Void's Psionics (33 page)

“
You have violated protocol,
Oliver Void. Leave now.”
Alandra coldly and
firmly ordered.

Instead, he uncovered his face and nineteen
necks leaned back in sheer surprise. He didn’t raise his voice, but
he made it clear they held no power over him. At the moment his
brown hair was gold and alight. “I am not human. I am the last male
Solarian. Renee is the last female. Please tell us what you
know.”

“
A ploy. The eyes and hair
must be a trick.”
One said suspiciously,
seeing the mist.

“
No tricks. If you want
proof, I permit each of you to read all about me. I will not
resist.” He lowered his defenses and they all knew it.

Alandra raised a talon to
stop the tangle of voices and they all quieted.
“Know this, Oliver Void, for this grave breach of etiquette,
should your claims be false I will destroy your mind.”

“
You can certainly try, but
if you do attempt it you better be quick or I’ll kill all of you
first.”

Enough was said as nineteen minds delved deep
into his being, reliving and experiencing all he has in nearly a
year since discovery. The others were quiet and tense, but before
long the council members extracted themselves one at a time staring
back at him with open maws. Only Alandra retained her poise upon
returning last. When only a thread to speak was left, the mental
walls went back up.

“
Fellow members, it seems
the oldest pact has indeed been met.”
Stone
and Steven glanced at each other, but no one spoke. One at a time
eighteen others each dipped their scaly head like a single nod.
Then the eldest of them said
“Only the
eldest nineteen Elders are privy to certain things, one being the
oldest that has survived by word and thought only. It was
said
long
ago,
Solarians visited us and told us not to ever go to one place on all
of Drakken Prime or face sure death. We were to speak not of it
except to pass it down to the next Elder upon the council. It was
to ensure life of the ignorant. Should the young and foolish
attempt to go, they would surely be lost to us.

“
Twice have there been a
council which sent the finest warriors out of curiosity or
foolishness. The warriors were never heard from again. Accounts of
both times say one who watched through the warriors’ eyes of those
few brave and strong enough to make it down saw something truly
frightening with large teeth killed them all. Teeth able to pierce
our hardest and thickest armor, tear through it better than the
Beasts which control the deepest valleys. Something terrible has
taken residence in that area which we were told never to go without
a Solarian pair. The natural danger has kept us from needing to
speak and we forbade travel.”

“
Where is this
place?”
Rose asked when it was silent for
longer than her liking.

“
Evernight
Valley.”

“
Not that fucking place
again.” Renee sighed and looked to Sparky who was sending
excitement through the link. “Seems like we are going back to where
you and I met ten years ago.”

“
So it seems… Wise One,
Evernight Valley is over four hundred kilometers long and deeper
than anyone, myself included, has reached.

“
The specific area is said
to be in the Deathly Vortex… where more than Beasts must be fought.
Wind, snow and deadly rocks will be the enemy. To fly is death. It
is the forbidden zone only fools dare tread to meet death. Not even
the greatest flyers go there.”

“
Then that is our
destination.” Steven said, leaning on his spear. “Sounds like fun
to me.”

“
Take not this lightly,
Human Hunter. I can tell you will follow should I declare only
Oliver Void and Sparky’s rider Renee Dorgen… I mean Void.”
She corrected herself before the redhead spoke up,
seeing the marital change in Oliver’s mind. “
No human has ever gone there and memories of the older
councilors still reside in this council. We only have this image of
the creature which dwells.”
She shared the
long ivory fangs on top and bottom of a maw which was wider than
the head of the one who looked into the jaws of death
itself.

“
Never seen teeth like that
before in a Beast.” Visor commented. “Each one must be as long as
half of me is tall. And the span of the jaw is… wow, I can’t even
compare it. Is that the only memory, Wise One?”

“
It is much the same of the
only other able to glimpse it. It seemed to come out of nowhere.
When will you go?”

“
No time like the present.”
Steven smiled.

“
Then I must give you heavy
armor so none get captured in the gales of the vortex. Any benefit
no matter how small may separate your return from not.”

“
No need. A windstorm, no
matter how strong, is nothing to me.” Oliver said. “Besides, heavy
armor is not always good. It’ll slow you down. If you wish to
watch, see through Rose. Only she will remain as watcher of us. How
far away is this Evernight Valley?”

“
Seven hundred kilometers
south southwest. Sparky knows the way.”

“
Thank you, Councilors.”
Oliver bowed once more as a sign of respect and gratitude. “You
have helped me a great deal and stayed true to the word. And I
promise not to destroy the landscape. If we don’t make it out it’ll
ensure no one tries again. If I can’t survive, no one
can.”

“
Safe journeys, Oliver Void.
Rose, please return here before they arrive at the
vortex.”

“
Yes, Wise One.”
The other’s bowed and left.

“
Time for fun and
excitement.” Laughed Steven.

“
Fuck
me
…” Joy changed in Steven’s tune as
the four ships looked at a massive tornado that didn’t move and
stretched out over twelve kilometers across and howled nearly up to
the very edge of the atmosphere, darkening the land as if covered
by cloud rather than dust.

Debris spun in the dirty wind as deadly
projectiles spinning one revolution every ten seconds. How it could
spin so fast boggled the mind. The vortex was even worse due to the
season and was so thick it could not be peered through. The way the
mountains were shaped didn’t let go, but focused it and made the
air restricted and tightened it to spin faster. Oliver’s chip
calculated speeds, but also that even if he cut the additional wind
from feeding the monstrous form of nature, it would sustain itself
for months. They sat in Oliver’s barrier to keep from being sucked
in and destroyed being overly astounded and afraid put
together.

“
Well, Brother, what are you
waiting on?” Steven prompted.

