Cutlass Sharpened (40 page)

“
And
? Come on and quit stalling. I need details. Hot,
steamy
details.”

Renee tapped her fingernail on her knee to
draw out the tension and before Jessica blew her lid she said “Oh,
we didn’t see too much of the meteor shower as he made me see a
different kind of shooting stars.”

“
AND?” Jessica’s voice
trilled.

“
Aaannnddd… I’m going to
keep him all to myself from now on, Auntie.”

“
YES
!!! Ha ha, Babe! I won the bet. Our little girl got her sample
and stole the whole entrée. Now you are all mine for two weeks and
I get to keep you out of that stuffy room of yours.”

Stephanie entered the
conversation and groaned “Ren
ee
! Couldn’t you have waited till
tomorrow to call? Now my research on Oliver will have to
wait.”

“
Oh, don’t worry about that.
I’ll be researching every inch of him from now on.” Renee’s heated
stare over his physique was far from complete and saved to her
memory despite the chip in her head.

“
Oh, I know that voice. He
must have left an impression or two?” Jessica hinted.

“
Counting last night and
this morning… try about forty earth shattering
impressions.”

“
Damn! Good for you,
Sweetheart.” Jessica happily approved. “I talked to Jake earlier
and said we’ll be here about a week if you get the visa renewed. He
has business to take care of meanwhile and for me to tell you he’s
happy you finally went out on a date. Wait till I tell him about
this.”

“
Unghhh…” Renee groaned
loudly. “Don’t embarrass me…”

“
That’s a family’s
prerogative. I need to get back to adjusting to my new ability. Oh,
and tell Oliver thank you too. It was his coms that finally covered
the premium splicing price with plenty left over. Bye.”

“
Bye.” She tapped her ear.
“Jessica says thank you for what you did. Now put that sword away
so we can get going.”

‘
Schhht’ the cutlass slid
home on the right hip. Renee checked the topaz pearl was still in
her purse and got to her feet. They left together and on the way to
the elevator Renee stole his hand and wove her fingers intimately
with his gloved hand. She felt the glove withdraw till their skin
touched.

Eventually they reached the shuttle and took
to the air by mid morning where traffic was masterfully directed
without the slightest chance for a crash. They flew for about an
hour till spotting a great silvery pyramid at the foot of King’s
Tusk Tower. It was the heart of Galicom’s servers. Oliver directed
to customary parking and left the shuttle behind. Hundreds walked
in and out, some were rather upset and the others departing were
slightly worried.

Along the way though they heard a familiar
voice in the crowd heading for the building shout “Oliver! Ms.
Dorgen!” they turned and standing well above the average man was
Deegen and Bell heading over. Seeing a Hunter was no big cause for
alarm, but people politely parted to allow passage. “How are
things?”

“
Going fairly well
actually.” Renee stated and Deegen stepped back to find her in a
dress of all things. “Yes, it’s a dress. I can get girly too and
still kick your ass, Deegen.”

“
My apologies, Ms. Dorgen. I
never expected it is all.”

“
Where are Stone, Steven,
Satellite and Visor?” She asked, missing the others who rarely
separated.

“
Not sure. They followed the
captain somewhere. What are you up to?” He continued. Oliver took
notice that something was off about Deegen. Usually he was reserved
and only spoke when needed. He never asked questions, nor would
sweat in the gentle breeze and perfect temperature. Even Bell
seemed a bit tense for some reason.

“
A bit bored and had nothing
to do really.”

“
If you want company you can
come with us for a few hours.” She offered, noticing Oliver’s faint
confusion on something. That and how his nose flared to help him
understand.

“
Thanks!”

