Mage Marine Misfits: Book 01

by Derek Wallace

  Jaime nodded. “I’ll start.”

  Everyone leaned back, looking at Jaime as he began to speak. “I hear things,” he said slowly.

  “What things?” Epone asked.

  Jaime took a deep breath. “The first day I arrived at Sub Sector Six, I heard a conversation between Jordan and someone. They were talking about me.”

  Jordan lifted an eyebrow. “What were we saying?”

  “You were wondering if you could trust me and also the person you were speaking to called me a slum rat.”

  “You still don’t know who it was?” Epone asked.

  “No. I only know the voice was female.”

  Everyone looked around at everyone else.

  “So do you want them to fess up or…?” Jordan asked.

  “I don’t even know if this conversation really took place,” Jaime said.

  Jordan exchanged glances with…Zorica.

  “We did kind of have a conversation like that one day, while we were both using the gym,” Jordan admitted.

  Jaime closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. “I see.”

  “That was before we knew you,” Zorica said, leaning forward, eyes intent on Jaime.

  He nodded. “Moving on swiftly,” he said, “that wasn’t the first conversation I overheard.”

  Jaime went on to summarize his other experiences with his auditory perceptions. AX leaned in, eyes bright blue with interest while Epone and Zorica stared at him unblinking. Ash leaned back in her seat, legs crossed, eyes closed as if she wanted to make sure no other senses interfered with her ability to hear every word. At some point, Jordan got up and got him a glass of water as his voice began to get hoarse.

  Uzochi was up next.

  “I think the thing which infected Zorica is destined to decimate my people,” he began.

  Zorica put her elbows on the table, brow furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

  Uzochi told them about the prophecy that had propelled him to join the Federation.

  “But how do you know that this thing is the same one?” AX asked.

  “The energy signature, it’s the same.”

  “Am I part of it?” Zorica asked.

  “Part of what?”

  “His plan. Am I part of his plan to destroy the universe?”

  “How should I know?” Uzochi snapped.

  “You’re the Seer!” Zorica exclaimed.

  “I can see what’s going to happen, not intentions or secret evil plans.”

  “Okay enough, we’re not here to fight,” Jaime cut in before Zorica could retort. “Uzochi, please continue.”

  “Whatever this thing’s plans are, this is just the beginning and we need to warn everyone.”

  “What are we warning them about? We don’t know anything,” Epone said.

  “That was my thought too,” Jaime agreed.

  “We know that this thing is dangerous,” Uzochi countered.

  “We know that you had a vision and from that vision, you concluded that this thing is dangerous. What we do have in terms of facts is that the thing infected Zorica. Zorica was infected. She has now thrown that infection off. Maybe temporarily, maybe permanently. Only time will tell.”

  “We know more than that,” Ash said, surprising everyone but AX.

  “We do?” Jaime asked.

  “Yes, we know that the antibodies in Zorica’s blood do not just interact violently with the virus. They produce a certain reaction, precipitate a change in the genetic makeup of the host.”

  “Is that so?” Jaime said, eyes narrowed.

  “We do not have a good enough sample size to come to that conclusion.”

  Jaime’s eyes brightened and he turned to Ash. “That’s why you volunteered to go to report,” he said.

  Ash turned to glare at AX who shrugged. “We are here to exchange information,” he said. “We need all the help we can get.”

  “What is our end game?” Jordan wanted to know.

  “That is an excellent question,” Epone chimed in, nodding to Jordan in approval.

  “To save the world?” Jaime said.

  “Too nebulous. We need something more specific,” Epone replied.

  “To kill the thing and save my people,” Uzochi said.

  “I suppose that’s more specific,” Jaime said.

  “We don’t even know what it is,” AX said.

  “So that should be the first thing on the agenda. Find out what it is,” Zorica said.

  “How?” Epone asked.

  “We shall scry. The imps might have the answer, or be able to get it,” Zorica said.

  “Or we could try to see in his mind like we did before when we were trying to find Zorica,” Uzochi said.

  “We can attempt to possess it and read its mind,” Epone said.

  “All very valid suggestions. But first, before we attempt to possess it or infiltrate it, we need to know what it is. So I think if the imps can give us that answer, we should start with that. Also it’s the safest option.”

  “Is it?” Uzochi demurred.

  “Relatively,” Jaime said before turning to Epone. “You know how to make it as safe as possible, don’t you?”

  “I can cast protective sigils but there are no guarantees.”

  “I think we should focus on safer pursuits first, like finding out what exactly Zorica’s blood does,” Ash said.

  “That is not really safer. We have to go to GF HQ and acquire live samples,” Jaime said much to Ash’s surprise.

  “What?” Jaime said, his own eyebrows raised. “Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out?”

  Ash shrugged. “I hoped.”

  “Why? So that I would not stand in your way?”

  “Yes. And also so that you are not complicit should I break Federation law.”

  “Wow, are you not tired of that?” Zorica asked.

  “Of doing what?”

  “Breaking laws. I thought your people were pacifists.”

  Ash’s eyes glowed golden, and she growled. “We are not homogenous.”

  “Especially after sexual assault,” AX cut in, making Ash turn her glare on him. He lifted his hands in surrender.

