by Jay Toney
"The park she used to take Persephone to when she was young. Persephone said that they would enjoy it there."
"You do realize that they are only three months old."
"They will be okay. What can happen to them?"
"Ask your six year old daughter." Neither Persephone nor I had given that any thought.
Persephone pulled up our new star map and the information we had from the journals we stole from the library. We had gotten sidetracked and off course.
There was no way that we could retrace our path to get back on course. Recent actions on my part made that impossible. The starship Hopes journal showed that the starship visited the Reticuli Constellation having come from Camelopardalis. Both of these constellation's were identified on our star map and not to far away.
I called Nugget using my room's comms. I knew he wouldn't be busy. "If you are not too busy, set our course to Epsilon Reticuli."
"Did you and Persephone have anything to do with this?"
"Do with what?"
"You know what."
"I don't know what you are talking about." I did and I couldn't wait to celebrate. I broke the connection with my comm unit. It was our turn to laugh.
A Wolf In The Net
"All wolf packs do not engage!"
The high council had spoken to all of us. Our leaders used the same speech season after season for as many generations as we could trace back. No hunting would be allowed until the season officially started.
The blood moon, of our home planet, was still a few days away from being full, signifying the start of the hunting season. Every season there were those who started early, seeking to gain an advantage over the other packs. There were even those who regularly poached out of season.
If caught the consequences would be severe. If lucky those found guilty of poaching would be cast out of their pack, cursed to drift alone among the stars. The less fortunate ones would be torn to pieces by their pack mates.
The last two seasons my pack was dishonored by young curs who disobeyed the high council and me. It would not happen again. "I repeat. We will wait until the season is open, then we shall hunt."
As Alpha of my clan, I not only led my pack, I led every pack leader in my group. My clan was still considered new but had grown to 37 wolf packs in the last generation. I led one of the fastest growing groups. Applications came to my desk daily, most of them were rejected. I only accepted the best into our clan. Because we were considered elite, the lesser curs were attracted to us, hoping to gain in rank and privilege from our reputation.
I shut down my ship's engines. The rest of my hunting packs followed my example. The carbon fiber skin of our hulls significantly enhanced the stealth features of our ships, making them nearly impossible to find. Without a drive plume, we were almost invisible.
We were not allowed to hunt, just yet, but we could watch and observe while we waited. It was a rare treat to have fresh prey drop in on our doorstep. I could almost smell the scent and taste the warm blood of our victims. It was hard to resist the temptation to begin the hunt early.
****
The orange subgiant star was bright, nearly outshining its white dwarf companion. The sun would cool down millions of years from now maturing into a main sequence star. Until then, its heat would continue to bake the planets orbiting it.
The seventh planet had prime conditions for life. It was the right size, far enough away from the sun not to be brunt dry, and close enough to still get enough warmth for life to prosper. When the sun cooled down, the planet would freeze, extinguishing all life. That wouldn't happen for millions of years though. When it did, we would move on.
"Captain, every few minutes we are receiving a message from the seventh planet. I've run it through our translators. The latest message is, "Season opens in two days, seven hours, and 20 minutes.""
"Season open for what?"
"I don't know, they aren't responding to my queries."
"Hunting season," Hades answered. "Relax, I am not here to fight with you. I've come to meet with Demeter. Ignore my presence, I will do my best to ignore yours." Hades left the bridge, heading down to my cabin using my private elevator.
Why in the hell is Hades visiting Persephone's mother? I thought they hated each other. I knew Demeter hated Hades because of what he did to her daughter. "Persephone, would you mind snooping on your mother and Hades?" Whatever his reason was, it couldn't be any good, especially for me.
"I can't, she has our cabin shielded, even from me. The only way to find out is to go down in person."
I took Persephone by hand and led her down to our cabin. Hades was gone, whatever business he had with Demeter was already concluded.
Demeter and Demi were standing together. Tammy and Daphne were with her holding then rest of our babies. I was relieved to see that they were still three months old.
"All of you should really consider allowing the children to grow up a little. Demi doesn't have any children her own age to play with. I would prefer that she does not grow up to be like her mother. She has so much more going for her. She has great beauty, intelligence, and my guidance."
I didn't know what she was talking about. Persephone is beautiful, with curves in all the right places, and extremely intelligent. Our daughter was growing up to look just like her.
We had children aboard the ship. None of them were her age. They were either much older, in their late teens, or much younger.
Daphne and Tammy frequently took Demi to the holosimulator and ran simulations of playgrounds so Demi could interact with children her own age. Her grandmother also started taking the kids to a park so they could have fun playing.
"Nathaniel, You don't need to worry about Hades torturing you any longer. We have come to an agreement. You needn't worry about the sirens seeking revenge either. He isn't finished with them and will not be for a very long time. By the time he is done with them, it is doubtful that they will even remember why they were being tortured. I will see you two again Sunday." She vanished, returning to wherever it is that she made her home.
