Evolution's Essence (24 page)

They chatted for awhile while preparations
were made for the enormous endeavor to uncover the past. It was no
simple ordeal, but it would have taken decades more to even a
century or two to construct obelisks needed from scratch. The
designs had to be perfect otherwise. Best to use what is already
available.

Roughly a half day later a small group
eventually gathered before traveling instantaneously to the great
city Verard. Second most advanced by human hands.

Nothing came close to the City of Fire.

Immediately the lower gravity needed to be
adjusted to till Oliver initiated a program for himself and those
with a Valek at ten gees. Manipulating gravitational fields was a
simple matter. An invisible field certainly helped make the new
gravity more comfortable. Ten times Earth Standard was comfortable
to them and rather than hop around like fleas, they strolled the
lit up streets completely alive day and night. Never resting. Their
arrival to Verard drew whispers and gawking crowds, but they didn’t
dare get close. Lessons were learned and no one wanted to run
headlong into a visible barrier. The activity of Verard was always
noisy compared to the peacefully quiet city of Fire. On the other
hand Verard was now classified as Water allied and everywhere there
was blue of some kind in the gemstone city. Some people in a hurry
flew under their own power, but most decided to enjoy a stroll
through the streets without a single vehicle. Walking was pleasant
as ever.

Great towers and skyscrapers were grown from
gemstone technology, but paled in comparison to the dark monolith
of King’s Tusk Tower. Though it looked like a pristine ivory tusk
from an elephant. It was constructed of seamless pale ceramic and
was truly a massive freestanding structure. Twelve thousand one
hundred and thirteen meters from the ground up and had a base of
twenty two hundred and nine, curving more towards the tip. Still,
from ground level it was a monster’s shadow in the dark. If not for
the city lights it would be ominous. A portent of doom to the
superstitious.

The group was led by Steven and they didn’t
pause to answer any questions in the crowd. For a brief moment
Oliver remembered once trying to go invisible in the city, but
immediately after the few in the crowd who got the gene therapy and
had heightened powers could see the net of energy that bends light
came running for a moment to speak. They told others and were still
followed. The Phantom program made sure everyone with heightened
powers knew how to use them.

Losing the crowd was impossible without
force, but that was misuse and therefore illegal. So they walked
straight to the still non-descriptive and clean alleyway between
two gemstone businesses. Renee in her lovely white dress and Oliver
in Fire’s leather jacket and pants that looked like cracked
volcano. Steven knocked on the door and a slide opened enough for a
person’s eye’s to be seen. “Hey there. Recognize these folks.” The
woman gasped as a chuckling Steven moved aside and the door opened
widely.

“
Welcome to The Pits, Your
Highnesses. Come right on in.”

Renee grinned, loving to unsettle people.
“Can you please call Marcus and inform him we’ve arrived. Tell him
I’ve got excellent information he can be sure to salivate
over.”

“
Right away, Ma’am.” She
touched her ear and called the owner of the club as the group came
in. Nineteen Ligers, two being of Oliver’s Pride, stood outside to
keep the crowd away. The rest came right in, Rose and Sparky filing
last. Their young looked after by Captain Dorgen.

Marcus opened the guarded inner doors before
the group finished the angled descent down a long tunnel. “It has
been too long since you lo have came to visit. I was worried you
forgot all about me.” He said falsely. His genuine smile defeated
the insincere pout.

“
When I want to see a good
fight I know just where to come for blood and fun… when I’m not
dealing with family.” Renee hugged the laughing man and Oliver
shook his hands. Marcus, like everyone in the Empire knew all too
well about their family drama.

“
So what is this I hear
about information? Do you have the inside track I might miss with
tonight’s fighters?” He was eager as ever.

“
Mmmaaayyybbbeee.” She drew
out for a little suspense.

“
Please tell me I can
announce another Liger fight! The profits were staggering and
spectacular to behold.”

“
Sorry, but you’ll just have
to do with having my granddaughters Natalie and Merril join the
battle tournament. I hope we made it in time. It’s still early
right?”

