Authors: Jr H. Lee Morgan
Barely a centimeter was spared from the
combination attack. But he didn’t get away completely as the head
able to control fire latched its smoking maw on his cape and his
feet went out from under. A downward slash in the fall cut off a
hind leg. Also caught off balance the Cerberus’s left head’s jaw
unlocked. Just in time as the right’s lightening came around.
Both rolled and got
up.
Damn, my legs… they never moved that
fast before and still wasn’t enough. Have to end this quick before
my legs buckle.
The Cerberus moved somehow
faster even without the missing left hind leg. Rather than sidestep
as it was expecting he jumped around, bringing the curved blade
sharply down, able to cut through the spine easily. It howled in
frustration as it could not hold itself up on two legs.
Not wanting to make it suffer, Oliver flashed
around and plunged the knife under their howling throats.
Breathing hard and in serious pain from
cramping legs, he watched as life left the deadliest among the
deadly. He knelt saying “Thank you.” Before cleaning the bones and
sitting down on a large boulder. Three fist size morsels laid in
the shield and at first bite he could taste the pungent flavor and
was pure ambrosia. Each bite was savored as he could not even
compare the quality of others. It was in a league of its own
despite the sizes. As if all he had been eating was fast food and
suddenly received the ultimate cuisine made by a master chef’s
expert’s hand. Not even halfway through the first the Creelin pair
dropped beside him. “I can practically taste the essence. I can’t
even compare.”
“
You did well, not even my
speed could dodge them.”
Netul openly
admitted.
“But you must rest. I heard
muscles overly strain. The other will arrive in four hours thirty
six minutes. This time you will have strength aplenty to not need
weapons. This was the largest Cerberus. Its essence will increase
yours more than most.”
After eating and resting Netul was proven
correct. Two accurate, concentrated kinetic blasts destroyed
it.
Six and a half months passed following the
same pattern. Sleep, hunt and learn. Serious and subtle changes
gradually became apparent over the course of time. Power increase
began slowing down as the body could contain only so much.
Physically little changed except that now Oliver had no unconscious
control to stop his eyes from glowing. Only a strong will managed
to look normal, but only in the iris. Absolutely nothing could be
done to stop a soft golden mist from falling from his eyes. Just
like Creelin with an overabundance of psionic energy. Callier told
him it was natural and only when the limit is reached will the
glowing smoke cease increasing, but will never go away except when
releasing all the bodily energy.
Yet the greatest benefit was his eyes were
dawn to the same cluster of stars every time a break was taken and
he felt a tug drawing him to it growing desperately stronger. He
didn’t know how it worked, but knew without a doubt the sensation
would lead directly to Renee wherever she may be. She was the
vibrant flower and he the bee. How it was possible was unknown.
Just that it was.
When voiced, Netul and Callier shared a laugh
and explained it was natural for true Matches were always drawn
together. Especially Solarians with the most ideal genes.
Training was harsh to put it mildly. He
learned how Phantom’s could go invisible by using a barrier to
allow light to pass. Also how to shield other’s from sensing his
power to keep others from scratching their arms off. Hardest though
was telepathy. That took fourteen entire weeks to achieve. But the
harshest was in learning how to combine the three arts
simultaneously. Flying, reading minds and shooting streams. But it
did pay off as he was refrained from using weapons during the
remaining time for hunts. Eleven other X-Rank Beasts were more
deadly than the Cerberus, but he won.
When he became proficient in harnessing his
inner power Netul began kicking his ass time after time. He let out
his Psi Blades, energy swords that extend from the armaments, the
thin space that rounded over the wrist. The twin Creelin close
range blades were more than a match against the sharpness of the
cutlass.
Physical sparring evolved into fighting with
mind, levitation and projected blasts or streams.
Netul proved himself to be nigh unbeatable
due to experience and countless skirmishes, battles and wars won
and lost. When asked, Callier proved herself capable of also
kicking his ass ruthlessly. She seemed to rather enjoy it,
especially cracking through mental defenses and forcing him to
dance like a fool against his will.
When not doing battle he could now sense
another mind and get a feel for it to know who it was and could
choose to block or let in.
Yesterday the last X-Rank no longer had his
gut clenching or mouth drooling and was told his power had at last
reached its zenith.
And now Oliver delivered a blow to Netul’s
abdomen after kicking the shield aside and blocked the sword with
his own to plant a foot in his chest. A barrier at his back kept
from slamming into the wall, but it had made him lose air. A motion
deflected the Psi Blade to lay the cutlass edge at the golden
helmet’s vulnerable throat.
“
Fifty to fifty one, match
goes to Oliver.”
Callier
refereed.
Netul turned his head, the
Cultio containing his hair and protecting it as the helmet of gold
crept down like the liquid metal of Oliver’s own armor.
“Callier, what say you?”
She turned her eyes to
Oliver and thought
“It is time. He has
attained mastery and will not be an individual unable to control
himself. He is ready and no longer a danger to himself or others
unless forced. His raw power again exceeds our people individually.
We have accomplished our orders in full.”
“
One second.” Oliver looked
up at the ceiling of the cave, but his mind touched another,
hundreds of solar systems away.
“We’ve yet
to meet, Archiver. I’m Oliver Void. It is a pleasure to meet you.
Might I ask your name?”
“
Greetings and warm
welcome.”
A feminine voice returned the
telepathy kindly, but only to speak. He could learn nothing else
and prying open an Archiver was punishable by death because they’d
kill the interloper.
“I am Archiver
Lilithn. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“
I was wondering if it would
be at all possible to visit Jaffalibn one day after I rescue my
Match and find out what happened to my people? I do not wish to be
killed by your planetary defenses just to visit your fair planet
and visit Netul and Callier. I know my Match and she will want to
also personally like to tell them and your companions thank you for
sending them to save my life as well as in training me. Will I be
permitted?”
