Bad Seed

Chapter 17

After all were out, she told them they were safe for now. She showed them all that she had prepared, also that she would bring more as soon as she got them.

With that, she left, stopping in orbit to put several defense satellites. At least now she thought they had some better protection.

As they rose away from the planet, Wren started to ask her sister about all the people. Her sister said that most of the planet had people being held. The aliens were using their brain power to survive.

This made Wren pissed as she opened a portal back to where they had been. Helene's mouth hung open as she watched the portal open.

It was almost ten minutes when Wren's ship came out of the portal near the destroyed planet. Wren looked at it with tight lips, they had held her sister, she wished she could kill them again much slower.

It was then that she noticed that there were a huge number of heavily armed Zetcron ships near. Searching she also saw that there were a few Meltry ships keeping a distance from them.

An almost evil smile lit up Wren's face as she took readings, nodding she started to type at a furious rate. Helene watched with her mouth still open, her sister was moving faster than she could see.

Wren stopped a moment, reaching over, closing her sister's mouth gently, with a small grin. "You'll get used to it," Wren said.

"Does this have anything to do with those skills you were going to take on that Ceti-5 world?" Helene asked.

Wren stopped short, how in the hell had Helene known about that? "How?" Wren said.

"Oh, Papa, he told me you were going to do some training there. Then the Earth was attacked, so, I never knew if you went. Plus, Momma's ship was taken as well as her and me," Helene said.

Wren dropped her head, "I am so sorry that I didn't get there faster. That you were hurt and taken, put into that machine. I promise you, if I ever have a say about it? That will never happen again."

Helene was taken back by the fierce look of Wren's face plus her fierce voice. Helene reached out to hug her sister, tears falling from her eyes. "I know you will, Wren, I know you will.'

Wren turned back to the data board, typing even faster. "Data received," Trigon said. "Integration and implementation will take another fifteen hours and twenty minutes."

"Damnit!" Wren cursed, then apologized to Helene. "Do we have sufficient power to destroy the Meltry ships?" Wren asked.

"Insufficient data to determine right now. At present, we do not have full weapons, so a tentative answer would be no master wren," Trigon said.

"How long 'til we have full weapons?" Wren asked.

"I estimate at least another hour-twenty-four minutes. Shields are now at nine nine percent, as is stealth," Trigon said.

Wren nodded as she again concentrated on the weapons, trying to increase their power. Hell, she thought, even a few more percent gave her a better chance.

"How much more on weapons?" Wren asked.

"They have now increased destructive power by another five percent. They should be twenty percent more effective against the Meltry. Though as to destruction? Data is still uncertain," Trigon said.

"It'll have to do," Wren said as she sighed. "Target all the Meltry ships with energy weapons. I want thermic missiles targeting all the Zetcron ships. I want all ships destroyed if possible," Wren almost snarled.

"All ships targeted, weapons and shields at full. Stealth is holding at ninety-nine percent. Trans-warp at sixty and slowly rising," Trigon said. Wren nodded, then managed to get it up to Sixty-five.

"Fire on the Meltry first, then I want a blanket of thermic missiles hitting the Zetcron ships," Wren said.

Wren smiled as the extra power managed to destroy all but one of the Meltry ships. The Zetcron fared less well as they vanished within seconds of being struck.

Wren had Trigon move to the Meltry ship. "Open a channel. Meltry ship, do you wish to surrender?" Wren asked.

A moment later, a voice replied, "We are defenseless, we expect no mercy."

"Good," Wren hissed, "I do not grant mercy or honorable deaths to murdering cowards! You will die like the cowards that you are, alone, slow, miserable and with no honor. Trigon target all their power supply. Know that you face Princess Wren Ophelia Tenagram! First Princess of the Earth Empire! Fire Trigon!"

They could hear shouting and screaming, then nothing as the ship went dark. "All power to the ship has been terminated. I estimate they will be dead within the hour," Trigon said.

I turned back toward Helene as she stood there with her mouth open. "I am sorry that you find it as bad as you obviously think it is. I made a promise to the Earth, to the people that were killed, that they wouldn't do it again," I said.

