The Mutant World (29 page)

“What the hell was that?” muttered, Empress Shoko II.

“Welcome to war in the west, Your Highness,” replied an Illyrian veteran of the western wars, now acting as her and the other’s aide. “The warriors fight to destroy the enemy here, and nobody, especially the women, wants to be taken alive. If something should go amiss, or if one side refuses to honor the outcome of this duel, you’ll see slaughter that is usually reserved only for Earth humans.”

On the Mavie side, Queen Maya’s daughter urged her to wear armor while facing this enemy. “Mother please,” begged Dalia, but Maya would not hear of it.

“No, Daughter,” said Maya. “Armor will slow me down and I need speed as well as strength to prevail against that monster. Besides…there is no protection proof against Barrat’s teeth and claws. Let’s get this over with!”

Barrat transformed fully and stalked onto the field. From the opposite side, Maya appeared. In her hand was a truly formidable spear. The long blade glinted in the sunlight.

“Now that is impressive!” said a woman of one of the small tribes near the border. “But then, so is Queen Maya’s opponent.” Suddenly there was a great roar and everyone looked around and slowly, between the two opposing armies, a huge snow white panther appeared. The cat dwarfed even Barrat in size. The armies and their leaders were speechless. “I take it back,” said the woman, “now
THAT
is impressive!” Although most of the younger mutants just stared in fascination and admiration of the beast, several of the older Bellasarian mutants immediately dropped to their knees and the empress slowly stood up and dropped as well, along with many of the queens present. Bellasaris and Gorgo began running towards the monster crying.

“Who…Who are you?”
said Barrat mentally to the newcomer, as he drew near. Before the beast could answer Bellasaris and Gorgo brushed past Barrat and heedless of the danger, jumped on the monster and began to hug and kiss him. They looked like young girls as they cried and laughed. Barrat’s eyes opened wide as he now realized who this giant cat was. It couldn’t be anyone else.
“Father?!?”
he exclaimed.

The larger cat walked up to Barrat and looked at him, the two women still locked onto him. The big woman was even climbing onto his back and was soon locked onto his neck.
“Aye, boy,”
replied the white panther telepathically.
“Everyone stand up!”
ordered Cato. He then purred slightly in amusement and looked at Gorgo.
“I’m going to take human form now, Gorgo.”
The big woman slid off his back, but like Bellasaris remained close to the beast. Indeed, as the animal shrunk and took on human form, both women squealed in delight and were now all over him. Cato let out a sigh, but it was plain to see that despite the slight irritation, he was happy to see these two again as well. However, the matter at hand took precedence. “My son, it is good to see you again after all these years, your mother has told me that you and the Mavie Queen had begun to change this land for the better. Yet, when we finally arrive back this far east, we find a land even worse off than when she and I first met. War is everywhere. Men have thrown off their yokes, but are behaving like…like…humans! Women,
mutant
women
, are enslaved and forced to breed like animals. I haven’t seen that since the humans ruled our people. What
happened
here?!?”

Barrat, now also in human form, looked at his father and shook his head. “Father, I too, have thought much of you. My heart is glad, very glad at the sight of you. I too have much to ask you, like where you’ve been and where is my mother? But if you want the answers to why things have gone to shit here, I would ask
her
.”

Cato and the others looked at Maya who then glared at her mother. Cato was told everything that had occurred over the last twenty years. The castration of his son and especially the murder of his grandson at the hands of the child’s own mother were the most shocking and disturbing.

“Such a thing has
never
been done before!” growled Cato in rage.

Maya nodded in misery. “It is something I will have to bear for the rest of my life,” she said quietly.

“Don’t worry, bitch,” snarled Barrat, “that won’t be long. And I’ll send your mother and daughter to keep you company in the land of the irredeemable dead right after you!”

Cato’s eyebrows rose at this. “Why kill the girl?” he asked. “These two I can justify, but the girl is innocent.”

“Because she is the child of my son’s killer!” snarled Barrat. “Maya will suffer as I did!”

“Son, she’ll be dead. This is not justice. It’s nothing but petty revenge. I do not approve.”

“I don’t care if you approve or not, old man!” snarled Barrat. “It has already been agreed upon! It will be done! If you do not support me then stay out of my way!”

Shock registered on Cato’s face, quickly replaced with anger. That this boy would speak to a man his age, his own father, in such a way was disgraceful. From the equally shocked faces of Bellasaris, Gorgo and indeed everyone else, even the Barratians, it was plain that they thought so too. Cato’s fangs appeared and he let out a low growl. Barrat, baring his own fangs, did not back down.

“Stop that!” shouted Gorgo in outrage. “Have you forgotten who you are talking to?!”

The empress and other great leaders were now glaring at Barrat in open disapproval. “He is your father and our ancestor!” snarled, Shoko II. “Show him respect or die!” Barrat glared at the other mutants and took on his beast form. He had no chance against all of these people, but he was still prepared to fight. Cato shook his head, the boy was clearly mad.

“Enough,” said Cato sadly. “Fight your duel. The woman deserves to die, her mother as well. Personally, I think you’re doing them a favor. It would be better to let them live in their pain, but I won’t let you kill the princess. If you survive the duel, you’ll have to fight me next to get the girl. I’m done.” With that, Cato walked over to the Illyrian’s position to watch the fight with Empress Shoko.

