by LK Kelley
No takers? Yeah...me either!” ~ Taylor
“Damnit!” Taylor yelled, when her head slammed against the far wall for the umpteenth time. Struggling to try and get to her feet, she couldn’t, and slumped back down, and rubbed her head.
Rick struggled to get to Eloran, but the platinum bands that had his wrists tied were keeping his powers at bay. Platinum was the only thing that prevented the powers of both Onaerris and Anaerris from coming forward. And, that also included their mates for their powers transferred to them upon their mating. Rick had all the powers of Taylor, and therefore, could be bound just like Taylor. Eloran raised his hands, slamming Taylor into the wall, again, causing a huge dent. Rick charged and butted his head into Eloran, knocking him across the room. Taylor growled. Eloran was hurting her mate! But, because she, too, had the same platinum bands around her wrists, she couldn’t help him, and that just made her all the more angry.
For the past hour and a half, Rick had watched his mate be tortured by Eloran, Delinear, and their gang of thugs. He was proud of her. She had not shown one sign of weakening. OK. So. He admitted – to himself, of course – that they truly had screwed up when all four of them had decided to return to their homes for some necessities that they really didn’t need, but wanted. They had left their two children at Jaxx’s home, which protected them, thank the Creator! At least they hadn't let all common sense disappear! They had promised to be good, and not break anything. And, any time their children promised something, they always kept their word. Honor was a very important thing in their family.
Two hours prior, Rick and Taylor had been dropped off by Stan and Stacy while they also drove home to get their clothes. Eloran, Imaerra, Delinear, and Mallorick had been waiting for them in Taylor's home.
“Well, well. The prodigals return! We knew it was a matter of time before you returned to your house, so we just waited. By the way, hope you don't mind. We also raided your kitchen,” Mallorick sneered, licking his lips and fingers that appeared to have mustard on them. “Human food has its pluses!”
“Really, Mallorick! Why in the hell would you even bring that up?” Imaerra scolded.
“Uh...” he replied, licking his index finger. “I was hungry?”
Imaerra rolled her eyes at her mate. He was such a baby!
Delinear and Imaerra had surprised the two of them as they entered their house by grabbing their wrists, and tied them behind their bodies with platinum bands. Eloran had immediately slammed Taylor into the wall, floor, and ceiling several times.
Eloran sighed as if he was trying to be patient with a child.
“I will not ask again, Taylor. If you do not answer my questions, you will die,” Eloran warned her.
Taylor struggled to sit up, balancing herself on one arm, and used her shoulder to wipe of part of the blood that ran from her mouth. Then, she turned to Eloran with disgust in her eyes.
“I will never tell you anything! Even if I did know something, which I don’t, I would not tell you, you sleazy, son of a bitch!” Taylor told him without raising her voice.
Eloran screamed as he slammed her once again into the ceiling, then let her fall. This time, her leg broke. They all heard the snap. Even with tears in her eyes, running down her cheeks, Taylor defied him.
“That is enough!” came a voice from behind Eloran. At the same time, Eloran was immediately bound and wrapped with the same platinum bands that he had used on Taylor and Rick. “You have overstepped your bounds, and thus, by the order of the Council of Ages, you are hereby removed from the council forever!”
Rick and Taylor's bands fell from them with the wave of a hand, and Rick ran to Taylor's side putting his arms around her to help her stand.
“Kulana,” Taylor breathed in relief, as she bit back sobs of pain.
“Hello, Taryln,” Kulana said.
“How did you know they were here?” Rick asked, picking up Taylor in his arms, hearing her gasp of pain.
“I haven't trusted this bastard for a very long time, nor the rest of his cohorts. So, I have been watching them carefully.”
Surprise was on everyone’s faces seeing him in the room with them!
“Ha! Didn’t expect me, did you?” he laughed.
Several others appeared in the room, obviously with Kulana, and had the other three in the same platinum bands, before they could even move. Eloran opened his mouth to speak, but Kulana beat him to it.
