Evolution's Essence (7 page)

Along the way Rose got hungry and snatched a
Piranha straight from a slow moving river, her keen eyesight and
speed didn’t let the low rank Beast stand a chance as she ate
during the flight, utilizing her curved talons to hold while she
tore into the meter long grey fish with deadly teeth and insatiable
appetite.

It was about an hour and a half after sunrise
that a hidden Hunter camouflaged in the thick treetops flew up from
below at the sight of intruders. Brandished weapons cracked with
energy and she shouted “Halt!”

The large group did so and Oliver
continuously maintained the lift of the heavy objects behind them.
They waited as the defender came closer to reveal a woman holding a
jousting lance with a deadly forked tip and a katana in the other
hand. “You are not authorized to be here and those ships… aren’t
running?” she was confused by that after noticing the engines were
off, made no noise and didn’t have any pilots. Then she touched the
side of the helmet and zoomed closer to get a closer look and said
“Oh! Sorry brothers and sister. I didn’t get word you arrived or
were coming.”

“
Because we didn’t tell
anyone yet. I apologize.” Came from the deep voice of Oliver. He
touched his com. “Elder Scythe,” He waited a moment as the call was
sent. “we’ve arrived early and I’m going to take residence in the
city for the duration of the mission.”

“
Fortune favors me then, for
I’m in the city as we speak watching over the civilians and make
sure they wipe their asses correctly. I could use the company. Come
on in.”

“
We’re coming from the
east.” He informed as the Huntress returned to hiding in the
canopy.

The crater caused by the Dorgenox’s Ripper
came into view. It was mandatory since there was a poison too
deadly to leave on the planet when last they came. The lake Renee
made to hold all the water that had drowned the city remained, but
there were changes. Large shuttles made of metal were parked on the
ground. Gemstone housing were grown in strategic locations,
creating a barrier to keep Beasts at bay to protect civilian
scientists and archeologists granted special permission to the
uncovered city. Transplanted trees proved to be of Inferno variety
since the land was cleared and the soil rich to eventually harvest
the fruit to make Booster Oil for faster FTL travel.

Zerika’s preservation laws prevent
deforestation, but the crater was too good a resource to let go
unused. It will take more months to fill the crater. But clearly
the areas were cleared around one of four entrances to the ancient
city and were under heavy Marine guard rather than Hunter.

Waiting alone was the battleaxe black man of
great stature who was in the appearance of a late twenties to early
thirties, but was centuries older. Elder Scythe stood out in a
vacant area and the group came in. He raised an eyebrow at the
Creelin, but came forward to shake Oliver’s hand as massive feline
forms came charging down the crater in perfect synchronization.
“Welcome, Brother.”

“
It’s good to see you,
Scythe. You’re stronger.”

“
By a bit. As is everyone in
my village thanks to your mate’s gene therapy. I must say I now see
why you love Beast flesh raw now. It’s delicious.”

“
Did you go up a
Class?”

“
Almost. In a few weeks I
will most likely… Is that Davan
Took
? The wanted criminal?” Scythe’s
demeanor darkened.

Davan cowered behind Renee of all people at
being noticed, but she said “Yup, but he is innocent. He didn’t
kill anyone of his free will. He was hijacked by illegal nanites
and…”

The massive warrior raised a hand. “Enough.
He is a wanted criminal on Verard for murder and cyber
terrorism.”

“
But…” Jessica spoke to
defend him too.

“
No more arguing. Davan
Took, come before me this instant.” Elder Scythe didn’t notice
Oliver had even slipped past his mental defenses and is why he said
and did nothing.

