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Worship His Shadow

A single voice sings in the darkness of space, but is soon joined by many more as a small fleet of insect-like ships leave their gently spinning planet, each of their one-man crew with his voice raised in song. These are the warriors of the Brunnen-G. As the ships power away from the planet, their purpose becomes clear. An enormous spiders-web of a ship hangs in space, preparing it's weapons. These little fighters are all that stands between this ship and the destruction of their entire world. As they near the ship, it powers up and sends an energy bolt crashing into the planet, ripping the surface apart. The Brunnen-G fire desperately at the destroyer, while more and more energy bolts hit the planet, until finally their world is blown apart like a cheap balloon. Seeing their home in dust and their people gone, the remaining warriors throw themselves at the ship, attacking the control pod. One, the leader, steers his ship directly towards the pod, crashing through before the safety shield engages in the hope of destroying the being who has ravaged his home. He survives the crash, just, and lives long enough to identify the creature standing over him. "His Shadow" he spits "His Divine Shadow" the hooded figure replies And kills the last of the Brunnen-G dead. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jump forward two thousand years to a small shuttle roaming the reaches of space, trying to contact a rebel base amongst a collection of asteroids. The pilot is rehearsing what he will say to his commander as to why he is so late with his delivery. This is Stanley Tweedle, Assistant Deputy Back-Up Courier for the Ostral-B Heretics, and he has been visiting the Celes pleasure cruiser instead of getting on with his mission. As the shuttle approaches, the station erupts into a frenzy. The controller is screaming about a ship attacking the station, and Stanley is trying to explain that he's not attacking, he's just late, until he realises that the controller is not referring to him at all, but the gargantuan ship following him. In a split second, the ship destroys the station and Stanley is left floating in space. Low on air, Stan tries to contact any other rebels in the area for rescue. At last, his communication is intercepted by one Sub-Com Feppo, who says he is a rebel leader. Unfortunately for Stanley, he also happens to be a Sub-Nebulae mercenary... Jump forward again another 8? years. This is the cluster. A sprawling station built to the glory of His Divine Shadow who has ruled the light universe for the last two thousand years. His Divine Shadow protects the light universe from the Dark Zone - a parallel dimension of chaos and evil only separated from the light universe by the fractal core. We worship His Shadow! At least, that is what Stanley's third alarm call says every morning, as well as reminding him that he now has an extra 9 demerits to add to the growing collection of over 900 that he already has. Stanley has made a new life for himself as a Security Guard Class 4 on the cluster, but he's not very good at it. Apart from being late he also cannot recognise when it might be time to allow a high ranking official to land on the cluster even though she cannot remember her clearance code. For this, Stanley is told to report for discipline... ...whilst on another part of the cluster, a prisoner transport is landing containing, among others, Thodin the Arch-Heretic... ...a pie maker is sentenced to termination by the automated judiciary holograms for failing to pay alms to the temple, and has his organs removed for spare parts for the bio-mechanical drones before the rest of his body is added to the protein bank... ...a group of 50 of the brightest young children from the League of 20,000 planets are invited to the cluster to received awards of merit from His Divine Shadow's chief priests... ...a young, if unattractive, bride is sentenced to transformed into a love slave for humiliating her husband in the temple where she was to be married (well she punched him for rejecting her, and anyway, he was only 12)... ...and His Divine Shadow is deathly ill. His priests have another host ready for him, well, they haven't electrocuted him yet but they will just as soon as His Shadow is ready to relocate. The body the sick Shadow is wheeled in on a trolley while the new host fights the electrodes which fry his brain. There is not enough time for a second run however, and His