  “Just providing perspective,” AX said.

  “In case you were wondering, I am fully in support of protecting yourself against sexual predators. I was just concerned for you since you didn’t speak to anyone for six months after you joined us.”

  “Thank you for your concern but I can handle myself.”

  “Besides, that was more anger than regret, wasn’t it Ash?” Dr. Teke said.

  “I thought you were a mad scientist, not a psychologist,” Ash said.

  “I am also observant. And I see that you harbor a large amount of anger in you.”

  “I was attacked. My people blamed me for defending myself. Of course I am angry.”

  “You don’t like it though. You don’t like that you’re different,” AX said.

  “Nobody likes being different,” Ash said.

  “I don’t know. It’s not so bad,” AX said, casting a smile at Jordan.

  Ash snorted. “In any case, that is not the issue at hand.”

  “Yes. The issue at hand is to get as much information as we can as soon as possible. This means, we need an infected. Several if we can get them.”

  “Do they have to be alive?” Jaime asked.

  “That indeed, is the question,” Ash replied.

  Chapter Twenty-Two: Hunting and Gathering

  “Anyone else have something to share?” Jaime asked, his eyes on Zorica.

  Epone sighed. “All we know is guesswork.”

  “What have you guessed?” Jaime asked, not missing the way she spoke for Zorica.

  “We have guessed that Zorica is indeed immune to the virus. We have guessed that the thing had knowledge of this. We do not know how, unless as several people have said, we find out who or what this thing is. We know that if the G
F gets its hands on Zorica, they will destroy her to get to the cure for this contagion. We do suspect that the infection does not happen naturally, but was manufactured. By who and why is what we need to find out.”

  “Is it the twin DNA that you have which is the answer?”

  “Probably,” Zorica said.

  “We can’t know that for sure without a cohort. One incidence does not a hypothesis make,” AX said.

  “There are no cohorts. Zorica is the only known half Stits half human,” Jordan said.

  “We need a sample size,” Ash said.

  “We need to know what their plan is,” Uzochi countered.

  “It’s not either or. We can do both. Ash can carry out the mission to get samples-”

  “She can’t go alone. I will accompany her,” Dr. Teke said.

  Jaime nodded. “Okay, and Uzochi can find out more about the thing.”

  “With Jordan’s help,” Uzochi said.

  “Right,” Jaime agreed.

  “What about us?” Zorica asked, pointing at her and Epone.

  “You can consult your imps; find out as much as you can about the thing. Can you do that?”

  “I can. We can. It won’t be easy, though.”

  Jaime shook his head. “Nothing we propose to do is easy.”

  “We still don’t have an actual plan,” Epone pointed out.

  “We are gathering intel. Once we have that, we will come up with a plan,” Jaime replied.

  “Okay, fine. Good. Let’s do this,” AX said.

  Ash stood up. “When do we leave?”

  “Just as soon as I can compile a report,” Jaime said. “Ash, you have tissue samples?”

  Ash nodded. “I have everything ready to go.”

  “Alright. Let’s get these shows on the road.”

  “We should move first,” Jordan said. “I think we’ve been here way too long.”

  “Are we fugitives?” AX asked, eyebrows up.

  “We are proceeding with caution and assuming the worst,” Jordan said.

  AX smiled. “I like that I can believe you.”

  Jordan smiled back, his hand snaking underneath the table to brush against AX’s thigh.

  ∞

  The South Atlantic Anomaly was attributed to the Van Allen radiation belts which were said to keep the sun’s radiation from the Earth. In reality, that particular interstellar area was a Door to the infernal dimension. The walls between worlds around the belt were thin and porous and traffic was high, coming and going. It was an excellent place to perform an invocation.

  “There’s no reason for us to separate into three groups. Besides, if something goes wrong, it’s best if you have back up,” Jaime said. “So Uzochi, Jordan and I will accompany Epone and Zorica to the Van Allen Belt while Ash and AX continue on to Earth to deliver the report and get a sample. We’ll use the starship so that my energy can be available for both operations if necessary.”

  Ash stepped forward. “I think that if we can create a psychic link with you, you can help us too if we need it.”

  “How do we do that? And isn’t that a lot of directions to be pulled at the same time?” AX asked.

  “We cannot do all three things at the same time. If something goes wrong, the others need to be standing by. So we time it so that Epone and Zorica do their ritual first, and then Uzochi and Jordan take their little trip into the thing’s head. Finally, Ash and AX infiltrate the hospital and obtain samples,” Jaime said.

  Jordan smiled. “This is more like what I expected when I signed up. Let’s do this.”

  Jaime turned to leave the mess on his way to control room. “Right. I will steer us to SAA, while the rest of you prepare for your individual missions. Remember the goal is primarily information gathering. Try to stay out of harm’s way if you can.” He gave the three finger salute as he walked out of the mess.

  About half the squad returned the two finger reply salute while the rest began gathering materials in preparation for their separate missions.

