back to bed. “Good night, 790,” “Night,” the robot head growled and continued his poetry about Xev he was busy with since nearly an hour. Kai returned to the bedroom and dropped the towel he still had had around his waist to the floor. He was far too tired to look for some trousers, so he lay down naked, wrapped the blanket round his body and fell asleep very fast.

The council meeting started before sunset on Sha'ra, the third planet of the Arcannea-system. The governmental buildings were built far down the water surface, on the bottom of the sea, protected by the water, like all the other buildings the Sha'ranean population had built since thousands of years. The surface was far too rough to build some buildings and cities there. Thousands of years ago they tried to do that on some of the very small islands they had, but they gave up soon – too rough was the weather, too strong the storms, which inflamed the sea meters high. Even now, with much higher technology it was nearly impossible to protect any building. So they remained inside the beautiful water landscape, a place so very safe from everything outside.
      The huge council hall had a translucent ceiling, by what the species-rich sea life could be observed. But the council paid no attention to it today. They sat since many hours and were discussing the actual situation. Many representatives attended via holo conference, because they couldn't leave their homeworld. At the moment, a fleet admiral reported the latest news referring the status of their defense fleet.
      “Our actual fleetforce was reduced once again during the last two months, we barely meet the demands for supplement. And soon we won't have enough strength to hold our outer defense line. Referring to new observation data, we have to expect another new wave of aggression against our allies and colonies there. Mrs. president, please forgive me my directness, but we aren't able to withstand much longer.” With a petrified look Shereen listened to this not very good news. She feared exactly this situation, it only had been a matter of time. The representatives murmured nervously and confused. One of them finally rose from his seat and asked: “Does it mean that 20 000 years after we had successful faced the biggest threat of humanity we aren't in the position to defense ourselves against this non-insect-enemy this time'”
      The admiral watched the man with a serious expression: “If we don't find a proper possibility to defense ourselves against their superior firepower – we might lose this war, yes!” The audibility swelled and Shereen rose up: “Stop it, we all knew that this won't lead to anything…no discussions, not now. It's really not time to waste our breath with senseless discussions. We know what will happen if we won't react fast enough to prevent exactly the scenario Admiral Hal'g told us.” “But what do we have to prevent it' Our fleetforce is decreasing from month to month…and we couldn't do anything!” The representative responded desperately. Low agreement was audible in the hall. “Time is running down for us, I'm aware of that. But our chances were never better than now. Admiral Hal'g'” Shereen gave the floor back to Hal'g. “We succeeded in capturing one of their ships. We were very lucky that their self-destruction system wasn't functional, so we could take it. But unfortunately the crew committed suicide and destroyed all important data. So we only succeeded in capturing the ship with a functional weapon-system. Dr. Shore' is examining it with his team for two weeks now and can report far better than I could, Dr.'” The Admiral handed over to an older man who left his seat and stepped forward.
      “I'm sure when I'm finished with my report a lot of questions will be answered and a lot more will be posed. And I'm sure that nobody will expect what we found out. But let me start.
      We were completely mystified when we first were confronted with the Pr'karesh, their ships and their enormous firepower. We never could explain how it was possible to have such an obviously primitive shipbuilding technology and such an enormous firepower. It really doesn't fit together, it never does, we discussed a lot about it before – without any solution, because we never had the possibility to examine a ship. They always were destroyed, mostly by self-destruction. But thanks to sometime failing technology, we now got one exemplar and we looked curiously forward to solve this riddle.
The ships aren't that primitive. On the outside they appear as primitive, metal-based ships, but this is only on the outside. We tore the ship apart and discovered the truth – an alarming truth!”
Dr. Shore' breathed deeply, he was more nervous now.
In his whole career as scientist and ship constructor he never thought to be confronted with a technology vanished thousands of years ago. Not that the arcannean technology decreased through the past millennia. In fact, the development of their bioorganic technology made huge steps forward, it opened new horizons to them, in nearly every sector of science and technology. After the big war 20000 years ago, they were eager to replace the insect-based technology with their own. They all agreed that any insect technology hold to much danger to use it in future. So they took another path than the BrunnenG or other nations. The insects caused too much pain, anger and destruction…so they disavowed to have insect technology around, instead they used the knowledge of biotechnology to build up a different kind.
      Now only to learn that for all this technology was too weak to withstand the firepower of a new enemy. It troubled him, that he never found out why, but the answer came with this ship – and the answer didn't please him very much. In fact, it challenged their way of turning away from the technology they once used in the insect wars.
      He activated the holosimulation screen and explained: “ The drive mechanism as well as the weapons were fed by a chemical-organic source, more advanced than the nuclear accelerated fusion reactors normally used by those ships. Alongside its very primitive hull, the complete ship is based upon a hybrid-technology,” he paused a second before he let it out,”…an insect-organic-technology!”
      Complete silence dominated for a moment, then a real hurly-burly started. These were in fact news they never expected!
      “Silence!” Shereen called after a while. She had risen from her seat and her gaze was fixed at the holographic ship. “Insect-technology,” she finally said. This was indeed surprising and alarming at the same time. For the second time she was confronted with some hangover from insects, first the Lexx, and now this! Another representative asked: “Is it the only ship constructed in this manner'” “I don't think so,” Shore' answered, “This ship was caught at random, there is no reason why this should be the only one!” Another representative asked: “What about those strangers arriving today' Didn't they also have an insect vessel' How can we be sure that they aren't in league with the Pr'karesh' In my opinion there are to many coincidences when we learn about two different insect crafts in only one day!” Shereen shook her head and left her seat. “No, I don't think that they are allies of the Pr'karesh.
      They accidentally got involved in this battle near Idaron, and they destroyed the whole Pr'karesh fleet.” “That's not a positive proof, Mrs president. For the Pr'karesh life isn't anything holy, so they might sacrificed a part of their own troops to convince us that these strangers were on our side…only to destroy us from inward!” Admiral Hal'g let them consider this thought. “Wherever those people were from, they are humans and they are not our enemies, and definitely NOT allies of the Pr'karesh. I talked to them this morning and convinced myself if they might be a threat for us. They clearly aren't. I think we can trust them.” Shereen said certain. The admiral nodded. Shereens possibilities to find out such things with help of her special skills were out of question. “So they may can be useful for us in this war…against the technology the Pr'karesh use!” the Admiral said. “We should take their ship to use it against our enemies!” a representative agreed. Shereen sighed: “We can't simply take their ship to use it in the way we want to…first we know nothing about this ship, second we don't have any permission…” “But we're at war! What reason else is necessary to convince them to give us the ship!” the representative said nearly angrily.
      “Senator Jeroon, I know that your home Garath'a 9 is close to the current front, and that it has suffered many attacks so far…but it's no reason not to stick to our principles. We're fighting against the Pr'karesh because they haven't any…should we abase ourselves''' I'll meet them this evening and I know about the importance of such a weapon in our war, it really can tip the scales to our side, but I won't do anything against their permission! So I'll ask them for help. They are looking for a new home, not for trouble and war.” Shereen announced and ended this fruitless discussion. Jeroon wasn't really convinced but he gave in. Like every other representative he knew that Shereen would do everything possible to find a way to save their alliance.
      “Maybe, if we're lucky, and they agree to help us, we can defeat the Pr'karesh. But I'm almost sure, that it isn't done by sending this ship to our front, what we need is more knowledge of this technology – to add it to our own. If we can develop their kind of shield or hull to withstand the firepower of the Pr'karesh ships, we surely have a far greater chance to defend ourselves properly,” Shore' said. Another representative piped up: “We all know how dangerous this technology is…otherwise we hadn't withdrawn from any development thousands of years ago…” Shore' nodded: “I'm aware of that, senator Lorkav. But maybe in this case we can make an exception to it.
      20 000 years ago we were only able to win the great war because we used a similar technology…maybe in this case nothing else remains than to use insect technology again!” “I'm not a friend of this technology too, “ Shereen interrupted, “But I have to say that I'm ready to allow the use of it if we can defend our homes and lives with it. This technology is dangerous…and I wonder where the Pr'karesh got it from.” Shore' answered: “That's indeed another question. When they attacked us first, 20 years ago, they weren't that superior, but strong enough to built up another Empire next to us…with horrible effects to the people. We know that their Empire is one of dictatorship, of strict military control with no freedom for the citizens. And they had a huge hunger for new planets to conquer or destroy. They collected many resources the past years and I'm sure that they developed their technology over those years too. We all saw it when they showed up with massive attacks nine months ago. The battle at Idaron was the tip of the iceberg so far. We would have lost it with huge losses if the Lexx hadn't come.
You can imagine, if we hadn't been able to defeat them 20 years ago … how should we defeat them now'” This question was thought provoking for the council. Slowly the council speaker rose from his seat and addressed his word to Shereen: “Mrs president, I'm sure that you'll do everything to convince the crew of the ship Lexx to help us against the Pr'karesh. There's no doubt in it…if…I think the council will agree to your suggestion to use insect technology again to save the Alliance.” “I'm honored for your trust in me…I'll do my very best, I promise. Even if we can be sure of their help…it will be a hard battle to fight for us. The last time we have to fight against insect technology was 20 000 years ago…against insects. That doesn't mean that non-insects weren't less dangerous. We now know that they can be as well dangerous as insects. The past great war we won, with allies on our side with such as the Fallea, the Varion, the BrunnenG…. they are no more, we are on our own. But I promise that we won't give up – we never had, we never will.
      For now, I want to secure our position in this war. Our military team as well as the evacuation and catastrophic agency should meet and discuss plans about an evacuation of the outer planetary colonies and other inhabited planets. We don't have the strength to defend us at the front, on these planets and our core planets at the same time. That's it for the moment. Thanks to you all, the next council meeting will be announced early enough.”
Shereen closed the meeting and the representatives slowly left the hall or simply if they had attended via holographic transmission.