"All of them?" Helene said with a sick look on her face.

"Yes, there were six races that banded together to try and destroy ther Earth and all on it. They came close to doing it, though the Earth forces destroyed half of them. I got a few myself before they dropped a shatter bomb. Yes, the same that I use, cost me a lot," I told her.

Again her mouth was hanging open then, I saw my always calm and sweet little sister grow furious. "Thank you for telling me, I have no problem with what you are doing now," she hissed out.

Wren smiled, this was more like it! The fact that she was as pissed as she was? It was a damn good thing.

"Alright Trigon, scan all the planets that are ahead. I want the location, whose on it and how ready we are. We are going to need at least eight shatter bombs," I told Trigon.

"I have already started master Wren, we already have four of the shatter bombs, the next two are starting now. We have at least two hundred thermic missiles, all weapons have been repaired and are ready," Trigon reported.

"Continue production of thermic missiles, also begin production of energy torpedoes I loaded for you. I want as many as you can make before we get there," Wren said.

Wren then turned toward her sister. "Helene, I lost you once. I don't want to put you in danger. I mean really? Mom and Dad would absolutely kill me if I saved you, then you got hurt while with me."

"What are you planning?" Helene said, a suspicious look on her face.

"I was thinking of you staying with the masters on Ceti-5," Wren said, waiting for the explosion that she was sure was about to happen.

Helene sighed as she stood stock still a moment, "I know that you worry about me. Won't it take a long time to get there?"

Wren just shook her head no as she asked, "so you aren't mad about it?"

Helene shook her head, then said, "No, though please remember Wren, that you are also my sister, so I worry about you also, OK?"

Wren just sighed she wasn't used to another person worrying about her. It had been a long time, just to have family again was strange enough.

"Alright, stand back," Wren said as a portal opened in front of both of them. Again Helene's mouth dropped open as she saw the control room of the Ceti-5 planet.

Wren then took Helene's hand as they both stepped through and were suddenly there. "What, how, when did you," was all that Helene could get out.

Flugret stood there with a look of shock on his face, "little Wren, who is this? I take it they are very special if you brought them here?"

"I would like to introduce you to my sister Helene. Helene? This is Master Flugret, my first instructor in the art," Wren said.

Flugret bowed to Helene, who giggled a bit. "So, I take it you need a favor from us little Wren?" Flugret asked.

"I need to keep her safe. I don't feel that I can really do that if she is out there with me," Wren said.

Flugret stood there nodding his head. Though really, this wasn't his decision, he was ready to agree.

"I have to call the others, I alone can not make this decision alone," Flugret said as he concentrated.

A moment later, the room became a little crowed as twenty-one males and fourteen females entered.

Helene's mouth was again open as she stared at the females. She then reached out to touch a few of them, "are... are you Ceti-5 females?" Helene asked.

"Yes, we are miss Helene. Yes, we know who you are." Rena said, then turned toward Wren with her mate. "We would be honored to watch over your sister."

Wren bowed slightly to all there, then stood, "I need to get a few more," then moved toward the chrysalis room.

"Please remember Wren, you still aren't all that strong. You have depleted yourself before, last time was as bad as it gets," Rena said.

"I know I don't really want to be out that long again, Rena," Wren said.

Rena sighed, she could feel just how powerful Wren was, though she knew that Wren did what she wanted.

Wren moved to the chrysalis, laying a hand on it. Her sister had followed her, her eyes getting huge when she saw the huge chrysalis.

"Wren?!" She said, her voice several octaves higher than usual.

"I am trying to save lives, be right with you," Wren said.

Again, Helene's eyes got huge as first her sister started to glow. Then, not three but four spots on the chrysalis started to break off.

"WREN! No, you can't be sure that you have enough power!" Rena was yelling as the four spots came lose and started to elongate.

"What are you talking about," Helene asked as she looked at her sister as she was glowing brighter.

"She's done this before, we can't get near her if she decides to keep going," Rena said.

"You are masters you can do almost anything," Helene was almost yelling.

"No, my dear," Rena said, placing a hand on Helene's shoulder.