“
For your kids? Like you
need to ask. Besides, the show has yet to begin. The tournament of
challengers will be held in a half hour so yeah, you made it just
under the wire. They’ll bring more bets than the Ligers ever will.
Come on you two. I’ll show you where your mothers and aunts used to
fight… Er… Oliver, you
are
going to put up a barrier if these two get out of
hand right?”

“
Naturally. I won’t let them
hurt anyone if they face off.” He said calmly. “Is our private box
still available?”

“
No, but since you all have
been gone for more than a year, I’ve expanded and built a royal
suite since Queen Isabella often comes every few weeks to enjoy the
pugilistic arts. Is she coming by any chance?”

“
Nope. I gave her an errand
and she’s readying it.” Renee looked at her young granddaughters to
remind “You two know the rules of this fine establishment. Keep the
fights fair. If you two make into the final bout you can go all
out. If your opponent isn’t your cousin, use of full power will
make me angry.”

“
We’ll make you proud,
Grandma. So relax.” Natalie promised and both she and Merril
followed Marcus who told one of the guards at the door “Escort my
guests to the royal suite. I’ll take the girls below to get them
ready for their debut.”

“
Right, Boss. This way,
Folks!” the man waved and they entered.

The Pits looked near exactly the same, only
four times as large. The individual audience seats were made a
bowl-like slope down so everyone had a clear view of the
contestants. A clear, reinforced wall physically was a barrier and
when the heavy hitters came on the grounds it projected a Psionic
barrier to keep the patrons safe. Now that over half the population
received the free gene therapy, it was a necessity now that
everyone now carrying it could become class twelve users and up.
With the therapy the classes increased to fifteen.

Every individual wanted more power and a
stronger immune system. With the increase of power so too did the
need for security. Stationed strategically around behind the walls
were no less than ten bouncer employees to keep the peace and
ensure patron safety. Beyond the protective translucent membrane
the wall dropped five meters into a large circular ring. A pit
which was the establishment’s namesake. Tons of loose sand was
colored reddish from blood and had bits of hair and teeth soaked
into it from all the fights that take place almost nightly.

The private, ground floor booths were still
disguised as one-way screens so as to not distract the combatants.
Inside the ring they’d only see wooden planks. Inside the booths
the wall could be seen past. Judging by the edges there were an
additional twenty booths for the larger ring. But they had by far
the best view. Many of which were already taken in readying for the
night’s festivities to begin.

Marcus personally escorted the armed girls
down an employee’s only door while everyone else made way to the
reserved building that was much quieter. Attention couldn’t help
being drawn, but they all settled in and ordered food fit for each
palate. Due to the increased need and demand for Beast meat, it was
on the menu. Renee used her own credits to pay for everyone as her
treat. Once the funds were in it wasn’t long before food and fine
wine was delivered mere minutes before the announcer entered the
ring to call for the night’s first contestants.

Renee, when she wasn’t on
her feet cheering with Sparky, Steven, Visor and Breena, she sat
between Oliver’s legs. Between matches they’d sit and go over the
fights, but Oliver had long since stopped advising. After merely
five seconds he always could see how the match would end. He wasn’t
a cheater so even when asked, he’d not tell anyone should they
place a bet. It wasn’t fair because he was near always right. Since
he no longer dedicated himself to figuring out the puzzle, it left
room plenty to relax and see more than ever. Fights no longer
excited him. But never could he not enjoy the joy of his women when
she was happy and that was his sole reason for getting out of bed.
The power of his mind made little much of a surprise anymore. Now
that all his children were grown, his normal personality was no
longer influenced by heightened aggression. He no longer felt much
anger or much else for that matter. If not for Renee being his
guiding light, he had nothing to strive for. Everything was within
his grasp and easy to get. Especially now that he was months from
understanding the only thing that eluded him. The
only
thing.

When it was all over he didn’t know what
would make him strive.

