Cutlass Sharpened (12 page)

Oliver sat the sword down and it stopped
sparkling. “Why do I not want to see any of you dead when that
Salamander made my mouth get wet and this area be in pain?”

“
It’s hunger just so you
know. Hunters eat Beasts and other animals. As to why you don’t
want to see us to die is good. It means you would never again see
us.” Jessica said, curling her auburn hair around a finger.
“Oliver, you know how bad you struggle to understand us? Death is
just like what you were when my wife found you, but in death you
don’t recover… you lose everything. Death is the end.”

“
I don’t want to see anyone
die… I like talking.”

“
We’ve diverted from the
main topic. Can we get back?” The blonde archeologist didn’t get
denied.

“
If you thought his sword
was interesting, it pales in comparison to the armor found with
him.” She lifted the strangely shaped brown cloth from the case in
her lap. It held a faint sheen to show it was metallic, but felt
like silk.

“
This is the second ever
recorded armor discovered to be
organic
metal.”

“
No.”
Hissed Sparky as he stretched his neck closer to get a closer
look and sniff.
“Organic metal is
myth.”

“
It’s fact now.” Stephanie
challenged. “I thought it was some hoax too. A rumor of a rumor of
yet another rumor since no one of any credibility has seen a
genuine one before.

“
After I was cleared
medically I took it back to my study and cleaned the Star-saber and
the armor. I should have done the armor first because it is more
fundamentally inspiring than the weapon.

“
When I say organic, I mean
the material acts and reacts like our immune system. Cut a piece
and it begins repairing, sensing damage, but without a nervous
system I could find no nanites. Unlike our own nanite infused armor
which basically makes patchwork. His armor
regenerates
, given enough time… like
our natural bodies or ships. And the metal has what I can only
assume to be a type of stem cells just waiting for some kind of
program… and I think the programmer is on Oliver’s arm.”

He pulled the sleeve back on his right arm
out of sheer curiosity. “This?”

“
The original multi-tool,
yes. Oliver, just for a test I want you to imagine turning this
brown color snow white.”

Stephanie’s prompt had him imagine just that
and in a moment the idea was formed. The vambrace reacted to its
host’s will and a needle thin spike pierced the distance between
them. Spreading from the epicenter of the needle, brown paled to
pure white spreading out further and further till everything was
solid white. She crowed “I KNEW IT!” she stomped her feet in
excitement as she turned it around and around. “The multi-tool can
indeed modify the armor. Oliver… this might sound crazy…”

“
Nothing at this point can
get any more fucked up.” Snorted Renee as she touched her cheek
that had lost most of its swelling thanks to her nanites on the
job.

“
Oh, hush.” Stephanie told
her softly. “Oliver, one story says the emperor hides the armor in
his multi-tool and can call it out I suppose we can say. Try
to…”

Remembering the recent need to hide something
important, mainly his genitals, he assumed what she wanted and
acted.

The vambrace writhed like nothing any of them
has seen before and not one, but a net resembling a spider’s web
flew out and wrapped up the armor before sucking it in. The
vambrace snatched it from Stephanie’s hand and they watched the
bundle get covered and shrank as if sinking a rock in a black
ocean. Eventually the writhing stopped and went still. It looked
unchanged.

“
By the stars.” The married
women said together in a hushed whisper. Stephanie asked “Oliver,
may I touch your arm?” He held it out, not the least surprised like
the others. Her cool fingers brushed over the smooth surface to ask
“Is your arm heavier?”

“
A little. It feels as heavy
as when I held the clothes I’m wearing now.”

“
So it compressed space
without removing mass… can you absorb other things… like this shoe
I’m wearing?” She kicked it off.

He tried imagining like before and shook his
head as a migraine caused by the vambrace gave a sense of symbiosis
and what it was used for. “No. It can’t do it like the cloth… it
seems to recognize it as part of itself. An extension of itself. A
head to a body… I could make it tear apart your shoe and
reconstitute it into something different, but it can’t absorb.”

