I began writing this story at the beginning of October as an editor here I have asked that a new category be created for horror stories so we can write stories a long the line of my favorite porn "Monster Anime" videos on many porn sites, but that has not happened. This story was meant to be an intergalactic horror story where the main character goes to a planet run amok with the kind of activities you would expect from such anime and fights the monsters saving the planet and it's people but that changed as I went. I am going to post it here hoping people find it and enjoy the read, There is no sex, this ended up being a kind of story I would call an anti-hero tale.
Lucia is the demonic ******** of Lucifer, the warrior princess of Hell. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 130 lbs. She is the most feared Warrior in hell and beyond. She has trained for decades, learning every fighting style with every weapon, schooled in war tactics on every level, and trained in the mystical arts, she is an immortal warrior.
In a galaxy far away, in a world that had faced a war between a humanoid, a bipedal race whose name has been lost to time, and monsters some two hundred years ago, A planet where monsters had won, these monsters built their civilization and gained interstellar capabilities conquering other worlds and upsetting the balance in this part of the galaxy. A lone woman walks among the monsters marveling at the advancements monsters have made and yet they still have no word for peace only war and conquest, they had become an organized consortium that could not stand.
The lone woman in red and black armor had arrived a few cycles ago. Her first encounter would be at a military outpost where spaceships and weapons were created, this would be step one.
Arriving at the facility, Lucia dawned her helmet and walked through the wall of what could amount to steel and concrete. The guards thought her a ghost, a humanoid long extinct on this planet, walking through walls. What else were they to think?
Lucia did not wait for them to recover from their collective confusion and attacked smiling with the excitement of once again being able to use her skills in a real battle something she had not done in some time. As she easily slew the compound's security forces, destroying armored vehicles she moved through the complex with a smile survivors later would describe as demonic, 'What fun,' she thought as she ended the life of every monster of every kind that she found, Xenomorphs, Werewolves, Space Vampires, Trolls, and Orcs all had fallen at her feet never to rise again, her armor covered in blood and guts the smell was beyond imagination.
She continued into the heart of the industrial buildings, where space weapons and ships of conquest were being made. Arriving at the main complex, an assembly of Mystical beings waited. When brute force and firepower did not work against an enemy, this was the last resort: black magic.
Lucia calmly stood without speaking as the mystical beings called up powerful black magic and dark forces directing them at her. Feeling a searing heat pass over her that cleansed her body of the remains of the things she had slaughtered, "Thank you, it did smell horrible," she smiled, Speaking demonic words that no one would understand into her helmet the armor began to glow as fire flew from her fingers whipping around the installation cutting through and causing explosions all around her as she moved that shook the ground sending fireballs hundreds of kilometers in the air and explosions that were felt a hundred kilometers away.
In response military forces and fire control forces raced to the compound to find the fires of hell burning out of control. Firefighters could not get close enough to fight the flames and were forced to allow the fires to burn out as the military security forces moved to find the cause. What had killed all the guards, destroyed the site's defenses, and caused the fires. They did not have to wait long for an answer when to their horror a human-looking woman walked out of the flames toward them.
Facing the armor vehicles, guns, and monsters her smile faded at the realization, disappointed that no attack would come, that like the compound security, they were in awe or denial of what they were seeing. Her excitement at the night's activities unrelenting she attacked the hand-to-hand combat excited her their armored vehicles came at her firing bullets and energy weapons her armor absorbing the power as the ground around her shook, Lucia whispered words unknown and a force came from nowhere, and everywhere crushing the armored vehicles all at once, explosions filling the area burning the ground troops torn apart by the blasts.
Lucia moved toward the central compound once again the fun was over and it was time to end this. She raised her hands and spoke more unknown demonic words the energy that had accumulated in her armor this night went out from her body creating a sonic boom that leveled everything blowing any structure apart the area now looked like a scrapyard with fires raging and explosions as she walked out of the compound, "Good now they are bound to the planet," she said to no one.
By morning word of her presence had spread across the planet. Those in charge did not believe the stories of a small beautiful humanoid woman, but whatever had destroyed their space program might be connected, and the search for the humanoid female if it was a humanoid female had begun.
Little did they know they would not have to look far or at all Lucia arrived in the planet's capital with the rising sun, she was looking forward to the day, to combat her joy and excitement at the fun to come tingling. She was not here to exterminate these monsters that had terrorized this sector of the universe she was here to make sure they were not and would not be a threat ever again. In her mind who or whatever survived her visit to this planet, what happened to them when the worlds they had terrorized arrived was justice and no concern to her.
Dawning her helmet she spoke words that came from the sky in a booming voice as if coming from a God, "Anyone that wants to leave, leave," was all she said one chance to flee to survive until retribution arrived. Advancing the lone woman walked among the monsters marveling at the advancements monsters had made and yet they still had no word for peace only war and conquest, they had become an organized consortium that could not stand. The city guard approached energy weapons in hand from all sides Lucia stood motionless and calmly spoke words inside the helmet bringing clouds to the clear sky turning a sunny day into darkness with heavy rain and high winds that made it near impossible for the soldiers to remain upright. Lightning struck her armor energizing it while other lightning strikes hit targets plunging the entire city into darkness and sending the guard running for cover or losing their grasp against the winds being swept away. She was pleased she hated the large energy weapons on the capital building they were no fun not like hand-to-hand combat. She allowed the storm to continue it would wash the capital city clean of what was to come and advance the thrill of combat gripping her.
Entering the grounds of the capital building Lucia was struck by multiple energy weapons but continued to approach the build that stood some ten stories high unfettered breaking bones, decapitating enemies, ripping off limbs leaving a trail of blood and guts behind her. Then caught off guard she was hit by a massive energy weapon from the top of the tower knocking her through several buildings her flight ended some kilometers away when she struck a mountain and was held there for several seconds until the energy dissipated leaving an imprint in the rock of her form. Lucia fell to the ground and lay there the smile from the joy of combat, the dismembering of her attackers now gone her eyes changing from red to black that filled her sclera. Her armor glowing in red and orange, Lucia was angry and hell had now come to this world. Rising she looked around finding no imminent danger she spoke demonic words took two steps and lifted off her magical flight ending with her floating over the tower of the capital then diving down ripping out each of the three space cannon energy weapons and throwing them into orbit before rising above the building her armor glowing brighter releasing a massive energy pulse that tore the ten-story building to the ground leaving a hole below it several stories deep. Enraged she landed on the ground as more troops came at her from all sides weapons firing enveloping her in the bright light. Lucia unmoved raised her arms and like at the military compound a massive energy wave moved out from her armor creating a sonic boom that disintegrated every living thing, and building within two kilometers. Looking around, "DAMN IT THERE IS NO ONE LEFT TO KILL," she lifted off ascending through the atmosphere toward the star in this system.
Arriving close enough for her armor to energize from the power of the sun her armor sucked energy to full strength glowing red, orange, and black she returned to the planet hovering over one of the poles she released an energy wave that stripped the planet bare of all life by burning off the atmosphere.
Hanging over the now-dead planet Lucia fought the urge to move on to the next and then the next planet killing all life in this area of the universe, after all, she was not a hero, she was evil, she was Lucifer's ********.
"Lucia!"
"Yes, Father."
"I have told you and now you see you cannot change who you are."
"FUCK YOU, FATHER!"
A light year away she arrived at her ship a sleek pink and white long-range battle fighter she had taken from a world long ago and modified to her liking. Entering the vessel she stripped off her armor and climbed into a shower. Thirty minutes later a beautiful woman in a black spacesuit entered the pilot's chair and began going through messages as she pushed a button on the console a bowl of food materializing on a pad, taking the bowl she began to eat as she read, 'That looks... I have been there,' finishing her food, she spoke to the ship, "Eve, set course for message one thousand and forty-six. Going to her quarters she climbed into a hibernation pod that looked like a coffin, a gift from her father, just as the ship jumped into hyperspace.
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On another plane of existence, at another time sat two men enjoying a cigar and whiskey in a room much like a gentleman's club from the Sherlock Holmes area of London.
"Luci you always pick such interesting settings for our get-togethers."
"The Whiskey and Cigars were better during this time and London was the center of a lot of activity. I felt like having a whiskey and smoke and figured this time and place was appropriate."
OK, Luci, I want to talk about your ********. I saw what you did when she lost it we both could sense what she was thinking and then at the right time, you chimed in with your remarks and redirected her anger toward yourself, why?
"She is my ********, Michael."
"Are you saying what I think you are?"
"Yes, Michael, I love my ******** and this is her chosen path."
"She chose this path long ago and I remember you were against it?"
Yes, but she persisted and that showed me her determination and that is what I wanted to know."
"And that is why you contacted me, I never understood until now. When you saw her determination to follow this path you relented and contacted me to take over as her trainer."
"I wanted her to have the best of the best and you did a fine job. Once she had learned all she could from my realm you took her under your wing, so to speak, and arranged training, you became her mentor. You went to the court of the gods and arranged for the best warriors to train her in combat, tactics, mystical powers, and more... how ever did you manage to do that for the ******** of Lucifer?"
I told them of her wishes and they found the contrast interesting. Your ******** is considered by many to be a warrior beyond warriors, a force beyond anything that has ever been. Her tactical mind, her prowess with weapons, and her command of supernatural powers all combined make her," Michael left it unsaid.
Yes, Michael and I owe you for all that you have done, if she is what you say you are the author, creator, and as responsible as me."
"Maybe more so... is this the real reason you asked me here, Luci?"
"You started this conversation."
Yes... Yes, I did sorry, Luci."
Michael, please let's not fight on this point I am her father and you are her mentor, her Master can we work together on what is best for her now?"
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree on this we are together."
Silence now hung over the table as each enjoyed their drink and cigar with their thoughts. A waiter approached bringing another round of drinks and taking away the empty goblets.
"I wonder what the Christians of earth would say if they heard you say you loved something, with the way they have portrayed you they would not believe it."
My disagreement with our father... Michael we have been over this and I think time has shown my plan for that planet would have been better. The idea that my way would take away their freedom to believe or not does make sense. The decision cost so many lives and caused so much turmoil how can you stand by a bad decision when history has proven it was the wrong way to go and still our father will not accept this?"
"You know he understands your point of view and even agrees but he cannot admit it."
"Is that because of ego and is his ego why I am still an outcast from his realm, why I'm still being punished for being correct now that those human apes have shown him the truth by their actions?"
Luci, things are as they are. Can we get back to our ********, I mean Lucia, I have news.
"Go on?"
" When Lucia went to that planet I informed the court of the gods and the seers saw that the probability of this outcome was 76% and yet all the gods admired her attempt to leave some alive by destroying their interstellar flight ability and taking down those in power."
"And?"
"The court of the gods feels that the outcome will or can have a negative on her and she should know what the seers predicted. The court feels she will see this as a failure, not a win she will not see the consequence is that she freed dozens of worlds that were under the Terrine of the combined creatures from that planet and she stopped them from creating a galactic empire with resources that would allow them to be a threat to the galaxy in the future. Luci, she needs to know this, she needs to see the countless lives she saved across the universe."
