All’s Fair in Blood and War (The Kurtherian Endgame Book 4)

by Michael Anderle

  Bethany Anne shrugged. “It doesn’t matter because we’ll be ready if it happens.”

  K’aia spoke up. “What about me? How can I help?”

  Bethany Anne's smile widened into a grin. “Right now, the most important thing you can do is train your body to its new capability. In the long term? I don’t know. That’s up to you. What do you want to do?”

  K’aia lost her ability to speak again for a moment.

  Izanami winked into existence on the center screen. “I’m picking up a trace of—”

  A ship shot out of the churning dust at top speed.

  Bethany Anne recognized the lines. “We’ll talk about this later. That’s Loralei. Put me through to her, Izanami.”

  Izanami inclined her head. “As you command.”

  Bethany Anne winced. “Children, cover your ears. This is not going to be pretty. Loralei. Can you hear me?”

  “Ohfuckohfuckohfuuuuuuuck!”

  The frantic cursing stopped for all of a second. “Thank fuck you’re here. ADAM has done some crazy shit, and there’s like a million billion drones on my ass.”

  Bethany Anne scanned the rings for activity. “Izanami.”

  “My readings are distorted,” Izanami reported.

  “It’s the rings,” Loralei bitched. “There’s massive interference from the dust. It’s like pushing through sand, it’s so dense.”

  Izanami appeared by Bethany Anne's side. “There may be an issue if Loralei fails to reach us quickly,” she told her quietly.

  Bethany Anne frowned, searching the screens for anything out of place when the drones exploded from the ring, every single one locked onto Loralei’s position.

  Alexis screamed. “Loralei, behind you!”

  Loralei laughed wildly. “Those drones are nothing, princess. I didn’t get to the rest of the bad news, my Queen. They built some big-ass ships while we weren’t looking…”

  The dust at the edge of the ring erupted outward, a writhing mass of tentacles emerging from the scattered particles. The Ooken ship rose out of the ring, the tentacles glowing at various points on the underside.

  Bethany Anne felt Alexis’ and Gabriel’s nervousness. “It’s okay to be scared.”

  “Really?” Alexis asked, not taking her eyes off the monstrous ship on the screen.

  “Really,” Bethany Anne told her calmly. “But you have to remember that in most of these situations, whoever we're facing is probably more scared of humans than we are of them.”

  13

  The Collective still seethed at the injustice of losing part of their whole.

  None had denied their will in all the time since the gods elevated them. They would not be bested by the aberrations who had destroyed their ships and stolen so much knowledge from the collective consciousness.

  This Adversary. These…Individuals.

  They did not know where this species had come from. It had been pure chance that the hunter had come across the enemy ship in the first place.

  What the group consciousness did know was that the Adversary did not care for intruders. They were strong and aggressive, and they fought back with the technology of the gods.

  Back and forth the rage passed through the Collective, feeding itself on an infinite loop. It was amplified by the instinctive urge that had spread out with the final thoughts of the lost colony to every mind in the group consciousness.

  Kill.

  Destroy.

  Slake their thirst for vengeance.

  The echo of that abrupt end had kept the Collective’s grief whetted to a keen edge while they built their revenge.

  The consensus on how to react to this travesty had been instant and unanimous: all resources were to be directed to wiping out the Adversary and taking their technology for the benefit of the Collective. It had been no difficult decision when every mind still felt the severing of the lost minds as sharply as the moment it had occurred.

  The ships were ready, the lust for blood high. As soon as consensus to leave was reached, the Adversary would die.

  The many minds paused when a message passed through the group consciousness—a call to action that reached every mind across the seven worlds.

  The Adversary has returned.

  Then pain and silence.

  They had taken from the Collective again.

  As one the Collective moved to answer the fresh injury.

  The Adversary would pay in blood.

  Ooken Territory, QBS ArchAngel II

  Admiral Thomas listened to Bethany Anne's retelling of Loralei’s report in his mind while he monitored the data charting the progress of the other teams from his chair on the bridge. You’re breaking up, and I’m getting zero visuals from the Izanami.

  Bethany Anne grunted in frustration and her voice became clearer for a moment. It’s these damn rings around the planet. They're throwing out all sorts of weird shit. It’s taking a fuck-ton of energy to maintain this connection.

  Admiral Thomas made a sympathetic sound. You don’t sound too happy about what ADAM did.

  Well, can you blame me? I have no clue what ADAM has done, and I can’t get down there to find out because there’s a fucking huge ship in my way.

  Just how large is this ship? he asked.

  Bethany Anne sighed impatiently. Bigger than we’ve seen so far, but nothing we can’t handle. They’ve got no idea we’re here yet, but even Izanami’s cloaking can’t hide us once we’re in the rings. Not unless she has a function to prevent the ship from displacing the dust, which she assures me is beyond even Jean’s capability.

  Sounds like the wisest course of action is to take the ship out first.

  No shit. I haven’t got an issue with going through them to get to ADAM, but it will cause a problem with our timing on the smaller locations. How are the other teams doing for time? Can any of them divert to take care of my and Michael’s first target?