“
Everyone, hover behind me.”
Ships glided to rear of the Flare. He looked on the other side of
the mountain and cut out hundreds of thousands of tons opposite of
the most dangerous side in the mountain, making a deep hollow they
followed him down to land. They got out and Oliver plugged and
sealed their ships from any Wind Quakes that might come around with
a boulder. Sparky was already in his armor with Renee tied in the
saddle, also in her sensually kick ass armor, mask and clear helmet
on.

From there they climbed the mountain in
silence despite the tornado howling all across their view like a
great black tower of storm. They stayed close to Oliver and were
careful as the ground was shaking violently.

Easy as cutting rope, Oliver killed the extra
fuel coming down and up the valley before placing a fifteen
kilometer wall vertically down the vortex. He felt the tremendous
pressure trying to continue spiraling in the same direction and
growing due to buildup, but was no match for Oliver psionic
strength. It was child’s play for him. Adding an angle to the wall
allowed for an upward escape. The change really shook the ground,
but didn’t last as the vortex was broken. Temporarily.

“
Ready?” Stone asked,
Satellite nodded and flew off to scout down with Visor as backup,
going over the mountain and disappearing.

Deep below in near endless
darkness, where nightmares are fueled around each bend, several
sets of ears perked without the distant and constant howl of wind
far above. Echoes from constant howling for many millennia simply
vanished. The silent absence awoke not just
one
great creature, but dozens. They
were aware something different happened and readied. Readied to
unleash themselves on any territory intruders yet again. As
commanded.

“
Yeah, now that’s a hole!”
Steven said as their group crested the freezing mountain
peak.

No signs of life seemed to have ever been
able to take root as total destruction stretched as far as they
could see inside where not minutes ago spiraled a vortex of immense
power. More than a hill’s amount of debris fell from the wall when
the winds no longer ruled. Beyond the shaded mountainside area of
early morning light stood a bleak valley of undeniable destruction.
As the range of mountains grew, so too did the depth of ravines.
Ahead circled Satellite and Visor using their powerful eyesight to
scout for danger. Even without avian sharp vision, you’d be blind
not to see the jagged gigantic ravine drop down to darkness. An
uninviting opening to have ever existed.

Still riding in the saddle, Renee said “Olly,
you tired?”

“
No. It was not difficult.
I’m more concerned for what awaits. Did Jessica call in any good
news?”

“
Sorry. She and Papa scanned
the whole area and all our instruments still cannot find anything
down there. It’s deep, wide and home to many Beasts about four
kilometers below us and is close to twenty deep in some areas. The
forests thankfully will help out and we’ll have plenty of places
for shelter since it looks like we’ll be down there for a few days
searching. Nothing indicates unnatural buildings or tunnels, but we
know how well your people were at shielding from unwanted eyes.
Jess and Stephanie will be with us all the time though to let us
know about any areas to avoid. We’ll have to search the old
fashioned way.”

“
Then we must begin.
Remember to occasionally leave markings so we do not get lost
should communications be severed.”
Sparky
told them all.

Oliver lifted his bag of micro transmitters
that light up and flashed when activated. High tech breadcrumbs.
Stone and Steven also carried small packs, but were filled with
thin rope, much like what is built into their suits, but the extra
may be needed.

Sparky extended all four wings to take off
like a black bullet, carrying a cape wearing redhead. To save their
strength Oliver lifted the other two men to fly fast down to the
largest ravine’s ledge. Stone withdrew a long spike with an
eye-ring, drove it into a solid shelf of solid rock, tied the rope
secure and let the line out as they all plunged into complete
darkness, soon being so deep no longer could the sky be viewed.
Helmets were on and night vision activated on all wearing suits.
From their shoulders sprang bright beams of white light.

Below circled the winged scouts followed by
Oliver, then the Hunters and lastly Sparky and his rider. Falling
rocks echoed off walls, causing them all to look in that direction
every now and then. Weapons were out just incase, but weren’t
needed for close to a half hour’s slow descent in darkness. Only
Renee acted as communicator to the Dorgenox so no words distracted
the three Hunters and two birds scouting with their own eyes and
judgment.

Eventually a bioluminescent light far below
from mold and algae grew abundantly enough to not need the shoulder
lights and allowed Satellite and Visor to fly much more safely and
faster. When signs showed little destruction of wind on the walls
Oliver said “Stone, find an anchor point to tie off the rope. I’m
going to unblock the wind topside.”

Stone acknowledged silently by searching for
a solid anchor point to tie off the line and eventually found one.
To make sure it stayed he levitated himself over, drew one hatchet
and chopped a notch into rock easily before tying it secure and
tight so the rope had little slack. He gave the nod and they all
continued down.

Algae turned into more complex organisms like
grass, shrubs and alien trees that thrived. Blind insects and small
animals called it home, but so did thick strands of webbing silk
from gigantic spiders. Some areas of web crossed the entire ravine
and required careful maneuvering to not get caught.

Nearly another hour’s fall met them with the
bottom area of a lush forest, but also the wind high above had
kicked up and restarted the vortex by the roaring howl it made. But
so deep meant they barely felt a breeze.

“
This where we split up and
look for clues?” Visor asked when they had gotten their
bearings.

“
Yes. We have three possible
caves to search and only three Tarantula in the area. I’m going to
kill them and make this our base. Remember to keep your helmets on.
The air is deadly and will kill in fifteen minutes without a
filter.” Renee said. “When I’m done hunting I’ll check out the
largest with Sparky. Oliver’s going alone and you four take the
last one. Find anything interesting, report it. Go no further. We
all saw that thing that killed the old explorers. Both images were
around the same place. We aren’t Drakes so we can make barriers and
hopefully hold the Beasts off. Check in every five minutes. I’ll
call. If you don’t answer we’ll all stop and start a search.
Clear?”