by Stone, Piper
I’d seen the latest Movietron images, all of the bloody and violent battles. The Federation officers had taken to rounding up the dissident groups, publicly ostracizing the Dark Resistance as evil. And the worst part was that the majority of people on Earth were turning their trust in the direction of the New World Order, fearful of the dissidents.
The president had to be stopped in any manner.
And I was just the man to do it.
She appeared pensive, as if the undertaking was more than she’d anticipated. “Are we doing the right thing?”
Her question provoked several emotions, most of which I couldn’t afford to address. “We are gathering information, evidence that the government has deceptive designs on ignoring the treaty.”
“And I’m no fool, Draze. You and I both know something is wrong with our government. Why would they risk your wrath unless they’d already had a subterfuge in mind?”
I brushed hair from her eyes, debating my answer. “We don’t know that. Yet. But we will find out.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” she asked.
I took a deep breath, angry with the situation. “I am simply concentrating and nothing more. Are the coordinates provided close to your hiding place?”
“Within one mile, but we will still be within the city limits,” she answered, her lower lip quivering.
“Meaning we must be careful of the Federation officers,” Greson finished.
“We will have enough soldiers in order to keep them at bay.” There was no conviction in my voice.
Yet she nodded, giving me a slight smile. “I have a very bad feeling.”
I’d never been a comforting man, even with Castran, yet I pulled her into my arms, pressing my hand against her head. She was far too astute in her fears. Everything in our worlds was about to collide. When I kissed her forehead, the deep sigh she emitted gave me a sense of her feelings as well as her worries.
She wanted nothing more than to trust me—to trust both Greson and me. Somehow, I had to become her hero.
I heard the footsteps in the corridor and moved away from her. No one needed to know how much she was cared for.
As Lieutenant Tragon entered the room with seven of the men he’d chosen, I could see that he was just as battle ready as the others. “We are ready for departure, Commander Haern.”
“You are staying to command the ship,” I commented.
He shook his head defiantly. “No, sir. I am going with you. I will protect my people and our mission. We have a perfectly capable fleet prepared to do what is necessary in my absence.”
In truth, he would prove to be useful on the trip. His knowledge of the Vipers was invaluable, let alone his prowess in battle.
“So be it. Prepare.” I motioned everyone to the transport units, taking one last minute to pull Casey’s hand into mine. “Stay with us. Do not venture off. Do you understand?”
“Yes, without question.” She placed her hand on the foreign weapon she’d been taught briefly to use. I also had to trust the woman who’d been called nothing more than a pet. She could also be a traitor, lying in wait to betray all of us.
I refused to follow the nagging thought, preferring to believe that she wanted the best for both of our worlds. The king was certain of his findings and his instinct was almost never wrong.
Almost.
Another moment of time would tell.
While I’d do what was necessary, my heart refused to believe anything but the fact she’d grown fond of us. I only hoped that I wasn’t the biggest fool of all.
I closed my eyes as the transport initiation began, the slight shift in molecular structure a tightening of my muscles, a heightening of my blood flow. When I opened my eyes again, I could see the group of eleven had landed in a forest of trees. I blinked several times, able to see a massive display of lights no more than one mile from our position.
I immediately pulled my weapon into my hands, turning in a full circle as I studied the landscaping. There was nothing but the sound of night creatures, all hungry and foraging through the thick foliage in search of food. The first dawn of light was inching over the horizon, but given the denseness of the forest, there were nothing but eerie shadows.
Casey took several steps forward, moving to what appeared to be a knoll overlooking the city. I moved by her side, peering down at the massive light display.
“How far until we reach the destination?” I asked as quietly as possible.
“From here, only a little over a mile. Your coordinates were accurate.” She took a deep breath, scanning the horizon. “Follow me.”
“We go in formation, two soldiers in front,” I commanded, motioning to the others.
She gave me an apprehensive look before heading off, moving away from the forest. We saw and heard nothing for a full ten minutes until the lights drew closer. Suddenly, there was noise, a deep voice penetrating the night.
Casey hissed, shaking her head. “The bastard has to pontificate no matter where he is.” She suddenly took off running, heading directly into a clearing, becoming easy prey.
I raced after her, yanking her shoulder after only a few hundred yards. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
She pointed toward the large screen that was easy to see and even easier to hear. “Finding out what the latest bullshit the president has to say. I think it should be of interest.”
I moved a few steps ahead of her, narrowing my eyes as I peered at the massive monitor that stood in the middle of nothing. There were no buildings, no outward sign of human life. Just a live monitor in vivid color spewing the same hatred that I’d seen so many times before.
“We are powerful. We are warriors. We will fight our enemy! And. We. Start. Here.” President Silvio sat behind a desk, the same place even I’d seen him dozens of times in his blasphemous messages. Only this time, there were two soldiers flanking his sides.
“I swear I’ve seen this same shit before,” she whispered. “What the fuck is he talking about?”
