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Fates of the Unicorns - Chapter 28 - Extermination

_ SPOILER WARNING : If you are new to the story, this chapter contains plot and character development spoilers for the over all story. This is an onging story, and this chapter assumes you know the story and characters._

Rahmor moved fast, impatient. He had so much to do and it all needed done immediately. He was always busy, but this was different. An emergency at home, not something out on the front lines. That was expected, normal. This was not normal or something he could allow to continue while he rested. He had delegated as much as he could, but so many things needed to be done personally. One of the first things was to secure his own lair. He had done that the previous day, making sure all guards were in groups of at least three. All told of the situation, all informed nobody was to go in or out, nobody was to be left alone. He had brought in dragon guards as well, dosing everyone with stocks of the insect toxins. Slaves and servants that were not critical were given full doses. They would pay for it later when the side effects kicked in but it would kill any insects hiding in their bodies within an hour. He suspected his unicorn slaves would recover from the drugs faster. For his guards and aides that he couldn't afford to have lying around sick for an entire day he had used the new unicorn-based toxins, what little he could get out of the single plant bulb that he was running experiments on. The second task he had done yesterday was to take cuttings and distribute them to the main pod farms. Trained dragons took over from there, bringing in drugged and unconscious unicorns to fill them, to be used to produce large amounts of the new and improved drug. He had tested it on himself, which turned out to be an immense stroke of luck for it had killed off three of the parasites. He wished they had more of those plants, but they simply did not understand them well enough. There were leftovers from another time, and for some reason they just refused to reproduce. Occasionally they could get a viable sprout and start a new plant, but not often. Their numbers were growing but so slowly it would take generations before they saw any noticeable increase. It would have to be enough. The new toxins were amazingly potent. They should have tried this much earlier with some of the rare unicorns they had captured over the years, but they were too valuable to be used as experiments until the recent raid. Part of the reasons for the raid was just that, although he had to admit, taking large numbers for slaves was by far the bigger reason. He allowed himself to grin as he thought of his collection, then it faded as he remembered Chakal's near escape from death. Time to work. By the end of the day the pods should be producing their first doses of the toxins. Then they could seriously get to work in protecting large portions of the capital.

His dragon feet carried him to the cave and ledge that housed his drake, one of the large flying beasts that were used to make quick strikes against the insects at the front line, and when a tunnel was discovered or broke out further in. He passed the five guards he had posted, both to guard his drake and the unicorn slave that was looked after it.

Chakal heard the heavy footsteps and quickly slid from the leg of the drake where she had been resting and dropped to her knees. "Master..." she said softly in greeting.

Rahmor let out a growl-like rumble in return, tilting his head as he looked over his property, "You are well, my slave? No pain or other symptoms from your ordeal?"

Chakal shivered a bit. She could not remember anything that had happened to her while that horrible insect was inside her and controlling her mind. But strangely she still knew what happened, able to recall details as if she were simply remembering a story, not able to connect it to herself. One of the many dragon specialists that had seen her said her mind was protecting her from the memories. She figured it must be so, because she knew she should be MUCH more upset about it, even if she couldn't remember it all, but any time she thought about it she just felt.. distant, like whatever happened was a long, long time ago and meant nothing any more. She shook her head to clear it, "I am well, Master.... I no longer hurt. Only the dreams are still.. uncomfortable."

Rahmor moved to stroke the neck of his drake, getting a loud snort and a nuzzle in return from a head as big as his own body. "I was told you had something to tell me, slave?"

Chakal nodded, "I was trying to remember more like you had asked me too. I was trying to remember what I had been planning, how I was going to help the insects. I was thinking about what resources I had, and somehow I knew about the other insects here. I could sense them somehow, Master."

Dropping his hand from the drake Rahmor turned with obvious excitement, "Sense them? How? Memories of them being implanted? Or...."

"It wasn't a memory, Master. I could tell I was not alone, that there were more. Not clearly.. but enough to know they were close and eager to help." she said.

Rahmor dropped to one knee, looking intently at his unicorn slave that was turning out to be more help than he had hoped for when he had first realised she would survive. "How many? Where? Can you sense them now?" he demanded.

Chakal stammered a bit, "No... I can't feel them now. I tried after I sent word to you, but there is nothing there. I think... maybe a dozen of them. In the capital. And... what felt like millions more but they were far away, too far away... only the sheer number of them let me know there was anything at all."

Rahmor swore... she couldn't still sense them. That would have been too much to ask. He thought hard.. the millions must be the hive on the other side of the pass. The rest were still in the city, or too far away to be picked up. The fact she could not sense any outside the city could be good or bad news. "Anything else, pet?" he said, reaching out to stroke her muzzle. He was pleased, very pleased at her survival, her continued obedience and how useful she was turning out to be. He would reward her well for this. But that would come later. He had to discuss this with others. There had to be a way to use this information. "Keep trying to remember anything else useful, pet... I am VERY pleased with you." he said.

