“But if he is using such an ancient style, who could have taught him?” Renee asked. “If he is not a master as you say, who would teach him?”
“Someone with intimate knowledge of those days near eight centuries prior as we abolished the practice in favor of what we currently use six and a half centuries ago. The style is flamboyant… too many wasted movements compared to today’s, but still highly effective as was proven. No Hunter would recommend teaching this to today’s warriors. Someone could only teach this if they were around in the time the Grandest was still just a boy. No one could hack our servers to find the steps as they were only passed from master to apprentice. They were expunged from our lessons long before I became an Elder. I only know it from speaking with my brothers and sisters and seeing Vanishing Claw demonstrate it for me a time or two.”
He gave Oliver a hard look. “You should be aware the song of death your blade makes for you use this ancient style too. You have mastered it though. Vanishing Claw taught you the moves only he and Talon know and use. None of us use it as it requires finesse and speed to undermine people over overwhelming strength, not just hunt Beasts. I see your mastery from how you fought. Had your lung not been damaged your skill would have defeated him.”
“Why was I taught how to twirl my cutlass instead of how you teach Hunters these days?” Oliver was curious to find out this tidbit of information.
“Because Vanishing Claw decided to. He knows what people need to realize their full potential in the art of swordsmanship. It is a gift of sorts. He especially isn’t known for taking an apprentice anymore, even for one so short as your term. Do not doubt he had a reason. I do not know, but he has a knack for doing such.”
“This should help narrow down our search considerably.”
“Oh?” Scimitar turned to look at Renee who had spoken. He winced at her bright eyes.
“Yeah. Do you remember hearing about Olly and I being falsely imprisoned and on our way out we discovered a lab referred to as ‘Rebirth?’” she leaned back into Oliver’s shirtless chest as she wore something simple herself.
“Vaguely.”
“Well they were cloning humans in for retraining and used the illegally procured cells to combine Keptl DNA spores to gather Psionic energy mixed with Beast essence with the explicit goal of bringing the dead back to life. Since Keptl physiology has been proven they gather energy and can store it in their very cell structure, the idea is plausible…”
“But highly illegal and punishable by death. Yes we are electrically held within our physical bodies. But dead is dead. Binging them back completely as they were at the point of death is impossible. Cloning itself is highly illegal, but adding Keptl and Beast is… deadly.”
“Damn right.” She nodded with a grimace. “Well Olly’s nose and that of his Pride of Ligers tell me that there is no doubt that that man has traces of Keptl and Beasts within his normal scent. This person called ‘Father’ must have used Keptl spores to store his own energy to fight on Olly’s level since no human can stand a chance. No other way.
“When I said your observations help is by that whomever made that creepy masked bastard must have an immense credit account to recreate the lab I know for a fact I destroyed, buy out scientists able to discover a way to stunt the progress of Keptl infestation so the man doesn’t lose sanity and be controlled, and with what you said they must be old enough to know how to teach him this fighting style.
“Like I said, every little detail will help us locate this man’s origins. If I had gotten some viable and uncompromised skin cells or blood I could have unlocked his genetic strands and deduced his birth of origin as well as discovered how the infestation is held in check.” Renee bit the bottom of her ruby lip. “When my mother was infested, she had to undergo aggressive and painful treatments for near eighteen months before the ten additional while pregnant with me. He though was in complete physical health. Ma’s treatments made her lethargic and sick. To me in my profession it is clear they weren’t treated in the same way for infestation.”
“I see.” The Hunter Elder didn’t attempt to rise or nod. “Then it will help our trackers to hunt down those responsible for the creation of this abomination. Have you…”
“I’ve already contacted the Ranger squads.” Oliver said. Rangers were a secret division of Hunters who specialized in investigating crimes against the Hunter organization. “I’ll contact the lead team and know your input will be put it to good use.” He struggled with a decision and decided to come right out and say it. “I’ve told no one this, but the lead Ranger I’m in contact with says he has a suspicion as to who is behind this conspiracy.”
Renee stepped away from his chest to glare. “And why didn’t you tell me? And just what the hell are Rangers?”
“Rangers only allow Elder to Elder communication to limit a leak of information. Brother Void, I vouch for Vic. Since you are permanently mated to Mrs. Void, I’ll permit you to speak with her as your senior, but only if you place a soundproof barrier around us. I hear breathing from young ones beyond the curtain.” He pointed and then there was a soft cough from beyond it.
Oliver lifted his hand after placing the tablet back in his pocket and a dome of energy covered them. A barrier so strong it was visible and both the medic’s Vic and the old Hunter raised an eyebrow by how easy he made it look. It would have killed both of them instantly if they had attempted such a feat. Oliver then said “Rangers are a specialized secretive division among the Hunters. They are akin to detectives and have the authority similar to an Elder Hunter. They operate in secret under the orders of the Elders and report only to us. Their skills lay in those rare few who are gifted telepaths who can match the power of a Drake in that you wouldn’t know they were reading your mind. They leave no traces and are able to cloud the person’s mind so you’d never know you had even seen them. They use any and all means to solve reports against the Hunters. It is because of the Rangers that this entire autonomous organization hasn’t been infiltrated by those who want to exploit the brotherhood. They are the elite at what they do.” He told Renee who had a hand on a hip yet kept quiet. The red in her freckled cheeks told him she was mad even if they weren’t already inside each other’s minds. He then turned to all three listening instead of strictly her. “Getting back on topic… The Rangers took all the information I and Renee supplied and they suspect President Chandler of Galicom.”
