Evolution's Essence (15 page)

“
Why not. It’ll give me a
chance to get to know you.”

“
Then till we meet
again.”

“
My love, you forget
something.” The Empress tugged his sleeve and made a quick
glance.

He understood and smiled. “What would I do
without you?”

“
Crash and burn.” His wife’s
eyes twinkled with mirth and he loudly laughed.

“
Quite right.” He turned.
“Renee Void, congratulations, my advisors had no objection to
naming you the new Queen of Fire. Oliver, you are now a King as
well. Now you can contact me directly if you need anything,
bypassing all usual channels. And the city of Fire will be yours to
do with as you please.”

“
Hot damn! I’m a queen now.
Better make a crown.” She closed her eyes and her armor formed a
gold circlet with seemingly rubies set inside. “How do I
look?”

“
Great, you just had to give
my niece a boost to her already overinflated ego.” Jessica threw
her hands up.

“
Screw you,
Slut.”

“
Bite me, Queen Bitch.” Her
aunt fired back.

Renee lifted her pert node.
“It’s
Royal
Bitch
now thank you very much!”

“
Oh, I love the banter.
Husband, you go on ahead, I’m going to get to know my new social
peer for awhile.” The Empress kissed his cheek as he chuckled. A
contingent remained for her protection, but soon all the other
Elder Hunters and the Emperor left to fly back up to the main
ship.

Days passed. Oliver completed the small
sphere and left with Netul who commissioned his people to design a
replica of the enemy teleportation ability. They teleported to
Netul’s world called Jaffablin for the test, not to sightsee the
reconstruction efforts after the Keptl invasion. As expected and
calculated, the field generated from the device prevented any
openings though hyperspace. And the generated field lasted fifty
hours without fluctuation and as soon as it began losing power it
exploded in all directions. Never to be put whole again. Renee
enjoyed time with Callier and they let their children sleep in the
same crib while they went for a walk and catch up. Afterwards
though they returned to Zerika to enjoy the Emperor and Empress and
sit through hours of interviews when Amanda Lockwell got used to
the fact they were relatively normal people who were extraordinary,
dangerous and easy to befriend.

Vanishing Claw decided one day to find out
just how far Oliver had advanced as a warrior and lost brutally in
a sparring situation. Even with new ligaments, he couldn’t keep up
with Oliver who had taken his training to heart and gained all the
experience he needed to beat one of the best. Now only Netul gave
any challenge and sparring between them drew everyone for never had
a human seen someone who looked like one of their own press a
Creelin into a corner, let alone a Zeelin elite warrior. Oliver won
seven out of eleven matches and each time bets were made and a ring
formed to cheer them on. Renee was most vocal for she loved men
fighting, especially her man. It really turned her on and sex was
always great afterwards.

Twice in the following days Nova and the
others surprised the cubs who marked a territory eighty five
kilometers north of the underground city. Sadly one Liger cub
already died. Viper venom. Nova’s surprise attack wounded four,
before his daughter managed to take control and fight back while
protecting the wounded. Each of the attacks gave valuable life
lessons. Be ready at all times. Still, they were all well fed and
were hunting more effectively than when they were sent away to fend
for themselves in the wild. And they were growing fast.

Then at last it was time. Discussions and
planning were over.

It was time for action.

Oliver, Renee, Netul, Stone, Satellite,
Visor, Steven, Sparky and the Pride stood on the huge bridge and
nerve center of the Imperial dreadnaught Gaia. They were watching
the subspace rainbow spiral and the countdown timer drop to sixty
seconds. Fifty nine. Fifty eight. And so on. Final checks were
being shouted across the room, general quarters were called and all
ship guns were manned. Oliver mentally checked Rose was safely
watching over his cherished daughter. Renee did so too, changing
her black battle armor white because she was part of the Medic team
going in. Emperor Coleson stood in the room’s center, calm and
quiet, but gripped his emerald Star-saber for an added anchor.

The new teleportation disruptor orb sat
gripped in Oliver’s hand, thumb at the ready to activate. The room
silenced in tension when the counter hit twenty seconds. Then
ten.