It was at that moment that one of the elongated orbs screamed, causing Wren to curse.

"Wren!" Helen yelled as she ran at Wren full force. The masters and their mates tried to stop her, then watched amazed as Helene barely bounced off Wren. Wren looked shocked as she felt a surge, then all four quickly solidified.

Helene was on the floor behind Wren smiling strangely. Wren looked from her to the four that formed one male and three more females.

Wren dropped her arm, running to her sister. "You little idiot, what were you doing?!" Wren said.

Helene's almost goofy smile had Wren smiling, "I am tired of being treated like a weak little girl. I am not, and I think that proves it," Helene said.

"It proves how crazy you really are," Wren said with a little smile.

"What!?" Helene said with a smirk, "no crazier than you."

Wren sighed then almost laughed, damn if she wasn't right!

Wren then sighed, "I still want you here where you will be safe. I am going against the new Empress and her son. At least 'til I can dethrone her. Especially now that there are two of us."

"I'd rather go with you though, something tells me that it might be better after all, if I was here. Wren," Helene stopped her, "please be careful, a lot of people would do almost anything for the throne."

Wren looked at her sister with large eyes, "when did you get so smart?" Helene said.

"Well," Helene started, "look who my sister is."

Wren rolled her eyes then her sister punched her arm.

Wren turned to the first master and Rena. "That is now twenty-three masters, and seventeen of the mates. I hope that this is starting to help things."

Rena spoke up, "It does appear to be Wren. Earlier, we detected that the planet now again has an atmosphere. It is very thin but it is there. Hopefully, things can start to get back to normal around here."

"I hope so also," Wren said as a portal opened in front of her. "I will be back Helene."

"I know, just don't be gone all that long, OK?" Helene said.

"Knowing that you are here waiting for me? I'll be back as soon as I can," Wren said.

With that Wren stepped through, anything yet Trigon?" She asked.

"Yes, at present I have detected at least another five Zetcron planets. They all appear to be colony worlds, and I have detected human brain waves. Though, I and not detecting nearly as many as I did with the outer colony world," Trigon reported.

"Good, I want full stealth. How are the weapons? At present, I am working on seven and eight of the shatter bombs. I see that you wish me to continue production after those two. I also have four thousand thermic missiles. I now have a hundred of the new energy torpedoes," Trigon said.

"Good, I want as many as you have room to produce. I want the growth mods to start on another fifty feet of the ship. Keep on with the program I gave you. I want all weapons as high as possible," Wren said.

"All orders are initiated. Course now plotted for the next, nearest, Zetcron colony. Two minutes by trans-warp," Trigon said.

"Engage and go to stealth as soon as we clear the portal," Wren said, as a portal opened, and they vanished.

Two minutes later, they emerged with several alarms going off. "It appears that they were warned of us. I am reading a substantial buildup of Zetcron fast attack ships," Trigon said.

"I see that they are as eager to die as the last were," Wren said with an evil smile on her face. "Launch just enough thermic missiles to clear about half of them," Wren said.

Wren's smile grew even larger when about half the fleet in front of her ship vanished in seconds. A moment later, several Meltry ships started to fire on where her ship had been.

"Ah! I thought that there would be a few of you here. Trigon fire the new energy torpedoes, I want at least two per Meltry ship," Wren said, then smiled as the first torpedoes destroyed the ship. She was even more satisfied when the other nine Meltry ships disappeared as quickly.

"New weapons are a hundred percent effective, all ten Meltry ships destroyed," Trigon reported.

"Prepare shatter bombs, open a channel. To the Zetcron colony, I hope you are prepared for the mercy that your cowardly race showed the Earth," Wren said.

"Shatter bombs ready, master Wren," Trigon said.

"Have you located all the humans?" Wren asked.

"I have Master Wren, now commencing matter transfer. I have all twenty-five on board," Trigon said.

"Release two on this side of the planet," Wren said, then watched in satisfaction as over half the atmosphere was ripped away. "Take out the rest of the fleet, then drop the other two shatter bombs on the other side of the planet."

Wren was completely unfeeling as first the rest of the Zetcron fleet vanished. The colony planet started to crack, then exploded in several places 'til it was gone.

