“Warning - three minutes and counting. “Energize your target scanners, prepare to recycle your life.” The dull faceless voice of the Keepers once again reminding me of my destiny.

Once more the moment of renewal, the tenth I can remember. It was all agreed a hundred years ago, mankind would continue. We took a decision, the world took a vote, better to live in the loop of time than be destroyed as a species. But was it the right decision? At the appointed time we would return to exactly ten years previously. Compromises had to be made -no one would age. For twenty years, the first and second cycles, when the  children reached puberty they also  ceased to age. But now more than ever I notice there are no new laughing children. No one can give birth to another life, it was part of the agreement. We could live those ten years again as we liked. They didn't tell us what to do, our decision,our fate. We are still in control, we have the power over our destiny. It's the strangest of feelings, knowing that in the next few moments, I would go back to a time when there were no more aches and pains. Isn't it amazing what a difference ten years can make? I've seen my children grow up, but I know I will never see them have children, I will never be a Grandmother. They would never experience holding a new born child, feel that need to love and protect. Was it fair to deprive them of that? But now they can live,  learn so much, form true lasting friendships. They have the freedom now to learn more than anyone else has ever had the chance to do, so much time to become experts in their fields of study. One life time was never enough to learn from mistakes, but now we all have a chance to learn and grow. I am so lucky to have had the time to write ten lifetimes of stories. Would Shakespeare not have given anything to have been given ten lives to write more tales? But what would it feel like to grow old? The taster of this wisp of grey hair, the pain in my knee,  both will be gone in a moment. Yes, it will feel better, I'll have more energy again.

But then.. I watch Simon go back to the time before. He relives the same pains, he wants to die but death is not an option, the numbers must not be unbalanced. We all chose to live, but we didn't know what would happen in those ten years, did we? Disease,  the effects of radiation poisoning, no one thought of that. Yes, I know, some cures had been found, and maybe one day we can all be free from pain, but how long, how many cycles does it take?   “One minute, ensure you are secured in your pod.”

Why do I feel so nervous? Why do I question the renewal? Why?

God, I can see the shutters closing around me,blanking out the light. I am alone. Should we be doing this? I can stop this, I don't want to go on living time over and over again. But it's a joint decision,if I don't push the button, then no one else will renew. Can I do that, can I decide the fate of hundreds of others? What right have we to keep living after millions of others have died? What right have I to decide? It can't go on, I'll simply chose not to push the button. I'm sorry children but we few can no longer be kept in this protected zone, with the hope of one day finding a new world. We had our chance, and we threw it away.  Forgive me, but I'm know this is right, we will be truly free at last. I have the power to make my own decision, let the peace of nothingness take me. . . . .

In the distance the faceless voice rings out,“Pods 23,45 and 67, have not re-energized.”

The Keepers sigh heavily,“Humans are so unreliable, just push the over-ride again. Can we do something to stop this species thinking. This happens every cycle, someone always wants to opt out. It's for their own good, would they rather be extinct? Some species don't appreciate what we do for them.”

“Look how it writhes in pain, desperate for its freedom. Keep struggling, you are a joy to watch. Die slowly for my entertainment. One dying after another keeps the meat fresh for longer, so take your time. I am pleased.” The Spider Goddesses thoughts were felt and heard by her followers as they hurried to construct still a thicker and stronger web.

She moved slowly towards the nearest trapped creature. She was beautiful to watch, only one leg moving at a time, so elegant, her design perfection. She took a moment to inject the creature with a paralyzing serum. Eating a limp creature was so much more agreeable. Still alive, still aware but unable to move. The next creature in the web watched, fighting in desperation to escape this same fate. She was satisfied for now, but turned for a moment to smile at her next meal. Who could not feel anything but love for that face?

But this time she had made a fatal mistake. This creature was not only sentient but a survivor. He was not going to die in these God forsaken lands. He stopped the struggle and calmly returned the smile. The curiosity of the Goddess was too much, no fight? She took one step towards him, still no struggle. “Why was it not fighting the web?” Another step. His finger poised on the weapon just a little further spider, just another step.

The quick eyes of the Goddess saw the red light as it made contact with the web, cutting through it with one swift strike. She reacted with her deadly spike of serum aimed straight towards his heart. But she had forgotten to watch for other dangers  from above. Not only was this a weapon it was a beacon. At that moment a Gargon flew straight down towards her, claws out stretched. At last the Goddess was his. The Scouts had done well to find her nest, pity some of them had to die in the process but the prize was worth it. The claws held her firmly from each side as the Gargon flew back into the sky. She was powerless against the strength of the Gargon, defeated her legs gathered towards the centre of her limp body. The fear was now hers, she was the victim.

Her arms pulsated with pain. Sweat dripped from her body. Her breath heavy but strong. A victory. So long she had waited for this battle, so long had she felt the pain of her loss. Hate driving her on. Now the battle was won, this was a moment to remember. Revenge was hers, no, not revenge, justice, yes, justice. The Arcon had killed the only one she had truly loved, her life, her soulmate. Now he was avenged.

