Cutlass Sharpened

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  “Happy to see you unharmed too.” Stone returned the sarcasm.

  Oliver cut them a path through the disabled door like during the prison escape.

  “Any news from Renee?” Satellite clicked his beak as the door was kicked in.

  “Coms are jammed…” Oliver said, looking inside a massive space of the final stage of the starship assembly line. Inside was a huge spacecraft hovering on its own, but many windows had yet to be fitted to the sleek design. The ship was a good five kilometers long and a half wide with retracted wings like an old world jet. “but judging from the explosion a few minutes ago Renee’s doing just fine.”

  “That female sure loves making thing go boom.”

  “About half as much as Steven does.” Stone smirked. “What is it like in here?”

  “Not good. It’s too quiet. I can see construction bots idling when they should be fitting clear gemstone windows for the ship’s integration systems. Also I’ll need to get up on the catwalk to reach the door we need to get to, but if the doors are like the main elevators you can bet they are disabled too.”

  “Construction bots are slow. Rather than drop me a line you can take mine.” He pulled the small grappling hook from his waistline and handed it over. “Don’t bother with the construction or cleaners. Your speed can outmaneuver them no problem. Did you find any more drones in the area? They can be outfitted like the last set I shot down.”

  “I don’t see any, but I’ll trust you to do like before.”

  Oliver got a good grip on the hook and sped across the ground. The bots all had their lights brighten in their eyes as they reacted to his presence. Just as Stone said, he slipped by them without issue and jumped three stories to the catwalk and grabbed the railing to wrap the grappling hook secure. His head jerked to a small explosion and found a drone with a set of quadruple blasters falling to the ground and Stone’s hand dropping as he ran through the three dozen slow robots designed mostly for heavy lifting. Stone kicked off the ground as his harness reeled him up quickly. A large right hand helped him over and Satellite drew the attention of a rapid firing drone which Stone held out a hand to ready another kinetic blast. The falcon was a superior flyer and lured the machine directly into Stone’s sights and a ball of plasma fired. The second drone fell in a smoking heap of sparking steel.

  As they cut though another door a rumble far away shook the building to its foundation and Oliver grinned, having a good idea Renee was likely melting down the vault as the building shakes were constant for over a good minute.

  More and more Davan Took began to sweat in a cold room as he watched the progress of the two teams unravel his plans. Two individuals stood out. Renee on the screen stood in front of the vault he had everyone contained in, but she stood in front, legs spread and both hands aimed at a three meter thick titanium vault door, but from her hands came a massive discharge of psionic energy so bright, he could barely make out her silhouette and that of the Drake. Never had he seen outside of movies someone sustain that level of power and be able to melt through the door so fast it would not be able to cook those inside alive. Not even sprinkler systems could slow her down. Then there was the acrobatic giant with a sword that cut things as if everything was able to part as easy as air. He obviously didn’t have the tremendous class as Renee, but his physical prowess was just as unstoppable.

  Steam blocked Renee’s vision, but then through the film covering her face the scene altered and suddenly she could see through the superheated water from the sprinklers trying to cool the vault door from her unleashed power. Sparky had already made sure his mind reached inside the vault and everyone was far away as possible as her blasting beam punched through the door and into the wall behind it. She only stopped when she heard her partner tell her she was through. Her armor protected her feet from molten metal being quenched as she climbed in and readied her injector to yell “Stay calm everyone! Who’s the most injured?”

  “Over here. Her hands are badly burned from being too close to the furnace when the drones forced us in here.” Said someone.

  Renee went to a woman with massive third degree burns on skin already melted. From the lump on the side of her head, someone knocked her out, for her own well being. Renee injected her with a powerful sedative and a regenerative solution made specifically for burns. She met the squinting eyes of a woman to say “Take off yours and her bra to cover her hands. She won’t wake up, but a soft bra will prevent her skin from cracking and bleeding too much as she heals.” The woman didn’t question a medic’s orders even though it was unorthodox. Off came a bra to be wrapped.