"Michael something has been bothering me about all this. She removed the power to those cannons how did it fire?"
Silence once again filled the air at the table as Michael sat back in his high-back chair, took a pull on his cigar, and drained his goblet, the waiter brought another round.
Lucifer's eyes widened an evil smile on his face, "Michael."
"Luci, this line of talk will achieve nothing can we move on?"
"If she knew you and the court are... manipulating her actions, that would be bad."
"Luci, when you contacted her in her anger and redirected it was not the same thing?"
More silence, "I get your point, I will not say anything. I will wait for her to figure it out and watch the show."
"Luci, she is a weapon with skills and powers given to her by the court of gods, can you imagine the damage she could do without oversight, she could destroy galaxies!"
Silence again, "Point taken."
"So back to the point?"
Lucifer thought for a minute the evil smile returning to his face, "You brought this up knowing I cannot be the one to go to her and tell her all of this. You know as well as I do she would Rebuck me despite the message. The court knows full well it has to be her mentor and you are here for what permission, as if you need it?"
"No Luci, we want to be on the same page."
After another round of drinks had been delivered and the empty goblets removed, "Gentlemen your dinner will be ready in 10 minutes please, move to the dining room," the waiter walked away.
"Michael, I am sorry for what I said a minute ago, I was being me. Coming to me and giving me this information was the correct way to handle this, thank you."
"We agree then?"
"Yes, our ******** (Lucifer snickered) needs to know these things for her peace of mind."
"Dinner," Michael said rising from his chair.
"Yes, Dinner."
"What are we having by the way."
"Steak with all the trimmings."
"From this period?"
The two men walked through the doorway coming out in The Big Texan Steak Ranch circa 2140. In front of them, their table set with six plates each holding a 72-ounce steak, the rest of the table filled with all the trimmings, Lucifer smiles, "Dinner is served."
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On Lucia's ship she is awakened by the A.I. Eve. Setting up she senses that the ship is still in hyperspace, "Eve, why have you woken me when we are still in Hyperspace?"
"You have a visitor."
"How did someone board the ship in hyperspace?"
"I came for a visit and need to talk with you," came Michael's voice over the intercom.
"Micheal!"
"Yes, it's me."
"Meet me in the mess hall in 30," Lucia said excitedly jumping up and beginning a yoga session to loosen up her body before heading to the shower.
Arriving in the mess hall of stainless steel decorated like a country kitchen on Earth Lucia, found Micheal waiting with two coffee cups on the table, "Thanks, Micheal."
How are you doing, Lucia?"
"I... I am good but troubled over the outcome on the planet I visited."
"That is why I am here but first I want to catch up with my student and ********."
"Does my father know that you call me, ********?"
"Yes, and he understands my feelings toward you. The closeness that forms between teacher and student. In the decades I worked with you, and overseen your training, I grew to love you as a ********. Lucia, your father is not the person you think he is."
"Really?"
"On the planet in question after it was over your rage was boiling over and your thoughts of moving on to other planets in the area with monsters and doing the same. Your father came to you and redirected your anger toward him so you would not do something you would regret."
Lucia sat in silence, drinking her drink "So how is everyone," changing the subject. For the next hour, the two spoke of ****** and friends as they ate, drank, and talked there were moments of silence and laughter "Micheal, it is good to have you here. I have a room for you to use if you are going to stay for a while?"
"I would like that but before I become a part of your crew I have some things I need to discuss with you."
"OK, ruin a good time with business, go ahead."
"The last planet we sent you to..."
"Who sent me there, who is we?"
"Lucia, the court is aware of your movements, they influence you to visit places where you are needed."
"Are you saying they are controlling me?"
"No Lucia, your extensive training was overseen by me with the full knowledge of the court. They found your desires to do what you are doing interesting, the paradox of who your father is and what you wanted to do back then made them take notice and that is how or why it was so easy to get the best of the best from the court to train you... Lucia, this may upset you but you are a weapon of the court of the Gods," silence filled the room as that settled, "You are out here doing what you are trained for, what you desired but you are dangerous and the court needs to keep tabs on you and now and then they let's say influence where you go for their needs."
"So they sent me to a planet to destroy it?"
"Yes and no, allow me to explain," silence once again filled the room, "The seers of the court gave you only a 2% chance of doing what you had planned, to isolate the monsters on that planet without interstellar travel capabilities in hopes that they would change by the time they had regained space travel. The seers predicted 98% that you would fail and 76% that it would end as it did," silence, "Here is what you do not know. The court's seers predicted that without intervention within a hundred years, the monsters would build an empire of terror taking over hundreds of worlds causing the death of billions and enslavement of even more," Silence filled the room, "The court influenced you to go there now and deal with the issue. So while you think you failed what you did was prevent an interstellar incident that would have taken 10s of billions of lives through conquest, slavery, and the war it would have taken to end their rain of terror, this is why the court influenced you to visit that planet."
"So..."
"So you are a hero, beyond a hero. You did what you came out here to do, you did something none of the species of the galaxy will ever know about because the monsters on that planet were stopped before they grew into the galactic terror they were destined to and the worlds they had conquered have all been set free the representatives of that planet on those worlds where overthrown and killed or forced off the world and are now orphans in space a threat to no one," silence, "See sometimes the court or we needs to do what at first seems evil to stop a larger evil that is to come. You saved 10s of billions of lives that would have been lost in the galaxy over the next 250 Earth years and no one will ever know but the court."
"So, you are here to tell me this why?"
"Because the court and your father felt you needed to be told the bigger picture. We were all worried about how it would affect you if you did not understand the bigger picture."
"The god's work..."
"Yes, is the room still available?"
Yes, let's get you settled and I am going to train. You are welcome to join me and we can talk more about this later, after a workout," Lucia jumped up and hugged Micheal before showing him to his room and returning to her room to change for their workout.
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The workout room was holographic, the pair entered a meadow of trees, flowers, and animals and began a 30-minute Yoga session. Then moving onto a one-hour meditation the hologram changed location to a meditation chamber with incense, candles, soft music, and more animals. At the end of the meditation, Micheal opened his eyes to two white rabbits on his lap he was petting slowly without realizing what he had been doing or for how long. Lucia had two dogs lying on either side with their heads resting on her knees one looked like an Irish setter, the other a lab her face was wet from kisses and she immediately began playing with them wrestling around and laughing as they jumped on her repeatedly, Lucia giving out belly rubs while Micheal remained motionless smiling at the scene in front of him still petting the rabbits and his hair being nibbled on by a doe.
Moving on to a review of mystical powers beginning with simple spells and progressing to more powerful both passing the tests without issue. Then there was a long battle session Lucia and Micheal being given their battle armor by the holographic room. Their first test was hand-to-hand combat against a variety of opponents, in a variety of locations across the galaxy each level ending when they had achieved a goal using combat tactics to destroy enemies or to end a never-ending stream of combatants by destroying an object in the distance. Then to space combat tactics each in their ships working together to defeat a variety of opponents and numbers controlled by the ship's holographic computers. When the training was complete some six Earth hours had passed and the holographic room changed again to a massage room with creatures waiting for them each having six tentacles then on to a steam room, "You are troubled, Lucia?"
"I am concerned about the involvement of the court and my father in what I am doing, how much of what I do is my own and how much is their influence I am wondering how deep the puppet strings go, and now that I know how will that affect my decisions going forward?"
"Lucia, if the court or your father had the kind of influence over you that is worrying you now why would they have allowed you to attempt to isolate the monsters to their home world by destroying all but the basic ability to keep their society running, why didn't they have you go directly to the predicted outcome?"
"Eve, ETA please?"
"Fifteen hours to exit hyperspace."
"I am curious why are we going so far from your last location, your destination is in a part of this galaxy that you have not been in a long time?"
How about we talk about that after a shower and meet back in the mess?"
"sounds good."
Both headed for a shower in silence each consumed by their thoughts.
An hour later in the mess hall, Lucia entered to find Michael once again seated at the table with two cups, "Thank you again, Michael."
"So, about where we are going?"
"There was a world I visited when I began my journey the planet was occupied by a bi-pedal race called the "De". They had been invaded by an elder race of space-fairing warmongers who brought space vampires to use as ground troops to wipe out the De and take the planet, why I do not know. When I arrived things there were not good for the De the planet had three continents. By the time I had swept through the first removing the Space vamps the elders knew I was there or something was there and came out to meet me, it did not go well for them and what was left agreed to leave and not return."
"That is an oversimplification of what happened but go on."
"Eve contacted the nearest outpost for a galactic council who came and escorted what was left of the elders and their soldiers out of the sector. They brought aid and supplies for the De to start to rebuild but because they were not space-capable they made the planet a protectorate of the council leaving them to advance at their pace."
"Again oversimplification," said Micheal, "How about dinner," ten minutes later the two were back at the table with fresh drinks and food, "Please continue, Lucia."
"Eve is equipped with advanced communication systems for monitoring what goes on and even though this planet is far away trading posts are never too far and stories travel from trading post to trading post."
"So Eve monitors the trade routes and communications looking for messages and over the years you intercepted messages or more accurately stories coming from that sector of the galaxy, some referencing the De, is that accurate?"
"yes."
"That is genius, the stories would go from station to station until finally arriving here in a matter of months, so why are we going there."
"Over time some of the messages were more fairytales about a woman that came to the De and drove the monsters out and introduced them to the council, some of the stories were blown out of proportion."
"Really."
"While I was on the planet, Eve received a message from the council on behalf of the De, message one thousand and forty-six it was a direct message on a channel I left with the council asking me to return."
"I see, it has been over a hundred years what do you think is going on and are we expecting trouble?"
"During our conversation, you made several remarks that led me to think you know a lot about the encounter, spill."
"When you went to that planet as you said it was early in your adventure and the court used its influence to get you to go, yes, that was one of the times they influenced you. They wanted to test you, to see what you could do. Once you were on the planet they observed but did not interfere. We, the court have an extensive record of your actions."
Silence filled the mess hall, "Go on?"
"The first city you went to you walked through the streets dismembering these space vampires, you walked into dens of vampires and burned them, you dragged the leaders of these dens into the streets and ripped their bodies apart some you tortured for information. When the Vampires came at you with war machines you smashed them and the machines like paper by the hundreds leaving parts of the city in flames. Then you repeated this town to town, city to city killing, torturing, and destroying any monsters you found leaving a war zone behind you of rubble and flames. Lucia those stories blown out of proportion as you call them are mostly true you were an avenging angle to a people that were on the verge of extinction and to the monsters and the elders you were something from their version of hell and that says something when it comes from a race of warmongers and conquerers, you taught them to fear. They did not agree to leave they begged you and you took pity on the survivors of your rage and allowed them to go. Everything you did was tactical the collecting of information, the overwhelming destruction of the enemy it was all to bring out the leaders and it worked, the court was impressed."