“
I will return once a
decision is made.”
The link cut and the
three stood in patient silence for less than five minutes before
she returned.
“By unanimous decision based
on what we’ve observed, you are honorable enough to be extended
probationary trust to visit our fair world. Hold out your
hand.”
He did and a sudden flash of light
dropped a gold marble.
“Integrate it with
your suit and the metal will be absorbed. It will allow us to know
you are allowed to pass so long as you answer if entering our
space. Should you be unworthy the allowance will be stained and our
defenses will attack the moment it locks on. Is this
acceptable?”
“
Thank you, Archiver
Lilithn. Send my thank you to the others as well.”
“
So I shall. Farewell and my
personal hope is you recover your Match. Know that she remains
alive. I’m observing her as well.”
“
How badly have they hurt
her?”
“
Enough I would personally
lay waste myself had our laws not bound us. I will not go into
detail, but I will say only the seventy three locked away near her
location are also innocents. Do you catch my meaning?”
Oliver gave an evil
smile.
“Oh yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll make
sure they are safe while the planet is cleansed of its
filth.”
“
Then that is all I can
offer, Oliver Void.”
She left
again.
Turning to the two he said “I can’t possibly
say thank you enough. I’m glad to call you friend.”
“
The pleasure has been
ours.”
Callier bowed and Netul did as well.
Oliver followed smiling.
“You will get her
back. I wish to meet her just as much. Farewell.”
The two Creelin grabbed their shields and
looked up with eyes closed. A silent flash followed and they were
gone. Scent vanished too as Oliver tested the air.
“
Now to get going.” Oliver
looked down the cliff and lifted ten trophies to always remember
the best now a part of him. He checked the cave and no supplies
laid around. Only some wood and a small fire littered and so he
moved to the Flare turning it on before climbing in. Everything was
set except he hadn’t powered the reserves and a simple touch on the
stick and the percentage filled to full in a few easy seconds.
Everything was set and the lid sealed before lifting off and flying
out. A simple thread of power brought the trophies that would not
fit in the storage area. The ascent soon brought the Flare deep
into space where he hit a button to lock onto the skulls and a line
wrapped them into a net to hold it up under the ship.
“
Where are you… there!”
Oliver called out, having the Flare pick up on the Dorgenox’s
signal he placed secretly to find it anywhere. “Two and half days.
You’ve been busy, Captain. Here I come!” leaving the gravity wells
he hit the FTL drive and was away.
Sirens went off on the bridge and Jake Dorgen
came charging out of the bedroom, Andrea hot on his heels. His chip
linked to his ship as he burst through the door onto the bridge.
“REPORT!”
The ship’s automated warning was of the voice
of his late wife and she only spoke under major problems.
“Unidentified wave-form detected. Psionic emanations…
unclassifiable. Heading 336 X, 21.62 Y, 211 Z.”
“
Clarify ‘unclassifiable.’”
Jake said as Abdul turned the ship’s wheel.
“
Readings greatly exceed all
known historical parameters.”
“
What the hell
could…”
“
Incoming contact! It’s… By
the Stars! It’s the… the
Flare
!” A person below
yelled.
Jake Dorgen’s smile split his face. “Open a
communication with her.”
“
Aye aye!”
A screen popped up on the bridge as Oliver
allowed it and jaws dropped. It was rather comical. They noticed he
was much more fierce and calm than any had ever remembered. Jake
Dorgen said “Lad, ye are a sight for this old man’s eyes. Good to
see ye alive and well! Don’t know how ye found us, but I’m glad for
it.”
“
It is good to hear a
familiar voice too, Captain. I calculate the Dorgenox is six hours
FTL from the assholes who took my woman. Right outside their
subspace radar range.”
“
Aye, Lad.”
“
Good, I’m done waiting. How
many medics do you have aboard?”
“
Fifteen answered my private
call.”
“
Tell them to expect seventy
three captives. Open up the dock. I have trophies I need to drop
off… then you are going to follow me after five minutes. By the
time you arrive it’ll all be over. I take it you can’t
read
me by your
expression. Know I can destroy small stars if I give everything I
have into a single kinetic blast.”
“
Quite a boast
lad.”
“
No it isn’t. The Creelin
calculated it five days ago when my sphere reached eight hundred
and fifty three kilometers across. My stream is about half the
sphere.” His self assured tone had the crew go dumbstruck. “I’m
five hours out so ask your questions.”
“
Lad, why don’t
ye
tell
us
what ye have done, but
wait till those close to ye arrive.” Apparently the call for a few
close friends eventually filled the bridge. First reactions had him
chuckle. When no more could fit, but Stone, Satellite, Steven,
Visor, Stephanie, Jessica, Jacob who’s leg had grown back, Davan
Took and other close, stood with Jake. “Shaddup!” the captain
yelled. “No more can fit. I’m sending elevators back. Go,
Lad.”
Hours were spent mostly for the crew
listening, many times scaring them in the story. Questions were
asked, when they didn’t believe, he passed an asteroid the size of
the Dorgenox and the crew watched in awe and fear as it was crushed
by a telekinetic squeeze no human could pull off. Eventually he
said “Captain, are you willing to follow me once I drop off my
package?”
“
A fantastic story, Lad, but
in this I’m glad ye are on me side. Get me daughter back
no
matter the cost, but if
ye can also save the chairman for me to have my way with… we won’t
have an issue with ye telling me what to do this time.”
“
No promises. I’m in the
mood to shatter the planet for being away from her for so long.
They fucked up and I’m not taking prisoners. If that changes I’ll
try to leave you a bone to chew on.”