LAND of the FREE

by Michael W. Huard

  Chaya nodded her head. "I was wondering where our base was. I knew it was fairly close to here, but we have never stopped anywhere other than our location in Arcadia. My curiosity had me thinking that we must be nearby."

  Sinaye loved this spot. "This place is like you're sitting in another world," she announced. "I could sit here for hours just lost in thought and as calm as I could ever be."

  All the women talked and rested while enjoying the serenity of the open sea. They explored the surrounding area, finding sea life, collecting shells, and watching the gulls come and go around them. One seagull came right up close to Zaey, so close she was able to feed the gull a piece of jerky from her hand. It was so different for them to not hear any other voices and to not have to be worried by every movement around them. The sound of the crashing water and the birds in the sky is all there was to listen to. That night, they camped out on the rocks. Sleeping out under the stars and at one with the earth meant they would all wake up the next day with a renewed energy and hope.

  Day two was no less fun. The women were spending the morning exploring the coast when they came across a decent sized boat docked on the water, just down the road from their camp. It belonged to an older fellow in blue jeans and a faded gray T-shirt. He was very curious as to why a bunch of lovely ladies were looking at his boat. He seemed friendly, his white beard made him appear to be about seventy years old, and his old brown hat made a good sun protector for his almost hairless head.

  "Her name's Cassie, in case you were wondering. I used to have it painted on the front, but water and weather kind of faded her out," he told all the ladies. "Never did repaint it." The old guy walked towards the ladies with a purpose, and his sudden approach made several of the women instinctively reach for their blades or pistols. As they saw the man close up, they realized he was quite an older chap. It was habit for all the sisters to be ready for an attack at any time. "Whoa, easy now, I am not here to fight ya," he added as the women eased away from their weapons and began to relax. Seeing the women now knowing he was not a threat, the old man continued, keen to change the subject. "Gonna be a hot one today. What are y'all doing round here?"

  He seemed kind enough, but these days the sisters would not take anything or anyone for granted.

  Envy smiled. "Well, we're out here enjoying this beautiful day and all this wonderful scenery," she said, waving her hand towards the ocean. "Can I ask a favor of you, sir . . . could we possibly use your boat?"

  "Ha ha," the old man chuckled to himself. "Are any one of you experienced in sailing a ship? The sea, my dears, can be very fickle to those unfamiliar with such a vessel. I would hate to see such a sweet lot get lost out at sea," he said with a look of genuine concern.

  Jansa turned to Envy, "He makes a good point. Perhaps another time?"

  Putting an arm over the old guy's shoulder, Mahira asked, "What is your name, sir?"

  The old fellow grinned and replied, "Name's Chadwick McArthur, if I do say so myself," he said as his tipped the front of his crooked hat towards Mahira. "I's been here for don't know how long . . . lost my entire family too, and me be all that's left," the old fellow said with a strong Maine accent. All the women smiled kindly, empathizing with his loss.

  The gladiator padded him gently on the back, "I'm sorry about that. How do you survive out here all year round?"

  "Oh, I make do," replied Chadwick, "I's do the best I can."

  There was no doubt the man was weathered by the outdoors, yet he was a solid build for an older guy, and they could all see he had the appearance of someone able to survive out here. He looked them over and added, "Tell you what, it’s not that often, well actually it's never, that I get to see seven beautiful, strong, young women round these parts. What say you I take you all out for a hell of a boat ride?"

  The group felt at ease with old Chadwick, so a boat ride it would be.

  All of them boarded Cassie. They sailed about the area as their guide talked about old traditions and various landmarks. The wind blew on their faces and the sun was shining down on them. For a moment, the Mystical Slayers were lost in time. There was nothing quite like a ride out at sea. The sisters sat back and took it all in. They pointed out all the sights as the boat made its way around the never ending water.

