HOPE BRINGERS (Strong superhero women) (Mystical Slayers Book 2)

by Michael W. Huard

  By the time he woke up, he found that he was nestled in the arms of a woman. He looked at her; she was very pretty and had soft eyes. She rubbed his head and fiddled with his curly hair. He felt happy and safe. Before he drifted off to sleep, he opened his eyes to look at this woman one last time.

  This was no ordinary woman, he thought. She wasn't just a ghost of his dreams.

  She leaned in to kiss him on the forehead, but just before her lips touched his skin, she was gone. Tears cascaded down his face as he descended into what felt like a never-ending pit of sadness. He longed to be held by this woman of his dreams again.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Lucky for the scientist Sinaye, on one of the far-off moons of Saturn, Resin had brought in lots of robotics equipment for her to mess around with.

  Keeping busy was paramount.

  Now with a baby daughter, life had become even more interesting. The family of three would often sail the waters that were home to the native fish-like beings.

  The most interesting part about their journeys across this ocean, was the aspect that gravity was not like that of Earth.

  The water raised so high at times that describing their trip as a "wild boat ride" would be considered an understatement. It was more like a wild roller coaster ride. One of the benefits of the unusually high waves, was that they could witness firsthand some of the amazing phosphorus activity that took place on the top of the massive cavern they lived in.

  This moon's water-world was simply astonishing.

  Sinaye still longed for the day when she could, if it all possible, return to her fellow sisters; she still held out hope.

  For Resin, he was just thankful to have the one woman he so desired as his own. The two of them had always spent a lot of time together, but having a daughter thrown into the mix, in his opinion, had only completed his perfect family.

  There was no doubt in his mind that Berlin Purcell, the general of the Y-Corporation's army, would now be leading old America as a president rather than just as an army commander.

  He'd had to come to terms with the fact that he could not return to Earth, but it didn't stop him from thinking of other ways in the back of his mind.

  The mineral that he and Sinaye had discovered was something they'd put to good use. Sinaye couldn't administer her normal Starigen 6280 formula, so she and Resin had studied ways to use this new mineral to delay ageing and maintain a strong body.

  Resin had also developed a breathing mask for Sinaye, after he noticed she was struggling with the oxygen levels being so different to those back on Earth. Sinaye had to wear it quite often to help stabilize her breathing.

  The moon's aquatic people spoke a language that was quite difficult to understand. Most of their communication was done with various gestures, almost like sign language. Over the years, the couple had been able to figure out most of these movements, as well as some of their more basic spoken words. For example, "Rah" was the word used to describe the ocean and caves where they lived, and "Nah" translated as the "land" surrounding their home.

  Sinaye was talking with the Seidon she called Thella.

  Thella would always use the word "Nah" when searching for more of Sinaye's magic mineral. Today, she led Sinaye through deep waters to a place where the scientist would hopefully find more of the coveted mineral; this fountain of youth and good health rock she dearly wanted to study more.

  Thella, the tall lizard woman with yellowish brown spots all along her face, swam up the coastline with Sinaye and found a narrow crevice in the rocks. This cave opening was filled with underwater pools, each with an air pocket that provided suitable breathing stops for the entire length of their route.

  Eventually reaching a rocky cavern deep within the cliffs, Sinaye and Thella climbed a makeshift stairway and headed toward an opening at the top. With light streaming through some sort of doorway in the cave wall, Sinaye took a few tentative steps toward the threshold and looked through to the other side; it was a world more beautiful than Sinaye could have ever imagined.

  Thella tapped Sinaye on the shoulder to bring her attention back inside. She then pointed out the mineral substance above them, which coated the roof near the exit of the cave.

  Sinaye was in awe. Thella then motioned back outside to the miles of unspoiled green land painted across the landscape for as far as the eye could see. "Nah," she called out to the wilderness of valleys and mountain peaks.

  Amazed and stunned all at the same time, Sinaye couldn't believe there was such a vast, lush land hidden inside Saturn's icy moon surface. This wonder was as yet unknown to the people back on Earth.

  Sinaye wanted to explore it, but Thella motioned for them to go back by grabbing Sinaye's hand and pulling her away from the opening. Despite Sinaye using her limited sign language to explain that she wanted to take a look around, Thella continued to shake her head and repeated "Rah" while pointing back down the stairs. Sinaye knew Thella wanted to go back to the ocean area.

  But Sinaye simply had to explore this hidden land, so she waved Thella away and made it clear she was staying put.

  As soon as she was alone, Sinaye slowly stepped out into the new world.

  As she emerged on the other side of the rocky doorway and looked down upon the landscape before her, she noticed a clear blue river winding its way through the trees and mountains, flanked by various species of lush vegetation.

  This was an incredible discovery.

  Carefully placing her toes on protruding rocks and other small footholds, she slowly made her way down the jagged mountainside.

