The Point of Death

a story based on LEXX the series

by John.R.Lovett

In a nameless part of space a small ship floats it's power reserves spent, it's pilot dead. It hangs adrift in space as it has for almost two years until suddenly a large ship appears above it. The LEXX the most powerful destructive force in the two universes.
On board the LEXX Captain Stanley Tweedle walk's on to the bridge still doing up his uniform, he pulls his hat on over his un brushed hair.
'What is it LEXX you better have a good reason for waking me up.'
'Sorry Stan but that ship has the mark.'
Xev slowly walk's onto the bridge carrying the robot head 790 with one hand as she pulls notes out of her flame red hair.
'Why did LEXX wake us up Stan.'
'I don't know Xev he said something about a ship having a mark.'
'What sort of mark?'
'I don't know I was just about to ask him.'
Stanley steps up to the command post.
'What sort of mark LEXX.'
'The mark you asked me to look for Stan.'
Xev puts 790 on the floor and leans on the command post.
'Did you ask LEXX to look for a mark Stan.'
'I don't know I may have.'
'790 can you scan that ship please.'
'It would be a pleasure O my darling one.'
Xev picks the robot head up off the floor and places him were he can get a clear view of the view screen. 790 starts to scan the image on the screen with the sensors built into his eye screens.
'I have ascertained what the mark might be O' delicious one.'
'Well what is metal head.' Stanley seems agitated.
'I refuse to answer to that name I will only answer to my darling Xev.'
Stanley makes a threatening gesture toward 790 Xev butt's in.
'790 just tell us what the mark is.'
'Very well O' scrumptious one. The ship bears the mark of the Divine order.'
Stanley and Xev look at each other confused for a couple of seconds.
'790 are you shore?'
'Yes I could never lie to you the perfect example of the female form.'
Xev looks at Stanley.
'What could a ship of the divine order be doing hear in the Dark Zone?'
'I don't know Xev, Is that robot head shore.'
Xev picks up 790 and look's him in the eye screens.
'Can you tell us any thing else about that little ship 790?'
'Yes but is not in my interest to tell you.'
'What is it 790?'
'The ship is carrying a quantity of the substance the dead man need's.'
'You mean it has Protoblood on board.'
'That is what I said lame brain.'
Stanley and 790 exchange gestures as Xev starts to leave the bridge.
'I'm going to wake Kai.'

