“Bye, Abdul.”
“Later, Renee. Remember to see me if at all possible.” And the transmission was cut.
It didn’t take long to walk over to their bedrooms. The females all slid in and spread out over their plush bedding covered in long black and white hairs from sparse shedding. They carefully laid down on their sides that did little to hide their enormity, but when they got comfortable their underside armor withdrew to show off whimpering cubs. It was obvious they were uncomfortable moving around, but the experienced mothers nudged them to their milk swollen nipples and the cubs began to feast silently, their little paw pads kneading for more nourishment.
Renee gently knelt to pet each litter under the predatory yet soft blue eyes of the Ligers. Oliver, Nova and the two other males quietly watched proudly as they all bonded in a beautiful moment.
Too bad it came to an end with a lilting voice. “Oh, SWEETHEART!”
“JESS!” Renee called up and while moving said “Olly, turn.” He grumbled irritably from the ruined moment and did so. He had to lock his muscles or risk hurting Jessica who was moving to intercept half way.
The aunt and niece embraced, Renee turning instinctively just enough away to avoid the strong squeeze coming from her hundred and fourteen year old father’s young sister. “What are you doing back here?”
Jessica leaned back, an infectious smile smeared everywhere. “Talked Steph to coming home early and sleep in our own bed inside the air conditioned ship. It wasn’t bad in the city, but we had to come back. Stone and three Hunters brought us back, but we really did miss our bed. I also wanted to see you the moment you got here. How in the stars did you do it so quickly? I checked yesterday and your locater said you were still in the mountains, but Abdul told me to get own here ASAP. Did you teleport like Creelin?” She said, backing up a step after seeing Oliver had turned around and was dangerously angry. He calmed as soon as she had let go. To alleviate the tension she flipped her auburn hair over a shoulder.
“Not exactly. Oliver’s Valek has a teleportation function he took a month to figure out.”
“Yikes. He’s about good a programmer and hacker as me and he learned how to do that in a couple seconds. A month for him is like what… five to ten thousand years for me?”
“Actually judging by my mental rate when doing multiple objectives it is more along the lines of nineteen and a half million years.” He calculated.
“Stars.” Jessica shook her head. “Well, enough about that. Where is my grand-niece?”
“Right here.” Renee pointed to her breastplate and modified it to show her off.
“Awe!” Jessica squealed and leaned closer. “So tiny.” She said much quieter. “Can I hold her?”
“No.” Oliver growled. Literally. His hair turning from dark brown to luminous gold.
Jessica swallowed and backed up. Hands raised in submission.
Sparky opened the adjoining door after Renee told him what to do and he said “Oliver stay in here with me.”
“I’m not…” while he was distracted for that brief second Renee had turned around and pulled open her breastplate. A severe burning scent was like acid had been sprayed up into his acute sense of smell. Oliver then felt his gagging reflex kick in and his eyes watered. It was foul in the extreme and he wasn’t alone. Nova and the other males yowled and sent him images of wanting to leave. NOW!
His answer was his instincts making him run outside and not alone. A war to protect his child and woman was strong, but the scent was just as potent. The only thing that had made Oliver’s legs move is the fact that Jessica was not a threat and couldn’t be unless Stephanie or her family was in danger.
“What did you just do?” Jessica asked as she watched Oliver and the three Ligers run inside the cargo hold of the River Skipper and sealed themselves in and their faces were angrily glaring back at them through the windows.
Renee grabbed a wipe and carefully held Isabella in one hand to wipe her wet breast. “Have you forgotten Solarian men have a sense of smell that is repulsed by their own children’s natural bodily functions. It worked better than I expected.” She grinned evilly. “Now we can talk, but outside. The mothers are anxious.”
“Don’t need a telepath to see that.” Said Jessica watching irritated tales slap the cushions the nine laid on or how they looked only at her. “May I?” Jessica said immediately after stepping out into the open docking bay. She had her hands together and cupped. Hazel eyes pleading and excited about the whole idea.
