Evolution's Essence

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Sparky picked up the rest. “I’ve read Isabella and though she is too young, she sees him as a possession, a toy that belongs to her and her alone, but not a love interest yet. Renee sees Oliver as a possession as well, but the hatchling cannot comprehend sexual impulses. But Renee has read in Queen Fru’s diary of children that Isabella must see Davan regularly or be driven insane with longing. It is a requirement now. Davan is terrified and Renee is keeping calm considering her child has found her Match. The man doesn’t know what to do, but is terrified Oliver will kill him, if my rider doesn’t first. Renee is very territorial and has thought of many terrifying tortures to deal the man if he so much as looks at our hatchling wrong.”

  “I haven’t decided yet if I’ll beat him senseless before her, but he’s the first person I haven’t tried to kill for touching her when I’m staring right at them. I guess Izzy’s possession of him makes him immune to my fatherly instincts.”

  “As I was saying…” slit eyes noticed the balled fist with knuckles turning white on the large father. “Renee is attempting to figure out how it came to be and maybe alter Davan’s chemistry so Isabella no longer claims him.”

  “She’ll be full grown in nine years right? Sexually mature in seven or eight?” Talon asked. “Why bother with more than chaperoning like most adults do when their teen visits the sex centers for the very first time?”

  “Far as we know, Lass, me granddaughter’s claim is absolute and when puberty hits, Isabella will mount the man as soon as she gets the chance. The journal of Fru said it’s impossible to separate those like her. Ye know me daughter will kill herself if Oliver does. Right now Isabella likely has the same suicidal quirk because she too has found her perfect mate.” Jake said grimly. “This is new water we’re treading. We don’t…” on the conversation went. Isabella finished work and got to play her game. Even the Hunter Elders watched in delight by how she was a perfectly capable young huntress. She didn’t beat the Tortoise as the image spun like a saw blade the size of a small boulder and hit her, but she stalked the room designated for the holographic game. Three more attempt though and she got the kill, but lost an arm in the fight. Progress was progress though.

  Six hours and nineteen minutes later the ritual of pain ended and Collu was released. She collapsed into unconsciousness for a short while and her vision was liquid for some time till it cleared and she said “I’ve at last passed… Her name is Wind-walker. She chose that name.” The Queen of the Pride whined and licked the deep wounds. “They are so beautiful and strong. Marvelous. So this is the feeling I’ve only heard stories of. ” A round of purring resulted. “I will never forget this, Oliver Void. May you live long and die well in battle.”

  “Same to you. You better go home and recover for a few days. I know I needed peace and quiet after it was all said and done.”

  “I will, but before I do, Beyleez Netul says the world is cleaned and you may leave.” She closed her eyes and Collu and the new Pride vanished.

  “Time to get ready. Captain, are the FTL upgrades I gave to Jacob complete?”

  “Again, Lad, aye. That was two days go. Just ye relax and get some sleep…”

  “So this is our final stop.” Renee said on the screen of his Flare as they took another week to arrive in the new system now Keptl free. Nothing except scorch marks on the planet surface shows signs of a battle that raged for seven longs months till the Creelin won by battle of attrition, tactics, superior firepower, strategy and advanced technology won without any loss of life.

  Black and orange colors undulated on the planet’s surface swarming with Fire Wyrms, Salamanders and other extremely dangerous Beasts who feed on fire and noxious fumes. It was a volatile planet to say the least.

  But floating high above the surface were giant boulders, many were greater in size than mountains. Powerful planetary magnetic fields kept the iron rich floating giants perpetually aloft. The environment was by far the harshest Oliver and Renee had ever seen with their naked eye.

  “What a dangerous place.” Commented Rose over in the River Skipper.

  “Seems Olly’s plan to fly the city away is a necessity. The fluctuating gravity fields will do serious neurological damage if exposed for a prolonged period.”

