TO BE, ANYWAY, HALF A MILLION YEARS AGO.
Belisarius became tense. The ancient one's strike was…
No grazing strike, this. A great wound was torn in the asteroid. Belisarius could sense the gargantuan being reeling from the blow itself.
Herself.
Not only the blow, but the weapons fire that had been concentrated on her. She was shedding substance, as she moved off. Like a giant golden angel, spilling her shining blood.
ENOUGH, I THINK, he heard her say. AM I RIGHT?
The voices of several Great Ones answered.