Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) (14 page)

BOOK: Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four)
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Chapter Twenty Eight

Gwen was fighting back tears. What kind of insanity
made Elyon kill off an entire planet of people? “This biological weapon that
killed so many, could you describe it for me please?”

If Baylech
found her request odd he didn’t let it show. “It was a hemorrhagic virus that
mutates often, can live on any surface or in body fluid. Its initial symptoms
are
fever
,
headache,
muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting. The victims didn’t know
they were infected or a carrier until it was too late. It was extremely
contagious and total isolation was the only way Hedal was going to survive.
That wasn’t possible with how connected our commerce and trade partners were
with each other. Elyon had released the virus at strategic points so that the
whole of the planet was infected in less than forty-eight hours. Why do you
ask?”

“No reason. I was just
curious...as a doctor.” Could it be possible that their mother’s madness may
still be killing people on Earth? Viruses mutate all the time in nature, and
Elyon’s must have died off long ago. After exchanging knowing looks she asked
Mairi, “Do you need a break to feed the twins?”

“Yes.” Mairi replied weakly,
“This might be a good time. I will try to hurry.” She moved around the tables
and left the dome.

It was agreed for everyone to
take a few minutes to get some water and stretch his or her legs. They would
continue when Mairi was ready.

*~*~*

When Mairi returned from feeding
the twins and the others agreed it was time to continue Kneus once again took
control of the computer console. “I just have a few pertinent recordings to
show. As we know our
history was written as this: The original fathers
were sent to scout for planets to colonize. Our home world was dying, and we
were trying to find a planet that would sustain life. The original fathers ship
sustained damage, and were far off course but managed to find this planet and
land here.
” He clicked the
computer console. "What we now know to be the truth is that this planet
was selected, the home world wasn't "dying" so much as engulfed in
war and Elyon's madness and finally we didn't crash...we landed here on
purpose."

Kneus clicked again and
holographic Kniam materialized his clothing was different. He was wearing some
type of armor, a cloak over his shoulders with intricate clasps holding it on.
His features were the same, his hair shorter and hazels eyes shone out at them
instead of the purple of today. “
We have formed a council. Knaleg,
Knollig, Kneus, Tharell, Thian, Thomiss and I will decide matters of our new
home. The first order of business was what to name this planet. We decided on
Terraneu.” With a dry laugh Kniam continued, “When we find a place to settle,
our little community will be called Terraneu as well. No sense in getting grand
ideas. We have tried the port pad to Terra with no success, we will keep
trying.”

Gwen sat and watched, as the recording discussed
cloning, sometimes successful sometimes not. They lost a sitting member of the
council to an animal attack. He could not be successfully cloned so they chose
a new member from among the men. Asteen was now a member. The decision was made
to start trying to change their body chemistry to avoid starvation and save
cloning eggs by lengthening their life span. A council member was lost to
madness in this process. Ailech was asked to sit on the council. Through all of
the changes they continued to try to reach Terra via port pad, until the last message.

The last recording showed the decision to block the
true history, “We have decided to block out some of our original history. Kneus
thinks he can use hypnotic and genetic manipulation to block us from those
memories, our new clones will have no recollection of what we block. He is also
very good with technology and will hide the pertinent recordings making them
appear ‘lost’. I wanted it put into our records the reason for this action, in
the small chance that it should ever comes to light.” He paused as if trying to
find the words, “We are tired to the very core of our beings.” Gwen thought he
looked it too! His usually handsome face was drawn, haggard and pale. “The
memory of Hedal and all that is lost to us weighs heavier now than the first
moment we landed.” He drew a hand through his hair and continued, “Our people
have no reason to continue knowing that we can never go back, the port pad on
Terra has not responded to repeated attempts to contact it in all these years.
Also, our search for any humanoid life has been unsuccessful.” Kniam continued
and it seemed to take a toll on him just to speak the words. “We have heard
nothing of Knuan, and even if he found us now, we would be no match for him.”
He sighed a drawn out tired sound, “It is time to move on, and let the men have
peace. We will begin re-writing our memories with the next cloning cycle. If
you see this message forgive us this weakness, our only desire is to give the
community hope again. We will make a safe-word to unlock these archives in the
event they may be helpful.” The recording ended and the screen went dark.

“So now we know.” Kneus stated into the silence, “We
know our true history. We know why we couldn’t hear Marcael or Elyon’s names
without blacking out.” He paused for a moment, “We even know why
we
blocked it all out.”