"Interesting how you and the court see it so different than I do."
"When you contacted the galactic council to assist what was left of the De and all the things you spoke of happened the court was in disbelief. In just over a week, you were a savior, a demon from hell, and a diplomat."
"Eve interrupted, "Dropping out of hyperspace, we are in the orbit of the council headquarters for this sector."
"Eve, contact the council and tell them who we are so they do not think we are a threat. They may not remember us, it has been a long time. Michael and I are going to get some sleep, wake us when the council is ready to see us."
"Lucia, what is with you and this sleep?"
"I find it refreshing like meditation."
"OK, as they say on Earth, goodnight."
"Goodnight."
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Lucia awoke to Eve playing wake-up music in her quarters, moving to a seated position on the edge of the bed, "Eve, update please?"
"The station had our ship on file and were very happy to see it or us. The person I spoke with asked that we dock and wait to come to the council chambers for six versions of their hours, which will be three Earth hours from now."
"Have you awaken Micheal?"
"Michael is on the bridge we have been talking and he has been speaking with the station from what we can tell you were invited here for a ceremony."
"That is interesting."
"What is the Ceremony?"
No, you two conspiring, making plans," Lucia Laughed, "I am going to shower and dress. Please ask Michael to meet us in the mess hall in an hour for a full briefing."
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One hour and fifteen minutes later Lucia entered the mess hall dressed in a formal uniform of gunmetal gray and black, "I'm a woman we are never ready on time," she laughed.
"What's with the outfit?"
Eve spoke, " According to the station logs this uniform is the traditional dress of honored council guests, I made it for her after we docked. There is a uniform in your room for you, yours is dark blue and black."
"Eve, full briefing, please."
"We do not have much there is one thing we came across in the station's databases about three refugee ships contacting the council several months ago asking for aid. The story they told was that they were part of a caravan of ships, refugees that got separated from the caravan headed to an unclear location, their computers were in poor shape when they arrived and they only knew a name that did not match any records of any known species in the council. They said they had become separated due to an attack. After the only ships they could find were the three here they never found any other ships, this was as close as I can tell twenty-five Earth years ago."
"They have been flying around all these years looking for their people?"
"That is their story, their ships needed repair and they had little supplies when they made contact. The council has repaired and upgraded their ships and resupplied them but they do not know where to go from here and have asked for help."
"Do we have any records of refugee ships that could align with their timeline?"
"Several stories of caravans passing through different sectors of the Galaxy could be connected, it would help to know their species but we do not have that information."
"Why?"
"We think they are keeping that information and all images off the airwaves for fear that a similar species may try and claim they are part of their clan and convince them to leave to who knows where, but it is only a theory. We will have to wait and talk to the council," said Michael
"If the species is right would the Tak's fit the profile?"
"They could be a possibility but I have no record of them having stories of lost ships."
Silence filled the room each with their thoughts, "Eve, send images of the ships to the Tak's and any other connections we have in the area where these stories you have are located and ask them if the ships look familiar. Michael, you have been mostly silent through this nothing to input?"
"I have made inquiries with the court but it is too soon, I have not received a reply. I am going to go change while you finish up."
"Then let's go see who these wayward travels are and what the council has to say."
"Lucia, if our theory is correct won't sending out these messages do the opposite of what we think the council is doing," asked Eve.
"If a species comes to collect them that is not the same or unwilling to submit to a DNA scan to confirm their claim, it will be the worst day of their existence, Eve."
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As Lucia and Michael walk through the halls toward the council chambers, "Lucia, why do you think these travelers are Tak's?"
"I don't know when I saw the ships on the monitor my first thought was Tak's."
"Why did you tell the dock workers if anything happened to undock, Eve?"
"Covering my bases."
Arriving at the council chambers Lucia and Michael were announced and entered. The council chambers were circular like a stadium on earth in the center was a large open area where visitors could be heard. The Chambers were well lit a beautiful meeting place for the representatives of the council member planets. When Michael entered there were gasps and awe from many of the representatives some that were military or warriors in their own right stood and took a knee in respect, Lucia, took a seat knowing this would take some time.
Michael smiled and walked to each representative greeting them. The warriors he spoke with as a group before returning to the floor and asking to speak, "Thank you all for the warm welcome I am overwhelmed by your generosity."
"Lucia, we are so happy to see you thank you for responding to our message so quickly," stated the speaker of the council.
"Has something happened?"
"The De are fine but they are the reason we contacted you."
The doors Lucia and Michael had entered through opened and in walked two De representatives looking at Lucia wide-eyed. Lucia turned to the speaker, "I thought they were a protectant?"
"Lucia much has happened since you were here. The De knowing of the existence of the council worked hard rebuilding and when they were stable they asked for aid from us in establishing themselves as a full council world. They have done much to repay the council for the aid we provided not because we asked but because they felt they owed us. Over time with the aid we provided their society grew and became one of the most supportive planets to the council.
Some even trained and became part of the council's peacekeeping force these members spearheaded the liberation of many planets on the fringes of our territory and we have expanded to include these new worlds and their people. The De peacekeepers due to their planet's experiences have become formidable on the battlefield. There are more than a few planets now a part of the council or are a protectant that has shown great progress and great promise."
Lucia turned to Michael and hugged him, "We need to talk about your popularity here."
The speaker asked, "Michael, we are honored to have you here again, we were not aware that you two know each other."
"Michael is my teacher, trainer, a Father to me," a collective gasp went through the council.
The representatives of the De walked to Lucia and began touching her, "She is real!"
"I can touch her, she is real!"
Michael looked around, "She is going to get a bigger head if they keep doing this."
"For a hundred years she has been the savior of the De, as you are for many worlds, and why so many warriors on this council and council members reacted the way they did when you entered."
"OK, but we are going to need a bigger ship for her ego," the assembly laughed.
"We invited Lucia here because in three days the De become an official member of the galactic council and will have a member in these chambers. They said if they could have anything they wanted Lucia to be here for the ceremony so we used the information in our files to contact her.
The De representatives were now hugging Lucia, one was crying. Stepping back they attempted to compose themselves only to fall into Lucia's arms completely overtaken with emotions. Michael leaned in, "Enjoy this, you earned it," walking away Michael returned to the council members and continued talking with them.
Sometime later the De asked if Lucia and Michael would stay and witness their ceremony to which Lucia and Michael both said in unicence "We would be honored."
The De took seats on the floor with Lucia and Michael, "If there is no other business we can adjourn, Lucia and Michael this evening we are having dinner and drinks a celebration of the De joining we hope you will join us?"
Michael said, "Free food and drink, I am there," Everyone laughed.
"Excuse me, Sir. I have something I would like to discuss if it is OK?"
"Go ahead."
"Thank you, we are interested in your refugees, we need more information would it be possible to meet with their leaders?"
"Yes, we will arrange it for the morning."
"May I ask what species they are, do you have any images we could see, what language they speak, do you have DNA, anything information you can provide us with would be most helpful."
"I will have all our information sent to your ship," the speaker turned in his seat and spoke to an assistant seated behind him.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, the data has arrived I am processing."
"Keep me informed, any word from the messages we sent out?"
"Not yet but once I process this we can try again if you wish."
"Michael and I will need another set of clothes for the dinner this evening."
"Already working on it, Ma'am"
"Thank you, Eve."
"I take it you have some idea of who these refugees are," asked the council speaker.
"Sir, in our travels we have collected many stories, with your information we have a lot to compare to those stories and see if we can narrow your search down to a few possibilities, if I may ask during the window of time would you provide Eve with any information on refugee caravans, stores, rumors, and everything?"
The council speaker turned in his chair and nodded his head, the Assistant went to work, "Is there anything else we can do to further your investigations?"
"No Sir, the council has been most gracious and I thank you."
"Excuse me Ma'am the information is incoming."
"Eve, reciprocate."
A tech behind the council members spoke up, "Sir."
"Go ahead?"
"This Eve on her ship has sent us all the information they have."
The speaker turned in his seat, "Thank you."
"Let's work together to find the refugee's people. If we fail, let's find them a world to call their own."
"We have given them protectorate status. and have a few planets in mind if we cannot find their people."
"If there is nothing else Michael and I would like to return to our ship and work with Eve before Dinner where I hope I will have an opportunity to meet all the members of this council and speak with them."
"Then we are Adjourned, see you this evening."
Lucia turned to the De representatives, "I know you are excited and I want to hear more about your world and your progress after the ceremony can we visit your world?"
"Yes, of course."
"I would ask you back to Eve to talk but we have much to do as I imagine you do. Michael and I would be honored if you would dine at our table?"
"The tradition is for the new members to dine at the table with the speaker and the representatives of the founding worlds. This table will include both of you, Lucia, if you are OK with that," stated the Speaker.
"That Sir, would make our night, thank you."
As Michael and Lucia exit the council chambers a commotion erupts, "Speaker?"
"We have visitors, and not the friendly kind."
"We will stay then," said Michael.
"On the fringe of our territory, a group of pirates, raiders, and slavers called the Juvia. We have had some conflicts with them. I received word not long ago that a convoy had entered our space asking to address the council," the speaker said.
"Let's hear them out," stated Lucia with a smile.
Taking seats with the De Michael said, "Lucia, you went fishing?"
"Looks like I may have caught a big one."
Michael smiled, "Ever the tactician."
One of the De looked at Michael and Lucia, "These people are dangerous."
"No, we are dangerous," replied Michael.
Some fifteen minutes later a commotion erupted outside the council chambers Michael was at the door in seconds, "What is going on here?"
"The captain of the convoy has arrived with a small detail. We told him his detail who are armed could not enter and he insisted they would."
"In hopes of peaceful relations, we will allow your escorts to enter unarmed. They will be checked for weapons and must surrender them to the guards," Michael said.
The captain agreed that his escorts would remain outside the chambers and entered with Michael.
"Captain, it is not ok to bring armed escorts onto this station we are peaceful," said the speaker.
"Yes," said the giant lizard man standing over 7 feet tall and weighing close to 300 lbs of muscle "That is your weakness," the captain turned and saw Lucia "Look at this one is she a gift?"
"Captain, would you state your reason for coming here?"
"We are here for the escapes, the ones you call refugees."
"Escapes?"
"A long time ago one of our ships came across a caravan, we easily captured them but a few ships evaded our capture, we are here to claim them by right conquest."
"Conquest, of a caravan of refugees that were not a threat," Michael said.
"Where are these people," asked the speaker.
Those that still survive work on an agricultural world alongside others that have been taken through conquest."
"This council does not allow slavery and we do not honor this right of conquest. We ask in the name of peaceful relations that you free the slaves you hold."
The captain laughed, "You are weak, we will take what is ours and I will take this one for myself," the captain turned to Lucia who sat observing. When he took a step toward Lucia Michael placed a hand on the brute's chest resulting in him being shoved back ten feet and landing on his rear end.
