Extinction: Rise Of Mankind Book 8

by John Walker

  “Um…later. When I return these, okay?”

  Bin hesitated for a long moment. “That will be sufficient. Satisfaction is our aim. We cannot improve without feedback. Thank you for your participation in our game.”

  “Wait!” Deva held her hand out. “Who built this facility? When?”

  “The Ela race built this facility at the height of their technological prowess. As they traveled the galaxy checking on various experiments, they realized they were going quite well and would one day need education and entertainment in equal measures. This facility was built with that in mind, tested by generations of Ela warriors and thrill seekers.”

  “Wait, the Ela?” Deva shook her head. “I’ve never heard of them.”

  “Ela extinction occurred nearly one hundred thousand years ago. Ten thousand years after this facility was constructed.”

  “Do you have historical records I can download? More information about the Ela?”

  “Affirmative.” Bin smiled. “Please access your computer and take the data you want from option number three.”

  “Thank you!” Deva complied, watching a percent meter quickly climb to one hundred. When she had the records, she turned back to Bin. “I appreciate your help and cooperation.”

  “I apologize for any inconvenience the game may have caused and look forward to the rest of your feedback. Farewell, kielan and good luck.”

  Bin vanished and Deva held her hand against her head, addressing Clea, “did you hear all that?”

  “I did…” Clea hesitated. “I’m stunned. Good work getting the information and the power cores.”

  “I have to contact my own ship now for pickup,” Deva replied. “Thanks for your help, Tathin An’Tufal. I appreciate it!”

  “I look forward to talking to you more about all of this while we get your ship ready to go,” Clea replied. “See you soon.”

  Deva turned to the others and directed them toward the massive boxes. “We have what we came for. Let’s get up there and make them work, huh?”

  “About time we get out of here,” Trias said. “I took one to the arm at the end of that fight. Armor’s dented. It hurts like a rellan.”

  “Colorful,” Lhar muttered. “Shuttle’s on the way. Let’s find out how heavy these things are and get back to civilized space. It’s safe to say I’m pretty much done with games for the foreseeable future…possibly forever.”

  ***

  Kale took in the various reports with a mixture of feelings but relief trumped them all. He felt terrible for the pilot, Hilot. Losing anyone was frustrating. The injured soldier, Yuris, would recover and have little scarring somehow. The physicians truly were artisans to pull that one off considering how badly the armor had melted over him.

  But they received the power core and would return with a major archaeological find. Deva was thrilled beyond belief and requested time to speak with Clea An’Tufal in person. He granted it during the time they would be swapping out the crystal. She would not be needed for that process.

  He returned to his quarters and contacted Captain Atwell on the Behemoth, asking for a brief, private conversation. The other commander agreed and a moment later, they were face to face, at least over a screen.

  “Seems like a lifetime ago when I told you I’d cover your escape,” Kale said. “Thank you for coming for us.”

  “It was the least we could do after the research facility,” Gray replied. “But based on the information you shared, it sounds like you might’ve made it without us.”

  “Maybe…but there’s no guarantee.” Kale shrugged. “In any event, as soon as we spark the crystal, we can all get out of here. I’ll owe you a meal. Perhaps on the home world if you’re coming back with us.”

  “We are,” Gray said. “There’s something I should tell you about our arrival. We didn’t know you’d survived to be honest. Your message was garbled and missing the coordinates. Alliance intelligence gave us the task of finding you. They thought we’d be motivated and were right but their reasons weren’t entirely altruistic.”

  “I see.” Kale frowned. “Are they expecting something in return?”

  Gray nodded. “They’re going to recruit you.”

  Kale smirked, turning away. “Interesting…but not unexpected. A jump mishap and a couple of close calls make us eligible and qualified for intelligence work. I’m assuming this is not the type of ‘opportunity’ you say ‘no’ to, right?”

  “We haven’t been able to,” Gray said. “My government leant us out but it hasn’t been all bad. We got to come here and we stopped a civil war…fought terrorists. We’re building up to the final battle with the Devarans too.”

  Kale raised his brow. “I feel that I’ve missed a lot.”

  “You have, my friend.” Gray leaned back in his chair. “Let me tell you about some of it. I hope you’ve got something to drink. This is going to take a while.”