Shadow must perform the "Kiss" which will move his essence from the old body to the new one. As soon as the transfer is complete, the old body has it's brain removed and placed in a special container. "We worship you, Divine Predecessor" chant the Priests The new Shadow takes position on a podium which is raised high into the air to commune with all the Divine Predecessors from His Shadow's reign. His Shadow tells them how he will leave the Cluster as the Lexx is almost grown. He will destroy all the planets outside the League of 20,000 in case they cannot be controlled. The Divine Predecessors do not like this, as they know about the Prophecy of the Brunnen-G. If His Shadow ever leaves the Cluster, then the Brunnen-G will destroy Him and His Order. But the Brunnen-G are dead, he tells them, and he doesn't believe in prophecies. And to make sure the Divine Predecessors are kept entirely informed of what is going on, he will take them with him on the Lexx. Stanley pretends to be someone else to find out what 'discipline' he will get. It's a triple organ donation in the usual combination - one eye, one kidney, one testicle. The penalty for not showing up for the organ donation, however, is 'termination'. Stanley leaves to think about it. Thodin the Arch-Heretic, due to the nature of his crime, is to be tried in the stadium for the crowd's entertainment. A pod, like a mechanical spider, is raised through the floor of the stadium. This is Thodin's transport. Amongst other things, Thodin is charged with Herecy, Murder and Self-Aggrandisement (a heinous crime). As the pod pops open, a small dragonfly-like bug-bomb emerges from Thodin's nose and flies away on a mission to find the cables containing the wires that control the straps holding Thodin in the pod. Unfortunately, it meets Stanley Tweedle who is walking away from the discipline centre and, in a temper, flicks it aside. The damaged bugbomb shakes it's "head" and continues on it's mission. Finally finding the cables, it first comes across the automated judiciary wires... ...Meanwhile in the stadium, Thodin is getting a little anxious as the holographic judge finds him guilty of all crimes and is about to pass sentence... ...The bugbomb crosses the wires... ...and Thodin gets an award of merit whilst 50 of the brightest young pupils from all the 20,000 planets get fed to the cluster lizards. Cluster Lizards are now roaming free throughout the stadium, as Stanley Tweedle tries to make it back to the disciplinary centre before it closes for the night. After all, a triple organ is better than termination. As he reaches the centre, it closes, and his face is immediately posted on every computer screen as a wanted fugitive. Thodin meanwhile has freed himself and makes his way back to the unloading prisoner transport to save his fellow Heretics. Well, he nearly doesn't save Giggerota the cannibal, and wishes he hasn't when she abandons him and the others as soon as she's free. The unattractive bride is heading for the love slave transformation chamber. Not being the smallest of girls, or having the most teeth of anyone you've ever seen, it's hardly surprising her pre-pubescent husband rejected her. She is now being laid out on a table, and a cluster drone is programming the computer to make her a little more desirable to the people she will eventually 'service'. As the transformation begins, a herd (collective noun for Cluster Lizards as yet unknown) of Cluster Lizards break into the chamber and attack her just as the lid is closing over her for the transformation. This cuts off a Cluster Lizard's head which gets stuck in the box with her. There is a lot of flashing light and screaming. And then the top lifts off, and Zev gets up. She is indeed beautiful. Then she sees the machine start up again: the beam that is intended to wipe her memory and programme her to love the first person she sees. She picks up the head of a drone torn apart by the Cluster Lizards, and puts it under the beam. When the machine lifts, the robot head had reflections of Zev in it's eyes... "I will love you forever" it says. Zev laughs and kicks the head across the room, then runs out into the corridor to make her escape. Stan is running. He doesn't know where to run to, but he's running anyway. He runs past Zev, who says "nice picture" as his photo is currently plastered over every computer screen on the cluster. Zev turns a corner and comes up against two guards who recognise her, and give chase. She turns around and runs back, passing