Shena snarled in a savage rage she had never truly felt before as she laid Fereen's body gently on the ground. She stood up strenuously and devoid of any hesitation at what came next. Slowly dragging her feet and tail swaying through the mud as she limped over to finish what she started. How she felt didn't matter.The pain didn't matter.
Nothing. But the enemy.
The first of the last insects still alive in her path with was the eldest of the flying elite brothers who had struck across the face. The large insect growled as it observed the shark's feet approaching closer towards its feeble state. The once deadly warrior reached over in an attempt to grab its hammer and prized shield and continue fighting on; only to instead fail spectacularly by collapsing face down against the dirt. Shena stopped in front of the large creature groveling at her feet in a pool of its own blood. The insect's eyes flared with hate as it strained its massive head upward.
"I'll... never surrender shark." He grunted. "I die for my the betterment of my people, my father, and my queen." Can you say the same abou....
Shena cut the army ant's speech short with one swift slash of her sword toward its neck, ending his brief promotion. The newly appointed captain's head and body tumbled against the ground, gushing yellow blood. Now it would never get it's chance to lay another filthy finger on Kiro's shell.
Shena stepped over the mess a corpse and on to her next target. A slow death is more than these... things... deserve.
The second ant was missing one of it's hand's and now completely blind thanks to hundreds of shard's punctured in both of it's eyes. The young raider tossed and turned, crying like an infant as it struggled to pull each of the shrapnel pieces out in time; not aware that he was only acceleration the processes of bleeding himself out. Shena observed down closer toward the amusing display beneath her before slowly starting to scowl enraged. The insect had a large wound on it's shoulder, but not because of a shrapnel wound.
This blind ant was the youngest of the elites that had come within a razors edge of eating her after torturing her in the shoulder with her own harpoon.
"Who's there?!!" wailed the young ant., desperately searching with its antenna for any of it's surviving kin's pheromone trail's. The insect suddenly stopped it's search toward the direction of a familiar scent. But not one that it desired.
"Oh no.." gulped the petrified insect.
Shena would have had the great pleasure if she had dispatched this now pathetic creature who had tormented her just moment's earlier with a sick glee. She scowled through her hundreds of frightening serrated fangs almost hungrily. Practically drooling at the full array of possibilities that presented themselves before her that she could employ. But, she refused them all. Self-serving revenge had no point and would only prolong her now assured victory needlessly. And she would never stoop to a level as vile as this animal. She couldn't.
He may find pleasure in killing. But she didn't.
Denying herself from returning the slow painful comeuppance this waste of life deserved would be another sacrifice she would have to make. And...Fereen wouldn't have wanted her to stoop to the same level as him in joyfull torture. That wasn't who she was. And never would be.
Shena slowly raised her sword up high with both hands to strike toward the neck again quickly and cleanly. Much to the terror of the ant below.
The raider raised its arms as a desperate sign of submission up toward its former prey; now devoid of an ounce of courage or sense of self-sacrifice.
"I was just following orders!, Please!!! Don't kill me!!, I don't want to die!!!, I beg you!!!!" Wailed the terrified coward endlessly. Shena stared down in focused anger at the fools last attempts at self-preservation from her swift justice. Did this insect really believe its lies and pleas for mercy could change it's already decided fate?
"I'm sorry about earlier miss! Truly I am!!" Shena sensed him reaching behind his back toward his thorax holster slowly. Hoping she wouldn't notice.
"If you just let me, i'll, afghhff!!!!!....." Shena brought her sword swiftly toward its neck. Trading its pathetic rambling finally for peace and quiet. It wasn't clean this time. But it was quick. She walked over the decapitated body still holding a dagger in its hand; knocking her tail against the top of its destroyed wings uncaringly.
It would never harm another again.
The third and smallest ant a lowly flagbearer raised its bloody, lacerated arms outward as it crawled away from it's siblings killer. This warrior had been farthest from the blast radius and by the looks of it, it just might have survived its wounds if not for her. Shena crept closer right behind ready to finish the job. The young warrior sapped of all strength finally collapsed in the dirt unable to move any further. This bug had either no fight left in it or was just a coward. More likely it was the latter. That was no problem for Shena however. It just made her job easier.
As shena approached the small ant she kicked it's bloodied torso over with her boot and pressed hard against its neck. Raising her blade to strike before stopping. Dumbfounded as she realized what the ant beneath her heel had been crawling toward desperately. Not for a weapon or to escape. But for someone. This large warrior in front of them both could not stand like the others, its was bloodied, dying, and its battered body was in shambles; even more so than its now horde's of dead children littering the battlefield. But by some miracle...
