kiso
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One-shotted Rebecca Simmons. What chance have YOU got?
Posts: 39
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Post by kiso on Oct 23, 2017 2:13:40 GMT
I.K.S. Vorn, Ferasa Prime orbit
K'Imoshi Hsalo sat alone on the floor of the ship's ready room, legs crossed in meditation. She knew where the ship was, and why she was there. She also knew the latest iteration of House Karag's I.K.S. Reclew was on the way. She had mere hours to fully prepare her body and mind for what was to commence on the surface. On the desk next to her, a hologram flickered into life. "Are you ready?" came the synthesized voice of her mother, or as best as she could remember it. "No." the Ferasan stated flatly as she got to her feet. "But it matters not. The time is fast approaching for these trials. They would've taken place sooner were it not for the signing of the Treaty of Sauria."
"Ah, yes, I read about it in the ship's database. To think, even now, old hatreds are being buried, new ships being built..." the hologram flickered with mirth as it looked to K'Imoshi. "It's even happening within you." to which the young Ferasan scoffed. "Oh, come now. You know you can't hide anything from me. I know you've been training with both Honor Guard and certain Starfleet officers. And even turning to Letheans for mental training. You're going beyond your role, daughter."
"For my Lord and Lady. Those that took us in when we were banished."
"Of course, but-" to which the holo-mom was rudely cut off by the intercom claxon.
"Commander! The General has arrived. We've received co-ordinates for the trial site." came the voice.
"I'm on my way to the transporter room. Hsalo, out." and she hit a button on the desk, then she looked at her mother's hologram.
"Stay safe, my daughter. And do your best."
"It's all I can do, mother." K'Imoshi nodded before taking her leave, leaving the apparition alone in the ready room.
"No matter what, I will be proud of you, my daughter." it spoke before flickering off.
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The red haze disappeared from her view as the transporter cycled out, her eyes quickly adjusting to the currently dim light of whatever chamber she was sent to on order of the Ferasan patriarchs. She looked around to see only an eight foot circle of light around her, whatever room she was stood in was obviously sand filled. And looking up, she saw another light over an awning or balcony, upon which multiple figures stood. She almost felt like this was a court martial more than anything else. The central most figure soon spoke up.
"K'Imoshi Hsalo!" he boomed, voice echoing over what the addressed quickly discerned must've been an arena. "You stand here today at the site of a ceremony that has not been needed since our Great Schism. It is held today for atonement. The banishing of your clan for what was once considered a crime half a century ago. In light of the Treaty of Sauria, and our alliance with the Klingon Empire, I, Patriarch Rusizth M'vssi, am giving you this one chance to redeem the once proud name of Hsalo! In front of your ward! Your Clan! And your people!" and with his last declaration, the chamber erupted with light.
K'Imoshi was stood dead center in an ancient looking arena, one that looked large enough to accommodate the landing of two B'rel's. Atop the walls came the cries of a crowd as faces from races across the Empire littered her view. Her eyes eventually adjusted to make out who stood atop the Patriarch's balcony. To his far right, stood the last half-dozen or so pure Ferasan Hsalo's. To his left, she could make out the figures of Lord Karag and Lady Tira. And around him, the rest of patriarchal council.
"Now, should you fail in these trials, you're clan shall be permanently disbanded and banished from our world. We will still honor our alliance with the Empire to allow 'a' starbase within our system." and she could swear, even from this distance, that Karag shot the Patriarch's a glare. "But if you succeed, know that Clan Hsalo will be fully restored. Returned to the Pride of Prides, and House Karag will be welcomed within our system with open arms!" another round of cheers (or jeers?) echoed around the arena as the speaker looked down at Shishi. "First of seven! The Trial of M'vssi! Are you ready?!"
"I am!" K'Imoshi roared defiantly as gates around the arena slowly opened.
"Then...Begin!"
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kiso
Member
One-shotted Rebecca Simmons. What chance have YOU got?
Posts: 39
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Post by kiso on Oct 23, 2017 23:19:56 GMT
First of Seven: Trial of M'vssi
"The first trial is simple." the booming voice described as a hulking Ferasan entered the arena. "Test of strength. Use any physical means to defeat your opponent."