“Careful. And keep your hands close together. She can’t regulate her temp and the cold will kill her.” Jessica eagerly did as told and got to hold Isabella in the very palms of her hand. It was clearly premature, but it didn’t dissuade Jessica finding her to be absolutely “Beautiful. So fragile. This is better than you transmitting me a live feed.” She met Renee’s eyes and leaned closer to give the baby a kiss. A kiss of the barest brushing pressure. “Hello little one.”
“No fair!” Stephanie yelled as soon as she came out of the elevator and hurried on over.
Jessica poked her tongue out. “It isn’t my fault you couldn’t put down all that junk.”
“Artifacts, Babe. You know I hate it when you call it junk.”
“You brought home a damn backscratcher! And you got me for that. But we can kiss and make up later. Come take a look at Isabella.”
Stephanie calmly approached, hardly ever to get really angry and usually a calm person most of the time. But like all women, they loved babies and Stephanie was no exception. Other peoples babies. She had a fear of being a mother. Her and Jessica both. At least a little bit. The three women passed Isabella around, talking and adoring her. When Renee felt her baby getting a little chilly she put her back on the hot nipple and covered her up.
As soon as Isabella was away Oliver suddenly appeared. And was far from happy. “That wasn’t nice.”
“Never said I played fair, Idiot. I needed them and Isabella’s funk got me the freedom I needed from your overgrown ass.”
“Well don’t do it too much. I was going crazy in there. My nose is still killing me thank you very much.”
“Can you smell other things?” she arched an intimate indicating eyebrow. Tone otherwise deadpan.
“No. No thanks to you damn it. It hurts.” The way he squeezed his eyes was painful in and of itself, but he didn’t stop towering over her. “Don’t ever force me away from you or our daughter.”
“What are you going to do about it?” She challenged without standing up. “Hit me?”
“Babe, we don’t want to be in the middle of this.” Jessica said in a low tone and Stephanie was in full agreement and they left quick fast and in a hell of a hurry.
“FUCK, RENEE!!!” He struggled to regain control of his anger as the pride were affected from the bleed out. He shook, but growled through a locked jaw. “You really think I’ll ever hit you. No matter how much you piss me off will I ever strike you except when you like it when I slap your ass every now and then.”
“Oh my.” Jessica breathed in whisper as her pale cheeks turned beet red after watching her niece’s anger turn into a momentary wicked grin as he brought it up. Jessica glanced at her wife to find Stephanie with a hand over her mouth to not bubble out a laugh.
“You wouldn’t hit me because I can kick your ass now. You may have more power, but I’m faster and more experienced with control.”
“Stars! How much do I have to keep fighting and show you how much…” He shook his head and looked over his shoulder. “No, Nova… go ahead.”
“Snowball, I’m fine.” Said the fiery redhead.
“Snowball?” Jessica whispered, asking her breathtaking beloved.
“Nova’s top female.” Said the redheaded Hellcat.
“You heard that?” Stephanie asked as the two had leapt over thirty meters away using the privately known splicing enhancements to increase speed to reach some form of distance and safety.
With a finger to pull back crimson
strands Renee then pointed to her pointed ears. “These aren’t just for decoration.” Softly glowing eyes turned upon her aunts. Returning to the confrontation she got to her feet, tiny still in comparison to her monumental lover, but her voice softened while the males left to the bedroom where their new families awaited. “Listen, Olly, I won’t apologize. I feel bad your nose is irritated…”
“Irritated isn’t close.” He interrupted.
She went on without pause. “but I’ll do it again if you continue to be an overbearing moron. And I know all you feel because I’m in your head all the fucking time. If I knew you intended to strike me I’d kick your ass. Loosen up a little and let me have girl’s time. I love you to death, but I won’t tolerate you suffocating my limited social interaction. Yeah, yeah… don’t even say it or I’ll pull Izzy out again as she peed a little on my tit already.” She placed a hand over her breastplate. “And I know the hell you, Nova, Fluffy and Flurry went through to keep us all safe. Have you already forgotten I patched the neck wound you got from a quill by that hidden Hedgehog Beast? I sure haven’t.