“Not an easy term, Mrs president,” Shore' said when most of the representatives had left. “I never expected anything different,” Shereen turned around with her meeting records in her hand and looked slightly smiling at him. Shore' once had been her taskmaster and was still her best friend. “We're living in different times…it's not that easy like my first 20 years in this presidency…but I always knew these days would come. It only was a matter of time.” Shore' folded his arms and nodded. “You're constantly thinking about what the prophetess had told you, right'” Shereen dropped her gaze to the floor. “I am. I deeply hoped that those days would never come, but…she always had been right in the past…so why should it be different this time'” She answered and leaned back at one of the tables.
     Her gaze wandered to the ceiling with its transparent glass. She grew up on this world with all its traditions. She was born under water, first learned how to survive in its environment with all its beauty and danger before she was allowed to go to the surface – to breath the pure air of this world for the first time. Her parents were very traditional and they didn't want her to forget where she came from if she ever decided to leave Sha'ra. Well, she did, but she always came back here. There was nothing comparable with swimming in the endless ocean, with exploring the rich undersea world…only space was more interesting, but, of course, this was another kind of an endless ocean. The people on Sha'ra believed very strong in fate…they believed that every one of them has his destiny, his task to fulfill in life. So, when they reach the end of their childhood, they went on a pilgrimage to the prophetess of the Deep Sea. A pilgrimage where they learn what destiny might awaits them.
      Shore' groomed her for this quest and when she had dreamt of the prophetess, Shereen knew that the time had come to visit her. She hadn't been afraid, although some rumors often were told about her…nobody knew how old she was, but legend told that she always had been in this old city down the deepest ocean on Sha'ra.
      There, Shereen was prophesized that she would be the next president of the Alliance and that during her presidency huge changes for them all would come. A new time of uncertainty, chaos, war and death. At first she couldn't believe what the prophetess had said, because there was never a guarantee that things would happen like foreseen…the prophetess even said about herself that she only was a prophet of fate, not a Time Prophet, but some important things to be happen in future, she was able to see. Shereen never asked why of all things it had to happen when she was president, she only had sworn that she would do everything necessary to help all the people in the Alliance to go through this difficult time. The prophetess don't let her go away without faint hope. She had predicted that they won't be alone, that…Shereen stopped the memories for a moment and looked back at Shore' when she remembered something suddenly. “What is it'” he asked. “I'm not sure…” she hesitated, “Something I never thought of in the past 20 years, since all this trouble started. When I visited the prophetess she said that if time is right I will know where my task lies in this conflict, what I can do…it's strange, but since the strangers arrived, I thought a lot about what she had said when I asked her if there is any hope to survive this dark time lying in front of us. I know that she told me something, but I wasn't able to remember all this years…but now…I do…!” “What did she say'” Shore' asked curious. “She didn't give me a clear answer, it was like an oracle. .
      That's what she said.” “It sounds like we shouldn't give up our hope in this war…!” Shore' said and scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Maybe it has something to do with the crew of the Lexx. Maybe it is a hint that they can help us, but I don't know how to interpret this sentence.” Shereen sighed. “Otherwise it wouldn't be called an oracle…” Shore' said smiling. “If the right time is there…we'll know. What about tonight' Will you allow me to attend your little meeting with our guests'” he asked her. “Of course! I would be very sad if you don't!” Shereen said agreeing. “Well, which Shore' you want' The representative, the scientist…'” he asked smiling. “The friend and mentor, and maybe … a little bit the scientist'” “Hey, it must be nearly a century that you want me to attend to such a meeting as a friend and mentor!” he teased. “Well, then it's time…!” Shereen grinned. “I'm really excited. What do you personally think of our guests'” he wanted to know. Shereen closed her eyes for a moment, stroke her long dark hair back and thought about them for a moment.
      It was an unusual experience for her, this meeting. Not the contact with Xev or Stanley, it was the third human she had her problems with. “I only scanned them on the surface, but it was helpful enough to categorize them. I got a nice clear picture of Stan, he's a very normal human, admitted, not the bravest kind but I think honest. Xev is a little bit confusing, she seems to be such a nice and vulnerable person on the outside, but I was very astonished about her aggressive tendencies inside…very confusing. She seems to be composed of two parts.
      Well, but altogether I'm sure we can trust her, she is a friendly subject. Kai on the other hand, that's a different story. He's the one I'm not really sure about. To be honest…my analytic skills were too limited to get a clear picture of him. Something that never happened before…!” “That's indeed unusual for you!” Shore' said worried. “So it's not very easy for me to explain what I have felt…a flood of emotions washed over me, his thoughts were so disordered I asked myself why he wasn't insane. I never thought that only one person was able to have so much thoughts in only one moment…it was as if there were thousands of other persons present inside him. But that's not what bothered me, he radiated an immense darkness and pain, I never felt this before. During my telepath training program I had to scan several persons, scientists, good people, bad people, healthy and unhealthy people…I can't number it. But even the sickest mind of them hasn't had such a dark presence…it really gives me the creeps, brrr,” she said shivering. “Is he dangerous or maybe a threat for us'” Shore' asked pushing. “That's what I don't understood, Shore' , what I told you is what made me uneasy, but just some seconds later I felt something completely different…as if there was another side to him. I felt sadness, regret and a strong sense of justice and that made me certain that he isn't a bad guy at all – most of the sick individuals I met in life lack of this senses. Before I was able to touch another part of him, something that felt very familiar to me, I can't explain why…he blocked me out. I'm sure he knew from the beginning that I scanned them…I still wonder why he let me before!” she said thoughtful.
      “There were only two possibilities,” Shore' put up one finger: “He wanted to know us that they really are no threat…or,” he put up the second one: “He wanted to believe us that they are no threat. When he knew that you scanned him and his friends and he was able to block you…then he must have definitely this skill too!” “I'm sure that he hasn't. I haven't detect any other telepathic emission during their visit. He may have the skill to block telepathy, that's not unusual, the inhabitants of Garath'a 5 also have this skill, but none of them has telepathic skills.” Shereen said with knitted brows. “So you're sure that they are no threat to us'” “I am, I can't tell you why, but I am. If they really want to destroy us…they had done it already. If they were Pr'karesh allies, we had lost this war already. No, I'm hundred percent sure that they are no enemies. But what I'm not sure about is…what are they' Where did they come from…!” “I think we have to wait till tonight…maybe our questions will be answered then.” Shore' tried to calm Shereen. “I don't want to question your skills Shereen, if you say they are no threat, they aren't, you never were wrong in such things!” “There is always a first time…” Shereen sighed and rubbed her head…she really got a headache! “What do you think about a little rest' Release yourself from your telepathic spheres and keep company with me during a little meal! You look as if you really need a stop!” “That's a good idea…” Shore' smiled: “Come on, let us go…!” He offered her his arm and Shereen closed her telepathic connection for a while, and linked arms with him, both left the council hall.