“
Really? Can it make
anything?”

“
I don’t know.” He said with
blunt honesty.

“
Hmm… then try to make it
into a few coms like before.” He nodded.

“
Babe, your shoes are made
of leather and wood, not crystal…” she stopped as the shoe was
consumed and writhed in a sickening way on the inside of his
forearm. It began shrinking before a thin tube began dropping small
green pieces of rice-like crystals.

“
You forget basic science.”
Stephanie said as her shoe transformed into eight advanced com just
as powerful as his own. “His multi-tool just proved it can
manipulate matter and transform one substance into another. We know
stars first burn hydrogen which becomes helium, when it runs out it
burns helium that transforms it into other elements like iron,
carbon and so on. In simplest terms he just took my shoe, broke
down its molecular structure and created programmed crystals in
under ten seconds. Theoretically he could make anything with it
given adequate resources.”

“
But what about his armor?
It’s still inside right? How does he get it out?”

Stephanie smiled to her wife. “I have just
one more test in this theory. Oliver, since the armor is organic
and showed it can move fluidly like your multi-tool, try wearing
it.”

Ripples traveled the length of the vambrace
and before their eyes white began creeping like rushing water past
it’s edge. It crept faster and faster, spreading a comfortable
warmth as it flowed further and further all over. Oliver couldn’t
help feeling uncomfortable by how Stephanie’s blue eyes moved. And
he didn’t sense anything wrong when she suddenly backed off and
looked down to find his clothes Renee supplied seemed to stretch
too far. Strands ripped apart as white armor built up from beneath.
The clothes were tight to begin with, but the added thickness
wasn’t much, but it was enough to rip and tear some.

Oliver stood and the clothes had to be ripped
off. There was no other alternative other than cut.

Four sets of jaws dropped as they took in the
sight of Oliver. He was already extremely tall and muscular, but
the armor seemed to highlight him. It didn’t have any plates or
spikes. It looked similar to a skintight flight suit, but it was so
much more. White combat boots encased his large feet and rugged
gloves covered his hands. Falling down wide shoulders was a pale
cape which came down to just above his ankles. And seemingly
attached to his hip was an empty sheathe made exactly to be a home
for the Star-saber. The only thing black remained on his left
arm.

“
Whoa.” Renee didn’t realize
it had come from her mouth as she took in how much more a change
had occurred. Her heart sped into overdrive and wild thoughts of
having him between her legs, ravishing her, ran amok again and she
couldn’t stop them. The only thing keeping her pussy from getting
her into trouble again was how alien he looked still with so little
hair he looked like a hairless octopus…
with eyes like a star and a jaw that could cut steel and lips
I could kiss till I left an permanent indent… no. Damn it, Renee.
Get a hold of yourself!
She mentally
scolded her own libido.
I need a cold
shower stat!

“
You look amazing, Oliver.”
Jessica commented first.

“
Thank you.” He commented
absently. He was engrossed by how it covered every inch up to his
neck. His eyes followed how it accentuated everything and hid the
bulge of his groin in an aesthetically pleasing way.

“
A scabbard?” Stephanie
focused elsewhere. “That and the boots, gloves and cape weren’t
there when I had them… Oh! Oliver, I think your armor modified it
so you can carry your sword and it won’t slice through. I think any
other sheathe touching you would not be capable of holding it.
Normally its weight alone would cut through.”

Immediately upon first touch it came alive
with stars and he figured how best to slide it in and it slid home
with a metallic ‘shkt’ ‘ting!’ sound as it locked in place. To the
further surprise of everyone the hilt and pommel continued to
sparkle in its sheathe without touching.

“
How does it feel?”
Stephanie asked.

“
More comfortable than what
Renee offered me, no offense.”

“
None taken.” She admitted,
unable to take her ogling eyes off him.

