FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 24

It seemed that the list of things that Miktes hated with a passion was only growing longer and longer the more time he spent in Barnabus' strange world in the sky. Now alongside dreaded flower baths, being confined to a small room bored out of his mind, and getting captured repeatedly was the activity of being marched down the Unutulmusian temple corridor as strange long weapons jabbed him in the back.

Shuffling along grumbling to himself Miktes let his red eyes shift back and forth between their captors and his lover, waiting for any sign from the human signaling that they should try and escape. But as they continued shuffling along none came. Not that Miktes could blame him. Besides Ragno and Ekkar there were six heavily armored Warg guards armed with some sort of strange weapon that seemed similar to Barnabus light thing only much larger and longer.

But still Miktes wanted to try and fight their way out. After all it was undignified for a warrior of his skill and standing to be subjected to such treatment. And the same went for his mate... um, friend too. If any of these monsters tried anything funny with Barnabus Miktes knew that he wouldn't be able to contain his temper any longer.

Wanting to at least hear Barnabus' voice, Miktes subtly leaned over to the older man and gave a loud disapproving snort which echoed through the long hallway before he began whispering to him. "So... this is what being a Jack is all about huh?" He huffed gruffly. "You either run away all the time or you get yourself fucking captured?"

"Very funny Mick." Barnabus whispered back tiredly. "But you should know that being a Jack usually isn't anything like this one lick. All I ever did before I came to you world was deliver supplies and equipment from one place to another. I barely even got to leave Aquarii most of the time."

Miktes raised an eyebrow ridge. "Sounds sorta boring."

"Trust me it was." Barnabus agreed. "But at least doing boring stuff keeps a fella out of trouble. I mean look at this mess we're in right now. I don't think I've ever been chased so much since those few times I accidentally started them bar brawls back at the colony."

"You like starting fights too huh?" Miktes said in amusement, the opinion he had of the bearded man rising significantly with that information.

"Yeah I did." Barnabus chuckled. "And I got in trouble for it too. Only difference was that it was just security throwing me into a drunk tank instead of being held hostage by a bunch of big purple terrors like these heels."

Snicker to himself Miktes tried to picture Barnabus fighting off a huge group of the creatures he had seen on the floating island. Despite the human being a submissive in his opinion, the Verdomian had little doubt that he would have been able to take every single last one of them out. Really, he thought, there wasn't anything that the smart mouthed little man couldn't do in his eyes. Well besides listen to him for once that was.

However just as quickly as the amusement Miktes had found in the images of Barnabus busting noses and breaking bones the Verdomian found himself grimacing again as one of the Wargs behind him pointed the rip of his weapon in his ribs and growled a threat of bodily harm if he didn't move faster.

After muttering a swear under his breath Miktes decided to get back to their current situation and whispered over to Barnabus again. "So, you got yerself a good idea of how to get out of this?" He asked sobering up. "And please tell me it involves cracking that Ekkar guy's head open against a wall."

Barnabus smirked at the idea of Miktes attacking Ekkar for a moment then sighed and glared down at his feet realizing that it was a pipe dream. "Honestly kid..." He began sadly. "... I don't have any idea of how to get ourselves outta this jam. We're surrounded on all sides right now and if we did manage to get away from this lot there's still that truckload of creeps waiting for us outside."

{Miktes: I really don't like that tone my human is using right now. Not cause he don't have any idea of how to get us out of this shit but cause it's starting to sound like he's gonna give up. I don't know about you but that's something that I can't let stand. Barnabus might be a hairy little smart mouth who insults me all the time and doesn't act like a proper submissive should. But the way he is, is something that I've really come to like 'bout him. This mopey Barnabus isn't what my Barnabus is like. Humm... guess I'll just have to remind the idiot of how he supposed to act, aren't I?}

Grunting to gain Barnabus attention Miktes gave him the best reassure grin he could muster. "You better knock off acting like yer all sad." He said harshly. "I know it's all bad right now. But yer a smart guy submissive and I know you're really good at thinking yer way out of all the dumb crap you get yourself into. So grow a pair and start using yer head got it!"

Barnabus blinked at the younger man in shock. Had the Verdomian actually just complimented him in his own rude and crude way? Apparently so, given that embarrassed bout he now had on his lips. "Jalapeño Mickey." Barnabus gave a quick chuckle as he tried to fight off a blush that was threatening to rise in his bearded cheeks. "I don't know if I should scold you for being so rude or get flattered by all that double talk just now."

"You better stick with the flattered thing." Miktes said smugly, a tiny bit proud of himself for brightening the older man's mood a little. "Makes it sound like I can be charming when I mean too." I'm actually charming for once."

"As opposed to being a rude brute like all the rest of the time." Barnabus found himself smiling ever so slightly at the Verdomian's little joke. Miktes was right none the less. When he put his mind to it he could actually be comforting. "Fine then prince charming I'll take it as flattering." The Jack said in response to what had been said earlier. "But don't let it go to your head or we're going to be--"

"OH, WILL YOU TWO SHUT THE FUCK UP BACK THERE!!" Ekkar interrupted from ahead of the duo. Their grins dropping at the reminder that they wer not alone, Barnabus and Miktes glared over to Ekkar who had stopped in the middle of hallway to glower back at them.

"I'm sorry." Barnabus started snidely. "Were we bothering you or something Ekky? Causing your tail to get all tied up in a knot?"

"You had better shut your mouth you chubby primate or I'll shut it for you!" Ekkar sneered. Stomping his way back towards his ex the dragon alien glared down at him condescendingly. "And as for the reason I wish for you to keep quiet: I've just grown sick to death of hearing you and your barbarian boyfriend's sickeningly sweet pillow talk! I swear Anderson I never knew you were such a sap."

"It's Comet you big prissy firedrake." Barnabus shot back defiantly. He wasn't going to let the Fidraon intimidate him one bit. For every snide comment thrown at him he'd throw one back double the venom. "And the only reason I'm so corny as you put it you big pudgy snapdragon is cause unlike when I was with you I can actually talk with Miktes about things. You were always much too busy preening and primping in your hair in the mirror to hold a decent conversation."

"Why you little!" Holding up both his hands if he were about to strangle the shorter man Ekkar made a face that was somewhere between deranged and incredibly enraged. Not because of the mirror comment but because Barnabus had the gall to use the word chubby to describe him. But just before he could commit the act of strangling the mouthy man before him the Fidraon caught himself and deflated with a puff of air from his scaly lips.

"You're lucky that Ragno needs you alive Barney." Ekkar growled. "You really, truly are." Spinning on his heels so quickly that his tail struck Barnabus in the legs, the draconic alien strode back to the front of the group, sniffing in disgust as Ragno smirked at him as he passed.

"My, my you certainly know how to put on a show Anguis." The General mocked as they began moving again. "In all the time I have known you I haven't seen you this flustered since I refused your pitiful advances the first time we met."

At the reminder of that particular first meeting Ekkar felt himself only growing more upset. The memory of him a strapping youth just come of age trying to seduce the Warg for the fun of it and only getting rejected with a laugh so loud that it had gained the attention of everyone in the room.

That incident had been a big black mark on his record of prefect seduction at the time. One which had been the soul blemish on the list until the day Barnabus Anderson had the nerve to actually break up with him before he could to the same to the human.

"Don't you dare bring that fiasco up again Ragno!" Ekkar warned after a few moments of stewing. "Oh, and just so you are clear about how I am: I am not flustered by the man back there. It's more like I'm frustrated is all."

"Sure you are Anguis, sure." Ragno shook his head and chuckled in his dark baritone at Ekkar's denial. It was obvious to the Warg that he was upset and he made sure to file that away for later. An emotional chink in the Fidraon's armor could come in handy at a later date.

Exiting the ancient corridor they had been traveling down the large group of men reached their destination. Al of them entering the small room lined with the statues of the six different races that had been left relics. Glancing around at the décor Ekkar gave and unimpressed huff and turned to Ragno expectantly.

"Are you sure that the legend stated that the weapon would be in such a.... filthy old place like this?" He said snobbishly. "I find it hard to believe that a device as powerful as the one in our people's legends would be kept in such a... odious place such as this."

"Most likely what the Unutulmusians were going for when they hid it on this backwater little rock." Ragno growled as if it should be obvious. He had only been in Ekkar presence for a day and a half and already he was becoming weary of his pompous attitude. "Where else would you put something so powerful? Under a sign with glittering lights?"

