Cutlass Sharpened

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  “Thank you.” He climbed out of bed, adding shorts before the sheet fell away to show he slept nude. She nodded and went elsewhere as he headed for the facilities.

  Waiting as promised was Vanishing Claw in a pair of loose workout pants and nothing more. He was barefoot and shirtless. In his right hand was the same shortsword used to block Oliver’s strike that first night. The short man wasted no time. “Oliver, go barefoot like myself.” Boots disappeared and cool crystal of the empty courtyard crept up his bare feet. He removed his shirt and kept the pants, sheathe and blade. “Humans learn best by mimicking, it’s no different in being a swordsman. What is good is you’re left handed while the bulk of humanity is right. It’ll be the advantage most are unaccustomed to. I say it’s good because you will mirror me. Draw your blade and do as I do.”

  Oliver’s cutlass sang as it announced its arrival. He spaced his feet and held the curved sword out with the tip angled in front.

  “Not bad, but drop the tip a little more… more. There! Now turn your left foot… there. Watch my entire body as it moves, but especially focus on my eyes. The eyes are the key to surviving conflict. My eyes will tell you where I’ll next strike.” He moved slow and Oliver mirrored him. “The eyes tell you where to defend, but can also be a ruse to lure you into opening a weak spot. Watch how my body moves. How the muscles under my skin tense and relax. Our feet are the key to having a foundation to stay upright as well as a weapon. Since our legs are twice as strong as our arms, they can do much harm, but to rely on just one is a risk. It upsets our balance so judge accordingly. Use imagination to anticipate your prey. Lure them into your rhythm and never fall in theirs unless it is your plan.” He made a gradual motion so clean it was natural, but Oliver could not do it so smoothly. “But the ultimate key is to know how to breathe.”

  “Breathe?” Oliver asked as already the slow moves and early morning humidity made him break out into a sweat.

  “Our bodies need oxygen and nitrogen to function. Starve the body of air and your strength and endurance will fail accordingly. The key to breathing is to work with it as you move. Strike out, breathe out. Pull in, breathe in. Do not go for the relentless berserker assault. Be calm during stress. Pace yourself. Like when you tracked for three weeks. You found a way to be still though you moved fast. You avoided danger, but didn’t leave it to draw attention.” The steps continued. “You breathed correctly. Swordsmanship is no different, Brother. Never stop breathing. Make it remember as your muscles will remember with practice.”

  “How do you make it look so easy?” he wiped his sweaty brow, but followed as best possible.

  “As I said. Practice. We learn to do by mimicking and adapt it into our own style and needs. And at the rate you learn, you will master these steps on no time. The only way for the body to move properly it to allow it to learn too. It will make many mistakes, but it will learn. It shall sharpen one day to such an edge only an equal master could test.” Vanishing Claw mentored.

  Explanations of proper breathing went on throughout the evolving sequences and Oliver found he enjoyed doing them despite the struggle to keep up. They moved face to face, a mirror of moves no matter their size differences.

  When words were no longer necessary and all questions had been answered Oliver asked “Grandest Claw, may I ask to hear your story?”

  “Why do you wish to hear it?” he stepped and made an underhanded thrust that turned around to stab an invisible opponent coming up from behind.

  “Because I already know I hate for someone to die, but I’ve yet to see human death. With my memory wiped, I’m obsessed to hear other stories so someone isn’t truly alone like I am. I’m sad beyond anything I can compare with that no one knows who I am, where I come from, anything I did. At least with people who do have amnesia, someone out there knew them. I’m alone and have no clue as to who I was. Was I a Hunter? Was I a husband? A father? Brother? Did I have any friends? Was I a good man? Was I evil? A murderer? Thief? Who put me in that dormant Volcano? How long ago? Are they still around? Did I do it to myself? Was it a punishment?... My story is gone. No one knows definitively who the hell I was. My past story is gone. What if yours is too one day. If we met again and you were as lost as I am, I would tell you about yourself gladly, even if you were evil. The worst thing is not knowing and I’d go insane if I didn’t have distractions.”