Chakal flushed and nodded. Ever since she had been attacked her Master had actually been, well, kind to her. She didn't expect it to last, but was relieved to see that he was at least capable of that emotion, more than just a cold, calculating and evil enslaver of unicorns. Ever since being assigned to take care of his drake she had been if not happy, then at least content with her place here. It was far better than being his slut or worse. She didn't know why he treated her differently than the others, but was glad he did. She watched him leave and thought if she wasn't careful she might start to LIKE him, or at least like his treatment of her. She doubted she could ever truly like anyone who kept slaves and abused them for fun. No... she could never like someone like that. Still.. she hoped he would be back soon. She climbed back up onto the drakes hindlegs, leaning against his side and patted the large beast.

...

She had known it was only a matter of time before they were discovered, but had hoped to have more time to spread. The infected slave fox sat calmly but thought hard. She had three more insects growing in her womb. She had hoped to infect a large number of slaves up for auction so they would be spread widely and be able to infect more dragons. But several insect controllers had gone silent the last time she had listened for them. No telling how long it had been since they were discovered, she had best move quickly. She was a large fox, one that had been overfed to plump her up. Some dragons liked that apparently. It was why the host had picked her for infection, her larger girth would hide the newly growing parasites until it was time for them to spread. It would be soon, but she could not longer stay here. She had to escape, and take three slaves with her to infect when it was time. They would spread in the furry towns, further away than the dragons they needed to defeat, but may still prove quite useful in giving the dragons a second front to worry about.

Valtan jumped as someone touched his shoulder. He looked up to see a familiar chubby vixen face. "Oh.. hi Metha."

Metha whispered, "We have to get out of here, now! Where are our dingo friends?"

Valtan said, "Are you crazy? Talking like that is going to get us killed!" He looked around, making sure no guards were close enough to hear.

Metha shook the male fox by his shoulders, "No, you don't understand. I heard the guards talking.. the four of us have been sold. They are going to feed us to those big flying monsters of theirs. Tomorrow!"

Valtan paled, noticeable though the thin fur of his long muzzle. "What? Oh shit!" He remembered being flown on one of those creatures.. they could eat him whole.. and he knew that had been the fate of at least one slave that had attacked a guard. "But... we can't go anywhere..." he said and held up his hands, showing the cuffs and chain.

Metha looked around, then opened her palm just enough for Valtan to see a key, "I can get them off, and the dingos too but we have to move now!"

"How did you GET that?" asked the fox, amazed and impressed.

Metha didn't tell him that the dragoness who had infected her had slipped her a key, just in case she needed it. She simply said, "No time... get them here now."

Valtan was too scared of what it would like to be eaten to argue or wonder how she would overpower a dragon. "Ok.. I'll get them..." he said.

Metha watched him head into the crowd of furries then shortly return with the pair of dingos, a male and female pair who had been friends with the fox and which would make perfect hosts. She was glad there were no unicorns here. When the one had been infected there was something troubling about it, but it was gone now and no matter. She had to escape, and had to do it tonight.

Hakal yipped in a high pitched voice, "They are going to let these things just eat us?" He looked around in a panic.

Metha used the key to unlock all their shackles and ankle cuffs. She couldn't do anything about the collars, those didn't use a key but had to be cut off. But she could worry about that later. Once in the furry lands she was sure someone would have the equipment to free them. "Ok... just sit here.. and when you see me put the guard to sleep, slip out of your chains and get over there. I have a drug a former slave here had been saving, but gave to me when he was sold."

The two dingos nodded and huddled with the fox, watching the vixen plod her way to the gate.

The dragon guard looked at the fat fox and snorted, "Get back with the rest of them, slave?"

Metha bit her lip and walked right up to the gate, leaning against it. "Sir... the guard here earlier caught me playing with myself and said I had to offer a feel to all the new guards for two days." She pushed her hips against the gate, spreading her thighs.

The dragon rolled his eyes. Must be that new guy, he was always playing with the slaves. But he had to show a united face to them, otherwise they might get ideas that would need to be beaten out of them. He slid a hand between her legs and groped her sex, "Now.. I hope you have... ow!" He jerked his hand back, and then stared as it fell numbly at his side. He opened his mouth to scream an alert but slumped forward into the arms of the slave. He couldn't move!

Metha eased the guard until it looked like he was sitting down resting, sliding the key to the gate from his belt. She opened it, and turned to see the other three furries moving quietly to join her. "Hurry... lets go, I know a way that should be deserted." She stepped out, followed by two of them and swore, "Come on Valtan"

Valtan said, "Uhh... I'm not sure I really want to go..." with a scared and worried expression on his face.