When Ekkar failed to respond to the little jab with nothing more but an embarrassing sounding sputter Ragno snorted and approached the Warg statue, squatting down in front of it to read the inscription. After reading the whole tale inscribed upon it he lifted one of his taloned hands and quickly barked and order to one of his men without breaking eye contact with it. "You low warrior Hijoh get your worthless hide over here and bring me the bag!"

"Yes Lord Ragno." A frightened voice said. Pushing his way out from between two of the Warg soldiers holding Barnabus and Miktes the smallest of the elites timidly made his way over to Ragno. Stepping up to his master the demure looking man unfastened a sack which was attached to his belt and pulled out a small statuette. This one of a Warg hatchling, its young face looking just as sinister and dangerous as an adult's.

"Hey look!" Miktes growled seeing the relics. "He has one of them statues too!"

"Guess that explains who took the other artifacts now doesn't it." Barnabus nodded as he watched Ragno take out a Girunjh one. "I just knew it had to be you lot who took them when Miss Bonnibel told us about the robberies."

"Oh it wasn't just me Barney." Ekkar was quick to inform his ex, looking as smug as ever. "Clayworth had his boney hands in this enterprise as well. Of course the old fool knew he couldn't pull it off without a man of my considerable skills and elite rank to liberate them from their previous owners." The Fidraon smirked and dusted off his jacket with the back of his clawed hand. "Laird might be a blowhard but he knows who's the best in the Jack business."

"Like I really believe you earned that rank anymore Ekky." Barnabus huffed. "You probably only got it because you cheated and blackmailed anyone who would give you what you want. You're the worst kind of Jack of all Trades I've ever had the misfortune to look at."

Ekkar gave a bitter sounding laugh. "Oh, and your so much better Barney?" He asked. "You took an illegal mission, stole from a primitive people, and are currently on the run from the military as a fugitive. As I see it your one the right track to becoming a man as great as I am."

Barnabus was devastated when Ekkar pointed out the awful truth. The taller man was right. Who was he to call himself a Jack anymore really? He was nothing but a criminal.

"Hey lizard you better take that back!" Miktes' voice broke through Barnabus' gloom. "He only did that stuff cause he wanted to help his friends!" Maturely the warrior stuck his tongue at the other man, Ekkar reacting by growling and reaching for his weapon.

But before any shots could be fired Ragno snapped at his partner with shout. "Will you stop that childish bickering Anguis and get your mind back on our mission!" He demanded. It might have been fun watching the two bicker during their short walk but now was not the time for joking. "We have better things to do then waste time on such trivial matters."

Ekkar glared over to the Warg and then back to Barnabus and Miktes. "Your right Ragno we don't have time for this." He said gaze lingering on the human's amber eyes. "How do activate the weapon?"

"The research papers Clayworth's people uncovered said that first we need to place all six statues in the palms of their respective parents." Taking the Warg relic he had in his hand Ragno placed it on a small indent that was in front of the tablet at the base of his species statue and then did the same to the Girunjh one. "Just like this."

"That doesn't sound hard." Padding over to the Warg with the sack Ragno reached into the bag and pulled out the Fidraon and Human artifacts while Ragno did the same and got the Verdomian and Unutulmusian ones. Then with rocks in hand the two quietly placed each in its proper place, Ekkar stepping back once they were done and holding his hands out as if waiting for something big to happen. But after nothing came after several minutes the dragon's mood dropped and he glared once more at Ragno.

"What's the deal Warg?" Ekkar said with a harrumph. "Is there more to do or were we just improving the feng-shui in this crusty old room?"

Ragno to roll his beady eyes at the blue scaled man, trying once again to keep his temper in check. "Of course there is more you imbecile!" He said darkly. Once again the terrifying alien held his hand out to the smaller Warg and was quickly presented with a small dagger.

"It seems that the creatures who constructed this room decided to make whoever found the weapon work for their prize." Ragno explained as he took the knife and tested it for sharpness. "The final part of the legend states that to activate the weapon we need DNA samples from each of the species represented here in stony effigy. Blood samples to be exact."

"You need blood?" Ekkar repeated dubiously. Glancing over to where Barnabus and Miktes were standing the blue scaled man frowned in confusion. "If all we needed was blood samples then I don't see why we couldn't just kill my Barney's little pet out in the courtyard. I'm sure we'd get more than enough if I shot a hole through his doughy green chest."

Ragno rolled his eyes at the other man, clearly getting annoyed by all the questioning. "At least four of the samples have to be fresh idiot." Ragno explained shortly. "It's a failsafe to ensure that none of the races could get their hands on the weapon without at least three of the other ones knowing about it. Or at least that's what Clayworth's report stated."

Finished explaining things to his annoying partner, Ragno reached out and grabbed the arm of the smallest soldier in their group, dragging the panicking man over to the Warg statue and relic and holding his arm out so that he could gently run the cold metal over the purple flesh. "Stop struggling and accept this whelp." The general growled warningly. Taking the blade in his hand Ragno slowly dragged the sharp edge across the other man's wrist. Dark crimson blood seeping from the wound as flesh was split open.

"Painful isn't it?" Ragno chuckled while watching the pained expression on his servant's face. "You're just lucky that it only takes a small sample to activate the weapon we seek. I would be more than happy if I was required to slice you up like fresh meat. I'm sure the elites would have loved a hearty meal after trekking through that blasted jungle."

In response to what was just said to him the servant nodded eagerly as he hissed in pain. "I-I would h-have been honored sir." He said honestly. And it was true, in his frightened mind any weakling like him would be honored to serve as nourishment to their better's health. It was the only way he could be of use.

Miktes however had a different response to what he had just heard and sneered at the sickening display across the room. "These guys are sick." He remarked. "To think that he'd actually be happy to get eaten or that big bastard over there would actually kill his own for food."

"That's the way the Warg are Mickey." Barnabus responded just as disgusted. "They see anyone below them as nothing more but livestock to fill their belies on. That's why the I.U.G. fought tooth and nail to drive them back to their world. They'll kill someone for just looking at them the wrong way. "

Falling into stunned silence the human and Verdomian continued to watch as Ragno withdrew his weapon and held the dagger over the Warg artifact, the sharp blade dripping a few drops of blood onto the relic placed at the base and causing the statuette to unexpectedly glow with an eerie reddish light that traveled along hidden seams across its surface and then to its parent eyes, a small clicking sound following the light show and echoing through the small room from somewhere behind the statues.

"Amazing." Ekkar said, observing the strange activation. "I suppose this proves the legend true, doesn't it? What's next?"

"I said each of the species." Ragno said flatly. Wiping the dagger off on his clothing real quick he then pointed the sharp item at the other man. "That means you need to give a sample too Fidraon."

"Of course." Giving a put upon sigh Ekkar took out his multitool and flipped it into its knife mode. "It, um only takes a small drop correct." He said looking over to Ragno for conformation. Ekkar didn't like the idea of puncturing his prefect scaly form any more then he needed over some ancient legend that still might not prove to be completely true.

Unfortunately that last question seemed to be the last straw for Ragno. The larger man letting out a terrifying roar as he shouted the words. "GET ON WITH IT!!"

The harsh command seemed to work this time, Ekkar gently pricking his finger and smearing a single drop of yellowish blood onto the face of his specie's relic. Just like the Warg one the Fidraon one lit up too. But instead of red a neon blue glow emanated from deep within the artifacts form and to its doppelganger.

Pleased that his order had been heeded Ragno shifted his attention back over to where Miktes and Barnabus were being held and smirked at the two struggling men. "Now all we need is a fresh human and Verdomian sample to complete the requirement." He announced as he started to approach the duo. "Which by the way I thank you for Comet. You saved me and my men a lengthy journey through I.U.G. space to capture one of the smell brutes."

"I'll show you a fucking brute you big purple bastard!" Miktes shouted in outrage as Ragno neared him. "You even think of going near me or my human and I'll rip off each of those gross head tentacles from you dam head you stupid son of-- AHHH!"

Halfway through his mostly empty threat the captured Verdomian found himself grunting out in pain as Ragno reached and painfully sank one of his sharp clawed hands into his green shoulder. The five sharp digits digging into Miktes' flesh as if it was a hot knife through butter and drawing blood.

"Watch who you're threatening meat." Ragno warned with a feral grin, jamming his dagger-like claws into Miktes' body with each word. "I am your better and you will remember you place! I do what I want, I hurt who I want, and I will touch what I want and who I want."

Using his free hand the Warg general grabbed Barnabus by his bare arm and raked his claws down the hairy skin. The action leaving deep looking and bleeding welts in their wake ad Barnabus grunted in pain.