  ∞

  They decided to rig a scaffolding along the edge of the Van Allen belt above the North Pole. They suspended it between two orbital pods, setting up an altar on the wide ledge. For what they needed to do, they might need more than lowly imps. They would have to summon a more powerful demon. Proximity to the belt was helpful in making a connection but it also made the invocation that much more fraught with danger. Epone had made up a hex bag for protection and set up a ring around the altar which she would fill with mage fire as soon as the demon was summoned. It would give two layers of protection between them and the demon so that Zorica could ask her questions safely.

  Jaime would stay in the orbital pod, out of sight but within range should they need a boost of power. Uzochi and Jordan would stay in the other orbital pod, as witnesses and also because they needed all the info they could get to conduct their own reconnaissance.

  Zorica’s heart was pounding with fear. She wasn’t a coward but she would have much preferred not to know anything more about the thing and what it all meant. Knowledge might be power but right now, she really didn’t want anything to do with it. She wanted to climb into one of their long-distance transports with Epone, stretching their abilities to their fullest potential. Finding out just how much they could do when they worked together. No war, no contagion, no false allegiance to a Federation that cared nothing for them but just wanted to use their abilities until there was nothing left.

  What she had, though, was a time bomb in her bloodstream and a thing that had turned its eye on her. It had let them go, of that she had no doubt. If the thing had not wanted them to leave, they would not have been able to get out. The question she needed answered was, why? What was its plan? And what was Zorica’s role in it?

  ∞

  Ash and AX took a separate transport, landing in Galactic Federation airspace just as Zorica and Epone were setting up the altar.

  “She-who-must-not-be-named and AX-8721 of Squad M15-F175 reporting with results of recon on Moon Base Sub Sector Six and subsequent search and rescue mission of squad members Zorica Killa Warwick, Uzochi Teryaki and AX-8721,” Ash said in the intercom once she’d been asked to identify herself and her aircraft or risk being blown out of the sky.

  “Where is the rest of your squad?” the mechanical voice asked.

  Ash and AX exchanged glances. “We sustained some injuries requiring recuperation. The captain felt that further delay in reporting would be detrimental to the Federation and sent us on ahead.”

  “Squad M15-F175 you are cleared for landing in the south field. Personnel will be waiting to bring you to the general.”

  AX and Ash exchanged another glance. Being escorted to the general’s presence could be seen as a matter of urgency or possibly they were under guard now. They would not know until they were already in the Federation’s custody.

  “Are you ready?” AX asked, softly.

  Ash nodded, hitting the comm. button. “Copy,” she said and signed out.

  She took a deep breath, looking at AX. “What if they arrest us?”

  AX’s eyes glowed blue. “Then we get out.”

  “Don’t you think they’ll have factored in your hacking abilities when they take us?”

  AX smiled. “They don’t know the full extent of what I can do. I am good at covering my tracks.”

  Ash nodded. “Okay, well…be ready for anything.”

  “You as well.”

  The transport juddered as it landed on the asphalt, and before they could even get up, it was surrounded by Federation guards.

  “I don’t think this is an escort,” Ash murmured.

  “Let’s go,” AX replied, leading the way to the exit.

  He opened the hatch, stepping out carefully, waiting to see if the guards would issue an order or draw a weapon. They simply stood, waiting, alert and watchful. AX walked slowly down to the asphalt, feeling Ash a step or two behind him, her fear like a li
ttle bird, beating against its cage. His eyes changed from brilliant blue to brown and AX went to sleep, leaving Teke to handle things from here on out. This was his territory.

  Humans.

  Experiments.

  AX would be available to get them into places they could not access without his hacking skills but, otherwise, he would let Teke drive their dual vessel.

  The guards led them to several cars for transportation to the HQ offices of General Klaus. They hadn’t had time to come up with a script should there be an interrogation, but they were both aware of what not to say.

  They stopped at the imposing Federation building where beings of all species busily bustled about. Earthlings and Martians, Drueerds, and a few other species with no distinguishing marks. Many were accompanied by AI assistants of various types, dictating notes to them or updating them on breaking news and gossip. Teke had not had a need for an accompanying AI since he had one in-house but he could well remember the days when he was simply human, as reliant on AIs for so many things – just like everyone else. There were days, even with everything he’d been through, when he could not regret what he’d done. Especially now, when he’d found someone who was equally attracted to both his parts.

  He wanted to finish up here so he could get back to Jordan; really explore this new thing between them.

  “Stop daydreaming and focus,” Ash hissed at his side, throwing him a glare.

  “I am focused,” Teke growled back, annoyed at her for calling him out but also at himself for spacing out when they had such a crucial mission ahead of them.

  They were led down a long corridor and then ushered into the foyer of General Klaus’ office. They took a seat, waiting patiently to be summoned.

  ∞

  The runes had to be drawn in blood and Jaime volunteered himself. For one thing, everyone else would need their strength for the coming confrontations, and for another, since he was a magical enhancer, his blood was likely to produce an even stronger trap than anyone else’s. Epone drew the blood while Zorica drew the pentagram and sigils necessary to summon and hold a greater demon while Jordan and Uzochi watched with interest.

  “I thought you needed the blood of a murderer to draw an effective pentagram for the greater demons,” Jordan commented.

  Zorica shrugged. “Haven’t we all killed people here?”