Xev woke up when she felt someone shaking her. Growling she said: “No, not yet…!” “Sorry, Ma'am, but we're closing in a second,” a voice rang in her ear. “Mh…,” bit by bit her mind cleared up. Where the heck was she' She lifted her head, recognized a wooden surface under her crossed arms. She blinked and then she realized where she was. A bar…delicious drinks…she groaned…definitely too much of them. The man behind the bar, she knew she had talked to before she passed out, started to grin widely at her. “You're not the first one who passed out in my bar, headache'” Xev nodded. “How long did I…'” “Oh, one, two hours. Here, drink this, you'll feel better after!” He gave her a glass with a clear liquid. “What's that'” Xev sniffed carefully before she drank. “Something against headache…just drink it!” Xev did. It tasted horrible, but she felt the headache fading very fast. With knitted brows she looked at all those empty glasses next to her…she hardly couldn't remember drinking them all. The barman followed her gaze and smiled whilst cleaning some glasses: “You must have been very thirsty, my dear…!”
      Xev smiled sheepishly back: “They were good…how late is it'” “Almost morning, should I take you home'” he asked. “No, no problem. I think I'll find my way, it's not far…ouch…dusk you said'” she jumped from her seat. The man nodded. “I hope he doesn't worry!” Xev said thinking about Kai at home. “I hope you can come back soon, it was very funny!” the barman said friendly. “My wife often dragged me out of countless bars years ago. Well, anytime I had to promise her to stop visiting them…!” “Well, then you opened your own bar…my beloved!” his wife's voice rang out the kitchen door. The barman grinned embarrassed and winked. “It took me months to convince her that we can earn a lot of money with it…she would never admit it…but it was a good idea, believe me!” Xev smiled: “By the way…paying, I think this is the card I have to pay with…!” “Yes, thank you,” he took the card Xev held out to him and drew it through some sort of card reader. “Oh, you're a guest of our government…that's nice, most of them didn't come here…it's a pity, they missing the best part of Arcan's!” The barman said and gave her the card back. Xev let it slide in a pocket of her blue trousers. “I believe you. I really enjoyed being here. Tell me, what is it that made me feel so strange when I drunk these liquids'” she asked interested.
      “They contain a intoxicant called alcohol. Too much of it and you feel fuddled…or sick, if it was far too much!” he explained. “You never had drunk something like that before'” “No, not that I'm aware of.” “Respect…if it really was for the first time…you must have a very good constitution. Most of those who consumed it for the first time got drunk right after the first one or two glasses. And you've drunk ten.” The barman said smiling. “I have a good constitution, in many ways…but now I've gotta go…Bye!” “Bye, hope to see you again,” the barman said and waved her. Xev waved back and left the bar…tried to keep a straight walk when she walked along the empty street back home.

Xev put her boots out and opened the door to their domicile soundlessly. Complete silence prevailed everywhere and Xev moved carefully through the corridor, dropped her boots down on the ground. She opened the door to the bedroom and peered inside. The pale light of T'uara lit the room up a little and Xev could see Kai's shape on the bed. She closed the door and slipped out of her clothes, never looking away from Kai. His face was directed to her side of the bed, one of the blankets draped around his thighs and waist of his otherwise naked body. Xev noticed that his right hand was clawed into his pillow. He seemed to have nightmares again. Xev sighed inwardly, yes, his body was clearly tensed, now she was able to see it. The strong urge to put him out of this vicious circle was inhumanly fierce, but she also knew that any interruption of this acceptation process would only slow it down. With a heavy heart she let him sleep. Soundlessly she slid under her blanket next to him and listened to his slightly irregular breathing. In some nights he woke up on his own, mostly when his dreams were gone really worse. Sometimes she heard him groaning and sobbing, and sometimes she even could hear him speaking something in a foreign language. She guessed that it was brunnish. How could she ever forget that melodic sound of this language' She never had heard something beyond his song, but it was enough to be sure that he was speaking his mother language. It must be hard for him to know that he was the last one of his people…that he was the last one who could speak this wonderful language…Xev closed her eyes and thought: >Maybe he can teach me to speak it too someday<. With this thought she rolled to her right side and fell asleep soon.



Chapter 13

Revealing the enemy

Light-years away, deep in the heart of another territory, the Pr'karesh Empire, a single, heavily damaged ship returned to the docks, which were orbiting their center of power – Pr'karesh itself. The constitution of the crew wasn't any better than the ship, but half of the crew at least had survived, including their Captain. But he was far away from being certain that this meant luck for them. He brought bad news…something that could end up far worse than being killed in battle. The system they lived in rarely excused fails or faults.
The Captain himself had always been a practical man, always careful not to get into trouble, not to do anything against the law. He never understood those who tried to tell him that everything had been better when they still had belonged to the Alliance. He knew that some of them, originating from Pr'karesh, Zala'arana or Jeha'd, once fought in the Alliance fleet, but what had the Alliance done for those planets in the outer borderland' Not very much, he was sure about that. Well, he hadn't been old enough to remember the difference between the old government and the new one, the change came when he was barely 10 years old. He didn't care about the differences of an old gone government and the new one. Like he said about himself, he was a practical man, and he wouldn't have done anything against their strict laws. Why should he' To be the Captain of a warship was something he always wanted to be. So he told the older crewmembers that they had to adjust to the new situation, otherwise he had to punish them. Over time the bad tongues silenced, there were no more speeches about a generation of slaves, puppets on a huge string, everyone was too afraid to say or do something wrong – the punishments made an impact.
Everywhere they became silent, people didn't ask questions, put something into question any longer, people hadn't any will on their own…simply their service, their duty and their orders was what counted. If someone didn't adjust anyway…well, he just vanished…that's how things were. No one wanted to vanish, so they did as they were told…the Captain too, when the infamous palace guards fetched him.

They took him down to Pr'karesh, to the former governmental building, now “His” palace. The town around once had been full of life, now it was empty. No one was living in the capital city of Pr'karesh any longer. It wasn't permitted. Safety precautions they said.
The small shuttle landed just in front of the huge building and he was forced to enter. The Captain was there for the first time and asked himself why. Normally the palace guard took officers like him and asked them somewhere else in their head quarters, on Fara'gra, the fifth planet of this system. He didn't know if it was a very bad sign that he was brought here, here where all the threads were coming together. He now was led through the building, down into one of the great halls, the one opened in front of him once had been the council hall. Now it served as the Emperors control and reception hall.
The grey stonewalls were decorated with screens and tactical information. Some technicians were present at the computer consoles and some of the infamous palace guards were watching everyone and everything, but otherwise the room was empty. He recognized that one of the screens was active and the Captain saw that it showed the recordings he had made. The guards jostled him towards the dark figure in front of the screen. He automatically fell to his knees, thankful, because he was sure that he couldn't stand any longer, he really was in a funk.
Even if he never had seen their Emperor, he knew immediately that this scrawny figure in its dark violet clothes was the man who ruled them all - the mighty Emperor of the Pr'karesh Empire!

The man, who was obviously the Emperor, stopped the recordings and froze them where the Lexx turned to fire at the Pr'karesh ships. He had seen this scenario for the third time and still couldn't believe what he saw. Not because he saw his fleet destroyed for the third time today. No, he was more surprised to see this ship again after such a long time! 4000 years were a long time…but on the other hand, it wasn't impossible that the most powerful weapon ever built found its way to the DarkZone, his own presence here was proof enough that it was possible to be here, even after such a long time. The question was: how did the ship come here' His eyes narrowed and he pushed back the first possible answers that came into his mind, he had to deal with it later. There were other issues to be discussed first.

“You're the Captain of the only ship that managed to return from our attack against the 4th Arcannean fleet'” he asked the figure at his feet after he turned. “Yes…!” with a trembling voice the pitiful Captain answered, his gaze on the floor. He wasn't able to look up into this gloomy face with its stinging, malignant eyes. “Well, not the victorious return I expected…but I begin to understand the reason for it…!” The Emperor turned back to the screen and crossed his arms, oh, how well he could understand the reason for the loss of his ships. The powerful weapon of the Lexx was something he had designed more than 4000 years ago.

He once had been a Biovezir in the service of His Divine Shadow. He had built mighty weapons for His Shadow, mainly based on the insect technology one of the Divine Predecessors had brought to the Cluster when he destroyed the BrunnenG homeworld. One of their small insect crafts had crashed into the bridge of the Foreshadow and the remains of it were given over to the Bioscholars. Admitted his predecessor-biovezirs weren't very lucky in developing other weapons with this technology…but he, Weapon-Biovezir Taleron, was. He had developed a whole series of powerful weapons from this technology. The end of this line had been the weapon system of the brand new ship His Divine Shadow had started to build at that time – the Lexx. The same ship he now could see on the screen.
The ship impressed him, he never had seen it finished. Well, there was a reason for it.
After his colleague Mantrid had been imprisoned for being a possible threat to His Divine Shadow, all Biovezirs had to be very careful not to end up like him, or, even worse - dead! Yes, His Divine Shadow had been a very incalculable individual, and even if he worked very hard and good for the Divine Order and for His Divine Shadow, even if the work always had been important, it ended all not well for him.
Taleron was obsessed by his work…he built one weapon generation after the next, and always they were more dangerous, more effective and more powerful. Always in search of the perfect weapon. And someday he invented something that he considered a very useful weapon, but this didn't please His Shadow and before he could explain anything further, the assassins were after him.