  “I see what you mean.” They didn’t stop and weren’t alone as some elders had come to watch and listen. “Very well. Since no one can see off into the future, such an event could happen. It is public knowledge of my exploits. Still, I’d hate to die and my own story die with me as yours has.

  “I was born in the year 2575 which makes me six hundred and forty two years old.” He smiled at Oliver’s expression. “I was born on Earth to a sixth generation Hunter and a rather short mother I take after. By the age of nine I chose to be like my father and joined him on a six gee Hunter world, the highest ones we still use today like this one. By ten I could finally move around freely and was discovered to be a class twelve psionic prodigy and was code named Vanishing as I was able to disappear before I even learned how to fire a kinetic blast. So I became both a Phantom and Hunter.

  “In my sixteenth year I was sent to the front lines in a Keptl assault and barely got out with my life. It was my first combat experience and the closest I had ever come to dying. My vanishing skill is all that kept me alive. We were up against a swarm of those foul creatures and they tear through anyone below the fifth class like nothing is in their way. Take one down a thousand more take their place. When I was retreating I came across another survivor. My wife now of six hundred and twenty six years Talon.”

  “Saved my ass and I gave it to you as a prize.” She laughed and spanked her own firm butt.

  “And what a fine prize it is.” The eldest leaned over and stared at her firm rear and winked. “Back to what I was saying, Talon and I fought the whole way back to base and got away. We got married two nights later during FTL back to Earth after we found ourselves compatible. Two years later we had our first daughter.

  “When I was twenty two I became a class one Hunter and so did Talon and the two of us have been a team ever since. We still bicker like any couple, but after six centuries I know I’ve still not had nearly enough of her.”

  “Keep talking like that, Lover, and I’ll end the lessons you’re trying to teach our brother and take you right here.”

  “And she is still insatiable.” He laughed as she stuck her tongue out. “In my two and a half century year I became a High elder. In my four hundredth I became a Grand. But a hundred and twelve ago my predecessor was killed in action which made me the eldest living Hunter by seven months, next to Talon. And for over a century I guide and fight the most extreme Beasts and Keptl assaults to keep them from encroaching in the two galaxies our people have spread to. Milky Way and Andromeda.”

  “Have you met any Creelin?”

  Vanishing Claw smiled widely as he bent low over a knee to skim his sword over the ground by millimeters. “I’ve met many. Some I even call friend. They are a rather stiff bunch, but if you fight with them and show you have honor you’ll never find better friends when it counts. About two hundred years back one of their outlying colonies were under attack by the Keptl and I was in the area with Talon. We held the swarm off for six hours till their golden armada arrived and purged the bastards. They gave thanks.

  “Three years later I and Talon were in a bind, caught in a Salamander trap and suddenly nine Zeelin warriors we fought with back on their outlying colony came out of nowhere and turned the tide. They left afterwards, but not before I asked why they showed up.

  “We came in their time of greatest need and Talon and I deserved no less. They are big on honor. Fight without ulterior motives and you’ll have some awesome allies. Just never ask to learn their technology or you’ll lose that friendship. And if you intend to exploit them, they’ll know and use you, but when you’re facing certain death, they�
��ll watch you die and not lift a finger.”

  “I think I’ll like them.” Oliver admitted.

  “I’ve yet to find one dishonorable Creelin in my whole life. I trust them with my life. Hell, I’ve even let my children and descendants play with some of their colonist children, kicking back with a beer in one hand alongside their parents.”

  By noon, Vanishing Claw called for a break and a chilled drink was exactly what was needed. Afterwards wooden swords were held and Oliver was beaten down, but always got back up. The practical application of the motions were made clear. As was the need of breathing. Oliver found out quick the importance was when he was gasping for air and found the hard ground when his back was exposed to the eldest living Hunter. Droplets of his own blood lay everywhere despite wooden practice swords.

