Ranul’s arm lurched out, aiming her wand at my daughter, but Jules repelled it with a burst of energy. The blood from Ranul’s stomach wound had frozen, and I watched my daughter grabbing at the crystal, prying it free from the Brack woman. She shoved Ranul farther, who looked to have given up the fight.
Jules raised a hand, shooting a string of green energy into space. It formed a symbol, and Ranul tried to scream, the effort soundless.
She burst into a million pieces.
It was horrible, but somehow satisfying to witness.
My daughter stared at the void where Ranul had been a moment ago, before returning to the shield with the witch’s digital wand. She entered, floating beside me. In her other hand, she clutched the portal stone.
“Papa, are you okay?” She hugged me tightly.
I stroked her curly hair, laughing and crying at the same time. “You did it.”
She was crying too. “We both did.”
Jules and I floated between Earth and the Moon for a few minutes.
Then I took the blood-covered crystal fragment, pictured our farmhouse on Earth, and off we went.
Twenty-Four
Jules and I stepped through the barrier underneath our home. It made me think of how much we’d miss our place on New Spero, but at least we had my parents’ restored old house to call our own.
“Papa, are you sure this is right?” Jules consistently looked worried for me, and I couldn’t blame her.
“Ovalax is buried, and now I have to kill him.” One moment we were on Earth, but when we entered the wooden door frame, we were gone to my secreted ship, hidden from everyone. Inside were some dangerous tools, and I couldn’t ever visit without recalling my fight with Lom of Pleva. Twenty years, and Jules had ended that threat in Magnus’ dimension. It still didn’t seem real.
The sphere portal stone was quiet, and concealed within it were all the memories and predictions from thousands of victims and eons of efforts. Ovalax was no longer necessary. He’d done everything for his own selfishness, never caring about the safety of anyone by himself.
Jules stayed close to me as we neared the giant crystal. A Deity stone. The Shandra Valincin. One more remained a mystery, but we’d find it eventually. For now, this object was housing an evil force, and I had to purge it.
“Do you need my help?” Jules asked.
“No. I have to do this by myself.” Ovalax was right. I was the Recaster. I wasn’t simply a man. I’d been trying my best to hide in the shadows and let others around me thrive. I was so much more, and it was time I understood that.
Ovalax remained in my mind, but powerless. I released him into the stone with a brief touch on the cool surface of the sphere.
The stone began to glow, pulsing with his fury at failure, but I didn’t care. I hardly noticed he was gone.
“I love you, Jules. I’m so proud of everything you’ve done.” I slammed my palms on the stone before she could respond. I felt every single vision inhabit my mind as I ended them forever. Countless realities and possibilities cascaded past the back of my eyelids, and I ignored them, not wanting to be tricked by the devious monster in my moment of victory.
Ranul was defeated, but that didn’t mean the Brack threat had been mitigated. And we couldn’t let the Beykn runes get into the wrong hands.
I saw a final picture, before they were done. It was me: wearing an unfamiliar uniform, my hair gray, a smile on my face as I stood at a council table, facing a crowd of thousands. They cheered, and I felt the warmth of their support. I searched the image for my family, but couldn’t find Jules, Hugo, or Mary among them.
By the time the vision disintegrated from existence, I was unable to stand. My legs gave out, and I dropped to the floor. Jules was at my side, and she held my hand. “Don’t worry, Papa. I’ll bring you home.”
For a moment, I didn’t know where that was.
____________
Magnus and Natalia gasped in shock as Jules appeared, holding her father’s wrist. The battle was done on Outpost, and Malir rushed across the hangar.
“Jules, are you okay?” He glanced at her, then at Dean. He was out cold. Sarlun stayed behind, his face drawn and sad. Mary was at Dean’s side in a second, checking his pulse.
“Mom, where’s Suma?” Jules scanned the crowded room, seeing the crew disposing of the dead Brack drop troopers.
“She’s not here,” Magnus answered instead. “There was another group guarding them. I suppose they want to negotiate.”