Barrat and Maya faced each other again for what would be the last time, at least in this world. Barrat’s teeth were exposed and his ears were flat back against his skull. Maya, armed with the most formidable spear ever seen, was carefully judging the distance between the two of them. She knew that Barrat could move with blinding speed.

Suddenly, Prince Ras began chanting ‘Barrat’ ‘Barrat’!”

The chant was soon taken up by other men and even women from the other Bellasarian nations, some even from the ranks of Maya’s own warriors. The slur ‘Child Killer’ was heard from more than one voice. Obviously many of the warriors, even among her own people, hearts were with Barrat…at least on that score. This did not go unnoticed by the Barratians.

The two opponents were now very close to each other. Maya braced herself for the attack. Finally, Barrat struck with a terrible roar and Maya slashed viciously and desperately with her spear. There was a terrible splash of blood and Maya was sent hurtling a few feet across the field. The flesh on her back cut almost to the bone. She scrambled to her feet quickly and snatched up the spear. She spun around quickly to brace for Barrat’s next assault only to see the giant cat rolling around roaring in rage and pain trying to stand. Nearby, one of his monstrous paws lay on the ground. For the onlookers, all they had seen was a blur of fur blood and flashing steel as the two came together and Queen Maya flying one way and Barrat’s leg another.

“Impressive,” said the empress with a nod. “Whatever else she might be, the bitch can fight.” Several of the others nodded as well and applauds could be heard from many of the watchers, but few would wager on Queen Maya winning this fight. Already Barrat was on his feet and pouncing. Maya brought up the spear and fell back with the butt of the fearsome weapon braced against the ground. Barrat landed on the long point of the spear full force, which entered his body almost completely to the shaft. He roared with rage. Maya narrowly dodged the giant claw as it slashed at her head and with a strength none thought possible, she lifted Barrat up into the air and threw him to the ground. She could hear, Lady Sonja scream. She thrust hard and then jumped back, mindful of the giant cat’s rear legs and their claws. The shaft of the spear snapped as the monster thrashed and roared in pain and rage.

Cato shook his head sadly. “If he had been sane, not blinded by hate and controlled by rage, she would
never
have beaten him. I suppose it is best this way,” he said sadly. “Now my hands won’t be red with the blood of my own son.”

Soon Barrat could barely move because of blood loss and pain, and now Maya could safely approach the huge beast. Normally, the victor in such a fight would proudly shout her or his triumph for all to hear, but Queen Maya was crying. She knelt next to Barrat and took his huge head in her arms.

“Get away from him!” cried an enraged Ken, just getting over the shock of what had happened. He began to move forward, but his mother stopped him.

“No, my son…let them be.”

“WHAT?!?” cried Ken in outrage.

“She is right boy,”
said Cato mentally to his grandson.
“They were bonded. Apparently, one of them still is.”

Maya was oblivious to everyone as she spoke to the dying Barrat. “I’m so sorry, my lord. I’m so very sorry.”

Telepathically, Barrat summoned his family and friends over. He didn’t dare take human form for fear that he would expire instantly if he did so.
“My son, what I did during this war was wrong. You will honor our agreement and cease the practices in the mountain strongholds.”
Prince Ken nodded grimly. Bellasaris watched the giant cat sadly, his powers of regeneration couldn’t save him now, they were only prolonging his agony, but the madness was gone from his eyes now and he was desperately holding on to have his say. Telepathy was much faster than actual speech, but the man had only seconds left.
“Father, I thought we would have more time, but at least I was finally able to see you again. I am sorry for my words earlier.”
Cato nodded in misery. This was not the first child he’d seen die over the centuries, but it never got easier.
“Where is my mother?”

Cato knew that Tamara had refused to see him once she learned of what was being done to the Mavie women in his domain. Like the women of the empire, she felt that he had been wronged terribly by the Mavie, along with the other men of the region, but what he was doing in retaliation and to assure victory was abominable. A lie now might be best, but Cato was never good at lying, so he would tell the truth.

“Your mother hated the war and what the people were doing to each other. She loved both you and Maya, but she couldn’t look at either of you as you were now. She vowed not to return until it was over and the madness ended.”

“She was right,”
replied Barrat.
“Sonja,”
said Barrat, to his mate.
“I love you. We are not bonded…but I have loved you and our children together. Please…don’t think too badly of me.”

“I knew you were trouble the moment I laid eyes on you, you little scrapper,”
replied Sonja smiling, tears running down her cheeks
, “but Goddess you turned me on! And yes, I too have loved you. Sleep now, you have earned your peace.”

“Not yet.”
Barrat rolled his eyes at Maya, crying pitifully as she heard every word, still holding him close.
“Goodbye, my former mate. I…I wish I could leave this world…with total forgiveness…but…I cannot.”
Then, the beast’s eyes opened wide and he began to shake.
“Brac?! Brac! My son! You’ve come for me?! I…I’ve missed you so much!”
Maya’s eye’s widened in horror and she began to cry uncontrollably now.
“Brac, my son, I…”
With that Barrat shuddered and lay still. His head was now but weight on Maya’s lap. She collapsed on the lifeless body and began to sob loudly. The others now gathered around and no one spoke for a while, then Mavie put her hand to Maya’s shoulder to comfort her only to have it smacked away.

“YOU!!!” growled Maya through gritted teeth. “You did this to us! This is all your fault! Never touch or come near me again!” With that, Maya stood up and looked at now ‘King’ Ken. “The war is finished. I…I…Perhaps we could begin over now. Perhaps we could become one people again.”