Oliver guessed the canister contained roughly five liters and said “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. When the elders sent word you were heading in our direction in pursuit of a Fire Wyrm no less, we picked and processed it. Consider saving our hide payment enough. If not for you, we could have been attacked. Our groves grow much closer than around here. It would have gotten too close to our village. Take care.” The inner and outer hatches opened with a pressurized his.
Just as soon as Oliver hit the ground he saw stars. Before his eyes could adjust Renee had stormed up and smacked him with all she had. “That was for telling me to shut up again. Now let me take a look.” In her gloved hand was a built-in scanner and her eyes unfocused, looking at what he could not see. She made him hold still as she manually saw into his body.
He was in awe of her newly highlighted beauty after weeks of being away. Indeed she had cut her ripened strawberry hair very short, but in a way that hugged her heart shaped face. Her hair lay styled and very pretty. Artful. Sensual. Fierce. He liked her hair more like this than long and curly.
A group of three hundred and seven elders and their animalistic companions approached, being led by an unassumingly average looking man barely standing one hundred sixty five centimeters tall. One of the smallest Hunters Oliver ever seen.
Closer look showed the man’s armor no longer had a silver sheen, but was so broken in it was a seamless, tactical black, as if scorched by countless battles. Slicked back hair was dark as the night itself topped his head. Narrowed blue eyes were only on Oliver and the way he moved spoke of an assured death as he could not be defeated.
A dreaded feeling washed over Oliver and he acted first at the moment of the intended threat. He drew his sword and yelled as he went to cut the deceptively unassuming man in half. The lightly tanned man grinned and, fast as a snake strike, pulled a cackling shortsword from his hip and connected with Oliver’s blow. Swords met and sparks flew everywhere, but with charged weapons, Oliver’s original blade’s innate sharpness could not cut as it would if the other object laid dormant.
Renee acted fast and in a smooth motion she switched her injector to long range and fired a massive dose of instant acting tranquilizer. A second after it hit his neck he dropped like a puppet’s strings being cut. “Grandest Elder, are you alright? I don’t know why he attacked.”
“All is well, Child.” The unassuming man busted out in guffaws. “Brothers and sisters, did you see his intent? Wasn’t it inspiring?”
“I haven’t seen anyone push you back a step in a hundred years, Lover.” A much larger woman draped an arm over his shoulders. Her starlight hair shone as its braid lay over her rather flat chest. “That was some power behind that slice. Most of us would have been flung aside.”
“How can you be so happy he attacked?” Renee was flabbergasted kicking the slumbering giant over and checking his wounds didn’t reopen. Some did and clotted right away.
The eldest said “I was sending murderous intent. Most would run away in sheer terror. He didn’t. His fight response is quite powerful even in his condition. Greater than flight for sure. Even trained Hunters would flee before my intent to kill… yet he hesitated not. His intent switched to attack and was marvelous.” The woman let him walk ahead, taking the arm off, and he knelt at Oliver’s head. “Take your Booster Oil to your ship. We have private Hunter business to deal with, Ms. Dorgen.”
“Not before my exam is complete.” She knelt at his side.
“I said…” the eldest began.
“And I basically told you to kiss my ass and let me do my job.” Her green eyes flared bright in warning.
The eldest responded by turning his own bright electric blue and he said slowly and in control “You dare threaten me?”
Renee raised it to the max and her whites blazed green. Lightning from the cloudy sky slammed down on her with a deafening thunderclap to arc around her body and mentally she picked the elder up like a toy. He smiled disarmingly and her anger dropped as she realized she could be killed for that. She sent it away and dropped her chin as the night took command. “I’m sorry, Grandest Elder Claw.”
“Few can overpower me. You do take after you father. In more than gathering I mean. You’ve inherited his stubbornness. Good for you. Finish the exam with my apologies. Afterwards, you will refrain from doing it again won’t you?”
“Yes.” She held his gaze.
“Get to it. When you clear him, we are taking him to the lodge for private matters you are not privy to.”