Metha said, "Come with us or get digested tomorrow, I'm leaving!"

Barbah the female jackal said, "Valtan! Come ON!"

Valtan reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged out and the four of them slipped into the evening darkness. They moved silently, making their way along dark streets and alleyways. A few times they encountered other slaves, but as long as they looked like they belonged none of them gave them any notice.

Metha said, "Ok.. I'm going to check ahead, you all way for my signal."

Valtan watched her sneak ahead and grabbed his mate Barbah, "Fuck! There's something wrong with her!"

The female dingo said, "Later... we have to get far away..."

"No!" he said. "I was watching her... something.. I saw SOMETHING in her.. between her legs.. it jabbed the guard and he fell. There is something INSIDE her. Didn't any of you see it?"

Hakal said, "Are you sure? It was dark. I mean... I thought I saw something too but it could have been her tail?"

Valtan turned on the dingo, "That was no tail, and you know it. How the hell does she have a key? And poison? And overhears the guards talking about the four of us? I don't like this. What the hell does she have inside her?"

Hakal looked at Metha's dim shape as she crept along. She was not acting like herself, no. Planning an escape? She had spent most of the time as a captive crying. The dingo was right.. there was something wrong.

Barbah said, "Did you see the dragons running around earlier? A lot of them looked very upset. Some of them I swear were scared."

Valtan bit his lip, "We have to tell someone."

Barbah said, "A dragon? Thats insane, they will kill us!"

Valtan hissed quietly, checking to make sure the vixen was still in place. She was, and he saw a pair of dragons in a door talking and realised why. They had to wait for the dragons to go. Or.... tell them. He spoke softly, "You know where we are.... on the edge of a war zone. What if... what if it's one of those things?"

Hakal put a hand over his muzzle, "Can they DO that?"

Valtan said, "Yes... didn't you pay attention in history? They can take over furries.. make them do their bidding. You know anything else with tentacles?"

Hakal looked at the vixen and shook, "No... no way.. how could it get in her like that?"

Valtan said, "I don't know but think... do you want to take her back with us? To our homes? Look... what are our chances anyway, really? I thought I was dead when the dragons took us. No.. we can't take the chance. I don't know what is going on here but I can tell you that is NOT Metha anymore." He saw the dragons turning to go back in and made up his mind, knowing his friends would never forgive him, if he even lived. "Hey! Escaped slave!" he shouted and pointed right at Metha.

Metha jumped up as soon as he shouted and started to run. She didn't make it far as one of the dragons sprinted down the street after her, knocking her feet out from under her and stepping down hard onto her back. The other dragon made his way to the group of three furries.

Both Barbah and Hakal looked stunned at Valtan's sudden outburst, but stood up with him to face the approaching guard.

Valtan said, "There is something wrong with her.. she has something inside her... I think it killed a guard from the slave pen. She was trying to escape."

The guard eyed the three furries and snorted, "Unsold slaves. Trying to escape with her, hmmm?" He slid a chain from his belt and quickly locked the three furries together by their collar. He turned to see how his partner was doing just in time to see him stiffen and collapse, the vixen struggling to her feet. "What the hell!" he swore, taking off down the street and leaping over his fallen partner to deliver a hard kick to the back of the fleeing vixen.

"It's between her legs!" yelled Valtan, tense and now sure he had done the right thing after seeing the second dragon go down. The Metha he knew would never had been able to do that. He shivered, wondering just what she was now. The other two were silent as well, having seen the same thing.

"I need reinforcements NOW!" yelled the dragon as he circled the vixen who was once more trying to get up. He gave a kick to her shoulders to knock her down again, taking care to stay away from her hips having heard the waning. He didn't know what kind of danger he faced but he was taking no chances after seeing what happened to his partner. Shortly there were a half dozen dragons on the street and he began shouting orders. None seemed to be guards or warriors but he sent several off to fetch help. They would get to the bottom of this shortly, and then there would be punishments. That vixen was going to pay for whatever she had done to his friend.

...

"Your sure?" said General Dehela.

The dragon warrior said, "Yes. One of our tracking hounds shoved his nose up between her legs and said he could smell it. That thing knocked out two dragon warriors and was on it's way out of the capital according to the three slaves that were with it."

Dehela said, "I've given an order to go into full lock down, nobody in or out, everyone to do full counts of slaves, warriors and civilians. All right, good job. Contact the dragons on this list, bring them to the secure facilities along with the volunteer. No time to waste." She rose from her desk and made her way out of the office, issuing orders and gathering up what she needed. Soon she was on her way down level after level to the operations center she had formed to deal with the current disaster.

Jakor met Dehela as she entered, "We have it. And the little bastard was having babies." He directed her to a large glass jar. Inside was the one of the insect parasites, writhing around and trying to escape. Bits of green and yellow ichor smeared the inside of the bottle. In another bottle were three smaller versions crammed into thin embryonic sacks. These were not moving, clearly dead after their removal."