“The messages are recorded, not live.” I studied the soldiers, an odd sensation drilling into every muscle. There was something strange about their appearance. But what? Maybe I was far too exhausted. What I did know instinctively is that whatever plan had been initiated had escalated. Why? I growled under my breath, every nerve on edge.
She shook her head once again. “No,” she hissed, moving even closer. “There is something odd about the message. I could swear it.”
The sound of a single gunshot shattered the air around us. I forced our entire group to retreat to the trees, hunkering down. Within seconds, another shot could be heard followed by the sound of someone in excruciating pain.
“What the hell is going on?” Greson demanded.
“Federation officers,” Casey answered. “Capturing another escaped prisoner.”
Her words were haunted, filled with intense pain.
And fear.
Quietly, I motioned to the others to remain in position, giving her a stern look before venturing out from our secure position. With the weapon in my hand, I ventured toward the location of the gunshots. I’d know the sound of ancient weapons anywhere. What that told me was that if Casey was correct in her assumption, mercenaries had been hired by the government to begin rounding up every dissident.
The end was near.
I eased through the limited light, catching yet another agonizing scream of a female in distress. While interfering in any manner wasn’t in our best interest, I refused to allow any woman to be brutalized. That wasn’t what I was made of. I could see another clearing up ahead and inched behind a massive tree, peering out into the night.
They’d captured not one but two human females and were holding them at gunpoint. The gleeful sounds of the four men standing over them engaged every angry emotion I possessed. The moment one of the assholes smacked the youngest of the pair, I reacted, leveling my weapon toward the men.
The shock and awe of my surprise attack register
ed on their faces as I paralyzed them at first, holding off on issuing the killing shots until I moved closer.
When I did, I was horrified at what they’d obviously already done to the women, their clothes tattered, their faces bruised. I didn’t need any additional evidence to make my choice.
Malzeon weapons were far superior, the single rays shot into them ending the hunters’ lives within seconds.
The women scuttled backwards, terror riding their faces.
I knew instinctively that Casey would follow, her fearless attitude an attribute that infuriated me. I snarled when she rushed in front of me, crouching down only inches from the women.
“I’m Detective Casey Roberts. We are here to help you. Can you tell us what happened?”
The two women looked at each other, finally one creeping forward on her hands and knees. “They’re rounding up anyone they believe to be a part of the Dark Resistance. And they’re... killing them.”
“Who ordered this?” I demanded.
“President Marchant,” the second female muttered, rocking forward and backward as she held her arms, tears running down her dirt-stained face. “We were just...”
“We’re both nurses, for God’s sake. The bastards stormed the hospital and took at least a dozen of us.” The first woman pushed her fist into her mouth, wrapping her arm around the other. “They’re going to kill us all. If the aliens don’t accomplish that first.” She turned her glare on me, eyes that I wouldn’t soon forget.
The great president had managed to indoctrinate even the dissidents against us. I was even more fearful that I’d be forced to call in the ships. I would be required to make the decision very soon and that would destroy Casey. My heart ached from lying to her.
Casey jerked to her feet, kicking one of the mercenaries in the balls. “We will not allow that to happen, you worthless fucks.” She continued her moment of revenge, taking out her anger in a savage manner.
“We need to go,” I instructed, grabbing her arm and dragging her away.
“Not without the women. Don’t you see what’s happening here?”
I hesitated, every instinct telling me to leave the women behind, but without protection, another group of hunters would find them soon enough. “I know exactly what’s happening. We will take them with us but make certain they remain close. Finish this, Casey. Now.”
She tilted her head and in the bright moonlight, I could see a resolve that I hadn’t noticed within her before. The love of her planet was extraordinary. “Then follow me.”
I sucked in my breath, motioning the other women to follow Casey. Their reluctance didn’t surprise me. They had no way of knowing who they could trust.
Within the next hour, Casey weaved her way a full two miles from the city limits. There were no other sounds of gunfire, no apparent signs of any of the Federation officers, but I could smell their bloodshed. There had been several other dissidents caught in their web of deceit, their lives ended on this very turf. I had no doubt there were many attempting to leave the city limits. We were in just as much danger.
Minutes later, Casey motioned silently to follow her through another grove of trees. I could tell that even in the shadows, the area had been landscaped, now merely a wild mass of thick underbrush and briars. However, the dense foliage had been an excellent cover for a small cottage sitting on the edge of a river. I was able to hear the sounds of the running brook over the wind whipping through the trees.
I took a deep whiff, scanning the perimeter in efforts to ascertain whether or not we’d been followed. All seemed quiet.
Almost too quiet.
“What is this place?” I asked as she crouched before the bottom step leading to the porch in front of the cabin.
“A respite for my parents, although my father rarely came here after my mother died. He couldn’t part with it.” Casey sighed and in her hand I could see what appeared to be an old-fashioned key. She trudged up the stairs, hesitating before placing the key in the door lock. “Happy memories,” she whispered before opening the door. She immediately motioned the women inside and even in the darkness, I could tell she was shaking. “We should hurry.”