Wren turned from the destruction, "how long 'til the mod has finished with the new fifty feet of the ship? Wren asked.

"I am afraid that it will be another ten hours before it is ready," Trigon said.

"How are we on the shatter bombs?" Wren asked.

"I have the second set ready; I am almost finished with the first two of the third set. Energy weapons are at seventy-five. I have the thermic missiles at three hundred, continuing production on all three," Trigon said.

"Good, proceed on to the next colony, sooner or later the Meltry might mount a defense against us. So far it has only been a token effort. I want full scans as we go in, I want no surprises," Wren said.

"Yes, master Wren, shall I make use of the new scanner that you loaded last time?" Trigon asked.

Wren thought about it a moment, she had taken those plans from the Meltry why not? "Yes, any advantage we can have will help."

"I have started to integrate them now, I have three mods creating the new scan blisters, Master Wren," Trigon said.

"Take us to the next colony at warp. Give the mods a chance to create the new scanners," Wren said.

"It will be as you say," Trigon says.

Wren then goes back to check on the twenty-five that they have rescued. A small smile crosses her face as she looks at people that she thought were long dead.

Reaching out, she could feel the extra of the ship that was growing. It will be good to have the extra room in case there are more people.

Finally satisfied, she lays down to take a short rest. Almost four hours later, she awakes, heading to the bridge.

"How are we standing," Wren asked as soon as she was on the bridge.

"We are at least two days from the next colony at warp. The new scan blisters are up and starting to operate now. Energy torpedoes are at a hundred-ten thermic missiles at three hundred-fifty. I have a complete set and a half of shatter bombs, two more in production to complete the second set. Also, the mods will complete the new section two hours sooner," Trigon reported.

Wren nodded her head," good, as soon as the new section is ready go to trans-warp. I want full stealth as we are coming out of the portal," Wren ordered.

"It will be as you order master Wren," Trigon said.

Esmerelda was pacing the deck; she'd had a disturbing report from not only her son but the Zetcrons. What the hell was going on? Where had that little bitch gotten that much power/ she had obviously been holding out on her? Damnit!

Her son had confirmed that the furthest out Zetcron colony was indeed rubble. She just hoped that the humans that had been there had also died with the planet. It wouldn't do to have even a hundred of them alive to depose her,

Strange, she thought, after she had talked to her son. It almost appeared that her bitch of a daughter-in-law wasn't the only one holding out on her.

She wasn't sure, though there had been something about her son that seemed he was secretive. More secretive than he usually was. She had to get to the bottom of this.

She walked by the chief engineer's lab, ah now that man could work. "What have you on the shields around Ceti-5?" She asked.

"So far, we have determined that they have something that rotates their shields. We have counted so far? Over four hundred thousand combinations, that number increases every hour. I can see why they have never been defeated. Plus, I found out that the princess has added living energy," the man said.

He realized his mistake a moment too late as the Empress knocked him across the room against the wall.

"She is no longer the Princess, she is a criminal, a rebel, who wishes to take down the great Earth empire. You need to remember who you are speaking to before you open your mouth," Esmerelda hissed down at the man.

The man slowly picked his way off the floor then bowed to Esmerelda, "I am sorry Empress." The man said. "I did not know that she was an outlaw now, we will work harder to stop her."

Esmerelda smiled, ah! A true lacky much better.

On Ceti-5, Helene was shown to her room, then almost ignored a fact that she wasn't used to. She decided to explore as she left her room. It was taking a lot for her to get used to the fact that there were females here. Then there was the fact that her sister could do what she did.

She was walking by where the chrysalis room was when she stopped suddenly. What in the hell was that? Looking around she thought she heard something again, tentatively, she stepped into the room.

"Hello?" She said as she slowly walked deeper into the room. She shook her head as she thought she heard something again.

She went around a corner, then stopped when she saw the what, was it the first master's mate? Staring intensely at the chrysalis.

Yes I know, Helene heard in her head. What was that? I think someone else is here, another voice said.

Rena turned to stare incredulously at Helene, "did you hear that?" Helene could only nod her head.