Chapter 41

Akirexer offered Quix a seat beside her and he reluctantly took it. Akirexer started to whistle a tune to herself while Quix got comfortable. Her whistling puzzled him.

Quix was amazed with how calm and collected Akirexer was. Normally women would either throw themselves at him or tremble in his presence. Akirexer, however, wasn't moved by his rank. Or at least she seemed not to be.

"You and Queen Sharaina seem to be close." Quix politely began.

"Closer than you ever imagine." Akirexer gave him a faint smile.

Quix peeled his eyes off her and faced front in thought. "I think I have an idea considering that you aren't in uniform and are wearing her highness' coat." Quix replied, ever so calm but a tad bit suspicious.

I don't trust this guy. I must be careful not to reveal that I am Sharaina's none pure.

"What are you on about?" Akirexer asked him, carefully studying his face.

"Well, obviously it is a sign of disrespect for a warrior in the military to be in the queen's presence while not in uniform." Quix shifted his pink gaze back to Akirexer. Running his eyes up and down Akirexer's clothes, he continued, "And also no one, and I do mean, no one can wear the queen's clothes unless she authorizes it. But yet, here you are."

"You are too nosey vice commander." Akirexer retaliated.

Quix chuckled back softly in response. "Oh no, I'm just observant. Listen, er I didn't catch your name."

"Akirexer."

"Oh, okay, Akirexer, what squad do you belong to?"

"None," Akirexer quickly answered. "Her highness didn't feel the need to put me in any."

Quix's eyebrows jerked up in surprise. "I see... no wonder I don't know you."

Akirexer narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "You know everyone?"

Quix laughed softly again. "No I don't. Let's just say that I'm not the type to forget a face. I have been around the world and never have I come across you in the squad camps."

"Oh I understand. Well like I said earlier, I am not in any squad." Akirexer stressed.

Quix got up. "It was nice talking to you Akirexer. I hope I will get to see more of you in the future."

"Pleasure was all mine vice commander." Akirexer got up too. "Perhaps you will see more of me. I can't make any promises though."

"I didn't intend for you to do so." Quix smiled warmly at her.

Akirexer saw Sharaina and Diavinx step outside. She gestured towards them with her head and Quix took the hint.

"Of course, you must return to her highness therefore I need not keep you much longer." Quix remarked.

"Thank you." Akirexer gave him a warm smile. "I'll see you around. You know - maybe." She waved and turned her back.

Quix caught Diavinx staring at him with a smug look and he slowly shook his head at Diavinx with a smirk. He knew exactly what the commander was teasing him about.

That dirty bastard. Quix thought before turning his back too.

"My queen, it is time that I left." Akirexer said to Sharaina.

"To do your important thing?" Sharaina asked her with her arms crossed.

"Yes, the time is nearly here."

"Be careful Akirexer." Sharaina warned Akirexer.

Akirexer gave her a thumbs up and disappeared into a portal.

****

Dr Spencer stood at the edge of a bridge in his laboratory. Below the bridge was a 2000 litre water tank. It was filled with light green liquid to the brim. Deep down in the tank was Danny hooked up wires. He was naked and unconscious. An oxygen mask was wrapped around his face.

Dr Spencer rubbed his hands and snickered. "I can't wait to marvel at my creation."

He suddenly saw the Great One walk into the lab. Her sharp eyes searched for him. When they fell on the ice cube Sheila was trapped in, they sparkled in amazement. Dr Spencer rushed down to go and meet her. By the time he caught up with her, she already had her hand on the ice cube.

"The creature that did this is fascinating." She whispered loud enough for Dr Spencer to hear her.

"It is so fascinating that I have failed to break the ice. It isn't melting either." Dr Spencer pointed out.

The Great One placed the Infinite Medallion on the ice cube and closed her eyes.

"I call upon the power of the infinite medallion of the darkas gods. I wish that the ice cube be destroyed."

The medallion glowed bright red and soon the whole cube was glowing red. Cracks ran through it until it burst into water. Sheila landed on the ground with a thud. She violently shivered as she sat up. Her hair completely covered her face.

The Great One approached her and with her long black nails she held her chin - gazing into her eyes.

"Your time of torment is over my dear." She then turned to two lab assistants. "Take her to her room." she averted her eyes back at Sheila. "She could use some rest." she ended with a smile.

The Great One watched Sheila get escorted out of the lab in silence. Dr Spencer cleared his throat and she turned to him.

"My Great One, to what do I owe the pleasure of having you here in my lab."

"I want to know how far you have gone with project N."

"I have made significant process. Please come with me to my office." Dr. Spencer requested with a bow.

****

Sheila was escorted to her room but when she finally got to her door, she banged the door in the face of the lab assistants. She limped her way into her room and sat on her bed deep in thought. She was grateful that her Great One was able to free her because she feared that she was going to be trapped in the ice cube forever.

Suddenly Sheila remembered her battle with Maradina. She trembled when she remembered how her eye was struck. Sheila got up with a jolt and limped to her mirror. Her wet hair covered her entire face.

Sheila lifted her hands and saw that they were shaking in fear. She looked back at the mirror and slowly cleared her hair off her face. When she finally saw that she only had one eye, she let out a sharp scream that shattered the mirror to pieces.

"Wow what happened to you?" A voice suddenly sounded.

Sheila turned and saw Monique sitting on the couch. She eye balled her and gritted her teeth. "Why the fuck are you here?" She asked her through her teeth.

"I am waiting to be reassigned. The Packets are pretty much dead and Danny has been assigned to a new mission." Monique explained.

"So the first place you thought of was coming here? The last thing I need right now is for you and Madeline to bother me." Sheila hissed.

Monique got up and this point. "Madeline is dead. Some darkas god killed her."

"What?" Sheila lowered her voice. Her concern for Madeline's death consumed her.

"I am telling you the truth." Monique softened her voice.

"Fucking darkas gods. They are a fucking plague I swear. I hate them all especially that bitch who took my eye. I'm going to make sure I kill her!"

****

In a ranch in Texas lived the Serial Takers. Because their hideout was exposed, Waxx felt that the best thing to do was to move out and start somewhere else afresh. He also felt that Bruce needed a change of environment. The old place reminded Bruce so much of Daisy that it got him depressed.

Sana and Sanuika felt at home quicker than Waxx expected. The girls loved the new place so much because the wide fields reminded them of Dark Star. They spent most of their free time riding horses.

Maradina seemed to have adjusted to the new place as well. As usual she didn't tell anyone about how she felt about the place but it was clear that she was content. After binge feeding, Maradina's gamarax levels got better and she felt strong enough to train. Waxx was watching her spar with Josh when Derrick approached him and handed him a glass of scotch.

"The whole gang seems to have settled quite well." Derrick remarked.

"Yes they have." Waxx took a sip of his glass and cringed at the hot and sour taste. "How is Bruce doing?" He asked nearly coughing.

"He is hanging in there. I asked him to come down and have a drink with us but he turned me down saying he wanted to take a nap." Derrick drunk his glass in one gulp.

"Alex Weber will be coming this evening. I spoke to him yesterday and he is all set to work." Waxx played with his glass.

"Have you told Bruce about it?" Derrick lit a cigarette.

"Yeah I did this morning. He took it well. He has always been the type to put the needs of others before his I guess." Waxx took another sip.

Derrick sighed. "I never thought I'd see the day that we would work with a werewolf." Derrick puffed out smoke.

Waxx finished his glass. "Well neither did I but after what happened to Daisy, it is best we don't recruit another human. Henceforth you will be the only human in the gang."