Generations of Teelan Box Set

by G. E. Stills

  The blur of action was almost too quick for her eyes to follow. Blaise’s hands darted from her head to touch both Keita and the Captain on the shoulder. Instantaneously, all three vanished. Uba’s gun roared, the bullet screamed through the empty air where Tom’s head had been milliseconds before. With a zing it ricocheted off the deck.

  “What the…” the pirate leader began.

  Kat reached up and wrapped her hand around the leader’s wrist. The pent up charge in her exploded into him. Blue arcs of electrical energy snapped and popped all over his body. She knew it was only an outward sample of what was taking place within him. The pirate leader danced and twitched then surged from his feet to streak across the deck and crash against the starboard rail. Nothing remained of his body but a blacked, smoking ruin. She pointed her finger at Uba. The bolt of lighting jolted him from his feet and sent him hurtling back to slam with a crunch against the bridge structure. He sunk down to the deck, still smoldering. Kat tumbled to the deck and rolled.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Em, with her gaze focused toward the bow. Em pointed her fingers. In satisfaction, she saw the two men standing by Aden burst into all consuming flames. Their screams of agony brought a humorless predatory smile to Em’s lips.

  “Oh my God…” Nolan started to exclaim, just before Em shoved him to the deck and covered him with her body. While holding Nolan down beneath her, Em scanned the area quickly for additional threats and then the two vanished.

  Stunned, the four other pirates guarding them started swinging their guns. A look of surprise and dismay played on each man’s face, when their weapons crumbled to dust. They were still desperately clawing for the pistols strapped around their waists’ when the feet of all four, lifted from the deck.

  With a wave of her hand, Suki floated all four over the side of the ship, to dangle suspended over the water below. Her hand snapped closed and all four men plunged downward.

  Searching the deck for further menace, Kat saw Blaise, Tom and Keita, just now climbing to their feet on the bow behind Aden. With no other threats apparent, she scrambled to her feet and raced to Kimo’s side. From the corner of her eye, she saw Em and Nolan reappear. Turning Kimo to his back, she saw he was unconscious and bleeding heavily from a shoulder wound.

  She started smoothing her hand over the wound. A bullet splattered from the deck beside her. Her eyes jerked up just in time to see another pirate duck behind an open door of the pilothouse.

  “Em,” she hollered.

  “On it,” was Em’s clipped response.

  Smoothing her hand over Kimo’s wound, she watched the bleeding stop and his skin begin to scab. Another bullet ricocheted from the deck nearby. Her head jerked up when a scream of mortal pain assaulted her ears. Just in time, she focused on the ball of flames that pitched over the side of the ship from the deck above.

  “Got him,” Em shouted in satisfaction.

  “We have other problems,” Suki said and pointed to starboard.

  Following Suki’s point, she saw a ship, slightly smaller than the Seeker, plowing through the waves toward them. The deck was packed with what she estimated to be, twenty more pirates. Blaise flashed into existence beside them.

  “Is there no end to these assholes?” Blaise inquired.

  Joining them, Nolan exclaimed, “Oh shit,” when a man on the bow of the approaching boat, shouldered what could only be and RPG launcher and began taking aim. Quickly, he explained what the weapon was.

  Even at this distance, they heard the whoosh and saw the puff of smoke when the weapon fired.

  Suki squinted at the shell. A banana spattered against the hull of the Seeker to slide harmlessly toward the water below. Blaise brought her arms together over her head. Two huge waves formed on both sides of the approaching craft. They crashed together, submerging the boat completely under huge walls of water. When the sea calmed, the boat was gone. Only a few bobbing heads, floating on the surface, remained to show where it had been.

  Kat dashed over the deck to check on Aden and Tom’s wounds, with the other four following close behind.

  “What about them?” Suki asked, pointing to the swimming pirates.

  “Let them drown,” Em spat, harshly.

  “I feel the same.” Blaise agreed.

