In eleven seconds Renee timed, there stood a standard Marine war fighter. A winged jet minus cannons, an engine, a seat and a thruster system the cockpit lid was opened like the Flare’s rather than sliding up and down. And it was almost as polished as pure silver. She couldn’t hold back a long, drawn out whistle. “Not bad. The Marines would love to have that. Tell me, if its cannons are broken, can it ram and survive it a kamikaze attack.”
“If they do not overwhelm the motion dampeners they can crash into a planet at full sublight speed and be unscathed.”
“Wow. That is one bad ass fighter.”
“The downside is the weight. It can’t keep up even with this ship in maneuverability using current thruster technology. Power to weight ratio is way off.”
“No shit, but it is a mini dreadnaught in comparison. It can take a beating and keep on fighting. Hold on. I’m going to try to see what my blasters do.” She took her feet off the table and flipped a button to begin charging the defensive cannons beneath the wings and pressed the shiny red button.
A bright blue stream of energy made impact with the hull and knocked it back. She had the targeting system let loose a constant stream and didn’t let up for a full ten minutes. When she let go the flipping ship showed no sign of damage. “Hot damn!” she laughed. “Olly, get out there and see what it takes for you to destroy it.”
“Maybe later alright. My Pride is getting hungry and they are tired of being cooped up in the Sun Spots.”
“Fine, but as soon as we get time I want to blow something up.” She let it go for now. She shot a line after she reached out a hand to make it stop rolling and flipping.
Oliver put the crystal away and Nova got up, reading his masters intent and they again squeezed tightly in a small space before returning to the Flare, closing the lid and be released. The crates were again gathered behind the River Skipper and the empty fighter was put inside one for keeping. While Renee was doing that for several minutes the Flare was making a path. He wished his vambrace could teleport them, but they would lose the crates. Their ships could come since technically they were living plants and plants were alive. Alive meant they could touch and transfer together. The line cables were not.
Eventually though they got back in the same flight pattern as before and jumped into subspace’s brilliant color spiral.
In fifteen hours they dropped out at the edge of an alien system. Immediately they were detected and a Creelin battle cruiser teleported before them in a bright blue flash. A message on Oliver’s and Renee’s screens opened to show the face of a delicate assuming Creelin. “I am Zeelin, rank of Bey, called Mattl. You have entered Creelin space. State your business.”
Oliver sent his mind out to the golden ship shaped like a winged arrow surrounded by thousands of weapons. Hundreds of Creelin minds recoiled from his, all except one who made a settling motion on the screen. “I am Oliver Void. I come to visit Zeelin Beyleez Netul and Bezlin Callier for the birth of their son.”
Mattl seemed to look at something to her right and nodded. “You have the integrated permission of the Archivers to be allowed to the planet. A fighter will detach to guide you to the city of Zaxit and planet Jaffalibn. Detour from the fighter will result in detention. You may pass.” With another flash the battle cruiser vanished.
All but one swift fighter armed to the teeth in cannons remained. This time a male appeared on screen. “It is an honor, Solarian. If you would please let me escort you.”
“Lead on.” The Creelin golden fighter spun around and matched their pace.
For the next nine hours they were followed. Sometimes the curious appeared and disappeared.
Eventually though they came upon the Creelin colony. Made on a planet called Jaffalibn with four inhabited moons terraformed as a heavy defensive platform. The bulk of the colony was on the azure planet covered in lush plants that produced much oxygen for the Creelin people to feast on. Instead of green plants, these were bluish due to being silicone based. And even though it was just a colony, the planet had a rough population of three billion.
Entering the dense atmosphere slowly had Renee suddenly shout “OLLY! THE SHIP TORE THROUGH THE CRATE!”
He cut the line to her shuttle as a falling fireball of metal had been too heavy for the crate. The Flare whipped after it and he reached out with his mind to grab it.
“What has occurred?” The fighter was right there.
“Sorry. That is a result of an experiment and I didn’t consider its container unable to hold its weight. I’ve got it now. No need to worry.” Oliver said.
