Void's Psionics (63 page)

“
And so ends the testing
phase for the Gravity Forge. Hull integrity stabilized after day
two’s movement of three microns. I believe it was due to being used
and the bindings settled like a wooden house would. Testing
complete. Now beginning ship construction.” Oliver said as Renee
was flying the River Skipper all the way back to the Forge’s
locater beacon.

It took another two hours he spent taking a
needed nap. She called his name when she got a visual. Being hit by
drone camera’s lights made it stick out in the empty darkness. From
there he brought the Gravity Forge and cameras back inside the
hold, tied them down and returned to the cockpit to sit in the
copilot seat.

Floating in front were the now empty crates
and one filled smaller one. Renee didn’t need to ask again what the
plan was. She merely kicked back to watch. Her ankles crossed up on
the console.

Reaching out, Oliver felt all the individual
pieces floating around, hitting hundreds of others. Each piece
seemed to come alive within his mind. No part was missing and he
made a motion that lifted the lid. His mind love solving puzzles
and figuring how thing worked. He might have hated Fracturing, but
he liked the results. The metal began swirling like a cyclone
inside his mind. Shells, scales and rods began to slam together
silently in space. If in air it would be too loud. Pieces met and
locked in place, bulking up. Larger pieces grew and linked to
others. The way Jessica programmed the Gravity Forge to make the
ship was to make it hold together by its own pressure since welding
would be impossible now that the pieces were too dense to absorb
heat to melt together. Joints locked and pieces added their own
stress to lock all the seams perfectly. That is how precise the
forge worked.

In eleven seconds Renee timed, there stood a
standard Marine war fighter. A winged jet minus cannons, an engine,
a seat and a thruster system the cockpit lid was opened like the
Flare’s rather than sliding up and down. And it was almost as
polished as pure silver. She couldn’t hold back a long, drawn out
whistle. “Not bad. The Marines would love to have that. Tell me, if
its cannons are broken, can it ram and survive it a kamikaze
attack.”

“
If they do not overwhelm
the motion dampeners they can crash into a planet at full sublight
speed and be unscathed.”

“
Wow. That is one bad ass
fighter.”

“
The downside is the weight.
It can’t keep up even with this ship in maneuverability using
current thruster technology. Power to weight ratio is way
off.”

“
No shit, but it is a mini
dreadnaught in comparison. It can take a beating and keep on
fighting. Hold on. I’m going to try to see what my blasters do.”
She took her feet off the table and flipped a button to begin
charging the defensive cannons beneath the wings and pressed the
shiny red button.

A bright blue stream of energy made impact
with the hull and knocked it back. She had the targeting system let
loose a constant stream and didn’t let up for a full ten minutes.
When she let go the flipping ship showed no sign of damage. “Hot
damn!” she laughed. “Olly, get out there and see what it takes for
you to destroy it.”

“
Maybe later alright. My
Pride is getting hungry and they are tired of being cooped up in
the Sun Spots.”

“
Fine, but as soon as we get
time I want to blow something up.” She let it go for now. She shot
a line after she reached out a hand to make it stop rolling and
flipping.

Oliver put the crystal away and Nova got up,
reading his masters intent and they again squeezed tightly in a
small space before returning to the Flare, closing the lid and be
released. The crates were again gathered behind the River Skipper
and the empty fighter was put inside one for keeping. While Renee
was doing that for several minutes the Flare was making a path. He
wished his vambrace could teleport them, but they would lose the
crates. Their ships could come since technically they were living
plants and plants were alive. Alive meant they could touch and
transfer together. The line cables were not.

Eventually though they got back in the same
flight pattern as before and jumped into subspace’s brilliant color
spiral.

In fifteen hours they
dropped out at the edge of an alien system. Immediately they were
detected and a Creelin battle cruiser teleported before them in a
bright blue flash. A message on Oliver’s and Renee’s screens opened
to show the face of a delicate assuming Creelin.
“I am Zeelin, rank of Bey, called Mattl. You have
entered Creelin space. State your business.”

Oliver sent his mind out to
the golden ship shaped like a winged arrow surrounded by thousands
of weapons. Hundreds of Creelin minds recoiled from his, all except
one who made a settling motion on the screen.
“I am Oliver Void. I come to visit Zeelin Beyleez Netul and
Bezlin Callier for the birth of their son.”

Mattl seemed to look at
something to her right and nodded.
“You
have the integrated permission of the Archivers to be allowed to
the planet. A fighter will detach to guide you to the city of Zaxit
and planet Jaffalibn. Detour from the fighter will result in
detention. You may pass.”
With another
flash the battle cruiser vanished.

All but one swift fighter
armed to the teeth in cannons remained. This time a male appeared
on screen.
“It is an honor, Solarian. If
you would please let me escort you.”

“
Lead on.”
The Creelin golden fighter spun around and matched
their pace.

For the next nine hours they were followed.
Sometimes the curious appeared and disappeared.

Eventually though they came
upon the Creelin colony. Made on a planet called
Jaffalibn
with four
inhabited moons terraformed as a heavy defensive platform. The bulk
of the colony was on the azure planet covered in lush plants that
produced much oxygen for the Creelin people to feast on. Instead of
green plants, these were bluish due to being silicone based. And
even though it was just a colony, the planet had a rough population
of three billion.

Entering the dense atmosphere slowly had
Renee suddenly shout “OLLY! THE SHIP TORE THROUGH THE CRATE!”

He cut the line to her shuttle as a falling
fireball of metal had been too heavy for the crate. The Flare
whipped after it and he reached out with his mind to grab it.

“
What has occurred?”
The fighter was right there.