We headed up to the bridge. Our sensors showed light traffic around the seventh planet. We set our course for it, hoping to find information that would lead us to Earth. So far we haven't found anything useful. All we knew was that the Drax offered our ancestors aid. They told us that trouble with the Alliance followed the refugees. After our dealings with them, I didn't think that was true. I believed that the Drax double-crossed the refugees, demanding payment they couldn't afford.
At our present speed, it would take two weeks to reach orbit.
****
"You don't suppose Demeter and Hades..."
"Not a chance. I'm surprised she even agreed to see him."
"Are you sure she didn't ask him for the meeting?"
"I sincerely doubt it, but I suppose it is possible. It is impossible to tell what my mother is plotting these days."
"There aren't very many goddesses who are beautiful enough that she may consider for a companion. How about Leto?"
"She is too much of a prude for mother's taste."
"Rhea?"
"Don't be absurd, that's her mother."
"I can tell where the both of you got your beauty from. She is one hot mama. How about Hera? Is she still married to Zeus?"
"I don't know how their marriage has lasted all these thousands of years. Neither one has any love for the other. They both love power, though. It is unlikely that she will ever give up being Queen of the Gods. "
"That only leaves Athena and Aphrodite, unless you want to consider the lesser goddesses."
"Aphrodite could surely satisfy mother's needs, but while she is married to Hephaestus, it won't work. She was already caught cheating with Ares, by him. Their marriage isn't a happy one, but she will not chance getting caught again. She was humiliated in front of the Council of Twelve, the last time."
"What about Athena?"
"They are already friends. We might be able to use th
eir friendship and give it a little nudge."
"Don't the two of you ever stop talking, I want to get some sleep. I should have stayed in bed with Jewel," Amber complained, rolling over and pulling her pillow over her head.
"Amber?"
"Go to sleep!"
****
Our scans remained clear. The tactical screen showed our seven ships and nothing else in range. Nugget let the ship continue on autopilot, only occasionally checking to make sure we stayed on course. He sat with Jewel and Amber, not so much to join in on the conversation but to gather information for another round of rumors.
The last set of rumors that he and Astrea started had run their course and had been largely dispelled. Nugget and Astrea figured out what Persephone and I were doing to them. It was time for him to retaliate. Jewel and Amber were unknowingly giving him more than he had hoped possible.
"You didn't have sex with them, not even once?"
"Not at all. All Nathaniel and Persephone wanted to do was talk. They talked all night. I hardly got any sleep."
"He hasn't lost interest in us, has he?"
"I don't think so. They didn't even sleep together."
"That can mean only one thing."
"You may be right. Before we get help for Nathaniel, we need to make sure. It's your turn to sleep with them tonight. If all he wants to do is talk, come back to bed with me. We will talk with Demeter in the morning. She may know someone who can help him."
"I will. Do you think Doc can help?"
"The way he has changed, he is probably beyond Doc's ability to help."
****
"Corwin, Raul, and Misty return to the pack now! Only a few hours remain before the season starts."
"Enough waiting, we hunt now!"
"Bravo Leader, fetch the curs and bring them to me. I will personally deal with them."
****
"Captain, I swear I saw drive plumes then weapons fire, on my sensor screen. I can't find any signs of spacecraft now. It was within the range of our short-range sensor scans. Our sensors should be able to register something."
"Jewel have Red bring our fleet to condition yellow, as a precaution. Amber maintain active scanning."
****
"This makes three seasons that members of my own pack have disgraced the clan. All of you have been warned."
"Clan leader, the bloodlust was upon us. We couldn't resist the opportunity to hunt fresh meat."
"Weakness will not be tolerated in either my pack or the clan. Honor must be restored."
I made it quick, showing the curs mercy. The bloodlust was greater than I imagined it would be. The salty taste of their blood was still in my mouth after ripping their throats out. Bits of flesh stuck between my teeth reminding me of my need to hunt. This would be a season like no other. The prey was unknowingly heading straight to us. They were a fat, juicy target that would soon fill our bellies.
"Bravo Leader, ensure the meat is not wasted. Everyone will have a taste of fresh meat with their next meal to remind them of the consequences of disobedience. Inform their mates that honor has been restored, there will be no need to sacrifice themselves. The hunt begins tomorrow."
****
"Amber, it is worse than I thought. Both of them are sick. They didn't want to do anything but talk. I used my best oils and they didn't even pay any attention to me. I don't think they even noticed when I got dressed and left."
****
I was obligated to take my meals at least once a week in the ship's buffet. This was to ensure that the crew was getting the same grade meals and so that they had the opportunity to see their captain.
Amber, Jewel, Persephone, and I all sat together. As usual, the three women were eating pancakes: Persephone, because she loved them, Amber and Jewel to sweeten their milk for the children. I ate a serving of vat meat, cut and grilled to look like steak, a baked potato, and greens.
The steak looked and tasted better than the real thing but knowing that it grew in a cultured meat vat spoiled it for me. It would take some getting used to. The other patrons enjoyed their meals, not knowing where their meat came from.
I was getting a lot of stares from the women seated around us, and quite a few giggles.