  After the ride, Chadwick invited them back to his home for a late lunch. He claimed to make the best seafood chowder in the world. The ladies took him up on his kind offer. The place was a beaten up shanty of a house. The women knew it was better that way for his own sake, as he wouldn't attract as much attention. His house was nestled down into a spot in the valley and not overly easy to find. Once inside, it was obvious the place was pretty darn solid and had been built with some good woodworking skills.

  The chowder, as promised, was delicious, and Chadwick had a fresh loaf of bread with warmed butter to add to the meal. The old fellow had a dart board set up in his house and everyone took part a few friendly games while drinking some serious moonshine, home brewed by Chadwick himself, which made the meal and their downtime all the more enjoyable. It had been another great day. The women thanked their host for his hospitality and made their way back to the plane.

  Raegan had avoided too much of the strong drink back at Chadwick McArthur's shanty, so she was good to fly. She remembered how Blu could fly even when she had been drinking, but she was not Blu, so the women would fly today with a semi-sober pilot.

  Their next destination was a spot only recorded on age old maps. Raegan flew central to their location and landed in a field which appeared lost in time. It was a region called "Belgrade Lakes". The entire region was a haven of various lakes, all connected and intertwined with each other in some form or another. There were small pockets of life, but as with Maine, most people kept to themselves and stayed hidden away. It was safer that way. Corporation laws were in effect, but no one was interested in following their restrictions this far out in the countryside.

  "This is where we will stay for the next few days," Raegan informed the group. "We just need to hike to find a suitable cabin on a lake nearby." The women all geared up ready for their journey. After a short walk through woodland, they came across several cabins dotted around a lake. Most of the cabins were too run down to claim as their base. Having dismissed the first lot of cabins, they continued with their walking. It was a good two hours before they found a long dirt road which led them to a different set of cabins alongside another big lake. The area was beautiful, calm, and tranquil. They spotted a log cabin, one which was still intact, near the end of the dirt road and decided to take a closer look. After a brief inspection, they decided this was the one and started to unpack.

  Set in cove beside the lake, both the location and the cabin were perfect. Various rooms around a central living area were the making of the cabin. There were sleeping areas out on the deck overlooking the water and inside with views over the lake. The windows were long gone, but the weather was good, and a wood stove inside could also be used for extra warmth if needed. None of the women were used to so much freedom, so much relaxation. They felt the urge to work out, plan a next mission, or do something to help the people they looked after in their chosen lives as freedom fighters. None of this was necessary, at least not for now.

  They all voiced their lingering feelings of needing to be active, but with some deep breathing exercises, they were able to let go of their busy minds as night began to settle in. It was a night of endless stars and several sisters slept out on the deck. The sound of loons in the night air made for an enchanting chorus of restful meditation and deep sleep all round.

  When morning came, all the women were up early and ready to explore again. Envy had been up extra early, baking warm honey-nut muffins for everyone. The smell of coffee drifted through the cabin as it brewed on an old, rusty stove.

  There was plenty to keep the women occupied as the lake offered a great swimming facility. Zaey also found some fishing poles in an old shed, and Chaya found an ab
andoned canoe on the banks of the lake. It was really warm outside in the strong midday sun. The lake, cool breeze, and patches of welcome shade helped the women to avoid the heat of the day.

  There was no sense of shyness with the Slayers. It was something they had grown accustomed to through their lives, always surrounded by those who needed their help or guidance. However, this extended vacation week was different. Most of the women wore nothing but panties, and Envy and Mahira were fully naked as they went about exploring, canoe riding, swimming, and lounging around in the day. It wasn't long before a challenge was made for the competitive Slayers to swim across the lake. It was a decent length and would not be an easy swim for the average human. None of these women were average. Raegan surprised everyone by adding her own extra rule to the challenge; they had to make the swim while fully nude. Off went the clothes. The Mystical Slayers were all bare-ass naked when they began their race across the desolate lake in the boons of Belgrade. The sisters were getting silly, but they were having a ball.