“Do not speak!” she ordered Eloran. “As for the rest of you? I also ban you from the council with the council's blessings. You will be immediately shipped to Tal'yae, where you will be incarcerated for not less than five thousand years. At that time, the Council in power will decide if your punishment continues, or you will released! But, since we don’t change members, well, then...I guess you’ll be there for eternity!” he snickered. “Get this scum out of my sight!”
While the other three were being marched out of the room, Eloran took one step forward toward Kulana, but was restrained by an enforcer from going further. He whipped his head around to the enforcer, then back at Kulana.
“Do not DARE to threaten me, Kulana! You will not get away with it! I told you! We will prevail, and Jaxxon will be destroyed with all his other minions!” Eloran said, looking pointedly at Taylor, whose juvenile self took over. She stuck out her tongue at him, earning an amused look from Kulana.
“I'll do whatever the hell I want! I am council leader, but in this case, it was unanimous for your banishment. You have lost.” She turned to her guards, waving at them. “Take them out of here, and as fast as possible to Tal'yae.”
The guards nodded, and disappeared in a whirl of black mist, along with all four insurgents.
“Well,” Kulana let out a breath of relief. “That went well, don’t you think? Now. I happen to have four vacancies on the Council!”
“I hope you'll be more discretionary with the next four,” Taylor told her. Her face contorted in pain yet again.
“Well, I think the four I have in mind will be perfect,” she smirked.
Before she could continue, they all heard a noise, and Stan and Stacy rushed into the main room, dropping their mouths at the destruction.
“Holy cow! What the fuck happened in here?” Stan asked in surprise.
“Oh, you know,”Taylor sarcastically answered him. Wincing between words, she just had to add, “Same ole’, same ole’. Eloran, Delinear, and the others decided to come to dinner without an invitation...” Taylor quipped with gritted teeth. Then, added even more sarcastically, “...but they just didn’t like what was on the menu! Who-da thunk?”
Another cry of pain escaped her lips, and Rick held her gently. Then, she pointed to Kulana.
“Ah! Sure. So. Kulana. Haven't seen you in ages. How are you?” Stan laughed at Taylor’s sarcasm while in pain. She always managed to come up with something to make him laugh.
“I'm fine. I'm glad you two came. Saves me the trouble of saying this twice. It has been decreed that you four have been chosen to replace the criminals I just sent to Tal'yae.”
Four faces just stared in disbelief at Kulana. None of them could comprehend what she had just said to them.
“Well?” Kulana asked.
Finally, Stan found his voice.
“Us? You picked the four of us?” Stan's voice broke.
“Of course. Why not?” she asked him.
“Well,” Rick began, “if memory serves me correctly, you threw Stan off the council in, what? It was around the Middle Ages, wasn’t it?” Nods were all around. “And, did you, or did you not, replace him with Eloran. So, why would you even want to appoint Stan, again?”
Stacy cocked her head sideways.
“Yeah. What he said,” Stacy decided to put her 2 cents worth into the conversation. Stan picked it up.
“Yeah, what she said, he said,” Stan repeated.
Kulana’s eyebrows went up. “What kind of language are you speaking? And, what are you, Stan? Two?”
Stan shrugged.<
br />
“Look, Kulana. I was on the council for ages until…,” and turning, he spoke to Stacy. He had never totally told her the entire truth. Glaring at Kulana to dare to contradict him, he explained, “Stacy this is what really happened. I wasn’t thrown out like I told you, love. I left by my own design.” He turned and glared again at Kulana who had opened his mouth. At least he had the decency to shut his it. “Look, love. I had no mate, nor did I have any desire to be a part of that dog and pony show! Words spoken; knives stabbed in the back; council members acting on their own volition – all of it was enough to make me puke – if I could.”
He pulled Stacy into his arms, and continued.
“I hated the politics, and you know it! And, that has not changed! I STILL hate the politics! Luckily, within the week after I stepped down, I met my gorgeous, sexy mate, and I've never looked back,” he said. “Thanks, but no thanks, Kulana. I won't be a party to the politics of the Onaerris and the Anaerris. I have better things to do with my time – like trying hard to impregnate my mate!”