“And it worked.” Amber was looking at Kniam, “Your
people had hope long enough to find us or should I say I found you?” She smiled
around the room. “Terraneu is thriving and we now have the archives to help us
prepare.”

“We need to move on from here. Like they...you...”
Catherine paused then found her voice again, “Like the Kniam in the holograph
said. We need to figure out a way to defend the community since we won’t be
getting off Terraneu.”

“What about taking sanctuary back on Terra? I have
learned enough to know that the women were recently brought here. The human
population must have recovered from Elyon’s madness.” Baylech looked around
hopefully.

“Terra is lost to us by the port pad, and we have no
ship.” Kniam informed him, “When we were last there to find women, Catherine
was sent to investigate us. The Earth military or science sector has by now
found the port pad. It would not be safe to try. Cat what do you think?” He
looked questioningly at Catherine since she was the authority on Earth military
and would know.

“He is correct Baylech, I’m sorry to say it. Going
to Earth for sanctuary would result in us being captured. Not to mention that
Antilles might be overrun with your people.”

“You are forgetting they can’t survive off of the
Elyon.” Gwen reminded Catherine. “Even if Knuan left forces on Antilles they
would have perished by now.”

“He would not leave anyone on Antilles though. He
would know that it was a waste of manpower.” Baylech assured them. “Would the
Antilleans help?”

“They would if we asked them.” Kniam stood up,
“However, I am not willing to rain my mad brother’s wrath down on the
Antilleans or Earth for that matter. This insanity needs to end and I would
rather it be Knuan’s end than ours.”

“With the advanced technology that Baylech may be
aware of, and the now open archives we have a fighting chance.” Knaleg seemed
excited at the idea of playing with new weapons. “We can now access shielding,
cloaking and who knows what else we may have had before.”

Kniam sounded resigned, “Okay then.” He directed his
gaze to Baylech. “How long do we have?”

Chapter Twenty Nine

Kneus held his breath waiting for Baylech to answer. He felt Gwen’s small
hand suddenly grasp his. He looked at her trembling fingers attempting to twine
with his, and something inside him unraveled. Without thinking, because frankly
he did too much of that anyway, he wrapped his fingers with hers and held
tight.

“It depends on a lot of factors. Knuan knows where you are now so he will
not be distracted. He will make a run straight for this planet. If they don’t
get attacked by anything hostile or drift into empty space, they could be here
in as few as twenty five years give or take.”

“Why didn’t you just mutiny and kill him yourselves? Why wait for them to
find Terraneu?” Catherine’s question made Baylech jump. Not because of the
wording, but because she had yelled it across the table.

“Because of the Elyon.” He answered her, “Not only does it regulate the
energy we need to survive, it doesn’t function without Knuan.”

“What do you mean it doesn’t ‘function’?” Kneus asked thoughtfully. His
fingers were absently rubbing against Gwen’s.

“Just what it sounds like. The ship was programmed to monitor and access
the health of Knuan at all times. If he were to be killed in a mutiny, the ship
stops moving, all systems are locked down, and it immediately begins the
creation of another clone. As I said the ship is constantly monitoring him,
making a new copy of his brainwaves every minute of every day.” He ran
frustrated hands through his hair, “We tried everything we could think to do
and lost a lot of good men in the attempts. Out of the original twenty members
Marcael picked for the King’s mission, only nine are still alive.”

“This Marcael that warned us on Antilles. He is one of the nine left?”
Knaleg asked.

“Yes. Though he will have paid a terrible price for his failure.” Baylech
whispered.

“What will they do to him?” Mairi asked softly.

“He will be killed as punishment for letting you escape.” Everyone gasped
with varying mutterings of outrage going on around the room.

“But you said...” Kniam started.

“He will be killed...” Baylech spoke louder, “and then cloned again with
his memory intact so he could learn from his mistake, that is a standard punishment.
For the loss of two men on a mission Marcael will be altered so that he can not
perform sexually for a hundred years.”

“The sexual block wasn’t done on
all
of you? For space travel?”
Ailech asked from his spot at the table.

“No. Elyon insisted her son could not be expected to withhold from sexual
activity. They have STARs onboard.”

“What are STARs?” Asteen inquired, and Baylech tore his gaze from Ailech
to look that direction.

