Before long Oliver stood alone in the small and mostly empty command room in front of Laxus’s core. “Are you ready for the fifth and final part left to me, Master? I take it, it is why my queen left you alone.”
Remembering past experiences, Oliver took the lone seat again and relaxed as best he could. Preparing for the headache about to result. “Proceed.”
Millions upon millions upon millions of word fragments of a lost people appeared holographically real in the air, spinning around like a tempest. The parts passed from his eyes to the subconscious part of the brain that does most of the work. Almost like a branding iron, the puzzle pieces seared into the mind, unable to be forgotten. It took long, silent minutes for the rapid download to come to an end.
Soon as it was over the unfocused eyes squeezed shut, he leaned forward and put his head in his hands. The temples throbbed and tension in the back of the neck hurt a great deal. Heavy breathing slowed as he assimilated to the final aspect.
Eyes remained clamped shut, but he imagined seeing the storm at last making sense, but the profound feeling told him something else that made him laugh dryly, hands still holding his head as sweat dripped from the brow. The final part allowed the broken sections to reconnect and break off into many thousands of areas to start making the circular Solarian writing. His mind was doing the work, it wasn’t an automatic response like breathing or a heart beating. It was a mathematical process for the ancient written word.
Renee looked up as a large body passed through a red wall painted with flame to go over and ask “Is it really going to take that long?” He nodded as she Read him like always. It made talking all the time much slower and less intimate.
“How about sharing what you know for the rest of the flock.” Visor chirped from Steven’s shoulder. “Not all of us are telepathic with everyone.”
“It’s going to take a good long while to figure it out.” He told the Hunter and Golden Eagle.
Visor shrewdly narrowed his eyes. “Few weeks? Months? What’s the timeframe we’re looking at to hear this puzzle is complete?”
A deep breath swelled Oliver’s chest and was released to calm the nerves and help his still throbbing headache. Renee flew up behind and began massaging the back of his neck. “The amount of information is going to take me anywhere from one and a half decades to three to sort out and chronologically line up properly. Journeying through Andromeda will be only for fun for me in these next years as I figure out this difficult puzzle. Seems I’m going to get that reprieve for a few years whether I like it or not. Fifteen to thirty years is my estimate.”
“Well I’m glad. We need to relax for a few years while you knock me up a few more times and we can raise our kids without traipsing all over the damn galaxy on a wild goose chase. So suck it up, Idiot. Few people in the Empire live such an exciting life as ours. A little stability in our lives is owed to us.” She said as she rubbed his temples with the heel of her soft hands. “You need to lie down. I’ve already checked out our new bedroom so get me pregnant before you keel over.”
“We’re out of here.” Steven threw his hands up and left in a hurry.
“Be easy on him.” Were Sparky’s parting words before he hurriedly left, his tail swishing mischievously before they heard Steven’s armor hit the floor followed by him yelling “Fuck you, Lizard! Get your scaly ass back here!” hissing laughter erupted.
Renee gave him a hungry look and his cock was buried to the hilt before even entering the bedroom. Already in her womb were six eggs he fertilized and in a few hours her fever set in and she was singing with joy and knew she had six more daughters growing inside her again. But she kept quiet because he was out cold. She kissed his cheek and said affectionately “You are so screwed, Idiot. But I’m looking forward to the years it’ll take to get this journey finished. It’ll give us time to make fond memories of our family. Love you.”
He threw an arm unconsciously around her hot naked body and she snuggled close before falling asleep too.
Chapter 6
Earth calendar year March 29th, 324 (23 years later)
Sitting in his highly secure research and development laboratory Oliver kicked his feet up on the large desk made of a dense, fire retardant wood from the planet surface now called Adunn, home of the Volcano. It was a very different world he originally chose to bring his woman’s city to after finding it. This volcanic world wasn’t so bad, but it was volatile. A beautifully rugged and vibrant world actually flourishing with life. Life on Adunn was harsh, but tough and ever changing. It taught a harsh lesson about never stop adapting.
But from time to time Oliver reminisced in this huge room only he had access to. No one else had ever laid their naked eyes on it. Not Creelin, nor his family using micro-drones. Not even telepathy could pass inside. A room filled with his own inventions. Too many creations so advanced even the Creelin didn’t know where to start or could reverse engineer for their own uses. Items that could shake the very foundation of what reality was believed to be. While kicked back he willed his suit to expose the orange Salamander leg spike Stone gave him long ago from his first kill back on the desert world, hung on the same still sturdy leather string.
Beside the Salamander spike was the locket received from his first birthday and despite thick, calloused fingers he nimbly opened the silver locket and broke into a fond smile as the right picture showed himself and his reason for existing lovingly smiling at each other what seemed lifetimes ago.
On the opposite side though wasn’t a picture on glossed colored paper. The other side had a gem so tiny the naked eye couldn’t find it, but it projected hundreds and hundreds of small holographic pictures shifting scenes in randomized sequence.