"Great..." K'Imoshi lamented as she looked to the now charging felinoid quickly closing the distance. She was barely able to brace herself before finding herself sprawling on the sand ten feet away. 'Size isn't everything, Shishi.' a familiar, if annoying, voice echoed in her head. 'You've proved it before, you can do it again'. She crawled to her feet, just into to get shoulder tackled again, gasping as her breath was forced out of her lungs, her mind acute enough to notice the furthest wall getting further away, which meant to her the rear wall was quickly closing. She took a breath, braced her feet on the stomach of her attacker and pulled at his neck, sending the pair end over end into the sand, the other Ferasan slamming his back into the rear wall as K'Imoshi bounced to her feet with a wince, skidding to a halt mere inches from the same fate.
She glanced up at the falling detritus, the crowded was jeering the combatants on with stones and sticks and any other nuisance they could throw, but no actual weapons. She double-backed towards the center of the arena at the stirring of her opponent, watching him get back up and spitting off to the side. He grinned deviously as he moved to start circling the smaller Ferasan. She held her ground until she felt it start to shift, and rolled aside as a plume of flame occupied her previous spot. "Great...So can't stay still for too long, I guess, huh?" she muttered as her eyes shifted to lock onto the once again charging hulk.
She fought her immediate instinct to duck, he was probably prepared for that, especially with the almost two foot height difference between them. So instead, she brace her aching legs and jumped, clearing her bewildered attacker by a good foot or so before landing with all the grace of a stone, spinning to take a swipe at her still moving assailant. The flash of read and grunt of pain that followed showed that he was at least unarmored, if still physically far more imposing. "First blood!" came a cry from above, followed by eager cheering from the crowd.
"Barbaric..." thought the female feline before she whirled from the powerful backhand delivered by her combatant, noticing she was airborne just long enough to feel the yank on her tail and the impact of her body on the sand as she lay sprawled on the arena floor, coughing and wheezing blood. Her eyes fuzzed out, barely able to make out details around her as she lay helpless on the floor. Eventually the hulking mass of her combatant entered her limited view. She groaned out as she felt herself lifted above the floor, and presumably above his head. She felt like a trophy hunt, displayed before the kill. In the instant she felt the forces of his arms pulling her down, she reached out, felt her hands take hold, and twisted her body.
Se didn't know what the sickening crunch was for a good while. Eventually, her vision cleared and she slowly pulled herself to her feet, looking around as she held her ribs, the taste of iron still in her mouth. A deafness filled her ears as she looked down at her attacker, his face staring glassy eyed back up at her. Which wasn't initially surprising until she saw he was laying on his stomach, blood dribbling from his mouth and neck. The soft bristle of his fur in the still air showed he was at least still breathing.
"The first trial is over!" a voice burst her ears, to which she winced and covered them momentarily. "Victory to Clan Hsalo! AN hour's respite for the combatant before the next trial!"
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kiso
Member
One-shotted Rebecca Simmons. What chance have YOU got?
Posts: 39
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Post by kiso on Oct 27, 2017 1:29:43 GMT
Second of Seven: Trial of Utai
The hour seemed to pass in an instant. K'imoshi was sitting in a side chamber to the arena, staring out the metal grate at the latter. With a clatter, the grate started rising, and the already tired Ferasan stood and made her way out, taking a breath at the threshold. Once again, the chamber was dark, a single light at the end she assumed was opposite the Patriarch's balcony, and she made her way to it. Once there, a new voice boomed throughout the arena. "K'Imoshi Hsalo! You have succeeded at the first trial. We now move on to the second. This will be a test of wit and acuity. The only combat will be that which you, yourself, make." it explained, leaving the addressed a little confused. "Raise the Labyrinth!"
The room audibly sprang to life, the sound of flowing sand and ancient gears working filled the Ferasan's ears before stopping with a clunk. The chamber was illuminated, revealing that K'Imoshi's vision was filled with walls. Walls reaching the railing of the audience stands. "Your goal is the far end, at our feet. You have one hour to cross the maze. Begin!"