“I’m well aware.” I waited until the other soldiers advanced, Greson shaking his head as he moved closer.
“I don’t like this,” he said, his hand firmly planted around his weapon.
“We get what we need and leave,” I stated, inching closer to my lieutenant. “Tragon, I want four of your men watching the place.”
“Yes, sir. Where would you like me?” he asked.
“Come inside. Given what we’ve seen, we’ll need to begin reprogramming the Vipers. How long will that take?”
He exhaled, taking his time to answer. “One hour. Maybe two, at least by human time.”
“Then we have no time to waste.” I motioned toward Greson and entered the cabin. Casey had already found a single working light, the glow barely illuminating the sparse surroundings. It was obvious no one had been inside for some time.
Casey moved toward the women, rubbing her hand down the arm of one. “There should be fresh clothes in the bedroom down the hall. The water should still be running. Take some time and clean up.”
“Thank you,” the older woman said. “My name is Julie. That’s Angela and we are grateful for your help.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us about the president’s orders?” I kept my question short. There was no need in alarming them any further.
Julie sighed, running her hand through her hair. “There were sirens this morning, those used only when a nuclear disaster or some horrific weather pattern comes in. People have already been trying to flee the city, but I don’t know what’s going on.”
“That’s how these Federation officers have been able to round up the dissidents,” Greson offered. “Wreak havoc then strike.”
“Go and get cleaned up,” I instructed Julie. “But we will be leaving here in a short time.”
Julie nodded, her lower lip quivering. She turned to go then shifted back in my direction. “Are you really going to erase our planet as the president said?”
I clenched my hand around my weapon. “That is not our intent.”
I could tell Julie wasn’t certain whether to believe me, but she nodded, helping Angela move toward the hallway.
“The king really isn’t planning on destroying Earth?” Casey asked in a demanding tone.
I wanted to share with her the conversation I’d had, but the king would have to make another choice if the president and his council couldn’t be stopped. What I also realized is that there were lies being told from every direction. “King Lorowerd gave his word. Now, where is this evidence?”
Casey wrung her hands before nodding. She moved toward a small table located within the room, pushing it aside. While there was no indication of a hidden compartment, she pressed down on the floor, able to move a solid twelve by twelve aside, pulling a container into the light. The box was some form of thick metal, able to withstand the elements, including fire. I had to give her credit for the hiding place. No one would assume there was anything underneath the floor.
She moved toward the small desk holding the lamp, running her fingers over the top. The lock had an old-fashioned combination, something that I’d only read about with regard to aspects of the past on Earth. Her fingers fumbling, it took her three attempts before she was successful. When she opened the lid, she took another deep breath. “I have never looked at my father’s discs, at least the last ones he mentioned he’d stored away.”
“So, you have no idea what’s on them,” Greson said softly.
“None and I think I was a fool not checking them earlier,” she finally offered as she pulled out a type of computer system, one that hadn’t been used on Earth in over a decade. “My father told me that I’d know the time when it was necessary to find the truth, something he’d instilled in me since I was a child.” She had a faraway look in her eyes, the sadness reverberating around her
.
I gave Greson a hard glance and could read his mind. Whatever was on these discs could mean the difference in life or death.
While the computer was an older technology, one I’d also read about, Casey was able to bring the system to life within two minutes. She seemed to be holding her breath as she inserted the first disc, her fingers shaking as she moved through the various files. I allowed her time before moving around the desk, studying the information on the screen.
“What is this?” I asked, seeing basic scientific formulas that made no sense to me.
“Honestly, I’m not certain. This isn’t what I expected to see.” she whispered, finally leaning down. She seemed agitated as she inserted another disc, moving through the files quickly. Her father had also penned several reports, some of which made little sense.
Until she placed the third disc into the computer. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. “What. The. Fuck.”
She tipped her head, locking eyes with mine. “If this is the truth, then we’ve been wrong. I’ve been wrong all along. I just don’t get it. The things my father led me to believe were...” She pressed her hand over her mouth.
“Perhaps he was fearful that if you were made aware of the truth you wouldn’t be safe,” I offered. My thoughts drifted to what the king had told me. He’d made an ally, one that had turned on him. Why? Why would the president act like his friend then betray him? I would need to talk to the king. We had no other choice but to invade.
She glanced up at me, chewing on her lip. “But why lead me down an entirely different path? Why have me believe in lies?”
“He was protecting you, Casey. There is no other reason.” Or he was protecting a promise made? Whatever had gone on years before, no wonder the New World Order wanted him dead. He’d been the keeper of the truth.
“My father always had a reason. Always. We had too many conversations.”
“You’re certain your father’s access and the evidence he collected is truthful?” Even my heart was racing.
“I believe in and trust my father implicitly, Draze. He was a scientist who believed in the truth. What does confuse me is that he worked tirelessly for years, always believing your people would eventually destroy us, but he never mentioned anything like what I just found. But I do know that he feared for everyone on this planet. What I also don’t understand is how could he have foretold the future?”
