Sam picked himself off the ground staring at Mellos. Rubbing the side of his face he thought, ’Damn I actually felt that.’

“What in the hell is your problem?” He asked.

“You are, you miserable piece of garbage.” Mellos spit out venom at him.

Sam could only shake his head in confusion.

Walking up to Sam, Mellos started, “I thought when I started to heal that I would finally be well. Then I found out that my reproductive system is working again. It’s your fault, you have to fix this!”

Sam was still confused as he looked at Mellos. Suddenly his eyes flew wide. “Look I hardly know you I don’t think that having sex will fix…”

“You arrogant piece waste of space! As if I’d ever let you near my body let alone have sex!” Mellos shouted as she again swung full force at Sam. This time Sam caught her fist, then she swung the other which he also caught. Undaunted Mellos jumped up driving both her feet into Sam’s mid-section. With a loud umph, Sam was again propelled back into the forest through several trees.

Gasping a moment Sam growled as he took to the air heading back to where Mellos and the native people were standing.

“Come on!” Mellos commanded bowing up toward him, “fight me. Let’s see if you’re really strong enough to defeat me!”

Sam flew full out almost connecting with her chin when he stopped. Hmmm she wanted him to fight her. Mellos was knocked back a few feet. Damn it she thought if he doesn’t hit me I’m in trouble. Finally taking matters into her own hands she kicked Sam’s leg near the junction of his legs.

Sam saw the kick coming just narrowly being missed being hit in his crotch. Damn it I have to subdue her. Moving rapidly. he was behind her his arms locked around her chest. ‘My god,’ he thought, ‘she’s bigger than I thought she was.’

Mellos wasn’t expecting the move that Sam did especially when he linked his hands under her breasts. What in the world was going on? She’d been experiencing a tingling all over as soon as her and Sam started to fight. Well she thought, she’d been fighting she was a little impressed that Sam had held her off this long. This had to end she could already start to feel the effects of her illness.

Gathering what little strength she had left, threw her head back into Sam’s face catching him by surprise. As soon as he let her go she reached back connecting with his chin as hard as she could.

Now enraged Sam quickly as if on instinct brought an upper cut to Mellos’s face ending the fight. Even as she was falling back she sighed finally, then was out cold.

Sam took a deep breath to calm, crap she always seemed to bring out the worst in him. He was about to reach over to pick her up when a red beam snatched her away. Shaking his head again he turned back to the natives.

Onboard Mellos’s ship the blonde male that assisted her watched as she got several hits in. Then he was greatly angered when he saw that the Sam male had his arms near her upper chest. How dare that low life touch his goddess Mellos. Struggling more he saw that Mellos finally got him to hit back. Even as she was falling he was locking in on her location. Activating it as soon as he saw the male move toward her.

__________________________________________________________

Mellos’s head felt like a comet had collided with it. Awakening almost twenty minutes later her body was aching all over also. God, she thought when he put those strong arms around me. He had almost touched her up top it was electrifying! I have to… Mellos’s mouth dropped open. What in the universe was wrong with her? She’d never been attracted to anyone or thing but pain. Well that and taking everything, she could from the IP.

Lying there a few more minutes she felt her strength slowly returning. Good she thought no need to go into the chamber, at least not yet. She detected movement next to her, trying to turn her head became a major undertaking.

“Slave!” She croaked out in a loud whisper. “What are the readings?”

The male grabbed a holo/data cube bringing it to her. Activating it he showed her the new areas that were healing, several that were before that were completely healed. Then he gave her the real bad news, “it appears now that your reproductive system is now at seventy five percent. Plus had we not the equipment we do, I doubt I could have scanned much.”

Mellos nodded her head as she lay back down. Damn if that didn’t help. That’s when she felt an urge, one that she didn’t get often. One that always took her by surprise. “Get me to the waste room!” She told the male in a near panic. Damn this was bad, with her waste center not working much she hardly ever had to go. Looking at the holo/data cube again as the male helped her up she saw it was at fifty percent now. Great just great another thing she could do without.