  Then, she heard a noise. It started as a few grains of rubble tumbling past, but then a whole landslide of pebbles and stones came crashing down from above and rained down over Sinaye's shoulders as she hugged her body tight to the mountain. She froze for a moment and waited for the ground to settle. Looking up to see what had caused the disturbance, she saw a giant brown pterodactyl-like bird with a long red beak glaring down at her. Its stare was a hungry one, like it had just discovered its next meal.

  The thing let out an ear-piercing screech as its huge wings lifted it into the air and it soared down toward its prey.

  Sinaye pulled her fishing prongs, her sais, out from her belt and as the beast descended, she jabbed out at it with their sharp tips.

  But the creature was too big for her to stop it. Upon impact, the long talons of the bird latched onto her and together they tumbled down the mountainside. They rolled and thrashed about through high branches and jagged rocks, eventually landing below on a flatter surface of thick brush.

  The bird stretched its head high into the air, squawking and flapping its wings, and then its giant beak plunged down toward Sinaye in an attempt to bite her head off.

  Sinaye was definitely injured from the fall. She had suffered what appeared to be a broken arm and a very painful busted ankle.

  But she was a fighter, not a quitter. With her good arm, she grabbed the closest rock she could put her hand on and began beating the bird across the face with its sharp edge.

  The creature would not give up. It yapped once more, "Craaaaah!" and it still kept trying to bite and claw at her.

  It bit into her leg. She was caught by its fanged maw, yet with her other leg, she kicked it over and over while using her rock to smash the bird in its neck.

  After a few more heavy blows about its skull, the thing screamed at her no more.

  She cradled her suspected broken arm and winced in pain as she tried to put some weight on her already swollen ankle. The climb back up to the cave would've been one heck of a job to begin with; her injuries would make it almost impossible.

  She decided to start crafting a walking stick. As she shuffled through the trees to find a suitable branch, she spotted a plume of smoke rising from the valley below.

  Then, the sound of voices had her diving for cover behind a large pile of rocks.

  She spied a group of muscular, almost naked men pulling
three nude women behind them. Attached together by chains, the females looked like slaves. They were making their way through the forest but heading in her direction.

  She ducked down and held her breath, desperately trying not to be spotted.

  Who were these people, and what were they doing here? Sinaye couldn't resist taking another look. She peeped out over the top of the rocks and watched the odd group with curiosity as they approached. But, before she could duck back down, she was spotted by one of the women, who immediately looked at the other women and started making a fuss. Sinaye motioned for her to keep quiet, but before long, all three women were making noises and pointing in her direction. The female slaves, it seemed, weren't Sinaye's only problem. The men had now spotted her as well.

  Two of the top dogs, both with bulging muscles, bellowed at the women to be quiet and marched over in Sinaye's direction.

  "Ahhhh!" Sinaye cried out as she attempted to get to her feet and make a run for it. With the two hulks charging after her, her injured ankle couldn't get her out of danger quick enough. She could not escape. Less than a few seconds later, the men had blocked her path, grabbed her, and taken her in as a new slave.

  One of them tore away her wetsuit, ripping it from her body and striping her naked before shackling her to the chains with the rest of the women.

  Even though her ankle throbbed in pain, she had no choice but to hop along and follow the rest of the slaves. She tried to talk to the other women, but no one seemed to understand her words. What had she gotten herself into? Her daughter now left behind, her husband not knowing of her whereabouts or the predicament she'd found herself in.

  The group of barbarian men tracked their way through the trees and down to the river at the bottom of the valley. Sinaye was in awe of their enormous size; even the women chained to her were muscular and fit.

  She figured that the mineral was keeping the people here from aging. But she knew that couldn't be the only explanation. Something else was affecting their physical dimensions and muscular core.

  Once at the river, the women were given a short amount of time to clean themselves up. Being so dirty from the fall and the fight with the bird, not to mention the blood from her many cuts and grazes, Sinaye was more than happy to bathe in the nude. A few minutes later, the men growled and grunted at the four women to indicate their time was up. With their chains clanking and rattling all the while, the group followed the river downstream until they reached a region of bedrock where the river flowed into the mouth of what looked to be a large cave.

  All this exercise would keep anyone in good shape, but for Sinaye, especially with such a bad ankle, her pain level was almost intolerable.

  Inside the cave appeared to be the clan's home. Sinaye spotted a complex array of tunnel openings as they entered. She also saw there were even more of these brutish men and women sitting around inside.

  As she and the rest of the group finally came to a standstill, two of the stronger men started what she could only guess was an argument. After looking at her and then back at each other, with grunts and growls being exchanged back and forth, they suddenly began to fight.

  One slammed the other into a wall, and then he picked him back up again and smashed him over the head with a stone. With blood pouring down his face, the second man then rolled on top of his opponent and punched him in the nose. Before too long, an all-out wresting match was going down, with both men punching each other and rolling about on the ground trying to gain the upper hand.

  This was a fight for the rights to Sinaye. Not only was their pride on the line, so was the slim, well-built, dark-haired woman. The giants continued their battle.