  That night Renee went on a tirade on how bad he looked. The only positive thing would be that the broken blood vessels that would leave a bruise for weeks would be gone tomorrow thanks to the nanites he had circulating around his body. She still helped him work on release and gather the energy, but heckled him relentlessly.

  Six days later made the thirty first. The full month since the crash had passed. A bright morning greeted Oliver and after a well rested and productive night did wonders. An hour before calling it a night he finally managed to open the conduit to his psionic abilities without Renee’s help. As he sat up in the bed he did it just for fun and it came after a little exertion. The feel would need more work and he could only gather so much, but it was enough to feel good.

  Of good note, Oliver’s vambrace was indeed able to modify nanites to have Hunter armor automatically clean itself at the push of a button. Soon the nanites of all Hunters would get it standard. Charred suits were shiny silver all over again.

  In the shower room he wasn’t alone as two other men were using some of the ten shower stalls. Having three hundred elders meant the facilities were constantly in use. The shower felt great and a laser shave did wonders.

  But as he stepped out into the lounge room, he noticed a difference to the usual way Hunters did business. They wore their armor inside. They looked ready for battle. It was seriously frightening. To top it off, this time everyone was standing around rather than relaxing. As soon as he was spotted the conversations ended. The eldest came forward, but not in a threatening way. The black haired short man cracked smile “Don’t worry. You aren’t in danger. Nor are you the only one leaving today. We all have our own businesses to deal with. I wanted to tell you that it was a true honor to be here and do this. Also, you’ve proven to each and every one of us that despite your memory loss, you are an ideal candidate to be an elder with full privileges. You didn’t give up on a hunt, nor did you run when you were clearly not ready to win without risk. You know the rules we have sworn to uphold and gave your oath yesterday before us all. And during these six days that I’ve shown you the ways of a swordsman, you are humble and fierce at the same time. You always got back up no matter how many times I knocked you to the floor.

  “Witnessed by each and every one of us” he gestured to the full assembly of elders. “you have no ambitions other than to protect. All of us have seen into your mind when you are not practicing and cannot disagree you are nothing more than you seem.

  “As a result of total agreement I proudly bestow you the crest of a High Elder.” Vanishing Claw opened his hand to reveal a tiny golden fang two and a half centimeters long. “Hold out your right hand, palm down.” Oliver did. The short man placed the fang down and with a word, Oliver held back a yell as the fang suddenly burrowed it’s way under the skin. He said “If ever questioned as to your rank, High Elder Void, make a tight fist as if you are about to punch the person out. Do so now.”

  Fingers curled and tightened to a massive fist and beneath the blood, the fang began to light up with a bright golden glow.

  “Under a scanner, that Hunter elder’s fang will bring up your active eligibility as well as rank, age and your history we falsified and already began the plan to drop ruins on a nine gee moon to solidify any who get too curious.” Then the man grinned. “I’m also proud to say my Splicer contact informed me just three hours ago about the successful ligament enhancement I had him work on. I’m going to have the procedure done and test its limitations before making a test group. If all turns out as you have, it will be a mandatory augmentation like hearing and vision enhancement. I’ll hold the patents of course till no one will question you…”

  “I don’t care about that. If it’ll save just one person I’ll be happy.” Oliver relaxed his painfully throbbing hand.

  “If it works it’ll save hundreds of millions of Hunters, My Friend. I will contact you once my decision is reached.” He patted Oliver’s shoulder. “Keep practicing the movements I taught you and remember to breathe. That is the key. Hunt relentlessly, Elder Void.”

  “Feast well, Grandest Elder Vanishing Claw.” Oliver replied, feeling he should say the full title right then.

  “Talon, are you ready?”

  “I hope the splicing makes the next time I wrap my legs around you extra memorable.” She jeered, throwing an arm around him.

  “Will it, Oliver?” the man questions the newly named elder.

  “I’ve nothing to compare. Figure it out yourself, but if you’re faster, better hope you’re not too fast. I get the feeling she’ll kill the both of us if that happens.”