“Too late.” Jules was angry. She’d been tricked into captivity by Ranul, and Jules was out of patience. Papa had been nearly consumed by Ovalax, and now these Brack wanted to discuss their options for freedom? Not going to happen. “I’ll be right back.”
Jules filled with power, letting the feeling sink in. She’d been without her gifts for a couple of hours while Ranul contained her under the witch temple, and she would never let them go again.
She lifted from the floor, shooting from the torn hole in Outpost’s hull. Jules surveyed the landscape, finding a group of Brack staying far from weapon’s range. A moment later, she was above them. Jules saw one of the drop troopers pointing into the sky.
She fell, the wind blowing her hair upwards. A second before impact, she slowed.
“Hi, Suma,” she said casually to her friend. Elex and Jaessa were with her, their hands bound behind them.
“Everyone line up!” she shouted.
The Brack stood there, unsure what to do. If they shot at her, they could hit their own people in the crossfire.
“I said form a line!” Jules burned with fury, but convinced herself not to kill them. She wasn’t the monster. She was the hero. Her anger subsided.
One of the troopers swung his gun, and Jules used her green energy, drawing a symbol in the air. The soldier dropped to the ground. She added impact into it, the rune growing larger. All of the Brack slipped to the grass, fast asleep.
“How did you do that?” Jaessa asked, eyes wide.
With a sense of relief, Jules embraced her friend. “I learned a few spells.”
She threw a shield around the dozing enemy, and carried her allies to their warship. It remained powered off, and had a gaping hole in the exterior. She wondered what they planned to do with it.
____________
“How long is he going to be sleeping?” Mary asked the doctor. Jules struggled to believe that was her mother. Her skin was youthful, the tone of her voice was lighter. Even her step had more energy behind it.
“We can’t be sure. He’s endured a lot,” the woman said. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Jules and Hugo stayed on their chairs next to the bed in Outpost’s medical bay, while her mom paced around the bed.
“This is such a mess,” she whispered. “Do you think he’ll be angry?”
“About the extenders? Probably.” Jules chuckled, but her mom didn’t seem amused. It was so strange seeing her like this. She resembled the pictures from around the time of the Kraski event.
“I should have waited for him to wake up.” Mary sighed anxiously.
“He might not have, if you hadn’t made a decision.” Jules didn’t like seeing her mom so upset.
“This whole thing has been a disaster,” Mary said.
“No it hasn’t,” Jules told her.
Hugo finally broke his stare from his father. “How do you mean?”
“We found Ebos. There were only a few Brack remaining, waiting for their leader, Ranul. Well, she’s dead. And now this belongs to the Alliance,” Jules said. “Not to mention, we have a new ally with Jaessa’s people, the Fera. Ranul said they left Adrol behind when they uncovered what they wanted.”
“What about your father?” Mary asked.
“I think he’ll be fine. He fought off Ovalax, and it took a toll.” Jules set a palm on her Papa’s arm.
“And Ovalax? He’s gone?”
“He’ll never harm anyone else.” Jules was sure of this. She’d witnessed his ener
gy evaporate from the stone.
“Let’s leave him,” Mary told her. “Magnus wants to talk to us.”
Jules glanced at Hugo. “Will you stay, Hugo?”
“One of us better,” he said, giving her a faint smile.
Jules punched him lightly on the arm. “You did awesome.”
“Think so?” He beamed.
“I really do. Thanks for watching out for Mom and Papa. They always need our help, don’t they?” Jules grinned, leaving her brother alone in the medical bay with their dad.
Mary stopped when they were outside in the corridor. “I’m worried about you, Jules. You seem… different.”
Jules exhaled and shook her head. “Don’t be. I’m fine. Ranul just freaked me out. Something has to be done with Gasade.”
“You’re sure it’s inaccessible?” Mary asked.
Jules had the crystal shard on her, and pulled it from her pocket. “Unless someone stumbles on it from space. But I think there’s a protective spell surrounding the atmosphere that helps prevent that.”