Stanley, who follows her. Around the next corner, two cluster lizards are lying in wait. They prepare to attack, but Zev shrieks at them, and they turn tail and roll away. "How did you do that?" asks Stan. "I don't know" replies Zev, "maybe I have some cluster lizard in me". A small wheeled buggy comes hurtling around the corner with the robot's head on top, proclaiming undying love for Zev. She picks it up and they continue running from the guards. They come to a locked door, which one of the guards shoots open whilst trying to hit them. They run through, finding all exits locked except one elevator. "But this is a special projects area..." whines Stanley "Do we have a choice?" replies Zev. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "They are heading for the Special Projects Area" His Shadow's Officer reports. The Heretics are beating the elevator by climbing up the outside of the tower. His Shadow tells the officer to let them continue. He has other plans for the heretics. His Shadow heads down into the vaults of the cluster where drawer upon drawer are stacked as high as the eye can see. His Shadow chooses one carefully, and pulls it out. The man inside looks dead, but His Shadow passes his hand over him and a substance flows into the man through tubes attached to his body. It is the pilot of the fighter that crashed into His Shadow's ship over 2,000 years ago. He opens his eyes and asks "Who would you like me to kill?" "This elevator is for Special Projects operatives" spouts the computerised face in the elevator. "If you are not an authorised passenger, you will be added to the protein bank". Stan nervously reaches for one of the snacks the lift offers all it's special passengers, but the dispenser snaps shut. "This elevator does not recognise your facial scans. You will be added to the protein bank!". "No" cries Stan, as the elevator reaches it's destination and the door flies open. Two guns are pointed at them "You?" Thodin spits. "Thodin?" Stan looks confused "I mean, Thodin! You're alive! This is great!!" and Stan goes to hug Thodin, who is indeed on the other end of the guns. "Get away from me Traitor!" growls Thodin, "I should kill you right now!". Thodin explains that Stanley gave the amino acid codes that were being smuggled in his tooth to His Shadow, allowing His Shadow to grow the Lexx and control all the planets outside the league of 20,000. Stanley tries to explain that sub-nebulae mercenaries tortured him into giving up the codes, but Thodin and his band of heretics are on a mission and have to go. "I think we'd better go with them" says Stan... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "But what about the prophecy?" His Shadow's minion asks. "I don't believe in prophecies" His Shadow replies... Thodin and the heretics reach the door to the Lexx with Stan and Zev right behind them. As Thodin is about to open the door, however, a man appears on the walkway behind them. The Brunnen-G assassin has been sent by His Divine Shadow. Thodin passes the key to the Lexx to another of the heretics and sends them onto the Lexx, staying behind to distract the assassin. The key passes in a beam of light from his hand to the heretics hand, who takes it and runs. Then Thodin kisses Zev. "Beauty such as yours should live on" he says, and pushes her aboard the Lexx. Thodin turns to face the assassin, who has already killed two of his men with a weapon attached to his wrist which flies out and slices his victims. "You look Brunnen-G!" remarks Thodin "Could you be the fulfillment of the prophesy?" But the assassin just looks at him. "Brunnen-G?" he asks. Thodin knows he doesn't have much chance, so he takes out his right eye and smashes it on the ground. It contains a gas which turns him invisible, giving him an advantage over the assassin. The assassin shoots, but misses. As the weapon returns to his wrist, Thodin lunges forward, grabs it, and slices the assassin's arm off. The assassin looks down, but does not falter. Then Thodin aims for his head, and slices it clean in half. The assassin's body continues to attack even though the top half of his head is on the floor. It turns and, in a lucky shot, pierces Thodin's heart. Thodin, slowly turning visible again, proclaims "Today, I, Thodin..." and falls forward, dead. The assassin's body picks up it's arm and reattaches it. Inside the Lexx, the heretic with the key runs off, heading for the bridge. As they go to follow him, Stan and Zev find him being eaten by a cluster lizard, with