Arachna clicked as she finished the summary of the destruction of Old Earth. How sad it must be to lose one's homeworld. It was no wonder that every Yumen she'd met had seemed—lost. Somehow. Afraid.

They were creatures with no firm foundation in history, having had their history stripped away from them in a quantum cloud, created by their own scientists. They were empty shells, lost in the dark void of space, afraid of their own shadows.

It was interesting that Yumens developed rifting abilities by studying Krath psionics. Did that mean she would be even more adept at using her rift powers than Yumens? She wasn't sure but it did seem promising to say the least.

What was more interesting, however, was learning how powerful the Krath had once been. Had they really ruled the stars nearly subjugating the entire Yumen race?

Now, the Krath were nearly extinct themselves. That was perhaps why Beaky conveyed such a sense of urgency.

Click, click.

She turned to Beaky who had finished consuming the Xitherium pies by now. The dactyl had a look of satisfaction on his face as he rolled over onto his back, his twin stomachs enlarged and glowing a slight tinge of purple.

"I am glad you enjoyed the pies," Arachna clicked.

"What did you learn?" Beaky clicked. "On that Yumen thing." He clicked the end of the sentence with a tone of contempt as if Yumen contraptions were beneath him.

"The Yumens' homeworld," Arachna clicked. "Destroyed."

Beaky rolled over, raising his head. "Yumens sad?"

"Yes," Arachna clicked. "Very sad."

Beaky said nothing. In all likelihood, he was thinking the same things that she was. Yumens were a lost race.

"You should rest now," Arachna clicked.

"Still missing one thing," Beaky clicked back.

"What is it?" Arachna asked, tilting her head to one side as she twitched her spinnerette.

"Hive Mother," Beaky clicked, nodding at her. "Need Mother."

Arachna's eyes drooped. At least he had known Mother. She had even met her. At least in person. "I know," she said. "I wish we were with her."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Not her," Beaky said, shaking his head and flapping his wings.

Arachna chitted her beak but said nothing.

"You," Beaky clicked. "Need you to become a new Hive Mother. It is the only way."

Could she become a Hive Mother? Here? Now? It was all too much for her. They were fugitives on board an interstellar Yumen starship. That didn't make for a great environment to brood.

"Turn invisible," Beaky said. "Maybe that will keep you protected? Use shield?"

Arachna pondered that thought. Could she really do that? If she was able to master her powers, then maybe she could create a layer of protection around herself. But no. A Krath metamorphosis required several days of being in an unconscious state. Arachna would molt and plant herself in the ground, wrapping herself in a sort of sticky cocoon. When she emerged, several days later she would be transformed into a stationary Hive.

The advantages would be increased size, strength, and the ability to breed new Krath. But she'd be a sitting target for all the Yumens on board the ship. That was bad in and of itself but to be a sitting target while unconscious was far worse.

"Will not work," Arachna clicked. "Yumens will kill me. Cannot use stealth cloak while I am transforming. Need to focus my mind."

Beaky clicked and pounded his head against the ground. "I will protect you."

"Against all Yumen soldiers?" Arachna clicked. "Not strong enough. Nowhere to hide. No way to defend. Cannot become Hive Mother now." She was certain that there was no way to do it. They'd have to find some other way to take over the ship. Either that or arrive on Mars and find a way to stay hidden. Neither option was very promising.

At the same time, she wondered if she could avoid becoming a Hive Mother. Her body called her to transform, to grow into a magnificent creature that could spawn a new civilization. She just needed her body to learn to wait.

"There is always a way," Beaky clicked. "Krath always find a way quickly. Krath do not waste time."

"No way," Arachna said. "All ways lead to death."

"The Cause will provide a way," Beaky clicked.

They were going to die. That was the only solution to this interminable problem. The two remaining Krath in a distant corner of a galaxy were going to die. If her body forced her to become a Hive Mother, then she'd be torn apart by Yumens. If she managed to postpone it, then eventually she'd still be in the same situation. Horde, maybe Beaky was right. Maybe she should just go for it? There weren't really any better options. Why not take her chances?

"The Yumen homeworld," Beaky clicked. "What did you say happened to it?"

Arachna looked him in the eyes. "Destroyed," she clicked. "By their own rifter. An accident, I think."

"Destroyed?" Beaky clicked. "Yumens not fear death?"

"No," Arachna clicked. "They fear death very much. Too much."

"That is the answer then," Beaky clicked, his eyes turning cold and ruthless.

"Destroy the starship?" Arachna clicked, flitting her hind legs. "Then we will die for sure."

"Fear," Beaky clicked. "Of death is more powerful than death itself."

Arachna paused at the words, her mind processing its implications like a bolt of electricity. A plan unfolded in her mind like an underling hatching from an egg.

There was wisdom in Beaky's words. Wisdom that she intended to heed.

[http://www.atticusandrews.com/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-45.jpg]

Rift consuming Old Earth

[http://www.atticusandrews.com/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-45-B.jpg]

Xitherium Pie