  In the end, the victorious one, apparently named Bowtanny, picked up the small scientist and threw her over his shoulder. He proudly walked down one of the tunnels, officially claiming her as his prize. The other all about chanted, "Bowtanny! Bowtanny! Bowtanny!"

  Normally, Sinaye would fight to the death to stop him, but her injuries and lack of the sisterhood's powerful drug in her system made her weak. Plus, she wasn't breathing too well.

  They traveled down a long tunnel and eventually emerged at a waterfall, where he exited with Sinaye still slouched over his shoulder and made his way down a trail. It was there that a rock outcropping opened up into a vast forest floor, where yet another homestead for these large and powerful denizens appeared to be located.

  Again, she saw that many women lived here, most still in chains.

  All she could think about was somehow finding a way to escape, to get free and get back to her daughter and Resin. But it would not be so easy.

  She learned quickly that the men here were in charge. Though the women were clearly very fit and capable, they had no say in matters concerning their lifestyle. The women were dutiful slaves.

  Sinaye was placed in a hut, where she began to observe the clan and everything they did.

  The hulking men did as they pleased and took one or more women whenever they desired. Maybe this is just how it was for these people. After all, no one seemed to be bothered by what was going on right under their noses.

  Sex was not hidden, and Sinaye noticed that any brute could grab any woman at any time and simply take her right there and then.

  The guys were the protectors here. They would keep the women safe, while the females did the chores and pleased the men's animal instincts.

  Sinaye's massive barbarian, Bowtanny, was no different. When he walked in the hut and went to take her from behind, she resisted and struggled to stop him. But he was too strong, and she had two broken bones and very little energy.

  After the act, as odd as it seemed, he gave Sinaye some soup, offered her a drink, and bandaged her wounds. He then placed her on the bed and covered her with a soft blanket. As soon as he left, Sinaye returned to her studying of these people and her new surroundings as much as possible.

  As the days went by, she noted that there were just as many women as men, and it appeared as though different groups or clans were living together on this strange secret land.

  The women here were a tough lot, most standing at six feet tall or more. She imagined them all joining the sisterhood one day and becoming freedom fighters instead of being slaves. That thought kept her sane.

  But this wouldn't be the case if she couldn't even escape herself. The chains that were constantly placed around her wrists or ankles were thick and strong; there's no way she'd be able to break through them.

  Her handler returned time and time again and savagely took her for his ultimate pleasure.

  The sex was wild and crazy and rough. She did her best to stay alive while her injuries healed. Other men had appeared at the tent opening, but Bowtanny always yelled them off. For those who tried to take his woman, he beat them to a pulp. She was his, and only his.

  She got to know some of the women as best she could, but none of them spoke a language she could comprehend. So she began learning what more of their gestures and hand movements meant, as well as some of their odd words. Sinaye learned that each woman had a role for each of the various men of the clan, including looking after the children. It was an odd relationship, one that would be considered abuse in modern times for the normal citizens on Earth. But here, it was considered natural and no one knew any different.

  The men would go out hunting for days at a time, and return with materials to build better shelters and gifts that they'd offer to the women. Bowtanny returned from one such trip and grabbed Sinaye to ravish her body once again. He then brought out a gift for her. It was a ceramic, multi-colored bowl that he'd found, thinking it would make a good eating cup. She'd reluctantly accepted his gift.

  Sinaye spent most of her time thinking about freeing all these women and showing them that they could live better lives without these brutes. She hoped and prayed that this thought would come true one day.

  Sinaye was healing well and still playing her role in order to stay alive. She thought of her s
isters back home and how she was always the so-called sour puss of the group, the outcast, the one they mocked for having an ample figure and cold scientific ways. But, in truth, she loved them dearly.

  She cried often, missing Resin and her lil baby girl. She didn't choose this new life; it chose her.

  Today, they traveled as one a huge clan of men and women to go hunting and food gathering, only now, Sinaye was part of the female chain gang too. The clan came onto a site that was of great interest to her, even more so than any of the others around her.

  The group walked through the trees and climbed hills and mountains, only to eventually head down into another valley thick with vegetation. As the leading men parted a dense thicket of trees to reveal a clearing, Sinaye gasped and took a step back at the sight of a large spaceship.

  Immediately, Sinaye knew that somehow, someway, this ship was here for her. It was a vessel she'd never seen before, but she could only hope that perhaps it would lead to her escape and her eventual return to Earth.

  The ground beneath her feet began to vibrate as the entire tribe of slaves and their handlers rushed to surround the ship. It was like it was their one spiritual item that all looked upon and worshipped. Either way, they certainly knew of its existence.

  It was the first thing she had in common with any of these savages.

  She looked at the ship as they got closer, and she worshipped it too.

  ***

  Back on Earth, June, a young woman who had enough connections through her family to get a job working for the Corporation as a bartender, knew her day had come. She held a secret; she simply hated what the world had become. June, like many others, was no fan of war or corrupt leadership. Y-Wood looked down on the poor and only favored the rich. She yearned for change.