At zero the swirling rainbow winked black as
they reached empty space between two distant solar systems. Long
range scans fired the moment they exited subspace and lifted
shields. It came back and a woman said “Dreadnought seven hundred
fifty thousand kilometers to our starboard. Heading, Ten degrees.
Incoming FTL signatures detected. Our fleet is incoming. Net to
surround the enemy ship established in ten minutes. Five faster
than projected.”

Oliver activated the device and the orb
turned bright orange before vanishing from his hand and reappearing
out randomly in nearby space. He found he could teleport small
objects without going along for the ride.

“
The Dreadnaught is raising
shields. Won’t have time to disable their engines before they’re up
and our net tightens.” Another said as the ship turned to face the
same direction as the quarry. “Enemy ship has increased sublight
engine output… and movement detected at the carrier platforms.
Fighters are being boarded for combat.”

“
Soon as we get a clear
line, fire on the engines regardless.” The Emperor
commanded.

“
Enemy weapons powering up
and targeting us. Estimated time to fire sequence, ten
seconds.”

“
Show them the new shield
output we got and gain most firepower on us so the armada can deal
with the fighters and form the net. Launch our fighters and have
them fly out behind us and come around so they don’t get hit in the
crossfire.” Grand Admiral Nathan commanded.

Like a hornet’s nest being struck, sleek,
jet-like space fighters began pouring from docks along the sides of
the Gaia and flew in combat formation towards the rear of the
enormous imperial ship, staying inside the brilliant blue barrier
before spewing out like an umbrella at the rear. They headed
seemingly backwards though direction in space was relative. Long
streams of plasma showing their sublight engines were in full
effect to gain speed and engage to take up the slack of the still
incoming armada.

A wide range holographic image and message
was directed across the nearby space for a light year in all
directions, hacking all receivers for an urgent transmission. “This
is your Emperor. Markeese Coleson. Those aboard the illegally
created dreadnaught are hereby ordered to surrender and stand down.
You follow Carter Chandler and have abandoned the primary
principals that have united the Empire for a thousand years. If you
surrender immediately you will be spared. If you attack…” The
cannons of the enemy ship near twenty percent larger than the
imperial one opened fire, hundreds of cannons on the bulky carrier
loosed blindingly bright streams that impacted the reinforced
barrier of the still turning imperial sailboat. “So be it.” Emperor
Coleson’s placid expression hardened. “You’ve made your decision
and have shown your vile hand.” The communications turned off. He
turned and said “Do as you will.”

Oliver nodded and laid a hand on Netul’s
shoulder. “We’ll be back soon.”

“
End this, My
Friend.”
Netul couldn’t come. He was denied
intervening in human on human battles.

Renee mounted Sparky and vanished before
everyone else grabbed hold of Oliver and they all reappeared down
several levels where the Elder Hunters and the Rangers, the elite
secret organization that are only used by the Elders to protect the
whole Hunter organization from collapsing or being unlawfully
mistreated. The lazy and relaxed atmosphere vanished upon their
arrival. Vanishing Claw had his shortsword ready and his blue eyes
turned entirely the same color. Talon carried her two double edged
weapons, her eyes glowing a little dimmer and were crimson. Scythe
carried a battleaxe like Stone. Thirty Hunter Elders arrived in
time for the assault and eighty eight were Rangers.

Only Steven, Visor, Stone, Breena and
Satellite joined the elite team because they’ve become Queen
Renee’s personal guard. They were no longer part of Hunter command,
but remained part of their society. Emperor Coleson convinced
Vanishing Claw to do this and was readily agreed upon. A queen
needed guards indefinitely and Renee only trusted those five with
her life and none objected because they liked her. And Steven was
all too ready to jump aboard just to make sure Sparky’s life never
got a day of rest.

“
Got the schematics of the
enemy vessel, Brother?” the powered up Vanishing Claw asked as his
helmet and others were being activated.

No longer did the tablet Oliver carry for
over a year work the same after he integrated it into a space
altered pocket built inside the Valek. It was the same principal
with Renee’s small box that carried many of her mobile field lab
equipment. The same one she used when they left to go make
Isabella.