Miktes glared at the larger man as he smirked down at him. This creature truly was evil if there was such a thing. The arrogance the self-righteous attitude on display to the warrior made his stomach turn. Not only because of the implication but because it reminded him a little of the way he had been only a short time ago. Back at the village Miktes had believe very much the same thing. Everything was for him. He could do whatever he wanted and treat anyone he wanted. Now he saw how horrible that made a person.

Continuing on with his speech Ragno clenched both his hands, making his two prisoners cry out in agony. "In fact... after we are done here I'm going to order me men to have a little fun with our fat human friend here. Make his last few precious moments of life utter terror by showing him how we breed. I might even join in." Ragno gave Barnabus a slow lecherous look. He didn't truly enjoy fucking males but the act of humiliating one always aroused him. "I hear humans are pleasant bedmates after all."

"Your pack of goons try it and it'll be the last thing they all do." Barnabus warned through gritted teeth. His arm might be throbbing right now, but he wouldn't give the monster in front of him the pleasure of knowing he was about to pass out from it. "Barnabus Comet isn't the sort of fella that just let's some ugly alien pin him on the ground that easily."

"Dam right ya ain't" Miktes added with a proud nod. The warrior still couldn't believe sometimes how brave Barnabus could be in the face of danger. So unlike any other submissive he had ever known.

Ragno however wasn't nearly as impressed by Barnabus' bravado and glowered down at the Jack with a toothy sneer. "We shall see in all due time, meat." He said lowly. "But luckily for you I have better things to do at the moment then give the order to fuck your worthless ass."

Each of his hands now covered in what he needed Ragno strutted his way over to the human and Verdomian artifacts and smeared the blood he had gathered over them, the pair becoming active just like the first to while Ragno snickered and licked his claws clean of the remaining blood dripping down them.

Standing behind the wicked creature Barnabus tried his best not to let his knees buckle as his wounds burned. "O-Ok so now y-you went and got four of the blasted statues working, but so what snaggletooth?" He asked trying to sound unimpressed. "You said it yourself: Four of the samples have got to be fresh but you need all six in all. And..." He pretended to look around. "I hate to break it to you but I don't see any Girunjh or Unutulmusians here at this little shin ding your throwing."

"Oh my your correct aren't you." Ekkar said feigning surprise and putting both his hands on his cheeks dramatically. "Oh wait a tick we're not a bunch of idiots are we Raggy?"

Ragno huffed at the nickname but remained silent about it, instead pulling out a pair of vials from one of his pockets and showing it to his smart mouthed prisoner. His eyes falling onto the two items Barnabus felt the wind get knocked out of them as he realized what he was looking at. Within one of the vials was a bluish liquid that he had seen the many times Moah had one of his little accidents down in his workshop.

"Where did you get Girunjh blood?" Barnabus demanded to know.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Ragno smirked back. "But I thought you'd be more interested in the other sample I have?" He held out the second vial, this one containing an almost silvery looking substance. "After all Unutulmusian blood shouldn't be around any longer, correct."

[Barnabus: That was a good question I suppose. But at this moment I truly don't give two cents where he got that elf blood. All I'm concerned about is that first vial. Moah's people rarely ever left their planet. I've only actually seen one maybe two other Girunjh besides my mechanic since I first went out into space years and years ago. So either Ragno found one of those two other saps or... or he got to my crew on his was to Unutulmus. Dam it; I knew we should of stuck together and all gone back to the military. Me and Mickey might of been able to help them escape or something if it's realty Moah's blood. God please be alright guys. Don't be in a cell somewhere or dead please!]

"I swear it Ragno, if you even laid one claw on my crew I'm going to shoot a fucking hole through your damn head!" Barnabus seethed.

Next to the enraged Jack, Miktes' eyes widened. He had never heard his shorter friend curse like that. It for some reason sent a chill through his body. The rage and strength being shown to their enemy. It was slightly awe inspiring to the young warrior if not a little arousing.

Responding to what had been said to him Ragno snorted amused. "Like I told the Verdomian, your threat mean nothing to me human." He said flippantly.

Taking the two vials in his hands the Warg general quickly poured their contents over the final two relics, watching with almost childlike glee as they lit up and the whole room began shaking. The wall behind the five statues of the off world races collapsing in on itself and parting backwards as a blinding white light poured out from the crack which blinded everyone in the room.

Covering his eyes with his arm, Ragno found himself gleefully laughing. "It's finally happening!" He exclaimed happily. "An end to having to cow down to those old men on the council! An end to living under the watchful eye of the I.U.G.! And most of all an end to being treated as some sort of uppity child unfit to lead! Soon I will be like a god among my own kind... no, I'll be a god to the entirety of the universe!"

"Anyone ever tell you you're a blowhard?" Ekkar asked from the larger man's side. Watching as the Warg descended into a near psychotic level of joy had started to give the draconic alien some doubts about the deal he was part of. Ragno was practically unhinged at the moment and it didn't look like he was going to get any better. Maybe once all this was over he'd have a word with his father about their little deal with the Warg council.

Unknown to Ekkar, Ragno was having similar thoughts about their partnership as he glared back at him for his comment. However, unlike the dragon the general knew for sure that there wouldn't be any more collaboration after he got his talons on what they had come to Unutulmus for. The deal the council and the Fidraon's family had stuck when they first began looking for the artifacts wasn't any concern of his anymore. Especially now that he had, unbeknownst to Ekkar, betrayed all of them.

The only reason why Ragno hadn't just killed Ekkar yet was the joy he would get by prolonging the Fidraon's torment. Force the Jack to watch as he not only destroyed the I.U.G. but his precious planet as retribution for ever smart word and insult he had flung at him since they had met. After all what was the point in a quick death for a companion as "dear" as the dragon was.

The light coming from beyond the statues beginning to fade, both Ekkar and Ragno temporarily forgot about the doubts and schemes of betrayal in their minds to gaze ahead of them as the brightness was replaced by a soft glow and the sounds of machinery powering on. To their surprise what met their eyes caused both of them to gasp out, the exclamation quickly followed by even more sounds of shock and wonder as Barnabus, Miktes, and the six Warg soldiers

Beyond the newly revealed doorway was a very advanced looking laboratory. A spacious room filled to the brim with complicated machines towering three story high computers that were connected to one another by a canopy of loose wiring and glowing tubes that pulsed with electricity and unknown substances. All eyes drifted from one thing to another the group until they all caught sight of a monolithic device at the chamber's center. A machine that was made of sparkling glass and strange blue colored metal that pulsed with heat and oddly energy.

"That must be the weapon!" Ragno announce happily. Not wasting any time the general slowly began padding into the room, his beady eyes peering over the machinery and high tech bric-a-brac as it came to life around him. "Guards!" He shouted as he waved over his shoulder. "Bring the prisoners in here this instant! I want that foulmouthed human to watch as I put an end to his civilization. Show him that without a doubt I have no fears in any of his threats."

Snapping to attention and out of their dazes the five guards still surrounding Barnabus and Miktes grabbed the two men by the arms roughly and began pulling them towards the room as they robotically chanted a chorus of, "Yes sir lord Ragno." in response to their masters order.

As he was led into the strange and foreboding room in front of them Miktes cursed and growled at the rough manhandling that both him and Barnabus were receiving. How dare they boss and touch his temporary mate. But the anger the Verdomian warrior felt was soon forgotten and replaced by an overwhelming sense of wonder as he pushed into the strange room. Yes he had seen similar magic on Barnabus' flying house but what was in front of his eyes now sent dark chills through his very being. Almost like something deep inside of him was telling him that he was being watched by something at the very moment.

Noticing the shiver that ran through Miktes' body Barnabus quickly gained his attention. "You ok over there Kiddo?"

Distractedly Miktes nodded to the question. "Yeah, just feel kinda weird." He admitted. "Guess I'm just fidgety cause of this creepy place."

"For once I'm in complete agreement with you kiddo." Barnabus agreed. Looking over to Ragno who was eagerly inspecting several computers the Jack shivered a little himself. "But what really scares me is the thought that the big bum over there now had his mitts on all this tech."

"What's wrong Anderson?" Ekkar asked looking over his shoulder. "One would think that a man who loved playing the part of a wannabe space hero like you did would be thrilled at the prospect of this sort of adventure."

Barnabus felt himself tensing at the reminder of how he had been acting. Seeing where they were now only reminded him how foolish he had been. "I've grown up Ekkar." The bearded man huffed back. "Given I've only done it in the last few days or so but I have."