"Don't feel bad, I hear it happens to a lot of people," Lauren giggled, passing by our table.
"What happens?"
"Your inability to perform in bed. The news is all over the ship."
"Damn Nugget!"
"It may not be Nuggets fault this time," Amber responded to my exclamation.
"What do you mean?"
"At first, Jewel and I thought that you may have lost interest in us. Last night both of you ignored Jewel, she was using her best massage oils. You and Persephone both ignored us, preferring to do nothing but talk with each other. You're not even interested in each other. You have lost your desire and ability. It is the only explanation that makes any sense."
"We have just been preoccupied."
"You need help. If you are not going to get it on your own, Jewel and I will get it for you. Both Amber and Jewel abandoned what was left of their meals and left." I would have to talk with them later and try to explain what was happening.
Alarms chose that minute to sound, calling everyone to battle stations. We needed to get to the bridge. The tube cars would be busy ferrying our crew to their stations.
"Sit down and finish your dinner. There is nothing you can do." Persephone opened a link to my neurochip and fed me the information our long range sensors were gathering. Thousands of small ships were heading our way, from all directions. Red was scrambling our fighters and moving the fleet into a defensive position. Our ships were outnumbered by at least 30:1.
Only a small portion of the attacking ships was in close range. It would take hours for most of the other ships to reach us.
Our Marauders, Vipers, and Keshian fighters were faster, more maneuverable, and had more advanced shields and weapons. They would be our primary defense. There were no capital ships to target with our energy cannon or ship to ship missiles. All of the attacking ships were of similar size to our Marauders.
My dinner was tasteless now. Persephone wasn't going to let me leave until after our meal was finished. She was doing everything she could to make the ship ready for battle. I dutifully ate my dinner, eating the now bland food.
I sat patiently waiting for Persephone to finish eating her meal and the uneaten pancakes that Amber and Jewel left behind. She was purposely eating slowly, enjoying the meal and my company. After what seemed like an eternity, she pushed her empty tray forward.
By now, there would be a long line of people waiting at the tram stop. It might be faster to walk down the long corridors. Persephone took my hand. The buffet blurred and the smells vanished. The bridge appeared in place of the cafeteria, and we took a step forward. We were transported to the bridge.
"It is much easier to do on a full stomach."
Ares was there waiting for us. He was giving instructions to Red for maneuvering our fighters. He had two squadrons of Marauders on an intercept course with the first wave of attackers. The Vipers and Keshian fighters were split into two groups, each moving to attack from the flanks. The rest of our Marauders formed the second line of defense to attack any fighters that got past our front line. 337 fighters were attacking us in the first wave.
"I thought you were not allowed to interfere?"
"I'm not. I am just passing along a little friendly advice to Red. He is a very good at frontline tactics but needs help with strategic planning. Speaking of which, "Jewel, disperse the security teams like we discussed." The Lycans will attempt to board our ships. The Persephone is a fat and juicy target that they will not be able to resist. We will be their first victim."
"I thought werewolves were fictional creatures?"
"Werewolves go back to the beginning of humankind. These are not werewolves though, they are Lycans. Instead of there change coming with the full moon, they can transform at will. They
also retain their intelligence while gaining the strength, cunning, and ferocity of their counterpart."
"It looks like you have done everything I could possibly do, I need to join our fighters."
"You would make little difference there. Your pilots are highly skilled and can fight without you. However, you can make a difference here. Their alpha will agree to call off the attack if you defeat him in single combat."
"Why not invite him aboard to fight?"
"He will not agree to that. His packs were promised a hunt. Until they have had the opportunity to taste blood, he will not come aboard. Any humans who are bitten by the Lycans will have to be dealt with. Their bite spreads the disease. There is no cure."
I sat in my command chair and watched the battle on our main viewscreen. There were several small explosions. The tactical screen showed most of our ships still green. Some icons had turned yellow and were on the way back to our fleet for repairs. Several enemy ships were blackened, but there were a lot of them and thousands more closing in on us.
Some of the Lycan ships got by our first line of defense and were engaged by our second line of Marauders.
"Close your shuttle bay doors."
"I can not do that. If I do, I will be leaving our people to die."
"More will die if the Lycans get on board."
"Jewel, send additional security to the shuttle bay. Have all nonessential personnel lock themselves in their cabins."
****
"Pack leaders, have half of your hunters break off from the fighters. It is time to collect the fresh meat. Have them board the Persephone. I will join our hunters there."
****
A new set of alarms sounded. Jewel announced, "Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" Amber reported that the Lycans had infiltrated all decks. Firefights were breaking out everywhere.
"Before you go, you will need a sword." Ares presented me with a sword that looked identical to the one he gave Demi, earlier. "It turns out that the last sword was meant for you. Hephaestus was angry when he found out that the sword was delivered to the wrong person. He labored day and night to make sure this one was ready in time."
I took the sword and withdrew it from its scabbard to admire the blade. The runes carved into the blade lit up, making the sword look like it glowed with a blue flame. It was impossibly light and balanced for me. I slid the sword back into its scabbard and fastened it at my belt.