“I detect no dangerous anomalies. Please continue and be careful. Our weapon systems were turning on you since you diverted so much from my ship.”
Renee let out a deep breath as they continued heading over the forests and rivers.
Until the city of Zaxit came in. It was a floating golden city broken up with splashes of blue, red and green. The city made sure to not damage the planet in any harmful way. It had towering skyscrapers that overlooked small settlements that made homes on the ground. This city was one of three hundred and done large. It had many natural resources for a planet and just as diverse an ecosystem.
They were led to a large golden tower, not to the huge pure white tower where the Archivers lived and worked. Along the way it was easy to distinguish civilian from warrior as the Zeelin wore gold armor exactly like Netul, but had varying shields denoting rank. Others wore an array of clothes, but only women wore white dresses to show they were with child. All in all, they moved around like humans. Going shopping. Visiting friends. Going to events. Living life.
Many looked up as word spread about the visitors.
They were guided to a landing area and a familiar face was waiting.
The overgrown paperweight was set down first before Oliver landed his fighter and the Sun Spots. Lastly Renee lowered her landing gear and touched down.
Netul waved off the guide who disappeared back to his commander as Oliver jumped out with Nova and shook the other man’s hand. “Gave my hearts a bit of a kick, My Friend.”
“Sorry about that, Netul. Better than let the ship fall. You are looking good. Where is Callier?”
“Resting. The pregnancy takes its toll on our women late in the end. It means my son will arrive within the next five days. You all made it.”
“This is a beautiful city.” Rose complimented as she, Sparky and a riding Renee flew over.
“I will pass your compliments to the architects.”
“Netul, sorry to be so abrupt, but Nova and the Pride need to go hunt and teach the cubs how to as well. They are quite hungry.” Oliver asked.
“Ah.” Netul nodded his ridged forehead, his Cultio binding the mane of antennae bobbing too. “I will summon a game warden. Hold on for a moment.” Netul cast his thoughts out and sent an inquiry which was answered in moments. He gave his location and instantly a female wearing a fur coat appeared. She was short, but still about Renee’s height. “Friends, allow me to introduce the game warden of land parcel nine fifty eight, Collu. Collu, these are my guests.”
She gave a curt nod. Her eyes though were locked on the Pride. “Too long have I given up hoping to see the Zeramndillieq villip with my own two eyes again. May I have permission to greet the leader? I dare not approach the cubs with their mothers so close.”
“I call him Nova and he will allow you to touch his cubs only. He says he knows your scent.”
“He remembers me?” she was greatly surprised. “He always was the smartest king I had a chance to meet. Queen Fru was exceptionally excellent at raising Prides and alphas” Nova purred as she got closer and ran her fingers through his thick coat. “You have treated him well. His coat is smoother than I remember.”
“He does like to be brushed. Matter of fact they all do.” Renee said as she dismounted. “Hello, Netul. Want to see how big Izzy has gotten?”
“Of course.” He glanced to Oliver who already turned around and was rigid. Trying to keep
himself distracted by talking to Collu. Netul blinked as the child was passed to his care by a smiling mother. “She is very healthy, My Friend. She has grown much. Even in her mental development.”
“I’d be scared had you and Callier not verified the Fru’s journal for authenticity for child development. She’s be about as smart as a five month old who was born normally to a human. I can tell she likes you by how she squeaks and wiggles. You project the kindness of a gentle father.”
“I’ve had plenty of experience.” His eyes changed to a prideful azure as his eyes crinkles in the corners.
“Can I go visit Callier? Olly is going to hunt for us too if you got Beasts on this planet.”
“We do and they are secluded from the fauna of our people. My Match is eager to see you again as well. Her and all our daughters who are still arriving to meet their newest sibling.” He passed Isabella back to say “Oliver.” The Solarian turned and relaxed after finding his child back in her mother’s care. “Will you be alright if I led Renee, Sparky and Rose to my quarters? You will need to be under the game warden’s supervision during the hunt, but I vow no harm will come to your Match or daughter.”