Renee’s hand shook slightly as she worked, catching hands return weapons to sheathes. She berated herself and not even Sparky could deny how much she fucked up and got away only by a whim. “Carry him gently, he is as heavy as he looks. On this world he’ll be about one thousand sixty eight kilos. Well over a ton. I’ll go give Papa the oil. And please, no more tests till wounds heal.”
“My word is given, Child.” The man’s eyes lit again and Oliver arose off the landing area and was mentally carried safely away.
Renee shuddered as she grabbed the canister and Sparky flew her to the ship to deliver their cargo.
Chapter 8
Howling of wind whistled in unnatural ways that first began to pull the haze of sleep back. Oliver had no memory or even a vague feeling of dreams this time. That passed as he remembered the barest prickling in his neck before forgetting everything. The sharp whistling further pulled him from the deep slumber.
Bright light stung Oliver’s eyes as he felt overheated and his skin sizzled. Sucking in a breath he sat up with hands over his eyes for shade to find he was outside.
Sound still drawling attention, he looked to find the man he last saw before collapsing swinging his cutlass around in spiraling patterns so fast the rent air actually made haunting music. He seemed to dance with the cutlass as his partner, an extension of himself. The dull blackness made the blade seem larger and more menacing, leaving a long shadow behind it. Yet despite the speed of the half naked slightly tan man, he was graceful and serene. Oliver was instantly jealous of the Hunter not only using his own blade without permission, but using it with more beauty and skill than he could ever imagine.
But they weren’t alone outside under the oppressive sun. All the elders and animals were out lounging in the courtyard watching him do the deadly dance. Every woman wore either a bra or bikini top, but everyone wore comfortable pants.
Embarrassingly it was only Oliver who laid buck naked.
“Alas, the lumbering giant awakens.” The swordsman stopped the dance as eyes turned completely on Oliver as he willed some blue jeans on and grimaced. “Better get naked again and rub this over yourself.” He bent over and tossed a bottle at him.
Instinctively Oliver caught it to ask him “What is it?”
“A specialized lotion that’ll draw the heat burned into the skin and keep sunburn from making your skin peel. You needed the vitamins sunlight gives rather promptly.” Said the eldest.
Oliver got up and began rubbing the lotion over and the effect was immediate. The deep sunburn soaked into him was being drawn out, leaving a crisp, healthy tan behind. He especially sighed when applied to the privates and sitting area. While working he noticed all the wounds on his chest and arms were mostly healed, but were pinker than the surrounding tan tissue. The manipulative fabric inside the vambrace made it possible he didn’t need to go far to put it on. Elder Scythe got up and said “I’ll apply some to your back.”
“Appreciate it.” And meant it as he worked the faintly minty lotion in his own face, neck and arms.
They were out in the crystalline courtyard behind the lodge of the village on the cliff. Only there was no one else in sight. The courtyard was cleaned of blood from sparring Hunters and children and now was filled with over four hundred cushions where Hunters and companions relaxed casually. As usual, weapons were always near.
As Elder Scythe applied the soothing balm Oliver turned to the unassuming man who was far more than
appearance. Even being nothing but hard lean muscle while shirtless made him look nothing like the large bred people surrounding him. “Before I ask you to please teach me how to move with my sword so inspiringly… why was I naked outside?”
“How about we start over completely, My Brother.” The man’s arm tensed and he threw the cutlass over the relaxing elders. Left hand stretched out faster than the eye could blink to properly catch the meter long weapon which burst into twinkling stars. “First, my apologies for threatening you two nights ago and for borrowing that amazing weapon without permission.”
“Two?”
“Alas, Ms. Dorgen used a rather potent tranquilizer upon your person when I tested your instincts. I must admit I’m not often impressed, but you’ve done a thorough job thus far. After the hunt I decided to let you rest the effects off. Your body apparently needed it after all the running and tracking of recent.”
Forgetting etiquette, Oliver shook his head from the jumble of thoughts. “I’m sorry as well. Forgive my lack of manners, Elders. I’m Oliver Void.”