And K'imoshi took off, jogging into the labyrinth, making a few turns here and there to what she assumed was the center, until: "Dead end...Now what?" as she looked around a moment before instinct kicked in. She hopped back, still wincing in pain from the previous fight, as spears shot out from the walls into the are she was just in. "...Great." as she shook her head and noticed something. She stepped closer to the wall on her right, and reached out a hand to test it, only to find herself almost falling from the lack of wall. "...Illusion. Mental acuity, they said...Right." she nodded and took off again, keeping an eye out for any 'false walls', leaping pitfalls and avoiding more spears. "I must be near the center, at least, now...How big is th-" she stopped as her ears twitched. That breathing wasn't coming from her, nor was it the cheers of the crowd.
She turned to look over her shoulder and saw it for a brief second. Something dashed across an opening behind her. She was being stalked. By what, she didn't know, but she doubled her pace to make it out. Until she skidded to a halt. "Really?" as she stared down into a circular pit with multiple entrances. "...Found the center, at least." but she had no bearing of which way she'd come, staring at the other entrances and trying to decide which to try and jump for before her ears twitched. "...Ah, crap..." as she turned around to face her stalker. It was a Selkit, a feline-esque beast, around the size of a Sehlat from Vulcan, and just as aggressive. She stared it down for a few moments before it started charging her. She had no escape on her end, she couldn't make it to a side corridor in time. And if it decided to pounce, the grate covering the maze would prevent her from jumping up and over it. Wait, jump? That was it!
She braced herself, huddling low to try and lure the creature away from rearing up to attack her, waiting until it was scant few feet away, and jumped with a flourish to land on it's back. The creatures confusion caused it to careen right over the edge, and out over the pit. K'Imoshi made a quick decision, and used the Selkit as a platform to lunge for one of the other entries, barely making it as she heard the beasts cries fall into the darkness. She clambered up out of the pit she'd narrowly avoided and lay flat on her back, taking a moment to catch her breath. "...What...Else...is...in here...?" she panted before standing up. She barely took two steps before the entire room started shaking and she spun around in time to see a pack of Ferasa's aerial predators slam into the grate above the pit, give of them. The Ahamkara was but a skant three-foot long draconic looking creature, but she knew from stories and tales that the real danger was not physical, this time. These creatures attacked the senses, screeching loud enough to deafen or trying to blind prey with caustic chemicals launched from there mouths.
K'Imoshi took off in a run, not wanting to be caught by the highly agile creatures after the spotted her, screeching as they gave chase. She dove down side corridors and spun around corners to get away from them. They were fast, though, and many times she felt the heat of there breath on her neck and claws at her shoulders, barely managing to stay one step ahead until...
Clank! And she spun around, a metal gate had slammed to the ground behind her, and she looked around in alarm. "Time!" came a call from almost directly above her. Some light murmuring was heard around her before the the voice continued. "Fifty-four minutes, seventeen seconds! K'Imoshi Hsalo has passed the second trial!"
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kiso
Member
One-shotted Rebecca Simmons. What chance have YOU got?
Posts: 39
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Post by kiso on Oct 31, 2017 0:29:06 GMT
Third of Seven: Trial of Moh'Van
A night's respite was given following the Labyrinth. K'Imoshi awoke to a strange aroma filling the quarters she was to use during the rituals. She lifted her head to see that the table had been laden with what could only be described as a personnel banquet. Succulent meats and hearty drinks covered the table, even threatening to topple off it. She eyed it, the rumbling in her stomach an audible reinforcement of the need to eat. But something irked her about the set-up. She had not been told about any eating arrangements. And it was not as if she should expect any hospitality in her situation. Why would an exile be given such a lavish meal?
So, she sat. She sat and waited, the growing need to eat swaying her attention back to the meal every now and then, until she couldn't take it and got up. She walked over to the banquet, and tentatively reached for a piece of meat. She looked it over, and picked up a mug of an invitingly warm drink. She stared at them for a long moment, long enough for the candle in the centerpiece to melt considerably before she put them down, much to the dismay of her aching stomach.
Then, a rad haze surrounded her, startling her as she looked around in a panic, the dismal dwelling of her quarters replaced with a dimly lit hall, and she now stood before the Patriarch's. "Well done, Hsalo." one spoke. "As you probably have inferred, that was another trial. Fortitude is yet another trait required by our great people. Now come." and the group of six parted. "As your clans representative, sit with us." as the room lit up, revealing another meal.
