Not The One - part 10
By Dru



Commander Walsh went in with his unit of UG-class hover-tanks in full battle
readiness. There had been no warning, no ships entering or leaving. Motion
sensors thousands of light years away were sensitive to any incoming hostiles,
but somehow the many security screens had failed them.

"Still nothing on my scope," someone observed, his voice conveying
disappointment.

"I've got a visual on the tower," Walsh informed his flight group. "Go to
attack formation."

One of them swore into the mike as the tanks drew closer to the once beautiful
tower. The council chamber had been opened fully to the air, and on it they
could see movement.

"Arm artillery and anti-infantry systems. Go wide all sides."

At his command, the experienced tank-pilots manoeuvred their floating weapons
platforms to surround the tower. They all got in position and approached the
danger zone determined that the people who had destroyed the tower would not
get away.

The remaining members of the council cowered on the floor of their opened
chamber. None of them tried to run, and Susan knew that was because they were
aware how pointless it would be. If they teleported across the galaxy it
wouldn't save them. The moment they saw her eyes they knew that they were
doomed. The only question was how long she would play with them.

"Don't go anywhere!" she ordered, waving her hand and turning the stone floor
into ankle deep water. Turning the water back to stone to trap them, she flew
straight up a few hundred feet, and looked down at the tanks coming in.
Stretching her arms out she arched her back and smacked face-first into the
first armoured vehicle. The unusual metal exploded as she streaked through it
at mach 12. Stopping in front of a fast moving tank Susan allowed them to try
the same trick on her. But the impact couldn't move her now that she knew how
root herself to the spot.

Testing more knowledge she had gained, Susan closed her eyes and explored the
hostile tanks more thoroughly than the inspectors had done at the factory.
Experimenting, she opened her eyes and looked at one. A moment after later it
exploded as she detonated the blast generator. Flying from the path of
incoming artillery shells, Susan approached the nearest tank and grabbed a
handful of its tough armour. Stopping in mid air, she allowed the pilot to
blow his engines trying to get away.

"Looks like your anti-gravity booster just spat the dummy. How well do these
things glide?" Letting go of the tank, she watched it fall fifty thousand feet
to the ground. The tanks got a few hits on her as she admired the little
explosion far below, making Susan laugh. Cocking her thumb at a tight
formation coming around to line her up, Susan released a bolt of energy from
her fingertip that grew into giant ball of raging electrified acid as it
crossed the distance to disintegrate the incoming attackers. Reaching out with
her hands, she started controlling the explosive shells that were meant to
kill her. Allowing three of four to hit her now and then, she turned their
weapons against them. But like her flesh, the metal of the tanks was able to
withstand the blasts without a scratch. So she turned her influence to the
tanks themselves, crushing the first like an alfoil can to see how hard it
would be. The crew of her next target watched in amazement as the inside of
their tank grew larger. Susan continued to stretch the tank out at every angle
until it exploded and dropped its crew to the distant ground.

"Well isn't this fun!" she observed, transmitting her thought to the remnants
of the council below. "And you thought I'd just give the ring back? Some bunch
of wise men you lot make." Clicking her fingers, she made the last tanks tear
themselves apart. Zooming down to the tower, she came to rest before the
quivering council. "I was going to kill all of you," she coolly informed them.
"But perhaps I will let you live. To think I was worried about what you fools
might do to me!"

She made a sweeping gesture with her hand, and the councillors feet were
released from the stone floor.

"Sorry about your tower. I could fix it just as easily, but I'm not going to.
You fools don't deserve such a beautiful home."

"What will you do with the power?" one of them asked, swallowing their fear.

"I don't know. But I've got all the time in the universe to decide, don't I?
And anyway, it's really none of your business now. The ring is not your
concern anymore. And if you try to make it your concern again, I'll destroy
you and your planet. And I won't even have to come here to do it." Just to
show them that she could, Susan looked up at a lonely star in the sky.
Checking that there were no planets around it, she held up her hand and sent a
tiny ball of light streaking toward her target. When the energy collided with
the distant star, the explosion that followed lit up the eyes of all
observers. "So don't do anything you'll regret."