“
Warm too. Wearing it feels
comfortable… like when I awoke no longer feeling a pain in my
neck.” He balled his fist and the others expected a sound akin to
leather gloves creaking, but got nothing. “I like it.”

“
Can you change styles? I’m
afraid you’ll stick out even more walking around in a white cape
and bright white to boot.” Jessica commented, always having a keen
eye for fashion. “You know, make it look like what you wore
before?”

He thought about it and barely the tiniest
movements in the multi-tool showed it was working. Before their
eyes the suit started fading back to an earthy brown. The cape and
gloves retracted and the skintight quality loosened. In a few
seconds it appeared he wore a long sleeved shirt, pants with boots
and a sword still at his hip. The vambrace lay hidden beneath the
sleeve.

“
Well that just took care of
his wardrobe problem.” Jessica sighed fondly. “What I wouldn’t give
to have one item that can change my clothes at a whim. I’d never
need to again decide what not to wear.”

Stephanie got up to begin pacing back and
forth with a thumbnail between her teeth. “Uh oh, I know that
look.” Jessica lightly laughed and Renee joined her.

The man with amnesia didn’t require a long
wait for someone to explain what was wrong with Stephanie as she
came to a decision. “Renee, is Oliver cleared from medical?”

“
Auntie, did you do as I
asked?” Renee turned to her aunt.

“
Like I ever procrastinate
in anything my two girls ask. I’m offended. Not.” She laughed.
“Everything’s squared away. Oliver’s quarters are right across the
hall as requested. Jake understood why and the room’s been empty
for years. There was no issue keying the room to Oliver’s
biometrics you gave me to input. He’s neighbors with Sparky and
Rose.”

“
Good. Then yes, Stephanie,
I’ll clear him, but not for the whole ship. Until I’m certain what
you said” Rubbing her cheek to make a point that could be
understood. “is limited, too much interaction won’t be good…
especially with the female persuasion. If any situation arises,
anything concerning my experience, get me.”

“
Understood. Just remember
what
I
said too.”
Stephanie said seriously to the medic and turned to the newest
crewman. “Oliver, please come with me so we may begin your
studies.”

“
I would appreciate it very
much.” He smiled.

“
I’m coming as well. I do
not wish to miss anything.”
Sparky invited
himself and since the Drake was always partial to all females, the
wives held no objection.

Renee sighed as the door
shut and found herself alone in her med bay. Her mind was a mess,
but one thing stood out. Oliver in armor and his baby making shaft.
“Damn. Cold shower it is.” She got up and hurried to her room to
strip and found the cold water didn’t help so she masturbated to
climax and after the sexual release she could think more
critically. Still, she very much missed having wild sex with a real
man. But she’d not take that path anytime soon,
Especially not with Oliver
. She told
herself.

Only she didn’t know if she truly believed
it.

Chapter 4

Outside the med bay area the walls and floor
of the Dorgenox were made of rustic planks of wood like most
sailboats, but was more than it appeared. The wood was hard and has
artful darker brown lines running through their grains with dark
eyes randomly in them. A hallway ran left to right and was plenty
large enough for ten people, arms stretched, to reach one wall to
the other.

Opposite of where Oliver carefully stepped
out he found a sliding door with the number six nineteen painted on
it. Jessica told him it was his now and only he, the captain, the
first mate and Renee had access to enter. It opened for him and
inside was a spacious cabin with a large bed covered in soft
sheets. Beside it was a nightstand. In the middle of the room was a
plush, spacious sofa sitting in front of a wooden table with an
inactive holographic television crystal that would cover the entire
room in a display for whatever personal program he’d prefer.
Jessica promised to teach him how to use later. Also on the table
was a drink dispenser, but food would be eaten in the ship’s mess.
Another corner led to a door which connected to a bathroom which
prompted him to ask “Soap, is it possible to get what I had in the
shuttle? I’m not partial to what I used earlier.”