They continued down the road of walking and
talking people. They were silent, mostly because Oliver took in all
the great technological advancements with awe. Gravity boards made
for faster travel, but most chose to enjoy walking under their own
strength. Exceedingly few were fat thanks to gene therapy which
accelerated metabolism, but to look extra good meant exercise. In a
universe of convenience, physical labor was a form of
entertainment. People ranged in height, ethnicity and sometimes
species done through splicing. Ones looks could be changed as one
would do for fashion if they had the credits. Drakes of many colors
flew or lounged in designated resting areas of Galicom’s massive
expanse.

Red and blue armored soldiers policed the
streets and inside the primary hub where stores, entertainment and
many other objectives could be met in one place. The noise was
great, but excited.

Renee led the way to the elevators and they
went up a twelve stories to the galactic resource and licensing
level. It was rather barren compared to below and both Oliver and
Renee exited. Oliver took stock of a dozen soldiers spread
throughout the large room and they approached desk where a brightly
blue haired woman sat smiling. “Hello. I’m Mary. Welcome to
Galicom!” her voice was high and hurt the ears by how excited she
presented herself. If that wasn’t enough the cut of her blouse
showed enough cleavage that one faint sneeze from across the room
would set them boulders free to crush anyone in their way in their
bid for freedom. “What can I do for you this beautiful day?!”

“
You can take your nails off
the chalkboard.” Renee said as she stuck a pinky finger down an ear
to clean out her voice. Mary the secretary seemed not to take
notice of Renee’s clear comment. She opened her clutch and pulled
out the clear golden pearl and passed it over. “Dorgenox. Number
PCT-0483107. Active crew number is four hundred sixty thee. One
child delivery made two weeks prior.”

“
Oh, I’m so sorry.” She put
the pearl back on the desk. “Please return another
time…”

Renee’s anger spiked and Oliver put a hand on
her shoulder which did seem to help, but her tongue still lashed.
“Now listen here big tits. I’m a busy woman. Get off your fake
little ass and renew our visa.”

“
I’m sorry, but…” her voice
held the same pitch that made one want to rip their
own
ears off.

“
I don’t give a fuck about
your excuses.” She stepped forward, radiating menace.
If she had balls, Renee would have kicked them
already.
Oliver mused privately. “Do
it!”

And just as Renee’s fist slammed onto the
table there exploded a concussive ‘Boom!’ that shook
everything.

“
EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!”
Mary’s high pitched voice somehow was louder than the explosion
ninety meters behind them at a pillar.

Soldiers weren’t slow, but jumped to the
wrong conclusion. Mary shrieked “THEY DID IT OFFICERS!!! THEY
THREATENED TO KILL ME.”

Metallic boots treaded in some form of rubber
pounded the ground as blasters were raised like assault rifles as
the dozen converged. Renee tried to defend herself, raising her
hands above her head. “She’s lying!”

Out of nowhere two of the soldiers attached
open collars to their gun, took aim and fired.

Collars accurately slammed
into both Oliver’s and Renee’s neck, her eyes widening in fear. It
was painful, but not so much as to dim the rage overflowing in
him.
No one hurts my woman and
lives.
Even with the collar on his blade
shone as it sang upon freedom.

But before he could mount a defense there
came a tiny pricking in his neck from the collar and he collapsed
at the simple push of a button.

Last he heard was Renee’s
calling his name in desperation. His last thought were
I failed her.

No one saw Deegen nor Bell hiding out of
sight as soldiers carried Oliver’s limp form and escorted Renee out
who had hand’s held straight up with a blaster imbedded between her
shoulder blades. A clear indication where the shot would reach if
any threats came from her. Deegen watched on impassively while
stuffing the trigger he pressed, in his hip pocket, to set off the
bomb. He said “No hard feelings, but you two are in my way. Nothing
will stop me from what I want.”

Chapter 10

“
Olly? Olly? Talk to me.
Hurry and get back to me.” The desperation in her voice cleared the
sedatives flooding his system.

