The Oracle's Dilemma

By Shawn O'Toole

Insight and intuition are the gentle powers of the wise and benevolent Oracle of Telluria. She is on a quest to make peace when assailed by the clone, human female invaders. A sinister alien commands the women and has nefarious plans for the gentle sibyl. The Oracle's bodyguard delivers her from captivity. Their desperate escape becomes a fight for survival. The Oracle must choose between the lives of others or the loss of her very self. The subtleties carry the consequences of this ultimate decision.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shawn O'Toole
• Release date: Aug 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301510795

Shawn O'Toole

Shawn O'Toole is an avid reader who expresses his love of literature by writing his own. Though his favorite works are classical fiction, most of his actual reading is historical or scientific non-fiction. He combines his inspirations to create yarns that are fantastic yet believable. He is restless and eager, so one need not wait to delve into his adventures.

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THE ORACLE’S DILEMMA

by

Shawn O’Toole

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

Shawn O’Toole on Smashwords

Cover Art Illustrated by:

Coy Fields II

The Oracle’s Dilemma

Copyright © Shawn O’Toole 2013

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this story, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is much appreciated.

This story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

*****

THE ORACLE’S DILEMMA

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Chapter 1

The Arriving Edifice

The Oracle was the oldest and wisest of all the denizens of Telluria. She had come to the Far Sight Forest to learn the hearts and minds of the Great Shadow’s mortal women. We hope to make peace with them, she explained to little Shrubby.

Why? The Concubines are evil.

Oh? Do you know their hearts and minds?

No.

Nor do I: That is why we have come here.

The Oracle was in the form of a tall, voluptuous, naked woman with fair, greenish skin, bright green eyes and a head of long, leafy hair. Shrubby was a squat zoophyte and looked like a face with an outgrowth of articulate roots and branches. Hairy the sasquatch was with them. He was very big, broad, strong and– hairy. Though monstrous in form and stature, his friendly smile and twinkling, blue eyes gave him a gentle aspect.

Here, the Oracle chose a spot. Her feet stretched and formed into roots that sunk into the ground. She cooed as she savored the rich, tasty earth. Yes, she determined. This is a good spot. She told her companions, Wake me only if you must. The Oracle grew and hardened as she formed into a very large tree.

For several days, Hairy and Shrubby waited. The sasquatch would go out and forage for food and to drink from the nearby creek. Shrubby would sink her roots into the soil and eat and drink from the ground itself. Whatever they did, they remained near the Oracle. Shrubby would sometimes touch the sentient tree, listening for anything told or asked of them. Hairy had his big gun. He was here to guard the plant fairies.

Atop a forested hill: There was a large, swirling flash... then a modular, prefabricated edifice of metal, plastic and glass. Inside the structure’s command-and-control room, a Concubine in blue reported, Teleport successful. Foundation secure and all systems online.

A Concubine in purple commanded, Initiate perimeter scan.

Initiating.

The Concubines of the Great Shadow were the mass-produced duplicates of his favorite original maidservant. As fit young women, their physiques were firm and supple. Their uniform varied in color,