In her minds eye she flickered back to the memories. When she was taken as a child she feared her captor. As years passed her hatred mellowed, and changed, into love and respect. He had shown her kindness, for a strong warrior he was gentle in love. He taught her to fight, to hold a sword. She learned how to steal with the swift whip and kill without a sound. He taught her to love passionately and to fight just as passionately.

Then the Arcon came. A beast that fought mainly at night, destroying all life in its path. Many weak-willed humans followed it, hungry to share in its victories. Death would come to the young, the weak and the old, it had no honour. Sena and her mate travelled through the vortex it had left, another job to do, another Gateway to close, another Tradic to kill, or return to its own dimension. It would not take all the people of these hills. Yes, they also took the food and the hospitality of these people, but only in exchange for their protection. There was honour in protecting the weak.

They waited, it was only a matter of time. Sena trained the men and women during the daylight hours, and kept watch in the caves at night. And then it happened suddenly two nights later. The families kept watch but so many Followers came, snatching the children. There were too many to hold back. In that one night twenty children were stolen. With so many taken at once, the trail was fresh and easy to follow. Arcon’s first mistake. Sena followed her mate as he tracked the children. Outward, beyond the hills into the sandy, rocky, open ground. With no fear for their own lives they followed on, swords drawn ready for any sudden attack. They were not old, weak or young, they would kill many. So the Arcon Followers stayed in the shadows, they were cowards, afraid of death. It was their fear, and the fear of the victims, that Arcon drank from, he lusted for the emotion of fear. It wasn’t the nourishment of the flesh he fed on, but their fear of death that filled him. Arcon’s Followers wanted the flesh for themselves. There anticipation grew, why fight with these two strong enemies, let them follow, they were not important.

So they trekked on into the night, outwards into the plain, and on towards the mountains. There, sat on a great boulder, in the moonlight, its wings darkening the whole sky was Arcon. It watched as the children came nearer. Some were whimpering, some were crying, some staring defiantly, all afraid. The fear filled the air, it filled Arcon’s lung, he breathed deeply. He rose and swept down towards the nearest child. At the last moment of life, the child saw the creature. She stared, no time to run, no time to move. A swift strike from Arcon’s claws and the child’s fears were no more, but that moment of fear filled him with ecstasy. Arcon rose back into the air as the other children tried to run back towards their home. But behind them were the Followers of Arcon, there was no way passed, no escape. Arcon flew down and gathered up the slowest small child, casting them down screaming on to the rocks below. Many of the Followers seeing the two bodies, forgot the moment, ran toward the children’s flesh, still warm and fresh, the smell of blood leading them. So weak, so easily led by their lusts.

A break in the line. Sena took a chance and pulled three children behind her as she fought her way out leaving four dead Followers, more flesh to be devoured by their own comrades. Sena’s Mate battled on to protect more children. Two more dead, as Arcon rose up for another attack. Not this time to reach out for a child, but to protect his Followers. Down he came. The Warrior stood firm, no fear for Arcon to enjoy. His sword struck into Arcon’s wing, but not deep enough. Up flew the Arcon, another dive, his claws outstretched. A talon sank into the Warriors flesh – deep. Still he fought, the sword biting hard into the claw. A hard thrust, and the claw came away. Arcon screamed in pain, dripping blood it flew off towards the mountains. The Followers, now fearing for their own lives scattered. Sena saw her mate lying where the Arcon had struck. He had fought well, the children cowered around him. The wound was too deep. His lungs filled with blood, he struggled to breathe as he drowned in his own fluid. Sena watched helpless as each breath pushed his life away through the open wound. These children were safe, the Arcon was badly injured, but now a great warrior was slowly dying.

 To save the children from the sight of his death, she took them back to the caves, back to their families and safety. Quickly she returned to her mates now lifeless body. Taking what she needed from him, she buried the body under rocks. Now was the time to follow the Arcon’s trail, now before his wounds could heal, now before her mates heart was taken from her.

Standing here after so many days of hunting, following a trail of destruction, she had him in her sight. In the light of day a sleeping Argon lay surrounded by no more than twenty Followers. Her wings helped her glide silently behind rocks within striking distance of each sleeping Follower. One by one she struck them with her silent whip, one by one they died, until she was left with only Arcon.

So the battle began. A sleepy Arcon suffered the first blow as Sena glided onto its back, plunging hard with her sword. Deep into its flesh, and then pulling back, striking a second time with all her might. Its tail whipped up and caught her, knocking her to the ground. It pulled itself around, awake now, and in pain. Sena did not run, she came forward, her whip wrapping tightly around its throat. She struck home into the soft fleshy parts of his neck with her sword. His head threw her high into the air and away. But it was too late, the Arcon could take no more. Letting out a deep cry of pain, it fell heavily to the ground. Sena watched and returned to take her weapons from the dead carcass. Now she could bury her Mates heart in the ground by this Arcon’s body. His victory, his justice. Her love buried.