Drugged vision blurred everything, but not so
much as he saw Renee’s tears spilling down her cheeks. Her eyes
were bloodshot and her lower eyelids were puffy. He also knew her
tears were not for him living, but for what awaited. He went to
move, but something encased him with thick bands holding him to the
wall. Then he noticed a silver-white collar encircling her neck.
Some blue light blinked on and off. Seeing her bound made him
forget he was too and fought against his own to no avail. He had to
keep shaking his head to clear it, but his own neck couldn’t fully
drop down since his collar remained too.

“
What happened,
Red?”

“
They’re calling us
terrorists and anarchists. They think
we
made the bomb go off and they won’t
listen to me… and now they’re taking us to New Wrangler Prison…
where we will be held and retrained only because no one was
injured. We’d be hung publically if anyone was killed.”

“
Won’t they listen to
us?”

Renee shook her head. “They think they have
all the proof they need and gloated showing me why our case is
already closed as a judge…”

“
What proof?” he asked with
another shake.

“
Galicom records every place
of business, especially their headquarters. When I slammed my fist
on that cunt’s desk, the bomb detonated. They think the supposed
trigger I used degraded and left no residue… and now we are stuck
in here awaiting for our new
lovely
accommodations.” Renee rolled her eyes. “And that
isn’t even the worst part.”

“
And what could possibly be
worse than false imprisonment?”

It made sense why she also cried for more
than her own safety. “These collars negate psionic abilities…
including letting me talk with Sparky. I can barely feel him now
and he’s pissed. With this thing on my neck he can’t find me with
his mind… and when we reach New Wrangler I doubt I’ll even have
that much feeling. Worse still, our com’s won’t work in here or
prison… No, Oliver! Don’t do that!” he stopped trying to tear
himself out without luck. “Have you no idea what these collars can
do?”

Rational thought took over and he breathed
deep and calming. “I did forget for a moment. Too much struggle
will put you to sleep. Any unauthorized tampering though will set
off explosive to decapitate us.”

“
Our hands are tied,
literally.” Her head clanged against the metal headboard of the
prison shuttles.

“
What a way to fuck up our
first full day as a couple. Framed for a bombing we didn’t
commit.”

“
Where’s Deegen and Bell?”
He asked, looking around to find themselves alone. It was
impossible to see out the walls and with dampeners you couldn’t
feel any direction.

“
I don’t know.” She
practically growled. “Last I saw was him and Bell talking as we got
off the elevator. They may have been too preoccupied to get off.
The elevators were large and crowded.”

“
Did you tell them I’m an
elder?”

“
I was gagged during the
fastest trial I know of and proven guilty to get a word in. And
we’re stuck for training for the next six weeks… I’m so not looking
forward to the hallucinogenic drugs they’ll be giving nor the
whippings to make any assaults make you mentally shut down till you
are a quivering puddle of drool.”

“
If we get back can you
create a counteragent for…?”

“
Not a chance. Doing so will
fry every brain cell in our heads, making us wish these collars
went off. We’ll be stuck that way forever till someone grants mercy
and ends our suffering. Papa is going to be pissed.”

“
I’d get you out of here if
I could.”

Renee’s head dropped in defeat. “I know you
would. It’s the only thing keeping me from having a mental
breakdown… which will make their methods more demanding and longer.
Healthy minds are easier to mold… less chaos.”

They lapsed into silence for what seemed
years, but eventually there was the faintest of shakes that told
the vessel landed. But then suddenly a sensory deprivation helmet
dropped from above and stole Oliver’s sight and hearing. It was
terrifying and only got more so as rough hands grabbed his still
bound arms and forced him along. Giving painful shocks of
encouragement to keep on moving forward. The only thing he could
detect was the faintest smell of methane and sulfur. Having learned
it on Zerika and Renee’s confirmation to associate smell with word.
He felt strong winds and worried for Renee as her scent was gone
from him.

An eternity of darkness and walking lasted
over three hundred steps and soon the wind was gone, replace by
faintly sweaty, salty scents. But among the increasing smells
dominated fear and pain.