Lucia put her hand to her ear as if listening to something. Then she said words and her helmet appeared on the chair next to her. The De representatives stared at her, and she smiled, "See you soon," Lucia looked at Michael who saw the helmet and rolled his eyes.
As the Giant gained his feet Michael spoke, "She is not for you, she is the council representative that you will take to them unharmed. Her private ship will follow within days to retrieve her when her work is done."
Lucia stood up and walked to the giant, "I am ready."
"What about the escapes?"
"The refugees stay here," Lucia said.
"The helmet?"
"It is mine fitted to me, a gift from ******. I take it with me everywhere in case it is needed."
The Captain contacted his ship, "I have an ambassador coming on board with me, she will be returning with us, prepare the room across mine for her," he closed communications without waiting for a reply, "Shall we go?"
Lucia looked up into the eyes of the giant and with a smile said, "Ladies first, what a gentleman."
The Captain and Lucia left the council chambers and headed for his ship. As they exited through the doors Lucia was shaken when she saw Lucifer entering the chambers passing each other in the doorway.
Inside Lucifer walked up to Michael, "Michael, What are you doing?"
"I don't know, Lucia is playing out some plan I was not told about."
"Michael, you know she may be immortal but she is not invulnerable."
"Luci, this is her play and she has not let me in on it."
The De standing next to Michael asked, "Is she in Danger?"
"No, but we do not know what we are supposed to do." Said, Micheal.
Lucifer looked at the De, "If my ******** was in trouble I would not be standing here. If you want to know the truth they, all of them on every world are in trouble."
Lucifer and Michael turn to the council, "Speaker, have you taken any action?"
"We are concerned about Lucia our peacekeepers want to attempt a rescue."
Lucifer stepped forward, "Speaker if you do that you could mess up whatever plan she is working on."
"What plan?"
"Speaker, representatives the ships out there were full of troops they intended to take the refugees and this station by force with all of you here it would throw the worlds of the galactic council into kaos and make them vulnerable to invasion. We will take care of Lucia please increase your presence on the border and make your worlds in that sector aware of the issue."
"Are you he?"
"Who?"
"The council members are all asking if you are Lucifer and why are you here?"
"I am and I am here for my ********!"
"Excuse us, speaker and members, we need to return to Eve and figure out what we do next, Her improvisation of being an ambassador to negotiate your surrender stopped their attack giving you time but we all have a lot to do," Lucifer and Michael walked out of the chambers. The walk to the ship was silent each with their thoughts, nothing would be said until they were aboard Eve.
"Michael, contact the Court of the Gods and get the seers on this, we need information."
"Luci, I am on it, and calm down this is a disaster. I am going to have to tell the court that she has gone dark, in hostile territory, and is making it up as she goes, they are not going to be happy!"
"You cannot track her?"
"Eve, where is Lucia's armor?"
"She is wearing it," said Eve.
"How so," asked Lucifer.
"When I made your clothes, I only made yours Michael, Lucia's is her armor she can morph, transform the armor into whatever shape she desires."
Michael looked at Lucifer, "No, I cannot track her the court does not have that kind of control. The only way to find her is the seers or when she activates her armor now. I cannot think of anything more dangerous than her out there like this, the amount of damage and destruction she could do if she loses it is something I do not want to think about, Luci, try contacting her like you did over the planet."
"Yes."
Eve interrupted, "I have been monitoring all of this I know what direction they went do you want me to head in that direction?"
"Yes, Eve please but if you find them keep your distance this is not a rescue yet."
"Clarify are we going to be saving her from them or them from her," asked Eve.
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Arriving at the homeworld of the Juvia Lucia is escorted to the great hall where she is introduced to the leader of Juvia. A group of six lizard men all as big as the captain but not as muscled having overindulged in the perks that come with their position. There are troops everywhere, Lucia counted at least 50 on the grounds and as many inside. Lucia approached and took a seat setting her helmet on her lap, "So you are here to negotiate the surrender of the council," asked one of the leaders.
"No, I am Lucia Morningstar, I am here to accept your surrender. I am here to see that all your slaves are released. I will send for ships from the council to gather the slaves of your conquests and we will begin work returning them to their people. If you co-operate your people will be allowed to continue, you will be confined to a single planet where you can survive or conquer each other until no one is left."
Silence filled the room for several minutes "Who do you think you are coming here making demands?"
"I said I am Lucia Morningstar and I encourage you to accept the offer, there are no negotiations."
The commander of the military troops guarding the great hall "This little woman comes here and speaks to the leaders in this manner. Bring her and we will teach her who is in control."
"So he is the one in charge, not you, you are puppets while the real leader stands by close enough to hear everything," Lucia turned her chair to face the commander, "Nothing has changed, I am here to accept your surrender."
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Far away on Eve.
"Luci, what did she say?"
"Hello, Father."
"That was all?"
"I asked her what her plan was and she said, "To accept their surrender,"
"That is not good, do you know where she is?"
"If I did would we be here?"
"The court of the Gods told me the last known location of their homeworld back when the Juvia got on their radar. We are headed there now but the information is several hundred years old."
"If the court has known about these monsters for several hundred years why haven't they done anything about them?"
"Luci, This is going to sound cruel but unlike you, they believe in letting nature take its course."
"Yes, and my way is wrong, Michael are you beginning to understand?"
Michael breathed deeply, "You saw the response I got in the council chambers?"
"Yes... Wait a minute," Lucifer smiled and his eyes widened, "You have been moonlighting. You have been doing the same thing Lucia is but not for the same reason. You disagree with the court and have been taking down worlds, and races like the Juvia without their knowledge and that is why you were so keen to train Lucia, it is why you made her who she is. Oh, Michael, brother, I did not know you had it in you!"
"Luci, can we focus on Lucia? We can have a steak dinner and talk about all this after."
"I think Lucia needs to be at that dinner but OK."
"Excuse me, Lucia's armor just came online," Eve interrupted.
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Back on the Juvia homeworld the so-called Commander reached out and grabbed Lucia tossing her across the room into a wall her helmet falling to the ground. Lucia's armor sensing the impact changed. When she landed on her feet unharmed she was now in her battle armor, she reached her hand out and the helmet flew to her hand, placing it on her head she spoke mystical words and lifted off hovering ten feet over the heads of the lizard men, "Kill her."
Lucia exited the building through a window and landed in the courtyard outside surrounded by close to a hundred troops a smile spread across her face, "BATTLE," the troops began firing her armor absorbing the blasts as Lucia moved among them dismembering the troops making short work of them, there was still much to do.
Re-entering the meeting hall she found the troops dead and the leaders seated at the table with Lucifer and Michael, Lucia removed her helmet, "What is going on here?"
"When we arrived we found them watching you decimating the troops outside. By the way, compliments on your control. They are most cooperative now and we have obtained access to their systems. We have information on all the worlds they hold and the species they have taken in conquest. The Council is sending out messages to known races about their people and are on their way with cargo ships, medical ships, and their peacekeepers."
Michael hugged Lucia "They have agreed to accept your terms contacted their people on other worlds and told them to stand down and leave those worlds."
"We are not sure all of them will, there may be some fighting ahead," Lucifer smiled.
"Show me the information" After reviewing the information she forwarded it to Eve in orbit. "Eve, send messages to the homeworlds of the known species and ask them to send transport and escorts to take their people home."
Lucia dropped into a seat at the head of the table and looked around at the assembled leader "A hundred and thirty-seven, a hundred and thirty-seven worlds and people from over two hundred races, men, women, and children."
"What happens to us now?"
"When the council arrives they will decide what planet you will be exiled to and who will stand trial," Lucia stated
"How do we know they will honor our agreement with you and not start executing us?"
"I will ask them not to, nicely."
Over the next two cycles, weapons were inventoried and destroyed. As ships arrived from other worlds the troops and leaders were brought to the hall where the leaders explained everything once they had been verified in the records that all were present that world was taken off the list of potential resistance. On the morning of the third cycle, ships began arriving and technicians and peacekeepers took over these duties.
Later on Eve, Lucia, Lucifer, and Michael plan the next step over a meal "Eve update on worlds that have not surrendered, please."
"We have confirmed that one hundred thirty-one worlds have been liberated of those one hundred eighteen have arrived here, the remaining thirteen ships are from the far end of the sector and will not arrive here for four to five days."
"Thank you, Eve, the council wants to move on the other six that are making a stand ASAP they do not want any genocides taking place," Stated Michael.
"Why don't we take care of it," asked Lucifer.
Lucia looked at her father "There are concerns about the council's image in all this. They feel that we should leave these resistant worlds to them because many of those worlds will end up as part of the Galactic Council and they want to be shown as liberators not mop up from Lucia or our actions."
"First off being seen as working with us should be enough for them and risking more lives, that is not how this should be done," stated Lucifer.
"Lucia and I agree, that is why we would like to propose to the council that we take the worlds back with three strike forces each of us leading a strike force to handle anything that gets intense, would you be willing to take part?"
"Yes, I am in it to win it," Lucifer replied.
"Eve, please send our proposal to the council."
"Yes, Michael right away."
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On the morning of the next cycle, troops set out for the first three plants and encountered little resistance taking the Juvia into custody in hours. The next three worlds had the same results as did two of the last three.
On the final world where Lucifer was leading the peacekeepers. The commander had taken precautions and built a bunker. When contacted the commander refused to accept the truth and ordered his troops to begin firing, negotiations had failed.
In the initial attack, many peacekeepers were injured. Lucifer walked through the fire retrieving the fallen and got the peacekeepers behind cover. As the peacekeepers tended to their wounded and began evacuations to their ship he witnessed the needless death of a peacekeeper and saw several dead bodies. Death was not unknown to him but these were needless deaths this was pointless and Lucifer became enraged his eyes turning black filling his sclera. Lucifer exited cover walked toward the bunker through enemy fire ripped a steel door off and threw it several miles into a field as he entered within seconds the fire upon the peacekeepers stopped and Lucifer walked out, returning to the peacekeepers he stated, "There were no survivors."
Some twenty years later work began turning the bunker into a museum/memorial it told the story of the Juvia and the enslavement of the worlds in this sector of space. It told of Lucia, Michael, and Lucifer paying tribute to the fallen peacekeepers who gave all for the freedom of their world.
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The Juvia were exiled on their homeworld, there were debates about relocating them but in the end, it was decided that the sins of the father would not be visited upon the sons and ********* and they were left in isolation.
Lucia joined Michael and her father for that steak dinner. A lot of truths were told about their past and the court of the Gods this settled a lot of issues between Lucia and her father. Lucia and Michael began a secret partnership where Michael kept the court's direct influence to a minimum and came to Lucia with the concerns of the court asking for her help in doing the God's work and joining her on many adventures.
The court of the Gods took credit for the entire thing claiming that back several hundred hundred years ago when the Juvia came on their radar they set a plan in motion that led to all that had happened overlooking the centuries of violence, enslavement, and destruction because that is what Gods do take credit, not blame or responsibility.