Fourth of Seven: Trial of L'ssra
K'Imoshi sat at the round table after waiting to see if there was some order she needed to quickly discern. Thankfully, there wasn't one as it was explained by Patriarch L'ssra that there was no ceremony at meal time, and the young female took her seat. She was evidently on edge as the gathered council spoke of the goings on of the Ferasan Patriarchy. Small talk to them, overwhelming information to the young warrior, who waited to see that other's were eating before reaching for the food herself. And as she ate, she listened.
"So Clan N'ssra reports needing more resources to complete the latest cycle of Slithus craft?" "Yes, perhaps one of the lunar asteroids can be used for the raw materials?" "I'll bring it up with the mining guild. Hsalo? Drink?" One of the elders offered a goblet of some sickly black looking liquid. The junior Ferasan politely declinded. "Suit yourself. How are the Utai generators coming along?" The conversation continued like this for minutes, becoming mind-numbing. Literally, infact. K'Imoshi could barely focus on anything after a few minutes of eating, rather than the muscle-memorized instinct to keep eating.
Should she be feeling like this, she thought? She managed to lift her head to look around the table. All the others were carrying on there conversation, paying no mind to the mentally struggling Ferasan woman. She closed her eyes and could feel the room spinning. She tried to focus and couldn't. She opened her eyes to the stares of the Patriarchs and slowly looked around them. They appeared to shrug and return to there conversation as soon as that happened when something crossed her mind. It sounded like a muffled voice, in her head. She tried to focus on it, single it out as she slumped forward in her chair.
As she wheezed, feeling like her throat was closing up, she tried to reach out. And when physically reaching out proved incapable, she reached out mentally. Her mind found her companions mind's were either guarded or filled with inane chatter mimicking the topic of Ferasan legislation. Until a single word crossed into her mind. 'Drink'. She focused more. Had she missed something? Her breathing was getting more and more labored, and an image splashed into her mind. With a start, she jerked up and grasped at the nearest goblet to her, and forced herself to drink it down. She coughed and wheezed, spluttering over her plate as her vision cleared. And hearing.
"...-Ah, glad you could rejoin us, Hsalo. We were just discussing your progress. While you did take awhile to catch on, I do believe this can be considered a success." "What?!" she coughed. "The Trial of L'ssra. Now, you can safely enjoy your meal." K'Imoshi wasn't particularly fond of that, but needed it to keep her strength up for whatever was to come...
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kiso
Member
One-shotted Rebecca Simmons. What chance have YOU got?
Posts: 39
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Post by kiso on Oct 31, 2017 2:25:44 GMT
Fifth of Seven: Trial of Ruszith
K'Imoshi had been returned to her quarters and led to a side chamber of the main arena. She was being outfitted with some kind of hollow hook device on her right hand, and a buckler on her left. "Is this really necessary?" she asked the attendants equipping her, who just shrugged before ushering her back into the arena.
"K'Imoshi Hsalo! Now begins the fifth trial! Examine the arena!" a voice boomed, and K'Imoshi did, and immediately spotted the holographic grid bisecting the chamber. "This next trial will combine your cunning with your athleticism. First to three points is the victor." as another female Ferasan entered the arena on the other side of the grid, equipped just as K'Imoshi was. "Now, this shall not be a straight forward competition. You must launch the ball through the open areas of the grid which randomize. Along with other obstacles. To score a point, you must get the ball past your opponent to impact the wall. Are the rules understood?!" "Yes!" both called from there respective sides of the playing field. "Begin!" as the announcer tossed the ball towards K'Imoshi's opponent, and the match truly began.
The grid quickly began cycling hollow and filled sections, some containing symbols. K'Imoshi's opponent caught the ball in the hook and swung it, launching the projectile through an empty square, where it's course changed slightly to arc toward K'Imoshi, perhaps a modifier to promote a sense of fairness in the large arena. K'Imoshi mimicked the action of her opponent, swinging the ball back to the grid. Just a fraction too late, as the grid rotated, and ball passed through a red square and fell to the ground. "Point to Ruszith!" called the announcer as a holographic score count appeared over the field, and K'Imoshi spat.