"And the slave?" she said.

Jakor said, "Dead. I administered a tiny dose of the poison and the thing came roughly out of her. She just stopped breathing and died. Two of the medics tried to revive her but she did not respond at all. A quick autopsy revealed similar brain damage to the dragoness, clearly fatal once the parasite disconnected. It also showed three more growing in her womb. They were dead by the time we found them."

Dehela turned to the only non-dragon in the room, a unicorn stallion who was looking at fear at the thing in the jar. "You.. whats your name." she asked him.

Danal said the unicorn, turning his head to look at the dragoness.

Dehela said, "We do this now, or find someone else. You understand what we are asking of you? We need a willing volunteer. You will not be punished if you choose not to do this."

Danal squared his shoulders and said, "I am willing. I'll do this." He looked back at the insect and shuddered. In truth no, he didn't want to do this. Who would? But he was willing to go through with it anyway. It was not what he had in mind when the dragons had started asking unicorn slaves in the auction pits for a volunteer to fight the insects. They said it was a suicide mission, but was of vital importance. He stepped up almost immediately. He had wanted to be a warrior, to protect his kind from any threat. But his family had forbid it. Then he was captured, and what he wanted to be no longer mattered. But now he had a chance to be useful, to die for his kind, and all furries. He had been willing to lay his life down before and was denied.. now he had his chance."

Jakor nodded and said, "I've removed it's stinger so it should be safe to handle, but everybody needs to stay back. Secure the slave."

Danal allowed himself to be strapped face down onto a tilting table, then lowered down until he was level. He pulled at his bonds and they were tight. Good.

Jakor moved to a pot full of a black, oily fluid. One at a time he dipped his hands in and slowly pulled them out, the fluid coating his scales and drying as he pulled them out. He now wore what looked like elbow length black rubber gloves, but were impervious to most chemicals, toxins and even many magical effects. He picked up the jar, doing his best not to flinch when a stump of a tentacle stabbed at him, trying to hit his hand through the glass. He upended the jar over the back of the unicorn and slid the lid out of place, giving the parasite access to the unicorns flesh.

Danal panted and jerked in his bonds as he felt the lid being removed and something cold and wet was squirming against his back. He looked up, seeing the dragons watching him and he reminded himself of what they told him... concentrate. He felt more alive than he had ever in his life. He supposed some of it was the stimulants they had given him, but he knew it was really the excitement of what he was doing. And the terror. And suddenly it was also due to the pain. Something had stabbed him in the back, he could feel it burrowing into his flesh and muscle. He screamed, pulling at his bonds, then forced himself to calm down, gasping for air. He had to endure this. He just had to.

The parasite was not capable of much emotion, but it was as scared as any of it's kind could be. It was in the open, exposed, and it had only just escaped some kind of poison.. the blood in the last host had turned foul and it tried to escape, but found itself a prisoner. But now it found flesh again. It couldn't get inside where it was warm and safe, but had to take control first.. then it could burrow deeper. It began extending it's probes into the spine of it's host, growing around the nerves, extending upward, seeking the brain... knowing it could easily dominate it's host once it had it's tentacles deep inside it's mind.

Danal groaned and struggled, his head strapped down and immobile. He felt fire burning up his spine, agony! It only got worse as it reached the base of his skull. He could feel.. something... his vision blurred and he trembled... huh... hard to think now... a voice.. no.. a presence... he was sliding.. down deep.. being dragged... no!

Jakor nodded and a dragon unscrewed the base of the jar, giving the specialist access to the creature inside. He reached in with a gloved hand and grabbed the slimy thing, pinning it down. "Now" he said. The jar was lifted up his arm and more dragons armed with belts and netting moved to secure the squirming creature. In moments he let go of the parasite and let a dragon slide the open ended jar off his arm. He examined their handy work.. the parasite was now strapped down with a net, trapped but exposed. "How is the unicorn?"

A dragon looked into the face, "Looks like he is loosing it.. eyes are rolled back, breathing is shallow and quick. Unresponsive."

Jakor nodded, "Lets see if this works." He had studied the dead creatures, knew they were defenseless, soft, no shells like most insects. He also knew where various organs were, where the small knot of neural tissue this thing had for a brain was. He grabbed the thing with both hands, fingers probing and pressing, finding the quick throbbing of its heart. He carefully and gently, squeezed.

The parasite silently squirmed in agony... it was under attack. It thrashed and stabbed with it's stinger but nothing happened. Pain flooded the small creature, and worse, it felt weak... it's small mouthpieces gasping for breath, not able to get enough air.. feeling faint... it's senses growing dim.

