Evolution's Essence (33 page)

“
Er… White Blossom right?”
Renee tentatively said. “This isn’t a dream. And I’m not Reten. I’m
Renee.”

“
A dream would say it’s not
a dream and mine are always so vivid.” The Keptl Queen rolled her
eyes and acted very much like a distraught human.

“
Then Read me. I can sense
I’m stronger than you, but if you try to seize my mind I’ll tear
you apart before Olly, Sparky and the Ligers get a
chance.”

White Blossom blinked, confusion marring her
alien features. “Ligers?” Renee pointed to the hulking felines.
“Oh, you mean the Zeramndillieq villip? You and I created them
together, Reten. Surely you haven’t forgotten? You and I worked
many cycles trying to bond those powerful Beasts to act like my
swarm. You know, always make a king or queen to control the
others…”

“
You’re full of knowledge
aren’t you. Now Read me so you know I’m not screwing with
you.”

White Blossom’s large jaw dropped as she
entered Renee’s complex mind and carefully focused on memories of
the past. Nobody moved for some time. “You certainly aren’t Reten…
But Mantiv…” Glowing silver eyes met topaz. “I mean Oliver… you are
so similar… no wonder why they stripped your memories. When Reten
died you destroyed four solar systems before your brother and
daughters sent word they finally subdued you and put you to sleep.
I’m so sorry, but you warned me to tell you this and I’m glad you
found me before opening the gateway.”

“
What? What do you mean?” He
was confused and knuckled his cutlass till it hurt.

“
You can’t open it. Destroy
the gateway. Destroy it right
now
!” She was clearly frightened. “You
can’t open it. It was the only way to keep the Invaders from
killing everything in this universe. You told me just before they
found us and killed Reten that you both would stay behind and
asleep for no more than five thousand years the humans I have in my
home use to tell time. You made a chemical program your brother
would use to awaken you and Reten to open the hole when they
succeeded… you said many confusing things, but I remember you made
it a hole in space big enough to make a stand against the Invaders.
Your people were all to go and lure the Invaders out of our time
and space… ummm, and your brother would wake you when every last
invader was killed.

“
You said if you ever
forget, to tell you if more than five thousand years pass to
never
open the gateway. It
means your brother and people are all to be considered dead and if
they could not find a way to kill them then to keep everything
shut. Not even you, in your astounding mentality could find a way
to kill the Invaders permanently. They kept coming back alive and
killing countless.

“
You and Reten stopped by to
tell me you and she were going to take a long sleep, but one
Invader was attached to your flying machine and was going to kill
me, but Reten saved me, sacrificing herself…” fat tears spilled
down White Blossom’s cheeks. “When she died you barely sent me here
in time before you destroyed everything, but I’ll never forget you
telling me to keep my word and to stop you if I had to, to keep the
gateway closed. It’s been far too long and that means the invaders
are still very much alive.” A clawed hand pointed to Renee. “Her
memory showed me it was her fault you awoke in a birthing chamber
where you’ve slept more than twenty five thousand years. Her
puncturing the chamber broke the membrane and activated the waking
procedure. Forget your people, they are gone, My Friend, and the
Creelin weapon Renee has in her memory will not be enough. If you
could not find a way to kill a single Invader,
they
never will find a way. Opening
the gateway will doom me and everyone else. They lie to
you.”

“
Finally some answers!”
Renee nodded to herself.

“
Speak no more!”
a familiar male Archiver appeared in a bright
flash.

“
You have no power over me.”
White Blossom stood and her features became fearsome as any Queen.
“Mantiv is
my
friend. I will tell him
all
I know because friends share without holding back.
And you
cannot
stop
me. I will speak to the Creelin later. It is past time we met
anyway. Now I’m with an old friend who forgot about me and I need
to rectify his ignorance before you fools kill us all by letting
him do what you too know best be sealed forever.”

“
Is White Blossom telling
the truth Archiver Tammat?” Oliver assumed his battle suit form and
stepped between the two powerhouses squaring off. “Are these
Invaders so powerful they can
not
be killed?” the Creelin seemed to be at war
deciding how to answer. “Silence speaks volumes. You were going to
let me open it and damn the consequences without giving me full
access to the potential danger. Well if she is speaking a
trillionth of a percent telling me the truth then it is too late
for my people.” He tapped behind his ear. “Call Jake Dorgen.” It
beeped and before a greetings could come from the captain Oliver
ordered “Captain, get the hell away from the gate. I’m blowing it
up immediately. New information has come to light that the Creelin
neglected to inform me about.”

“
How badly did they fuck up,
Laddie?”

“
Enough that if my
people
do
live, I’m
willing to doom them in light of recent information. Get. Out. Now.
You have ten minutes and eighteen seconds before the explosion from
the gateway reaches you.”

“
ABDUL!” Jake roared as he
could be heard running to the bridge of the Dorgenox. “FTL back to
the Sapphire Nebula now! Oliver’s detonating the gate. Calculate
and go! No I don’t know why. The lad will explain himself
later…”

“
End call.” Oliver did it
while the captain issued orders. He then activated his Valek and
activated an explosive package he snuck into the gateway and the
superheated oval ripped itself completely apart. It was a
spectacular display. Then he contacted his private study back home
and shredded the generator that took weeks to design, build and
assemble. A generator that would make the actual portal using the
gateway’s fuel harvested two days ago. “All that work, now useless.
Tammat, you and the Archivers have
serious
explaining to do when I’m done
trying to calm myself. Know I’m
far
from happy you let me have hope just so you could
try your ultimate weapon. You’ve got much to account for and if I’m
not satisfied with answers then it will be the Creelin government
responsible for hiding serious information that would have doomed
us all. Breaching the alliance. LEAVE!” his shout made everyone
jump. When he raised his voice, people heeded. Usually he was calm,
but he was so mad at that moment he eclipsed Renee’s worst
day.