The next round went on much longer as K'Imoshi got a feel for the game. A few of the modifiers had been used, as well, one's that changed the angle and speed of the ball is it passed through the grid, and the young female spotted her next target. She aimed her shots away from the approaching grid square until she was confident she could hit it. She caught the ball, spun around to gain momentum, and rocketed it at the projected square. A split second before the ball was to hit wall, it shifted, and two balls rocketed out the other side, her opponent floundering to catch even one of them, fumbling it into a blocked square as the other bounced along the field to impact the wall. "Two points to Hsalo!" followed by cheering.
Third round started off rocky for Hsalo. A few recovered fumbles from modified balls put her heavily on the defensive. Much more so when it passed through a few glyphs that opened up fire pits, greatly affecting where she could go. She managed to weakly return a serve before it was launched back at her. And just as she prepared to dive for where it may land, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her, sending her to the ground as she twitched in momentary paralysis. Luckily, the ball landed right in her hook. "K'Imoshi Hsalo! You have five seconds to return to play or the round goes to Ruszith!"
She struggled. She struggled to her feet and spun with all her might, launching the ball at a blind angle out into a corner. It hit a modifier her opponent wasn't prepared for, slamming the ball almost straight down. The recovery wasn't graceful, nor successful as a klaxon sounded throughout the arena as K'Imoshi's score ticked over to 'three'. "Victory to Hsalo!" called the announcer.
Sixth of Seven: Trial of N'ssla
After an hours rest to recuperate, K'Imoshi found herself back in the Arena. "Now, for one of the most basic of our trials!" boomed a voice. "The sixth trial is simple. Hunt, or be hunted!" as the lights revealed foliage in the recently sandy arena. "Your prey is a H'dak beast from the southern jungles. Dangerous. Devious. You must be doubly so! Begin!" and the young Ferasan took off into mine-jungle, sneaking in the under growth. She was somewhat at a disadvantage, here, as she didn't know what a H'dak looked like, being unfamiliar with the fauna of her homeworld.
It felt as if hours had passed before she caught site of...something. A swishing in the foliage as something moved through. Based on the pattern, K'Imoshi guessed it was multi-legged. Maybe even arachnoid. She tracked it, keeping herself silent and low to the ground, not that she knew if that helped at all, but it was basic instinct to her, her years as an agent of Klingon Intelligence proving useful, here. Until she lost her prey. The trail went cold at the base of a tree, in a small clearing surrounded by what humans would call large Bamboo shots. "...Where'd you go?" she muttered. Foolishly.
The 'plants' around her started to shift, moving and bending as if they were legs, talon like points aiming to step on the young feline. She ducked and dove around, trying to judge how many of the 'legs' there were. She quickly found herself 'caged in', as it were, eight spindly legs closed around her as she looked up at the body of the beast, it's small arms waving as if to grab at something under it. Her, in fact. She decided to be proactive, and started clambering up one of the legs, slashing the joint with her claws, and continuing up. She quickly found herself pulled in by the deceptively strong arms, almost feeling like she was being wrapped in web.
The view from the crowd was heavily obstructed, but the shaking of the treeline was a definite sign of struggle, murmuring echoed around the crowd...Even betting was taking place before the signs of struggle ceased. A full few minutes of silence passed before K'Imoshi wadded into the clearing in the center of the arena, tearing webbing from her body with bloodstained claws, using an arm to slowly drag the beast into view. "Is this the correct prey?!" she called out to the to spotted gasps from the crowd. "It is!" an answer finally came. "How did you fell the beast?" which K'Imoshi held up her blood stained hands as if to say 'with these'. Then more murmuring occurred, followed by the Ferasan feeling her mind being probed. 'So what?' she thought, 'I've nothing to hide'. "K'Imoshi Hsalo! You pass the Trial of N'ssla! And you do so as one of the few Ferasans to fell a H'dak without weapons!" to which she simply blinked. "One hour rest period before the final trial!"
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kiso
Member
One-shotted Rebecca Simmons. What chance have YOU got?