  Outside the factory Rose turned her head to say “Captain, my mate and his rider have located the hostages. Renee is treating and holding up a barrier nothing can get through.”

  It was all Captain Stav needed. He tapped his com and ordered “GO! GO! GO! Hostages are secure. Shoot everything in your way except the Hunters.”

  Hundreds of elite marines readied guns and blades as they charged in through the gaping opening the Hunters left behind.

  Inside, Satellite paused and landed on a shelf without making a sound to think telepathically “Stone, I found the missing scientist. He’s outside where we believe the terrorist is, but is working with a tablet as if he’s trying to override the bulkhead doors. He’s in a camera blind spot.”

  “Keep watching and make sure he’s a friendly. We are five minutes out.” Stone replied as they were blocked by worker robots, but they only served to slow progress.

  Two minutes earlier than expected Oliver and Stone arrived under Satellite who hadn’t moved from the very high shelf. Oliver’s deep voice would never reach a normal whisper and it made the hiding man jump. “Friend or foe? Your answer better be real.”

  The man looking in his thirties put a hand over his heart to say “Friend. I’m Professor Nathaniel, lead starship programmer here at the factory.”

  “His face matches the personnel records I downloaded from the terminal.” Oliver said and came around with Stone following, walking backwards to make sure nothing came from behind. “Any luck, Professor?” Oliver gestured to the screen in front of him.

  “None I’m afraid. Whatever program the madman is using keeps evolving to keep me from opening the door. None of my algorithms are working and I’m trying to find the backdoor, but that could take weeks. I’ve been trying to shut down the security systems instead and keep getting kicked out.”

  “How thick is that door?”

  The man in a white lab coat glanced to the dark brown door. “I think about ten meters thick.”

  “Too thick to cut normally and too heavy too… hmm.”

  “I have an idea.” Stone said. “Mr. Nathaniel, instead of disabling the whole system, can you disengage just one worker robot from the system and control it manually?”

  “Just one? Not a problem. It’ll need more than my touch to make it operate if I sever it from the power network.”

  “I’ll watch over you both.” Said Oliver.

  The professor and Stone ran back to the blockade and the much smaller man pulled a tool out of his belt, used it to unscrew a panel in the back of a large constructer, pulled a small knife from his pocket to cut out the automatic and remote controlling properties. The man grabbed a dim fiber optic wire and split it down the middle. He handed one to Stone then plugged the other into a small section to solder the cable to a certain facet of the power crystal. “Give it power and I’ll operate it to move.”

  Stone’s fist surrounded the cable and it lit right up like the fiber optic cables illuminating the whole factory. He then looked over his shoulder. “Brother, cut out a square like I did to gain entry. We’ll be there in roughly two minutes.”

  Oliver didn’t like leaving, but he didn’t sense anything else nearby as the robot booted up and began turning around on a set of tank treads.

  He returned to the thick bulkhead and closed his eyes to feel the sword start taking his energy in preparation to let loose a wave of ultim
ate sharpness. The edge gleamed during the slice before releasing a blue-white wave in which left a vertical line deep within. The waves each took a great toll of stamina, but he managed three more before catching his breath as the two men came around the corner.

  The professor activated an arc welder which created a downward hole in which a huge hook slid in. Using the might of a sturdy machine, the cut out began gradually sliding. Oliver had angled the bottom horizontal wave slightly upwards to make use of gravity, even just a little would help. Metal grinded on metal as the machine was in its lowest setting for pulling massive loads crept forward.

  Ten meters later the floor buckled under the full weight of the extracted door. Oliver yelled down the short tunnel “It’s over Took!”

  “Come get me if you can.” The man with a blue face and two running lines taunted.

  Stone threw up a barrier around Oliver just incase as he climbed inside. The wave’s power dissipated after so far, but nothing behind was cut. Oliver entered a room with hundreds of sparkling gems in perfect cubes each near as tall as himself. The room was cooler than normal, but Oliver’s gaze fell upon Davan Took sitting on the ground with his legs crossed in the back of the room.