What had happened' Talerons idea was to build different kinds of weapons. Not only for ships and for handling, no, he wanted to put some humans into more effective and dangerous weapons than any decarbonized assassin ever could be. He had extracted some DNA from the insect ship remains and used them to generate a series of primitive human-insect-hybrids. He soon discovered that humans with such an altered and manipulated DNA could be a lot more aggressive, as well as the assassins not vulnerable but a lot more persistent, because they didn't rely on protoblood. For him this could be the perfect elite assassin for the future. But His Shadows reaction he didn't expect. In place of being thankful for such an incredible invention, the mighty emperor was full of wrath. Taleron's invention was a sacrilege. Mixing human with insect DNA! There was nothing more badly for the insect His Shadow was. He wanted to eliminate the human race…not them being part of an insect! Taleron had crossed the line, His Shadow woke up his head-assassin to hunt Taleron down to kill him. Taleron had no time to lose when he became knowledge of His Shadows orders. He self-injected the agent he had developed and fled from the Cluster. It was the only chance to save his work, to continue it somewhere else. He was so angry about His Shadow's blindness to see the potential in this development…but he couldn't do anything against it…at least in the LightZone, where His Shadow was the law. He somehow managed to escape the assassin and traveled through the Fractal Core into the DarkZone. There, His Shadow had no influence.
But at first Taleron didn't know what he should do in his exile, he had nothing. No place where he could continue his work, no assistants, and no equipment. But he had to continue his work! He was obsessed by the idea to develop this living weapon…and who knows, maybe someday he would be stronger than the Divine Order and could return to the LightZone to claim his right! But how should he do that, stranded in the middle of nowhere' Taleron hoped that time would be on his side and had set course for any next planetary system. With luck it was a life-bearing planet, developed enough for his purposes. Then he had gone into cryosleep.

But what if after all those years His Shadow might have been faster and found him' He couldn't rule that out. The urge to fight against humanity might have led His Shadow back to the DarkZone.
Even if he hadn't anything in common with His Divine Shadow, Taleron could understand the hate he beard towards the human race. When he self-injected this agent he had developed, the insect-DNA soon became a very dominant part of him, and with it came the disgust for the weak society humanity had created. The insect part of him was angry that after the genocide, the insects never could rule this universe again, but hopefully now there were other ways to erect a complete new order! The humans should never be the only rulers of the universe, there should be revenge for their crime against the insects – Taleron wanted to create a complete new civilization, humans which carry insect-DNA, human-insect-hybrids if you want. His Shadow didn't want a connection between humans and insects, for him it was a sacrilege, but times had changed, it was obvious that humanity couldn't be destroyed as easily as His Shadow thought, Taleron saw it in the LightZone, too much time was necessary. But with his idea, he would defeat humanity in a complete different way. A successful way! He was working on these plans since his arrival here.
A Pr'karesh trade ship discovered him drifting in space thirty years ago. He was a bit surprised when they woke him up from cryosleep, because he never expected to wake up in a malfunctioning, 4000 year old ship. It seemed that some technical defect caused this long journey to happen. As a result he had to learn more about the new environment he was thrown in, and one surprise followed the next. Even after 4000 years, there was no sign of His Divine Shadow in the DarkZone, something that calmed him. The next surprise was, that the planet he was taken to, Pr'karesh, was part of an Alliance, which existed since thousands of years. Founded by the last surviving humans who fought the insect wars 20000 years ago. This now was the sign he had waited for. There would be no better place to work than here. The insect part of him always flew into passion when he thought of the Arcannea and the other humans who destroyed the insect civilization.
Pr'karesh seemed to be the right place to settle down. It was one of the smaller and undersized members of the Alliance and located on the outer borderland of the Arcannean territory. With his biological and technical knowledge he was a very welcomed guest and for him it was so easy to gain more and more influence over time. For the old government it always had been difficult to be a seriously taken member of the Alliance, because they hadn't anything to deal with. Talerons promise to change this issue opened many doors and soon he was coming into power. He built a huge fleet of ships, based upon the development he had brought from the Cluster, and his own designed strong weapons. They weren't that strong and effective as they had been on the Cluster, for the resources he had were small, but it was enough to conquer other planets here in the outer borderland. His new Empire grew fast and before the Arcannea knew what happened, the Pr'karesh Empire existed next to the Arcannean Alliance. It surprised him how easily their neighbors could be defeated, especially because of their high-developed ships, but they hadn't calculated that they might be attacked from the inside of their own Alliance. This had been his advantage. He was aware of the need of stronger ships and weapons if he wanted to fight them on and on, so the development of his weapons never stopped. Soon he regained the old strength and he was able to attack Arcannea again and again with success. Soon it became obvious that the Arcannean fleet just managed to withstand him, they weren't able to claim the lost territory back. He always was a step ahead. This was what happened the past 20 years.
Now his development had reached a new stage. The far better ships and weapons now were clearly superior! His Empire grew constantly since the last months, boosted up his resources, human resources for the war as well as raw material. It was very important to him to have a functional and effective society. He managed the war and the control of his own human resources very easily. The Cluster gave him example for it. Humans could be controlled so easily with fear and strict laws. This law was carried out by his infamous palace guards, invariably all “modified” humans. They were the backing of his Empire. For him they also were the symbol of the new order he wanted to bring to the universe. Of course, no one really knew the reality behind the strength of these guards, but so they were the perfect instruments of control and fear. Wherever they showed up, the people took cover, too easily everyone could be the next to be taken away to an unknown place.
The secret was kept behind the palace walls he inhabited.
Since his arrival here, the improvement of these “modified” guards was also a successful development. He had established the basis on the Cluster, brought it here inside his blood…and now he developed the final stage for this new race, tested on some of the vanished people, or on “volunteers”. It took him much longer than he expected. All the guards were still more or less prototypes. Effective enough for their tasks, but not perfect. Still too vulnerable, too short-lived, there were still a few things he had to improve.
But the latest tests were very promising. The newest generation of agents he developed, which added the necessary parts of insect DNA to the human DNA, needed to be tested on more “volunteers”. And of course, the so changed persons needed to be tested too.

He put his attention back to the Captain who still crouched on the floor. He knew that there wasn't much the Captain may could tell him further, but he asked nevertheless: “Is there anything you can tell me in addition to the recordings'” The Captain replied desperately: “Only that there wasn't any chance to defend ourselves, Biovezir, please believe me!” “You may wonder, but I do believe you. For that, I don't sentence you with the death penalty. Guards!” Taleron waved at two guards, he had an idea how the Captain still could be useful to him. “Take him to unit H7, he is of better use there.” The guards nodded wordless. “And send for Sa'k, I want to see him immediately!” Another nod, then the Captain was taken away. The Captain's eyes widened with fear. He didn't know what unit H7 was. At first he was relieved when he heard Taleron say, that he shouldn't be punished with death, but the uncertainty that awaited him produced nearly the same fear.
What the Captain didn't know, H7 was one of Talerons laboratories where some of those “vanished” people were undergone special treatments which let them either die or, the luckier ones transformed into “modified” guards. One thing was sure, the Captain surely never would be the same than before, but the pitiful creature didn't know this at the moment of course.
Taleron looked back at the screen, while he waited for Sa'k. An idea was forming in his mind. He badly needed more information. Especially about the Lexx. Who flew the ship, if not His Shadow' Why was it here' No, he couldn't imagine that it really was His Shadow. The Lexx might be the most powerful weapon ever built, but that far in the DarkZone without any other ships of the Divine Order around he would never go. Maybe he sent it only for reconnaissance. But he needed to be sure. It was a good time to send some of his elite soldiers deep into the Arcannean territory. It was a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. First, he wanted more information and second, it was time to test the latest generation of elite soldiers for enlightenment and other tasks deep inside the heart of the Arcannean Alliance. And referring to the Lexx he had another special task, for Sa'k.
Sa'k had been the first who was “treated” with the newest generation of his agents. The stage he considered them to be nearly perfect. Sa'k had passed all tests successfully, but he was the currently only one, Taleron needed more of his kind. But not without further tests, so he considered it as a good idea to authorize Sa'k with this special task.
As far as he remembered, there was something special to the Lexx, better said, the control of the Lexx. He had no concrete information about it, but rumors among the Biovezirs had told him, that His Divine Shadow was the only one who could control the Lexx, with a special key he possessed. This now led him directly back to the question: Was it His Shadow who arrived here or not' The behavior let him exclude that, but who then had the control over this ship, and how' This was Sa'ks task to find out. And then, he had to make a plan how it was possible to get in control of the Lexx. The ship was the perfect instrument to show the Arcannean Alliance who will be the next ruler of this part of the DarkZone. His insect part smiled widely at this thought…one step closer to a great victory.
He turned when Sa'k entered the room. Sa'k was a tall man, with brown hair and green eyes. He once had been a volunteer for the program. Well, either he had got a death penalty or he had volunteered for Talerons tests. Sa'k had enough experience with killing, so he was a very welcomed volunteer. The man had killed multiple people on his homeworld Jeha'd, and someday was caught by Talerons palace guards. So he ended up here. Taleron called him his personal guard in the meantime.
Nothing on him told about his special “part”. He looked completely human, but he wasn't. He was much stronger than any human ever could be, also his self-healing powers were fully functional and last but not least, besides his ability to be a perfect killer, he was a very good tactical thinker. “I've got something to do for you, Sa'k,” Taleron greeted him and pointed at the screen. “I want you and three of our elite soldiers to fly to Arcan's. It's time to get more information to coordinate our final attack. I want you to destroy their main supply, the Arcannea-station. Your special task, Sa'k is, to find out more about this ship, the Lexx. I want to know why it had come here, who controls it, and, if possible I want you to take the ship here, to Pr'karesh.” Sa'k nodded. “Do you have any needful tactical information I should know to fulfill the task'” Taleron walked over to one of the control units and gave Sa'k a small flat crystal disc. “That's everything I know about the ship and the current situation. Go now!” Sa'k bowed shortly: “Yes, Biovezir, we will be successful!” “I'm waiting for reports if possible!” Taleron said and released his servant. Sa'k left the hall and started his mission without any hesitation and questioning.
Taleron nodded in satisfaction. The recent defeat was still hurting, but it wasn't really important for his ongoing plans. He would be crazy if he hadn't something up his sleeve. Things were developing on their side, and the Arcannea soon will be helpless enough to start the final attack! Nothing pleased him more than the thought of their soon break-up!
Taleron left the hall for his private rooms, he needed some time to plan their next steps and of course, a little rest would be welcomed too.



