EARTH'S LAST WAR (CHILDREN OF DESTINY Book 1)

by Glenn Van Dyke

  “So—do I call you Ashlyn or Renee?”

  “I prefer Ashlyn, since my physical appearance is hers.’ It will also make it easier on the children. Maybe someday, we can tell them.

  If you need time to take this all in, I’ll understand. The concept is not an easy one to accept, but know that I love you as never before, for the love I carry, is the love borne by the two of them.”

  Steven was still for only a moment before he drew Ashlyn close, “It’s wonderful, Ash. What you did for Renee, for me—beyond self-sacrificing.” When her arms wrapped round his neck, he gave her a long, hard kiss, his touch making her feel secure in the decision. His hands grabbed her buttocks, pulling her tight.

  Feeling his erection throbbing against her belly, she slid her hand between their bodies and grabbed him, “You have no idea how desperately I want to suck you right now—it’s hard to explain, because while I have their memories and cravings, I have none that are unique to me, to the person that I am now. I know everything, but don’t feel like I’ve experienced anything.”

  “I can barely understand the concept, let alone the logistics,” said Steven. “So it doesn’t surprise me.”

  “I don’t understand all of it either. It’s virgin territory.

  Speaking of virgin territory—there is something I’d like to do which is a first for both of us. It might be a good place to start,” said Ashlyn with vigor.

  “This will be interesting,” said Steven, his curiosity peaked.

  Ashlyn turned round, and teasingly wiggled her buttocks against him. Leaning her back atop his shoulder, she took his hands and put them on her breasts. She moved his hands round, letting him feel her slippery nipples moving against the palm of his hands.

  He watched the droplets of water blending, forming heavy trickles that ran around and between her cleavage.

  Sliding his hands to her hips, she leaned forward, placing her face and shoulders against the smooth boulders, her hands bracing her wide stance. Her back dipped, the motion forcing the cant of her buttocks sharply upwards to him—her pose begged him to enter her.

  Water from the falls was trailing down her back. Mist landing atop both of them. Her hair was wet, stringy—erotic.

  He stared at the plumped swells surrounding her shaven pussy, a perfection of symmetry. As he was watching, Ashlyn reached between her legs, and touched her clit. She moved with finesse, her breath heaving, her voice sighing to every stroking touch.

  She was ready to be taken, rapaciously.

  Steven’s hands were atop her hips, holding her fast as he began prodding her, “Wrong hole … go higher.”

  Steven gulped.

  Ever so gently, so as not to hurt her, Steven pushed. Little by little, he could feel her loosening, each time the tip of his cock going a tiny bit deeper. Ashlyn gasped with each push.

  Steven was unsure of it was a gasp of pain or pleasure. All he knew is that she wasn’t asking him to stop. The more she widened, the louder her gasping sigh.

  Several minutes passed, before he felt the head of his cock slip fully inside her. “Fuck, it’s so tight—but damned, it feels good.”

  “Fuck yes, it feels good,” said Ash, aggressively. “Go deeper.”

  “You swore. I knew I could get you to say that word!”

  “Shut the f-up and go deeper,” she gasped. “Faster—faster!”

  Steven smiled, but go deeper and faster, he did. He was sliding, rocking back and forth, thrusting deep. He’d never known that she had specialized muscles there too.

  Reaching back, she took his hand and brought it round, placing his fingers atop her clit. Together, their dual fingers stroked her.

  Her panting gasps were loud, ragged. She was ready.

  Steven reached further, slipping two of his fingers inside her empty, hot pussy. Ash trembled in response, her legs nearly collapsing.

  With just a few more thrusts—Ash lowered the veil, allowing them to have a vigorous, simultaneous orgasm that was unequaled.

  With one of Steven’s hand having a death grip upon her breast, the fingers of the other inside her, his cock buried deep—he came inside her. To each pulse, Ashlyn’s muscles coaxed his orgasm, as did his throbbing releases, coax hers.

  Ash straightened, throwing her head back atop his shoulder. “That was sooo—amazing!”

  “Yes, it was. Is there nothing you can’t do, Ash?” as he slid out of her.