“If it were anyone other than you I’d say no, but you have my trust. Tell Callier I’ll see her soon. I don’t want to search for her. I scared the shit out of the crew trying to speak with the man from earlier. I do not want to cause a panic.”
“You have my thanks. Just know that this is the image of my quarters. If there is an emergency I will give permission to teleport inside.” Oliver mentally received the expansive room filled with objects to remember the past. He got the feeling not all trophies were good memories.
“Thanks. I’ll bring dinner home soon as I can.” He promised his lovely Match.
“Take your time, Olly. I’ve got all kinds of stories to tell Callier.”
“Why do I sense danger in that remark?”
“Just because we’re different species, Netul, doesn’t mean women aren’t women. Besides, you know we’re going to slander your good name whether you are in the room or not.” She winked. “So which way?”
Netul shook his head and made that odd sound that was a chuckle, but led the way across the bridge to the upper area of the building.
Collu was kneeling and petting several of Nova’s own cubs with a happy color to her eyes. “Many of my fellows will be jealous I got to greet them first.”
“Nova?” Oliver asked as the king gave him a look and a purr. “Are you sure about this?”
“What is transpiring?”
“Hold on.” He told her and the king sent impressions and images. “What about Isabella?” Nova made a growling grunt. “If that is what you want.” Another grunt.
Oliver sighed and said “Collu, Nova wants you to take the cubs as your Pride when he tells me the cubs are ready for their collars. He wants the next generation to be yours. What did you do to make such a lasting impression?”
Wide eyes had her fall backwards in sheer shock. “He wants me to care for his cubs? Be gifted a Pride?”
“Yes, he tells me his daughter has the makings of the leader. She resists him even now if he doesn’t force her. When she is fully mature she will lead her generation. It will be too much for him to control. Too many if she decides to challenge him and he doesn’t want to kill her. So what did you do to gain his trust? He doesn’t like anyone other than me and Renee all that much.”
“It was too long ago to remember details. I was young and foolish. Trying to fulfill my game warden apprenticeship. I think I got lost and Wind Queen Fru sent him and the others to fine me. I was in danger and they saved me, but not before he was greatly wounded. I think I patched him up. I don’t remember the specifics on what made him willing to offer me his Pride.” She got up. “Nova it would be my honor and privilege to attempt to take on the cubs when they mature. It is the rarest honor for a king to offer a Pride not of Solarian lineage. I accept the day.”
Nova grunted with the other eleven adults. He made another sound. “He says they must eat soon.”
“Right. You are unregistered for teleporting so we must fly to the Beast lands north of my parcel. It shouldn’t take thirty minutes.” She levitated and flew over the landing area, unafraid of a three hundred meter fall.
Oliver flew as the cubs pounced on the parents as their collars let out wings and turbines to take off after her.
Clear skies were not in the forecast as Collu flew directly towards a rather nasty thunderstorm. Deep purple stretched far, wide and deep. Loud thunderclaps lit the inner clouds from each flash of natural lightening. Strangely enough Nova was sending positive signals that this powerful storm was a perfect opportunity to teach the little ones. Nevertheless, flying headfirst into a storm of this intensity screamed a high chance to be struck by pure lightening. To negate the chances of being hit Oliver stretched forth a hand to release a positive ionic charge off to the side and as a result the negatively charged atmosphere shocked in a very narrow area, releasing all its pent up energy.
Safety assured, Collu gave her thanks and angled to the quieter space to disappear in the wall of cloud. Extending the senses let him keep track as he flew in second.
Instantly soaked, the armor kept it from seeping in and chilling him to the bone. Another ten minutes were taken to arrive at the warden’s destination. Even before landing, his helmet’s thermal imaging located several Beasts in the area. He though didn’t pass along the visual to his Pride. Only because Nova was explicit he didn’t want to know at this time.
