Yet by far the largest advancement of the age in terms of transportation came from Davan and his science team unlocking the secrets of instantaneous travel between two points no matter the distance. It took seven years after his name was cleared to be fully respected in the scientific community, and not from being Isabella’s Match. His solid research and a predecessors who also suffered the same cruel fate in this field made established planets easily to go and come from.
No longer did citizens need to take days, weeks or months in FTL just to go visit family or ship cargo and supplies. Now it was instant and available to the general public for a reasonable fee. It was faster and cheaper too than taking a ship. Mining companies loved it especially. But even after it dealt a blow to the space industry, ships were still needed to explore the galaxy and deep space. And spacecraft were especially required in battles, planetary defense and scouting.
Thanks to the core of Laxus not completely being erased, scout ships had found hundreds of habitable planets neither the Creelin or Keptl have claimed. One even had signs of primitive intelligent life forms. By Empire law, there would be no contact on pain of death, but they were being watched from orbit to see how this strange intelligent species evolved and would advance. A long term observation.
The cores of Vladamin and Jenniviq were remade into large spheres and returned to their city’s long ago and maintained their cities.
Oliver checked the time on the wall and sighed as he closed the locket and hid it behind his malleable clothes. Glancing down he looked at how his entire right arm was covered in the final form of the Valek, having unlocked the ultimate programs. It was like a full, skintight glove that covered the whole right arm and half his back. There on his back shoulder blade was the half filled orange oval telling how much had been stored. No longer did the Valek hide secrets from him. Its limits were not worth mentioning. Abilities were too numerous to count.
A deep male voice gently cut the blissful silence of the well organized room. Oliver’s sanctuary where he could get away for peace and quiet and work on projects. “Grandpa, Grandma told me to tell you to get your ‘idiot ass’ down to the hall. Her words, not mine. Everyone is waiting for the big reveal. Are you finished with the… you know?”
The nano-wall allowed Oliver alone to pass through and standing almost eye to eye was his oldest grandson, Samuel. He was almost eleven and tall, but lacked the extensive musculature of his grandfather. He looked around seventeen. Grew fast for a half-Solarian. Grew a third faster than a human child. “I know, Buddy. Only your grandma and great grandfather tell me to do anything. And yes, about a half hour ago the final puzzle part finished decoding was put in its place.”
“Half hour?” Samuel asked in surprise as he watched the slumbering twelve fur balls yawn viciously and rise to follow their master. “Grandpa, you should be thrilled to at last figure it all out! I’m still so very lost trying to piece it all together. It’ll take me fifty years to do it. Come on, give me a hint, Grandpa. Please?”
“Now what have I told you about being impatient or looking for the easy way out?” Oliver grinned and gripped his grandchild’s shoulder. “Better not let Izzy hear you trying to cheat.”
“Ummm… never mind. Mom’s not in a great mood. Aunt Soifon tricked her again and she had to cut her hair short after it was slimed green early this morning. Mom still is glaring daggers at her.”
Oliver chortled. Soifon was by far the best trickster of the family and belonged to Wind. Angie was Water’s Queen. “Just as long as Soifon and Angie don’t team up like last time. I swore Vikki was going to go into hysterics when those two tripped her in a pile of Liger shit bigger than she was. How they managed that feat and still live astounds me to this day. Your aunt lost her temper like never before. Usually she’s calmer than I. That day we all saw she’s just like your grandmother.”
Samuel couldn’t contain a deep belly laugh as they reached the stairwell and starting winding their way down. “Aunt Vikki was so furious. If not for Grandma tanning their hides like children it would have gotten seriously bad… Like the holo-vids of Mom and Grandma destroying that gas giant planet PX-3373. But I’ll never forget how hard Grandma laughed when Aunt Vikki stormed out of the room and headed for the baths. Even now it puts a smile on my face.”
“It was good, but because of it your grandma decided on stopping having more brats for a few more decades. Forty four daughter in twenty years was tough enough. I’m at least glad to be myself again now that all my kids are grown up.”
“Bet Uncle Sparky and Aunt Rose were relieved.”