  “Yes but,” Suki waved her hand and half a dozen life rings formed to float among the bobbing heads.

  Keita stood motionless, eyes wide, viewing the scene in disbelief and shock.

  Kat surveyed the deck checking for any additional immediate danger. “Keita, get the Seeker underway,” she ordered, in a terse voice.

  Her brusque tone broke his trance and spurred him to action. “Yes, ma’am.” he raced toward the bridge, with Suki hot on his heels.

  Kat gazed around in satisfaction. The entire confrontation had taken place in mere minutes. The women at her command had operated in flawless fashion with devastating results for the pirates.

  The four of us took out a vastly superior number of aggressors.

  “And with ease,” Jar’san added.

  Her attention shifted to Aiden and Captain Tom. A wash of astonishment and a touch of fear colored the expression of each man.

  “I think you ladies have a lot of explaining to do,” Aden said and grimaced in pain.

  “That’s an understatement, but I agree with Aden,” Tom glanced around the deck again and then focused his attention on them with incredulity and awe written on his battered face.

  “Later. I’ll explain later.” She promised.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  It took four of them to lift Kimo from the deck and carry him to his cabin. After tucking him into bed, they helped Aden and Tom to theirs. Kat moved from one stateroom to the next, assuring herself that the healing process was well underway for each of the wounded.

  “I need to get back to the bridge. I need to take charge of the ship and make sure everything is running smoothly,” Tom said, with slurred speech due to his broken and missing teeth. One eye was swollen shut. He had multiple cuts on his face and elsewhere. Kat was certain he also had at least two cracked ribs and a concussion. He struggled to rise from bed.

  She placed a restraining hand on his chest, preventing him from rising further. “Tom, be still. Stay in bed. You’re badly injured. Don’t worry, everything is under control. Don’t force me to pull rank here,” she admonished and then flashed him a brief smile.

  With a groan, Tom settled back into bed. Both of them knew he was in no condition to get up. Soon after, his uninjured eye closed and he lapsed into slumber. Quietly, leaving the room, she went to check on the other two.

  While she tended to the wounds of all three men, Nolan, Blaise and Em searched the ship from bow to stern for possible hiding pirates. She met the three of them on the main deck.

  “Where are the dead pirates?” she asked, looking around and not seeing them.

  Nolan shrugged his shoulders and averted his gaze to the deck. Blaise and Em glared at her in defiance. Em spoke first.

  “They got what they deserved. Did you see what they did to my Aden, the Captain and Kimo?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “We pitched them over the side to serve as shark bait. That’s more than they deserved.” Blaise growled.

  “Oh.”

  Next they carried Willie’s body down and placed it in cold storage. Suki and Keita had already started cleaning up the blood in the bridge house.

  ****

  With her butt resting against the table edge behind her, Kat viewed the assembled crew before her. I will not delay this any longer. The men have been giving me fearful looks ever since the pirate attack two days ago.

  Nolan sat on the far left, then Kimo. Next to him was Em, cuddled up to Aden, then Blaise and finally Tom. In satisfaction, she saw that Kimo, Aden and Tom were nearly healed. Everyone was present with t
he exception of Keita and Suki. The two of them were up above in the bridge house, where Keita watched the helm.

  “Keita can you hear us okay?” she addressed to the PA.

  “Yes, ma’am. We’re hearing you fine.”

  “Good.” She smiled to herself. Other than when they slept, Suki hadn’t left Keita’s side since the incident. She directed her gaze to Blaise and Tom. Though still in its infancy, she was certain a relationship was growing between them also. Blaise was shredding Tom’s no fraternization policy. They make a lovely couple.

  “Tom told me about the events leading up to the attack, but for the rest of you, I will let him tell you in his own words. He blames himself for what happened, though I’ve informed him he shouldn’t” She gave Tom a stern look. “Tom.”

  Everybody turned their attention to him.