  For Devlin, the teenage boy who secretly watched the race from his hiding place in the woods, this was a dream come true. Seven hard-bodied, gorgeous, buck naked females had him frozen to the spot. He wanted to stay and watch, but the girls swam away and out of sight. Besides, he knew he had to get back and tell his family what he had just seen. His father, Gordo, a mean motherfucker, would be very interested in such odd guests nearby their home.

  The swimming race was intense. Just like when whenever the women came up against each other in anything, it was taken far too seriously. It came down to Mahira and the little Aussie, Zaey. In the end, the gladiator squeaked out a close win, and all the other sisters applauded her victory.

  Unbeknown to the playful sisters as they splashed about in the water, the boy from across the lake had gone to let his family know all about the mysterious visitors who had arrived at the abandoned camp.

  It was a great freedom for them to go about their business in the nude, but it was something they never imagined they would ever get the chance to do together. Chaya, however, was greatly concerned about the idea of frolicking around naked in the poison ivy!

  Overall, they just had great fun seeking out the various trees and plants, and they even spotted a groundhog, a squirrel, and an interesting multi-colored bird which flew down to greet the sisters during their exploration.

  Their best find was a patch of wild Maine blueberries, which they of course all sampled a good quantity of. The swim back to their cabin was not a race, for once. They chatted, floated about on the water, backstroked, and swam at their leisure.

  As the ladies neared the cabin side of the lake, they spotted people on the shoreline. Zaey was first to see them. "Guys, there's someone, actually a few someones, at the camp." They appeared to be raiding the place, taking equipment and clothing. None of the women could swim fast enough to get back and stop what was happening.

  Envy urged them on. "Go, go! We have to get to them before they take off!" she cried out as all the women swam as fast as their legs would allow back to their campsite and cabin.

  ***

  Approximately twelve months ago, the tall, charismatic president of Y-Wood had gathered everyone together for an urgent meeting. Arn Marcou, who more often than not preferred to wear slacks and a long matching colored coat, today wore a full maroon ensemble. He often fidgeted with his little Chinese balls in his left hand. Today was no different. Before he spoke, the chimes and clattering of the fidgeting objects could be heard around the conference chamber. People wondered what he fiddled with in his hand, but in time, everyone would know of his little set of toys.

  He cleared his throat and stood up from his high backed, brown leather chair. "Gentlemen, ladies, thank you for dropping everything and coming in today." He glanced about the meeting room and saw Field Commander Berlin Purcell, Galax, the super powerful and smart mega bot, the refined Chancellor Tessa, his personal secretary and only female in the room, Resin Cador, his assistant, and Hale Valdosta, a brainy, undersized twerp with a head too big for his body. Valdosta was a good worker so he had made top assistant, and the leader of Y-Wood appreciated that. Omagus, the hologram super bot and personal robot to the president himself, was guarding the door. Together, they made up the leadership core for the Y-Wood Corporation in the former United States.

  "First off, let me start by saying we, all of us, are now the largest, most prestigious firm in the entire world. We have offices in every region on this planet. Everyone here tonight makes up the core of home base operations, and for that you should be proud. You will find tokens of my appreciation on the table before you."

  Everyone now noticed the boxes, and as suggested by the president, they began to open them. Inside each box was a commemorative gold coin representing the Corporation's robotic logo. The leaders thanked president Marcou for their gift. The CEO made his voice louder now. "Just so you know, those are worth a whole year's salary." Again, they all showed their appreciation to their boss.

  "Now, let us move on to more pressing matters," the world leader spoke as he continued on. "Though she remains anonymous, my boss is very much active in everything we do. Today is a gigantic step in a direction we both feel will change the world as we know it."

  Hale Valdosta couldn't help himself. He flapped out, "Will we ever get to meet the boss, sir?"

  President Marcou ignored the brainy twerp and carried on. "With all that we do, all we have created, and all the projects we have in advanced stages, our creative powers and knowledge is that of the highest development. No one, and I mean no one, can surpass us. A move to cement this is now at this very table."