  “Guess we’ll find out. Ready for round two?” said Ash, as she turned round and grabbed his scrotum firmly in her hand.

  Kneeling, Ash tenderly circled the tip of his shaft with kisses, before engulfing him.

  He winced, trembling in response. Steven’s hands were resting atop her head, encouraging her, as she took him deep.

  Under the falls, their minds melded. Their passions blazed.

  For the new Ashlyn, she now felt her own craving to taste him, to feel him throbbing between her lips, inside her mouth. She couldn’t stop, but neither did she want to. He was right where she wanted him to be. Ashlyn’s mouth finessed him, enabling him to release himself endlessly for what felt like hours. His gasps of pleasure carried him aloft to a place wherein only the gods had been allowed to dwell.

  The two of them felt blessed to feel such passion, and knowing that it was eternal was a reward without compare.

  Late in the day, their minds as worn out as their bodies, they lay quietly upon the silver thermal blanket, Ashlyn cuddled tightly at his side. Steven thought of the strange circumstances that had made it possible for his life to change in so many ways.

  Together, they stared upwards at the beauty of the three rising moons which radiated brightly despite the late afternoon sky. The sight was breathtaking.

  Deep in thought, they both realized how much they were going to miss Earth’s moon. It had been the inspiration of mystery, romance and man’s quest for knowledge for countless ages.

  “Steven, I’d wanted to ask you—how do you throw the energy orbs?”

  He chuckled. “I really don’t know, either. I just knew that I could. Tynabo should have included an instruction manual for us,” teased Steven. “All I know is that what you do to me is mystical.”

  “Well—since you brought up, mystical?” she teased, her fingernail stroking him. “I have one more surprise to show you.”

  As her touch aroused him, Ash interjected, “Not that kind of surprise. Come on, we have to go!” Ash bounded to her feet. “Come on bum—you showed me how to navigate by the stars, now I’m going to show you the universe!”

  They boarded the shuttle and lifted off. Steven sat in the co-pilots chair as Ashlyn began to explain, “There was something in the vision back at Sea Base that I’d not been able to explain. It was me standing before The Keeper, speaking with him in private—a conversation that I’ve now had.

  I was asking him about the three circular symbols, the orbs upon the Cherubim’s pedestal. My question triggered the revelation of one last secret that he was holding back.

  He was really excited to have gotten the question and he said it was his final Gift for us.”

  “Where are we going?” asked Steven, wondering where Ashlyn was taking him.

  “That’s a really big question,” said Ash, the gleaming twinkle in her eyes denoting that she wasn’t going to tell him.

  As the shuttle made a sudden turn, aiming them at the nearest of the three moons, realization dawned, “The three moons—they are the three orbs?”

  “And I bet you always snuck a peak at your Christmas presents too, didn’t you?” said Ashlyn.

  Seeing Steven’s grin. “I thought so!”

  “That’s why the Keeper couldn’t track us sometimes,” said Steven. “His sensors are on the moons. It’s so obvious. I should have realized it. How are we for EPS suits if we need them?”

  “We have them, but we won’t need them,” answered Ash.

  Flipping a switch to open a channel. “Defender, this is Admiral Sherrah, aboard the Dolphin transport,
Mayorta. I’m taking Commander Parker on a short sightseeing trip. No need to be concerned. We’ll be back shortly.”

  “Aye, Admiral! Enjoy the ride!”

  “Did you detect a pun in there?” asked Steven.

  Ashlyn just smiled.

  Ashlyn hit the thrusters bringing up the speed of the Dolphin.

  It wasn’t long before they were approaching the nearest moon. “Scans are negative. No energy outputs, no structures, no bulk alloy composites,” said Steven.

  “Well, Eden doesn’t show up on the planetary scanner either,” commented Ashlyn. “Let’s make a lower pass.” Ashlyn’s piloting skills were impressive. She nosed the craft down so that they were bobbing and dipping just meters above the surface. As they moved around to the backside, weaving round craters and spires, and small canyons, Steven tensed a bit.

  Ashlyn never slowed—it was as if she knew the terrain intimately.