Dear old dad was still alive.
The wounded general's daughter followed the bloodthirsty shark's gaze in dread. Knowing full-well what the soldier would do to next to her father just as it had to her siblings. She had to stop her from butchering her father. By any cost.
"Father...! Please get up! We can beat her!!!
Shena dug her the heel of her booth deeper against its windpipe. Her saber above behind the insect's back; ready to deliver one more quick execution before moving on to her more valuable prize. The young warrior grunted and writhed in pain as she tried to escape the shark's boot crushing its throat and attack. She was slowly suffocating. It didn't matter. She was nothing compared to his importance. He was everything to her. A swarm general's life was more valuable than a simple drone's. That was the way it was. She had to save her precious leader with every ounce of her breath even if she knew it was to be her last.
"Father run!!!!" the raider cried aloud faintly with its last puff of air. Its eyes now engulfed in tears. Reaching out desperately with its battered arm in order to save her beloved teacher.
The general slowly regained consciousnesses and locked eyes with the shark's saber, The water now stained and mixing with the yellow blood, starting to bringing the death blow toward his only remaining daughter.
"Aquatic! Leave her be!!!! The general sputtered angrily through its demolished face. Yellow blood trickling from its mangled mouth. The sudden interruption from the monster stopped Shena's blade inches above from it's daughters face.
Shena, raised her boot off the daughter's disgusting neck, allowing for the warrior below to stand on its four arms kneeling in the dirt; gasping pathetically for its much needed air. Once the ant had regained its breath and formed the thought of attacking back. Shena pressed down hard on its wingless back not taking any chances. Her heeled boot keeping it's entire weak body pinned below without hardly any effort and unable to escape or fight back. Shena turned her gaze away from the ant below toward its devil of a father. Her patience was wearing thin quickly. He would have to wait his turn. But not before watching.
Why should I spare this warrior? You didn't seem to have a problem killing my soldier's? Should I have one killing yours?
The old ant remained silent for a few moments before speaking. "My daughter..... is nothing. She is but a sword to be swung at my behest. If you wish... to face its wielder, you need only keep your gaze..... upon me."
Shena raised a brow; slightly amused. She turned her head up and down as she observed the pitiful condition the former gladiator now found himself to be in. The tides had turned, and it was now he who was making the empty threats to her instead, for it looked as if his dueling days were now over. Permanently.
The general had been the closest of all the ants to the blast radius. It's esteemed armor had fared well in protecting its internal organs from bodily harm. The same could not be said for its unprotected face and limbs however. A mass of jagged immobilizing shards had disfigured him from every angle into a grotesque mass of flesh and metal. It's desperate attempt to reach Fereen and stop the detonation in time had been a brave but ultimately costly and pointless endeavor.
By the look of things you aren't up to the task bug. But don't worry I'll make it quick for her, unlike you. She was just another pawn to be used how you saw fit so it's not her fault she turned out this way."
"She is not at fault here aquatic, She was just obeying my orders. Leave her be for this does not concern her anymore.
Shena's eyes widened, her teeth snarled. The audacity of this creature.
Oh, I think it does! Just obeying order's right?
"Then why did she interrupt your duel? Why did she fire her gun.?? Was that your order?!!!
Shena knelt down abruptly to grab onto the injured warrior. Holding the blade right against the daughters neck. Her soulless black eyes now striking fear into both army ant's now. The general reached his arm outward anxiously toward his offspring before clutching it in pain backward.
"WHY WOULD SHE KILL MY FRIEND IF NOT FOR YOUR ORDERS!" Shena blared with all her fury. "She made her choice in coming along with you today!! No one forced her here, no one dragged her here. She came of her own free will to slaughter as many of my people as she could. She just didn't expect to lose serving under you. She is not above her actions just like you. So don't you dare try to convince me that she had no part play in this!!! You both made your choice in coming here."
"Now I make mine!!"
Shena ignored the desperate cries of the old ant and raised her blade back in the air, ready to bring it down swiftly toward the vicious child.
"Leave her be. The general said calmly. "She no longer has a part to play in this game of ours and will not be a threat to you anymore. This I swear."
"And I'm supposed to trust you why!!!! After all the pain and suffering you've brought!!!!! You are vile and evil and killing you both would be doing the world a great favor!
"You Lie!!!!!! Screamed the daughter beneath her grasp. We are honored to be guided by our wise fathers infinite wisdom and teachings even if we aren't worthy of them!! You are unfit to even speak to him witch!!!! The young ant began squirming and struggling to escape the sharks leg on its back wanting to rip it off.
