"The drills, on my position, now," Yrix ordered.
"Yes, Arch-Flayer," a fellow Psion responded, receiving the battle commands via telepathic connection.
Three balls of fire came hurling through the air above Yrix, crashing down onto the ravine with tremendous might. Each drop pod, more massive than the last, hatched to reveal large machinery that had been stored aboard the fleet. The large drills readied themselves before rotating at blinding speed, cutting away the dirt and rock of the planet's surface as Yrix climbed down after them.
Behind the Arch-Flayer came a host of Consortium grunts, with most of the lumbering beasts being accompanied by the occasional Psion with a much smaller stature compared to Yrix.
"You didn't have to come this way," a young Psion spoke to Yrix, its green armor projecting a floodlight into the newly made tunnel. "You have the Emperor's blessing, Yrix."
"This was faster, deacon Vyna," the Arch-Flayer shrugged. "It is unwise to give the Infestare time to adapt."
"Because our tactics are so flexible," the Psion joked.
Yrix did not respond, focusing on her mission as she began pushing the drills forward with her mind. Eventually, the great machines came to a fiery end, their metal hulls unable to withstand the Psion's effort. But all was well for Yrix, who had already torn away the last of the dirt to reveal a deep chasm filled with yellow luminescence.
"Secure this area, the target is mine." Yrix snapped at the company, her voice practically tearing into their minds. "And don't...touch...anything."
Before Yrix lay a series of strange monuments, with each neatly decorated structure representing one of the Infestare's foreign beliefs. While it was common for the monsters to desecrate their own bodies and the corpses of their enemies, it seemed they still possessed some form of art within their homes.
Yrix would, of course, never admit it, but she found their catacombs to be ornately designed. It was almost contradictory for such a feral species to dedicate their time to making such things as staircases leading up to their structures. But Yrix had no time for insights and cultural mysteries, pushing her way through the stronghold all the while seemingly oblivious to the fact that it was empty.
"There you are." Yrix smiled, albeit without any visible mouth.
The Arch-Flayer reached her hand out towards the center of the room, uncovering a heavily decorated cocoon of sorts from within a mossy grove. She could practically feel the Psionic energy pulsating through the artifact, filling her with excitement. Such passion began to blind her judgment, causing her to feel an irrational obsession with the contents of the cocoon.
"Finally," Yrix told herself as she gently pried the object open. "My...student."
Within the capsule lay a small girl, whose exact biology seemed eerily similar to that of the primitive human race. Yrix didn't care. All she wanted in that moment was to protect the girl, who lay naked and unconscious within the cocoon.
The Flayer had no concept of physical attractiveness, but even she could tell the dainty humanoid was of a prettier sort. Her dark sapphire colored hair came down to her waist, glimmering with a foreign energy. And her eyes, even while shut, emanated a vibrant energy that Yrix could practically feel with on fingertips.
She hadn't the slightest idea where the girl came from, nor did she know who was responsible for the elegant markings on her body. But what Yrix did know, more than anything, was the girl's name, which had been practically carved into her Psionic signature.
"Lunae." Yrix smiled.
"These symbols," one of Yrix's Psions proclaimed with great concern in their voice. "It's Infestar! This is no relic of the emperor!"
Suddenly, the head of the Psion exploded into a mist of blood as Yrix clenched her fist. Her entire company was taken aback, pointing their weapons with a measure of reluctance. But Yrix had no intention of explaining her actions. She was going to take that girl home, if it was the last thing she ever did.
"Traitor!" Vyna screamed, her voice rallying the entire company. "You would betray your emperor!?"
"I only mean to carry the wild ambition he's so proudly adorned upon himself." Yrix hissed, sealing the pod in order to protect the girl. "Do it...call for reinforcements."
Vnya's eye widened, realizing her Psionic connection had been cut off from the fleet.
"Don't worry," the Arch-Flayer boasted as she gracefully descended a set of stairs, as the company readied itself for battle. "I'm sure the Infestare will enjoy your screams."
*Not as much as Yrix would.*
Yrix then unholstered her sidearm with blinding speed, pulling its trigger and sending a bolt of molten metal into Vyna's head. Using her Psionic projections, she then directed a formation of purple beams into the hearts of a dozen warriors, their bodies exploding with violent energy. Nearly a hundred of the Consortium responded by firing relentlessly at the Arch-Flayer, their hands trembling with fear.
"Kill her!" Another Psion pointed with its slim finger, commanding a series of larger brutes to fire their shoulder-mounted explosives.
Yrix nearly chuckled, lunging into the air before landing on the Psion, her sharp heels crushing its skull. She then used her immense height to kick another Consurtium warrior with crushing force, causing it to nearly explode into meaty fragments.
Whether it be against the Infestare or her own comrades in arms, combat was everything Yrix lived for. And for that reason alone, she yearned for the girl within that pod, whose potential could give her what she desired.
Changing the magazine on her sidearm, Yrix released a howling scream from her mind, shattering the fragile minds of those who remained in opposition to her.
She then playfully began to execute the crippled husks, sluggishly aiming her weapon at their heads before pulling the trigger. When all was said and done, she had executed the entire company.
"Now now," the Arch-Flayer spoke softly, extracting the girl from the pod as she stepped over her dead comrades. "You'll be safe."
It was rather easy to make up an excuse once Yrix left the chamber. Given her company's chances against the Infestare and the Emperor's taste for alien females, there was already a perfect lie around her betrayal. All that mattered to Yrix, even more than her honor, was her blooming project.
"I have just the home for you." Yrix smiled at the girl, levitating her way out of the cave as she spoke. "A place, with many like you. I pray you'll live up to my expectations."