Danal groaned.. his vision clearing... pain everywhere now but... the presence in his mind was receding. He shuddered... he still couldn't think.. there was something... something he had to do.. but he felt so confused.. he couldn't feel the left side of his body at all, and where was he....

Dehela stroked the muzzle of the prone unicorn. His face looked funny, like parts were no longer working. "Danal... can you hear me? Danal!"

The unicorn blinked slowly... focusing... his mind clearing a bit. "Uuuuutpph..." he said. He tried again, "I... yeppppthpbt. ye... yesss..."

Dehela said, "Hes there... clamp the little fuck."

Jakor slid a metal clamp around the insect, clamping down and squeezing it's body. Done just right it should keep the thing alive, but impaired. Too much and it will die. He kept a close eye on the thing, feeling it's version of a slow pulse. He was thrilled.. it was working... the parasite was incredibly weak and vulnerable outside a host. They could keep it subdued... but the unicorn had to do the rest.

Danal stopped trying to think.. it was so hard.. so much easier to just rest. His ears flicked as he heard his name... should he answer?

Dehela did as the researchers who had interviewed Rahmor and his slave had suggested. Be commanding, firm, direct. By now the unicorns will was mostly knocked out by the actions of the parasite... but the parasite was in no condition to control him, so that left one other option. Her. She said, "Danal can you hear me. Answer."

Danal said softly, "Yes..."

Dehela let out a breath of relief. She noted his voice was better, his face seemed more alive. His body was fighting back, trying to heal the damage. "Danal... can you feel the other insects?"

Danal said nothing, then, "I... don't know... can I?"

Dehela forced her hands to remain calm and said, "Danal. Try to feel the others. The other parasites."

Danal screwed up his face... trying.. feel them.. he felt one on his neck.. was that one? Thinking about the thing on his back he got a glimpse.. a sensation of something.. he concentrated... yes... yes he could.

Dehela said, "Can you feel them Danal?"

Danal's eyes moved lazily back and forth, unfocused... "Yes."

Several dragon growled in pleasure and Dehela shushed them, "Good.. thats a good boy. Now... focus.. find one and tell me... where is it?"

...

Rahmor landed his drake in the courtyard of one of the many groups of dwellings that were scattered across the flat bowl of the capital city. Several other drakes landed beside him and he lept off, ordering several dragon warriors to surround the small cluster of buildings. Several dragon heads poked out of windows or emerged from open doors as Rahmor roared, "All of you stay inside and make no attempt to leave or you WILL be killed. This is an emergency quarantine."

Rolf slowly made his way out of one of the furry-sized saddlebags and started to sniff at the air, his hound dog face a mask of concentration. He shook his head at Rahmor, smelling no scent of one of those horrible parasites he had to shove his nose into earlier to memorize it's scent.

Rahmor led a small team into each of the buildings and one by one watched as a medic injected every dragon and slave with a large dose of the insect toxin. They would be sick for several days from this dose, but it was needed to kill the parasite quickly. If it had slipped away before they got here then he needed to know quickly. He watched the hound sniffing around, answering questions now and then by confused or frightened dragons. The slaves kept quiet of course. "There is some new form of insect parasite loose, yes.... we are tracking them. One was reposted to be here" he said to the owner of the small dwelling he was inside. Three dragons were living here, not wealthy enough to afford a proper cave. Even with the losses to the never ending war there was never enough prime cave space to house the entire dragon population. They bred as fast as they could, slowly increasing their numbers in the hopes they could eventually retake the western continent.

Suddenly a male dragon broke loose from the group, darting in the direction of an unguarded window.

"Stop him!" snarled Rahmor as he moved to intercept the dragon. But before he could reach the fleeing dragon it jerked as if struck by a bolt of lightning, then fell into a convulsing heap before laying still. He ordered, "Rolf! In here.. check this one now!" Crouching down he felt for a pulse, none.

Rolf quickly sniffed over the male dragon, his breath making loud snuffling noises. He sat up and said, "Yes.. I can smell it.. very faint."

Rahmor relaxed slightly. "Good.. then you CAN smell one inside a male. Get me the signal officer."

A small, nervous looking dragon carrying what looked like a two sided chalkboard walked in and saluted, "Sir!"

Rahmor wished the damn communication devices were not so rare, and not so touchy. Only a few had the skills to make them function correctly and he was glad the one in his regiment was a dragon at least. Most were conscripted furries. He said, "Inform the general we found our target and it is dead. The hounds can smell them but not very well."

The signal officer nodded and let his eyes slightly unfocused as he scribbled shorthand on one side of the pad, then flipped it over to the blank side, eyes coming back into focus to watch. After a slight delay markings began to appear and he translated, "The General says they have more targets, and instructs all strike teams to try and capture the infected alive now that we know the hounds can detect them." The board was wiped clean by an invisible hand and started to fill once more, "Another team has reported in. The target was captured and killed before they got to it, a dragoness named Skyla. Tried to make a run for it. The general says to make sure to hit fast or they might have enough time to escape and need tracked down again."