“It is an acronym for Sexually Trained Autonomous Robotics.” Baylech replied.
“Their availability is an added means of punishment Knuan uses. If anyone
displeases him, he can have the offender altered to be unable to function
sexually as a form of torture. The STARs are exactly as you would think them.
They are very attractive both in form and features. They never say no to a
request and are trained in physical pleasure, with the added use of chemical
pheromones to increase desire.” Baylech paused to look around the room.

Amber hurried to ask him, “So because he helped us, Knuan will take away
Marcael’s ability to do anything sexually, but not the feelings of desire?” She
looked ready to cry.

“Yes. It has been done quite frequently. Marcael has maneuvered Knuan
into punishing him over others many times in the past. Thousands of years
traveling through space will make you hard. Marcael was an incredible warrior
before we took that last mission on Hedal. Thousands of years have honed him
into...well more.”

Baylech obviously greatly admired Marcael and Kneus wondered at what
‘more’ there was to him. Maybe it wasn’t just Knuan they needed to worry about.
From the looks on the other male council member’s faces they were thinking the
same thing.

“So it comes down to the fact that there isn’t anything stopping Knuan.”
Kniam stated. “The males can’t defeat him on the Elyon without their numbers
dwindling and another clone would result anyway. So that gives us twenty-five
or so years to come up with adequate defenses. What damage can the Elyon do to
us from space?”

Baylech thought for a minute, “The ship’s weapons are purely defensive.
To knock space debris out of the way and things like that. They won’t be able
to fire on us from space. If they found us the only damage the ship would be
able to do is if it literally landed on Terraneu. Though I don’t know you could
even do that. The ship has been programmed to survive and keep Knuan alive at
all costs. Our fight will come from the men on board who follow Knuan, and of
course Knuan himself. The males left from the original mission, those loyal to
Marcael, will help if they can. They will want sanctuary here if we are able to
survive Knuan...some to reunite with their brothers if possible.”

Everyone gaped at Baylech and it was Knollig who finally asked. “Some of
the men on the Elyon might have surviving brothers here on Terraneu?” He
clarified to make sure, “As in your mother is my mother...not brothers in
arms?”

“Yes biological brothers. As the King and Queen had children so did their
nobles, and we were all raised together. We played together, were schooled
together and even went off to war together.” Kneus noted he looked around the
room again, “Nobles and servant alike were chosen to leave with the Princes
only if the King had absolute trust in them.” He paused again. “I have a
brother that was assigned to you, that is one reason Marcael chose me...and
several others. We had additional
motivation
to keep the Princes safe.
In doing so we were keeping our brothers safe.”

“Who?” Kniam asked leaning forward in his seat.

“Baylech...why didn’t you say something?” Amber jumped up, “We have to
find him for you.”

“You should be reunited. We shall start the search immediately.” Knollig
promised.

“There is no need to search. My brother is in this room.” Baylech
whispered.

Chapter Thirty

Gwen’s mouth dropped open in shock. She almost
forgot she was holding Kneus’ hand when she jumped up with the others. Then she
realized she had pulled Kneus along with her and felt the color rise up her
cheeks.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered to Kneus and went to drop his hand.

“I’m not.” He whispered back softly, stubbornly holding her fingers
entwined with his. “Why didn’t you tell us Baylech?” He asked loud enough for
the male to hear him.

“You weren’t sure of my intentions when I sent you off to find the ANT
and I didn’t think I was going to survive.” He paused, “When I woke up I still
wasn’t sure of my welcome here. I didn’t want to cause strife within your group
by announcing I have a brother among you. I wanted your decision to accept me
to be without prejudice.”

“Of course you are welcome here!” Amber ran around the table to him, “How
could you think that we wouldn’t accept you here after all you have done to
help us?” She threw her arms around him.

Kniam cleared his throat, “Amber...he may not be comfortable with you hugging
him.” Gwen had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. If anyone was
uncomfortable with the show of affection it was Kniam.

“What?” Amber broke away from Baylech. “Oh sorry. I’m a hugger.” She
laughed and backed away. “You have to tell us who he is.”

“My little brother was so perfect that our parents named him after the
Angels. I was so proud of him! He was smart, honorable and trustworthy. He was
on his way to becoming a great man of Hedal.” Baylech’s voice broke again. “Now
a great man of Terraneu instead. I know you don’t remember me, but I would be
honored if we could try to be brothers again...Ailech.”

Every eye in the room swung to the ‘Adonis’ of Terraneu. Now that Baylech
had said the name it was obvious. Baylech had snow-white hair and Ailech was
blond but they had the similar facial features:
 
eyes, nose, mouth, cheekbones and lips. There were only with a
few variations from each other to keep them from being twins. Their body builds
and the way they held themselves was almost identical too.