Leaving the fools to suffer in their hopelessness, Susan burst from their
atmosphere and arced toward the starry universe. Everything was different now.
Now she understood much more about the ring, and how truly limitless her
potential had become. Looking back at the shrinking solar system she marvelled
at how much detail her eyes picked up. Even this far away she could see the
tower and the councillors sitting on it in confusion. Panning around the
immediate area, Susan spotted hundreds of settlements reaching out in a huge
sphere around the home world of the council. Their civilization had spread to
a huge area of the Milky Way. Passing the last outpost her eyes zoomed in on
the colony. There were whole families down there, going about their business.
It reminded Susan of a documentary she had seen about the early days of the
American continent. Except for the space ships, the luxury homes, and the
hovercars.

Turning her attention back to the brilliant display of the universe, she
probed it for signs of life. Apparently the Council of the Twelve were the
most advanced of the civilisations. While Susan found several other space
faring people, none of them had reached as far into their explorations as
those she had just left.

It dawned on Susan how pathetic they all were. None of them would ever be able
reach the speeds that she achieved. In the last few minutes she had gone
further than any light-speed vessel could ever go. Passing a solar system,
Susan noticed that one of the planets had buildings on it. Huge buildings.
Closer inspection revealed a lot of people moving about.

"This could be interesting," she mused, slowing down and aiming at the
thriving planet.

Trogath of the Black had ruled the world of Irynon since his fourteenth
birthday. Those who heard his words obeyed without question, and if anyone
displeased their King then death would come as a relief...but come later.

Today he stood on his high platform, and before him loomed his next great
monument. A million workers laboured under the whip, their cries of pain only
earning them more. Only work kept the tassel at bay. Only Work would please
their King.

The time for battles had long passed...Trogath's father had been a thorough
murderer of his enemies, and the Legion kept the lords from raising armies.
Trogath was a king who built things. Big things in the way of his ancestors.

"The west supports are completed Your Majesty," a quick-tongued aide reported.

"They are not done until I have seen them," Trogath reminded his loyal
servant. "Now is a good time."

Susan recognised the planet from a survey the council had done. But that had
been done centuries ago and a lot had changed here. There were vast regions
inhabited by simple tribesmen, but they were of little interest compared to
the enterprising builders covering the largest continent. Flying into the
atmosphere at a gentle mach four, Susan flew through the clouds and went low
over a mountain range. Knocking the cap of , the hard stone not slowing her,
she scanned the villages dotting the landscape beyond the mountains for
information. Learning their language was the hardest part, but after that the
rest of their knowledge flowed easily. Susan decided to find the leader of
this planet, locating him in an instant. She wanted to let him know that he
was doing a good job with buildings.

When his latest project came into view, she realised the horrible way in which
the mammoth structures were built. A cold anger rose in her as the suffering
of thousands went on before her. Hovering over the seething pile of stone,
Susan looked at Trogath walking around to the west supports. His guards around
him, Trogath looked very imperial as he strode among his ragged slaves. The
building seemed much less impressive when Susan understood the man who had
made them. Susan didn't want to congratulate him anymore. Weaving clothes from
the air around her, forming them right there on her tight body, Susan went
down to talk with Trogath.

"Trogath of the Black!"

Trogath turned, the woman's voice impossibly loud. Searching the immediate
area he failed to find the noisy person who spoke his name so disrespectfully.

"Up here, scumbag."

Looking up he had to block out the sun to see who was talking. His mouth
opened and he stepped back when he saw Susan hovering twenty feet in the air
overhead. His guards swarmed around him and drew weapons, but no one except
Susan was feeling sure of themselves.

"What is this?" Trogath demanded. "Who are you?"

"Who are you? What gives you the right to enslave these people?"

"Archers! Attack this demon!" Trogath ran, his entourage all around him as men
with bows started a hail of arrows.

