would not offer this
because you aren’t of us. Your ass would go to Verard for trial and
execution right away. Should you take the latter and the council
finds you guilty, you will be taken into the forest and left
without use of any weapons, including your Psionics, and left to
die. If innocent, we will expunge the bounty placed on your head as
an independent party. I will not have bounty hunters traipse on my
world.”
“ I swear I have nothing to
hide. If you send me back to Verard I’m good as hung in the
punishment square. I didn’t kill my friends and collogues. I’ll stand before
the Elder’s Council and present my case.”
“ Very well. From now on”
Scythe tapped the keys on his inner left forearm and the shackles
made a chime noise, the central link separating so the wrists
weren’t held together. “you are remanded under my custody. Be
warned, you will be unable to Gather or use any abilities till
judged. The bindings will remain and you must stay within fifty
meters of me at all times or the cuffs will immobilize you.
Painfully. Any attempt to tamper will immediately inject a lethal
poison that will kill you in five seconds. Understood?”
“ Crystal clear. I just want
the bastards who hijacked me to pay.”
“ Understandable, but I’m
bound to do this by law. Until your criminal status is cleared, I
must enforce the imperial law within my jurisdiction.” Scythe
tilted his head and let the subject drop. “Been a long time, Netul.
Glad to see you haven’t changed since before being imprisoned. Had
I known, I would have freed you personally.”
“ Ah, Bruce Mcnapp, I almost
didn’t remember your name. You are wiser since last we
met.”
“ Two hundred years will do
that. But I go by Scythe now since I became Elder. Why do you
come?”
“ Private matters, I’m
afraid.”
“ Isn’t it always.” Scythe
chuckled before both clasped wrists. “It is still good to see you
alive and well.” Scythe knew from experience asking for details
wouldn’t work so he didn’t even try.
“ So what do you all have up
your sleeves?” he asked the group.
The day was spent under the trees, Davan
never leaving Scythe’s side, not even during lunch or take a leak.
Stories were told, plans were made and people were pissed when
Oliver kicked everyone out of the city by nightfall. Most were too
terrified of the Ligers to offer argument, especially since ornery
females guarded the four only entrances in their razor sharp spiked
armor. Breena and Stone decided to sleep in the River Skipper,
Renee’s large interstellar shuttle. They added security in event
anyone dared to learn of the Gravity Forge or got too curious about
anything else.
Later that night Renee had just finished
feeding Isabella and put her in her crib to sleep with Sparky and
Rose in a pyramid next door. They randomly selected a place to
sleep in the city in event someone miraculously got past the feline
guards.
Inside the dwelling Oliver found a bathroom
not unlike modern facilities. A toilet, sink, mirror and shower
that all worked still after so long. It took a few minutes for
water pressure to blast out twenty five thousand years of debris in
the plumbing. Turn dirty water clear and clean.
After the shower he walked out with a towel
around his waist to look around the second floor master bedroom and
looked at the shelf made of stone that had been grown from the wall
and made for the perfect place to hold the black cutlass, indigo
shield and beige dagger usually kept in the left calf muscle.
The spare inflatable mattress from the River
Skipper laid on a stone square made equivalent for a king-size bed.
About the time he sat on the bed sheets Renee came in saying
“Izzy’s fat and happy for the night.”
“ Thanks for
agreeing.”
“ Our sex life is too
intermittent to my liking, but I get it.” Her clothes were rapidly
sucked into the bracelet. “You need your sniffer now more than ever
since Beasts rule this planet.”
because you aren’t of us. Your ass would go to Verard for trial and
execution right away. Should you take the latter and the council
finds you guilty, you will be taken into the forest and left
without use of any weapons, including your Psionics, and left to
die. If innocent, we will expunge the bounty placed on your head as
an independent party. I will not have bounty hunters traipse on my
world.”
“ I swear I have nothing to
hide. If you send me back to Verard I’m good as hung in the
punishment square. I didn’t kill my friends and collogues. I’ll stand before
the Elder’s Council and present my case.”
“ Very well. From now on”
Scythe tapped the keys on his inner left forearm and the shackles
made a chime noise, the central link separating so the wrists
weren’t held together. “you are remanded under my custody. Be
warned, you will be unable to Gather or use any abilities till
judged. The bindings will remain and you must stay within fifty
meters of me at all times or the cuffs will immobilize you.
Painfully. Any attempt to tamper will immediately inject a lethal
poison that will kill you in five seconds. Understood?”
“ Crystal clear. I just want
the bastards who hijacked me to pay.”
“ Understandable, but I’m
bound to do this by law. Until your criminal status is cleared, I
must enforce the imperial law within my jurisdiction.” Scythe
tilted his head and let the subject drop. “Been a long time, Netul.
Glad to see you haven’t changed since before being imprisoned. Had
I known, I would have freed you personally.”
“ Ah, Bruce Mcnapp, I almost
didn’t remember your name. You are wiser since last we
met.”
“ Two hundred years will do
that. But I go by Scythe now since I became Elder. Why do you
come?”
“ Private matters, I’m
afraid.”
“ Isn’t it always.” Scythe
chuckled before both clasped wrists. “It is still good to see you
alive and well.” Scythe knew from experience asking for details
wouldn’t work so he didn’t even try.
“ So what do you all have up
your sleeves?” he asked the group.
The day was spent under the trees, Davan
never leaving Scythe’s side, not even during lunch or take a leak.
Stories were told, plans were made and people were pissed when
Oliver kicked everyone out of the city by nightfall. Most were too
terrified of the Ligers to offer argument, especially since ornery
females guarded the four only entrances in their razor sharp spiked
armor. Breena and Stone decided to sleep in the River Skipper,
Renee’s large interstellar shuttle. They added security in event
anyone dared to learn of the Gravity Forge or got too curious about
anything else.
Later that night Renee had just finished
feeding Isabella and put her in her crib to sleep with Sparky and
Rose in a pyramid next door. They randomly selected a place to
sleep in the city in event someone miraculously got past the feline
guards.
Inside the dwelling Oliver found a bathroom
not unlike modern facilities. A toilet, sink, mirror and shower
that all worked still after so long. It took a few minutes for
water pressure to blast out twenty five thousand years of debris in
the plumbing. Turn dirty water clear and clean.
After the shower he walked out with a towel
around his waist to look around the second floor master bedroom and
looked at the shelf made of stone that had been grown from the wall
and made for the perfect place to hold the black cutlass, indigo
shield and beige dagger usually kept in the left calf muscle.
The spare inflatable mattress from the River
Skipper laid on a stone square made equivalent for a king-size bed.
About the time he sat on the bed sheets Renee came in saying
“Izzy’s fat and happy for the night.”
“ Thanks for
agreeing.”
“ Our sex life is too
intermittent to my liking, but I get it.” Her clothes were rapidly
sucked into the bracelet. “You need your sniffer now more than ever
since Beasts rule this planet.”
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