ii

In the cryostasis room Stanley manipulates the controls to Kai's chamber as Xev stands to his side 790 is perched atop the panel. The panel makes a bleeping noise Stanley curses.
'What the hell dose that mean.'
'It means that you are too stupid to work this equipment, security guard class idiot.'
'Why you tin headed piece of ju...'
Stanley is cut off by the noise of Kai's chamber which Xev has successfully opened.
'You have need of me?' Kai asks.
Stanley nod's and explains haw LEXX awoke everyone to inform them about a ship with a marking that 790 identifies as that of the Divine Order. After he has finished his explanation Stanley calls up the image of the ship on a small view screen in the control panel. As soon as he sees the image Kai realizes what it is.
'This is a class x one man patrol vessel.'
'Class x when I worked at the Cluster they only had class 1-4. are you shore?' Stanley asks.
'You would not have encountered this class of vessel, I have, this is the type of ship myself and others of my kind would pilot.'
'When you say others of your kind you mean Assassins don't ya.' Stanley asks with concern.
'Yes Stanley.'
Xev puts 790 on the floor and uses him as a seat as Stanley try's to figure it all out. After a couple of minutes Xev stand's and speaks to Kai.
'Haw come it hasn't attacked?'
'I do not know perhaps the occupant is out of protoblood.'
'No no 790 said there was protoblood on board that is why we woke you.' Stanley chips in.
'Each ship has a limited stock of protoblood in case it is needed.'
Xev picks 790 up.
'790 haw much protoblood was there in your scan?'
'Why do you want to know mistress of my desires.'
'790 just tell me.'
'There was approximately 14 Clusterleters my f-'
790 is cut off as Xev gives him a big kiss.
'Kai that much protoblood would last you for months we should go get it.'
Kai stands impassively as 790 and Stanley both protest that a mission of that kind would be dangerous. But Xev has made up her mind and she and Kai go to the Moth breeding centre wile Stanley and 790 return to the bridge.
By the time they reach the bridge Stanley has had enough of 790's incessant babble and threatens to have LEXX eject him into space if he doesn't shut up. After he is quiet Stanley puts the robot head on the floor facing a wall, and sits at the base of the command post.
As they reach the moth breeding centre Kai tells Xev to put on a pressure suit as the class x was designed to be used by those who do not need to breathe. Xev slowly unbuttons her dress and makes shore that Kai can get a good look at her before she starts to pull on the pressure suite, she is disappointed when the assassin seems more interested with the communicator he is fiddling with and dose not seem to notice her at all. As she pulls on the pressure suit she asks Kai what he is doing.
'I am changing the frequency on this unit so that if necessary we can communicate directly with 790.' he replies before sending a test message.
'I can hear you dead man in black.' Comes the reply from 790.
Stanley is not aware of this modification as Kai dose not feel the need to volunteer information and 790 dose not need to use his vocal circuits to transmit a radio message.
Xev pilots the Moth to the little ship she successfully docks. She pulls on her breathing mask and is about to exit the Moth when Kai tells he that it would be safer if she staid aboard the Moth until he is shore that the Ship is safe.
Stanley sits on the LEXX bored he is tired and fed up, since they returned to the dark zone he has not had the opportunity to blow up any planets and the LEXX's food reserves are running low which means that the green goup that comes from the galley tastes less appetizing than normal. Still he thinks to himself it could have been worse they could have been stuck in a empty universe or been turned into Mantrid drones.
'Xev to Stan, Xev to Stan.' the communicator grabs Stanley's attention.
'I hear you Xev.'
'Stan, Kai has entered the ship he says that its occupant will give us no trouble I am going to join him.'
'Be careful Xev.' Stanley replies.
'Don't go my darling one it is far too dangerous.' 790 chips in.
'I will be all right number 790.' Xev replies.
'I will contact you when I have something to report, Stan. Xev out.'
Stanley resumes feeling sorry for him self only to be interrupted by 790 complaining that he is facing the wrong way.
'I told you to shut up metal head.'
'And I told you not to call me that, mashed potato for brains.'
'Right that is it I have had it with you, stupid robot head.'
With that Stanley picks 790 up and skulks off the bridge with him.
'Were are you taking me you poor excuse for slime.'
'I am going to put you in the toilet were I can't hear you, and then I am going to get some sleep.'
Stanley leaves 790 perched precariously on the rim of the toilet and then goes into his sleep chamber and gets into bed.
Xev boards the Small ship and jumps with shock when she sees the body of the pilot on the floor. His face looks fine but the rest of his body is in a state of decomposition which seems to flow out in a circle from his breast plate.
'Kai what happened to him?'
'He has reached the pint of no return.'
'The point of no return?'
'Yes he has been without protoblood for some time, he cannot be brought back.'
'Then he is dead?'
'He was already dead but he cannot be reactivated.'
Kai starts to try to access one of the control panels.
'I will need to work out his security code before I can access this terminal.' Kai says.
'Haw?'
'I should be able work out the code, but it may take some time.'
As soon as Stanley's head hits the pillow he is asleep, and he enters the dream world which has haunted him since his capture by the Divine order. Every night for the past nine years he has been forced to relive the same moment. Tonight is no exception, sitting alone in his shuttle he sends the message.
'Astral B heretics come in, this is assistant deputy backup courier Stanley Tweedle I am low on air and awaiting instructions.' There is no reply.
'Astral B heretics come in, this is assistant deputy backup courier Stanley Tweedle I am awaiting instructions.'
The radio crackles into life Stanley expects a familiar response but he hears laughing. Stanley looks at the vid screen but is isn't there or rather he isn't there. He finds himself sitting under a tree in a beautiful forest, he stands up and watches as the purple sunset turns the leaves on the bush in front of him a vivid blue. I know this place Stanley thinks to himself but before he can remember he again hears the laugh.
'Lyekka is that you.' he say's
'Yes Stanley I am above you.'
Stanley twists his head to look up and sees Lyekka balancing on a branch above his head.
'I like this place Stanley were is it?'
Stanley suddenly remembers were he is, or rather were the forest was.
'Home Lyekka this is my home.'
Lyekka jumps down from the tree making a perfect landing. Stanley looks round just in time to see one of the last rays of the sun hit Lyekka, she is beautiful he thinks to himself as the sun light caches her blond pig tails.
'Lyekka it's not that I am not happy to see you but you said you would only come to me if I was in danger.'
'Are you in danger Stanley.'
'No.'
'Then why am I hear?'
'I don't know.'
Lyekka shrugs her shoulders and smiles then looks over Stanley's shoulder.
'Who is she Stanley?'
Stanley turns round and sees s figure silhouetted in the first rays of the moon then the figure speaks softly.
'Do you like me?'
Stanley takes a step toward the figure.
'Wist?'
The figure moves in to the light were Stanley can clearly see who it is.
'No waste of skin, Giggerota back.'