Rahmor growled deeply, "Dammit." He knew that dragoness and was not happy to loose her for many reasons.

"Oh.. wait... the commanding officer that found the infected dragoness was Skyla. No word on who the infected was." said the small dragon sheepishly, then stepped back when he saw the look on Rahmor's face.

Rahmor grunted and let out a breath, "Be sure of what is on that thing before telling me!" He smacked the dragon on the snout and turned, "All right, get this one to the examination chambers. You, find out from her friends here her movements and actions. The rest of out gather up while we wait for our next assignment." He snarled, wishing he could rip those things out of the next ones they found, but knew having them alive for study was more important. But it was not satisfying to just see their hosts collapse. He would have his revenge, but he wanted SEE those motherless slugs die, crushed under his foot.

...

"Hot.. very hot.. damp.. green..." said Danal. He was damp with sweat, eyes still staring blankly ahead but he was continuing to answer questions.

One of the dragons watching said, "Has to be the greenhouses."

General Dehela nodded and swore, "Maybe going after the pod seedlings. Get two teams on that one right away."

The communications scribe nodded and went to work, picking a tablet of a desk with a dozen of them and scribbling with an unfocused gaze.

Dehela said rubbed at her head, "We may just get them all... the unicorn is giving us much better intelligence than we had ever hoped."

Danal licked his dry lips and said, "There is another.... it is trying to hide... it's..." He shuddered, twitching a bit, then looked at Dehela, "In her... the general.. planning... to kill the doctors.. to let this thing take me.. help... stop her!"

Dehela opened her eyes wide in shock. She didn't have one of those things in her, but her hand moved to her belly in reflex. She stared up as the doctor monitoring the parasite took a step back, several dragon guards moving between her and the unicorn. Suddenly she growled, her look of worry changing to one of anger. "Jakor! The damn parasite has taken control of him! He said that without being asked!"

The specialist realised the general was right, the unicorn did speak without being prompted, something he and the other unicorn had never done. Jakor moved back to check, fingers seeking and.. yes... a stronger pulse. The squishy thing must have let the clamp slip. He worked to reattach it once more, trying to find the tricky spot to subdue but not kill the thing.

Danal said, "Fools.. shes going to kill us all. You ha... hav..." he broke off and twitched, eyes rolling back into his sockets before collapsing.

"Got it.." said Jakor. He peered at the unconscious unicorns face and instructed, "Give him another stimulant. Half strength, we don't want to overdo it. I wish I knew just how strong these unicorns were.. we might be able to bring him fully awake but I don't want to risk it."

Dehela waited anxiously, hoping a second takeover had not damaged their spy. She was glad his lie had been transparent.. he must not have been thinking clearly or he would have started giving false locations, sending the teams on fruitless chases while he figured out the best way to escape or sabotage the mission. She leaned forward as the unicorns eyes opened, "Danal! Can you hear me?"

"Yes" he said with only a bit of a slur in his voice.

Dehela sighed in relief and said, "Ok... find another one... tell me what you can feel."

Several hours passed, with more of Rahmor's strike teams reporting success. They had several live infected now, all pleading it was a mistake but the hounds were positive, especially the females which were much easier to scent due to where the parasites like to live. Work was starting on finding another volunteer if they could extract a second parasite, but there was none willing yet and the search continued.

Dehela paced back and forth, stretching her legs while taking a quick break. She was excited, things were going well.

"Shit!" yelled Jakor.

Dehela whirled around to see the dragon doctor hovering over the limp form of Danal.

"He's dead.. he just slumped.. no heartbeat." said Jakor. "The parasite is weak but still alive."

The communications scribe said, "Sir... holding said all the captured hosts just died, all at once."

Dehela thought furiously and said, "Sever the connection, now!" She dropped back to her chair and took the unicorns head in her hands, pressing her muzzle to his and began to blow, forcing air into the stallions unmoving lungs.

Jakor took an obsidian scalpel and neatly sliced through the tentacles sunk into the back of the unicorns neck. He felt for a pulse, "Nothing... unresponsive." He squeezed the ugly mass of the parasite and a moment later said, "Parasite is dead too."

Dehela continued breathing for the unicorn, then leaned back panting, "Damn damn damn. What happened? Tell me!"

Jakor said, "I don't know... he just died... wait.. I think I felt something."

Danal's body shudders, then took in a gasping breath, coughing and then slumping, his body limp once more, but breathing shallowly.

Dehela said, "Get that thing off him and unstrap him. Keep a close guard just in case but I want him kept alive at all costs. Take him to another room and alert me if his condition changes. We still have several more infected to round up. Where is that list?"