"These must be thousands of years old." Ragno observed ignoring the conversation behind him and padded his way over to the nearest machine. "And yet they still work." Reaching out the Warg ran his hand over the metallic surface of the device in front of him and strangely found no dust on his talon. Very curious since it was supposed to have been abandoned when the inhabitants went instinct.

Responding to what Ragno had said Ekkar joined his business partner and peered around his hulking frame. "That remains to be seen doesn't it?" He sniffed referring to the state of the computers. "All of these computers might just be part of some run of the mill research facility. Nothing amazing or as wonderful as the legend states"

"Responding to query... I assure you that the laboratory in front of you sir is a modern marvel." A disembodied voice suddenly sounded from seemingly everywhere at once. "Though it is quite capable of taking various scans and processing the information for research purposes."

Reacting fast to the apparent enemy in their midst, Ekkar, along with all of the Warg soldiers instantly reached for their weapons and pointed them in various directions, all of the ready to fire on a moment's notice.

But with one wave of Ragno's hands the men stilled. "Show yourself!" The general demanded calmly.

"Responding to command... If that is your wish sir." The disembodied voice said politely.

Looking upward to where the last sentence seemingly came from Ragno gave a confused look as a small ball of light floated down from somewhere above the shadowy mess of cables above them and whirled around the group as if inspecting them. Curiosity getting the best of him the general reached out to touch this strange sight but before he could it zipped away and came to a stop a few feet from them. Hovering for a few moments the light then began to shift and morph, it's form taking on the unmistakable shape of a humanoid life form, which when it dimmed revealed itself to be an Unutulmusian male in a long tunic. A near prefect copy of the one depicted in stone that they had just passed moments ago.

Smiling at them the being made a low bow, his white hair draping his face for a moment before he stood back up again and spoke. "Hello and welcome to Genesis Lab zero-zero-twenty-one. How may I help you this evening sirs?"

"A hologram?" Ekkar asked still unsure about this mystery man.

"Processing query... yes sir I am a hologram." The man said responding to Ekkar's question. Taking a step to the side the image flourished to the large machine at the room's center and bowed again. "You may call me Endico if it helps you feel more comforting. I am the user interface that is used to operate the Ceromundi device at the center of this room."

Looking behind him unsurely to Ragno, Ekkar gave the Warg a perplexed shrug. Was the thing standing in front of them for real? "You really control the machine over there?" The dragon asked. When the hologram nodded and continued to smile blankly at him. "Why would anyone make such a frivolous interface for such a powerful machine?"

"Responding to query... It was believed that speaking to an AI would make using the Ceromundi easier to use sir." Endico informed. "Also if it will help you feel more at ease I am able to change my appearance to a more suitable one that you would find more pleasing. Scanning now..."

Flickering like static for a moment the hologram suddenly took on another appearance. This time a Fidraon male with light purplish skin and long white hair. "Does this help you feel more at ease?" The new man asked.

Taking a step back as he was presented with a visage of his own kind Ekkar sneered. The form the hologram had taken reminded him an awful lot of his father back home. Someone who he had never truly gotten along with. "No it does not!" He huffed. "Change out of that farce this instant! It's highly insulting."

"Ah yes, and we couldn't have the oh so great Ekkar Anguis insulted now could we?" Ragno commented with a dark chuckle. Stepping over to the interface the general held out his hand as if commanding an army. " Image, forget about this blue fool here and change yourself into something I would find appealing."

"Responding to command... Yes sir." Endico nodded obediently. Flickering again the holographic being morphed itself into the form of a fierce Warg warrior. One that while as large as Ragno lacked the claws and elbow blades that were common to the Warg race. "Is this pleasing to you?"

Ragno inspected the fake Warg for a moment and then gave an unimpressed snort finding it lacking. "Why don't you have any weapons on your body like a proper Warg does?"

"Responding to query... I lack the blades and claws that you have sir because the model for this from was born before the Warg received their compensation for their agreement to hide one of the keys to the Ceromundi."

"Ugh, we certainly have improved over the years haven't we?" Ragno said turning to his men who all nodded in response. Deciding to move on from the current conversation and onto something more appealing Ragno next asked the question he had wanted to know ever since he had laid eyes on the machine at the center of the room. "Anyway now that you are slightly more suitable I suppose we should get down to business shouldn't we? Start by telling me the full capabilities of the "Ceromundi". Its energy output, it's range, and most importantly it's destructive power."

"Responding to queries... the energy output of the device is almost limitless and it has a range that covers any world within reach of the hyperspace conduits built for its use."

"Wait the hyperspace tunnels were built by the inhabitants of this..." Ragno shook his head. He couldn't get distracted. "Fine that's all good I suppose. Now move onto its destructive power. What's is the maximum wield?"

"Responding to query... ... ... ... ... unable to comply with final request." Endico responded with a frown and an irritating buzzing sound. "Please either ask another question or repeat the one you just asked in case there was an error."

With the refusal to properly answer his last question Ragno made a small growl of annoyance and glared at Endico with deadly intent. How dare this machine ask him to repeat himself. But just as the desire to thrash the intangible image in front of him reached its zenith the perturbed man managed to successfully calm himself back down. There was no need to lose it now. He only needed to repeat himself clearly so that the stupid thing would obey his command. "Tell. Me. How. The. Weapon. Works!"

Unfortunately once again the hologram refused to respond correctly, instead replaying the same message from before with what seemed to be a slight attitude. "Unable to comply with request. Please either ask another question or repeat the one you just asked in case there was an error."

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF--!" Tempering the nearly uncontrollable rage that was threatening to explode from his person again Ragno counted back from ten and clenched his taloned hands, drawing blood. "Fine then, how about you tell me exactly why you cannot do as I have ordered you to do hologram."

This question finally got a different response from Endico. "Responding to query... I cannot tell you the destructive power of the Ceromundi because the Ceromundi is not a weapon in nature."

This statement seemed to stump everyone in the room. Ragno, Ekkar and the six Warg soldiers all staring at Endico in dumbfounded shock while Barnabus and Miktes shared a confused look between the two of them. It was only when Miktes, his curiosity getting the better of him, muttered quietly to himself that everyone got an answer to the question Endico's last statement had brought up.

"Well if it ain't a weapon then what the fuck does that big ass thing over there do then?" The orcan alien asked out loud.

Turning to Miktes with a spin, Endico flickered out of existence and then reappeared before the trapped warrior in the appearance of a dark haired Verdomian warrior clad in only a simple loincloth. "Responding to query..." This new form started in a gruff sounding voice. "...The main purpose of the Ceromundi is to assist the scientists of this laboratory in teraforming far off worlds for the use of scientific discovery. A task which it does by transporting various elementals from one target world to the other in order to change the atmospheric makeup to the chosen experiment parameters."

Head spinning for a few moments after that overly long explanation Ekkar eventually sorted through the collection of words and realized what they had exactly uncovered. And when he did he couldn't help the growl of frustration that ripped through him.

"Are you telling me that I was running all over I.U.G. space for years to get the keys to some over glorified teraformer!?" Ekkar bristled, voice rising with each word while he pointed one of his manicured claws towards Ragno's person. "Something which we could have acquired from any run of the mill colony project! Of all the stupid addled brained-- Well, what do you have to say for yourself Ragno?!"

Standing there fuming, hands on his hips Ekkar waited for Ragno to respond to his berating. But oddly the general seemed to be completely ignoring the irate words hurled in his direction. The large man scratching his tentacle chin instead as if deep in thought. "You know I could work with this." He finally murmured to himself.

While Ekkar had been standing there ranting and raving about the seemingly banality of their find Ragno had taken in everything that their holographic host had been saying and mulled over it. True the device they had come to use wasn't a weapon parse but it still had destructive capability. That was if what he had inferred about it was true.

Deciding to find out if he was right Ragno headed over to where Endico was still standing in front of his prisoners and snapped his fingers to gain its attention. "Tell me, can the Ceromundi transport the entirety of any compound from one world to another?" He asked the new Verdomian in the room.

"Responding to query... Yes that could be done." Endico nodded. "The Ceromundi will transport the requested elements down to every last molecule if it was so desired." There was a pause as another buzzing sound rang out above the group. Warning... upsetting the balance of any world's chemical or atmospheric environment to that degree could irreversibly damage one or both targets. Please use caution before you initiate such an action."