  Clearing his throat, the Captain stood up and launched into his story. “Willie and I were in the bridge house. The first we knew we were under attack was when three men burst in the hatch. One of them went straight to Willie and slit his throat. He had no chance at all to react. The other two tackled me to the deck.”

  She interrupted, “As you all know, we found their launch secured to the side of the Seeker.”

  “Yes,” the Captain continued. “Evidently they snuck up on us from behind while their larger ship shadowed. They dragged me down to the deck. Aden was out on the bow with two more pirates holding him at gunpoint. He has a story of his own. They held me there at gunpoint and made me watch them herd the rest of you out on deck. Kimo tried to resist and was shot and clubbed on the head for his efforts. The rest everyone knows.” He sat down in silence.

  A chorus of “not your faults,” greeted his silence.

  “Aden,” she directed her attention to him.

  “Not much to tell, ma’am. I woke early and was standing on the bow gazing at the waves and daydreaming. Two men attacked me from behind. We struggled and I was able to kill first one quickly by breaking his neck. The other one grappled with me, but I was able to prevent him from using his weapon.” Aden shrugged his shoulders dismissively. “He lost the fight and I didn’t. When two more came, well they had guns and I didn’t. Their guns were aimed at me and I’m certain they would have shot me, but about that time the other pirates started dragging half naked women on deck and I’m sure that distracted them.”

  “It’s a little late but the next time we put into port, we will be armed,” Tom added.

  The discussion of weapons stung her “There is more than enough guilt to go around Tom. We have weapons.” She watched his eyes grow wide.

  “We’ve had my weapons since the beginning, and each woman we rescued has her own. Perhaps if I’d distributed them, Willie would still be alive.”

  “I don’t think it would have made any difference concerning Willie,” Tom spoke up.

  “You’re probably right, Tom, but we’ll never know. Anyway, after I tell you our story, the guns will be moved to a location where you men can access them. I hope that’s fair enough. “

  “Perhaps in a storage case here on the bridge,” Suki suggested over the PA.

  “That sounds fine Suki,” she answered. “Provided that’s okay with the Captain.”

  “Sounds fine,” Tom, answered.

  “Well, judging from what we’ve seen you women are capable of, I don’t think we’ll be needing weapons,” Aden said. He looked at Em seated beside him. “Damn, babe. Fire from your fingers?”

  Em smoothed her hand over Aden’s arm. “If I can prevent it, no one will ever hurt you again, my love.”

  Kat cleared her throat, bringing attention back to her.

  “I apologize for keeping all of you in the dark about our abilities. I alone am liable for that decision and assume full responsibility. It was my decision that prohibited the others from telling you.” She glanced at each of the women in turn and continued. “Having discussed it, I intended to tell you shortly after we revived Suki. The demonstration I planned was less drastic than the one you witnessed when the pirates attacked. I’m going to tell you what abilities each of us has. I’ll also tell you the true nature of our mission. From there, you’ll have to decide if you want to continue with us or leave. You’re free to do either.”

  “So to begin with, I’d like to know what powers each of you has?” Tom asked.

  For a moment she let her gaze focus on Tom and then, let it travel over the others. “Very well Tom. I’ll start by telling you about me. I have the ability to cast electrical bursts from my fingers, lightning bolts if you will. In addition, I can fly, heal myself or others and I have an AI, named Jar’san implanted in me. Em can cast fire from her fingers and has the ability to render herself and anyone she’s touching invisible.”

  Aden’s head jerked and his eyes focused on Em. “So that’s why Keita didn’t see us when…”

  Em’s hand tightened around Aden’s arm. “Shut up Aden dear,” Em cut him off. Her eyes were full of laughter. Just before she kissed his shoulder, her lips curved into a smile. Leaning her head against the spot she’d kissed, she said, “Go ahead, Kat.”

  “Next we have Blaise. My older sister. She can control water. That mysterious calm area in the storm, Captain. Blaise was responsible for that. She also has the ability to teleport herself and anyone she’s touching. We haven’t determined how far yet. More than the length of the ship for certain.”