only his hand poking out of it's mouth, waving. Stan raises his hand to wave back, and a beam of bright yellow light hits his palm. Stan has the key to the Lexx. Stan and Zev find a "moth", a small shuttle for getting around inside the ship. As they are about to take off however, Giggerota the cannibal appears and pulls Zev out of her seat. The moth takes off with Stan and Giggerota inside, and Zev and 790, the robot head, clinging to the outside. "That looks interesting" says Giggerota, and steers the moth towards the bridge. Landing, Stan looks over the edge of the platform that the bridge is built on, It is a very long way down. Zev jumps on Giggerota from the moth, and although Giggerota pushes her away, Zev snarls "Later". Looking around, Zev climbs up onto the stand in the middle of the room. A green hand-shaped light appears in mid-air in front of her. She puts her hand on it, but it disappears. "Stan", she commands, "Up!". Stan climbs onto the stand and puts his hand on the green light. "What planet would you like me to destroy, Divine Shadow?" "This one!" cries Zev, "yeah!" yells Stan, "destroy this one!" "I cannot do that", replies the Lexx, "This planet is one of the league of 20,000". "Then take us out of here!" shouts Zev. "Yeah, take us out past the perimeter" Stan tells the Lexx. And the ship begins to move. The holographic image of the Lexx in His Divine Shadow's chamber starts moving through the air. His Shadow realises that if he wants a job doing, he'd better do it himself. But first, he retires to a room with only a bed in it, and lays down. Clamps hold his head and limbs tightly in place, and a laser begins cutting the top of his head. He whispers "This sacrifice I make for you, Divine Predecessors" The Lexx reaches a perimeter control point, a small asteroid orbiting a barren planet. "What is your exit code, unidentified vessel?" enquires the guard. "If you don't provide an exit code, I will arm the outer rim mines, and your ship will be destroyed". "Lexx" says Stan, "blow up that station." "As you wish, Divine Shadow", and with that, the Lexx's "eyes" glow red and a beam of energy flies out and destroys the station, then goes on to cut the planet behind it clean in half. Stan, Zev and Giggerota whoop with delight, and the Lexx heads into deep space. The monitor picks up a ship. It is the Megashadow, The Divine Shadow's flagship. "Lexx, blow up that ship!" commands Stan. "I cannot do that" replies the Lexx,"that ship is under the direct control of His Divine Shadow... ...and you are not permitted to destroy it" a voice rings out. It is the Brunnen-G assassin. He has made it onto the Lexx, and now he is going to kill them all. Giggerota lunges at Stan "You waste of skin!" she snarls. "Giggerota, also known as the wicked?" The assassin's brace is tightly around her neck, holding her in place. "What of it?" she replies. With a flick of his wrist, the assassin throws her over the edge of the bridge, and she tumbles into the void below. Then he turns to Stan and Zev. "You are minor heretics?" "Oh, very very minor!" pleads Stan. "Please don't kill us!" As he takes aim, the assassin hears something which distracts him. He turns and leaps into the moth, leaving Stan and Zev on the bridge. The assassin arrives in a chamber. In each wall there are compartments, and in each compartment there is a brain. This is where the Divine Predecessors have been put for their journey aboard the Lexx, and now they are being eaten by hungry cluster lizards. The assassin kills the cluster lizards with a quick flick of his weapon. The Divine Predecessors speak. "Who are you?" they ask as one voice. "I was sent by His Divine Shadow to protect you and to kill the heretics" replies the assassin. He turns to where one of the Predecessors' brain has been partially eaten, and picks it up to replace it. As he touches it, a song drifts out of it. The song that first echoed through space on the day the Brunnen-G tried to destroy His Shadow's ship. "I know that sound!" the assassin drops the piece of brain. "But you do not recognise it!" whisper the Divine Predecessors. "Yes, I do" replies the assassin. "I am Kai, last of the Brunnen-G. And you killed me!" And with that, Kai crushes the brain. Bright lights shoot up his arms flooding his brain with the memories that were stolen from him so many years ago. Kai throws the brain away in disgust, and climbs back aboard the moth. On the bridge, Stan is trying to think of a way to escape the Megashadow. "Of course!" he