"Thank you for your concern my photonic compatriot but I don't give a single care as to your warnings." Giving Ekkar a manic look the Warg strutted away from the group and began heading to the machine in the middle of the room. Making sure to poignantly ignore the dragon who was still grumbling at him as he pushed his way past.

"Hologram, turn back into a proper Warg from and then begin the startup procedure for this machine of yours!" Ragno ordered. "And once you are done get your generated hide over here and assist me in starting up this glorious machine of yours."

"Responding to command... Yes sir." Endico said as he shifted back into a Warg form and transported himself back to Ragno's side.

Not one to be left out of what was happening Ekkar quickly regained himself and chased after the pair. "Will you wait up for a moment you big purple cannibal?" He shouted after the Warg. "I demand to know why you are telling that hologram to start up the machine now!"

"Fine, I will tell you what I am about to do Anguis. If only to make you shut that blathering muzzle of yours." Reaching the machine Ragno ran his hand over the side of it and smirked. "My plan is to use this device over there to lay waste to every single I.U.G. world I am able too." He said matter-of-factly. "Just as I have always intended to do once I had the weapon in my grasp."

Ekkar glowered at the other man hearing his plans. "No you will not!" He shouted back. "The deal your council stuck with my father clearly stated that once we have the weapon in our possession we are to use it to hold the I.U.G. planets and colonies hostage until the government agrees to the terms we set for their surrender. Destroying worlds would only damage the resources that we could strip mine from them you stupid, fucking, worthless Warg!!"

Spinning around on his heel Ragno brought his hand up and struck Ekkar across the face as hard as he could, sending him flying onto his back several feet away. "I don't care on iota about that blasted deal my "superiors" made with your worthless people!" He said glaring down at him. "I am in charge here and I shall do whatever I wish is that understood. And as for the deal it is liquidated! I have no intention of following it any longer!"

"WHY YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH!" Climbing unsteadily to his feet Ekkar wiped the trickle of blood running down his muzzle and reached for his multitool. He'd see hoe arrogant Ragno was with several laser blasts burned into his retreating back. But before the platinum rank Jack could raise his weapon he suddenly found himself being held down as one of the Warg soldiers who stomped over to him and jammed his booted foot into his upper back, pinning him to the ground with near bone breaking strength.

Chuckling as Ekkar struggled futilely under the foot of one of his underling Ragno waved over the smallest of his men again, Hijoh now sporting a bandage over his cut up arm running to his master's side as fast as his feet could carry him.

"Give me the coordinates for Aquarii station, the I.U.G. military headquarters, and... the Fidraon home world." Ragno commanded him. "I'll take out all three of the greatest threats to my new reign before we move onto razing the rest of the pitiful worlds in this sector of the galaxy."

Rubbing the bandage which he had wrapped around the still painful cut on his arm the small Warg bowed to his master. "Yes sir lord Ragno. I'll get right to it sir."

Observing with distaste as the large purple man and his underling began talking in hushed tones Miktes cocked his head to the side. He didn't understand why the Warg thing was so happy of a sudden. The man made of light said that there was no weapon so he had failed hadn't he?

Deciding to find out what exactly was going on the warrior asked his temporary mate a question. "Barnabus, what's going on now?" He wondered. "There ain't no weapon, right? So he should be angry or something."

When the other man failed to respond to what he had said Miktes swiveled his focus away from Ekkar and Ragno and over to his human. When he did however he was taken back as he saw the fearful expression the bearded man was sporting. "What's wrong!?"

Barnabus gently shook his head as if to gather his thoughts and then looked over to Miktes with sorrowful eyes. "I-I just realized that I led that monster over there to something that's gonna get a whole lot of people killed Mickey." He said sadly. "God... why the heck didn't I listen to Rana back at the spaceport when I told her about that mission."

Not liking the return of the hopeless despair in his friends voice Miktes struggled a little in the grip of the two Wargs holding him prisoner so that he could face Barnabus better. "Don't go acting like that again." He said trying to ease whatever was upsetting him. "Like I just said, their ain't no weapon so he isn't going to kill anyone."

"No it isn't a weapon Mick but it's a hellava lot worse." Barnabus gave a bitter bark of laughter. When he was met by a blank stare from the younger man the Jack gave a loud sigh and quickly asked a question himself. "You remember what I told you when you asked why everything is purple on Unutulmus?"

Nodding Miktes thought back to his amazement at the sights of the world they had come to a few days ago and to the conversation they had about it as they landed. "Yeah... you said that it was purple cause there was too much of one thing in the water and dirt and not enough of another, right?"

"Yeah Mick that's what I said." Staring down at his feet Barnabus slowly began explaining exactly why the device in Ragno's hands was so dangerous. "You see with that big thing over there old big and ugly can take and sort of metal, gas, or chemical he wants from one world and put it on another. He could target Loma prime and get rid of all the water. Or cause a greenhouse effect at the I.U.G. capital world. Or... he could even target Verdomo and take away all the air and make everyone back at your home suffocate."

"He could what!!" Miktes said growing alarmed. Finally understanding the full gravity of what was about to happen, Miktes turned his head back towards Ragno and growled as fiercely as he could, the large man looking over to him only briefly to give back a toothy grin before he returned to orchestrating the death of entire planets.

{Miktes: That monster's about to destroy everything I've seen since I snuck onto Barnabus flying house. All the food, places, and worlds? Not to mention all the amazing people I've met. Rana, Alfred, Moah, that nice girl that gave me all those hamed-burgers on the flying island, that old woman who Moah spent the night with back on the water world! Then there's Mama, father and everyone back home. He's going to go and kill them too! I know I've said that they bug me and piss me off a lot but their still my family. And everyone else back at the village are my people. I-I can't let him do it. I got to get me and Barnabus free and kill that dam bastard over there before he can do anything.}

The thought of everyone he knew and cared for dying running through his mind, Miktes gazed over to Barnabus with the wild and crazed eyes of a man possessed. "Tell me to kick their asses!" Miktes growled fiercely. "I don't care if yer a submissive and yer bossing me around this time! Just give me the word you'll be alright with me fighting and I'll rescue both of us and everyone else."

Not at all liking the turn in conversation between their two prisoners one of the Elite Warg soldiers quickly snapped at the orc before he could keep talking. "Quiet you!" He growled warningly. "You won't be doing a single thing to our glorious master! Nor will you be escaping anytime soon."

"YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Miktes roared back. That was the last straw; no one told Miktes firstborn of Hestry Clan what to do besides his father, his mother, and his human. Using every bit of strength he possessed, the warrior began to struggle with the two men holding his arms. Thrashing around wildly and stomping his feet as they struggled to keep him under their control.

"Come on stupid snap outta it!" Miktes cried out to Barnabus when he failed to react.

Barnabus peered over to the younger man lost. "B-But there's no way we can--"

"--BUT NOTHING JUST DO IT!" Miktes interrupted with his harshest dominate growl. "I know you and I know you ain't the sort of submissive who can just stand there and let someone like that Ekkar thing and his monster do something as bad as this!"

[Barnabus: You know something? That big green goon is right. I can't just stand here and lament how stupid I was for taking that mission. What done is done. I put everyone in danger, I stole from a bunch of aliens, and I just handed the keys over to a psychopath. But even though I mess up royally I gotta get over it and fight back now. Yeah I know we're outnumbered and that we're defiantly outgunned. But there's no way in heck I'm going to lie down like an old dog! That's not something that my old childhood hero Captain Cosmos would ever do and despite what I said about giving up playing the part of hero that's not something Captain Barnabus "FUCKING" Comet is going to do either!]

Finally taking advantage of the distraction provided by Miktes' escape attempt Barnabus formed a rough idea in his mind and quickly sprang into action. Wrestling himself free from the taloned hands of the pair of guards holding him in place the bearded Jack elbowed the closest one in side as hard as he could.

Predictably the attack did little damaged to the Warg's armored torso but the shock of getting assaulted by the man he was supposed to be holding prisoner caused the dullard to loosen the grip on his laser rifle just enough for Barnabus to wring it out of his hand and fire it point blank into the second soldier's gut.

The remaining three Wargs around the two smaller men reacted with shock of their fallen with gasps of surprise. Two of which soon turned to grunts of pain as Miktes freed himself and spun around, striking both of them under their chins with both his fists so hard that they staggered backwards holding their bruised muzzles.

"That's more like it!" The Verdomian cheered as he smirked over to Barnabus. "Let's bust some heads!"

"Darn tooting it is!" Barnabus agreed.

