Life knows no bounds of diversity. From the simplest worm in the ground to the grandest king on his throne, all has it's appointed time: it's beginning and it's end. But, no matter the lowliness or exultation of life... it all burns with a single, unified flame. This same flame that makes a wolf hunt and a deer run makes an artist paint and a couple love. 

That Flame now burned in the heart of a Xim clone, as it took its first rasping breaths in this cruel world. Only an infant, it had no knowledge of the life that would await it- to be of the strongest, fastest, heartiest race, yet to never exceed beyond the role of "servant"- for that was its duty in life, appointed by those who created it to be the [i]perfect [/i]servant, yet nothing more.

Immeasurably far away, the Flame resided, too, in the Meritoc of Kalakis, who stared out from an black-trimmed window. The sanguine skies of his homeworld mirrored the red blood of a human- how well fitting its purpose here. The Federation did not yet accept it, but the Xim never truly desired peace with them. Only the democratic fools, who value complacency over survival, would believe such error. This was not a time of cooperation. This was a time of the calm before the storm. And when that storm came, as the the Meritoc knew, it would wash humanity's blemishes clean from the face of existence.

And finally, the Flame of life sheltered in the soul of Rala the Kaldemor-Xim, a walking experiment gone astray who, unbeknownst to her, was destined to redefine what life meant, both to herself and her people...

[hr]

Within a Flow-class Striker positioned strategically on the Federation-Xim border, a fanatical young pilot sat watching, with fingers itching to fire, as Federation ships passed by. They had not violated the territory, but oh how the pilot wished they had! Just a quick signal from its ship, and thousands of XimWorms would swarm the unfocused humans, confusing their sensors and burrowing into their hull, then soon their flesh. Its hand went to the controls, only moments away from reigniting the war...

"Pilot 129-934-417-ADO," a static flooded voice crackled out from the speakers in front of the pilot, "your psychological exams have come back negative. You are unassigned from border patrol. Report to the Kalakis Spacestation 'Firefall' for relocation and reassignment." It was being reassigned, it wasn't 'mentally fit' for border duty! The pilot's small body shook with a much larger rage, but it found only the words "Yes, Commander" leaving its mouth.

Before reluctantly loading up on the Mothership for a one-way trip back to Firefall Station, it chanced a last hateful glance at the human vessels who dared to draw so close to the Xim Initiative. One day, it prayed, one day [b]soon[/b], the Xim will have their vengeance.

Humanity will become Xim.