“Sparky, yes. Rose has her own hatchlings to deal with when she decided to lay more eggs last year. Still, she loves it when you and you brother visit and let her and Sparky go out on a date to the surface. They love the hot springs.” It made Drake scales glossy.
Above the planet the city orbited, the once asteroid no longer looked as it once was. It was transformed into a city ship larger than a Creelin Mothership. It now looked larger than a Solarian battleship, but retained similar characteristics.
Samuel looked at his forearm Valek, near identical to Oliver’s as it once was. He did something subtle and said “We better hurry, Mom looks about to strangle Aunt Angie for something yet again. Dad’s trying to calm her down and Grandma’s getting that look again.”
“Teleport it is.” A moment later he and Samuel left the stairs to stand in the fiery hall to find Renee’s eyes narrowing slowly on the regal golden throne as Isabella’s short hair stood straight up, colored orange with her great Psionic power shouting insults to Angie flitting around laughing madly, her own eyes and hair shimmering a soft green glow.
The room of daughters from Renee and Oliver’s loins, who were all fully grown, all either had brown, bright strawberry red or shades of auburn from their parents and eyes ranging from amber to green. Sometimes even blue. Then he took notice of Steven and Sparky by the throne making bets. Those two still terrorized each other to no end even after all these years, but the spectacle had them united on the rare occasion.
Stone had sadly lost Satellite years back when a group tried kidnapping Renee. The rogue group wanted to dissect the Fire Queen to learn her secrets in biology. Satellite took an overdosed tranquilizer shot for her. Enough to put her to sleep, but kill any other living creature. Stone, Steven and Breena still protected their charge, but Renee couldn’t bring back Satellite. Stone was more quiet than usual, but Breena didn’t leave her mate, knowing all too well how hard it was to lose a companion animal. And Visor missed his friend.
The feminine screech drew Oliver back to reality so he took a deep breath and used a little power to heighten his voice. “ENOUGH!” the hall jumped near out of their skin, even Renee who had yet to touch his mind or even take notice of his presence.
“Hey Daddy!” Angie changed gears at the drop of a hat, completely forgetting to continue taunting Isabella who continued glaring in the now silent room full of people, Ligers, a few Drakes and two friendly faced Creelin ambassadors. No one dared continue fighting when Daddy used that tone. It promised a painful ass whooping. Yes, he still spanked his full grown children. “You missed my son’s birthday party last week.”
“What did you do to Izzy now, Kiddo?” he asked instead of feeling guilty after he kissed Renee’s cheek and sat down beside her in the large throne as his whole Pride came down of the stairs and surrounded the dais. “Wasn’t her hair enough this morning?”
“She kicked me in the cunt this time, Daddy.” Isabella said hotly.
“And did you say anything to make your sister mad? I clearly recall the word ‘slut’ being used and not in a playful banter.” Renee asked in a clipped tone. Isabella suddenly stilled and looked down in shame. “I thought so. Stand on opposite sides of the wall. Both of you. And if I hear another word I’ll slap both of you hellions silly. We’ll discuss your horrid behavior in my court later.”
Every child and grandchild knew that strict tone and both walked away. Is
abella near stomping in her heavy boots. And Angie skipping in her wispy material that left almost nothing to the imagination. Angie’s two girlfriends and three boyfriends followed to make sure she didn’t make matters worse. Davan went with Isabella and held her hand even though she was nearly a head taller than him. Flushed cheeks spoke of her embarrassment.
Everyone calmed considerably with his arrival. He had that effect on people. He cut a sharp glare as Steven stopped gloating over Sparky who obviously lost some bet. Everyone he knew from the Dorgenox was there too. David, Renee’s baby brother, had his mother’s Indian complexion, but had his father’s build, but not the spliced giant size. David took after both Jake and Andrea and loved going on the chase for answers, but had taken more after his big sister and became a Medic. A fair good one too.
“Friends and family,” Oliver said loud enough for the eagerly awaiting room to listen. Emperor and Empress Coleson stood over by Netul and Callier along with many former Elder Hunters, androids were holding position with Agents and Drakes. “after all these years of waiting, I at last solved the puzzle not long ago.”