Lucia de Diablo
Lucia is the demonic ******** of Lucifer, the warrior princess of Hell. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 130 lbs. She is the most feared Warrior in hell and beyond. She has trained for decades, learning every fighting style with every weapon, schooled in war tactics on every level, and trained in the mystical arts, she is an immortal warrior.
Chapter One- The Warrior Princess.
In a galaxy far away, in a world that had faced a war between a humanoid, a bipedal race whose name has been lost to time, and monsters some two hundred years ago, A planet where monsters had won, these monsters built their civilization and gained interstellar capabilities conquering other worlds and upsetting the balance in this part of the galaxy. A lone woman walks among the monsters marveling at the advancements monsters have made and yet they still have no word for peace only war and conquest, they had become an organized consortium that could not stand.
The lone woman in red and black armor had arrived a few cycles ago. Her first encounter would be at a military outpost where spaceships and weapons were created, this would be step one.
Arriving at the facility, Lucia dawned her helmet and walked through the wall of what could amount to steel and concrete. The guards thought her a ghost, a humanoid long extinct on this planet, walking through walls. What else were they to think?
Lucia did not wait for them to recover from their collective confusion and attacked smiling with the excitement of once again being able to use her skills in a real battle something she had not done in some time. As she easily slew the compound's security forces, destroying armored vehicles she moved through the complex with a smile survivors later would describe as demonic, 'What fun,' she thought as she ended the life of every monster of every kind that she found, Xenomorphs, Werewolves, Space Vampires, Trolls, and Orcs all had fallen at her feet never to rise again, her armor covered in blood and guts the smell was beyond imagination.
She continued into the heart of the industrial buildings, where space weapons and ships of conquest were being made. Arriving at the main complex, an assembly of Mystical beings waited. When brute force and firepower did not work against an enemy, this was the last resort: black magic.
Lucia calmly stood without speaking as the mystical beings called up powerful black magic and dark forces directing them at her. Feeling a searing heat pass over her that cleansed her body of the remains of the things she had slaughtered, "Thank you, it did smell horrible," she smiled, Speaking demonic words that no one would understand into her helmet the armor began to glow as fire flew from her fingers whipping around the installation cutting through and causing explosions all around her as she moved that shook the ground sending fireballs hundreds of kilometers in the air and explosions that were felt a hundred kilometers away.
In response military forces and fire control forces raced to the compound to find the fires of hell burning out of control. Firefighters could not get close enough to fight the flames and were forced to allow the fires to burn out as the military security forces moved to find the cause. What had killed all the guards, destroyed the site's defenses, and caused the fires. They did not have to wait long for an answer when to their horror a human-looking woman walked out of the flames toward them.
Facing the armor vehicles, guns, and monsters her smile faded at the realization, disappointed that no attack would come, that like the compound security, they were in awe or denial of what they were seeing. Her excitement at the night's activities unrelenting she attacked the hand-to-hand combat excited her their armored vehicles came at her firing bullets and energy weapons her armor absorbing the power as the ground around her shook, Lucia whispered words unknown and a force came from nowhere, and everywhere crushing the armored vehicles all at once, explosions filling the area burning the ground troops torn apart by the blasts.
Lucia moved toward the central compound once again the fun was over and it was time to end this. She raised her hands and spoke more unknown demonic words the energy that had accumulated in her armor this night went out from her body creating a sonic boom that leveled everything blowing any structure apart the area now looked like a scrapyard with fires raging and explosions as she walked out of the compound, "Good now they are bound to the planet," she said to no one.
By morning word of her presence had spread across the planet. Those in charge did not believe the stories of a small beautiful humanoid woman, but whatever had destroyed their space program might be connected, and the search for the humanoid female if it was a humanoid female had begun.
Little did they know they would not have to look far or at all Lucia arrived in the planet's capital with the rising sun, she was looking forward to the day, to combat her joy and excitement at the fun to come tingling. She was not here to exterminate these monsters that had terrorized this sector of the universe she was here to make sure they were not and would not be a threat ever again. In her mind who or whatever survived her visit to this planet, what happened to them when the worlds they had terrorized arrived was justice and no concern to her.
Dawning her helmet she spoke words that came from the sky in a booming voice as if coming from a God, "Anyone that wants to leave, leave," was all she said one chance to flee to survive until retribution arrived. Advancing the lone woman walked among the monsters marveling at the advancements monsters had made and yet they still had no word for peace only war and conquest, they had become an organized consortium that could not stand. The city guard approached energy weapons in hand from all sides Lucia stood motionless and calmly spoke words inside the helmet bringing clouds to the clear sky turning a sunny day into darkness with heavy rain and high winds that made it near impossible for the soldiers to remain upright. Lightning struck her armor energizing it while other lightning strikes hit targets plunging the entire city into darkness and sending the guard running for cover or losing their grasp against the winds being swept away. She was pleased she hated the large energy weapons on the capital building they were no fun not like hand-to-hand combat. She allowed the storm to continue it would wash the capital city clean of what was to come and advance the thrill of combat gripping her.
Entering the grounds of the capital building Lucia was struck by multiple energy weapons but continued to approach the build that stood some ten stories high unfettered breaking bones, decapitating enemies, ripping off limbs leaving a trail of blood and guts behind her. Then caught off guard she was hit by a massive energy weapon from the top of the tower knocking her through several buildings her flight ended some kilometers away when she struck a mountain and was held there for several seconds until the energy dissipated leaving an imprint in the rock of her form. Lucia fell to the ground and lay there the smile from the joy of combat, the dismembering of her attackers now gone her eyes changing from red to black that filled her sclera. Her armor glowing in red and orange, Lucia was angry and hell had now come to this world. Rising she looked around finding no imminent danger she spoke demonic words took two steps and lifted off her magical flight ending with her floating over the tower of the capital then diving down ripping out each of the three space cannon energy weapons and throwing them into orbit before rising above the building her armor glowing brighter releasing a massive energy pulse that tore the ten-story building to the ground leaving a hole below it several stories deep. Enraged she landed on the ground as more troops came at her from all sides weapons firing enveloping her in the bright light. Lucia unmoved raised her arms and like at the military compound a massive energy wave moved out from her armor creating a sonic boom that disintegrated every living thing, and building within two kilometers. Looking around, "DAMN IT THERE IS NO ONE LEFT TO KILL," she lifted off ascending through the atmosphere toward the star in this system.
Arriving close enough for her armor to energize from the power of the sun her armor sucked energy to full strength glowing red, orange, and black she returned to the planet hovering over one of the poles she released an energy wave that stripped the planet bare of all life by burning off the atmosphere.
Hanging over the now-dead planet Lucia fought the urge to move on to the next and then the next planet killing all life in this area of the universe, after all, she was not a hero, she was evil, she was Lucifer's ********.
"Lucia!"
"Yes, Father."
"I have told you and now you see you cannot change who you are."
"FUCK YOU, FATHER!"
A light year away she arrived at her ship a sleek pink and white long-range battle fighter she had taken from a world long ago and modified to her liking. Entering the vessel she stripped off her armor and climbed into a shower. Thirty minutes later a beautiful woman in a black spacesuit entered the pilot's chair and began going through messages as she pushed a button on the console a bowl of food materializing on a pad, taking the bowl she began to eat as she read, 'That looks... I have been there,' finishing her food, she spoke to the ship, "Eve, set course for message one thousand and forty-six. Going to her quarters she climbed into a hibernation pod that looked like a coffin, a gift from her father, just as the ship jumped into hyperspace.
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Chapter Two- A Father's Love
On another plane of existence, at another time sat two men enjoying a cigar and whiskey in a room much like a gentleman's club from the Sherlock Holmes area of London.
"Luci you always pick such interesting settings for our get-togethers."
"The Whiskey and Cigars were better during this time and London was the center of a lot of activity. I felt like having a whiskey and smoke and figured this time and place was appropriate."
OK, Luci, I want to talk about your ********. I saw what you did when she lost it we both could sense what she was thinking and then at the right time, you chimed in with your remarks and redirected her anger toward yourself, why?
"She is my ********, Michael."
"Are you saying what I think you are?"
"Yes, Michael, I love my ******** and this is her chosen path."
"She chose this path long ago and I remember you were against it?"
Yes, but she persisted and that showed me her determination and that is what I wanted to know."
"And that is why you contacted me, I never understood until now. When you saw her determination to follow this path you relented and contacted me to take over as her trainer."
"I wanted her to have the best of the best and you did a fine job. Once she had learned all she could from my realm you took her under your wing, so to speak, and arranged training, you became her mentor. You went to the court of the gods and arranged for the best warriors to train her in combat, tactics, mystical powers, and more... how ever did you manage to do that for the ******** of Lucifer?"
I told them of her wishes and they found the contrast interesting. Your ******** is considered by many to be a warrior beyond warriors, a force beyond anything that has ever been. Her tactical mind, her prowess with weapons, and her command of supernatural powers all combined make her," Michael left it unsaid.
Yes, Michael and I owe you for all that you have done, if she is what you say you are the author, creator, and as responsible as me."
"Maybe more so... is this the real reason you asked me here, Luci?"
"You started this conversation."
Yes... Yes, I did sorry, Luci."
Michael, please let's not fight on this point I am her father and you are her mentor, her Master can we work together on what is best for her now?"
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree on this we are together."
Silence now hung over the table as each enjoyed their drink and cigar with their thoughts. A waiter approached bringing another round of drinks and taking away the empty goblets.
"I wonder what the Christians of earth would say if they heard you say you loved something, with the way they have portrayed you they would not believe it."
My disagreement with our father... Michael we have been over this and I think time has shown my plan for that planet would have been better. The idea that my way would take away their freedom to believe or not does make sense. The decision cost so many lives and caused so much turmoil how can you stand by a bad decision when history has proven it was the wrong way to go and still our father will not accept this?"
"You know he understands your point of view and even agrees but he cannot admit it."
"Is that because of ego and is his ego why I am still an outcast from his realm, why I'm still being punished for being correct now that those human apes have shown him the truth by their actions?"
Luci, things are as they are. Can we get back to our ********, I mean Lucia, I have news.
"Go on?"
" When Lucia went to that planet I informed the court of the gods and the seers saw that the probability of this outcome was 76% and yet all the gods admired her attempt to leave some alive by destroying their interstellar flight ability and taking down those in power."
"And?"
"The court of the gods feels that the outcome will or can have a negative on her and she should know what the seers predicted. The court feels she will see this as a failure, not a win she will not see the consequence is that she freed dozens of worlds that were under the Terrine of the combined creatures from that planet and she stopped them from creating a galactic empire with resources that would allow them to be a threat to the galaxy in the future. Luci, she needs to know this, she needs to see the countless lives she saved across the universe."
"Michael something has been bothering me about all this. She removed the power to those cannons how did it fire?"
Silence once again filled the air at the table as Michael sat back in his high-back chair, took a pull on his cigar, and drained his goblet, the waiter brought another round.
Lucifer's eyes widened an evil smile on his face, "Michael."