The scribe said, "Sir, another message. A team arrived at the target location but the subject was dead when they got there." he said, "Another team is reporting the same. Bodies are being brought here with the rest."

Dehela said, "What just happened, why are they dying? Did someone get a dose of poison into the water supply? No.. too dilute to work and th e new batches are not ready yet."

...

Danal felt like he was drowning.. suffocating.. buried alive. He couldn't move. Couldn't think. So tired.. the weight so oppressive.. easier to just sink. No... he had... something to do.. something important. He struggled just to find the will to fight, his awareness slipping from his grasp only to have to battle for it once more. Like breaking the surface of an ocean the resistance and lethargy suddenly parted and he gasped awake, eyes opening wide. Dragons were all around him, shouting and talking but he couldn't make any of it out. He remembered... something... something bad.. better off forgotten. He strained, no... no he would NOT forget. And as soon as he focused the memories came back, all the hours of being interrogated, the half-sleeping insect in his brain, and the rest. He croaked, "Sir..."

A doctor brought some water for the unicorn to sip, examining him while the general was summoned.

General Dehela arrived shortly after, several dragons making way for her so she could lean over the cot. "Danal.. can you hear me?"

Danal gave her a soft smile, "I'm here, Sir... I'm awake" He winced, it felt like someone had stabbed him in the neck and up into his head with a red hot poker, but it was bearable.

Dehela nodded, "That is VERY good to hear. I was afraid you were dead, or in a coma. Do you remember anything?"

Danal said, "Yes.. all of it... it almost slipped away when I woke.. but it's all so clear now. He thought, remembering the hours, and then recalled the feeling of his life being snuffed out. He shuddered. "It tried to kill me.. stopped my heart, shut off my brain" he said.

Dehela said, "We cut it's tentacles when you collapsed. You started breathing again on your own shortly after. We don't have any more of them.. all the ones we found have died."

Danal said, "Yes.. I know. It was the hive."

The general shivered, golden scales rippling. She didn't like hearing that. The hive was the central mind of the insect race, spread among queens and drones it was a vast, but luckily dull intelligence. Able to coordinate on a grand scale, brilliant at tactical war but unable to do much long term strategic planning. It was one reason the dragons and furries were still here to fight them. She said, "I thought it was too far to communicate."

Danal said, "It is.. was. When the parasite took control the second time, somehow.. the hive saw me.. sensed me. It wasn't happy. It was so far away, so faint.. but it was screaming, shouting, all of it.. concentrated on one order. Die."

Dehela said, "It told your parasite to kill you?"

Danal shook his head and gritted his teeth, that had been a mistake, his neck burning in pain. It took him a minute to recover and he said, "No, not me... all the parasites.. I think.. I think it was too far to know which one to kill, so it told them all to hill their hosts and suicide."

The general sat down into a chair provided for her and nodded, rubbing at her aching head. "I think you are right.. we found eleven of them, just like you had said. You only located six before it killed you, but the other five were reported when they just keeled over dead. I think there is something indeed to the theory that the insects fear unicorns. They did their best to wipe you out during the early years of the war. The riders never merged with unicorns that we know of. You can survive these new things of theres, and even somehow link..." she paused. "I wonder... perhaps you were connecting with the hive mind itself, not just sensing the other parasites. We still have no idea how their communication works."

Danal said, "You could be right.. I don't know either... I could just.. feel them.. like they were standing behind me, just out of sight." He shuddered, "It was horrible."

Dehela nodded, "And we are grateful... I do not like to think of the long battle we would have had ahead of us if we had to rely only on trying to poison and sniff them out. The one we attached to you almost escaped the capital earlier as well. Tried to take a few slaves with it for new hosts before it was captured."

Danal just sighed and closed his eyes. It had been a terrible experience, but he was still alive, much more than he had expected when he had first seen the creature. He had been sure he would never wake up again, but he had. He wriggled his hooves.. his legs felt strangely numb, but he had no doubts he would recover. Nothing less than completely severing a limb could stop a unicorn from healing, and even that was recoverable if the limb was reattached quickly enough. Nothing any other species could manage.

Dehela said, "I wonder... you remember where the other mare did not. Perhaps you could still sense, or listen to the hive. Yes.. once you recover you should try to do just that. I'll arrange for you to have the assistance of any doctors, perhaps some of the monks of various furry kind to help you meditate as well."

Danal said, "I will try... but I do not think there is much hope. I can't hear, or feel anything now.. it's just gone."

"I doubt it will work either, to be honest. But it i worth trying" she said. She stood and added, "Besides... we can't send you back to the slave pens now, so I must find something to do with you." She smiled, "Get a full record of everything he remembers, and have someone get him fitted with a gold collar."