His slight bow had the youthful crowd smirking humorously or darkly. Mostly the vibe was positive. Living an extended and harsh life split people three ways. To enjoy life and its simple pleasures. To become numb. Or be spiteful and critical of everything. The short man was in the first category thankfully. “A true pleasure it is to meet you, Brother Oliver. I am Grandest Elder Vanishing Claw. Most call me Elder Claw or Vanishing Claw or just Claw for short. Or use some combination to their liking. I must admit that I’m curious about your unique memory and wish to test it. This is my wife, Grand Elder Talon…” He gestured to the bikini topped muscular giantess laying on her side nearest him and every elder thereafter, counting three hundred and seven elders plus an equal number of neural enhanced animal companions.
He randomly repeated everyone’s names afterwards after sheathing his blade.
“Truly a marvelous day indeed.” Vanishing Claw said as he stepped forward. “Brother, I’m sorry for putting you in the sun naked, but it was for your benefit. Sunlight is far better than tanning booths for those of us who regularly consume Beast. And do not be shamed of nudity. We are all too old to care unlike the fools who think they are more civilized.”
“It doesn’t bother me. I clothe myself to not upset others.”
“If I had been kicked in the balls as you had I would be wary as well.” The eldest living Hunter admitted.
“You saw that huh?”
Vanishing Claw’s wife Talon smirked. “When my lover and I watched that part after we were given the data, he cupped himself like I’m sure every man here did when they saw it.”
“Damn straight. I whimpered right along with you, Brother.” A hazel eyed elder named Pike raised a glass with a grimace as every woman and a few men chuckled.
“So you all are up to date on my circumstances?”
“We are. Please, sit with me and Talon.” Vanishing Claw led Oliver through the minefield of lavish oversized pillows to sit with the blonde woman. “But many of us would like to hear it from you. It is more personal so we can associate with you.”
“How about a trade? My story for teaching me how to move like you do and make my sword make that hauntingly beautiful sound.”
“Bargain stuck.” The man said and leaned back to rest his head on Talon’s washboard feminine abdomen.
The overhead sun dropped halfway down the sky before he finished. Silent, contemplative minutes passed before Vanishing Claw spoke. “An impossible tale to believe had I not witnessed it all. The speed at which you move is unlike any I’ve witnessed. We all watched daily as you relentlessly tracked down the Wyrm. I’ve already got Splicers researching ligament and tendon manipulation to graft to every Hunter after seeing your speed. If we can move like you, we will not die so easily. The way you snatched the sword from the air when I threw it earlier solidified my need to have it done personally. It should be possible and my hope is it can save many young ones who find themselves too slow or psionically deficient to create even a barrier.
“I was amazed by how you began to adapt to the Zerikan jungle so well you avoided whole hosts of Beasts that would have hindered your way. You took Elder Scythes single expedition to hunt Moles to heart and learned methods along the way. You made plenty of amateurish mistakes, but you corrected them as you went. Had your sense of smell not been so acute I still believe you would have been able to still track the elusive Beast down.” Vanishing Claw sat up, speaking far beyond his appearance as a breeze tussled his ebony mane. “And we all watched as you stalked the Fire Wyrm. You were too stubborn and foolish to take it on alone.” He smirked when Oliver didn’t look even remotely offended. “You should have listened to Ms. Dorgen and let more experienced Hunters at least throw up a shield around you as backup.
“But never in my life had I seen anyone get so close to a Fire Wyrm. They are highly sensitive to ground and air vibrations. Not even I can boast to have snuck up on one without levitation. And not only that, you survived its hypersonic scream without any psionic shielding. Yes, the tree took the brunt, but still you should have hemorrhaged without a barrier. That’s why no less than a psionic class nine Hunter can hunt them. Anyone less can’t hold a shield solid enough to deflect the sound.
“If that wasn’t enough, your armor proved it isn’t infallible as wood splinters penetrated. Ours is more robust for just such a purpose. Add to it Inferno sap and I can say even I would find it hard to move. I do know how much the sap burns. It is far from pleasant. But then you were smothered in a Fire Wyrm volatile gastric juices enhanced by Inferno Fruit and you should have been cooked alive. Not even our armor can stay off that kind of punishment and still you were bathed in it without a protective barrier.