"Shut it kid." Shena snapped in building frustration, not even concerned by this child anymore. "The grown ups are talking."
"Our's is a righteous and glorious path to retake what was stolen by you dammed vertebrates!! This was our home thousands of years ago until you slaughtered us all and banished us to lands not out own!!, Gaffh...." Shena pushed her face into the mud with her knee.
"I said stop talking. You don't know what you're talking about. You and your siblings have been living a lie your whole life. Your service as just another mercenary will never lead your people to be what they once were. Its just another way to pay your mother's bills."
"You lie!!! I will not listen to royalist lies!!!! I'll kill you!!!! The army ant continued waving its arms and legs face down on the ground in a frantic tantrum. Trying to even come close as some sort of a threat against its tormentor stuck on its back. Shena continued holding it down. Becoming more annoyed and exhausted wasting another moment having to deal with this vile brat.
"See what I mean? Why would I let her go? So she can leave and regroup with the swarm? Get right back to slaughtering innocent's? She may not be a threat to me but she will be for someone else down the line. And for what? So you can all rebuild your glorious queen's ambitions? Those dreams died along time ago. Why couldn't you just have left them buried in the sand where they belong like you should have and none of us would be here in this fucking jungle!!!!!
She will not harm anyone. This I swear. the wounded general muttered painfully before coughing.
Well its your word against her's bug. Shena crouched down. Putting her full weight on top of the ant beneath her. Wrapping her tail around its legs and grabbing onto its massive battered head. Pulling it upward to look right at father.
So kid? What will it be? Will you be a threat? Will you just abandon your culture's teachings if I release my blade from your neck?!! Abandon your colony? Abandon Him? Think Carefully and think smart. Shena squeezed tighter, ready to choke the life out of this savage at the wrong answer.
"I'm not afraid of you Shark!" She wheezed. "I will never betray my...!!!
"Do as the shark says daughter. Renounce your vow."
Both of Shena's eyes and those of the trapped ant beneath her widened in sudden shock. Absolutely stunned.
"What...?...Father I."
"Do as I say. You dare disobey me?"
"Father..... What you say is heresy." The daughter said cautiously. "If mother finds out. She'll have us both.."
"Do not question me daughter!!!! What I say is law and order for all children I have spawned and you will obey my words until your dying breath! While the queen is the law of home, what I say here you will not dare ignore!! Am I understood warrior!!!
The young' ants eyes began to fill with tears at the thought of having displeased her father. Her mouth quivering in fear at the thought of what renouncing her oath meant.
Father Please!!!,I'll never be able to return home!!! I would rather die for you and our queen than live alone as outcast without you to guide me!!! Please Let me die for you!!! I beg you!!
The young raider grabbed weakly onto the water sword, cutting all four of her hands in the process of pulling the blade closer in toward it's own neck. Only to be stopped easily by just Shena's grip on the handle.
"See general, there's you're answer. She'll never change thanks to what you and your queen taught her. Killing is all she knows. Neither of you can leave here alive."
The general let out a slow heavy sigh, frustrated. He then locked his eyes with his last surviving child.
"Daughter you swore an oath to obey my command. Look what happened to your eldest brother earlier. He refused my will and fate devised a fitting punishment for him. Do not dishonor me in my final moments by being another of my children to disobey me. Especially my only surviving heir. What you want or desire does not matter to me. The only thing that does, is what I say here and now. You will not die for me. You will live for me." And you shall never return home or end your life under any circumstance am I understood?"
"But.."
AM I UNDERSTOOD!!!!!
Yes.... father.... the daughter said hesitantly. There was no going back now.
"Then say it."
Father... I..I have dishonored you and our family. I am not deserving of your mercy nor pity as a traitor. I have...
"Chosen the flawed path of the self and my exploration of my own meaningless desires in life. I would die by my own hand rather than live a single moment without guidance from the colony, but....by your decree, I will suffer in the world alone till the end of my days. As is my earned punishment.
Every word she was saying was a lie to her very soul, but her fathers command was law; and she could not refuse it now.
Never again shall you return. You have failed me as a warrior daughter. And you have failed as my child. Henceforth, you are forever outcast.
The young ant began to sob uncontrollably. It was done.
"Shark, She is no longer joined in our colony. Have mercy and release her."
"Do you really think me that stupid? Bug?
Shena held the sword closer to the ants neck. As soon as she stayed her blade his loyal daughter would kill her. This was a ploy. It had to be. Just saying a few words could not erase a lifetime of servitude, killing, and blind loyalty.
Will you release her or not? Are you so heartless to butcher a worthless outcast with no allegiance, and of no real threat? Perhaps I was mistaken earlier little shark..."