"Luci, this line of talk will achieve nothing can we move on?"
"If she knew you and the court are... manipulating her actions, that would be bad."
"Luci, when you contacted her in her anger and redirected it was not the same thing?"
More silence, "I get your point, I will not say anything. I will wait for her to figure it out and watch the show."
"Luci, she is a weapon with skills and powers given to her by the court of gods, can you imagine the damage she could do without oversight, she could destroy galaxies!"
Silence again, "Point taken."
"So back to the point?"
Lucifer thought for a minute the evil smile returning to his face, "You brought this up knowing I cannot be the one to go to her and tell her all of this. You know as well as I do she would Rebuck me despite the message. The court knows full well it has to be her mentor and you are here for what permission, as if you need it?"
"No Luci, we want to be on the same page."
After another round of drinks had been delivered and the empty goblets removed, "Gentlemen your dinner will be ready in 10 minutes please, move to the dining room," the waiter walked away.
"Michael, I am sorry for what I said a minute ago, I was being me. Coming to me and giving me this information was the correct way to handle this, thank you."
"We agree then?"
"Yes, our ******** (Lucifer snickered) needs to know these things for her peace of mind."
"Dinner," Michael said rising from his chair.
"Yes, Dinner."
"What are we having by the way."
"Steak with all the trimmings."
"From this period?"
The two men walked through the doorway coming out in The Big Texan Steak Ranch circa 2140. In front of them, their table set with six plates each holding a 72-ounce steak, the rest of the table filled with all the trimmings, Lucifer smiles, "Dinner is served."
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Chapter Three- Lucia learns the truth.
On Lucia's ship she is awakened by the A.I. Eve. Setting up she senses that the ship is still in hyperspace, "Eve, why have you woken me when we are still in Hyperspace?"
"You have a visitor."
"How did someone board the ship in hyperspace?"
"I came for a visit and need to talk with you," came Michael's voice over the intercom.
"Micheal!"
"Yes, it's me."
"Meet me in the mess hall in 30," Lucia said excitedly jumping up and beginning a yoga session to loosen up her body before heading to the shower.
Arriving in the mess hall of stainless steel decorated like a country kitchen on Earth Lucia, found Micheal waiting with two coffee cups on the table, "Thanks, Micheal."
How are you doing, Lucia?"
"I... I am good but troubled over the outcome on the planet I visited."
"That is why I am here but first I want to catch up with my student and ********."
"Does my father know that you call me, ********?"
"Yes, and he understands my feelings toward you. The closeness that forms between teacher and student. In the decades I worked with you, and overseen your training, I grew to love you as a ********. Lucia, your father is not the person you think he is."
"Really?"
"On the planet in question after it was over your rage was boiling over and your thoughts of moving on to other planets in the area with monsters and doing the same. Your father came to you and redirected your anger toward him so you would not do something you would regret."
Lucia sat in silence, drinking her drink "So how is everyone," changing the subject. For the next hour, the two spoke of ****** and friends as they ate, drank, and talked there were moments of silence and laughter "Micheal, it is good to have you here. I have a room for you to use if you are going to stay for a while?"
"I would like that but before I become a part of your crew I have some things I need to discuss with you."
"OK, ruin a good time with business, go ahead."
"The last planet we sent you to..."
"Who sent me there, who is we?"
"Lucia, the court is aware of your movements, they influence you to visit places where you are needed."
"Are you saying they are controlling me?"
"No Lucia, your extensive training was overseen by me with the full knowledge of the court. They found your desires to do what you are doing interesting, the paradox of who your father is and what you wanted to do back then made them take notice and that is how or why it was so easy to get the best of the best from the court to train you... Lucia, this may upset you but you are a weapon of the court of the Gods," silence filled the room as that settled, "You are out here doing what you are trained for, what you desired but you are dangerous and the court needs to keep tabs on you and now and then they let's say influence where you go for their needs."
"So they sent me to a planet to destroy it?"
"Yes and no, allow me to explain," silence once again filled the room, "The seers of the court gave you only a 2% chance of doing what you had planned, to isolate the monsters on that planet without interstellar travel capabilities in hopes that they would change by the time they had regained space travel. The seers predicted 98% that you would fail and 76% that it would end as it did," silence, "Here is what you do not know. The court's seers predicted that without intervention within a hundred years, the monsters would build an empire of terror taking over hundreds of worlds causing the death of billions and enslavement of even more," Silence filled the room, "The court influenced you to go there now and deal with the issue. So while you think you failed what you did was prevent an interstellar incident that would have taken 10s of billions of lives through conquest, slavery, and the war it would have taken to end their rain of terror, this is why the court influenced you to visit that planet."
"So..."
"So you are a hero, beyond a hero. You did what you came out here to do, you did something none of the species of the galaxy will ever know about because the monsters on that planet were stopped before they grew into the galactic terror they were destined to and the worlds they had conquered have all been set free the representatives of that planet on those worlds where overthrown and killed or forced off the world and are now orphans in space a threat to no one," silence, "See sometimes the court or we needs to do what at first seems evil to stop a larger evil that is to come. You saved 10s of billions of lives that would have been lost in the galaxy over the next 250 Earth years and no one will ever know but the court."
"So, you are here to tell me this why?"
"Because the court and your father felt you needed to be told the bigger picture. We were all worried about how it would affect you if you did not understand the bigger picture."
"The god's work..."
"Yes, is the room still available?"
Yes, let's get you settled and I am going to train. You are welcome to join me and we can talk more about this later, after a workout," Lucia jumped up and hugged Micheal before showing him to his room and returning to her room to change for their workout.
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The workout room was holographic, the pair entered a meadow of trees, flowers, and animals and began a 30-minute Yoga session. Then moving onto a one-hour meditation the hologram changed location to a meditation chamber with incense, candles, soft music, and more animals. At the end of the meditation, Micheal opened his eyes to two white rabbits on his lap he was petting slowly without realizing what he had been doing or for how long. Lucia had two dogs lying on either side with their heads resting on her knees one looked like an Irish setter, the other a lab her face was wet from kisses and she immediately began playing with them wrestling around and laughing as they jumped on her repeatedly, Lucia giving out belly rubs while Micheal remained motionless smiling at the scene in front of him still petting the rabbits and his hair being nibbled on by a doe.
Moving on to a review of mystical powers beginning with simple spells and progressing to more powerful both passing the tests without issue. Then there was a long battle session Lucia and Micheal being given their battle armor by the holographic room. Their first test was hand-to-hand combat against a variety of opponents, in a variety of locations across the galaxy each level ending when they had achieved a goal using combat tactics to destroy enemies or to end a never-ending stream of combatants by destroying an object in the distance. Then to space combat tactics each in their ships working together to defeat a variety of opponents and numbers controlled by the ship's holographic computers. When the training was complete some six Earth hours had passed and the holographic room changed again to a massage room with creatures waiting for them each having six tentacles then on to a steam room, "You are troubled, Lucia?"
"I am concerned about the involvement of the court and my father in what I am doing, how much of what I do is my own and how much is their influence I am wondering how deep the puppet strings go, and now that I know how will that affect my decisions going forward?"
"Lucia, if the court or your father had the kind of influence over you that is worrying you now why would they have allowed you to attempt to isolate the monsters to their home world by destroying all but the basic ability to keep their society running, why didn't they have you go directly to the predicted outcome?"
"Eve, ETA please?"
"Fifteen hours to exit hyperspace."
"I am curious why are we going so far from your last location, your destination is in a part of this galaxy that you have not been in a long time?"
How about we talk about that after a shower and meet back in the mess?"
"sounds good."
Both headed for a shower in silence each consumed by their thoughts.
An hour later in the mess hall, Lucia entered to find Michael once again seated at the table with two cups, "Thank you again, Michael."
"So, about where we are going?"
"There was a world I visited when I began my journey the planet was occupied by a bi-pedal race called the "De". They had been invaded by an elder race of space-fairing warmongers who brought space vampires to use as ground troops to wipe out the De and take the planet, why I do not know. When I arrived things there were not good for the De the planet had three continents. By the time I had swept through the first removing the Space vamps the elders knew I was there or something was there and came out to meet me, it did not go well for them and what was left agreed to leave and not return."
"That is an oversimplification of what happened but go on."
"Eve contacted the nearest outpost for a galactic council who came and escorted what was left of the elders and their soldiers out of the sector. They brought aid and supplies for the De to start to rebuild but because they were not space-capable they made the planet a protectorate of the council leaving them to advance at their pace."
"Again oversimplification," said Micheal, "How about dinner," ten minutes later the two were back at the table with fresh drinks and food, "Please continue, Lucia."
"Eve is equipped with advanced communication systems for monitoring what goes on and even though this planet is far away trading posts are never too far and stories travel from trading post to trading post."
"So Eve monitors the trade routes and communications looking for messages and over the years you intercepted messages or more accurately stories coming from that sector of the galaxy, some referencing the De, is that accurate?"
"yes."
"That is genius, the stories would go from station to station until finally arriving here in a matter of months, so why are we going there."
"Over time some of the messages were more fairytales about a woman that came to the De and drove the monsters out and introduced them to the council, some of the stories were blown out of proportion."
"Really."
"While I was on the planet, Eve received a message from the council on behalf of the De, message one thousand and forty-six it was a direct message on a channel I left with the council asking me to return."
"I see, it has been over a hundred years what do you think is going on and are we expecting trouble?"
"During our conversation, you made several remarks that led me to think you know a lot about the encounter, spill."
"When you went to that planet as you said it was early in your adventure and the court used its influence to get you to go, yes, that was one of the times they influenced you. They wanted to test you, to see what you could do. Once you were on the planet they observed but did not interfere. We, the court have an extensive record of your actions."
Silence filled the mess hall, "Go on?"
"The first city you went to you walked through the streets dismembering these space vampires, you walked into dens of vampires and burned them, you dragged the leaders of these dens into the streets and ripped their bodies apart some you tortured for information. When the Vampires came at you with war machines you smashed them and the machines like paper by the hundreds leaving parts of the city in flames. Then you repeated this town to town, city to city killing, torturing, and destroying any monsters you found leaving a war zone behind you of rubble and flames. Lucia those stories blown out of proportion as you call them are mostly true you were an avenging angle to a people that were on the verge of extinction and to the monsters and the elders you were something from their version of hell and that says something when it comes from a race of warmongers and conquerers, you taught them to fear. They did not agree to leave they begged you and you took pity on the survivors of your rage and allowed them to go. Everything you did was tactical the collecting of information, the overwhelming destruction of the enemy it was all to bring out the leaders and it worked, the court was impressed."
"Interesting how you and the court see it so different than I do."
"When you contacted the galactic council to assist what was left of the De and all the things you spoke of happened the court was in disbelief. In just over a week, you were a savior, a demon from hell, and a diplomat."
"Eve interrupted, "Dropping out of hyperspace, we are in the orbit of the council headquarters for this sector."