  “Ash—I’ve got it. Circle round the northern hemispheres 19.5 degrees latitude as viewed from Hades.”

  “Constructing grid—locking in.” Pulling the nose of the Dolphin up sharply, exiting over a canyon wall, she turned them round. “Thirty second ETA.”

  Moving along Steven’s coordinates, it wasn’t long before a bright beacon of light pierced the darkness before them. It emanated from a small cluster of stacked stones that stood like a fossilized sentinel. The skids of the Dolphin transport touched down beside it—“Praise the lord! We’ve been shown the light!” Ash rendered in her best Southern Baptist Minister’s impression.

  “An alarm chimed.” Steven studied the readouts. “Gravity is strengthening—a full atmosphere is developing.”

  As they waited, staring out the forward window, a small outpost shimmered into existence. They watched as the familiar blue canopy, like the one that enclosed Eden, enveloped the outpost, covering it from end to end. Pulsing yellow lights in the ground appeared, outlining the walking path they were to follow.

  The alarmed chimed. “We have full atmosphere,” said Steven.

  “Think of what a great caterer The Keeper would make, Steven. He can blend a drink that gives eternal life, prepare a food that gives you the power to shape-shift and turn a desolate moon’s outpost into an oxygen-rich habitat, all in two minutes flat.”

  Steven agreed. “The Keeper is impressive.”

  Ashlyn pressed the green button on her console that opened the side hatch door. Exiting to the ground, they were greeted by The Keeper’s familiar voice. “Welcome, my friends. Follow the lights to my command center, where I may share with you the grand future that awaits you.”

  Along the path, they passed by several smaller, windowless buildings, most of which were arrayed with large antennae.

  The path ended at the largest of the nine buildings. As they neared it, a small portion of the wall dissolved. Stepping inside the dark room, it illuminated, revealing two very ordinary looking pedestal chairs in the center.

  “Enter, my friends.”

  “What is this place?” said Steven as he took note that the wall again sealed seamlessly behind them.

  “You would call it an orientation room. Please be seated.”

  Sitting, the room dimmed into darkness. Before them a blue shimmering containment field appeared. Coalescing in the center of the field was the figure of a youthful looking man, hands folded together, his head bowing in respect. It was The Keeper, in the image of an Anunnaki. He wore the standard white robe, and had white hair with silver-blue eyes.

  “Hello, Lord Steven and Lady Ashlyn. What questions do you wish answered?”

  “I haven’t told him anything yet. I left that for you, Keeper. It was always your Gift to give,” chirped Ashlyn.

  “It is my Gift, for both of you,” corrected The Keeper. “This place is designed to guide you, allowing you to move on to the next phase.”

  “Next phase?” said Steven.

  “Perhaps it would be best, if I showed you.” The walls of the room sprang vividly to life, surrounding them in scenic beauty. “Does this place look familiar to you?”

  “It’s Eden,” said Ash.

  “It is, but it is not. You see, this place is not on the world below us. The Eden that you know is merely a small representation, a likeness of that which you see before you. What you see here, is on the planet, Heaven. This is the Anunnaki home world.

  They hold out to you, the offer to live with them!”

  “On the world that you’re showing us?” asked Steven.

  “Yes, but this is only one of the worlds they inhabit. They travel amongst the stars to distant places, to see sights and wonders your human mind has never conceived.

  The Gift of Knowledge that you and Ashlyn possess is designed to be a doorway, allowing you to enter into the heart of other cultures. You will be able to interact with other species as though you were truly one of them.

  The marvels are too many to mention but you will have eternity with which to explore them. The universe will be yours.”

  “It’s beautiful, Steven. The children will love it!”

  For the first time, they saw the full value of the gifts. The gift truly was knowledge. And in knowledge lay the future for an immortal.

  “Keeper, yes, we would like to go, but first, I must be assured that our children will be permitted to accompany us, even though they have not received the Gift of Knowledge?”

  “They are your children, so yes; your four children will be permitted. Once we reach Heaven, the Anunnaki will help your children to receive the second gift.”

  “We only have three children, Keeper,” said Steven.