Posts: 39
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Post by kiso on Oct 31, 2017 3:26:40 GMT
Final Trial: Trial of Hsalo
For this last trial, K'Imoshi wasn't led to the arena. Or to any chamber she had seen before. She followed her guide down a winding series of staircases until she was brought to a heavy steel door. "In." her guide stated, pushing one of the doors open. The female felinoid step into a surprisingly well let room or ante-chamber of sorts, with monitors along one wall, and some sort of glass along the other. Inside waited Head Patriarch M'vessi. Alone, which surprised K'Imoshi. "This trial..." he begin, his voice much softer, almost sombre. "...Has not had one to introduce it for nearly half a century. And it's the reason we took so long to organize these trials." as he walked over to the window, looking out into what could only be some kind of...aviary? That was natural sunlight shining into the large caged enclosure, after all. "This final trial is the Trial of Hsalo. Your clan's trial. And arguably the most dangerous. We've procured a creature for it. Your goal is not to kill it. Your goal is to survive it." as he looked to the stoic female. "In another time, it would be your grandfather here giving this introduction, but." he shrugged. "You saw to that, I believe?" to which K'Imoshi nodded.
"Enter when you are ready, K'Imoshi Hsalo. Your final trial begins when you pass through the door." as he steps back to watch the monitors. K'Imoshi stood for a moment, trying to gauge what kind of creature might he be talking about before heading for the second exit of the room. She found herself standing across from a large cage, nestled inside was something she'd never seen, nor ever heard of. She was skeptical of what was going on until a voice entered her head.
"Oh, one of you? It's been long. So long. Through many moons and stars..." "Who are you?" "Who are /you/? What is this thing they give us? Small thing...Lonely. We can change that." "What do you mean?" "You are lonely...We can change that...We offer a gift. A gift of power. A gift of life beyond what you see...Will you accept it, O bearer mine?" "What gift?" and before she knew it, the scene changed. She was standing at a clifftop, overlooking a nameless ocean. She sensed someone approaching behind her, and turned, gasping. "...Mom?"
"K'Imoshi." smiled the approaching Ferasan woman. "I see you've grown." "How can this be?" she blinked. "You..." "Died?" K'Imoshi nodded. "I did, yes. But that doesn't mean I'm gone. I live on, in you. And I can be brought back." "W-what? How?" "Trust the worm, my child." the elder smiled. "It knows things...sees things we cannot." "The worm?" "The creature you were just talking to." she smiled. The strange thing is, compared to the holographic representation K'Imoshi had jury-rigged herself, this form of her mother filled her with unease. He mother told her only to trust in herself and her family. Let alone some kind of...beast. Especially one that talked back. "...Why?" "What?" "Why should I trust it?" "Do you not trust me?" "I trust myself." to which the elder woman frowned. "K'Imoshi, please. You have a chance. A chance to change everything." as she held out her hand. "Are you telling me you won't take it?" and for a moment, K'Imoshi thought she would, until the apparition continued, "O bearer mine?"
K'Imoshi snapped back to reality with a start, falling back as she felt something constrict around her arm. She clawed at the leach like creature trying to clasp into her flesh, holding it by the neck. "Gah, what the hell is this?!" as she wrestled with it, the voice still echoing in her head 'accept our gift, O bearer mine' over and over. She fought. Physically and mentally as the creature broke from her grip and slithered over her shoulder. She tried to grab it, but couldn't get purchase as she felt it burrow it's teeth into the base of her spine, just above her tail. She screamed as her vision blurred for the third time in as many days, collapsing to the floor with the disgusting sensation of the worm-like creature burrowing into her back, trying to cling to her spine.
"Yes, O bearer mine..." the voice pounded in her brain like a drum. "Take this gift...With it, you can do many things. Worlds will bow to your whim. Galaxies will shudder at your name!" the Ferasan squirmed and struggled, trying to pull herself to her feet as images of her mother waiting with outstretched arms flashed in her mind. "I...Don't..." she grunted out as she stood painfully, reaching around to her lower back, and feeling her hands grip something that wasn't her tail. "Your power..." she took a deep breath, feeling her ribs ache from the breath. "I have my own!" she cried defiantly before pulling hard, ripping the creature from her spinal column and weakly holding it up before her as it's blood covered maw gasped and gagged before the leach went limp. She weakly tossed it towards the cage before collapsing to the sound of the door opening...
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