Raising the weapon in his hand the Jack quickly tried to pistol whip the last remaining Warg with the butt of the weapon but unfortunately found his attack dodged and a fist slammed into his gut which he quickly tried to follow up by retracting the blade in his arm. Thankfully Miktes was quick to rescue him, the orc launching himself towards the human and tackling him to the ground before the Warg could bring down the sharp blade protruding from his elbow.

Together the two men then scrambled across the floor trying to escape as the other Wargs shot at them in a vain attempt to injure them before they got too far away. Hitting the base of one of the giant computers Miktes and Barnabus quickly got to their feet and took off. "Mickey take cover behind those computers over there!" Barnabus yelled out while pointing to a pair of smaller machines at the other side of the room. "We can use them for cover until we figure out how to strike back."

Miktes gave a growl of approval at the plan and jumped to the side as one of the Wargs charged at him blindly. The beastly man tripping over his own feet and the Verdomian slamming his fist into his back when he saw the opening, sending him falling face first into a nearby mass of wires with a flash of sparks accompanying the collision.

Hearing the ruckus behind them Ragno along with the two elites by his side all turned towards its source. Upon seeing the two of his men rubbing sore jaws, one with his head stuck in a sparking machine, and one laying on the floor with a smoking hole in his gut the Warg general let out a huff. "Really?" He asked disbelievingly as he watched their prisoners slip behind a console and out of sight. "Your idiots really let those two fat slabs of meat get the better of you."

"Sorry lord Ragno!" The three chanted with a hiss. They knew that tone meant they'd be reprimanded with beatings later that night.

Snapping his claws Ragno pointed over to where Miktes and Barnabus who were taking cover. "You two help your dimwitted squad mates in handling that problem over there." He ordered. "I've grown tired of the human and Verdomian so you may shoot to kill now. But try to leave enough for the feast we'll be having later."

"YES LORD RAGNO SIR!" All five of the remaining Elites responded. Not wasting a second the two soldier's not part of the fight yet surged forward, the one holding Ekkar down leaving his post as he pulled out his weapon and began firing his laser rifle at the two men trying to escape.

Finding himself finally free Ekkar saw his chance and unsteadily got to his feet while wiping the blood dripping down his chin from the injury Ragno had given him. "Big mistake bastard!" He snapped at his assaulter. Raising his weapon he pointed it at the other man intent on killing him then and there. "I'm going to fucking kill you for striking me like that!"

"I don't think so." Ragno replied unflinchingly. "In fact I believe your now going to assist my men over there with dispatching your boyfriend and his little pet."

Ekkar laughed at the very idea. "As much as I want that Verdomian dead there's no way I'm going to do a dam thing for you after you hit me."

"Oh, yes you are. That is unless you wish to see your home world turned into a barren lifeless rock." Nodding over to Endico Ragno smirked as he brought up am holographic screen which had an image of Ekkar planet on it. "Here's the deal. I'll spare your pitiful planet in exchange for you becoming my personal servant and killing those two miscreants for me. You have five seconds to comply lizard."

"What if you betray me again?"

Ragno smirked in response. "Yes what if?" He singsonged. "But are you willing to risk it? Your inheritance is on that world is it not?"

Ekkar hated to do it but hearing the terms he lowered his weapon. He did have something waiting for him back on Fidraon. Something which even if the chance was slim he couldn't endanger. Even if it meant doing the bidding of the infuriating man in front of him. 'Besides.' He thought as he turned away from Ragno to join the fight. 'I could still get a chance to enact my revenge if I just keep my cool.'

Elsewhere in the room, hiding from the rain of laser fire sending sparks and debris flying around them, Barnabus and Miktes panted out of breath as the shouts of the Wargs attacking them rang out behind the machines they were taking cover behind. Fighting against this particular horde of bad guys certainly wasn't like it was in all those stories Barnabus told back at his usual bars. No, what was going on around the forty-two year old Jack was outright terrifying.

Leaning back against the computer behind him Barnabus closed his eyes for a moment then peeled one open to gaze over to his companion. Not surprising Miktes wasn't as worried as he was. The younger man seemed to be excited in fact. Popping his head over the top of the computer he was taking cover behind every few seconds, looking for an opening to strike back. "Be careful over there Mick." He warned. "I don't want you getting that noggin of yours blown off."

Listening for once Miktes properly sat down and stared back at Barnabus and observed him for several seconds. "Are you alright over there submissive?" He asked. "You didn't get hit or nothing?"

"Oh I'm just dandy." Barnabus joked with a nod to the onslaught in front of them. "My back hurts, we got a gang of purple people eaters after us, and I think I just peed a little. But besides that I'm fine."

There were several minutes as Barnabus weighed their options and tried and failed to come up with plans to make a clean escape. Nothing came to the Jack's mind however leaving only one grim option for their future. "I think this is it Miktes." He announced regretfully. "Those yahoos over there are going to get tired of just shooting at from a distance and come over to kill us."

Looking down at the floor between his legs Miktes gave a grunt of acknowledgment. "Yeah yer right." He agreed grimly. "But I ain't just going to go out like some weakling." Lifting his gaze to look into Barnabus amber colored eyes the warrior gave a cocky smirk. "If I'm going to die here then I'm going to do it breathing the shit outta those monsters. It's what a real warrior would do."

There was a small ironic sounding chuckle before Miktes sobered up and continued. "And ya'know it's kinda stupid but I'm real glad I'm gonna die with a strong guy like you. And... I know you ain't my mate or anything but I'd really like it if you'd at least pretend you were just once before we..."

Barnabus grew quiet after the other man's little speech, the sounds of laser fire around them becoming fainter as he thought about all that was said. Miktes realized what was about to go down and all he really cared about was his desire for him to acknowledge their accidental bound. And really... as much as he hated to admit it the idea was sort of appealing to Barnabus now. After everything they had gone through. Spending all their time together, arguing and fighting like two wild dogs, and lastly all those nights spent together having fun. There was no way he could deny Miktes his request now after all that.

"Alright kiddo I'll say it. I'm your mate--" The bearded Jack finally relented, a weight he hadn't realize was there lifting as he spoke the words. "--And I couldn't be prouder of that."

The biggest grin anyone could ever imagine crossed Miktes' tusked face when those simple words reached his pointed ears. Oh, how he had longed to hear Barnabus say that since the very first day the two of them had met. Of course back then he had only wanted to hear it because he saw it as a sign the human understood his subservient place at his green feet. Now the only thing that went through the Verdomian's mind as those simple words sunk in was the pride he felt that Barnabus actually considered him his mate.

It made what he believed to be his last moments before he went to the great river in the sky more meaningful.

"'Bout time you said it." Miktes said trying to resume his tough guy act and failing completely as his voice cracked a little with emotion. "Just tell me when you're ready to kick some ass submissive. I'll make sure to keep ya safe while you blast holes in their bodies."

"Good, then both of us will go on the count of three." Barnabus announced. Holding his weapon tightly he cocked it and began charging the rifle to its highest setting. "I'll shoot at their feet distracting them and then I'll go right and you go left. Whoever can make it over to that big machine the head honcho Warg is about to use breaks the sucker so it'll never work again."

Barnabus took a deep breath and began the countdown. "One..."

Looking around quickly Miktes found a large piece of jagged metal debris that had fallen off of one of the machines around them. Realizing that it would make the prefect club he picked it up and swung it in the air a few times testing it.

"Two..."

Getting ready to charge himself Barnabus closed his eyes as he gave a silent prayer to his crew. 'I hope the Rana and the guys weren't on the ship that Ragno got the Girunjh blood from.'

"THREE!!"

Letting out twin battle cries both Barnabus and Miktes jumped out from behind their cover and rushed the group of Wargs firing on them. The Elite soldiers instantly copying them and barreling down on the two brave me with savage roars of their own that echoed throughout the large laboratory.

Barnabus was the first to hit a target in this battle, the Jack successfully aiming a shot from his weapon right to the chest of one of the Warg coming towards him. The blast didn't do much but stopped the monster enough to allow Miktes to leap towards him like a wild cat and land a powerful kick to his chest, sending them both rolling onto the ground in a tangle of punches and growls.

Barnabus didn't have time to congratulate his good aim thought because as soon as Miktes and his victim fell to the ground one of the other Wargs advanced on him and landed a clean shot right to the human's shoulder sending him spinning to the floor as pain reeled through his body.

"BASTARD!" Miktes roared. Looking to where the shot had come from, the Verdomian quickly slammed his fist into the face of the Warg under him and then took his makeshift club and threw it as hard as he could to the man who had fired on his mate. The heavy piece of metal hitting its target right in the jaw sickening thud that sent several of the soldier's teeth scattering across the floor.