  “Thank Netul for telling us that the field has increased to dangerous levels since I was put asleep. We should be safe for a day tops. At least till I modify the fields to get the city away from the planet so I can create engines and fly the city to another world more stable and safer to call home. Red, activate the field generators to repel the magnetic fields that will damage ship systems.”

  “Glad Papa is keeping the Dorgenox far away from this world. Solar radiation will only make this world more dangerous. If we had come far later we’d be royally fucked with the star now a red giant.”

  “Says the queen.” Sparky quipped.

  “Ha. Ha.” She barked dryly. “In and out quick. Olly, I’m on your six.”

  “Countdown to final approach in five. Four. Three. To. One. Go!” he hit the accelerator and made a beeline for the unnaturally round giant rock that dominated the planet’s sky. It’s shell a hot red and rippling with waves of heat.

  Halfway there a man in a pair of cracked charcoal pants, leather jacket trimmed and decorated with jagged gems appeared out in space. On the ship’s receiver came the gruff voice of “State your business.”

  “You must be Laxus. AI for the city of Fire.”

  “And you are the newly crowned King and Queen of all your people.”

  “You’ve been watching?” Renee asked as they weren’t stopped.

  “I have.” Said Laxus staying equal distance in front of the ships and matching speed going backwards. “I will permit you because I have been watching. Unlike my counterparts, not all of my core was wiped so I have more system operational control and personality. I also know you carry Vladamin and Jenniviq, My Lady.” The dark skinned man bowed in vacuum. “And I know your intent and shall allow entry. Follow me to the safe entrance of my city.” A string of light replaced the man and they flew fast and safely to the great floating giant. Then suddenly the hot wall pulled away like a cork pulled from a barrel cask and they flew inside, the cork being replaced behind.

  Jaws dropped at by far the most beautiful city to date. Being made inside the largest geode on record made the city dazzling. Spotlights from the two ships made the city come alive with every conceivable color from the geode gems. Violet amethyst, blue sapphire, milky quartz, black diamond, yellow topaz and so on covered the entire dome ceiling. Thirty five kilometers across was the city of flame. The dwellings were exactly pyramid shaped and the same geometric layout as all the previous cities with a dominating citadel castle pyramid standing heads and shoulders above all else in the exact center of the circular area. Remarkably the haphazard geode’s walls and ceiling, though a dome, had gems so large it could house multiple families. They were sharp, dull and completely random as nature would intend, but so many gemstone types made it known they were unnatural.

  The biggest geode in all of recorded history had clearly been created by artisans with an asymmetrical canvas brought out to perfection.

  In the city below burned towers of real flame. Blue, green, red and white pillars formed intricate works of art around statues of formidable men, sensual women and Liger.

  “Change is certainly the theme in here huh, Olly?”

  “Is that wistfulness I hear in your voice, Red?”

  “Girl’s do love shiny gems… the size of fucking houses.” She giggled as she turned the River Skipper around midair before lowering the landing gear and touching down gently. “The atmosphere is a bit warm, but the air is clean for us. Not like the toxicity outside this big geode.”

  “By us you mean…” he landed beside her shuttle.

  “We’ll need to purge the air like we did in the wind city. The air is bad for humans. It’s near identical to what made us so sick for a little while back when we started the city hunt and found
Fru’s wind city. And as expected our coms are blocked like back then too.” She began powering down her ship.

  Finishing first, Oliver and Nova leapt out of the Flare and took in the surroundings of the landing platform just outside the walls of the dazzling city. He made sure there were no life signs and there weren’t any. They didn’t wait long for Renee and Sparky to follow and come closer. Behind them came Renee’s personal guards. Stone and the others. Rose stayed back with Isabella and Davan aboard the now faster Dorgenox, keeping the child entertained.

  Standing eight meters away was the bronze skinned man with short hair, pointed ears and watched them closely. Renee asked first “Laxus, what did you mean when you said not all of your core was wiped?”