  Epilogue

  Siva was on her way into the base when she received a text communication from The Behemoth on her private com. She paused in an awning, allowing her bodyguards to take up positions on either side. The message appeared, decrypting in real time. The fact they adhered to security protocols gave her confidence in the offer she made before they left.

  Siva,The Crystal Font is secure and we’ll be coming home in roughly ten shifts. We’ll need medical attention for some of these folks and I’m thinking a few of them will want leave. I’ve attached a full report of the situation but I request that you leverage a quarantine to this sector of space. It is not safe.

  Please let me know if you have any questions. Signed, Clea An’Tufal.

  “Good girl, An’Tufal,” Siva muttered. “Excellent work. One more ship for the cause.”

  As she boarded the elevator, Siva felt particularly pleased. Having a second military vessel at her disposal meant so much to her operations. Now that they were on the verge of a full scale attack, she needed people to take care of the oblique threats, the dangers that weren’t quite so overt.

  Arriving at her station, she acknowledged Clea’s remarks and made the requested arrangements. Then she opened up her operations board and started planning exactly what to do with The Crystal Font and the Behemoth in the coming weeks leading up to the big fight. Considering their successes, they both might need some down time but it would have to be quick.

  We have a war to win, after all. Several, in fact. And I don’t intend to let a single one of these threats go by without opposition. I hope you’re ready for a real challenge, Kale Ru’Xin. Because I’m about to give you one.

  ***

  Trellan set his ship down in a pirate port he’d been to on several occasions, heading immediately for the port master. The portly man leaned against a wall, dozing. A tap to the side of the head made the poor bastard scream and he nearly collapsed, glaring with such rage, it was good looks couldn’t kill.

  “Glad you’re so aware,” Trellan muttered. “I feel like my stuff is safe with you watching it.”

  “Shove off,” the port master said. “I don’t have to take your guff. What do you want?”

  “I need to stay here for a while and I’ve got goods to trade. Who do I see about the exchange?”

  “Go to the market!” The portly fellow moved over to a chair and plunked himself down in it. “I don’t have time for you.”

  “Okay then.” Trellan departed and headed deeper into the port, looking around for where they might take his goods. He needed money for weapons, a change of clothes and sadly, he had to sell the stuff the civilians had on board. All for the cause. It’s nothing personal. Wow, my conscious is really getting to me this time.

  He’d stolen plenty in his time undercover but for whatever reason, this last theft really bothered him. Those people were the exact type he was sworn to protect from Orion’s Light and others. Instead, he at the very least complicated their lives and at the worst ruined them. I’ve become what I’m hunting.

  A couple hours later, he’d sold the goods
and changed into something more casual. Fully armed again, he felt more himself and took up at a hotel for a bath and some downtime. Men and women shoved into the bar and he found himself amongst them that evening, hoping for a meal and some relaxation.

  Then a geran started boasting about his combat prowess and someone promised to shut him up. Blows were thrown. Trellan found himself in the tick of a full on barroom brawl. After knocking out a freighter pilot and one of his crewman, he realized he was the only person in the place that was alone.

  Slipping outside, he decided to take a walk, hurrying down the street to nurse a blow to his chin he didn’t remember taking. This life is something else. Chaotic…and predictable. I can’t wait for the assignment to be over. No one can live like this for long. Not without losing their minds…or worse.

  “Hey,” a voice called out, drawing his attention from across the street. “You looking for work? Saw what you did back there and you can really handle yourself.”

  Will it always start like this?

  “Depends on the job,” Trellan said. “I’m looking for a cause…not just some easy money.”

  “Then, brother, do I have something for you. I can’t talk about my employers but believe me, they’re all about the cause.”

  “Then let’s talk.” Trellan joined him and gestured down the street. “Maybe over a drink? I’ve had a long day.”

  FREE Prequel

  Humanity has always looked to the heavens, curiosity urging them to take flight. After a failed mission to go beyond the borders of Earth’s solar system, a new fleet has been built ready to tackle any threat they may discover. But sometimes danger seeks out victims and just as they are preparing to depart, two ships arrive on the edge of their space.

  Unsure if these invaders are friendly or hostile, the Behemoth, the flagship of the fleet and only real military vessel, prepares for battle. When one of their space stations is destroyed, they must come to terms with the possibility that they may be outmatched and outgunned for these intruders seem intent on violence. After no answers to requests to talk and seemingly no offer for quarter, humanity must face the very real possibility of extinction.

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