Chapter 14

An invitation for dinner

The people on Arcan's and on hundred other worlds of the Alliance didn't know anything of Talerons plans of course, but they would never admit that he could defeat them without resistance. Too much of their ancestors was still inside them. They would work and fight to the last.
Morning had nearly passed by when Xev awoke. She lolled and stretched in the sunlight and opened her eyes, squinted to her right. The bed next to her was empty. Kai already seemed to be up. Xev put her blanket aside and got up too. She put on her clothes and scuffled to the living room. “Kai'” she asked yawning, when she couldn't discover him anywhere. “Oh my heart, you're awake, let me recite my newest morning poem…!” Xev sighed inwards, 790 was the last she wanted to meet this morning. “Not now, 790, I'm still tired. Where's Kai'” “Don't know, don't care – not here!” 790 answered happily. “Really' That's something I can see too,” her gaze went to the table and she discovered a plate with breakfast and something to drink. She smiled. It was such a strange and touching sensation to know that someone thought of her. Her stomach growled and she forgot Kai's absence for a moment. She sat down on the couch, ignored 790's ongoing gaggling and dispatched the food hungrily. It was so delicious. She leaned back and sighed. Yes, the way to anyone’s heart is through one's stomach! After a few moments relaxing she felt a low air draft stroking over her skin. She sat up and sniffed, a heavy flavor of salt came with it. She stood up and walked over to the terrace door, which was slightly open. She slid outside and blinked into the sunlight. A soft breeze washed over her and carried more salty flavor with it. Xev looked over to Stan’s domicile, everything was still quiet there and she smiled. Then she strolled down to the beach, enjoyed again the water spilling over her bare feet. Slowly she walked to the left side, constantly watching out for her beloved. “Kai'” she called again, but again there was no answer. She turned around a slight bend, where the fine sandy beach passed into a rocky bank. The rocks formed the bluff on the outer left side she was able to see from their domicile. Finally she discovered him sitting upright on one of the bigger rocks. Xev paused surprised and kept hold of the scenery for a moment. Her heart beat faster when the beauty of this moment filled her. Kai wore totally different clothes as usual, he had put on a blue shirt and dark blue trousers, and she guessed that he had found them in the wardrobe like she had hers before. They were a wonderful contrast to the grayish-brown rocks and they suit him very well. He didn't bother to braid his long black hair, so it fell openly down his back. The soft wind let a few strands dance in front of his face. Kai didn't show any reaction when they touched his skin, he had closed his eyes and seemed to be somewhere far away. Xev sighed deeply. He looked so drop-dead gorgeous. It was difficult for her to explain what she felt in those moments. Slowly she drew nearer, balanced soundlessly on the rocks. She didn't want to disturb him, she just wanted to be close to him. But Kai suddenly looked over to her and opened his eyes. Xev stopped surprised for a moment. Well, then she knew why. How dare could she think that she was able to sneak up to an ex-assassin' Kai might be alive and human again, but the implant in his head still was existent and no one could rule out that the programming still had some influence on his skills and maybe on his behavior too. Not that she assumed that it was any threat to him or to others, but the remains sometimes scared her a bit, not the skills he may had through it, but the memories to what he had done with them before. She closed the distance between them fast and pecked a kiss on his cheek. “Morning!” she said. “Morning,” he replied calm. “Thanks for the breakfast,” she said smiling and sat down next to him. Kai nodded: “You slept very long!'” It was more a determination than a question, but Xev felt the urge to explain him why. “I'm sorry, I came home very late…” she said embarrassed and told him about her night. Kai listened carefully but his gaze wandered absent over the glistening sea. Xev eventually realized Kai's absence and asked: “Everything alright'” Kai looked back at her, then down: “I…hadn't have a good night,” he replied hesitating. “Nightmares…'” Xev asked, remembering the tightness his body showed last night when she went to bed. “No nightmares…Xev, things that really happened,” he answered barely audible. Xev put forth her hand and touched his cheek gently, stroke some strands behind his ear and forced him to look at her. “Kai, whatever happened, it wasn't your fault…don't let those memories dictate your life!” Kai shook his head slowly and pulled Xev hand away. “It's not that easy, Xev,” he said and looked away. The night he was reminded to one of the worst orders His Shadow had ever placed him. They were in a threesome. Their aim had been a planet with 30 000 inhabitants, all of them fugitives, mostly families of rebels. They all should be eliminated – to make an example of, to let his Empire know what happened to those who rebelled against his order. Without mercy and without premonition the storm of death closed in over them. In only a few hours the whole population, 90% of them women and children, was dead. Hunted down and killed like cattle. Again it was stomach churning for Kai when the pictures came back into his mind. He pressed his lips together and looked back at the sea. To know that he hadn't any control of what he had done, wasn't very comforting at all. The memories, the guilt and the disgust he felt couldn't be washed away with that knowledge. In those moments he asked himself again and again if this new life wasn't a fault. His soul was now burdened with more guilt than he could probably ever deal with. Since his people had discovered eternal life, life had become something sacred, no BrunnenG had ever thought about killing for thousands of years. For him the thought about taking anyone’s life had been absurd and strange, too. But he always had been the opinion that death had to be part of their life, something very controversy these days and, of course, only one of many points he didn't agree with the common opinion. Maybe it was the usual universal sarcasm that made it happen that a BrunnenG became one of the worst murderers ever heard of.
He felt Xev's arm around his shoulders and the first intention to pull away from her faded quickly, at once he was relieved that she was at his side, that someone was there who could at least understand his pain, his desperation a little. It was her presence that let him ease his burden a little. He looked back into her worried face. Xev was able to see the sadness and those unshed tears in his eyes and she knew immediately that he must have remembered something really worse. She didn't ask, she knew that he couldn't talk about everything from his past, instead she pulled him comforting into her arms. It took a while, but soon she felt that he breathed in deeply and got balanced again.
Kai had laid his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. He was thankful for her embrace and he felt the horrible memory fading. Then the empty space was filled with something else, a dream he had have this night, too. At least he thought it must have been a dream, because he knew that it wasn't a memory, but there was something strange with this dream. He never experienced this kind of dream before.