“There isn’t one bad thing that that man hasn’t done and gotten away with, but most people are too blind to suspect that bastard of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, why do they suspect him in this instance?”
“The lead Ranger told me they were already following a lead from another case and happened to stumble upon it about an hour after I made contact with them. They told me they discovered another secret lab behind a false wall inside a Galicom shell company on Verard after finding incriminating documents inside the private office of the corporate giant.
“They had broken into where an informant told them to search for a cloning lab, found paper documents so nothing could be hacked inside a lesser CEO’s private office and rushed over to the offsite laboratory to find a lab near exactly similar to the one found in New Wrangler Prison. Their description leads me to believe it. They are under orders to not flash data or video, but they painted me a clear picture.
“During the infiltration in the off-site lab they managed to detain two scientists and were forced to kill ten others who were Retrained to only kill rather than to fix a bad habit, losing one Ranger in the team during the ensuing crossfire. One scientist also committed suicide. Cyanide in a false tooth.” Scimitar gave a small nod. “They reported directly to me from the two captive’s memories that one subject was a ‘smashing success’ not two months ago and were in the process of mass producing clones exactly like the first somewhere else unknown and off site.
“When the site was secure they ran back to arrest Chandler on the conspiracy, but he had departed not an hour prior. GNN didn’t know
anything about the abrupt departure and the Rangers kept information leaks to a minimum. The news simply believe the president of Galicom is simply away on vacation. We though think otherwise.”
“Must have bugged the lab after the prison fiasco and hightailed it out of there before our elite team of Rangers got hold of him… what did our men do with the evidence?”
“Turned the documents directly over to Claw and Talon’s daughter. Like I did when we broke out of prison to blow the whistle. So far she has been able to keep everything under wraps, but President Chandler is our prime suspect in this problem. And…”
“I think they are spot on, Brother. Paper is hard to come by except to artists. To print detailed documents on actual paper isn’t going to look good on anyone involved. Furthermore, only traitors run from their corrupt ways when they know it’s over… but I have an idea few know of.” From his tone he was both glad and upset he had thought of it. “Chandler was once a Hunter before he was expelled from our order. He was of a time of the Grandest too, but was discharged after suspect behavior that resulted in the deaths of two thousand civilians and was said he didn’t raise a hand to offer aid. Without proof we couldn’t execute him so we banished him eight centuries back. He supposedly just watched as they were slain. No Hunter would ever sit back and watch people be massacred. He knows the same style taught to you, Brother, and I’ll bet my left arm he is the trainer if not this ‘Father’ the man referred to. Do the Rangers have a lead on where he exited Verard?”
“The man wouldn’t dare come within any Hunter protected planets or systems. With Vanishing Claw’s rank, he and I spoke this morning and already approved my idea to blacklist the Galicom president and all Hunter outposts are on the lookout for the ostentatious cruiser Chandler departed in. Any sightings will come to me first since I’m able to teleport to any location faster than it would take even the most advanced FTL drive I have created to reach the system. I’ve gotten approval to use any and all measures to acquire the prey. Then bring him here to Zerika for questioning by a full Elder tribunal.”
“You have this well in hand don’t you?”
“Three days for me is plenty of time, but I wouldn’t leave without being here to say thank you for saving my life. If you hadn’t, I’d certainly be dead.”
“Just glad I was there to do it. I know you would have done similarly if I were targeted. Don’t worry, we’ll figure it all out.” Scimitar pated Oliver’s hand.
“Everything sorts itself out in time. I also have a surprise for you.” Oliver walked away and came right back carrying a wrapped bundle. “We found your first blade at the bottom of the river, but my micro-drones followed the water and located your other at the bottom of the canyon gorge.” He handed the sheathed swords over to a grateful Hunter.
“Thank you.”
“Not me. Thank Renee. I was too busy to think about it, thinking it was long gone, but she reminded me on how to search. They were a bit beaten, but I sharpened the blades after one of your smiths beat out the impressions.”
“Then you again have my gratitude, Mrs. Void.”
“Uh huh.” She locked eyes with Oliver, clearly still irritated to be left out of the loop. “Let’s go have a chat outside, Dimwit.”
“Wait a moment, Mrs. Void.” Oliver and Renee stopped. “I’d like that splicing therapy. I haven’t forgotten about that.”
She laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “You just rest up. Olly already told me, but I’ll not let you do it till your skull is healed and the skin grows back. Don’t you worry either. Vic has the solution I whipped up special for you. He’ll only administer it…”
“When you are healthy again.” The other medic finished. “And not a moment sooner.” He was completely serious.
“How long?”
