Tribe of Rakaar part 2: Survival
Posted By: fwooperboy<Fwooperboy@hotmail.com>
Date: 27 November 2006, 3:05 am
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THE TRIBE OF RAKAAR PART TWO:
SURVIVAL
There was an echo as 'Rargadee's scream pierced the still green sky of the Elite homeworld. In a second he had seen his son disappear in the infernal pool of water.
The Foreman restrained the huge alien as he struggled to save the child, but when 'Rargadee began to break free, the Prophet calmly stated an order and the Tribal guards swarmed upon the struggling breeder.
Rakaar was disrupted by the commotion of the struggle atop the pyramid and the other breeders wondered what the noise was about.
Within the pool of sacred water, the infant 'Rargadee dropped like a stone, shimmering blue ripples distorting the infants vision. It wondered why it felt strange, why it was losing sight and dropping into a pit of nothing.
But from within the weakened Elite came a burst of fiery determination, a will to live and it kicked out, struggling against the liquid and propelling tiself back towards the swirling halo of light. The Prophet stared with expectancy as the little head emerged and the baby appeared...alive.
"Aah! The infant has survived the initiation," he said, spreading his arms wide. 'Rargadee heard the voice and struggled out of the mass of tangled Elite arms. Overjoyed he looked the child in the eye and sighed in relief as a very annoyed Foreman sheepishly plucked the warrior child from the azure pond.
"Take heed, your grace, the infant will be collected tomorrow as the twin suns rise, but until then, keep the child," said the Foreman straightening his head dress and handing 'Rargadee the child.
"Very well. Thank you, oh holy one. I will see your messenger in the morning," said Rargadee. With a pang of sorrow at the thought of losing his baby again, 'Rargadee turned and descended the mighty Pyramid.
*
It was quite a night within the shining white hutt of 'Rargadee. Never had he felt more confused. Never had he felt such an attachment to his child, perhaps it was seeing the creature plummet into the cobalt water that did it. 'Rargadee didn't know.
He was distressed that his partner had perished and not survived. He knew, however, the perils of breeding, of birth. A risky task to say the least and 'Rargadee was glad he was not a breeding female.
As he listened to the sounds of the night and felt the evening breeze tickle his back, 'Rargadee cradled the tiny Elite in his arms as it slept. He knew that tomorrow would come and that he would never see his child again. He was mournfully silent as he watched the creeping twin suns climb into the pitch black sky, turning the inky black to scarlet.
It wasn't long after that he heard the whine of an approaching ghost hovercraft, hear two formal sounding Elites warble to one another and he new that his sons survival would soon be at stake.
The two Covenant representatives stepped inside the hutt. 'Rargadee was waiting for their arrival. His son was swathed in a light linen garment and held tightly in his farthers arms. The Covenant Elite's were a mean looking pair, fully equipped and kitted up. Both wore the scarlet armour of a veteran and both carried the sophisticated weapons of an Elite of that rank, the intricate needler.
The spiky weapons intimidated 'Rargadee, but he knew they were in case the breeder didn't comply, and 'Rargadee would comply...he told himself.
A representative spoke in the educated manner of the Covenant trained within the city of High Charity.
"Breeder 'Rargadee. Your son is requested for training in the name of the Covenant and the holy Prophets of Truth and Mercy. You will comply or force will be a necessary part of the routine." 'Rargadee would swear later that the lesser veteran raised his needler slightly and grinned in case the breeder refused.
However, 'Rargadee did not refuse. With a swift movement he handed the Elite the child and ceased to be the bearer of the name 'Rargadee. Now his son was 'Rargadee and he was nothing.
"Your breeding days are finished. You will now serve the temple and the Prophets. Your son will fight for the temple and the Prophets. Farewell," said the Elite and the pari stepped out of the hutt.
The Elite who once was 'Rargadee hung his head. He was now but a mere servant of the Heirarchs. But he had been expecting this and he would not defy Truth, not if he valued his life anyway.
The Elite secured the baby in an odd compartment on his ghost as his partners hovercraft started and both rocketed away through the wide path amidst the tangled trees of the Elite forests.
Survival for the new 'Rargadee would soon be a difficulty to accomplish.
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