Currently it displayed Renee trying to put Isabella in a dress at five years old, looking like a put out fourteen year old and stubborn. So very stubborn. Eleven of Isabella’s younger sisters were trying to hold her down telekinetically for the party celebration their mother wanted her to have for Izzy graduating her first class Hunter exam and college at the same time. Isabella would not change her armor so Renee commissioned the dress and pounced with the girly army. He chuckled, remembering how hard he laughed that day and Isabella throwing a hissy fit because she hated dresses with a deep rooted passion and Renee took it as a challenge and all her sisters loved ganging up on her with their mother’s lead.
The image shifted to Renee and their other daughter Angie, modeling for a ten year anniversary he and Renee had. Angie being Isabella’s next oldest sister, among five other twins, a near carbon copy of their stunning mother. The screen turned to Oliver himself wearing his helmet while giving a bath to eight naked daughters about nine months old screaming and splashing him. At least till his kids were old enough to bathe themselves.
As he watched picture after picture in the locket pass of his happy family he thought of all forty four daughters he made possible and sixty three grandchildren he already had. Nine grandsons were among his favorite who worked with him and helped him realize some projects into fruition.
Another change showed Isabella in combat with a sister, sparking swords locked at the hilt, upholding a challenge for being queen of Terra and the younger eventually losing. Recreating new Star-sabers took quite some power, but was done thanks to analyzing the particles of the longsword that was turned to dust after the death of Ten K on Mereddia. Isabella had stuck to the childhood dream and had eventually become the undisputed queen at the age of eleven, physically was a mature adult, defeating a hundred challengers easily to wear the crown. The humans had ultimately adopted the three hundred laws and it took five and a half years to settle the economy in stability, but Isabella had been an iron fisted, but fair queen and she led the now former Hunter organization. Did a terrific job of it too. With the division of five elements, even the Marines merely wore the tribal colors or fur that shows their chosen allegiance. Isabella and quite a few of her sisters always loved to show off their power by taking on the most dangerous hunts and b
attles.
Yet after four devastatingly failed attempts and a destroyed uninhabited planet to try to claim the title of strongest female in the galaxy, she could never defeat her mother. Renee was far too strong, stubborn and never backed down from a challenge.
Especially from her own children.
Isabella though only waited nine and a half years after she was born before Davan gave her two sons and a daughter at the same time. They were a happy couple and although she was a stern woman, whenever Davan was near she always softened up. It was clear he loved her and was devoted as a great father, but he didn’t have any romantic notions till she was of breeding age at eight years old when she filled out in all the right places, but had made and kept a promise to Renee to wait till she was mature enough to become a mother. Isabella may like to harass her mother, but she respected her enough to fulfill the wishes.
Isabella, like the majority of his and Renee’s daughters, under the terra kingdom were all lethal warriors, each with their own Pride varying in number between eight and thirty. Either they were a second generation or third mostly. The grandkids had further generations. In just the twenty three past years the Liger population went from twelve to over a million. Especially thanks due to the coordinated Creelin breeding program. Nova and the rest could sense they were no longer in danger of going extinct and gave up breeding, but still enjoyed mating. Like their master.
The bulk of Oliver’s daughters mostly though followed Water’s kingdom or Wind’s. Twenty two daughters to be precise. And since strength ruled, his children were superior to humans, most of whom now had the therapy. Most of those daughters took mates for a time and were a bit more sexually promiscuous. Some even were voracious. Unlike the few who were of either Fire or Ice who took only one mate at a time. Most of the grandchildren came either from Wind or Water for obvious reasons.
Isabella rules as queen of the ground. Artistic and often airheaded Angie was queen of the air. Barbra rules the oceans. Vikki was a cold and firm law keeper queen of Ice and Renee was the undisputed hotheaded queen.
Each and every one of their daughters were always recognizable because they all were large bodied and tall women with a full figure their mother blessed them with. And also because their eyes misted unlike any other and all had either vibrant red or auburn hair. The nearly five dozen grandchildren almost at an adult’s age had misting eyes too, but not as pronounced due to being not fully Solarian.
After reclaiming the ancient fiery city, the Empire gradually adopted the three hundred laws. Oliver’s now perfect memory looked back as he rolled the Salamander spike between thick fingers while watching the screen alter to him telekinetically tossing all his children around in the air. Juggling the cheerful children. Most of his children moved out at around the age of seven. About the time they became sexually mature.
The shock of his and Renee’s heritage was huge in the Empire, but eventually after a few public speeches on Verard, things settled down. The first five and a half years weren’t easy when all laws were nullified and replaced. Routine was difficult to break and hard work was difficult to let go and laws required serious work. But it wasn’t till Vikki, youngest of the first littler of six Renee had bore after settling down, ultimately became Queen of Ice did she start making sure the laws of her father’s people weren’t abused. She was only twenty one years old now, but she was wiser than even her mother and all of her sisters. More stable too. The family came to her to settle many disputes before things got bloody. Not even Isabella dared get in a battle of wits with her frosty sister, though next to Renee, Izzy was stronger. Vikki though was the only one to yet find a man her equal to have a child with, but she was currently dating a serious candidate. The only person more calmly analytical was her father.