Connecting to the Valek, he brought forth the
retrieving program and an opaque crystal a sixteenth its original
size arose from the top and projected a large, slowly spinning
three dimensional representation of what they faced. Metal rather
than wood was highly uncommon for ships as large as the Dorgenox
and above in size. Interstellar craft so large needed to be alive
because they could heal, repair themselves and were lighter
overall. Requires less maintenance and easy to maintain with basic
needs of water and soil. Psionic energy easily powers artificial
light so they were naturally more self sufficient. The ship’s
commission must have taken many centuries because that much metal
and weaponry couldn’t be easily overlooked in a span of decade or
two. No part of the ship had a weakness to fly in without getting
hit by one of the great cannons. It looked like an overgrown Zero
Ball’s oval leather ball with a rifle stock at the rear to hold the
gigantic engines eight kilometers long and three times as wide.
Forty thrusters were engaged, trying to propel the bulk out of a
forming net made of interstellar ships and Marine fighters to trap
them.

“
Renee’s memory from Ten K
were accurate.” She was bored out of her mind for days sitting with
Grand Admiral Nathan and other ship captains revealing what she
stole from the memory of the corrupted abomination. Oliver pointed.
“My micro-drones are seeing the cargo area nearest the primary
power hub completely empty. The Emperor’s distraction is working,
but the power source and generator are also shielded.”

“
Doubt it’ll stop you.”
Talon said smugly and Renee slapped her back
approvingly.

Oliver couldn’t help liking the delicate
circlet she always wore in public. It complimented her vibrant red
hair and freckled ginger face too well. “No, it won’t. but the area
is clear.”

Vanishing Claw said conversationally in the
private room because everyone had heightened hearing. “Listen up.
Remember, our goal is to cripple the ship and capture the three
targets. Rangers, knock out anyone you see and kill if you cannot
crack their mental defenses. And never leave Queen Void’s line of
sight. She’s our only Medic for all sixty of us. Two hundred meters
is her Valek’s limit. Do not go beyond. Form up a lattice so you do
not burn yourselves out. We’ve all gorged on Beast brains for days
so we should be much stronger than this rabble, but do not take
chances.” Pep talks didn’t work on Hunters, they lived for combat
and action. No one go anxious or cheered. They focused on the task
at hand.

Weapons charged and everyone now could make
their eyes glow aside from Sparky and the neo-animals. But beneath
Sparky’s tactical black armor covering all except the wings, his
whole body glowed green in anticipation.

The display of the enemy dreadnaught vanished
and the crystal vanished back into a pocked of space inside the
Valek before bare hands and teeth touched him. Only Renee didn’t
need to hold on. She touched Sparky’s neck where a joint in the
plates allowed for enough of a gap to touch hard scale. Oliver and
everyone vanished. She counted to five and followed, bringing
Sparky along.

Disorientation lasted barely a moment as the
large group found themselves in a dark supply room with tall cases
filled with whatever supplies were needed. Already Oliver’s smooth
helmet was on and he drew the cutlass and shield, taking the lead.
Vanishing Claw at his side.

Closed metal doors opened after one of the
Ranger’s hacked into the door’s controls. Oliver said via the com
“Teleportation successful. We’re all aboard, Markeese.”

The Emperor replied. “We’ll keep them
distracted and give you time. Once you get the packages, get out.
We’ll handle the rest.”

“
Aye aye.” He tapped his ear
again to cancel transmissions.

The door opened with a hiss and a startled
passerby collapsed when a Ranger shot forward and laid a hand on
the man’s forehead and bound his hands in cuffs that prevent
Psionic use before tossing him back in the area they were vacating,
all of them turning invisible like Renee.

Sleek armored Ligers led the swift and silent
charge down a large corridor showing signs leading to the primary
power room. Their speed and keen senses allowed Oliver to
telepathically show what they saw to Renee who in turn showed
everyone around her and a flying Sparky. No one ran, it would have
made noise. Everyone flew except the felines.