Realizing running wasn’t an option, Davan
came forth, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped. Elder Scythe
reached behind and withdrew Psionic restraints and bound both hands
in front of the man. The shackles were unbreakable since the man’s
Psionics were suppressed. “I give you this one option, Mr. Took.”
This surprised Davan, but he dare not look from the ground. “Either
I hand you over to the Marines and have them transfer you to Verad
for trial and execution or you become my prisoner and stand under a
full Elder’s council after we deal with the threat facing us. Know
this, if not for Oliver being a brother, I would not offer this
because you aren’t of us. Your ass would go to Verard for trial and
execution right away. Should you take the latter and the council
finds you guilty, you will be taken into the forest and left
without use of any weapons, including your Psionics, and left to
die. If innocent, we will expunge the bounty placed on your head as
an independent party. I will not have bounty hunters traipse on my
world.”

“
I swear I have nothing to
hide. If you send me back to Verard I’m good as hung in the
punishment square. I
didn’t
kill my friends and collogues. I’ll stand before
the Elder’s Council and present my case.”

“
Very well. From now on”
Scythe tapped the keys on his inner left forearm and the shackles
made a chime noise, the central link separating so the wrists
weren’t held together. “you are remanded under my custody. Be
warned, you will be unable to Gather or use any abilities till
judged. The bindings will remain and you must stay within fifty
meters of me at all times or the cuffs will immobilize you.
Painfully. Any attempt to tamper will immediately inject a lethal
poison that will kill you in five seconds. Understood?”

“
Crystal clear. I just want
the bastards who hijacked me to pay.”

“
Understandable, but I’m
bound to do this by law. Until your criminal status is cleared, I
must enforce the imperial law within my jurisdiction.” Scythe
tilted his head and let the subject drop. “Been a long time, Netul.
Glad to see you haven’t changed since before being imprisoned. Had
I known, I would have freed you personally.”

“
Ah, Bruce Mcnapp, I almost
didn’t remember your name. You are wiser since last we
met.”

“
Two hundred years will do
that. But I go by Scythe now since I became Elder. Why do you
come?”

“
Private matters, I’m
afraid.”

“
Isn’t it always.” Scythe
chuckled before both clasped wrists. “It is still good to see you
alive and well.” Scythe knew from experience asking for details
wouldn’t work so he didn’t even try.

“
So what do you all have up
your sleeves?” he asked the group.

The day was spent under the trees, Davan
never leaving Scythe’s side, not even during lunch or take a leak.
Stories were told, plans were made and people were pissed when
Oliver kicked everyone out of the city by nightfall. Most were too
terrified of the Ligers to offer argument, especially since ornery
females guarded the four only entrances in their razor sharp spiked
armor. Breena and Stone decided to sleep in the River Skipper,
Renee’s large interstellar shuttle. They added security in event
anyone dared to learn of the Gravity Forge or got too curious about
anything else.

Later that night Renee had just finished
feeding Isabella and put her in her crib to sleep with Sparky and
Rose in a pyramid next door. They randomly selected a place to
sleep in the city in event someone miraculously got past the feline
guards.

Inside the dwelling Oliver found a bathroom
not unlike modern facilities. A toilet, sink, mirror and shower
that all worked still after so long. It took a few minutes for
water pressure to blast out twenty five thousand years of debris in
the plumbing. Turn dirty water clear and clean.

After the shower he walked out with a towel
around his waist to look around the second floor master bedroom and
looked at the shelf made of stone that had been grown from the wall
and made for the perfect place to hold the black cutlass, indigo
shield and beige dagger usually kept in the left calf muscle.

The spare inflatable mattress from the River
Skipper laid on a stone square made equivalent for a king-size bed.
About the time he sat on the bed sheets Renee came in saying
“Izzy’s fat and happy for the night.”

“
Thanks for
agreeing.”

“
Our sex life is too
intermittent to my liking, but I get it.” Her clothes were rapidly
sucked into the bracelet. “You need your sniffer now more than ever
since Beasts rule this planet.” Naked, she strutted closer and sat
boldly on his toweled lap. “Besides, Sparky, Rose, Nova, and
Snowball are watching her and the kittens. And they are next door
with Netul and Steven on the other side. No one has balls that big
to harm my hellion.” Her hands wrapped around his warm neck and
judging by the flare of his nose she knew he smelled her arousal.
That, and his cock twitched beneath her sex. The towel the only
barrier preventing carnal activities.