"You are truly a cold blooded predator after all."
Shena held the blade closer to the armored exoskeleton of the warrior's neck enraged. She would not listen to another word of what this liar said. But.., Why had she not already killed this warrior? Why was she acting so cowardly!!?
Shena's eyes shut. Not out of pity or mercy just frustrated caution. She would test the waters just to be sure. If this ant even flinched wrong she would end it within seconds.
She unwrapped her tail from the ant's legs. There was no retaliation.
Shena released her right arm. Nothing. The general stared intently as the Shark slowly weakened her hold on his deadly daughter. Sweat poured down the sides of Shena's neck. What was she thinking? Why was she dong something so stupid! Just kill her and then him next!! she thought enraged. But her arms and blade would not heed her call for justice.
Shena's sword hand shook anxiously.
"No Tricks kid, Or you and your father are dead before you can even open your mouth. Understand?!!! The girl nodded slowly. Accompanied by just more sobbing. Shena breathed and released her grip, stepping back and raising her sword with both hands for the inevitable retaliation.
There was nothing.
The young ant instead placed her hands against her eyes its in despair for what she had lost. Her face became smeared by the blood from her cut hands as she dug them deeper in her face in shame. Shena looked down irritated as she lowered her blade away from the pathetic crying child.
"Where will I go Father? What will I do?!" The outcast ant said terrified. For the first time in her life, she was without direction and guidance to rely upon. Having constantly depended on a powerful leader to guide her in matters she had no idea how to face alone. But now she was. The outcast now felt as if she had been dealt a fate crueler than death. Freedom.
"Have faith. Although you are banished you are still strong. For you are army ant. But do not fret. More of your brave cousins will avenge me and kill this aquatic long after I am gone. For victory will forever be ours. You may no longer be my daughter, but my strength still runs through your veins. And it will be with you always in exile.
The outcast ant slowly stepped atop its legs with what strength it had left. Not even looking behind as the shark Raised its sword cautiously. As the young ant slowly began to limp away she stopped beside her father kneeling on the ground immobile. Shena raised her sword even further.
The banished daughter abruptly knelt down. Clutching tightly around her former general with all four arms in a final embrace. Bringing its antenna in to collide against his to display the full extent of her loyal affection, but the old ant could no longer speak to her in their native young. With his own antenna now severed he could not understand a word she was saying. The old general weakly managed to raise one arm and wrap around his former child. The dishonor of embracing an outcast in his arms would die with him.
"Keyava na cresa teya para..." The girl cried, trying to make him understand. Gesturing her hand atop her heart to touch his.
"Mey jo've tau"
Shena stood on the sidelines waiting impatiently as the two savage's held each other for what would be the last time. She could just sneak up and take them both out at the same time., so what was keeping her? Seeing some sick twisted, malformed version of love between the two insect's? Pitiful blind stupid loyalty in believing whatever they both had been raised to believe all their lives? Or perhaps just suicidal unyielding devotion to their monstrous family no matter the cost to themselves. Their true nature was appalling. Their lie of tender hugging sickening. Shena wanted to stab them both in the back for being what they were. A race of devil's whose only purpose was carrying out atrocities against any who wasn't one of their species. Their evil malicious species that knew nothing of true love.
"I sorry I failed the colony father." The outcast whimpered in despair with tears in her eyes. "I should have fought harder. We...We almost made it."
The old ant unleashed a heavy bloodied smile. "You are not the only one at fault. If anyone is most deserving to meet this Shark's blade it is me. My concern for you and your siblings clouded judgment and my hubris and foolish acceptance of the duel was an unforgivable mark of error. I should have stayed strong and just killed him as soon as the shield dropped as the father and leader I should have been. My time may be coming to an end, but yours's is just beginning. The general released his weak grip from his former child.
"Stay strong and obey my final command until the end, or you will have dammed my very memory for all time."
The outcast wiped away the tears and started to limp past her father. But before her departure she stopped her step, ashamed of the part in failing him and mother. She turned her head around to look upon her general's eyes one last time. Ashamed of the part she played in failing him and mother.
"Father... I'm sorry I made you care for me. I was never deserving of your love or sacrifice.
"No you weren't." The general said coldly, not even turning his back to look her in the eye. Out of spite or inability to move Shena would never know.
"And you are not my daughter anymore, never forget that."
"leave us."
The outcast ant clutched its injured arms tightly in shame from daring to speak to refer to him as father. Another of her many failures. The young ant's wails of teary eyed sorrow as it limped aimless and vanished into the thick jungle, was enough to almost make Shena feel sorry for it.