“We’re out of danger from Beasts now.” She lost the gauntlets to lay her soft hand against his cheek. “No Beast here on Zerika can penetrate the reinforced barrier around the ship. I love you to death, but back the fuck off when I’m in need of my family or I swear I’ll synthesize Izzy’s waste and use it when I need my space. Do as I ask and I’ll reward you. Make me do it again and I’ll fry that damn nose of yours. Count on it.”
The heated stare-down lasted tense minutes till the larger and more deadly deflated using a long sigh. “You’re right. Though you are often wrong and still somehow end up right is confusing in the highest order, but I can’t fault the logic for independence. Fine, but now I see why nurseries separated the men from the young. It is so hard…”
The wicked grin was back in force as she cupped his groin. “That’s what I usually say.”
“Is it safe to come back now?” Stephanie asked, hearing none of it except by body language. She spoke quietly, not needing to shout with their heightened hearing.
Two sets of glowing eyes as well as a pair of reptilian turned on them. “You can come back.” Waved over the tall redhead.
A few lithe hops and they warily back, but not so close to interrupt their private space. To break the tension Oliver was mildly displaying, the only blonde in the area asked “You named the Ligers? Please tell me you didn’t name them as childish as possible.”
“You know I did.” She smirked. “I got tired of it. They all may have some deep telepathic connection that limits them as individuals, but it’s there and I named them all. Even the cubs. It helps me identify them rather than overgrown pussy two through twelve… excluding Nova as he has a clear personality. He may be the king-bee, but they are still somewhat individual. I’d take you in to tell you their names, but with newborn cubs you won’t make it into the bedroom. Jess thankfully remained by the doorframe. They won’t kill you, but they will forcibly deter you to keep away. If I wasn’t Olly’s better half they would kick me out with one hell of a back scratch too.”
“Even wearing that armor?” Jessica inquired.
“The way it is now coupled with my power, no, they can’t pierce it by claws. Teeth? Hell yeah. But only because we aren’t immune to heavy blows. Nothing short of Olly’s sword can cut through these.” She flicked the spiky shoulder pauldrons. “Inside it fits as comfortably as a second skin. Cutting and piercing don’t work…”
“And crushing will.” Stephanie nodded sagely. “Just like medieval knights of old. They deflected most attacks, but a war hammer did the most damage. Your suits don’t have weakness at the joints, but the concept of armor hasn’t really changed. Technology to decrease the chance of fatal injury.”
“Speaking of… Any new finds about the lost and forgotten city?” Wondered Rose.
Stephanie shook her head. “Not much more than we found back before we left the city.” She indicated herself and Jessica. “The city of earth merely has a different artistry and women both I and Andrea concluded that though the men were the backbone of Solarian society in terms of tactical and logical stability, women were the guides and artisans. Both sexes were able to be warriors. Yet the pieces I examined here on Zerika tends to lean that those of earth were dominantly a warrior caste whereas the wind on Drakken Prime were of exploration. Makes sense since law…”
“Seventy two stated to be a warrior one must be solid as firm ground and mountains.” Oliver finished in a stuffy way. Jessica and Stephanie unconsciously took a half step back and his stiffened posture eased ever so slightly. His next words were slightly smoother. “And here I was thinking the Queen of fire had monopoly of the warriors.”
“Going over footage from that ass of an AI several times I don’t think so.” Jessica piped up. “I think the Solarian system was interchangeable, but the Queens had a specific goal on how to run their let’s say… Queendoms. If Andrea, my brother and Steph are right about the caste division. Wind are for those who seek out new frontiers. Earth are warriors who defend the home. Water are those who nurture life. And Fire is likely for judgment or creation via destruction.”
“But what about Ice?” Renee asked with a furrowed brow.
“Too early to assume.” Stephanie said as she sat down. “Jess slowed down the recordings of the AI when he looked in on the other castles. Judging by the artistry styles unique to each city we inferred how the society was run. We need more information, but it is a safe assumption. It is rather fascinating.”