"Eve, contact the council and tell them who we are so they do not think we are a threat. They may not remember us, it has been a long time. Michael and I are going to get some sleep, wake us when the council is ready to see us."
"Lucia, what is with you and this sleep?"
"I find it refreshing like meditation."
"OK, as they say on Earth, goodnight."
"Goodnight."
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Chapter Four- The Mystery
Lucia awoke to Eve playing wake-up music in her quarters, moving to a seated position on the edge of the bed, "Eve, update please?"
"The station had our ship on file and were very happy to see it or us. The person I spoke with asked that we dock and wait to come to the council chambers for six versions of their hours, which will be three Earth hours from now."
"Have you awaken Micheal?"
"Michael is on the bridge we have been talking and he has been speaking with the station from what we can tell you were invited here for a ceremony."
"That is interesting."
"What is the Ceremony?"
No, you two conspiring, making plans," Lucia Laughed, "I am going to shower and dress. Please ask Michael to meet us in the mess hall in an hour for a full briefing."
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One hour and fifteen minutes later Lucia entered the mess hall dressed in a formal uniform of gunmetal gray and black, "I'm a woman we are never ready on time," she laughed.
"What's with the outfit?"
Eve spoke, " According to the station logs this uniform is the traditional dress of honored council guests, I made it for her after we docked. There is a uniform in your room for you, yours is dark blue and black."
"Eve, full briefing, please."
"We do not have much there is one thing we came across in the station's databases about three refugee ships contacting the council several months ago asking for aid. The story they told was that they were part of a caravan of ships, refugees that got separated from the caravan headed to an unclear location, their computers were in poor shape when they arrived and they only knew a name that did not match any records of any known species in the council. They said they had become separated due to an attack. After the only ships they could find were the three here they never found any other ships, this was as close as I can tell twenty-five Earth years ago."
"They have been flying around all these years looking for their people?"
"That is their story, their ships needed repair and they had little supplies when they made contact. The council has repaired and upgraded their ships and resupplied them but they do not know where to go from here and have asked for help."
"Do we have any records of refugee ships that could align with their timeline?"
"Several stories of caravans passing through different sectors of the Galaxy could be connected, it would help to know their species but we do not have that information."
"Why?"
"We think they are keeping that information and all images off the airwaves for fear that a similar species may try and claim they are part of their clan and convince them to leave to who knows where, but it is only a theory. We will have to wait and talk to the council," said Michael
"If the species is right would the Tak's fit the profile?"
"They could be a possibility but I have no record of them having stories of lost ships."
Silence filled the room each with their thoughts, "Eve, send images of the ships to the Tak's and any other connections we have in the area where these stories you have are located and ask them if the ships look familiar. Michael, you have been mostly silent through this nothing to input?"
"I have made inquiries with the court but it is too soon, I have not received a reply. I am going to go change while you finish up."
"Then let's go see who these wayward travels are and what the council has to say."
"Lucia, if our theory is correct won't sending out these messages do the opposite of what we think the council is doing," asked Eve.
"If a species comes to collect them that is not the same or unwilling to submit to a DNA scan to confirm their claim, it will be the worst day of their existence, Eve."
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Chapter Five- Diplomat
As Lucia and Michael walk through the halls toward the council chambers, "Lucia, why do you think these travelers are Tak's?"
"I don't know when I saw the ships on the monitor my first thought was Tak's."
"Why did you tell the dock workers if anything happened to undock, Eve?"
"Covering my bases."
Arriving at the council chambers Lucia and Michael were announced and entered. The council chambers were circular like a stadium on earth in the center was a large open area where visitors could be heard. The Chambers were well lit a beautiful meeting place for the representatives of the council member planets. When Michael entered there were gasps and awe from many of the representatives some that were military or warriors in their own right stood and took a knee in respect, Lucia, took a seat knowing this would take some time.
Michael smiled and walked to each representative greeting them. The warriors he spoke with as a group before returning to the floor and asking to speak, "Thank you all for the warm welcome I am overwhelmed by your generosity."
"Lucia, we are so happy to see you thank you for responding to our message so quickly," stated the speaker of the council.
"Has something happened?"
"The De are fine but they are the reason we contacted you."
The doors Lucia and Michael had entered through opened and in walked two De representatives looking at Lucia wide-eyed. Lucia turned to the speaker, "I thought they were a protectant?"
"Lucia much has happened since you were here. The De knowing of the existence of the council worked hard rebuilding and when they were stable they asked for aid from us in establishing themselves as a full council world. They have done much to repay the council for the aid we provided not because we asked but because they felt they owed us. Over time with the aid we provided their society grew and became one of the most supportive planets to the council.
Some even trained and became part of the council's peacekeeping force these members spearheaded the liberation of many planets on the fringes of our territory and we have expanded to include these new worlds and their people. The De peacekeepers due to their planet's experiences have become formidable on the battlefield. There are more than a few planets now a part of the council or are a protectant that has shown great progress and great promise."
Lucia turned to Michael and hugged him, "We need to talk about your popularity here."
The speaker asked, "Michael, we are honored to have you here again, we were not aware that you two know each other."
"Michael is my teacher, trainer, a Father to me," a collective gasp went through the council.
The representatives of the De walked to Lucia and began touching her, "She is real!"
"I can touch her, she is real!"
Michael looked around, "She is going to get a bigger head if they keep doing this."
"For a hundred years she has been the savior of the De, as you are for many worlds, and why so many warriors on this council and council members reacted the way they did when you entered."
"OK, but we are going to need a bigger ship for her ego," the assembly laughed.
"We invited Lucia here because in three days the De become an official member of the galactic council and will have a member in these chambers. They said if they could have anything they wanted Lucia to be here for the ceremony so we used the information in our files to contact her.
The De representatives were now hugging Lucia, one was crying. Stepping back they attempted to compose themselves only to fall into Lucia's arms completely overtaken with emotions. Michael leaned in, "Enjoy this, you earned it," walking away Michael returned to the council members and continued talking with them.
Sometime later the De asked if Lucia and Michael would stay and witness their ceremony to which Lucia and Michael both said in unicence "We would be honored."
The De took seats on the floor with Lucia and Michael, "If there is no other business we can adjourn, Lucia and Michael this evening we are having dinner and drinks a celebration of the De joining we hope you will join us?"
Michael said, "Free food and drink, I am there," Everyone laughed.
"Excuse me, Sir. I have something I would like to discuss if it is OK?"
"Go ahead."
"Thank you, we are interested in your refugees, we need more information would it be possible to meet with their leaders?"
"Yes, we will arrange it for the morning."
"May I ask what species they are, do you have any images we could see, what language they speak, do you have DNA, anything information you can provide us with would be most helpful."
"I will have all our information sent to your ship," the speaker turned in his seat and spoke to an assistant seated behind him.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, the data has arrived I am processing."
"Keep me informed, any word from the messages we sent out?"
"Not yet but once I process this we can try again if you wish."
"Michael and I will need another set of clothes for the dinner this evening."
"Already working on it, Ma'am"
"Thank you, Eve."
"I take it you have some idea of who these refugees are," asked the council speaker.
"Sir, in our travels we have collected many stories, with your information we have a lot to compare to those stories and see if we can narrow your search down to a few possibilities, if I may ask during the window of time would you provide Eve with any information on refugee caravans, stores, rumors, and everything?"
The council speaker turned in his chair and nodded his head, the Assistant went to work, "Is there anything else we can do to further your investigations?"
"No Sir, the council has been most gracious and I thank you."
"Excuse me Ma'am the information is incoming."
"Eve, reciprocate."
A tech behind the council members spoke up, "Sir."
"Go ahead?"
"This Eve on her ship has sent us all the information they have."
The speaker turned in his seat, "Thank you."
"Let's work together to find the refugee's people. If we fail, let's find them a world to call their own."
"We have given them protectorate status. and have a few planets in mind if we cannot find their people."
"If there is nothing else Michael and I would like to return to our ship and work with Eve before Dinner where I hope I will have an opportunity to meet all the members of this council and speak with them."
"Then we are Adjourned, see you this evening."
Lucia turned to the De representatives, "I know you are excited and I want to hear more about your world and your progress after the ceremony can we visit your world?"
"Yes, of course."
"I would ask you back to Eve to talk but we have much to do as I imagine you do. Michael and I would be honored if you would dine at our table?"
"The tradition is for the new members to dine at the table with the speaker and the representatives of the founding worlds. This table will include both of you, Lucia, if you are OK with that," stated the Speaker.
"That Sir, would make our night, thank you."
As Michael and Lucia exit the council chambers a commotion erupts, "Speaker?"
"We have visitors, and not the friendly kind."
"We will stay then," said Michael.
"On the fringe of our territory, a group of pirates, raiders, and slavers called the Juvia. We have had some conflicts with them. I received word not long ago that a convoy had entered our space asking to address the council," the speaker said.
"Let's hear them out," stated Lucia with a smile.
Taking seats with the De Michael said, "Lucia, you went fishing?"
"Looks like I may have caught a big one."
Michael smiled, "Ever the tactician."
One of the De looked at Michael and Lucia, "These people are dangerous."
"No, we are dangerous," replied Michael.
Some fifteen minutes later a commotion erupted outside the council chambers Michael was at the door in seconds, "What is going on here?"
"The captain of the convoy has arrived with a small detail. We told him his detail who are armed could not enter and he insisted they would."
"In hopes of peaceful relations, we will allow your escorts to enter unarmed. They will be checked for weapons and must surrender them to the guards," Michael said.
The captain agreed that his escorts would remain outside the chambers and entered with Michael.
"Captain, it is not ok to bring armed escorts onto this station we are peaceful," said the speaker.
"Yes," said the giant lizard man standing over 7 feet tall and weighing close to 300 lbs of muscle "That is your weakness," the captain turned and saw Lucia "Look at this one is she a gift?"
"Captain, would you state your reason for coming here?"
"We are here for the escapes, the ones you call refugees."
"Escapes?"
"A long time ago one of our ships came across a caravan, we easily captured them but a few ships evaded our capture, we are here to claim them by right conquest."
"Conquest, of a caravan of refugees that were not a threat," Michael said.
"Where are these people," asked the speaker.
Those that still survive work on an agricultural world alongside others that have been taken through conquest."
"This council does not allow slavery and we do not honor this right of conquest. We ask in the name of peaceful relations that you free the slaves you hold."
The captain laughed, "You are weak, we will take what is ours and I will take this one for myself," the captain turned to Lucia who sat observing. When he took a step toward Lucia Michael placed a hand on the brute's chest resulting in him being shoved back ten feet and landing on his rear end.
Lucia put her hand to her ear as if listening to something. Then she said words and her helmet appeared on the chair next to her. The De representatives stared at her, and she smiled, "See you soon," Lucia looked at Michael who saw the helmet and rolled his eyes.
As the Giant gained his feet Michael spoke, "She is not for you, she is the council representative that you will take to them unharmed. Her private ship will follow within days to retrieve her when her work is done."