“
Up next we have a
special
addition to
tonight’s festivities.” Marcus himself stepped into the ring rather
than the regular buxom announcer. “First we have Victoria Weinberg
who comes all the way from Mars, Earth’s next door neighbor. She’s
ninety two years old and is a scrappy little class thirteen who was
a captain before Marines dissolved into the Terra kingdom. Give her
a welcoming cheer!!!” The crowd of two thousand raised their voices
as a petite, but muscular woman as pale as a ghost, had platinum
blonde hair and frosty blue eyes came walking out wearing only a
sports bra and short shorts. She waved and the crowd got
louder.

In The Pits, fights were barehanded and no
shoes. Fighters used natural talents.

Then the door on the other side opened. “And
her surprise guest opponent to tonight’s tournament is a
granddaughter of the greatest powerhouse couple in our known
universe. She’s only eleven, but looks around sixteen. Daughter of
Marie Void of Wind, give it up for Merril VOID!!!”

Auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail and
her eyes misted a slight lavender. Like her opponent she wore only
a sports bra and short shorts, but was near twice her opponent’s
height and weight. On her left wrist was the feminine Valek and she
was in the final stages of the Medic program.

The shocked crowd took only a moment to
realize a show was going to happen before deafening the arena.
Wagers were imputed into the arms of the seats, leaning heavily on
Merril.

Renee was up against the wall the instant
Marcus left the pit. Oliver, as promised encircled the arena with
his far greater power in event Merril went overboard. Judging by
the bubble around Renee, she was an instant from entering the arena
and make sure the rules were abided by.

Victoria clearly never backed down against
anyone as her pale hair shot up and her whole eyes turned silver,
gathering her maximum. Merril sensed the quantity as she raised her
white knuckles in a fist and drew a near equal quantity, but even
that much didn’t make her eyes glow.

The bell rang and in an instant Victoria
dodged back, evading Merril’s lightning fast uppercut. Victoria
wasn’t as fast, but as announced, was a scrapper. She used the
pit’s own wall to jump in and land a solid right straight to
Merril’s nose, breaking it instantly and knocking her down.

Merril had been trained though by her family
and had natural talents in barehanded brawling. A broken nose was
hardly the worst thing she had endured and was back on her feet,
much to Victoria’s surprise. Excelling in Telekinesis, Merril
landed a long distance blow to the woman’s jaw while sprinting.
Dirt flew in the opposite direction. Merril was also a gymnast,
being trained by Andrea for over two years. She flipped around and
before Veronica could unleash a kinetic blast Merril’s foot
connected with the side of the woman’s head and she was out cold
before the sugary san cushioned the fall.

“
Winner! Meril Void!” Merril
held up a fist of victory while rubbing her bleeding nose as two
Medics on call came in. One checked and found Victoria in no danger
while the other broke Merril’s nose back to being
straight.

“
Good girl. Did you
see
that kick!” Renee was
so proud. “Awesome.”

“
It was exceptional. The
poor woman stood no chance, but looking at the roster, if Natalie
doesn’t cheat, she’ll lose. Her first opponent is Whip. As in the
former Elder Whip.”
Sparky said while
carefully using his claws to move the display screen
around.

“
Whoa, Elder Whip is
entered?” Steven looked and sure enough was the name. “Poor Natalie
won’t stand a chance. Right, Brother?”

“
You seriously expect me to
answer?” Oliver chuckled a few times. “You know I won’t tell you so
you gain an unfair advantage. Even Renee knows I won’t share my
foresight probabilities with her when she makes a bet.”

“
He’s right and it’s
cheating.” Renee sat between his legs, giving her ass a little
wiggle to express she was having a great time. After sipping some
wine she added. “Besides, I’ve already lost five grand in credits
so you know he isn’t helping me.”

An hour later Natalie’s throat was under
Whip’s large foot and she tapped out. Sparky’s words were true and
it was Whip’s experience that won. Many in the audience bet on her
and lost a fortune, but she got in a few good licks before being
defeated. Natalie eventually joined her family after conversing
strategies with her cousin. Renee helped her granddaughter
medically and Natalie was a strong girl. She knew the man wasn’t a
pushover, but made a promise and fought fair. If it was a real
fight she’d have overwhelmed him without lifting a finger.
Literally.