“This might be a good time to call it a night.” Kniam tried to give his
friend a way out of this public reunion. “We all know where our duties lie, and
for now I don’t think we need to increase our meetings. Once a week should
suffice. Baylech I can show you to your quarters and arrange for a tour.”
 

“No.” Ailech interrupted. “I can show him where he needs to go.”

“As you wish.” Kniam inclined his head to Ailech. “Please be sure to
cover the rules of conduct with him.”

Turning to Baylech he stressed, not unkindly, “There are a lot of changes
in store for you my friend. A lot of changes.” With the crack of his gavel the
meeting was adjourned.

Gwen turned to leave and realized that her hand was still entwined with
Kneus’. “Uh...” She licked suddenly dry lips, “Kneus...” she looked at her hand
then back to his face and realized his gaze was locked on her mouth. That only
made her lips even drier, and the need to lick them again more pronounced. She
tried to look away but couldn’t.

“See you tomorrow at the swimming pond Gwen?” Amber was hurrying to the
door with Kniam. Gwen stared in envy as Kniam held Amber close against his
side.

“Yes. Sure Amber, see you tomorrow.” Gwen replied distractedly, still
staring into Kneus’ eyes.

“Good-night Gwen.” Mairi called out leaving hand in hand with Knollig,
“See you at the swimming pond as well.”

“Yes.” Gwen called, “See you tomorrow.” She didn’t know what hit her but
suddenly her eyes started misting, and still she just held Kneus’ gaze. Neither
of them trying to break contact or say anything to each other. The trauma of
the last few days was suddenly too much. Kneus not remembering their time
together, the idea that an insane killer was coming for them, the incredible
loss of life to Elyon’s madness.

“See you tomorrow Gwen.” Catherine called out, heading to the door with
Knaleg. “

“Yes.” Gwen’s voice broke. “Tomorrow.” She barely got out as tears welled
in her eyes.

Kneus must have had enough, with a growling sound at the back of his
throat he pulled her toward the door. Half running along and half pulled she
couldn’t even see where she was going. When she stumbled in her haste to keep
up with Kneus’ he pulled her into his arms without breaking stride. Gwen was
honest enough to admit that this might be a nervous breakdown. Once she had
that thought it was like a damn bursting and she couldn’t stop the flood of
tears.

She felt them enter a dome, rather than saw it. The light difference was
just a bit different.

“Gwen.” Kneus’ voice sounded next to her ear, and she felt him sit down.
“Please stop crying.”

“I...can’t...” she sobbed helplessly, “Elyon’s madness. Your crazy
brother is coming for us. The amount of life lost all those years ago on Terra.
But the worst of all and I know it’s selfish, but I’ve lost you...only you’re
still here to tempt me!”

“You haven’t lost me.” Kneus started to say.

“I know because you are not mine to lose?” Gwen wailed and couldn’t stop
herself.

“Not because I am
not
yours.” Kneus vowed, “Because I have always been yours, just too stupid to see
it.”

Gwen calmed slightly and tried to wipe her face. Kneus beat her to it
taking the edge of her gown and wiping her tears. The pull of her dress
revealing her upper thighs as he tried to get her face dried.

“You could never lose me. We are in this together.” Kneus dropped her
gown and put his hands deep into her hair. His fingers digging in and pulling
her head back. “I refuse to waste another six months trying to ‘remember’ what
my heart and body are already telling me...we are meant to be together.”

Done talking Kneus fused his mouth to hers. It was a frantic pressing of
lips, a rubbing of tongues. Gwen couldn’t get close enough. She twisted in his
lap so that she had her knees on either side of his hips. Her hands were
frantically tugging at his vest until it was gone. Then she moved to the
buttons on his pants. Her fingers working their way between the material and
what she sought. His hard shaft was trapped between her hand and the leather of
his pants. The moist tip told her Kneus was enjoying her touch. She moved her
fingers as much as she could, up and down trying to reach as much of his length
as she could. She remembered how good he felt, she needed to feel him again.

Breaking her mouth away from his kiss she gasped, “My underwear.” Then
she kissed him again. Putting all the desperation and longing she felt into
their kiss, all the love and passion she needed him to feel too. Her mouth
moved on his as her fingers worked his shaft. She felt cooler air on her
backside as Kneus felt for her underwear. Since it was a thong and rather
fragile he was able to tear the material with little effort.