  “Excuse me, Lord Steven—but Ashlyn is with child!”

  “I’m pregnant?” said Ash excitedly.

  “Yes, you carry a male child!”

  “I’m carrying our son, Steven!” Ashlyn threw her arms around Steven’s neck in a tight embrace, but almost as quickly, she turned and asked, “Keeper, how old is the child?”

  “Three hours, twelve minutes, forty three seconds.”

  Steven, he’s my child, the me that I am now! He’s—our child.” Tears filled Ashlyn’s eyes as she held Steven’s hand tightly in hers.

  Steven understood her excitement. The child had been conceived after Ashlyn melded with Renee. The child was borne from the love of the three of them. “Yes, he is our child.”

  “And as your child, he too will be born with all of the Gifts. Your other children will be helped to receive the Gift of Knowledge once we arrive at Heaven.”

  “Thank you,” said Steven and Ashlyn together.

  “If you are ready, my children. You must now travel to the second moon; a ship, the Destiny, awaits you there. It, I, will take you to Heaven. You need do nothing. Along the way you’ll see wondrous things that others have only dreamed of.”

  “The Destiny. It’s a beautiful name,” said Ashlyn to The Keeper.

  “I thought the name—appropriate—based upon my knowledge of the two of you.”

  “It is Keeper, it is!” said Ash.

  “Destiny is being prepared as we speak. All your needs for food and clothing are being attended to.”

  “Why Keeper, I didn’t know you knew my size?” Ash quipped.

  “I did find the thin necklaces a—challenge,” The Keeper jested. “I had seen they were your choice of clothing when I searched your mind in the garden.”

  ***

  A pillar of light led them to a large crater on the second moon. Landing beside it, they exited to the ground outside.

  “You must simply wait, my children.”

  Ash noticed it first. “Do you hear it? There’s a hum.”

  The ground began to rumble beneath their feet.

  Steven touched Ashlyn’s arm, garnering her attention. He pointed toward the high peaks that formed the crater’s rim. They were transforming into the tips of a large vessel’s fins. The transformation descended, revealing large pointed arrays. The sweeping wave enlarged, moving at a quickening pace toward them. A
s they spun round, taking in the vastness of the appearing ship, the ground beneath them began to dissolve, engulfing them in a white brilliance.

  Destiny was shaped like an ultra-sleek tri-hull wedge. Huge pointed arrays were mounted at the base of her wings and close to the hull. Sitting atop her hull to the aft was what appeared to be an enclosed observation deck, entirely transparent. She was as graceful and sleek a vessel as any their imagination could have conceived. Brightly lit from bow to stern, her white hull glistened like snow.

  The platform began to lower them into an impressively large bay that would have held a hundred Dolphin transports without being crowded. Overhead, the bay began to seal. “Molecular manipulation,” said Steven. “Probably not a lot different from our ability to shapeshift.”

  “Now this is impressive!” said Ashlyn.

  “This way, my friends.”

  At the far end of the room, a wall dissolved, revealing an arched doorway. The light beyond invited them. They were led to the aft of the ship, to the lounge-style observation deck that they had seen from the outside. The surround style view was breathtaking. It was like standing in space itself.

  They stood in silent awe as Destiny rose from the ground and headed into space.

  “Keeper, we should inform Defender that we’re a friendly vessel. Tell them that Ashlyn and I are aboard.”

  “I have already done so, Lord Steven.”

  Two minutes later, they were gliding through Hades’ atmosphere.

  Slowly, to not scare the people below, Destiny set down in the desert, far outside the wall surrounding the pyramid. The crowds spilled out from the city, gathering. A small chime, and then suddenly the entire lounge area was lowered to the ground below.

  As the crowd arrived, and they again beheld Steven, the chant began, “Enki.”

  Steven now understood how easily it had happened on Earth, so long ago. Early man had worshipped the Anunnaki as gods who had arrived in ships from the sky.

  Ashlyn let Steven know that she was going to take a shuttle to retrieve the children. Meanwhile, Steven needed to prepare Brooks for his departure.

  Brooks came walking up and beside him was Novacek.