“Daddy, did you find out what happened?” Angie of Water asked, wearing a bikini top and a wavy dress around her hips. “What happened to our people? Your little brother?”
“Still don’t know.” Confusion spread around the packed room. “The puzzle isn’t a record of events like I assumed. Not till the last parts fell in place did the confusion make sense. It is actually a highly detailed blueprint.”
“To make what, Brother?” Vanishing Claw asked, leaning against a large male Liger king called Snake-fang. He was different, this Liger had the opposite patterns. Rather than be mostly white with thin black stripes. Snake-fang was black with white stripes and a thicker mane.
“That’s the thing really, they are already made, but I need to alter their designs and recite a command phrase after making a star go hypernova and using all that released power to fuel the object.”
“You’ve got to what?” Emperor Coleson spoke up, fear evident in his voice. His beloved calmed him at a simple touch. “Cause a hypernova?”
“Blow up a star… well more accurately a Class O red Supergiant. The biggest stars we know are about ready to explode. A regular nova and supernova doesn’t have the heavier material or the power necessary to what I need. I want one star, not to destroy several. I need the extreme heat and heavier elements a younger and weaker star has yet to fuse. A star that has burned up all its hydrogen and burns the last of its helium. A star that will eventually become a super-massive black hole if I don’t get to it.
“Don’t worry, I’ve made devices years ago to safely contain a volatile star or even a planet if there is any danger of a serious threat… well I should say I already implanted the items in all known systems worlds humanity knows and lives on. Netul’s people didn’t need it. They have their own ways to keep their worlds plenty safe from astronomical threats such as dying stars, black holes, white holes and so on. I was bored back then when making the technology, but it’s done and I’ve already got a containment system proven effective.” Everyone hung on his every word. Even those of Wind with a short attention span.
“Ye made the devices plural for the blueprint. What are they, Lad?” Jake Dorgen asked as Renee looked at her man simply at her side as always.
“Well part of the information I’ve discovered are detailed coordinates to eight hundred and ninety three obelisks scattered between five neighboring galaxies. Four hundred and eleven obelisks are here in Andromeda. Canis Major, Triangulum, NCG-300 and its sister world of NCG-55 should be counted as one and last but not least is the M-81 group.”
“What are the obelisks, Grandpa?” Samuel asked when he stood over by his mother and father.
At this Oliver smiled. “It should be obvious, Buddy. One obelisk just happens to be on Verard.”
Awe lit up many features as soon as they put it together. But it was David Dorgen who asked “Are you saying that maybe King’s Tusk tower is an obelisk, Uncle Olly?”
“Correct.” He leaned back on the throne and crossed an ankle over a leg. “It’s actually a ceramic storage and concentration device capable of opening and stabilizing a dimensional rift. After checking King’s Tusk I realized its design very well have been made by me. It has a similar creation I use in my designs. Well it is part of a piece to be clear. When all are connected it’ll resemble a massive gate.”
“Daddy, but I love hunting for my food in that tower. What are you going to do with it?”
“I know you love going hunting inside the obelisk, Jamie, but it wasn’t originally their home. The Beasts took it over as a breeding area till the humans sealed the tower in barriers so the B and A-Rank Beasts don’t endanger the general public of Verard.” She pouted and fingered her Star-saber war-hammer, also part of the warrior kingdom of Terra. “As for what I need to do… I need to rip the tower from its foundation along with other eight hundred and ninety two obelisks, surround a class O supergiant star I’m going to destroy with some help and open up the rift.”
“Beyleez’s, what will happen if this comes to fruition? A hypernova alone is the most naturally destructive explosion in the galaxy. I’m no scientists, but aren’t dimensional rifts dangerous just as bad?” Empress Coleson asked.
Callier nodded to the Asian woman. “Indeed it is, but what Oliver calls an obelisk is a reinforced stabilizer to negate the distortion to an isolated space where the doorway can only be opened from this side. The fuel of a hydrogen depleted star is the necessary ingredient to open a rift. And a supergiant O class star would have the ample power necessary to fuel said rift. I am no expert either, but the answers you all seek will be waiting for the rift to open again.”