Taking her into the room the male stood there as she sat. When she looked up at him giving him an icy stare he quickly left. Sitting there she expected an immediate rush of liquid. after ten minutes she was about to get up when there was a sudden steady stream pouring into the waste collector. The thing was it lasted for a few minutes.

Shaking her head after she cleaned up she stood stretching. Damn I’m tired she thought I ought to lay down a bit thinking of her slumber chamber. To her astonishment she was looking at the waste chamber wall then she was half way to her sleep chamber.

The male gasped when he Saw Mellos suddenly appear much like the Sam male had. Shaking his head, he thought looks like things are about to change around here. Mellos blinked when she looked around, how did she, when. Then as she took a step toward her sleep chamber a slow evil smile lit up her features.

_____________________________________________

Sam turned back to the native people of the planet. Bowing to them he told them that the planet was now theirs. Many looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. Fortunately, Queen Triada had already started speaking to the few leaders that were still alive.

Sitting down on a nearby stump he rubbed his chin again. Was it his imagination or was Mellos a bit stronger than before? Her hits weren’t all that strong, far from giving him pain though they were enough to knock him off his feet.

Still ignoring the natives in thought talk with Queen Triada he went back over the fight. She also made it sound like she had serious problems with her body and health. Somehow fighting him had triggered it? Ok now that was a little farfetched.

A moment later he felt a presence or rather quite a few of them. “We wish to convey our thanks, we have been under the thumb of the first councilor for a very long time. With the help of the other two triads we will rebuild.”

Sam was nodding to everything the almost stick people told him. He was about to speak when Queen Triada cut him off. {I’m sorry you have to go Sam. They will need the power of the other two triad corners if they are to stay free. Might I suggest you take a flight near their sun? It’s not as strong as the last though it will help to energize you more.}

Several of the people nodded to Sam then waved as he took to the sky. Looking around Sam wanted to make sure the IP hadn’t left anything he might have to destroy later or regret not getting now. Smashing a few satellites, he was satisfied as he entered the worm hole.

Where am I going now he thought feeling the directions that Triada had left him.

____________________________________________

On the IP home world, the lord Doctor had the replacement body ready for the first councilor. The young man looked confused yelling at the Doctor. “I thought I was his replacement! What are you doing!”

The Doctor leaned close telling the young male, you are his replacement or rather your body is. You see you are about to die as painfully as possible. So please scream as loudly as you can. It will make your mind’s death that much more delicious!”

“You lied to me, you have made a breach of contract. I cry foul you have broken the law!” The young male screamed.

The Doctor turned back with a hideous smile, “Yes I guess we did, then again? Nobody cares!” The Doctor moved away as the machines started to hum louder, and then the young male started screaming like he was being skinned alive. All seven there started to laugh with sadistic glee as time wore on. Finally, almost an hour later the young male screamed one last time then was silent.

Nodding the Doctor moved in to examine the male. Finally, a few minutes later he nodded to the other six. Placing the case back in its receptacle in the wall the doctor went to the male to wait.

Within a few more minutes the now older looking male moaned out softly. “Ah! Good to see you are back.” The Doctor pulled a strange looking device out turning in on, passing it over the male. “A very good transfer, with a point zero, zero, zero, zero, one percent memory loss. So, tell me was it the Cliverstone?”

The male cleared his throat, “Yes lord Doctor. He is far stronger than I am. It felt as if I was going against you he crushed me like I was nothing. The female we draw the serum from was the last to do this.” Here the councilor shook his head. “I believe she pales beside his strength now.”

The Doctor’s eyes were wide a second as he nodded. It was as strong as he’d thought, finally after so long he would have a true challenge. Turning to look at all of them, that is if they didn’t team up to try and take him down.

Sighing the Doctor moved to the door. “I suggest you make a decision before too long. As he is right now it will take all of you to defeat him. I will await you answer.” He said as he stepped out the door.