Stacy's mouth dropped, and she slapped Stan on the back of the head. He turned to grin at her.
“Is there some reason you wanted to say that aloud, mate?” Stacy asked.
“Yep. I wanted everyone to know about our amazing sex life!” he teased, as her face reddened in embarrassment, which only caused everyone to laugh – even Kulana.
“Well, what about you, Taylor? The seat is ready for you.”
Despite her broken leg, and her beaten body, she had an answer for Kulana.
“Uh-uh. No damn way! I have a mate, and two children. I'll be damned if I'll park this ass on one of those damned hot seats!” she complained. She yelped when Rick moved her just the wrong way.
Kulana looked at the four standing before her. He was relieved, and had been hoping they wouldn't say yes, but he needed to find out if they could be trusted. Now, he knew.
“OK, good. Now, that we have all that out of the way, and I have my answer,” she began. Turning, he pointed to Rick to put Taylor on the sofa. Then, waving at everyone else to sit, he continued. “First things first. Rick, put Taryln down on the sofa, please, and I'll heal her leg.”
Rick did as Kulana ordered. Kulana made a motion for Rick to move back. Once he was out of the way, Kulana went to work on Taylor's leg. While all watched, a bright light began to increase exponentially around both Kulana and Taylor, until the others couldn't move or see. When the light disappeared, Taylor was standing upright, completely healed! Everyone gaped, but Kulana didn't have time for their shock from his awe!
“OK. OK. She's healed. Now, down to business. So, just to let you know, I’m glad you all declined my offer. At least, I know who I can trust. I need you four to do some snooping for me.”
“Snooping? And, just who are we snooping on?” Stan asked with narrowed eyes.
“Not who. What. I need you to find out if the TFM that held the peach ocean is intact. And, by that, I mean, you need you to find it as soon as possible!”
Stan and Taylor looked at each other. Neither of them had met their mates at time of the malfunction. Although they knew their mates could be trusted, could Kulana? Better to err on the side of caution.
“And, why?” Stacy asked him. “Excuse me, Kulana, but have you forgotten that the TFM had a malfunction ten-thousand years ago? And, you know that the peach ocean poured out of it, and mixed with the Earth's oceans? And, don't tell us that you didn't know it!” she narrowed her eyes. “I will know if you lie, and that was one. So, what's the real reason you want us to snoop, Kulana? Time to give it up.”
Stan pulled her to him, and kissed her firmly on the mouth. A slight groan escaped her throat.
“Uh...hello? Over here, you two! Focus!” Taylor giggled at Stacy’s red face as Stan raised his head to grin at her.
Kulana was trying to be cautious. Taylor was pretty good at reading others, while Stacy had become extremely adept at being able to spot a lie over the last thousand years, despite the fact that she was a human turned Onaerris. His mind quickly ran through all the scenarios without telling them all the truth – until he looked directly into Stacy's eyes. Her eyes stared at her as if to repeat what she had said earlier. “Don't lie to us, because I'll know”! Kulana took a deep breath, and decided to tell them the truth. He was really taking a chance.
“I need you four to remain calm at what I’m going to say,” he stated. No answer came, just puzzled glares were all that met his eyes. “The TFM wasn't, um...actually designed for 'holding' the ocean, even though it worked out fine for our purposes in order to keep it out of the hands of the Onaerris,” she said cautiously, not sure they could be trusted. “The ocean was placed into it for a totally different reason than we told everyone.”
“Two things. First, what the hell does TFM really stand for, and second what was it designed for?” Rick asked, curious, yet just as cautious, about the answer.
“And, Kulana?” Stacy added. “Do not lie!”
Kulana nodded, licked his lips, then looked around him as if he expected someone to jump out at them at any second. Once satisfied, he answered in a very low voice.
“This doesn't go beyond this room. Deal?” Kulana asked.
All four nodded their heads in agreement.
“OK. It was designed for one reason, and one only,” he answered.