cries, "My other tooth! They didn't know about my other tooth!" Stan's other tooth contains a map of how to get away from the Divine Shadow, somewhere he cannot follow. Zev punches him and knocks the tooth out, then uses 790's head to crush it. She finds the capsule, and 790 reads it to the Lexx, who changes course accordingly. But their elation is cut short when a moth lands on the bridge, and the assassin climbs out. "I have killed mothers with their babies, I have killed great philosophers, proud young warriors, the good, the evil, the intelligent, the weak and the beautiful. And I have never, once, shown any mercy..." He walks closer to Stan and Zev. "His Divine Shadow!" The assassin leaps back onto the platform where the moth landed as indeed, His Divine Shadow is standing there. "I felt a loss of power from my Divine Predecessors" he says. "Yes, there were some casualties" replies the assassin. "And why are these heretics still alive?" asks His Divine Shadow. "The prophecy, perhaps" replies Kai. "You do not know that word!" screams His Shadow, "Kill them!". "I will not do that" replies Kai. "Then kill yourself!" His Shadow Commands. "I am already dead" Kai points out. "I think... I think you should have listened to your Predecessors, Divine Shadow" says Kai "Or perhaps, not so Divine Shadow", and Kai leaps over the edge of the bridge into the void below. His arms outstretched and his cape forming bat-like wings, His Shadow swoops after Kai who, inches from the ground, catches onto a bar with his weapon, and runs into the chamber of the Divine Predecessors. His Shadow follows Kai, blasting him with energy bolts that knock him down. Kai cannot get a shot at His Shadow, he is too powerful. Zev and Stan appear at the chamber door, and start crushing the brains of the Divine Predecessors. This distracts His Shadow enough to give Kai a chance at attacking him... The Lexx is heading for a large, spinning portal in space -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kai hits His Shadow with his wrist-brace, slicing the top of his head right off. Inside there is no brain, just a swirling cloud of light which flies out of His Shadow's head and attacks Kai yet again The Lexx is being drawn into the portal... Aboard the Megashadow, His Shadow's minions decide they will be better off following the Lexx into the Fractal Core than disobeying His Shadow's orders... The Lexx begins passing through the fractal core, causing everyone aboard to be stretched and twisted with the intense gravitational pull. His Shadow's essence is somehow thrown off Kai, and sucked back onto the other side of the fractal core. Eventually, they pass completely through and arrive safely on the other side. "No need" says Kai, as Stan and Zev continue crushing the Divine Predecessors, "He's gone". Kai looks at Zev. Zev looks at Kai. "Thankyou" says Kai. "You're welcome" she replies. Back on the bridge, the view screen is showing that the Megashadow made it through the fractal core as well. Lexx seems to have had much of his memory erased, and has no recollection of His Divine Shadow. The first the Megashadow crew know of this is when Lexx blows them up. 790 does not know this sector of space. Kai realises that this must be the Dark Zone. He explains that his ancestors were from the Dark Zone, and it is not all as bad as His Shadow made out. "What are we going to do now?" asks Stan. "I suggest you find yourselves a home" replies Kai. "I am dead, I have no future". Down deep in the Lexx, Kai climbs into a cryochamber. His protoblood will sustain him for a while, but not for long. "Be certain of your need before you choose to reanimate me" Kai warns. "In the light universe, I have been darkness. Perhaps in the dark zone, I will be light". On the other side of the fractal core, a stream of energy is heading straight for the cluster. It hits a brain, high on a pedestal: His Shadow's brain that he removed himself before leaving the cluster. And once safely installed there, he vows to the Divine Predecessors, who are even now in the dark zone aboard the Lexx... "I will avenge you all" What a way to begin a series! It had it all...action, adventure, good and evil, love (ish), organ donation, and a big sod-off spaceship. The characters are all nicely set up for the rest of the series and there is still lots more to learn about them. It certainly captured my imagination, which is not easy as I have so little of it and like to keep it for special occasions. Well done Beans! Carry on...