"How dare you, you filthy savage!" Stomping his way over to Miktes a third Ward retracted one of his blades and tried to disembowel the shorter man for daring to hurt a member of his squad.

But just as the sharp bone was about to slice through the Warrior's gut the man fell to the ground as a flash of laser fire ricocheted off of the side of his wolf like head. "Hey get the heck off of him!" Barnabus shouted across the room, smoking rifle in hand.

In an attempt to regroup Barnabus raced his way over to Miktes. They needed to make a run for the Ceromundi before it was too late. But just before he got to the younger man the Jack suddenly found the entire world going topsy-turvy as his legs were swept out from under him and ended up landing on his back with a loud thud and a groan of pain.

On his back now Barnabus stared up at the ceiling above him dazed for a few moments, wondering what the heck had happened before he regretfully received an answer in the form of Ekkar's sneering face appearing in his field of vision. "It's amazing how easily I've always been able to sweep you off of your feet Anderson." The Fidraon smirked down at him.

Barnabus groaned and rubbed his temples. "Jalapeño, you're on their side again?" He asked. Last Barnabus was aware of it Ekkar was about to shoot a hole in his oh so trustworthy business partner.

"For the time being yes I am." Ekkar responded as he rose his weapon to pint at his ex's head. "Now don't do anything stupid and just lay there till the Wargs handle your pet."

Hearing Miktes' angry growl from his right, Barnabus tilted his head towards him and witnessed the redhead struggling with three of the Wargs soldiers. The Verdomian threw a wild punch at one of his attackers but was finally subdued when the other two tackled him and slammed his thickset body into a large computer console, two elbow blades pressed up against his throat and chest to keep him still.

"Dam it..." Barnabus sighed back up at Ekkar with a frown. "Well... at least we got three of you before you all took us out. You know as soon as he gets you to kill us he's going to bump you off next."

"Maybe or maybe Ragno will be so happy to see you taken care of that I'll be able to slip away while he's doing another of his longwinded "evil" monologs." Ekkar quipped back. Using his free hand the taller man turned a small dial on the side of his multitool, the glow at the weapons tip growing brighter as he increased the power to a level that would not only kill Barnabus but entirely disintegrate his head in the process.

"You know it really is a shame Barney." Ekkar said with mock sadness. "All those years you talked and talked about becoming a great space hero like the men in all those stupid earth movies. Yet here you are about to die on what really is your very first "adventure"."

The reptilian man lifted his foot and ground the heel of his boot in Barnabus' chest, chuckling when a pained grunt reached his finned ears. "The biggest shame about it too is that you could have avoided the whole thing. If you had just stayed with me instead of running off because I did something contrary to your stupid code of morals. If you hadn't tried to make it on your own and built that completely worthless crew of yours and repeatedly refuse my offers to take you back." There was a small pause as Ekkar's face softened just a little. "Now look at you. What do you have to say for yourself my dear, dear Barney?"

Despite the danger he was in and the pain both in his back and chest as he was crushed under Ekkar's weight, Barnabus oddly smirked up at his ex-boyfriend saying a cocky, "I say: I bet that's really going to hurt."

Blinking back in surprise at the strange words Ekkar was at a loss for words at first by what Barnabus had just said. Had the human finally gone crazy from all the stress? "What's in the galaxy is going are you going on about you foolish little-- OOMPH!"

Suddenly Ekkar came to an understanding as to what Barnabus was referring too as a large heavy rock sailed through the air and struck him dead center in the back of the head. The stone hitting him with such force that he was sent staggering off of Barnabus and a few feet away as he rubbed the forming bruise. "What the hell!" Ekkar cursed as he whipped his head toward the direction the rock had come from. Who the hell Just..." Upon seeing who had attacked him, the Fidraon took several steps back. "... Oh my. Oh my and oh dear and fuck."

Slowly stalking towards the platinum rank Jack a very bruised and beaten up Miktes glared at the man who had been looming over his mate, blood from the three Wargs who he had been fighting him covering his body and eyes cat-like slits as he fell into a feral rage. "I thought I told you never to touch what's mine ever again." Miktes growled in an almost demonic tone.

Instantly pointing his multitool at the orc Ekkar tried his best to stand his ground. But the look in the eyes of the creature before him instantly made that bravado crumble under its intensity. "D-Don't come any C-Closer!" He tried to warn. "I-I'll shoot you if you do!"

"Go ahead and fucking do it then!" Racing forward a blinding speed, Miktes raised his fist and swung hard and fast. Meaty hand connecting with Ekkar's smug face in a hard right hook that made Barnabus cringe as he heard the smack. Then before the dragon could react fully to being stuck he found himself on the receiving hand of another punch and then another and another. The assault soon turning into a flurry of strong strikes that pummeled Ekkar without mercy until it ended with a strong uppercut that sent Ekkar spinning on his feet and onto the floor, his teeth broken and his skull cracked as he instantly was knocked out cold.

His enemy now sufficiently taken care of Miktes padded up to where he was laying and hawked the biggest wad of spit on the unconscious man's body. "Serves ya right for trying to kill my human!" The warrior huffed. Face softening Miktes shifted his attention away from the garbage at his feet and over to his mate who he graced with a calm smile. "You still alive human?" He asked jokingly

"Yup, but barely." Barnabus remarked ruefully as he got to his feet. Looking over his unconscious ex the Jack couldn't help but let out a whistle, similar to the one he had made when Miktes had decked the dragon back on his ship. This time had been even more enjoyable then the last. Each punch and visceral thwack a just reward for all the years of grief the Fidraon had given him.

Slowly making his way over to Miktes to congratulate him for such a stunning display of brutalism Barnabus failed to notice the danger he was in until it was too late. Seemingly from out of nowhere a bright beam of energy ripped through the calm atmosphere of victory and stuck the bearded man right across his side. The blast leaving a deep and ugly looking burn mark across his flank as the smells of seared cloth and flesh filled the room.

"BARNABUS!" Panic ripping though him Miktes rushed over to Barnabus' side and caught him as he began to fall, the Verdomian wrapping his large arms around the older man and sinking down with him to the floor as the smell of burning flesh danced over his senses. "W-What happened?" He demanded with heavy breath. "Who the fuck just shot at my mate."

Snapping his head from left to right Miktes tried to find who had ever fired at them. Intent on finding whoever had attacked his mate when they weren't looking and soundly ripping their head off. Not surprising when he did find out who had committed such a crime the Warrior roared out in rage.

"Forgot about me did you?" Ragno sinister voice came. Slowly walking towards the pair the Warg general observed the havoc around them. All of his men were either dead or unconscious. Ekkar was lying on the ground moaning, and the "battleground" was in general disarray.

"That was one good fight you two put up." The Warg remarked as he neared. "Thrilling to say the least and pointless to say the most. But now it's all over but the crying I'm afraid."

"You wanna bet ya big bastard." Miktes growled. "Cause I sure as hell got some fighting left to do!" Let out a deep bestial growl Miktes went to stand to trounce Ragno for hurting his mate, but before he could move too much Miktes quickly found himself stopping dead in his tracks as Barnabus gave a weak sounding moan from below. Looking down the Verdomian was terrified to find the older man starting to become dreadfully pale. "HEY! Don't you dare go the fuck to sleep!" He snapped at the man in his arms.

"I'm trying not to Mick trust me." Barnabus joked very weakly. "Can't miss you kicking that Warg's backside for shooting me."

"By the unknowns, Anguis was right. You two are sickening." Ragno spat at the display.

Such weakness the races of the I.U.G. were capable of, such softness. Any smart man would have let their weaker comrade fall instead of codling him like the Verdomian was right now. Seeing the display only solidified Ragno desire to lay waste to every last non-Warg planet in the galaxy. Only the warrior class of his race deserved to exist. Speaking of which... "Hologram, is the Ceromundi finished charging or whatever nonsense you were spouting earlier."

From his spot next to the Ceromundi where he had watched everything that had happened silently, Endico once again came to life. "Responding to query... yes sir all preparations are complete." It said with a nod. "All three targets that you have designated have been identified and I am only awaiting you command to initiate the transport procedure."

Looking back down at Miktes and Barnabus, the sinister man cracked another toothy grin. "That's all very, very good." He said. "As soon as I dispatch with these fools right here we'll begin my grand conquest of the I.U.G.."