“Did you see it done when the Solarian’s disappeared?” Renee asked, tilting her head and made her crimson locks tumble like a curtain. Oliver smelled apple and strawberry and he liked it. In his mind as she usually was she noted his pleasure at her shampoo and it got her horny. He sniffed, immediately detecting her arousal though showing no signs her panties got moist.
“Since you are so close to uncovering the truth, yes. All our people alive at the time bore witness to their disappearance, but I was among the chosen to close the rift and scattered the stabilizers. For many years our people grieved.” Netul said calmly, looking the same as ever which wasn’t a surprise.
“Grieved, what for? Surely they still live on the other side of the rift still. They just can’t open it from their side.” Said a male voice in the crowd.
“Don’t count on it.” Oliver said somberly. “Opening a rift would be a last resort. You forget my people were at war. I’ve never ran from a fair fight. No male would leave their female. They went too. Why would my people all vanish and leave so little behind. Leave only me? The enemy must have been more powerful and to beat them before being hunted, my people must have united in a final battle by sending themselves and the enemy to a different space-time. They made sure the bait was too tempting by gathering themselves to hold back the tide.
“From Laxus’ figures, when my people disappeared there were six hundred zillion Solarians.” The room gasped at such a number. “The enemy would have needed to kill half that to decide on this plan. Something forced zillions to flee this universe.
“And when the enemy fell for it my people sprang a trap they couldn’t even escape themselves. For over twenty five thousand years my people have been on the other side. If they survive still I’ll be sorely grateful, but more than likely, if the enemy was that powerful… they were more than likely wiped out.”
“If that’s true, what is to stop this enemy that took out the oldest and most powerful species to ever live from crossing back when you open a way?” Talon said as she twirled her long blonde hair around a finger. “They could be waiting for us to do as you plan? If six hundred zillion fled, Humans are royally fucked. Our numbers are barely five hundred billion and we’re still young.”
“It’s why I call
ed everyone here.” He was frank. “I cannot do this alone and it is going to take months to gather all the obelisks and a specific star meeting the requirements I need. Because the possibility is too great that this unknown enemy is still alive, I require serious aid by both the Empire and Creelin directorate. I need every warship we can spare and every Mothership, fighter and heavy weaponry we got. We won’t do this unprepared.
“I’ve looked deeply into the research contained in the finished puzzle and beyond the rift of empty space. No stars or anything would be in that dimension. It’s a true void of space. No stars or anything. Any matter brought over is all there is to work with. So as long as the enemy can’t breed and expand, it’s possible they died out, but only strict guidelines could make the slim chance possible my people may survive. The only way would be stasis. If that’s true we need every spare Medic.
“Nevertheless, if anything tries leaving the rift that isn’t Solarian, it needs to be destroyed while weak. No questions asked. You’ve all seen the size of King’s Tusk Tower, though I need to fix it to work properly, there will be nearly nine hundred of them. It’ll be more than large enough to fit ten Creelin Motherships side by side and still have maneuvering room. So to make sure every square millimeter is covered, I need to ask for the heavy weapons. This city-ship will head that spear because it’s defenses are second to none. I’ve made sure of it.”
The silence lasted only a moment before Vikki stepped forth in a full, thick blue gown despite the warmth of the room. Her vibrant red hair tumbled all the way down to the small of her back while a crown decorated with snowflakes adorned her brow. “Daddy, you also need to consider that by removing King’s Tusk Tower from its foundation that the citizens need to leave the area. It will destabilize the ground and most likely destroy all nearby buildings, including Galicom which was build nearest its base.” She was always the voice of reason.
“I’ll negate that by holding the ground and land still.” Renee volunteered herself. “Besides it being Verard’s landmark, few go near it except for food. It’ll need to be cleared anyway so we’ll hunt and store the meat on ships for a duration needed to hop around the four galaxies and open up this rift. Any Beast eggs or manageable young can be sent to other worlds while we harvest the meat of adults.”
Evolution's Essence Page 16