  “Smart man.” She laughed. “I’ll find out soon enough. See you all in the next issue that was as interesting as this.” She told the others as they left the lodge.

  One by one the Grand and High Elders filed out saying words to Oliver. Most were uplifting while others were clear. ‘Don’t screw us over.’ Was the gist of those few surly individuals. For about an hour he listened as they parted.

  At last it was just Oliver and Scythe left standing by the roaring waterfall. Some of the spacecrafts were already shooting off into the dark blue sky. Many in the village saw off their ancestor. Some would stay, but others had things they had to do and were important. Scythe held out a hand to say “It was a privilege to meet you Oliver. It was an honor to be a part of all this. So do not be a stranger. Come back to Zerika again anytime.”

  “Maybe one day. It is a beautiful and wild planet, but I need to explore and see other worlds. Besides, there is someone I can’t leave. Where she goes, I go.”

  “If she doesn’t kill you. I saw the electrical burns two nights ago.”

  “A misunderstanding. I happened to pick up a piece of fabric that turned out to be one of her thongs she accidently knocked out of her suitcase. Still… I found she does wears thongs.” He gave the man a grin who doubled over in a deep laugh the two shared.

  “Be safe, Brother.”

  “You too.”

  Oliver crouched down as he saw a familiar redhead exit the med bay with a suitcase slung over a shoulder. He leapt far over the falls and stream to land half the length he started in. Renee paused and sighed when noticing it was only Oliver and saw him coming over. Out of courtesy she waited to ask as he got closer “So what is the verdict?”

  “I’m an established Hunter.”

  “One problem taken care of. Be a gentleman and carry this for me.” She threw her bag which he caught faster than a normal man. As they walked she said “We will be at Verard in two days. Are you sure about this date? You can back out before you screw up.”

  “Not a chance. After everything I’ve endured, you’re not getting out of it that easy. You just remember that you better be in a sexy dress you want taken off by my teeth.”

  Her red eyebrows shot up a fraction. “You never told me I had to wear a dress.”

  “Because once we get on the ship I’m going to steer clear of you or end up exploding from all the tension between us. You’ve got one warning. Heed it.”

  “And what are you going to do for two days in FTL? You do live across from my med bay or have you forgotten?”

  “I’m going to be busy having Steven teach
me to fly your shuttle. When we reach port it’ll take too long to walk for my plan and if you wear heels you’ll be miserable before long.”

  “Heels too? You do know a fancy restaurant won’t got you laid.”

  “I never said anything about a restaurant. And stop fishing. Just know you won’t be able to resist my charms after the date. You’ll be so excited.”

  “Hmmm. Then I better make sure not to wear any underwear.” Oliver stumbled and fell flat on his face. Renee busted out laughing at how well she knocked him through a loop with that imagery. He got up and she smacked his steel hard chest. “Lose that smug look.”

  “Nope. I’m looking forward to how much more beautiful you’ll look naked under me in two days.”

  Enough had been said as they made way to her smaller version of the Dorgenox with wings. Waiting just outside were the three Hunters and companions. Stone looked at Oliver’s swollen and irritated right hand, smirked, whispered in the others’ ears and went inside. Renee and Oliver stepped inside the sailboat shuttle afterwards.

  After the shuttle docked and those inside were exiting, the Dorgenox began to rise and lower the massive solar sails. In just minutes the ship left the Zerikan atmosphere and left the planet to leave its gravity and moons before safely reaching the point where faster than light travel would not create problems.

  Renee returned to her area, but Oliver took a detour before heading down to the training room for more practice. He knocked on a door and it opened to reveal the auburn haired Jessica in nothing more than a large nightshirt that covered the vital areas. Her light hazel eyes widened in recognition of the visitor. “Oliver! You’re back!”

  Her surprise brought Stephanie out of the bed around the corner in night lingerie. “Babe? Why shout? Oh, hello, Oliver.”

  “Hello. Sorry for waking you, but may I have a minute of your time privately?”