Ruby red lips quirked in the corners and he
laid large, calloused hands on milky hips. “I love you, Renee.”

“
You’d better. My magical
snatch doesn’t throb for anyone else anymore. That must
mean…”

“
Oh, just shut
up.”

He leaned forward and claimed her rosebud
lips. The world spun for both. Eyes closed as he gently made war
with her sensitive pink tongue. She tasted sweet despite a sour
personality. Her hands speared fingers through his thick brown
hair, moaning as only a woman could when kissed by someone who
owned their very heart and soul. His rough hands tantalized her as
they snaked their way to cup her bare ass and pulled her closer so
they were chest to breast. Electric tingles by both touch and
sparking blue power traveled with his hand up her woman’s soft
back.

Eventually her entire demeanor changed from
badass bitch to gentle and submissive. Her lips were swollen from
his deep kiss and her radiant crimson locks began to rise as she
gathered to the half power point where her eyes turned entirely
like the irises and her hair color turned the same glowing shade of
evergreen. He felt her power, but she blocked it from going beyond
them.

Following the lead his amber eyes turned
glowing golden and his hair stood straight up as if powerful gusts
came up from below, then burned gold.

Then they kissed again and bolts of lightning
arched between their bodies worse than any lightening storm. At
this much power Zerika wouldn’t stand a chance of survival, but
both were in complete control. Her perfect nails ran down his chest
as she kissed him back.

Air was needed and as he broke the kiss he
turned and laid her beauty across the bed sturdy enough to
withstand their level of bed-play. He kissed her again and her
teeth bit his bottom lip so she could suck on it some before
letting go so he could explore her body like she always enjoyed
when the mood for rough and fast wasn’t taken hold. He licked her
neck, taking a little salt and feeling the racing of her heart
beating over three hundred times a minute. She moaned when he
kissed her sensitive earlobe and licked a slow stroke up to the
extra sensitive points before working his way down to fondle her
milk swollen breasts. A little milk lactated as he played with the
nipple and tasted the too sweet milk she produced. He rubbed her
taut belly that had just the right amount of fat he loved in her.
She was far from obese, but she wasn’t a stick either. She was a
solid woman who knew how to eat.

Her legs spread in invitation, but before he
feasted on her clit and made her scream his name he adored sculpted
legs beginning to freckle from all day in the sun wearing the windy
dressing style that left minimal to the imagination. It was a hot
day so she enjoyed it.

Then she gasped as his mouth feasted on her
clit. The tiny bundle of nerves was excited and thick masculine
fingers drove inside her channel, winding the coil in her lower
belly that much faster and stronger. When at last it went past its
threshold her vision went blank and she yelled ‘OLLY!’, her body
began to spasm, but he didn’t stop assaulting, his fingers hooked
inside and he powered his arm like a blurring jackhammer. Her
orgasm lasted minutes that to her were blissful hours. He let her
cool. Panting and covered with sweat she laughed lazily, jerking in
aftershocks. Her glowing eyes and hair dimmed as heightened senses
took a break.

He kissed her and she tasted herself to know
he enjoyed that almost as much as she. Renee cooled some and
surprised him by hooking a leg over his solid hp and flipped him on
the bed. He undid the towel and threw it to the floor to rub her
aching breasts over ripped muscles that weren’t grotesque and
overdeveloped. He was powerful and her feminine side responded and
ultimately craved that dominating force to have all to herself.

Then standing proudly awaiting her undivided
attention was a huge and thick cock that had her core slicken for
penetrating. For a big man, his proportions were still above
average. The pain caused was nothing to the endless pleasures that
member could deliver. Her fingers couldn’t touch as she double
gripped the meaty appendage and used her tongue to play with the
foreskin of an uncircumcised penis. It bothered her before, but she
rather enjoyed playing with the protective flesh. Then she began to
work it and readied for the salty thickness and wasn’t
disappointed. She savored the semen before swallowing.