“But we wanted to come home and see the baby.” Jessica crooned.
It made Renee feel extremely happy to hear the love and affection of her aunt. It joined another thought that had her slap her own forehead. “Damn. Forgot to tell Papa we’re here already.”
Jessica lilted a hearty laugh. “He’s going to be mad he didn’t know, but happy you got home safe and sound with his granddaughter.”
“Is Papa still mad you tranqed him?”
“An understatement of the highest order till I shot him again with another dose and another till he got the picture.” Jessica giggled and it also put the first smile in awhile on Oliver’s countenance. “He was a good boy though after hearing he was finally a grandfather after a millennia. You go call him.”
Renee tapped her ear and was telling her father how they got back to the ship so quick when Jessica snapped her fingers as a memory flashed by. “Oliver, almost forgot myself to tell you than an Elder Hunter by the name of Scimitar wants to see you. He said to come by as soon as possible.”
“Papa, hold on for a few seconds.” Said Renee as she turned to gaze into the miniature suns. “You better go on down there. You’re still an Elder Hunter too.”
“I’m not…”
“Just leave the Pride here with me. I’m going to show off our little girl to all my friends. Chloe especially has been eager by the number of messages she left that I couldn’t answer.”
Nova’s enormous head appeared before his body silently followed. Icy blue eyes were lock on amber. “Don’t lose her from your sight for even a second. Any danger comes to her or my daughter and you know what to do.” There was a pleasurable purr as the king of the pride came over to lay down beside Renee to watch her and nothing she could say or do would change his master’s clear orders. The way he licked his pink snout said he hoped there was a small chance that danger was around the next corner.
Unfortunately none knew that was exactly what was coming.
Chapter 13
Difficult was the lightest definition of a word for Oliver as he jumped over the ledge to plummet towards the flourishing canyon ravine before adding a little levitation for a semblance of flight. Painful would be a better word for the separation. His seemingly scalded sense of smell was a physical reference he understood that was comparable to the emotion of separating from his woman and newborn daughter who were the only reason to continue living. The cooled air of the Dorgenox was ripped
away by the midday humid heat of Zerika and her near endless jungle. He angled under the ship to fly over to the rather limited space the village had as a docking area. On the way to it he tapped his ear saying “Elder Scimitar, it is…”
“Brother. How good it is to hear from you.” Came a soft-spoken male voice that held the tone of a gentle soul forged from countless combat and personal trials. “I take it my request to Mrs. Menann got to you.”
“Yes, but you could have contacted me.”
“I could have, Brother, but you had other issues and I felt it prudent to let you enjoy hunting to your heart’s content and starting a family. I simply wish to speak and see how far you have come. I’m over…”
“My neural chip has a lock on your com. I take it you are the temporary Elder of the village while Scythe is over at the city?”
“Quite so. I will meet you at the waterfall. I’m walking…”
“Down the steps carved through the cliff. I see you.”
“Ah, and I see you as well. You have come very far since last we met.” The enhanced vision the chip grants showed the armored Elder lifting a hand to wave. Like nearly all Hunters, they were large of body and muscular through vigorous exercise and no stranger to life and death confrontations whether from Beast, human or Keptl. Sheathed at either hip was the namesake he chose the day he gave up his given name when he reached the age of three hundred to become an Elder. Two curved scimitars hung at his hip. Tip to pommel was half his own considerable height, but he was easily a head shorter than Oliver. Rare is it Hunters reach even that age as they live for life and death combat. It was almost a religion. Just because they liked to relax often didn’t mean they were any less lethal.
Oliver landed on the platform, touching lightly, the hard soles of the boots making almost no sound even with his own heightened hearing. Off to the side of his consciousness he watched through Nova’s ever alert gaze of Renee speaking with her aunts as well as a few others who came to finally see the newest member to the Dorgenox family. With her safe in his claws and loyal vigil, Oliver relaxed ever so slightly. He would not go completely till they were alone and together. Focusing one foot in front of the other was possible, even being strained not to turn around and go back.
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