“Then we’ll leave that up to you. If you think we should destroy it, we’ll plan for that.” Mary hugged her; the embrace reminded Jules of being a little girl. Her mother’s arms had always felt so strong and safe. They still did.
“Papa’s going to be all right,” she assured her mom again, and heard a sniffle.
“I hope so.”
Magnus, Sarlun, and Suma were in the meeting room with Natalia.
“What is he doing here?” Mary pointed at Sarlun. They all watched Mary, keeping their surprise at her changed appearance in check.
“Mary, I—”
Mary wasn’t having any of it. “I know you were under a spell. Cursed. But you tried to have us killed. I can’t be here with you.”
Sarlun stood. “I just wanted to tell you firsthand that I’ve resigned from the Gatekeepers. I will also no longer represent Shimmal in any official manner.” He exited the room, acting defeated.
Jules fought the urge to chase after him. “Mom, it wasn’t his fault.”
“I don’t care. He endangered my family.” Mary stared at Suma, as if challenging her to defend her father.
“I agree with you,” Suma said.
“You do?” Jules exclaimed.
“Sure. Maybe there was something he could have done. I knew about the tattoo, but never investigated it.” Suma stared at the table.
“It’s not your fault,” Magnus added. “Or Sarlun’s. It was the witch and Ovalax. It would do everyone well to remember that. But we have a bigger problem to deal with.”
“What?” Jules feared another attack from the Brack.
Nat spoke up. “Outpost. She’s damaged.”
“So? We seal the hull,” Jules offered.
“No.” Magnus rose, circling the table to a computer screen. It showed an image of the city on Ebos where the Brack had been staying. “We’ve cleared the region of potential threats, but there is much to be done to declare this an Alliance colony. We’re leaving our warship as well. The colony crews can live here until the dwellings are safe for them.”
Jules was astounded. “You want to leave our first Institute warship behind?”
“It’s been nothing but bad luck.” Magnus studied the screen while he spoke. “We were infiltrated with the wormhole drive, and bombarded by the Wibox. Then Peters managed to sneak on. I don’t think Sarlun was the only thing Ranul cursed.”
“You’re serious?” Jules asked, and Magnus turned to face her.
“Deadly. It’ll be better suited to this purpose. We broke the warship in, and she can retire. We have five other versions being prepped as we speak. Don’t worry, Jules, you’ll captain a ship soon.” He smiled, but Jules didn’t join him. She wasn’t sure if that was what she wanted any longer.
“Okay,” was all she said. Her mom appeared to take note, but kept silent.
“We’ll begin working with Elex on the colony design, and have the Alliance send supplies—if you don’t mind, Mary,” Magnus told them.
“Already on it.”
“What about Jaessa?” Jules asked.
“She’s waiting to join us.” Nat pressed a button on her tablet, and a minute later, the young Fera girl walked in, wearing an Alliance crew jumpsuit.
She’d suffered tremendously, but seemed stronger for it. Something about her reminded Jules of herself.
Magnus pointed to the empty chair beside Jules. “Have a seat, Jaessa.”
“Can I go home yet?” Jaessa asked Jules.
“I don’t call the shots,” Jules said softly.
“Yes, you do. We have to deliver Jaessa to Adrol, and she thought you’d like to bring her. In your own warship.” Magnus gazed at her, and Jules had no choice but to accept.
“I’d be honored,” she said. “But I have something to do before we go. Jaessa, can you wait a month or two?”
The girl shifted in her seat. It was obvious she was anxious to leave, but Jules couldn’t delay her own private mission quite yet. “I can wait. I’d like to stay on Ebos to assist with the primary planning, if that’s all right.”
“Better than all right. It’s great. I’m sure Elex will appreciate the help,” Suma told her.
“Then it’s settled.” Magnus opened the door. “Natalia and I will be returning to New Spero once Dean is awake.”
Jules hoped that was soon.
____________
I was free. It felt incredible. Not just of Ovalax, but from so many things that had been draining me since the Event. The moment my eyes opened, my head felt clear.