As the Pride landed in a small and already drenched clearing Nova stared silently at the whole Pride before all the adults disappeared into the downpour before even reaching the azure flora tree line. Just he remained to stare over all the cubs staring back at him and learning.
“I truly have missed watching this. Tell me, is he teaching them how to hunt when all the scents of prey have washed away?”
“Yes. We’ve yet had the opportunity to hunt together in this circumstance.”
“I’m always fascinated how they teach.” The Creelin projected a small barrier to keep the rains off her as she came to stand beside him while a nearby crack of lightning and near instant boom of thunder arrived.
“I’m just flabbergasted by how they only need to learn something once and they retain his teachings. They were able to use the restroom on command after only three weeks from birth.” He drew his sword.
“Such is their way. Like all young, they retain more now. As adults it is more difficult to train. At full maturity, teaching them new commands are difficult at best. So it is best they learn what it means to be a true Pride now.”
“Too true.”
“Oliver?” He paused for a moment. “I must inform you I intend to breed them out of being endangered when I’m allowed to bond.”
“Won’t be easy. You don’t want to make them inbreed. They’ll partner up and once adult Nova will mate with the females of the other two males of my Pride and they’ll in turn…”
Collu held up a hand and he stopped talking. “We’ve retained embryos of other Zeramndillieq villip from other Prides, but we’re in need of viable and living females. Our technology is great, but without a female host, the fertilized embryos cannot grow artificially in a womb of our making.”
“Right… they’re unnatural.” This had Collu pause. It made him laugh. “You think you can hide something like that from Renee? Please. She knows the Ligers are not a naturally evolved species. Sure she found traces of genetic ancestry from wherever Solarians evolved, but Nova and the others are way too smart and organized. They are practically sentient, but she found they are a created species. They were made after Solarians first met the Keptl weren’t they?”
“I… I… I don’t know…” she stuttered and tried looking elsewhere and completely uncomfortable.
“Spare me. She figured it out when we were on the island before I raised the city of water on Mereddia. It was too obvious after she noticed how they
move by my will as well as their own. I override them… like a Keptl Queen.” Collu’s shoulder’s slumped. “It is also why the Ligers weren’t a prosperous species. They are weapons of war by more than speed, claws and teeth. After she learned how Keptl Queens can guide their lesser children and how my Pride also reacts, Renee had me try sending energy through the link I have with Nova. And guess what.”
Olver’s eyes narrowed as he deepened the connection with Nova after the lot of cubs ran off into the pouring rain. Oliver soon began to see through the king’s eyes and made him open his mouth wide. Psionic energy traveled through the link, but not to the rest of the Pride. Inside the mouth grew a crackling ball of plasma. Collu held still as the makings of a Kinetic Blast was shown, but rather than fire it at her Nova lifted his head and launched it up into the sky. There was a large detonation, but it wasn’t enough to spread out the clouds.
“I would never have thought to use my Pride as an extension of myself. I didn’t realize just how deep bonding to them really meant till Renee figured it out. Liger Prides weren’t common because they were weapons for those with greater than average abilities. I’ve found that at full power, they can take all I gather and distribute it evenly so I can fight on twelve additional fronts no matter where they are.” He smirked though she couldn’t see past his mask. “So yeah, Renee figured the Prides were a likely weapon created from observing Keptl. Since Solarians were obsessed with living technology, it makes sense that it was likely a woman Solarian who created the Ligers for this exact purpose. A companion as well as weapon.”
Unable to deny it she merely nodded.
“Be back soon. Nova and I need to watch how they do.” Together the armored giant and his companion entered the sprawling forest going fast.
Trees and streams blurred past. Nova didn’t have the level of control like the rest of his adult Liger pride, but had enough to make sure the cubs were following the lesson. His daughter, the one with higher than normal intelligence though had better control because the young were hers. Sadly she was still juvenile and immature. The rains had washed most scent traces away so they had a harder time trailing. Nova had the experienced adults stay in the shadows to keep them safe though.
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