Completely ignoring the arrows, Susan eased her way along keeping Trogath in
sight. He went into his tent. Landing in front of the entrance, she smiled at
the tall muscular swordsmen who barred away. A flurry of whooshing steel
amused her a moment, Susan relaxed herself to appreciate the massage. The
swords were so strong that the forearms or hands of those holding the weapons
broke first. "Thanks fellas." Walking past them, she stepped into three
mechanical axes. Their slightly blunted blades curled on her curvaceous body.
Using the knowledge she had taken from the councillors, Susan melted the axes
from the inside out with a moments concentration. They fell to the floor in
red blobs, splashing around to settle cooling on the stone floor. The tent was
covering a stone opening. The entrance was closed by a massive block, which
Susan's penetrating eyes found connected to a sophisticated opening system.
But without the key she couldn't activate it.

Stepping to the centre of the block, Susan crossed her arms. The block beneath
her feet cracked thunderously under her heels, and she decsended through it
quite easily to find herself in a tunnel. Flying along she caught up with
Trogath in the blinking of an eye.

Susan landed and allowed the gravity of the planet to take a little of her
weight just as the kings rear guard turned. More arrows shattered on her, the
small group able to fire with well honed speed and accuracy. Susan stood a
while, accepting their assault with amusement until their quivers were empty.

"Do you have any idea how many arrows you guys just shot?" she asked. "Check
it out."

The pieces of wood and bent steel tips lifted from the floor around Susan's
feet, and reformed as arrows in the air before her.

"My turn."

The running men couldn't dodge the guided missiles that hunted them down, and
Susan caught up with the escaping ruler before the last arrow slammed home.
The rest of guard besides two turned, steel and fists finding flesh. Only the
fists were doing any damage though. Popping the guard's like oversized
water-balloons, Susan sped up and got the attention of the past two while the
panting king staggered onward.

"You boys just have no idea," she told the pathetic royal warriors. She waved
her hand and the pair fell to their knees. A second gesture drove the long
blades through opposite hearts and no one was left to fight for the king.
"You've been a naughty boy, Trogath."

"Who are you," he demanded, backing away from the beautiful woman who killed
his men so easily.

"If you really want to know." Rather than tell him the long story with words,
Susan transmitted her memories...editing certain bits...directly into his
head.

"How can it be...?"

"It struck me as strange too, but I think I'll get used to it. Now then, what
am I going to do with you?" Not wanting to touch the vile man with her
thoughts again, Susan closed the distance between them and hoisted the royal
slave-driver by the shoulder, ignoring his cries of pain and feeble kicks.
Flying back up the tunnel she dragged him callously along behind her until
they hovered above the seething construction site.

"Hey down there!" Susan called, transmitting on all frequencies. "You are
free! Go home, there will be no more monuments!"

The tired workers were disbelieving, but when Susan disintegrated everyone
with a whip or weapon they saw that they were free. Susan sensed a great deal
of confusion...fear of the unknown. But in her heart she smiled and knew the
slaves of Trogath would survive to become greater than their masters.

"Now than, your majesty, you like tall buildings do you? I'll make you one."
Looking down at the desert far below, Susan's eyes pierced the dunes and found
the hard bedrock beneath. There was a rumbling, and the sands shifted to make
way for a column of stone that was rocketing steadily upward. The column
continued to rise out of the desert until the warm stone rested beneath
Trogath's feet. "There you go."

The once proud ruler felt her hand release his broken and twisted shoulder,
but for a long time it felt as though it was still there. Trogath kept
perfectly still. The pinnacle of stone was not large enough to crouch on, but
at least it didn't sway.

"If you release me, all my people will worship you, great goddess..."

"I'm not a goddess, fool. I don't want your worship. Your people are not going
to have to put up with you anymore." She floated up close to him, invading his
broad personal space. "Enjoy the view, Trogath. Maybe in a few years I'll come
back and see how the hell you're going."

Darting out of the atmosphere, Susan smiled and gave herself a pat on the back
for a job well done. She started to see a new role for herself in the
universe.