With her underwear gone his fingers were able to explore exactly where
she needed his touch. First one finger, then another until he was stretching
her, the pleasure so intense she broke the kiss and moaned his name. Riding his
fingers she gasped again when he used his free hand to move her dress out of
the way. Without warning he latched onto first one nipple then the other
lashing them with his fevered tongue. When he got tired of licking, he sucked
her breast into his mouth. His tongue was working to roll around her nipples
lazily.

Gwen was franticly riding his fingers hard. “Kneus.” She moaned his name,
her fingers working on the clasp of his pants she opened them enough to free
his shaft. Her hand was working him harder, his excitement making him wet so
that her fingers were slick on his skin. “Kneus.” She rode his fingers even
harder, he was pressing and rubbing his thumb against her skin. She knew she
was close, grabbing his balls she rolled them as she rode his fingers.
“Deeper.” She gasped out, “Harder.” Kneus complied letting his fingers go
deeper, his hand driving her harder. “Yes.” Gwen started to break apart. With
one final thrust she climaxed. Her muscles squeezing his fingers still deep
inside her. The hand working on his shaft had clasped harder in her frenzy.

Her eyes flew open to see him watching her. “Beautiful Gwen.” He
whispered. Taking his hand from between her legs he licked his fingers.
“Tasty.” His purple eyes were smoking with promise. Pulling her forward he
kissed her eyes, her cheeks, her nose. Finally he kissed her lips. She tasted
herself on his mouth and she didn’t care. He tasted like ambrosia to her. She
felt him pushing against her hand and in shock she realized she had ridden his
fingers and he hadn’t found release. “I have a lot to make up for.” He laughed.
Grabbing her at the lower back with one arm and wrapping the other around her
shoulder he asked. “Will this hurt?”

She had forgotten that he wouldn’t remember them having sex before. “No.”
she gasped when she felt the tip of him against her wetness. “No. It will feel
like heaven.”

“Good.” Kneus purred, then pulling her sensitive chest into his he thrust
up, just as the hand on her back pushed down.

“Kneus.” Gwen groaned his name as his entire length stretched her. She
had forgotten how big he was. When he reached as deep as he could go he pulled
her against him. Rubbing her sensitive skin against him, he was
merciless...pushing and pulling her against him. When she thought she would go
mad, he lifted her up until just the tip was inside her. Then slowly pulled her
down his length again. Again and again he withdrew, then pulled and pushed her,
grinding her on his shaft. She didn’t know which was worse. The way she could
feel his entire length stretching and filling her, or when he was deep inside
and her sensitive flesh was pulsing against the base of his shaft.

“Kneus, please.” She couldn’t take much more, he felt too good.

“Anything for you.” Holding her hips steady, her breasts rubbing against
his chest he thrust as hard as he could. Pulled free to the tip, and thrust
again. Without mercy he pounded into her welcome flesh. Her muscles clasped at
him as she gasped and moaned. Trying to kiss and nip any part of him she could
reach, his neck, his shoulders, and his fingers. She was lost in the
sensations. He was thrusting into her so hard she was bouncing on his thighs
without having to move herself.

Harder and deeper he went, holding her steady until with on last thrust
he shouted. She felt the warm pulse of his release inside of her, his shaft
gaining girth if that was even possible. The incredible fullness, along with
his mouth on her breast caused her to spin off into oblivion. “Kneus.” She
managed to gasp before she flexed around him in her release. She collapsed
against his chest her breathing as erratic as his, both of them drawing in deep
breaths.

Kneus was trailing his fingers through her hair, “I don’t need to
remember the time I lost as long as I have you to help me forget that I
forgot.” He laughed softly at how that sounded.

“I will always be here with you Kneus.” She kissed his chest, her fingers
playing around his nipples. “I will help you in any way I can.” She flashed him
an impish grin.

Finding herself in his arms as he stood up, her legs went around him
automatically. “Let’s start with my forgetfulness in the bathroom then.” Kneus
took long strides and they reached the indoor oasis the men here on Terraneu
called a ‘bathroom’. Turning on the waterfall he stepped into the water.

“Now what do I need to forget?” Kneus asked. Gwen smiled lovingly into
his face. His laughing purple eyes widened in shock when she lowered her legs
then slid down his body to land on her knees.

“Well there is this one thing you should definitely forget...” She smiled
wickedly up at him.

BOOK: Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four)
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