  “God, Blaise,” Tom put his hand in hers. “You saved our lives in that storm. Thank you.”

  Blaise blushed. “You’re welcome.”

  “Our newest member, Suki, has the abilities to levitate people or objects and transmutation. Her ability to change the physical properties of matter by the way should end any worry we might have had about running short on funds. Imagine if you will, she is able to change sea water to gold.”

  Keita’s voice came over the speaker. “So my girlfriend here has the ability to change water to gold? Wow, I’m impressed.”

  Suki’s voice came over speaker next. “Girlfriend, huh? I like the sound of that. I think we need to talk more about that.” The unmistakable sound of a kiss came over the PA.

  “So what abilities are the other two going to have? What will these, I assume women, look like?” Tom asked.

  “Yes they will be women. I have no idea what abilities they’ll have. We won’t know until we wake them,” she answered.

  “And what is our mission?” Aden asked.

  She smiled at Aden’s use of the word our. “First of all, let me start by saying all of us are here from the distant past.” She launched into an in depth explanation.

  ****

  Tom toured the ship inspecting the changes made in order to pass through the Suez Canal. Suki’s ability of transmutation proved invaluable. The cold storage room contained a false bulkhead wall that was unblemished and hid Willie’s body. A similar wall hid the caskets.

  Kat and Suki stood beside him. “Well?” Kat asked.

  “Unbelievable,” Tom said. All traces of their pirate encounter were removed. “There is just one more thing I can suggest.”

  “And that would be?” Kat asked.

  “Things look too neat. It may raise suspicions.”

  “That’s easy enough to fix. How about a few items of equipment and tools scattered around? Like this.” Suki said, waved her hands and suddenly they were there.

  “Much better,” Tom said and grinned. “On any ship I’ve been on there are always a few things out of place.”

  Tom made arrangements. They passed inspection by the authorities easily and a pilot boarded a few days later. After passing through the Suez Canal, they entered the Mediterranean Sea and sailed toward the Atlantic.

  After a brief stop in Lisbon to make funeral arrangements for Willie, the Seeker headed into the Atlantic. Money placed in the right hands, squelched any awkward questions or d
elays concerning Willie’s death.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The Polav slowed to a stop. Several crewmembers fished the nine men out of the water. They were hustled below deck and placed in one of the storage rooms. Brief questioning soon made it clear to Captain Atish the men rescued were pirates. But they’re telling such a wild story. Women with awesome powers. The Captain knocked on the cabin door of Shahan their passenger and the man ultimately in charge.

  “The men we pulled from the water are pirates.” Captain Atish reported.

  “Then the best thing is to dispose of them,” Shahan said.

  “I think you should hear their story. It is far fetched but every one of them tells the same one.”

  “Why?” Shahan asked. “I’m not happy you picked them up in the first place. It has delayed my arrival at Latakia. I have important business there.”

  “I’m sorry for the delay but I would ask you to hear their tale.”

  Shahan sighed. “Okay I’ll listen to what they say if you think it’s that important.”

  ****

  Hours later Shahan sat in his cabin scratching his head. The pirates had told him unbelievable stories. Even when he had administered truth serum to them their stories remained the same. Two men in particular had been on deck of a ship called the Seeker. They told tales of four women with incredible powers. The power to throw lightning bolts and fire balls from their fingers. To make weapons crumble to dust and make men float on air. They told of a calm sea suddenly rising and submerging their boat under huge waves of water.

  “So what is your opinion?” Shahan asked the shirtless man at the sink. “Do you think they’re telling the truth?”

  Masih wiped the blood from his chest and arms. “As far-fetched as their stories sound I think they tell the truth. As least the truth as they understand it. Even under the influence of your drug and my physical tortures the stories only vary in point of view. Even the two that died maintained the same tale to their last breath.”