Staring down the barrel of the weapon pointed at him Miktes reacted without thinking. Grabbing the weapon Barnabus had been using to fight and aiming it right at the larger man's chest. "GO TO HELL!" He roared pulling the trigger.

Unfortunately this attempt to fight back didn't go as the Verdomian had planned. Instead of the blast of light he had been expecting to blow the head off of the monster standing in front of him and his mate. The surge of energy came out of the opposite end and ricocheted off of the mirrored surfaces of the machinery around them a few times before it flew out of the entryway of the room and into the statue room.

"Crud..."

Opening his mouth to laugh at the pitiful and dumbfounded expression on the face of the green skinned creature, Ragno got ready to have a good laugh at its expense. But before the first guffaw could even come it died. The sounds of the machinery in the room going silent and all amusement dropping like a sack of bricks Ragno withdrew his weapon and spun around as lights began flickering and the hum of computers powering down sounded.

"W-What the blazes is happening!" He demanded to know loudly.

"This is!" Turning the weapon the right way this time Miktes fired again the blast hitting its mark this time and leaving an ugly wound across Ragno large barrel sized chest.

Falling to one knee Ragno roared out in pain and glared at the Verdomian. "Why you little son of a bitch!" He seethed. "You think you're so clever don't you. Well whatever you just did has made your upcoming punishment only all the more worse. I'm going to disembowel you!"

"Sirs..." Endico's voice interrupted. Appearing between the two as a Girunjh the hologram bowed to one then the other as they stared at him in confusion. "I hate to interrupt you conversation but I thought you would like to be informed that the power in this room is starting to wane.

Alarmed Ragno glared at the image. "What! How?"

"Responding to Query..." Endico responded as he started to become grainy. "...Power to this room was cut off when one of the statues located at the room's entrance was destroyed by the weapon discharge that went flying out of the room two, point thirty-five minutes ago. Without the power source supplying power to this room all functions have ceased and the Ceromundi has become non-operational."

Eyes growing wide at the announcement, Ragno twisted his injured body around to look at the device he had spent years trying to find. To his horror it was completely lifeless, it's once glowing and pulsing form quiet and the lights upon it dark "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!" Ragno panicked as he staggered to his feet and over to the machine. "This cannot happen! I will not be denied my right to supreme power!"

Miktes didn't care whether or not the Cero-what-it's was working anymore all he saw was his chance to escape. Shifting Barnabus the warrior placed the human's arm over his shoulder and carefully began lifting him to his feet. "Come on we're getting out of this fucking dump." He told his mate. "Just hold on for a little while longer."

"Sir." Endico asked from next to him. "I believe it would be prudent if you walked a little faster. The door at the entrance of the lab will seal itself within five earth minutes and not reopen again because of the destruction of one of the artifacts."

"What's that supposed to mean!" Miktes growled, not understanding what the words "Earth minutes" meant. In fact he could only make out half of what the stupid light man had said.

"It means you should get out of here and fast." Endico stated calmly, his voice sounding suddenly less robotic as his eyes focusing as if he were truly looking at Miktes and Barnabus. "That is unless you and your friend want to get yourself trapped in here for the rest of your lives Hestry."

Miktes blinked at the interface suspiciously for a few moments hearing his clan's name being spoken. But before he could question how the other being knew it the sounds of the doors beginning to close put an end to any interest to know.

"Mick hurry." Barnabus pleaded with a shallow breath.

"Fine let's go then." Miktes grumbled. Tightening one hand around Barnabus' side, mindful of the large wound, and the other over the human's gut, the warrior began leading them out of the room. "Don't worry I won't let you fall of nuffing."

"I know kid. But it's sort of embarrassing that you have to carry me away from danger like some sort of damsel in distress." Barnabus said back, trying to impart some humor as he struggled to remain awake. "Just promise that you won't tell Rana. She'd laugh about it for weeks."

Miktes didn't know what this "damsel" thing was but snickered lightly at the sour tone Barnabus had used to describe himself as being one. "Don't worry I won't tell that bossy woman a thing." He said gruffly. "Now stop talking for once and just let me do all the work submissive."

Barnabus appeared as if he was about to argued but instead let out a sigh and rested his head against Miktes' bare shoulder. "Alright." He said softly. "But just this once."

Eyes drifting to Ekkar who was still on the floor the bearded man felt a twinge of remorse. Sure the greedy creep had caused them no end of trouble and tried to kill him not even ten minutes ago. But letting him starve to death trapped in the dark with a cannibalistic Warg wasn't something an honest man like him could stomach. "Grab Ekkar too." He said pointing over to the Fidraon.

Miktes stilled and followed where Barnabus was pointing to. His eyes momentarily taking on that savage cat-like appearance again when he realized who he was talking about. "There's no fucking way I'm..." One meaningful look from Barnabus was all it took for Miktes rage to crumble and his eyes to return to their normal red hue. If that was what his mate wanted then that's what he would get.

'Hope you get stuck in the door before I can fully pull through it asshole.' Miktes thought darkly as the image of a squished lizard filled his mind. Reaching down he grabbed Ekkar by his long tail and began dragging the sleeping man behind them as they trudged towards the ever so slowly closing entrance.

Watching as three of his guests left, Endico began running a series of calculations though his program. Taking note of several things about the Verdomian before he secretly transmitted the data to another location. Once he was done he turned back to Ragno and silently observed at the large man frantically began slamming his hands against the Ceromundi's keyboard.

Reacting to his protocols Endico spoke over to the large deranged man, attempting to warn him as well. "Sir, I'm sorry to intrude upon your episode but wouldn't you like to escape as well?"

"Escape?" Slowing in his frantic and pointless attempt to restart his treasure Ragno looked over to the hologram speaking to him and then to the retreating backs of the Verdomian who had ruined his plans and his human cohort. "YOU!" He roared.

All thoughts of the Ceromundi quickly snuffed out by blinding all-encompassing rage, the general began running towards the trio, falling onto all fours and sprinting like a wild beast intent of ripping their throats out. But just before the deranged man was about to leap upon his pray he found himself blinded by a torrent of sparks as a computer exploded in front of him.

"Caution... power overload in computing unit three-seven-nine." Endico announced while Ragno rolled on the floor clutching his badly burned face. "Please exercise caution when walking or standing around the device sir."

"WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN ME BEFORE IT EXPLODED?" Ragno demanded. Getting up onto his hands and knees the Warg stumbled towards the hologram.

"Responding to query... unable to answer question." Endico replied back with a buzz. "Please either ask another question or repeat the one you just asked in case there was an error."

"Like hell you were!" Hopping to his feet Ragno began thrashing in the direction he believed Endico to be in. "You did that on purpose you overrated answering machine!"

Endico remained completely still as Ragno's thick arms phased through his body with no damage. "I assure you sir I am unable to do anything without being told to." He said, almost sounding smug. "Also Caution... watch out for the large computer which just became unfastened to the floor."

Before Ragno could even ask what computer the Warg general found himself pinned to the floor as a large machine toppled over and landed on his back, with a sickening crunch of all the bones in his lower half. "By the Unknowns!" He cursed out as he was crushed. "Get me out from under this thing!"

"Unable to comply!" Endico said. "Goodbye sir, I am shutting down."

Clawing and panicking as the lights around him dimmed, Ragno tried in vain to free himself. "NOOOOOO!" He roared to the ceiling. "Please no!"

Crossing the threshold leading into the laboratory Miktes tossed Ekkar ahead of him into the statue room and then stopped to peer over his shoulder. "You want me to go back in there and save that asshole too?" He asked Barnabus.

Barnabus snorted. "The heck with that brute." He said. "Ekkar's just some greedy creep, but that man... he's nothing but a monster." Pushing himself off of Miktes the bleeding man stumbled his way over to one of the Artifacts and picked it up out of its parent's hands. "Toss these things in with him." He told Miktes as the sounds of the doors closing faster reached them. "That way no one will ever get to use them again."

"Right on it submissive." Taking the one Barnabus had out of his hands, the Verdomian threw the small statue into the darkening. Then going over to the others he picked them up and did the same. Each of them disappearing out of sight as he chucked them inside.

However just as he was about to get rid of his races' relic Barnabus called out to him to stop. "Not your Mickey." He grunted. "You need yours remember."

"Almost forgot." Miktes mumbled looking down at it. Gripping his people's sacred relic the warrior went back over to his mate's side and placed a hand on his chest staring into his eyes. The sounds of the door behind them closing and bathing the room in complete darkness and he gave him a relieved look. For now at least his destined mate was safe and sound. And that was all he cared about right then.