“Mr. Parker, you’re awake.” A young doctor scanned me with a handheld device. “I’d say everything’s in working order.”
“That’s good to hear.” I slipped my legs from the bed and stood.
“You might want to take it easy for a while. We’ve given you nutrients, but you’ve been unconscious for a week.”
A week! Apparently, my body had needed it.
The lights were dim, and I stumbled to the bathroom, the LEDs flickering at my movement. I hardly recognized the man in the mirror. His face was softer, his eyes wiser. I turned my head, seeing the slight peppering of grays still. Yet I was definitely younger. The wrinkles around my mouth had smoothed, the crow’s-feet diminished.
I ran from the bathroom, confronting the doctor. “What did you do to me?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
I pointed to my face. “This.”
“Your vitals were dangerously low for a time. I suggested we give you a dose of life extenders to aid your healing. It worked.” She returned to her tablet, seemingly unaffected by my shock.
“Did Mrs. Parker take them as well?” I swallowed, not feeling comfortable with her decision.
The doctor nodded. “Only after prompting from your daughter.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t a disaster. We’d talked about it a few times, but had decided not to use them. But now that I was rested, and had the extenders, I noticed the difference. I was a new man.
I changed, stalking Outpost’s corridors, searching for Mary. I found her sleeping in our temporary quarters. She didn’t wake when I entered, and I watched her. She was different too. Her face was younger, her hair darker. Mary appeared so much like the woman I fell in love with, but I felt a tinge of regret for what we’d both lost.
We’d always wanted to grow old together, but this gave us a new lease on life. And I wasn’t going to waste it.
Mary woke, rubbing her eyes. “Dean?”
I kissed her, curling up beside my wife. “I love you, Mary. Everything will be okay.”
“Did the doctor clear you to leave?” she asked.
“I’m fine. And I’ve decided to take you up on something.”
“We’re going on the vacation we keep mentioning?” Mary chuckled.
“You’ve been asking me to accept a leadership role. With the Alliance.” I smiled at her reaction.
She sat up. “You mean it?”
“Yes. I’ll do it. No more pretending I’m not the Recaster. No more hiding and hoping others will take charge instead of me. With new galaxies at our fingertips, and potential Alliance partners all around the universe, it’s time.” I kissed her again, with more passion than before.
“What’s gotten into you, Mr. President?” she asked.
“Must be the pills you slipped me.”
“About that…”
I shrugged. “It was probably the best decision.”
She looked so much like my Mary Lafontaine. “Ebos is ours. Do you have any ideas who should live here?”
“Mary, you’ve been running the board for so many years. Are you certain I won’t be a conflict of interest?” I asked, considering how much work she’d put into the Alliance.
“It was my idea. I’m the one trying to convince you into the role of President,” she said.
“Then I do have an idea who should be the first people to stay on our latest colony on Ebos.” I grinned, excited to begin their evacuation.
Epilogue
I walked past the hundreds of lined-up Takmas soldiers, standing in formation leading to the Representatives’ offices on Rylan. Only they couldn’t see me. They chatted amongst themselves, and I chuckled silently when I spied one of them scratching his nose.
The invisibility spell on my shoulder was intact, and I smiled. This could come in handy.
At first, I’d hated that it was inked in Jules’ blood, but it was a blessing. I could move about unseen. Who didn’t wish for superpowers when they were a kid, dreaming of capes and vanquishing evil forces?
Rylan was quieter today than the last time we visited. There were no processions, and I didn’t spot any of the Storel around. Their serving people were probably inside, doing chores for the Takmas. Well, that ended today.
I found their headquarters, and marched right past the guards. They were half-asleep in the midday heat. I knew where to locate the Representatives. All ten of them were in a boardroom, sitting idly around a table in comfortable seats, conversing endlessly about this or that in their own languages. I could understand every word. Since I’d been given life extenders without my consent, I figured I should finally dive in and get the translator modifications as well. It was way past due.
The Colony (The Survivors Book Seventeen) Page 23