  Outside there came a ruckus and he heard climbing behind to find Captain Stav coming in, gun ready. A dozen more soldiers in tactical black armor made them all look like beetles followed. “Surrender!” the captain ordered as Oliver let him get closer to himself.

  “I’ll never surrender till I clear my good name.”

  “Your choice.”

  Something’s wrong. Oliver thought. It’s clear he isn’t in this for credits. What… he took a deep sniff and put a hand on top of the captain’s pistol. Stav glared, but lowered the weapon and signaled his men to keep theirs trained on the target. He could not disobey a man as fierce looking as the elder, especially with that helmet on. “Davan, where are you?”

  The man’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. “I’m right here of course.”

  “You were here a day ago at the least. Your scent is old and I don’t smell your sweat or fear as you would if you had been in here. Plus I didn’t hear your heart beat when I came in.”

  Davan glared. “Bye.” Is all he said as he hit a button and his holographic image warped before vanishing.

  Captain Stav yelled “He can’t be far! Sweep the area!”

  Davan Took grimaced as he shut down his station and covered himself in a suit that works like Phantom Invisibility as well as being used on the sentry bots. He opened a door and took just one step out.

  Before he could get away there dropped a meaty hand and everything went dark.

  “Systems are all back online and fully functional, Captain.” Saluted a soldier.

  “And it’s all thanks to your efforts.” Captain Stav said before he had to go speak with the reporters yelling behind the barricade. It had turned to mid afternoon as they left the factory. “I wish I could reward you, but all I’m capable of is recommending you to the system of trust and honor. I’ll send it to all commanders if you ever need help in the future. Wish I could do more.”

  “You can.” Renee was back in her medic flight suit as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the handle of Sparky’s armor. “I need a thousand fresh lab rats shipped to the Dorgenox addressed to me.”

  “Lab rats?”

  “Did I stutter?”

  “No, Ma’am.” He nodded. “I’ll do it. One thousand mice won’t be difficult to procure for a reward.”

  “Well? How about we go get my aunts and I can finally leave this pain in the ass place?” Renee questioned and before long they all got on her shuttle, Sparky had removed his armor.

  Back at Galicom Stephanie and Jessica were eagerly awaiting their arrival after being contacted that it was all over.

  “Figures!” Renee rolled her eyes as they arrived back to her most hated room to find it packed with people. “We clean up their mess and everyone beats us here.”

  “This’ll give us time to hear every little detail of what happened.” Jessica threw an arm around Renee’s shoulder as they got in line.

  The story was told and Renee finished by saying “No one could find a trace of the weasel. He vanished into thin air it seemed. But when other medics arrived we got the three badly injured people out. The rest weren’t overly traumatized, but the girl with burnt hands will be kept asleep for a week as her hands will regenerate. Till then it’ll itch horribly. That’s about it. What did you two do?”

  “We saw two steamy movies?” Jessica giggled.

  “We tried seeing them till my horny wife mauled me. Good thing we got a private viewing or other people would have really had a show to fest their eyes on.”

  “Steph!” Jessica flushed almost as auburn as her hair.

  “Then tell the children the plot of the story.” Stephanie smirked as her love found her feet suddenly the most interesting thing of her whole life. “Thought so.”

  Beside them Rose and Sparky hissed, their version of a laugh.

  “Hello, Mammary Mary.” Renee acknowledged the busty broad behind the counter and slapped the topaz on the counter. “Travel visa renewed. Do it.”