Lucia stood up and walked to the giant, "I am ready."
"What about the escapes?"
"The refugees stay here," Lucia said.
"The helmet?"
"It is mine fitted to me, a gift from ******. I take it with me everywhere in case it is needed."
The Captain contacted his ship, "I have an ambassador coming on board with me, she will be returning with us, prepare the room across mine for her," he closed communications without waiting for a reply, "Shall we go?"
Lucia looked up into the eyes of the giant and with a smile said, "Ladies first, what a gentleman."
The Captain and Lucia left the council chambers and headed for his ship. As they exited through the doors Lucia was shaken when she saw Lucifer entering the chambers passing each other in the doorway.
Inside Lucifer walked up to Michael, "Michael, What are you doing?"
"I don't know, Lucia is playing out some plan I was not told about."
"Michael, you know she may be immortal but she is not invulnerable."
"Luci, this is her play and she has not let me in on it."
The De standing next to Michael asked, "Is she in Danger?"
"No, but we do not know what we are supposed to do." Said, Micheal.
Lucifer looked at the De, "If my ******** was in trouble I would not be standing here. If you want to know the truth they, all of them on every world are in trouble."
Lucifer and Michael turn to the council, "Speaker, have you taken any action?"
"We are concerned about Lucia our peacekeepers want to attempt a rescue."
Lucifer stepped forward, "Speaker if you do that you could mess up whatever plan she is working on."
"What plan?"
"Speaker, representatives the ships out there were full of troops they intended to take the refugees and this station by force with all of you here it would throw the worlds of the galactic council into kaos and make them vulnerable to invasion. We will take care of Lucia please increase your presence on the border and make your worlds in that sector aware of the issue."
"Are you he?"
"Who?"
"The council members are all asking if you are Lucifer and why are you here?"
"I am and I am here for my ********!"
"Excuse us, speaker and members, we need to return to Eve and figure out what we do next, Her improvisation of being an ambassador to negotiate your surrender stopped their attack giving you time but we all have a lot to do," Lucifer and Michael walked out of the chambers. The walk to the ship was silent each with their thoughts, nothing would be said until they were aboard Eve.
"Michael, contact the Court of the Gods and get the seers on this, we need information."
"Luci, I am on it, and calm down this is a disaster. I am going to have to tell the court that she has gone dark, in hostile territory, and is making it up as she goes, they are not going to be happy!"
"You cannot track her?"
"Eve, where is Lucia's armor?"
"She is wearing it," said Eve.
"How so," asked Lucifer.
"When I made your clothes, I only made yours Michael, Lucia's is her armor she can morph, transform the armor into whatever shape she desires."
Michael looked at Lucifer, "No, I cannot track her the court does not have that kind of control. The only way to find her is the seers or when she activates her armor now. I cannot think of anything more dangerous than her out there like this, the amount of damage and destruction she could do if she loses it is something I do not want to think about, Luci, try contacting her like you did over the planet."
"Yes."
Eve interrupted, "I have been monitoring all of this I know what direction they went do you want me to head in that direction?"
"Yes, Eve please but if you find them keep your distance this is not a rescue yet."
"Clarify are we going to be saving her from them or them from her," asked Eve.
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Chapter 6 The Juvia Meet The ******
Arriving at the homeworld of the Juvia Lucia is escorted to the great hall where she is introduced to the leader of Juvia. A group of six lizard men all as big as the captain but not as muscled having overindulged in the perks that come with their position. There are troops everywhere, Lucia counted at least 50 on the grounds and as many inside. Lucia approached and took a seat setting her helmet on her lap, "So you are here to negotiate the surrender of the council," asked one of the leaders.
"No, I am Lucia Morningstar, I am here to accept your surrender. I am here to see that all your slaves are released. I will send for ships from the council to gather the slaves of your conquests and we will begin work returning them to their people. If you co-operate your people will be allowed to continue, you will be confined to a single planet where you can survive or conquer each other until no one is left."
Silence filled the room for several minutes "Who do you think you are coming here making demands?"
"I said I am Lucia Morningstar and I encourage you to accept the offer, there are no negotiations."
The commander of the military troops guarding the great hall "This little woman comes here and speaks to the leaders in this manner. Bring her and we will teach her who is in control."
"So he is the one in charge, not you, you are puppets while the real leader stands by close enough to hear everything," Lucia turned her chair to face the commander, "Nothing has changed, I am here to accept your surrender."
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Far away on Eve.
"Luci, what did she say?"
"Hello, Father."
"That was all?"
"I asked her what her plan was and she said, "To accept their surrender,"
"That is not good, do you know where she is?"
"If I did would we be here?"
"The court of the Gods told me the last known location of their homeworld back when the Juvia got on their radar. We are headed there now but the information is several hundred years old."
"If the court has known about these monsters for several hundred years why haven't they done anything about them?"
"Luci, This is going to sound cruel but unlike you, they believe in letting nature take its course."
"Yes, and my way is wrong, Michael are you beginning to understand?"
Michael breathed deeply, "You saw the response I got in the council chambers?"
"Yes... Wait a minute," Lucifer smiled and his eyes widened, "You have been moonlighting. You have been doing the same thing Lucia is but not for the same reason. You disagree with the court and have been taking down worlds, and races like the Juvia without their knowledge and that is why you were so keen to train Lucia, it is why you made her who she is. Oh, Michael, brother, I did not know you had it in you!"
"Luci, can we focus on Lucia? We can have a steak dinner and talk about all this after."
"I think Lucia needs to be at that dinner but OK."
"Excuse me, Lucia's armor just came online," Eve interrupted.
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Back on the Juvia homeworld the so-called Commander reached out and grabbed Lucia tossing her across the room into a wall her helmet falling to the ground. Lucia's armor sensing the impact changed. When she landed on her feet unharmed she was now in her battle armor, she reached her hand out and the helmet flew to her hand, placing it on her head she spoke mystical words and lifted off hovering ten feet over the heads of the lizard men, "Kill her."
Lucia exited the building through a window and landed in the courtyard outside surrounded by close to a hundred troops a smile spread across her face, "BATTLE," the troops began firing her armor absorbing the blasts as Lucia moved among them dismembering the troops making short work of them, there was still much to do.
Re-entering the meeting hall she found the troops dead and the leaders seated at the table with Lucifer and Michael, Lucia removed her helmet, "What is going on here?"
"When we arrived we found them watching you decimating the troops outside. By the way, compliments on your control. They are most cooperative now and we have obtained access to their systems. We have information on all the worlds they hold and the species they have taken in conquest. The Council is sending out messages to known races about their people and are on their way with cargo ships, medical ships, and their peacekeepers."
Michael hugged Lucia "They have agreed to accept your terms contacted their people on other worlds and told them to stand down and leave those worlds."
"We are not sure all of them will, there may be some fighting ahead," Lucifer smiled.
"Show me the information" After reviewing the information she forwarded it to Eve in orbit. "Eve, send messages to the homeworlds of the known species and ask them to send transport and escorts to take their people home."
Lucia dropped into a seat at the head of the table and looked around at the assembled leader "A hundred and thirty-seven, a hundred and thirty-seven worlds and people from over two hundred races, men, women, and children."
"What happens to us now?"
"When the council arrives they will decide what planet you will be exiled to and who will stand trial," Lucia stated
"How do we know they will honor our agreement with you and not start executing us?"
"I will ask them not to, nicely."
Over the next two cycles, weapons were inventoried and destroyed. As ships arrived from other worlds the troops and leaders were brought to the hall where the leaders explained everything once they had been verified in the records that all were present that world was taken off the list of potential resistance. On the morning of the third cycle, ships began arriving and technicians and peacekeepers took over these duties.
Later on Eve, Lucia, Lucifer, and Michael plan the next step over a meal "Eve update on worlds that have not surrendered, please."
"We have confirmed that one hundred thirty-one worlds have been liberated of those one hundred eighteen have arrived here, the remaining thirteen ships are from the far end of the sector and will not arrive here for four to five days."
"Thank you, Eve, the council wants to move on the other six that are making a stand ASAP they do not want any genocides taking place," Stated Michael.
"Why don't we take care of it," asked Lucifer.
Lucia looked at her father "There are concerns about the council's image in all this. They feel that we should leave these resistant worlds to them because many of those worlds will end up as part of the Galactic Council and they want to be shown as liberators not mop up from Lucia or our actions."
"First off being seen as working with us should be enough for them and risking more lives, that is not how this should be done," stated Lucifer.
"Lucia and I agree, that is why we would like to propose to the council that we take the worlds back with three strike forces each of us leading a strike force to handle anything that gets intense, would you be willing to take part?"
"Yes, I am in it to win it," Lucifer replied.
"Eve, please send our proposal to the council."
"Yes, Michael right away."
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Chapter 7 Liberation
On the morning of the next cycle, troops set out for the first three plants and encountered little resistance taking the Juvia into custody in hours. The next three worlds had the same results as did two of the last three.
On the final world where Lucifer was leading the peacekeepers. The commander had taken precautions and built a bunker. When contacted the commander refused to accept the truth and ordered his troops to begin firing, negotiations had failed.
In the initial attack, many peacekeepers were injured. Lucifer walked through the fire retrieving the fallen and got the peacekeepers behind cover. As the peacekeepers tended to their wounded and began evacuations to their ship he witnessed the needless death of a peacekeeper and saw several dead bodies. Death was not unknown to him but these were needless deaths this was pointless and Lucifer became enraged his eyes turning black filling his sclera. Lucifer exited cover walked toward the bunker through enemy fire ripped a steel door off and threw it several miles into a field as he entered within seconds the fire upon the peacekeepers stopped and Lucifer walked out, returning to the peacekeepers he stated, "There were no survivors."
Some twenty years later work began turning the bunker into a museum/memorial it told the story of the Juvia and the enslavement of the worlds in this sector of space. It told of Lucia, Michael, and Lucifer paying tribute to the fallen peacekeepers who gave all for the freedom of their world.
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Epologe
Lucia and Michael stayed with the council for several weeks after Lucifer left. Much was happening in restoring the civilization that had been destroyed. Within five years a hundred and one worlds became charter members of the Galatic Council, thirty-five protectorates, and one world abandoned as unstable.
The Juvia were exiled on their homeworld, there were debates about relocating them but in the end, it was decided that the sins of the father would not be visited upon the sons and ********* and they were left in isolation.
Lucia joined Michael and her father for that steak dinner. A lot of truths were told about their past and the court of the Gods this settled a lot of issues between Lucia and her father. Lucia and Michael began a secret partnership where Michael kept the court's direct influence to a minimum and came to Lucia with the concerns of the court asking for her help in doing the God's work and joining her on many adventures.
The court of the Gods took credit for the entire thing claiming that back several hundred hundred years ago when the Juvia came on their radar they set a plan in motion that led to all that had happened overlooking the centuries of violence, enslavement, and destruction because that is what Gods do take credit, not blame or responsibility.