Outside he climbed into his transport shaking his head. For such an old and smart race how did he end up with some of the weakest minded? As his transport lifted the doctor sent his mind to the planet where the Cliveastone was.

Looking around he saw that the bastard Sam had wasted no time getting the natives up and running. Smiling her remembered long ago when they had gotten the IP home world to capitulate fairly easily. If this kept up it was going to be a long time before they had almost complete control again.

The Doctor was surprised when he felt no presence of Sam at all. Had that bastard already started out for the second corner stone world? Withdrawing the Doctor searched for Sam’s lifeforce.

Stopping short he found Sam landing on the second world. This disgusting thing was better organized than the Doctor at first realized. Rushing to the planet the Doctor alerted the commanders.

{I want all troops to pull out now!} The Doctor thought to all of them. {I want all at the third corner stone world. I will have a significant force when this creature shows up there. Within an hour I want all of you gone. Go now or you’ll deal with me!}

Sam had just started to talk to a few of the same type of people as on the last world when he was surprised. Very surprised when not only did no IP troops try to stop him, they were actually fleeing. Every last one he could see was getting the hell off the world as fast as they could. That’s when he felt a very powerful mind watching him.

{So,} Sam started. {You are the true leader of all of this. I take it since you haven’t attacked that you are frightened of me? Ha! So, the councilors are as weak and helpless as I thought!}

The Doctor was at first shocked that Sam had detected him. Then he felt something he hadn’t in a very long time. Rage, uncontrollable, unquenchable almost maddening rage.

{You mock the strongest, most advanced race in centuries? How dare you stand there saying such things!} The Doctor thought as his rage continued to grow.

Suddenly the Doctor struck out at Sam, who calmly batted the attack away. Smiling inward Sam nodded, he had this ass where he wanted him. Thing is this one is far stronger than any he’d ever felt. It was taking all Sam had to hold it off.

For twenty minutes they went at it attacking as fast and hard as they could. Finally, the Doctor started to back off, {it appears we are evenly matched. This will not be so next time.} The Doctor thought then was gone.

Back on the IP home world the Doctor slumped over in his seat inside the transport. This one was dangerous, he’d barely been able to hold Sam off. That was its last thought as it slipped into unconsciousness.

Sam was smiling when he felt the powerful mind retreat. He’d won a small victory that was for sure. Little did the mind know that Sam fighting him had almost doubled his mental strength. Sitting with a thud Sam watched his legs shake from the exhaustion that he was feeling.

Looking around he saw that most of the people were wondering around looking lost with wide eyes. Dropping his head, he wondered if he was so weak that they could hurt or kill him. Standing again on very wobbly legs Sam lifted off very slowly rising toward space. Damn it! At this rate it was going to take several hours for him to make orbit!

Sam tried to push harder gaining a little speed though not much. Shaking his head, he thought, ‘At least I am high enough they can’t get to me.’ Looking back at the slowly receding land he thought, ‘I hope they don’t have missiles.’

An hour later he was a lot higher but still not in space yet. Trying to push any harder was making him light headed. Suddenly there was a blue light around him as he shrugged then vanished.

________________________________________

Drivas let out a breath after sub-commander Triot had broken contact. She was also glad that she and Thellus had fooled him as well as they had. With the readings he had, he would think that she and Thellus were the perfect mind slaves he wanted.

“Do you have any idea where Sam is?” Drivas asked Thellus.

“I’ve been doing a search for his bio-energy. I believe he turned back heading for the first sector. All readings indicate that he is on a corner stone world. I..” Thellus started then stared at Drivas wide eyed.

“What’s wrong? Has he started to kill a great many?” Drivas asked.

“No commander. I am also picking up the bio-signature of Mellos Thymp! Commander even as strong as we are we’re still no match for her. I estimate she’d shred our defenses in just over ten minutes.” Thellus replied.

“Our defenses? If she is anything like Sam she’d not have to shred them.” Drivas informed her.