“And, that would be...?” Stacy asked even more curious that the others.
“TFM? Well, it stands for ‘Terra Form Machine’,” Kulana answered in such a low tone, that if the others hadn't had superior hearing, they wouldn't have heard him. “Well, technically, the full name for it was AOTFM, or ‘Anaerris Ocean Terra Forming Machine’.
Stacy, Taylor, and Stan gasped. Taylor tried to speak, but no words would form. Stacy and Stan just dropped their mouths in shock. They couldn’t have uttered a word, even if they had wanted to do so! Rick's eyes narrowed in question. Rick was the only one who could find his voice.
“Uh, this is probably a really dumb quesiton, but what is Terraforming?” Rick asked, surprised when four pairs of eyes darted in his direction in expressions of disbelief. “What? I don't know what that is. Just saying!”
“Rick, terraforming is an immensely complex operation that is designed to allow non-natives of a planet to prepare an unsuitable world that is uninhabitable for their own species. Its sole purpose is to transform a planet into a habitable planet for them. The Anaerris commissioned it to be built when the technology was available.” Kulana continued watching Rick's jaw drop even more with each word Kulana said.
“An invasion of other beings, not of the same world might not be able to survive in another planet's current state. In most cases, an invading species, trying to find a home, might come across planet that was perfect for them, but uninhabitable for their species. So, Terraforming allows the planet to be reformed into a habitable place for them.”
“Holy Shit!” Rick said in shock.
“There is a slight drawback, of course,” he told him.
“Do I dare ask?” Rick questioned.
“In all cases, the process destroys all living beings on the surface of that planet, allowing the invading force to take the planet for their own purpose. Many would never have a problem with destroying a whole planet and all living things – sentient or not – for themselves.”
He didn’t pay attention to Rick’s widening eyes.
“Drawback? Drawback? You call wiping out an entire planet a drawback?”
“However, the danger of wiping out whole species everywhere just for the sake of one, was something that was forbidden by universal law from the Creator Himself. Anyone who dared to try it was, subsequently, punished with their own species being wiped out forever. An eye for an eye, as it were,” he said in a matter-of-fact voice, but with a grin.
“What the hell are you laughing about, Kulana? Hell and damnation! Everyone knows it is
forbidden!” Stan yelled at him. “So, why the fuck would you even commission
this TFM, knowing it was forbidden?”
“Yeah, and I'm still not completely clear on this terraf...whatchamacallit!” Rick asked again, knowing if he ever did understand what Kulana was saying, it would be bad. “I mean, I heard your words, and they didn’t compute in my brain!”
Stacy answered Rick's question.
“Terraforming is used for one reason, Rick,” she answered with a shaky voice.
“Throw me a bone,” he said. “Please. Keep it simple for the stupid ‘used to be human’ in the room.”
“First, remember. You are no longer human,” then Kulana stopped. “Oh, right. I get it. So, for the ‘used to be human’, beings from another world go to another planet for whatever reason. Either they want to conquer another, or their own planet is dying. However, a planet is not always habitable for every species. If it is not habitable for them, they use a process called Terraforming by which they can make that planet habitable for themselves. However, in doing so, it kills anyone, or any animal, on the planet, because those cannot live in an environment from the invading beings,” she explained, watching Rick's eyes widen with each world.
“Are you fucking with me?” Rick asked raising his voice.
“No, I have no intention of fucking with you,” Kulana told him, solemnly. “I really don’t think your mate would like it! But, hey...if you want me to, I’ll be really happy to do….”
“Hell no!” Rick yelled.
Rick backed up, and flopped into his comfortable chair just staring at nothing in stunned silence, while processing what he had just heard.
“Yeah. It's a shocker.” Kulana’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Stan continued to berate Kulana.
“Are you out of your mind? Were you actually planning on using it?” Stan asked her with a horrified expression on his face. “And, what planet were you going to use it on in the first place?”
“So, what were you planning to do?” Taylor, who had finally found her voice, butted into the conversation.
“The original plan was to re-Terraform Anaerris after the war. But....”