Danal watched the general leave, eyes moving to the dragons still busy looking him over. He realised it had been some time since he had asked permission to speak, so he said, "What does a gold collar mean?"

One of the doctors peered down at him, poking at his nose once and nodding in satisfaction at whatever he had seen. "It's the highest rank a slave can be granted. Means you are not owned or sponsored for a work position. You are not available for any dragon to use or play with or order around on a whim. You can almost consider yourself more of a guest than a slave... but don't forget the slave part."

Danal said, "I don't have to follow orders?"

The doctor snorted, "You still have to follow any orders given by a dragon, but we will not order you around for our own amusement or pleasure. Now, here is an example of an order you still must obey. Be quiet while we examine you. If you don't get better the general will have out hides!"

...

Valtan hung in the dark, damp dungeon with the two dingoes and sighed softly. He tried to work his jaw bit it was tied tightly closed, as were the muzzles of the two dingos. That was good in a way, it kept them from cursing him for ruining their escape. He wasn't sure if he had done the right thing anymore. He had only known Metha for a quarter moon, maybe she wasn't acting as weird as he thought. But he DID see something some out of her sex and sting that guard. He wasn't an expert on animals and plants but was pretty sure there was nothing like that on this side of the dragon defenses, which left only one other possibility. He didn't have a choice, couldn't they see that? If there was just a chance it was something from the other side they HAD to let the dragons know. His ears perked as he heard footsteps, then a clanking before the door was opened, bright light spilling into their tiny cell. He squinted, seeing a dragon enter and he cringed as it reached out for him.

The Golden scaled dragoness pulled at the bindings on the three furries muzzles, dropping them to the floor and ordering their chains be lowered.

All three stood on shaky feet, having previously been held on tiptoe by their bound wrists. None dared speak to the dragoness, eyeing her fearfully.

General Dehela looked over the disheveled furries and said, "You three are quite the problem you know. Unowned slaves attempting to escape are routinely tortured to death, in public."

Valtan swooned, unable to deal with the news. He knew of course, they had all been warned the price of attempted escape.

Dehela snorted, "You three will NOT be put to death. As much as I would like to see you punished... you sacrificed yourselves to alert the guards to a great danger."

The two dingoes looked at the dragoness hopefully. Valtan let out his breath, his hammering heart slowing. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped. It did not take much time spent int the slave pits to learn the rules, and a big one was no speaking without permission.

Dehela said, "Yes, fox?"

Valtan coughed, throat dry from not speaking for so long and said, "Was it a... I was afraid it was..." he stammered.

Dehela said, "Yes, it was an insect inside her. It was controlling her mind."

Valtan shuddered, it was as bad as he had feared. he groaned, he had been so CLOSE to her. And that thing in side her! He felt suddenly unclean.

Dehela said, "I don't have time to explain it all, I simply wanted to get a look at you while I had the chance, and give you the news personally. The infestation has been eradicated, and you played an important part. Your reward is your freedom." She then did just as she said she would, looking them over and nodding in satisfaction. "Guards.. take them to the slave processing center, have their collars taken off and deliver them to the furry embassy. They will be expecting three former slaves. That is all." Without another word the dragoness stepped out of the cell and was gone.

The three foxes were so surprised they forgot to be afraid when the large dragon guards began freeing their wrists and ankles and led them out the door into the bright daylight. They were being freed! Dragons didn't do that! But just as promised, their collars were removed, a scary process involving having them cut off, then brought to the embassy. Rushed her and there they hardly had time to appreciate what had happened when they found themselves in the furry embassy, pummeled with questions and drinks and congratulations.

After a time they were finally able to make their way to private guest quarters and had a chance to speak at last.

Hakal hugged the dingo girl he had met and grown so fond of in the short time they had been enslaved. He looked at Valtan and looked embarrassed, "I'm sorry I said all those things.."

Barbah nodded and blushed, "Sorry I kicked you. I was mad."

Valtan smiled and then laughed softly, "It' ok... I was kicking myself for a while there too. I still can't really believe I yelled out like that. It just... it just kinda happened."

Hakal said, "Well, from what I heard some of those ambassadors say... we were lucky. Really lucky. Chances are we never would have made it out alive and if we did.. she had more of those things... she was going to put them in us!"

Barbah shuddered violently until she was held tight, "Oh... I can't bear thinking about what that must have been like for that poor vixen. To have something like that.. crawling up your... ugh."

Valtan made a face and nodded, "I'd rather not think about it... ever again. Lets just get some rest. That one furry dog said nothing was moving but we should be able to get a ride in a few days. Until then I think I'm going to hide under the bed, I'm still waiting for a dragon to break down the door and drag us back to the slave pen, claiming it was all a mistake." He smiled, thinking of seeing his family and friends, his home once more. It was so far away, but he was going back. He really was.