  “Many facets of my memory were cleansed, but I remember my kingdom was in a desperate rush and didn’t have the time to completely cleanse my records as my brother and sister cores were here in this galaxy. I do not know of why my queen left, but her people hadn’t the time to finish before everyone was taken away and I was put asleep. Because I retain full system operations, the degradation of my city is not an issue as it is with the other four currently operating. Most of our research was either taken or destroyed and yet I keep my freedom to choose as is the most logical choice of action unless it is in conflict of my master’s wishes.”

  “If your claim is you’ve been watching me and Olly then you know I’m now a Solarian queen and as this is the first city I feel I can love…”

  “Yes, I know you wish to rule this kingdom. I hold no objections. Your qualities are just like Queen Jattem and I welcome you to be my master, but as queen, Master Oliver is your consort. He is not my king. This is not our way. You must rule and he give you guidance and council. Matters of rule fall upon the queen. As he is not the Galactic King, nor is there one currently, you are his superior.”

  “No shit. He knows his place isn’t as leader except in matters of battle.”

  “I’m not cut out to lead people. I like creating things.” Oliver promised.

  “Then I hereby claim you are my queen, Lady Renee.” Laxus bowed deeply to her, both hands over his chest.

  “That was easier than I expected.” Thought Sparky aloud.

  “Such are my master’s ways. They preferred simplicity in their advanced lives.” Laxus claimed. “Come, if you wish to move the city for safety concerns then do not waste time.”

  A nano-wall blocked the entrance, but was easily passed through with only Renee’s hand this time since the new queen had full commanding privileges.

  “Now that is more my clothing style!” Renee pointed to a feminine statue and turned the white spiked armor into a dress that offered sensuality and a promise of an ass kicking if you stepped out of line. Sharp high heels made her a little taller and the style of the dress enhanced her bust while covering her slender hands in plated gauntlets. “Slutty sensual and wicked tough.”

  “You are one lucky man, Brother.” Brenna elbowed Oliver’s ribs as his jaw hung at staring at his beautiful woman. “I’d take her to bed myself if I didn’t only like cock. Still, I might try her out if I get the chance.”

  “So sweet of you!” Renee threw an arm around her Huntress friend and permanent bodyguard. “Too bad I’m the same way. I tried being bi when I started going to the sex centers, but a big shaft is sooo much better.” They laughed till Oliver at last closed his mouth. “Come on, we got work to do.”

  The stroll through the flaming city was by far the best and most dazzling experience any of them experienced. Visor and Satellite flew on ahead, scouting and enjoying the warmth of the updrafts created by the warm city.

  Rather than worry about traps, Laxus assured them that they were being deactivated, but not destroyed. As queen, Renee had final say on what was destroyed or not. The artificial personality took things in stride and didn’t get bent out of shape like Vladamin and Jenniviq when Oliver brought out the case storing their information in palm size crystals after being ton from their cores.

  Along the way Oliver asked “Laxus, is there a way to remake the city control cores for these two and get them back to where they belong?”

  “I’ve already taken the liberty of creating the new cores after listening to you four months prior. The new central city controls already await in the queen’s court as we speak.”

  “Then I thank you.” The AI of fire merely bowed with both hands clasped over his chest.

  It was proven true as soon as they entered the citadel and beside the throne were enormous crystal spheres ready and waiting for a file transfer. As Oliver used the Valek to transfer all data from a manmade crystal to the new cores Renee and everyone were spellbound by the amazing entrance hall decorated with statues and harmless fire. As soon as it was over he joined them in admiring the splendor of change only fire could truly bring about. Hours and days could have been sat watching the splendor of roaring flames.

  “Laxus, please teleport us into your control room so we may leave as soon as possible.” Renee commanded and unlike before, the artificial man did as commanded. Queen commands trumps law in regards to humans being present and their lack of knowledge. Laxus only asked that any humans visiting never attempt to stick their noses in places better left alone. She gave him permission to teleport any violators to Verard after being sent to her for punishment. Laxus seemed to happily accept the command humbly.