The one dream taking almost a quarter of a
century was ripped beneath him.

Archiver Tammat bowed
“We will await your contact, Oliver. Personally, I
wanted to tell you everything, but most voted against telling you.
Fearing you wouldn’t give us a chance to use our weapon. And
between us…”
The Creelin touched something
on his robes that erected a block from all prying eyes and
ears.
“Everything this Keptl has said thus
far is true. You also visited me and gave the same warning and
deadline for revival. I’m sorry for breaching your trust. You will
receive a private burst of information with a list of all the names
in favor of full disclosure and those of the military faction
wishing to use our weapon regardless if Solarians still live or
not. Do not take it out on my people. Only the highest inner circle
of Archiver knew about the time limit you, Reten and your brother
imposed. I understand you hurt, but please do not harm
anyone.”

“
If you don’t leave, I will
hurt everyone for him.” Renee growled. “We fucking trusted you and
you didn’t have the balls to tell us the enemy that threatened
everything in this universe couldn’t be killed! Invincible
invaders! What the fuck is wrong with you old fuckers. Apparently
age has made you complacent. Leave us the fuck alone till we have
time to cool off. When we’re ready to talk again we’ll let you
know. Till then buzz off!”

The Creelin Elder bowed before leaving in a
brilliant flash of light.

By the time Oliver turned around, he found
White Blossom had returned to the smooth look. “Are you still
willing to talk?”

“
To an old friend I’ve
thought dead for so long? We have
too
much to talk about. I’ve much to
show you with my brood’s alterations.” She looked around the
stunned room. “Come! All of you are welcome in my hive. Especially
you Melanie.” White Blossom grinned and scooped the thin woman into
a warm embrace. “You brought back my oldest friend. There is much
to discuss. I will have a feast prepared.” The Keptl decided
warmly.

Chapter 9

“
Sparky?” Renee snapped her
fingers after calling his name several times and the Drake blinked
and met her gaze.

The emerald Drake took a
deep breath, sides expanding wide.
“Sorry,
but what did you say?”

“
Before we go I want to know
why you feel so strange. It’s affecting me too you know.” Renee
crossed her arms under her bountiful breasts.

“
I do not know. I’ve never
felt like this before, but it because of her.”
Sparky pointed his angular head at White Blossom and his
movement didn’t go unnoticed. The Keptl gently put Melanie back to
her feet and her clawed feet clanked on the bridge surface to
approach and stare at him with the same level of curiosity.
“Renee, she is Keptl, but I do not feel the need
to sink my teeth in her throat. Look, I’m not even brightening in
my scales.”

“
What a powerful mind you
have. I can barely sense you. What are you, Creature?” White
Blossom knelt to get as close as possible without seeming to be a
threat.

“
I’m a Drake. My people feel
an instinctive urge to rip apart your kind, but I don’t feel the
need to kill you.”

“
No one has ever bypassed my
mind before. How did you enter me without trying?” White Blossom
wasn’t put out. She was excited meeting something new and unique.
The feeling rolled off her like a child visiting a candy shop for
the first time.

“
Sparky’s people are
naturally telepathic. It’s how they evolved to communicate. Their
telepathy has no equal.” Renee explained.

“
Did they evolve near the
Feral perchance?” White Blossom queried. Sparky and Renee nodded as
if one mind. “Then it makes sense. You must be able to sense the
madness and feel the need to end it. You must be able to tell I’m
much better than Feral. I best keep you from my food then. If you
kill Feral, you’ll ruin my food.”

“
You keep Feral Keptl?”
Renee asked incredulously.

“
I eat those left behind
when Feral Queens try to kill and steal from me. They stupidly let
me feed by warring with me and keep me strong despite this soft
world. What I wouldn’t give for a primal, volcanic world that is
heavy with boiling oceans again.” White Blossom said
wistfully.

“
You’ve got plenty of
Goliaths, why don’t you leave? Surely they have FTL capability
too.” Oliver spoke while many prepared to disembark.

“
She can’t.” Melanie voiced.
“The Feral basically put a net around this system to keep her from
leaving. Where she goes, they’ll follow and it takes time to
relocate. Time the Feral would use to kill her before she grew a
new hive as strong at that one.” She pointed outside to the living
mountain. “The Feral may be mad, but they aren’t stupid. They
attack us just enough to keep White Blossom trapped on this world.
Right where they want her.”

“
Melanie is correct.” The
Keptl stood. “Mantiv, when you sent me here before going Feral
yourself, you probably did it in desperation to see me safe. At the
time you likely didn’t have time to think I’d rather prefer a
hotter and more primal world so I’m not stuck with growing
soft.”

“
I would apologize, but
Mantiv died the day Reten did. My mind was wiped clean and I’ve
become Oliver Void. I would be happy to give you a new home to your
liking, but first I need time alone to think. My whole life to this
point was ruined by misinformation. I’m not an irrational person,
but I’m understandably upset. I’m the last true
Solarian.”

“
I know what it is like to
be last too, My Friend. While Melanie was gone to find her people…
my childrens’ minds are gone. Fifteen years ago my daughters didn’t
reach back to me when I accumulated enough power to show them new
genetic attributes I’ve developed. I’m the last true queen.” White
Blossom said with a heavy heart. “I would like to show you how I
vented my rage as Garrak helped me when I couldn’t find my children
anywhere.”

“
Oh no, White Blossom… I’m
so sorry!” Melanie hugged one of the thick legs with new
tears.

“
Fifteen years was around
when the swarm started showing up with the secondary brain.” Vikki
announced stoically. “We are sorry for your loss, but if you had
daughters, why don’t you have more?”