iii

Xev crawl's back through the small airlock and looks at Kai who is concentrating on the interface.
'Kai I can get no response from Stan.'
'Perhaps he is asleep have you contacted 790?'
'No.'
Xev takes the other communicator which Kai hands her.
'If you want me I will be on the Moth.'
After she has returned to the moth Xev takes her breathing mask off and opens a channel to the robot head.
'Xev to 790, Xev to 790.'
'O' sweetness am I glad to hear your voice.'
'790 Kai is trying to get power to the little ship we will be a bit longer, were is Stan.'
'The security guard is asleep and he left me on the toilet.'
'Why do you need to use the toilet? Anyway I will contact you when we are done, Xev out.'
Xev looks out of the hatch she has always thought that space looked beautiful she starts to lose herself in a day dream when something behind her makes a noise, she turns round with a start.
'I have overridden the access code I will now start the power transfer.'
Xev had not heard Kai enter the moth even with her predator scenes the assassins stealth could often defeat her. Perhaps it was one of the things she loved about him she mused.
Stanley looks at Giggerota and realizes the scenery is changing around them gone the forest were he spent his days as a boy, now flames lick at him and he finds his feet stuck to the ground. Lyekka walks toward Giggerota, who laughs, though hers is not a laugh one would want to hear.
'I'm Lyekka who are you?'
' I am Giggerota the wicked, What are you.'
'I am Lyekka, I do not like you.'
Lyekka shoots a bolt of blue light from her hand and the scenery again changes they now stand in a white box. Giggerota shouts at Lyekka.
'What are you.'
Stanley suddenly realizes something is wrong with Lyekka she seems to be in pain.
'I will kill your new girlfriend and then I will kill you skin man.'
Giggerota opens her mouth and bears her teeth then her long tongue shoots out to aiming straight for Lyekka neck. Lyekka suddenly lashes out firing another blue flash this time straight at Giggerota. The flash engulfs Giggerota who cry's out in pain before collapsing on the floor.
'Did you kill her?' Stanley sakes.
'I dissolved her skin. I think she is dead.'
Stanley breathes a sigh of relief.
'Think again plant girl.'
Spinning on his heals Stanley finds himself looking straight at Giggerota who stand naked.
'You only dissolved my clothing, what are you looking at waste of skin.'
Giggerota makes a gesture with her hand Stanley is blinded by a flash of white light when he opens his eyes he sees Giggerota wearing his uniform. Stanley covers him self with his hat as Lyekka and Giggerota circle each other.
'I will kill you plant girl.'
'Not if I kill you first.'
Lyekka fires a shot into the ceiling again changing the location they are now back in the forest. Giggerota cry's out as Stanley realizes he is fully dressed again.
'You will not defeat me, I will kill skin man and avenge my own death.'
Lyekka looks at Stanley.
'Did you kill the real her Stanley? '
'No the super nova killed her.'
Giggerota snails at Stanley.
'You could have saved me but you left me to die.'
'Yea and what would you have done if I had saved you?'
Giggerota looks hurt and upset by the viciousness in Stanley's voice she replies softly.
'I would not have killed you captain Stanley.'
Lyekka looks confused by this she cannot believe that Stanley would have left someone to die. She had always thought that Stanley was too weak to kill.
'Stanley is it true that you let her die.'
'Look we didn't have much time the sun was about to go super nova we couldn't have saved her.'
Lyekka looks at Stanley and realizes he is telling the truth. Then she feels the flames start again but she is paralysed.
'Time to die plant girl.'
'You cannot kill me I am already dead.'
Giggerota laughs.
'You are like me little girl a conciseness sharing the waste of skins brain but I will defeat you and I will kill him.'

iv

Xev pulls off her breathing mask and gets her first good look at the little ship. Kai is fiddling with the controls but now it has power she can see and breath. Suddenly a siren brakes the silence and a video screen flickers on.
'This fugitive wanted for termination...'
Kai presses a button and the computer generated voice is cut off mid word. Xev is looking at the screen there are three images one of Stanley one of Kai and one of herself. It takes a couple of seconds before she realizes that the picture of her is out of date.
'Look Kai this is haw I used to look.'
'That would be constant.' the assassin replies.
Next to the screen Xev can see her own reflection in some black plastic trim she sub concisely starts to compare this with the picture on the screen. She suddenly realizes what Kai had said.
'What do you mean consistent.'
'I have managed to access the ships log. It was dispatched from the Mega Shadow just after they made it through the factual core. When LEXX destroyed it this ship was thrown free. It then pursued us to Brunnis hiding in the gravity well of Staples one, a moon orbiting the outermost planet of the Brunnis system. At that time it appears that the occupant was damaged he regenerated and was about to pursue when the sun went super nova, the ship was disabled and has drifted until now.'
Xev smiles and again look's at the picture.
'Kai do you think I look better now or before.'
'I do not think, Lyekka made you as 790 described you and he over exaggerates you attributes.'
Xev seems some what confused by this and decides to let the matter drop.
'Maybe we should just get the protoblood and leave.'
'That will not be possible.'
Xev looks at Kai.
'Why not?'
'The protoblood on this ship is tainted and there fore of no use.'
'Haw come.'
'The divine order did not want the technology falling into the hands of heretics so bio-vister Brizon made a counter agent that would neutralizes it.'
Xev doesn't understand.
'This counter agent is in the protoblood on this ship?'
'It was automatically released when the hull was breached two years ago.'
Xev bangs her fist against the wall inadvertently smashing the vid screen which is displaying her picture.
'Do not worry I have sufficient protoblood.'
Kai starts to move to the air lock and Xev follows pulling on her breathing mask until they are back in the moth.

v

The End

Authors note. OK I know it isn't very good but I only spent a couple of day's on and if you think you could do better then do.