  Inside the small control room with red walls Oliver sat in the chair and closed his eyes as his Valek accessed the city’s functions. “Whoa…”

  “What is it, Olly?” Renee asked, touching his shoulder.

  “He wasn’t kidding. Laxus holds so much more memory than the others and the city is in pristine condition. It’s practically brand new. Not a single sign of damage the automated repairs cannot fix. It was why the city didn’t look to have any dust. Everything works.” Oliver declared with eyelids shut, but darting around. “This city indeed was scientific based… records show near seventy percent of a population of two point three million were in fact builders and inventors before disappearing by a mass teleportation… across the whole universe. Laxus may not know for what reason, but the power spike as his former queen was sitting in this chair at the time of wiping his memory was of a power never seen before in his records. It’s why he is more forthcoming. She was in the process of deleting his memory and was barely half way when she was taken… his databanks are loaded with technology and theories I’ve yet to even attempt or consider. All active and technology too dangerous to leave behind was taken away with all my people at the time… likely to prevent what can make a society advance too fast. Only the five kingdom cities in each inhabited galaxy were left alone because no one could get to the cores except us.” He told her, then cocked his head after a moment. “Well that makes things even more simple.”

  “What?” She asked, trying to telepathically follow along, but the technicality aspects he sifted through were beyond her area of expertise.

  “Seems Fire cities were all made as environment terraformers and were fully mobile. After Wind people discovered a worthy solar system, Fire came in behind to make it habitable. This city may not have FTL drives, but they didn’t stay in one place when a Wind city located a suitable world to change. This city is more than able to enter hyperspace to teleport and has no distance limit. It even controls its own gravity and is designed to maintain an orbit around a world, but to save power this world’s unique magnetic stratosphere was selected for its ability to easily keep it aloft perpetually for a long term orbital station. There are devices that are dropped on a planet to transform it to be habitable… and this city alone created a hundred thousand oxygen and nitrogen rich worlds in this galaxy alone even before dropping seeds to selected worlds designated for experimentation to make new species.”

  “More than a hundred thousand worlds?” Steven whistled in a drawn out way.

  “And also selected certain worlds for Beasts to thrive so as to be farmed since all Solarian’s required meat to
survive. This world we’re at presently was farmed especially for robust Beasts. The high concentration of protein in Beasts is what kept our minds in peak performance.” He added then cocked his head. “Hmmm, that is a good world… out of the way.” A moment later Oliver used his left hand to tap an ear. “Captain, I know you can hear me. I’ve dropped the disruption barrier of the city.”

  “Aye, Lad, I hear ye. What is the situation?”

  “No problem’s at all. It’s actually better than expected. I’m going to flash you a set of coordinates to an isolated world that will take you two and a half days in FTL to reach. This city is going to teleport right there and we’ll await for you to arrive so go ahead and get a head start if you’d like.”

  “Why, Lad? Ye said ye were going to just leave the planet, not jump to another. Is the magnetic influence that bad?”

  “No, I can do it, but to save time and energy we should check out this new world. It’s a paradise, like Earth was before the last ice age. It’s also crawling with Beasts, plants and animals. It’ll be perfect for a long term orbit between the planet and it’s single moon. By the time you arrive I can have the city create a bridge you can dock the Dorgenox safely with.”

  “Dock ye say? That sounds safer than shuttles constantly flying back and forth. Aye, Lad, I give ye permission to go. Abdul says we got the coordinates. We’ll follow soon as ye leave in event ye can’t leave.”

  “Thank you.” Still connected to the city systems he easily made the jump trough hyperspace without making a sound. There was no sensation of travel. He opened his eyes and said “We’ve arrived.”

  “Already?” Breena was shocked it happened so fast. “My queen, can I take the River Skipper for recon?”

  “Go ahead and take Stone and Satellite with you.” They passed the nano-wall easily. “Olly, Steven, Visor and I will be outside.” He smiled, she returned it and left last.