He had heard someone calling his name. At first he thought it was Xev, but when he opened his eyes to answer her, she hadn't been there, she still had been out. He had shaken it off as imagination and dozed off again. But it took only few moments when the strange dream continued and he heard someone calling his name again. “Kai-last of the BrunnenG-come to me…!” Kai didn't woke up this time, he felt himself allured to this voice and tried to discover who called his name over and over again. Soon he saw a female figure in front of him. She was bathed in a strange light, seemed to float like she was surrounded by water. Her dark hair whirled around her like an aureole. She had put forth her right hand and gestured him to follow her. Kai hesitated only a moment before he did, he was far too curious what all this meant. When she turned he was surprised to see that she was completely covered with those strange tattoos he had seen somewhere before and that she “swam” away from him. How could she live under water' Was she some kind of mermaid' But no, those creatures only live in legends, and they hadn't legs…. Did he loose his mind or what was happening to him' He heard a soft laughter, it sounded like carillon, then the woman, or whatever she was, turned and stopped. “Every legend has a true source…Kai.” Kai asked: “Who are you' How do you know my name' What do you want'” “We've waited for you– a very long time!” “Waited' For me' Why'” he had asked unbelievingly, he really wasn't sure if he was loosing his mind this moment. “Come to me, last of the BrunnenG, and you'll understand!” “I'm here, what do you want'” But she only had smiled. Kai had shaken his head and asked again: “Who are you' What do you want'” “I want you to visit me, Kai…!” “Why'” “To find again what you've lost…!” was the only answer he got. It confused him more and more. Well, he had indeed lost a lot, starting with his home, ending with himself, but what did she know about his problems' The strange woman seemed to know exactly what he thought and answered: “Come to me…and your questions will be answered!” Kai gave up. “Where can you be found'” The woman moved closer to him and whispered: “In the deepest of all oceans – beyond all tides – that's where I live. I know now that you'll come soon…!” Then she had vanished as suddenly as she had appeared. Kai had fallen into a dreamless sleep right after and when he woke up this morning it had been the first thing he remembered. Kai had thought about it all the morning, but hadn't come closer to any solution. But he felt somewhere deep inside that this hadn't been a hallucination, as well as the dream he had about his past not long ago. Arcannea was a really strange place, this was something he could say so far. So, what else could he do as to search for this strange creature – wherever she could be found. Slowly he raised his head and looked at Xev. Maybe it was better to share this with her, she always had have good ideas in the past. So he overcame his inhibitions and told her about the strange vision. Xev was very surprised when she heard the story, and she thought about it some time. “Maybe,” she started, “this creature is somehow associated with water' I mean, she had talked about the “deepest of all oceans”, so maybe she is somewhere on Sha'ra, this waterplanet'” “A hint I thought of, too, but she could have meant it in a philosophical way too, the universe is a kind of ocean as well,” he said. “Maybe, but then you could have dreamt elsewhere of her, but you did it here…!” Xev objected. Kai nodded slowly. “You know what'” Xev put her hands on his shoulder and stroke gently over his hair, let her fingers ran down through it: “Why don't you ask president Shereen' I mean, she's from Sha'ra, she could know something.” Kai's expression relaxed a bit and he agreed: “We should ask her, you're right. Whatever happens, this creature seems to be very sure about my visit…it sounded as certain as the prophecy of the TimeProphet, when she told me about the end of my people,” Kai sighed. “Another prophecy'” she asked. “I don't hope for that. I haven't had any luck with prophecies in the past…!” he answered thoughtfully. Xev, nodded, yes, this was true, almost. The prophecy finally caused the end of the Divine Order and His Shadow, actually a good outcome…but at what costs! Xev sighed inwardly and changed the topic. They couldn't do anything until they meet the president, and she didn't want to think about strange dreams and horrible pasts now. “What do you want to do today'” she asked Kai and pulled him with her, together they walked the way back. “What do you want to do'” he asked back. She let her gaze wander longing over the glistening sea. “How good are your swimming skills'” she asked. Kai smiled and tilted his head: “I never tested them out, but for I am not longer decarbonized, and so not in danger to sink down to the ground…there's no reason why I shouldn't be an acceptable swimmer…” Xev gave him a wide grin and stopped walking. “So'” “So what'” he replied. “What do you think of swimming in this wonderful sea…'” “If you'd love to,” he said gently. Xev undressed herself instead for an answer and let her clothes fell onto the white sand. “Coming'” she asked. Kai couldn't help himself than to smile. “Oh, come on, I know that you're not afraid of water!” she laughed and started to unbutton his shirt, let it fell next to her clothes. She let her hand ran over his bare chest down to his waist and loosed his trousers as well. Completely naked, Kai stepped out the trousers, put them aside and kissed her softly. “I'm not afraid of water, but like so many other things, I'm a little bit out of practice…!” He said and stroke over her skin. Xev rolled her eyes. “Liar,” she said. “I'm sure you'll get accustomed to it soon, even if it's not a bathtub.” She took his hand and together they walked into the sea. The water was agreeable warm and Xev sighed happily. She loved to feel the water all around her naked body. She let go of Kais hand and swam a few meters away. For Kai it wasn't really difficult to swim in the open sea, he was surprised that he got accustomed to it so very quickly. Xev smiled widely when she discovered that he was in fact a very good swimmer, so they swam together far away from the bank and started to hunt each other across the small bay. Xev's clusterlizard side had a lot of fun, for she loved hunting. And she was happy that she was able to catch her beloved more times than he could her. Sometime they stopped exhausted, and floated on the water next to each other in the shallow depth near the beach. Xev enjoyed the warm sunlight on her naked body and sighed happily. “Kai'” she asked her neighbor. “Hm'” came the reply. Xev turned on her front side and drifted next to him. “Could you imagine to live here, on this planet'” she asked. Kai opened his eyes he had closed for a moment and looked at her. “It is a beautiful place, it reminds me in more than one thing to my home,” he said thoughtfully, “But I have no preferences where to live, Xev. If you and Stan decide to stay here, I'll be here, too. Whatever makes you happy Xev.” Xev crushed softly into his floating body. “What would make you happy'” she asked gently and let her fingers playfully caressing his chest. Kai watched her fingers wandering and replied hesitantly: “I'm not sure if I can give you a proper answer, Xev, to be sure about something what could make me happy, I have to experience it, there weren't many things which made me really happy since my new life began.” Xev sighed, she thought this was an easy question, but it seemed that she was wrong. Well, referring to Kai such questions weren't really easy to be answered, she tended to forget that sometimes. “I would be happy if we could stay here, it's the first planet we weren't threatened or something like that…!” Xev said, bringing her body closer to his. “You shouldn't forget that they're at war. We can't be certain that some things might change for them, for their planet, for their way to live.” Kai said. “I know, one more reason to help them, in my opinion.” “We'll see, this issue is going to be discussed this evening,” Kai reminded her. “You're right, not yet. Let us relish this wonderful day…there were so few in life.” Xev said dreamily. Kai smiled slightly. Indeed, there weren't plenty of those days in a lifetime, days without worries, nothing than relaxing and enjoying the day. He reached for her arm and pulled her closer. “But among those few things I know they make me happy, there is surely something you'll like too…!” Xev smiled when she felt his arms around her body and she knew exactly what he wanted to point out. The lustful spark in his eyes was enough to let her understand. She closed her eyes and let it happen…