“
Sorry. That is a result of
an experiment and I didn’t consider its container unable to hold
its weight. I’ve got it now. No need to worry.” Oliver
said.

“
I detect no dangerous
anomalies. Please continue and
be
careful. Our weapon systems were turning on you
since you diverted so much from my ship.”

Renee let out a deep breath as they continued
heading over the forests and rivers.

Until the city of Zaxit came in. It was a
floating golden city broken up with splashes of blue, red and
green. The city made sure to not damage the planet in any harmful
way. It had towering skyscrapers that overlooked small settlements
that made homes on the ground. This city was one of three hundred
and done large. It had many natural resources for a planet and just
as diverse an ecosystem.

They were led to a large golden tower, not to
the huge pure white tower where the Archivers lived and worked.
Along the way it was easy to distinguish civilian from warrior as
the Zeelin wore gold armor exactly like Netul, but had varying
shields denoting rank. Others wore an array of clothes, but only
women wore white dresses to show they were with child. All in all,
they moved around like humans. Going shopping. Visiting friends.
Going to events. Living life.

Many looked up as word spread about the
visitors.

They were guided to a landing area and a
familiar face was waiting.

The overgrown paperweight was set down first
before Oliver landed his fighter and the Sun Spots. Lastly Renee
lowered her landing gear and touched down.

Netul waved off the guide
who disappeared back to his commander as Oliver jumped out with
Nova and shook the other man’s hand.
“Gave
my hearts a bit of a kick, My Friend.”

“
Sorry about that, Netul.
Better than let the ship fall. You are looking good. Where is
Callier?”

“
Resting. The pregnancy
takes its toll on our women late in the end. It means my son will
arrive within the next five days. You all made it.”

“
This is a beautiful
city.”
Rose complimented as she, Sparky and
a riding Renee flew over.

“
I will pass your
compliments to the architects.”

“
Netul, sorry to be so
abrupt, but Nova and the Pride need to go hunt and teach the cubs
how to as well. They are quite hungry.” Oliver asked.

“
Ah.”
Netul nodded his ridged forehead, his Cultio binding the mane
of antennae bobbing too.
“I will summon a
game warden. Hold on for a moment.”
Netul
cast his thoughts out and sent an inquiry which was answered in
moments. He gave his location and instantly a female wearing a fur
coat appeared. She was short, but still about Renee’s
height.
“Friends, allow me to introduce the
game warden of land parcel nine fifty eight, Collu. Collu, these
are my guests.”

She gave a curt nod. Her
eyes though were locked on the Pride.
“Too
long have I given up hoping to see the Zeramndillieq villip with my
own two eyes again. May I have permission to greet the leader? I
dare not approach the cubs with their mothers so close.”

“
I call him Nova and he will
allow you to touch his cubs only. He says he knows your
scent.”

“
He remembers me?”
she was greatly surprised.
“He always was the smartest king I had a chance to meet. Queen
Fru was exceptionally excellent at raising Prides and
alphas”
Nova purred as she got closer and
ran her fingers through his thick coat.
“You have treated him well. His coat is smoother than I
remember.”

“
He does like to be brushed.
Matter of fact they all do.” Renee said as she dismounted. “Hello,
Netul. Want to see how big Izzy has gotten?”

“
Of course.”
He glanced to Oliver who already turned around and
was rigid. Trying to keep himself distracted by talking to Collu.
Netul blinked as the child was passed to his care by a smiling
mother.
“She is very healthy, My Friend.
She has grown much. Even in her mental development.”

“
I’d be scared had you and
Callier not verified the Fru’s journal for authenticity for child
development. She’s be about as smart as a five month old who was
born normally to a human. I can tell she likes you by how she
squeaks and wiggles. You project the kindness of a gentle
father.”

“
I’ve had plenty of
experience.”
His eyes changed to a prideful
azure as his eyes crinkles in the corners.

“
Can I go visit Callier?
Olly is going to hunt for us too if you got Beasts on this
planet.”

“
We do and they are secluded
from the fauna of our people. My Match is eager to see you again as
well. Her and all our daughters who are still arriving to meet
their newest sibling.”
He passed Isabella
back to say
“Oliver.”
The Solarian turned and relaxed after finding his child back
in her mother’s care.
“Will you be alright
if I led Renee, Sparky and Rose to my quarters? You will need to be
under the game warden’s supervision during the hunt, but I vow no
harm will come to your Match or daughter.”

“
If it were anyone other
than you I’d say no, but you have my trust. Tell Callier I’ll see
her soon. I don’t want to search for her. I scared the shit out of
the crew trying to speak with the man from earlier. I do not want
to cause a panic.”

“
You have my thanks. Just
know that this is the image of my quarters. If there is an
emergency I will give permission to teleport inside.”
Oliver mentally received the expansive room filled
with objects to remember the past. He got the feeling not all
trophies were good memories.

“
Thanks. I’ll bring dinner
home soon as I can.” He promised his lovely Match.

“
Take your time, Olly. I’ve
got all kinds of stories to tell Callier.”

“
Why do I sense danger in
that remark?”

“
Just because we’re
different species, Netul, doesn’t mean women aren’t women. Besides,
you know we’re going to slander your good name whether you are in
the room or not.” She winked. “So which way?”

Netul shook his head and made that odd sound
that was a chuckle, but led the way across the bridge to the upper
area of the building.

Collu was kneeling and
petting several of Nova’s own cubs with a happy color to her
eyes.
“Many of my fellows will be jealous I
got to greet them first.”

“
Nova?” Oliver asked as the
king gave him a look and a purr. “Are you sure about
this?”

“
What is
transpiring?”