  "She," Marcou spoke in reference to his boss, "has declared this as The Great Hunt!" The people and robots in the room all wondered what he meant by this and how they would play a role in this new concept.

  Chancellor Tessa jumped up from her seat. She was wearing the brightest of yellow stiletto heels which startled the room as she stood. "Oh, how I love Earth shattering, world changing ideas. Please do tell us more, Mr. President."

  "What would force the world to be at our beck and call?" the leader questioned. "What makes a world or a civilization grow? Anyone?"

  Field Commander Purcell, put in his two cents, "The need for food, shelter, water, and security," the solider suggested.

  President Marcou nodded in agreement. "Anyone else?" he asked. "Please do join in."

  Resin Cador gave his thoughts next, "Perhaps new locations to expand the company, Mr. President?"

  Marcou again nodded. "Any other thoughts or ideas? Last chance to speak out," he said. There was a pause, a silence in the conference room. "Alright, well, tonight you will hear the plan."

  Omagus then spoke unexpectedly. The colors of his multi-dimensional body were glowing slightly, and the hologram patterns changed into various colors as he calmly reasoned, "Life itself, I would tend to think."

  President Marcou's face lit up. "Exactly, Omagus! You're a genius, of course. To be honest, it really is that simple . . . and it is right before us all . . . life itself. The thing is, we just have to execute it."

  The table was now even more interested. All the guests were on the brink of hearing about what appeared to be a groundbreaking new plan. The president's second assistant, Resin Cador, wondered if it was perhaps just going to be some sort of craziness the president had been plotting.

  President Marcou couldn't keep his audience waiting any longer, "The Great Hunt will be the ending of the male species on Earth." Shock resonated through the entire meeting room. No one spoke. The males wondered if this was the beginning of their end too.

  Tessa, the lone female at the meeting, produced a smile about a mile long. She could not contain herself, "What a brilliant idea, sir," she blurted out. "I absolutely love it." The men around the table all turned to look at her. Their frowns were obvious.

  Marcou scanned the room. "Relax, guys," he chuckled at all the worried male faces. "All of you
here are exempt from The Great Hunt." He too smiled broadly. "Well, unless you piss me off of course." The gathering of men swallowed hard and eased back down in their corporate chairs with a sense of relief.

  Marcou ran his hand through his implanted hair and twisted one of his gold hoop earrings. "Just think of this and you will understand the reasoning. Once the male population is largely extinct, all women will have no choice but to seek out the few who remain. It will be the only way to reproduce. We are of course working on being able to offer alternative means of reproduction without the need for a human male. But, the men who are part of this Corporation, those in our inner core, will become the rarest of human males. We will become the sought after. We will become the desire of all women from around the world."

  The men in the room now realized where all this was going. It was genius. Cruel, and completely over the top, but genius nonetheless. Chancellor Tessa's smile changed into a frown. She was too old to be this confused, and it wasn't even something that concerned her. She preferred women to men any day. When the meeting ended, The Great Hunt was officially set in motion.

  ***

  Each of the women were swimming as fast as they could. They yelled out and screamed to try to spook the people at the cabin, but it didn't to do much good. As the sisters reached the water's edge, Raegan instructed, "We're going to have to chase them down. I see at least three of them; two kids, and an adult male."

  Sinaye was first to point out that they were all still naked from the swim. It wasn't going to stop them. They ran through the shallow parts of the lake and emerged in the nude on the sandy shore.

  All of their clothes had been taken. Jansa suggested that they weave together some leaves for clothing instead of patrolling the woods in their current naked state. But that would take far too long. Some of the women searched the cabin for anything they could make into clothing. Chaya located some old tent material underneath the deck of the cabin and the gang of naked sisters started to tear away at the material, turning it into makeshift loincloths and halter tops. When their new fashion designs were complete, the sisters looked like cavewomen who had just rolled out of the Amazon rainforest.