Later that day, when they were sitting on the beach in each other’s arms, Stanley and Yareena joined them. Stan introduced Yareena to Kai, who didn't know her yet, but recognized that she must originally be from Sha'ra too, like Shereen, for she had the same kind of tattoos and the same look. Both couples started to talk about this and that the whole afternoon. Xev was relieved that Stan hadn't told too much so far, only few bits and pieces about their strange adventures on the Lexx. Soon Yareena bid farewell, she told them that her holiday was over, and that she had to be on the Arcannea-station in a couple of hours. Stan of course was very sad, but they promised each other to meet again. So the day soon was over and the three friends ended up in Xev's and Kai's domicile. Stan surely hadn't smiled that often for a long time and he was truly happy. Xev smiled at Kai when they listened to Stan's never ending enthusiasm about Yareena. 790 curled up his digital mouth scowling: “Stop it, no one could bear this…!” he growled. “You're only jealous, robothead. I think we should look for any dialog partner for you…then your not alone any longer!” Stan said blitheful. “Why should I be jealous' I have my Xevoliscious…” “Well, I think, at the moment she is far more interested in Kai, than in you…!” Stan turned 790 around, so he could see Kai and Xev. Xev had used the opportunity of Stan and 790's discussion to coerce Kai for a kiss. “Waaaaaaahhhhhhh!” screamed 790. Startled Xev and Kai parted as if both were caught in doing something forbidden. “790! That's enough. Off, until I tell you to switch on again!” “But…” “No buts,” Xev looked grimly at him. “Off!” “Och…” His screens turned black. “Thank you Xev, this was overdue,” Stan sighed and put 790 back on the table. “He could be a pain in the ass sometimes,” Kai agreed. Xev started to laugh and looked surprised at Kai, he never had talked like this before. Kai only shrugged his shoulders with an innocent expression, and then he vanished in the bathroom to put his black clothes on again. “At what time Te'ran wanted to fetch us'” she asked through the door whilst changing her blue outfit against her usual dress. “Didn't he say in the evening'” Stan asked back and sat down on the couch. “Thought so, yes…hope we haven't wait too long,” Xev finished dressing by putting her boots on. Some seconds later Kai joined them again, fully dressed in his BrunnenG style. Xev arched her brow inquiring. “It's time to play with open cards!” was his only comment. Xev tilted her head and simply accepted it. She knew that there was no need to put Kai's decisions into question. Just that moment, their doorbell rang. Stan jumped up and opened. It was Te'ran. “Hello, I hope you enjoyed your day'” he greeted them smiling. “Oh yes, thanks a lot for your hospitableness!” “You're welcome. Are you ready to go' In the meantime a lot of things happened, that's why I am here a little earlier than planned, Shereen wants to talk to you as fast as possible,” Te'ran said and meant them to follow him. The Lexx-crew entered the small shuttle Te'ran had land on the same place as before. Their pilot started the machines and soon they left the planet. Te'ran flew them with high-speed from Arcan's to Sha'ra. It took them about twenty minutes until they reached the upper atmosphere. Then Te'ran dived through the clouds and the shuttle raced over the deep blue water surface. “I ask myself where we should meet the president here, I mean, swimming isn't the best thing I can do!” Stan said querulous when he saw all the water. Also it reminded him uncomfortably to the planet Water and his “death” by drowning. “They live under the water surface, on the sea bottom, Stanley,” Kai said calm. “Under water' How is that possibleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…!” Stan stuck to the back of the seat in front of him when suddenly the shuttle tilted down forward. “Hold on, we have to continue our way under the water surface. The sea is a bit rough today, so it could be a bit turbulent.” Te'ran warned them and he maneuvered the shuttle from air into water. There were really a few turbulences when they changed the medium, but it wasn't very intense. A soft rumbling went through the ship and different engines went into action. Completely calm they continued their way. “Wow!” Xev said when she looked outside through the windows. They passed several sea life forms on their way down to the bottom. They raced through the darkness and slowly Xev asked herself how the people of Sha'ra could live here. Her question was answered soon when the shuttle turned and she saw a light shining through the darkness. Minutes later the light became brighter and they could see a massive complex emerging out of the darkness. “That's Dreemar, where Shereen and I live when we're on Sha'ra. She's born here.” Te'ran said and slowed down, so they could have a better look at the city. The city consisted of a huge variety of partially transparent buildings. Some were dome-shaped, some had streamlined shapes, but it was obvious that all of these buildings were the result of a long experience with living under water. All of those buildings were somehow connected. Te'ran told them that they had connections located underground or on the surface of the sea bottom. The city itself was now glinting like a jewel when Te'ran passed some of the buildings. Xev was fascinated by their architecture and their way of life. She never thought that it was possible to live under water. Te'ran navigated the shuttle to one of the dome-shaped buildings and let the shuttle sank down to the bottom. A door opened and the shuttle vanished inside complete darkness. “It's the airlock of our home and the easiest way to enter the building. We can leave the shuttle in a few minutes. The decompression and the water pumping out will take a moment…!” Te'ran left the pilot seat and waited on the door. Then some lights outside went back on and Te'ran opened the door. “Welcome to Sha'ra!” The four climbed out the shuttle and looked around. The airlock itself wasn't very spectacular, only a simple chamber where two shuttles could be parked. Xev looked up to the ceiling where they entered the room, now it was closed of course, but the wet passageway told her, that a few minutes before there had been a lot of water inside. Te'ran guided them to another door that led directly to his home. An elevator took them to the living quarters. “Please, after you. Shereen is waiting for you, I'll join you later.” He opened the door to a huge room and let them enter. The room’s ceiling consisted of a translucent material that gave them unhampered view to the sea life outside. Weak spotlights enlightened the area a little, so they could see various animals. The furnishing of them room was very elegant and friendly and impressed all three. Shereen was sitting on a suite with an unknown person, when they entered. Now she stood up to greet them. “Welcome to our home. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here as well as I always do…!” she said smiling. “If you have the time to be here…!” The stranger interrupted and rose from his seat too. Shereen looked sideward and introduced the man: “Xev, Stanley, Kai, this is Dr. Shore', a very good friend and my counselor…” “…and scientist, she always embezzles that!” Shore' laughed and shook hand with the Lexxcrew. “The meal will soon be served, if you're interested, we can show you a bit around'!” she offered. Xev nodded and gazed the huge dome over them and Stan posed some questions at Shore'. Shereen watched Kai taking a closer look at some incredible pictures and works of art on the wall. When the three had entered and she saw Kais appearance, she detected something very familiar without knowing what it might be. He was dressed differently, that's what she recognized first, but to what did he remind her' She shook her head slightly; this man was really strange. Kai didn't notice her confused gaze, a picture caught his attention at the same time and he drew closer to it. As a young man on Brunnis he always had been interested in art and studied a lot of his people’s art, so he recognized special and precious work. The picture he was attracted by was mounted in a special place in the room. Astonished he recognized that it showed the strange woman he had dreamt of. Carefully and puzzled he touched the outlines of the colorful picture. “It's wonderful, isn't it'” asked a voice behind him. Kai dropped his hand and asked: “Who is she'” “She's an old legend of Sha'ra. Well, actually a living legend. She is called the prophetess of the Deep Sea. It's custom to visit her on a pilgrimage at the end of your childhood, to learn what fate might awaits you in life, or better said, what task you should have in life,” Shereen explained and made a step forward at his side. Kai tilted his head and looked at her. “It's a prearrangement for the rest of your life. It's really true, you can believe me, she exists. Otherwise I would have never become president of the Arcannea Alliance.” Kai nodded thoughtfully, not very surprised about what she told him. “I believe you,” he said, “I dreamt of her last night,” he added after a short break. Shereen made a step back and looked at him in surprise: “You did what'” Kai looked into her eyes and repeated: “I dreamt of her. I wanted to ask you about her, when I saw this picture here…!” Shereen gulped. This sounded really strange in her ears. Kai saw her confusion and put his hand forward. “Watch it, if you want,” he offered. Hesitantly Shereen took his hand and closed her eyes, deeply hoping that the first experience she had made wouldn't repeat a second time. She pressed her lips together when the pictures streamed into her mind. The first impressions were a little mixed up, before Kai could think completely straight of his dream. She caught some pictures of an exploding planet, dead people and all over it laid this inexplicable sadness. But then it was over and she only received the dream. He had told the truth, he really had dreamt of her. And she wanted him to visit her. Another strange aspect she determined. Then the dream faded, he broke their contact abruptly as if he wanted to spare her any further things. Shereen furrowed her brows. This man was all mystery to her, a complete riddle. What did all this mean' Why did he dream about the prophetess' As far as she knew, no non-Sha'ran had ever dreamt of the prophetess, and of course, no non-Sha'ran was ever invited to visit her! Again there was this familiar impression when she examined him…as if she hadn't seen him for the first time. Well, she knew she hadn't known him before, at least not in this life. Desperately she tried to remember why his appearance was so very familiar to her. She knew that he wasn't really different to other humans she met in her life, well, he was very good looking, and something in his demeanor reminded her of a proud warrior, even if there was this hint of sadness in it. Warriors, Xev and Stan really didn't look like they were kind of these, so why did he' Somehow those three didn't seem to fit together, but only when she thought of this aspect; in a complete other she detected closeness she only knew from families.