“I meant our mental defenses. Before we could have done nothing, now? We could stop her for a short time.” A shaky Thellus told her.

Taking a deep breath Drivas made a decision. “We have to keep as close to Sam as we can. That was what I got from Thantas. Take us there just try to keep us out of her sights if possible.”

Thellus nodded as they entered the wormhole. They should be there in an hour.

Coming out of the wormhole they saw that all the IP was gone from the planet. Sam was also absent which disappointed both females.

“I am reading him commander. He entered a wormhole a few moments ago.” An excited Thellus told Drivas.

“Let’s go I want to keep on him as much as we can.” Drivas said as she plotted the course then they, too, were in a wormhole. “Any indication that Mellos is also following?”

“No commander, her ship was surprisingly silent.” Thellus reported.

Drivas nodded, “Keep on guard there’s no telling if and when she shows up. I imagine she is still mad that she can’t take Sam.”

“I have thought on that,” Thellus said musing. “Perhaps Sam is far more than even she can handle? Even Thantas said Sam was past her.”

Drivas thought on this for a few moments then replied. “I believe you might be right. With the others she killed they were nowhere as strong as she is. Sam is an entirely different scenario altogether. She may have really met her match for once.”

Thellus was about to speak again when the console signaled they were exiting the wormhole. Coming out they were both shocked to see a great many of the IP ships fleeing the area.

“Commander!” Thellus almost shouted. “I believe I have found him. Strange.”

“What’s wrong?” Drivas asked.

“It is Sam though he is moving so slowly. From the readings I am getting he is at the end of his energy.” Thellus relayed to Drivas.

Drivas was nodding her head as she went over all the readings that they were getting from Sam. “It appears that you are correct. It also appears that we can take him with the beam. Transport him here as soon as you’re are ready.”

“Yes commander. I am targeting him now. The tracking system is still having a difficult time locking onto him. Ah! I think I have him commander.” Thellus said.

As the transport machinery started to work Drivas was hoping that they didn’t have any trouble out of Sam when he was here. After all he could breathe in space they couldn’t.

A few moments later the beam shut down with Sam laid sprawled out on the deck. Looking up Sam saw the two women then nodded. They are friends he thought, at least I think they are.

“Sam?” Drivas asked not certain it was him. The Sam she knew wasn’t usually in this bad of shape. Shaking her head, she took a tentative step toward him. Well she thought, it appears to be him though what had happened?

Running a scanner over him Drivas could see that he had used almost all of his mental energy. What had happened in just an hour to exhaust him like this? Drivas suddenly felt Sam’s hand on her arm as he pulled her close.

“Get as close to the sun as you can. I need some exposure if I am to recover. Drivas looked at Sam a moment then ran to the control chair taking the ship closer to the sun of the system.

“That’s as close as we dare get Sam. Anymore I’m afraid, we’d have severe problems.” Drivas told him. Sam nodded as he tried to stand only to fall almost on his face. Drivas somehow managed to get Sam up near a view portal. Sam leaned against it trying to take in what he could.

Slowly he could feel some of his strength return though not a whole lot. Straightening up Sam tried to phase out through the wall to no avail. Damn it he hated feeling this week after he’d had all that strength for so long.

Sighing he stood there feeling his energy creep higher at a very slow rate.

Sam leaned over to Drivas barely able to whisper. “Put me out there. It will take a week or more for me to get better at this rate.”

“Won’t you perish out there as weak as you are? Thellus asked.

“Possibly.” Sam answered. “Though I might here also as weak as I am.”

Drivas was nodding though Thellus had her doubts. Finally shrugging, Thellus told them, “alright.” She then set the beam in front of the ship then Sam was outside again.

Sam’s eyes went wide as he felt even more of his strength return. Pushing forward he started to move a little faster toward the sun. ‘Phew,’ he thought, ’bout time starting to feel better already. That is ’til he looked back seeing Mellos’s ship appear.

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