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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 3786765" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 519: WeaknessThe thing about most Mrrakesh, especially the commanders in their military, was that they were arrogant. They knew they were strong, fast, and powerful. They knew that there were few in the galaxy that were even close to a match for them. And they knew, with great assurance, that their neighbors the Alraxians were the weakest of the races around them, only containing strength in numbers that was easy to simply beat through.    Of course, most of this knowledge came from thousands of years of isolation. There hadn’t been a real war since the second Darkwing War, nearly four thousand years prior. So much could change in such a long period of time, even with a species as long lived as the Alraxians, that previous knowledge that was so old was not nearly as reliable the Mrrakesh simply assumed it was. It was a sort of racial pride. Obviously, the only reason the Mrrakesh lost the war was due to the Alraxians cowardly bringing in allies to save their tails...    That wasn’t true, either. In fact, even the Alraxian history of the wars was distorted by bias. The only true archive that recorded the events from a more neutral standpoint was on the Jendari homeworld, and it wasn’t exactly something they shared with anyone who walked up and asked for.    Put all this together, and now there was a new war. And everything was different...thanks to the new Alraxian Empress. While she had her own preconceived notions of the Mrrakesh, unlike most of them, Marix had, in fact, fought Mrrakesh in the recent days. She knew, truly knew, what she was up against. This Mrrakesh commander...he thought he knew. He likely convinced himself he knew...but he didn’t...    And Marix’s metal fist connecting with his jaw was the first hint that he was in over his head. The hard punch from the very solid fist spun the much larger Mrrakesh to his left and then him almost collapsing onto a nearby command console. While he was attempting to recover from the shock of such a strong blow, he got another. This time, though, it was a kick to the gut, causing him to completely double over and then hit the deck plates face first.    Deciding this needed to be ended immediately, Marix dropped down to simply snap the Mrrakesh’s neck. But, finally, the much larger creature acted. When her metal arm came around his neck to end the fight, the Mrrakesh grabbed it, then yanked her down onto the deck before she could brace herself.    The loud clang of her metal body slamming into the metal deck was deafening, and though Marix’s vision completely went away for a few seconds she could feel that the Mrrakesh hadn’t let go of her arm. In fact, while she had gone straight down, her arm had been twisted around behind her back as the Mrrakesh got to his feet. And then, not so surprisingly, the Mrrakesh used this to lift her off the ground and throw her across the bridge of the ship.    Marix’s vision returned mid-flight, just in time to see the rapidly approaching bulkhead.    There was another violently loud clang, and when it was over, only the sound of deep laughter could be heard. It took Marix’s rattled brain a few short moments to identify the voice and realize that it was the Mrrakesh. Of course it would be. He probably hadn’t even moved...just standing there like an idiot.    She shook her head in a futile attempt to get rid of the ringing that seemed to be coursing through all of her metal body, then dragged herself up onto her feet. And yes, right where she’d left him, was the Mrrakesh, laughing.    When the laughter stopped, a broad, toothy grin formed on the Mrrakesh’s lupine features, “Its been so long! This is exactly what I needed!”    Still gloating.    Alright, fine. This was not the time to be fancy or show off. It was what this Mrrakesh wanted. He wanted a so-called ‘good fight’. But Marix decided not to give him that. In fact, she was going to give him exactly what he didn’t want. A short, decisive end.    Again, Marix charged.    But this time, the Mrrakesh was ready, already in a rather elaborate looking defensive stance. When she got close, his foot shot out in a sudden kick, but Marix was alerted to it both from his stance and the somewhat annoying screaming of the Force. Just as his leg fired out at her, Marix dropped to the deck on one knee, head coming down low to avoid the strike that went well over thanks to her shortness and the fact that the Mrrakesh was nothing near short.     Her momentum sent her a meter forward along with a loud, screeching of metal sliding on metal, and then Marix pushed herself upwards, arms raised. Her arms grabbed the outstretched leg of the Mrrakesh, and as they locked the leg into a vice-like grip, twisted the limb around in a way it was never designed to twist. The crack of the bone was gut-wrenching, but unfortunately for the Mrrakesh, Marix was still moving upwards and taking his leg with her.    In a flash, the huge Mrrakesh was on his back, right leg twisted almost completely around so that his foot was nearly facing behind him. Despite the very serious injury, the Mrrakesh was a fighter, and started to jump up. But Marix was faster than he was, and anticipating such a move. Finally letting go of his leg to let it fall to the side in an awkward position, she twisted her body to the side then stamped her leg down onto his rising chest with the force of a speeder.    Not only was the wind knocked out of the Mrrakesh, but at least a few of his ribs were broken, too. The kick also got a very satisfying half-cry, half-howl out of the Mrrakesh. And, of course, Marix wasn’t finished yet. Not playing at all anymore, deadly serious, she was not one to allow a window of opportunity to slide past. With her foe on his back, leg broken and breathing difficultly, Marix dropped down and once again took his large skull between her hands.    But then she did something almost out of character for her. There was a shimmering of form and instead of metal, flesh and blood held the skull of the Mrrakesh. Black strands of hair now fell in front of her face with white down her shoulders, as Marix’s silvery-violet eyes narrowed into a glare that could not be formed on metal.    Then she did something else unusual for her.    “You were right, Mrrakesh,” she spoke the words with a venom that could have poisoned a planet, “This is exactly what you needed.”    And then, half a minute later than she should have, Marix snapped his neck with all of her strength. The Mrrakesh’s eyes remained open even in death, wide open in shock. He’d died so quickly that he likely never had the chance to understand how wrong he’d been about the Alraxians. It was a lesson Marix didn’t care if he didn’t learn. The Mrrakesh had finally crossed the line. They had threatened her homeworld, her family, and her people...and there was not going to be any mercy anymore.    If Jyren were still alive, she would have considered it. He could have talked her down from such a dangerous position. But he wasn’t. Even the voice in her head that was distinctly his could do nothing. Jyren had died and left her alone. To make matters worse, now the Mrrakesh were trying to kill the rest of her family. Helpless children. Defenseless little children. And she wasn’t going to tolerate it anymore. Not only that, but Marix was going to make sure no one did.    [Hermes.] she could feel the ship near and so thought ‘at’ him as the feeling grew closer. [Send word to the Jendari I have the bridge of this ship.]    [On it.] the ship sounded distracted, as he likely was, but he did add quickly. [The other Mrrakesh ships are still descending towards Alraxia.]    Through the viewport ahead of her, Marix could see them. The two long, bulky ships not far ahead of the one she was aboard. Her eyes quickly scanned the empty bridge as she looked at the various consoles. [Tell the Jendari to focus this fire on the ship closest to the surface. Bring it down before it can cause any damage. I’ll deal with the other one.]    And she would. The Mrrakesh wouldn’t expect their own ship to fire on them, and it was unlikely that a sudden barrage from behind could be defended against quickly enough. And if Marix had to, she’d board every damned Mrrakesh ship and kill them all. They’d gone too far, and it was time to show them that the Alraxians were not the weak little felines that the Mrrakesh thought they were.</blockquote>

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