“Who are you'” she asked hauntingly. Kai didn't answer at once, he closed his eyes for a moment, asked himself if this was the right moment to answer her question, and not very surprisingly, his inner self told him to do so. “I am Kai, last of the BrunnenG,” he said softly in a low voice. Shereen blinked when she heard what he said. “BrunnenG'” she asked puzzled. Kai nodded. >BrunnenG <. Slowly it seeped into her mind. How could she been so blind! The hairdo, of course! Now she knew why he had been so familiar to her. Only the BrunnenG wore their hair in this way. But what did he mean by >Last of the BrunnenG<' What does that mean' He couldn't be the last of this once so great people…< Her thoughts tumbled, and she nearly missed the call that the meal was served. Kai seemed to notice her confusion and added: “Like you said when you welcomed us, it's custom to tell stories during dinner, I suggest we'll do that now. Then you'll understand!” Shereen nodded absently and guided him to the table, where plenty variations of food were served. They all sat down after Shereen welcomed them again, not taking her gaze off Kai. Xev looked inquiring at Kai and he signalized her that she could tell their whole story without any exceptions. After Te'ran joined them, she started to tell the three Arcannea everything. Sometimes Stan threw some words in, Kai added his own story, but most of the time she talked.
The meal was long finished when she ended: “That's how we got here!” Thirsty, she took a deep draft of water. Shereen, Shore' and Te'ran kept silence for a while. Affected Shereen broke the silence: “That's a story I never expected to hear, really.” She understood, the whole thing made sense now. But it saddened her to hear what had happened to the BrunnenG. After 18000 years the fate of the BrunnenG was revealed. She looked at Kai: “I'm sorry to hear that after all your people were killed by the enemy we thought we had defeated together such a long time ago…” Now she understood the sensations she had felt inside him. His story was a sad one, tragic; she knew that she never would find the proper words to tell him what she felt this moment. So she touched his hand for a second and let him know. Kai closed his eyes for a moment and nodded, accepting her sympathy. But inwardly he sighed. Why did all people always think of him as victim' He had been a committer much longer. Sometimes he couldn't understand them. But maybe that's how humans were – always touched by any single fate. “No human should ever have to experience something like that!” Shore' added. “So, our ancestors weren't able to destroy all insects…something we always feared. Now we have the ultimate proof for it.” Te'ran shook his head. “I'm glad that this last insect you called His Divine Shadow could be killed after all. But so late, it's horrible to hear that he was able to control this other universe nearly entirely and used the humans to destroy themselves.” Shereen nodded. “We're all very sad to hear that one insect at least had survived and of course, that it interfered so much with your own life.” Stan answered: “Fortunately, this is history, we managed to kill His Divine Shadow and now have the Lexx, I believe it to be the last remains of the insects…we should be happy about that!” Shereen hesitated, as well as Shore' and Te'ran. “Well, that's not…completely…right,” she finally said. Kai listened attentively: “What do you mean with it'” Nervously Shore' cleared his throat. “You must know that we decided not to use insect based technology after the war, we developed this bio-organic technology you can see everywhere. Of course there were connections between bio-organic technology and insect-technology, because both technologies use bioorganic material, but what we mean when we talk about insect-technology is the one the BrunnenG had developed to defeat the insects. So in general you were right when you say that the Lexx is the last remain of any insect technology. But I fear, we have to revise that.” “To what extent'” asked Stanley. Shore' looked inquiring at Shereen and she agreed to tell them what he had found out not long ago. Shore' started: “As you know, we're at war with the Pr'karesh, I'm going to tell you the reason why and everything else what you want to know,…” Shore' told them everything he had explained during the council meeting and it was obvious that those news were a bit shocking. “Ships with insect technology' Here, in the DarkZone'” Stan asked dumbfounded. “How is that possible'” Kai said calm: “His Shadow had survived and crossed over into the LightZone, the Lexx and we left the Cluster and crossed over into the DarkZone, so why shouldn't it be possible that something or someone else may could have left the Cluster too'” Xev and Stan looked a bit unbelievingly at him, this thought was really startling. “Are you serious'” Stan asked. Kai only shrugged his shoulders. “I can't rule it out. I have no knowledge about the DarkZone and its history the past 18000 years, but if I implicate Shore''s comments, there were no remains of insect technology left over in the DarkZone, at least not any known remains. So my conclusion leads to that.” Shereen nodded slowly: “That's indeed a thing we should consider. We weren't aware that besides this universe another one exists, existed, some of our scientist were this opinion, but we never found any proof for it. But 4000 years is a long time for someone to survive…” “We did survive,” Xev said thoughtfully, “Maybe Kai is right, if we did, why shouldn't anything or anyone might have survived too'” She looked at the others. “Why haven't you sent any troops or spies to Pr'karesh to solve that riddle'” Stan asked. Te'ran shook his had sadly: “Of course we did, but no one ever came back. We lost dozens of ships and people. It's senseless. The few spies we we're able to integrate couldn't help us either, it's to risky to order them to infiltrate their government.”
“I should discuss this issue with the council. But wherever these technology came from, who brought it…they were clearly superior, and we really have more and more problems to hold our lines, to defend the planets our citizens were living on.” Shereen said. “I fear that if we couldn't come up with something everything would be lost… maybe we join the fate of your people soon, Kai. Defeated not by insects, but their technology!” Kai tilted his head and closed his eyes for a moment. He remembered his own world perish into fire. “If I'm any help for you, I'll be glad to assist you in this fight.” He said after a short break. Shereen was affected by his offer and answered: “Thank you. We really could need a little bit help!” Shereen rose from her seat and started to pace up and down. “We didn't want to involve you in this war, for I know, that you were on the quest for a new home…but we would be very glad if we were allowed to study the Lexx. His resistance against the immense firepower of the Pr'karesh ships may be useful for our own ships, too.” “Oh, it would be more easy to fly to Pr'karesh and blow the whole planet up!” Stan said hastily. Kai shook his head: “But there were also living people, Stanley. I'm not the opinion that the people there had a big choice what their government does. Like on the Cluster. If we want to change the situation we have to destroy their order, not their home and the normal people. Then we wouldn't be any better than they are!” “Kai is right. There might be another solution. If we were able to copy the resistance of the Lexx, we will have a far bigger chance to fight against their troops!” Shore' said. Stan nodded. “Okay, if this doesn't harm the Lexx in any way, I'll agree to that.” Shore' explained: “We have no interest to harm the Lexx. We only need some data. Don't worry!” Xev nodded: “If this is any help to you, why not'” It took a load off Shereen's mind when she heard their agreement. “You can't imagine how helpful this is for us…it gives us new hope…hope our people need very very badly!” Shore' rose up. “I'm so very glad for your permission and if you don't mind, I want to start immediately. The less time we loose, the more lives we may be able to save. With your agreement, Stanley…'” “Oh, yeah, of course. No problem! What do I have to do'” “Well, I think, I have to assemble my team first, and the equipment we need, I suggest we coordinate everything from the Arcannea-station. The security-chief will surely be very helpful…” Stan listened attentively: “Security-chief, isn't that someone called Yareena'” Shore' nodded in slight surprise: “Yes, do you know her'” Stan smiled coyly: “Yes…” Shereen looked inquiring at Xev. “It seems that he fell in love with her,” Xev said broadly smiling. “They met on Arcan's.” Xev laughed when Stan blushed. “With Yareena' That was about time, really, I always was afraid she would put her career over her private life!” Shereen smiled too. Yareena always had been one of her best friends. She grew up with her on Sha'ra and later, both studied on Arcan's. Stan grinned and scratched his chin. “Well, that's a strange coincidence…so, there's nothing I would do more gladly than to coordinate the transfer to the Lexx with her.” Shore' clapped his hands and said: “Well, then it's settled. May we go'” Stan nodded and was about to leave with Shore' when Xev stopped him: “Take 790, he may be useful for the data transfer or something else…” 790's screens popped on again. “Never, I'd never go with this insane meat loaf…!” he protested. “First 790, I told you to stay off, second…you will. I want to help those people, and so I want you to help them too, okay'” “Oh, but couldn't you go to the Lexx and do the work the left-handed fool should do'” the robot head muttered. “790, you know that Stan is the only one who had the…who is the Captain, and so only he could do this. Be nice!” Xev gave 790 over to Stan. “Well, 790, it seems that we should work together at this…!” “Unfortunately, yes!” 790 really wasn't happy, but if Xev requested to do so, he would. Te'ran left with Stan and Shore' to fly them to the Arcannea Station. Shereen, Kai and Xev were dropped behind. Shereen shook her head in amazement. “This robot head is the weirdest thing I've ever seen.” Xev sighed: “Me too, I'm happy that I didn't got that treatment, puh. What now'” Shereen looked from Xev to Kai, her silver eyes were glinting. “There is something that needed to be done, what about a visit to the prophetess'” Xev got big eyes: “Does she really exists'” Shereen's gaze wandered back to her. “Yes, Kai and I talked about her before we started the dinner. It's possible to visit her. She lives not very far away from here. If you're ready, we can go to her now!” Kai nodded in agreement. He badly wanted to know what this strange person wanted of him. “If it doesn't make short of it'” He said. “Of course not. We have plenty of time. Let us go. We'll take our small undersea speed boat.” Xev looked at Kai: “Another prophet…maybe another prophecy'” Kai pressed his lips together. That's what he wanted to find out. The thing he was curious about and the thing he feared most. Another prophecy – what outcome would it be this time'



TO BE CONTINUED... Chapter 15 - ...



Copyright © Aenea Endymion




© LEXX - LIGHT ZONE 2005 HELEN & Trulyalyana

 
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