Almost.
Now it was just her and him. Surrounded by the dead of the soldiers they both had swore and failed to lead. She glanced down. Just tired and wanting to rest. But she must see this through to the end. She had to. Shena raised her blood stained sword up toward the general's neck.
And what about you? Willing to renounce your vow too and surrender peacefully.
"No." The general scoffed. "If I still had my grenade belt we would have both already been dead by now."
"I thought as much. Shena glanced sideways behind the general's head. Her rifle was still in the dirt. She powered down the saber, the water vanishing back into the hilt container, before placing it beside her belt for the first time. She limped over and picked up her muddy rifle buried in the dirt before returning to face in front of the pathetic old warrior.
Last chance. I suggest you take it. said Shena. Wiping away the mud as she prepared it to fire.
You think that will be enough to frighten me meat? That you and that rifle make a difference? The fear of prison, death, or torture is nothing but gusts of wind in my ears. My daughter was naïve and young. But I am not so easily swayed. She was nothing. She is meaningless as am I. And I do not fear death." He grinned through his bloodied mouth. "But you do. And it will come for you and your nation sooner than you think.
For we were just the beginning."
Shena's arms stopped cleaning. She looked down angered at this pest.
Shut up.
We are the many. You are the few it is that simple." We insects outnumber you vertebrates by billions, with more being born every day to take up the cause. We will never tire, we will never rest. It does not matter how many of our kind fall so long as you suffer alongside us. For we can replace our numbers. You can't.
Shut up!
This province will soon fall just like all the others, and within months your precious monarchy capital will soon join in its destruction; while my queen's will rise again stronger than ever with the help of our allies. I may have failed my highness today but those that come after me will not. This I guarante...."
"SHUT UP!!!!!"
Shena struck him across the side of his mangled face with the stock end of her rifle. Breaking one of mandibles off from the sheer blunt force and anger of the strike. The general snarled. Coughing spits of blood as his vision became clouded. Fading in out of consciousness.
Both enemy leaders stood starring at one another for quite some time. Shena standing right above with him, holding her rile in hand not knowing what to do with the captured general kneeling completely at her mercy. Should she knock him out and turn him over for what he knows? Should she torture him to make him know some semblance of the pain he had caused them. Or should she just kill him like she had planned.
She stared back down at the pitiful mess who had wiped out her entire platoon, who was still waiting eagerly for her to give the death he now so craved.
Why'd you make her say it then?
Pardon me?
If she is truly nothing than why fool her like that."
The general paused, contemplating what to utter to his victorious enemy. But If this was truly his end, he might as well be honest. Its not as if his truthfulness would affect his chances of survival anyhow.
"It was the only way you would spare her."
"And what if she was lying? What if she start's marching right back to her colony and just says you were killed and she escaped. I could just follow her now and be done with it."
"She won't." He barely managed to stay as more yellow blood spurted out of his mangled mouth, now hanging by but a few remaining tendons.
How could you know what she's thinking.
Because the shame of casting aside something so dear as loyalty to our family will be a burden she will never manage to escape from.
She will never return. But she will live. Because I raised her to obey, not to think.
Why risk so much to save just one ant, you didn't exactly step up to stop your other loyal misguided kids from marching to their deaths. Why just save just her?
"She is my last daughter."
Why not just make more? Its what you do right? Brainwash more children like her to kill and slaughter for you and your beloved queen, is that it?
Yes.
Then why?
The general glanced downward. Actually allowing the question this prey dared to ask him to enter and form a response in his mind.
"Perhaps.."
"We never truly realize how much we value something we have so much of"
"until there is so little of it left."
Shena looked downward at the old man slowly dying. He would be dead in minutes. She should just walk away and let him die just fine on his own painfully. She clenched her fist.
'But what good what that do anyone anymore.'
The lieutenant slowly raised her rifle. Aiming it at the general as it started wheezing its last breaths. The old ant closed his eyes; ready to fully embrace the swift death that his pride and hubris had earned him. He wouldn't have to die by his own hand after all. That was all he ever wanted.
"You were right before bug. I have become soft.
Shena cocked the weapon handle back and put the muzzle against what was left of his head with a loud thud.
But it seems I wasn't the only one.
The old ant chuckled.
Farewell little shark....May you're soldiers rot alongside mine after I am....
Shena pull the trigger in an instant. He was done talking.
The sound echoed throughout the quiet valley as the final shot of the long battle. Shena limped away from the large corpse toward the center of what was left of the base camp. Laying her rifle and sword against a crate.
She then picked up a shovel buried in the destroyed clutter.
And started digging....