Rearing forty four children was far from easy. Correcting bad behavior was a full time nightmare and many times his hand was numb from the spankings, but between himself and his wife Oliver reddened ass cheeks so the little fuckers didn’t go off the deep end or break the law where he had to kill a child he loved. Came close a few times, but he was their father and he demanded respect. Having unequaled power made that respect much easier to give.
Sadly two of his girls needed to go for retraining after leaving their parents’ influence and went on a wild streak. Vikki and five other sisters who also believed in the cold hard truth of law saw to the retraining program personally after the capture. It was highly publicized to show no favoritism. Luckily the planet had been spared devastation by decisive action. The twins had broken the alcohol limitation ban, got seriously drunk and destroyed public property that nearly cost the lives of two hundred innocent bystanders. The two girls came out different after retraining, more serious and solemn, but their bad behavior was corrected. Afterwards the pair voiced they’d rather their eldest sister Isabella, Queen of Terra, would have beat them senseless over the mild torture and drug therapy used to alter brain chemistry so that alcohol made them violently ill from now on. Still, the example was set and whenever a half-Solarian child was being bad they were sent to the twins who set them straight before Queen Vikki got word and stepped in. The deterrent worked well.
Horror stories did a great deal to nip bad behavior in the bud.
With the invention of the Gravity Forge, used mainly by those of Wind who were scouts and shipwrights by love of exploration and freedom, the Empire could now stand up strong against the Keptl onslaught and solidify their place among the stars. With the new, near impenetrable ship hulls, space battles with Goliaths and Dragoons took far less loss of life. Full armadas were no longer vitally called if a Goliath appeared in Empire space. The new ships could take serious damage and deal it right back. Especially with the gene therapy able to strengthen human Psionic capability by leaps and bounds. If there were multiple Goliaths there was no choice other than an armada, but no longer was the Empire terrified of being overwhelmed by the Keptl’s inexhaustible numbers. But most of the funds from the Gravity Forges went to Jessica and Stephanie who gladly helped supply their family with supplies. Those two women were now among the top ten richest women in the Empire.
Though Oliver and Renee lived a family life in the revived Fire city, Jake Dorgen wasn’t one to dock his pirate ship in one place for long. He needed to explore the universe. At the mere whisper of discovery the great sailboat was gone on another chase. With a new FTL drive thanks to a good son-in-law making it the fastest free sail freighter ever created.
And as promised during the discussion back on Zerika, once the Empire fully adapted to the new Solarian laws, the Creelin Archivers made good on their promise and began talks between humanity’s leaders and the lone Solarian queen at the time. The daughters at the time were too young to have any involvement. Renee was a shrewd negotiator, but only because Oliver’s complex mind began to accurately predict behavior. In many instances he could predict the future by analyzing probabilities and behavior. It was a science time tempered.
It took nearly another two years of talks and revisions till all three parties ultimately agreed on a solid plan of action. Right now four hundred of the greatest Terran minds in the Empire were hard at work trying to discover how alien technology worked. Tens of thousands among thousands of men and women eagerly applied for the honors and ultimately the four hundred were chosen among humanity’s brightest. The scientists and engineers worked daily on advanced technology that so far, still eluded them on sheer principal to this day. It wasn’t at all too surprising to either Oliver or the Creelin, but all sides knew just one break is all it took to crack the code to solve the mysteries of an ancient Elder race.
Just one moment of inspiration is all it would take. Nevertheless, the group was isolated and heavily guarded and observed, but were given everything they needed to uncover the reasoning behind of the items and the mathematics required that make it all work. They also were given entertainment to keep their minds fully engaged so that stress was reduced to a bare minimum. When isolation got unbearable they
were taken far away, to an undisclosed Creelin world and given a reprieve to recover. They didn’t even know they had been taken many galaxies away. Soon as they were ready and of sound mind, they were returned and resumed work.
Next image in the locket showed some of his pride filling grandchildren holding on for dear life on his Liger Pride after throwing his shield like a Frisbee. It was one of their favorite things growing up. The Ligers loved the chase and no one could resist riding the too fast felines that at full speed literally could run on water.
Even Vanishing Claw received the next litter once they were collared. But after he survived the ordeal he was comatose for three days before awakening.
Few other humans dared risk after seeing what it did to the most famous human warrior still alive. It got scarcer when another Pride tore apart a weak master, killing him quickly because he didn’t pass the ritual’s requirement.
Creelin though gladly prepared someone who successfully bonded.
After the establishment of the five kingdoms, the Hunter society happily gave up their name, as did the Marines who now served under Isabella here in Andromeda. The dissolved factions had to reorganize training programs to abide by the Solarian laws, but if someone wanted to join or change a kingdom, they weren’t stopped, but you had to be of like mind and pass a psychological examination. There was another set of five queens in the Milky Way, but they didn’t dare bother the five who were much more powerful next door.
In terms of space that is.
Emperor Coleson though retained his authority as leader of all peoples. A pseudo Star King some called. Emperor remained his official title though and he served his office and station proudly. Even the Creelin respected him.
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