  “Of course.” The blue haired woman was completely oblivious. She took the marble sized gemstone and placed it in a small recess of her desk. As it touched down a screen popped up showing a two dimensional view of the massive starship. The high, paint peeling voice of Mary said “The Dorgenox, crew manifest numbering four hundred and sixty two. Number PCT-0483107. A Free-sailing Freighter Class sailboat. Age, eight hundred and seventeen years. Captioned by Jake Dorgen and First Mate Abdul Krabble. One full time medic to care for crew health. Name Renee Dorgen…” she went silent as she typed for a few seconds and the topaz flashed. “All done. Have a wonderful day and thank you for using Galicom.”

  “That’s it?” Oliver asked in surprise as Renee took the visa back. “All that work for thirteen seconds?”

  “Pretty sad, huh.” Renee rolled her eyes. “Now let’s get the hell out of here before I get arrested again if I hear fake tits say anything else.”

  They laughed and left.

  Chapter 12

  “Renee’s ship is coming to dock, Abdul.” Said a crewwoman at her desk in the bridge.

  The first mate contacted her directly “Renee, did you get it done?”

  “In my pocket as we speak.” She replied.

  “Then bring it to me as soon as you finish docking. You should also bring Oliver too.”

  “What for?” She said with mild trepidation as the dock opened to let them in.

  “Jake’s orders. Apparently he wishes to finally meet your boyfriend.”

  “Please tell me Papa is in a good mood. If not I’m coming alone to tell him of my decision to take him as mine.”

  “Not to fear, he seems rather cheerful considering. I promise to let you know if he loses it between now and when you get your sweet little ass up here.”

  “Fine.” She huffed as the communicator ended the conversation and turned in Oliver’s lap. “Papa wants to meet you.”

  “I would like to at last meet the father of my woman. It would be nice not to imagine what he looks like anymore.”

  “Let me do most of the talking. If you think I’ve got a temper, Papa’s is worse.”

  “Really?” doubt accompanied the tone. No one can be more temperamental than her.

  “Really.” Jessica and Stephanie chorused simultaneously in a serious way that left no doubt to the meaning of Jake Dorgen’s short fuse and explosive nature.

  “Any signs I should watch out for?” He asked after realizing he wasn’t being played for a fool. Renee got off his lap.

  It was Stone who said “Brother, I’ve been the Hunter for the Dorgenox for three decades before Mr. Dorgen received Deegen and Steven six months prior and still the captain is volatile. But I’ve noticed the vein in his left temple will pulse and grow as his anger rises. If you see it change, say not another word and politely e
xcuse yourself from his presence. And do not just turn your back on him or you will find yourself in pain. Usually he is a kind and intelligent individual, but be mindful, he is as powerful as his appearance seems.”

  “By appearance you mean…?” Oliver rolled his hand for more information.

  Renee stood in front of him. “Papa is a big man. He’s had splicing done centuries before we discovered the reversal and resetting proteins. Before it was mandatory for all splicing operations in event of a negative reaction. Papa is stuck looking like he does, even though he likes how he looks. Think of Wrangler, only less grotesque. You’ll see soon enough.”

  He stood and followed out the ship and into the starship’s belly, watching the hangar door drop closed, barely making a sound.

  On the way to the elevators Sparky told them all “I’m going to rest after wiping down my armor.” His large paw touched the bag he placed across his back.

  “As will I.” Rose stayed behind and helped him keep it from being dragged.

  They all fit in the elevator aside from the Drakes. Stone and Satellite got off first on level seven where personal quarters were for most of the crew and both Jessica and Stephanie left on eight.

  Renee and Oliver were alone and she smiled as she looked at his hand twitching in anxiousness. Her gloved hand took his to say “Relax, Oliver. Papa won’t be too hard on you after he sees how happy you make me. He’ll likely threaten you, but will be alright with you as my match eventually. He’s my overbearing father, but he loves me and does what any good father would to see his little girl happy.”

  “Red, I like it when you call me Olly. Not Oliver.”

  “I’ll call you whatever I damn well please in the current situation.” She elbowed his ribs playfully. “Just try not to piss Papa off. I can put you back together in many pieces, but if he vaporizes you I can’t. And don’t you die without coming back to me and let me kill you again.”