“Then you lured it in and finished it off. Honestly, I was sitting at the very edge of my seat.”
“Raise your hand if you weren’t?” Said a smartass elder, but no one lifted a limb. Even the wolves, dogs and birds were still.
“As I was saying, your entire presence has shaken the very Hunter foundation I believed had settled long ago. But I must ask, do you find the brains as sweet as the finest wine like I do?”
“Hold on! You’re a Beast-eater, Grandest? When?” One startled woman voiced as a tremor rolled through the courtyard of bodies.
“Coming on thirty three years now. I’ve become tolerant of the poison and I can no longer eat anything other than raw Beast. Cooked no longer is appetizing.” He shrugged.
Talon sat up to voice “It sickened me at first to see him go for the brain first, but he has eaten Beast longer than any living human. And my own tastes are gradually changing. I eat the meat rarer, but the poison is still deadly to me.”
“Then our brother must truly be older than you, Grandest Claw. If you can no longer eat other meats other than Beast raw, just as he didn’t eat a single meal for weeks till two nights ago… eating like we all saw him enjoy as if having sex, he’s a predecessor.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” Vanishing Claw said aloud quite clearly. “It is the most logical reasoning anyone with half a brain could surmise. He carries the blade of the ancients, a multi-tool and eats his hunts completely raw like I must now.”
“Then are you giving permission to enact my plan?” Elder Javelin inquired.
“Not yet.” He said, blue eyes never leaving Oliver’s. “Too true is he in danger if we do not tread carefully. Many black market deals would be sure to hire mercenaries to capture Oliver or kill him and autopsy his body to uncover everything about him. Galicom’s president especially would stop at nothing to find how Oliver has a multi-tool too without his being aware as well as use a Star-saber without any credits or trace to have ever existed in the galactic Terran database. We all know he’s about profit no matter the sacrifice. If he can’t have our brother, no one can. The question is, if I step down as Grandest, will Oliver be up to the task to put the lives of all Hunters in his grasp without crushing us? We do need to keep him s
afe for sure. Since we do not believe in holding a member of our family in custody for no unlawful need, he is free to live as we all do…” the man rubbed his narrow chin. “I’m not ready to decide this day.”
“May I make a suggestion?” Oliver asked after.
“By all means.” The eldest gestured to proceed.
“Rather than give me an old identity like the thirty first, why don’t you create a whole new secret program that doesn’t exist. You can say that three hundred or so years ago you came across a moon with a density nine times Standard gravity packed with Beasts. You could say you forgot about me till one day it clicked and you returned to find I was the last survivor of the program. It would explain my bone density and ligament adaptations. I would not be a Grand Elder as it would seem I’ve yet seen four centuries, but I’d be old enough for High. Could you design a secret program. As Grandest, your authority would not be questioned and you won’t need to worry if I royally screw up as you’ll still be my superior.”
“Intriguing notion. I rather like it actually. There are plenty of dense moons out there to chose from that are infested with Beasts. I could say that I even discovered it from the last Grandest before me and say you were chosen after Splicers found an experimental method to increase gravitational resistance.”
Talon touched her husband’s shoulder. “We can even drop debris to make it look like a small derelict settlement once lived there.”
“I do not like the notion of secrecy, but I believe it’s prudent, Old Friend.” Said a grizzled man who seemed to have never been happy a day in his life.
“For you to speak up is rare, Old Friend.” Vanishing Claw raised a single eyebrow. “I’ll trust your instincts. Oliver,” He switched back to the man in front of himself. “please go speak with Ms. Dorgen and continue your lessons, but get to sleep before midnight. At first light I will uphold my promise to teach you how to properly wield a blade as it was intended. We will work a plan into action for the remainder of your stay with us, but you are not allowed to speak to anyone outside this council. Your life will depend on it. As of right now, your mind is open for all strong enough to use telepathy to pick through. If you cannot defend against it and you come under scrutiny for some slip up, our work will be for naught. We are risking much. Do not let us pay the price if you can prevent it.”
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