“Give or take six days, Old Friend. Two more of bed rest under my observation. Your condition is still critical. And the graft isn’t hardened into bone yet. One minor injury and it’ll undo all we did you save you. So no fighting me. I’ll see about filling that bottomless pit you call a stomach meanwhile.” Vic smiled and walked away.
Elder Scimitar hadn’t even noticed Oliver and Renee had left till he looked back. He shrugged and closed his eyes to rest some more.
“Why?” Renee said through gritted teeth as they stepped outside and she threw up a soundproof barrier of her own. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me you have had a clear idea who is responsible for fucking with our lives. First prison and now some psychopath fucker who nearly killed you? Why?”
The best way to shut her up worked as he came forward and kissed her with total passion. Keeping sanity enough to not touch her occupied breast their daughter suckled on. Renee sighed in the assault and wrapped her bare arms around his neck, pulling him down further.
He managed to pull back and liked how her eyes fluttered. Then she fought a grimace and a smile. “Damn you, Olly. No fair.” But she didn’t unlocked her arms around his thick neck.
“Red, I was sworn. Only the Elders know of the Rangers. Only them.” He put his forehead against hers, glad his sense of smell was back and he scented her musky and flavorful arousal. “You would have fought me if I told you who was responsible and wanted details on how I knew deep down Chandler is the likeliest suspect. You would try entering my mind with force or ask Sparky. Then you would be in danger if a Ranger scanned you in passing and you weren’t given permission, if he thinks you are a threat he has the right to kill you.”
“Even though you are an Elder?”
“I’m too close to you to be able to be objective. Only another Elder can grant permission to another Elder’s mate. It is one of the many things I must abide by when I was here with all of the assembled Elders last time. I’m sorry.”
She leaned back and tilted her lips up to give him a quick kiss. “Don’t be. I’m not mad anymore now that you told me. It makes sense. You were protecting me. Just don’t leave out something so huge again… wait, when have you had time to chat with these Rangers?”
“Normally when you and Vic were busy operating on him or changing his dressings, bathroom stops or when I had to go check on the cubs.”
“Speaking of, how are they? Sparky has been keeping an eye on them for me.”
She relaxed into the outside bench and let the barrier dissipate away. He followed with a small smile. “Interesting you should ask. Nova impressed upon me he wants all the cubs to become your Pride when they grow up.”
“Really?” She was thrilled. So much so she smiled so hard her face hurt. “Wait… does that mean I need to feel pain?”
“Yes, unfortunately. The cubs, even only days old, are being mentally trained by the mothers and fathers. It is what Nova tells me was how he and the others were when they were born… before the harsh stuff is implemented. Nova doesn’t like Sparky being your only means of protection. The cubs are being trained, but won’t be ready till they are fully grown. Till then they aren’t connected to anyone but each other. He wants me to warn you it is his wish to keep you safe. No matter what. Later on he wants more cubs to give them to Isabella when she reaches maturity.”
She grimaced. “I really cringe at the idea of being bitten like you were. You stood there in pain for hours. I can’t do it. I hate pain and am easily scared. Tell him thanks, but I’ll pass. I’m no warrior. I reek of fear and I doubt smelling angry will help my case.”
“Eh, good point. They’d eat you. You need to be completely calm and focused.” His mind, connected as it was told Nova all he needed to know. “He is saddened, but understands. For now he will keep them in check till Isabella is mature enough to take them as her Pride.”
Distantly the two of them felt a rather strong emanation of tingling. It was weak, but clear and it put another smile on their faces. Renee said first. “I bet you a blowjob Papa yells ‘Where’s me granddaughter?’ first thing and scares the hell out of the Hunters.”
“So if you win I must feast on your clit?” She nodded with a wolfish grin.
“Not much of a wager since I rather love the taste, but very well. I shall bet that if he says ‘Listen up ye dogs!’ you need to find a way to make it so our eyes stop glowing.”
“Why?” She leaned back.
“Unintentionally people direct their attention on us. It is not normal for humans to have glowing eyes all the time. I saw it was momentarily disconcerting for Elder Scimitar when he was waking up. Our eye are too bright and we stand out far too much with them. Besides, I love your normal eyes and the little flecks in them. I miss them actually. How they sparkle when you find something interesting.”
“But it is how our power is safely released so we don’t go off like a bomb. I must admit, I miss your eyes rather than looking into a set of gold suns… alright, make a new wager. I’ll figure how to stop the bioluminescence anyway. Bet something sexual. That kiss got me itching for a good fuck again.”
“Hmmm…” he rubbed his chin. “then if I win… I want to do the sixty nine where we gratify each other.”
“Deal.” She stuck out her hand and they shook on it. “Now run upwind for a few minutes. I’m going to clean up Izzy and get her ready to meet her Grand Papa.” She touched her breast and got a quick kiss before he ran headfirst into the wind, near to the edge of the village. In passing he told everyone Scimitar was awake at last. It was welcome news. Renee smiled, hearing it all as she got up and entered the med bay bathroom to clean up their daughter for a warm reception.
First to spot the expedition party flying fast through the air was an alert sentry who sent word to Oliver as acting head Elder of the village. Giving specific numbers that had originally left, minus three who had departed weeks earlier.
Void's Psionics Page 39