  So far, you and Michael are the only ones who’ve made it to your location. John and Akio are close to their first target, so it won’t be them.

  Don't tell me who's not available.

  Admiral Thomas felt Bethany Anne roll her eyes. His mouth tightened as he scanned the war board, opening a channel to Gabrielle’s team when he noted that they were closest. “Gabrielle, what’s your position right now? Can you and Eric divert to take care of location two?”

  Gabrielle’s voice came from the speakers. “Of course. Are Bethany Anne and Michael okay?”

  “They’re good,” he confirmed. “Just tied up right now.”

  Bethany Anne chuckled darkly. Not as badly as this ship will be in a few minutes…

  Eric cut in. “We can divert. We’ll need Gate coordinates.”

  Admiral Thomas sent them over. “That do?”

  Gabrielle chuckled. “Nicely. Changing course now. Thank you, Admiral.”

  “Give ‘em hell,” he told them.

  “We weren't going to invite them for dinner,” Gabrielle shot back, signing off.

  Admiral Thomas rubbed a hand over his eyes. Just once, I’d like things to go to plan. All right, you’re covered for location two. Do you need me to send your backup early?

  Bethany Anne considered having the superdreadnoughts come in and deal with the Ooken ship. No, we’re good with the plan. My way will be less messy.

  He didn't agree, but he knew better than to argue the point with her. Okay, but you’ll yell if you do.

  Bethany Anne's tone cooled by a few degrees. That didn’t sound like a request, Bart.

  It wasn’t, Admiral Thomas replied, his concern clear despite his tone. Good luck, Bethany Anne.

  Luck won’t be necessary, Bethany Anne told him. I’m going to dick-punch the fuckers and run. They won’t know what hit them, and as soon as that ship is floating around in tiny pieces, I’m clear to rescue ADAM.

  Admiral Thomas shook his head after Bethany Anne cut the connection and got up to go find Kael-ven. “CEREBRO, ready the captains. Our Queen is about to introduce herself to the en
emy in her usual charming and neighborly way.”

  QBS Izanami, Bridge

  Bethany Anne cut the link to Admiral Thomas and took a moment to recover from the drain on her energy the conversation had caused.

  Michael saw the focus return to Bethany Anne's face. What is Bart saying?

  Her eyes flicked to Alexis and Gabriel, who were staring at the screens, their game forgotten.

  Alexis and Gabriel are distracted by the enemy ship, Michael reasoned. They're not even attempting to listen in on us.

  Bethany Anne allowed her gaze to linger on the twins for a moment. Good. It’s easier when I don't have to censor my thoughts. We'll never let our mental defenses get slack after raising our children.

  I consider the eavesdropping a just reward for the delight you took in using me to hone our children’s skills in mind reading when they were small.

  Bethany Anne tapped her lip with a finger. Hmmm. I’m not sure that compares to…oh, I don’t know… Teaching them how to blow each other up using the Etheric?

  It wasn’t that way, and you know it. Michael shook his head. The apportionment of parental blame aside, what do you want to do about that ship?

  Bethany Anne's finger paused on her bottom lip. It’s a sneak attack or nothing. Our children are aboard, so I’m not taking a risk I don't have to.

  Michael regarded the ship skimming the edge of the rings. What do you suggest?

  Bethany Anne’s lips met in a cold smile. That we go over there and fuck up the ship without the Ooken realizing where we came from.

  Michael turned from the screen to face Bethany Anne. I have a few ideas on how to create a large enough explosion, but how do you suggest we get in, and—more importantly—out?

  Izanami can get close enough that I can walk us across through the Etheric and back out before your explosion goes off. She made a motion with her fingers. Easy as pie. Addix is here to stop the children from crashing the ship while we’re gone.

  Michael reached out to Addix.

  The spymistress and erstwhile nanny answered. Yes, Michael?

  Bethany Anne and I need to step out and take care of something.

  Addix paused a beat. I will assume the “something” you are referring to is the Ooken ship that has just emerged from the planet’s rings? And that you wish me to chaperone the children while you are…taking care of it? Her inner voice was laced with amusement.

  Michael chuckled dryly. I have to tell you how much I admire your deductive skills, Addix. That would be good of you, thank you.

  I will arrive on the bridge shortly. Addix cut the link.

  Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow in question. “You ready to go?”

  Michael nodded. “Addix is on her way.”

  “Where are you going?” Alexis asked, her eyes locked on the ship filling the center screens. She pointed at the screen. “Over there?”

  Gabriel cocked his head at Bethany Anne, his eyes bright with the prospect of adventure. “Can we go too?”

  K'aia watched quietly, waiting for the answer.

  Bethany Anne shook her head, smiling ruefully. “Not a chance. I have an important task for the three of you, though. Addix is on her way to the bridge to chaperone, but for all intents and purposes the ship is under your command until we return.”

  Alexis’ mouth opened and closed.

  “But…” Gabriel began.

  Michael held up a hand to stop their protests. “There is no room for discussion on the matter. You three are not trained for this yet.”

  K’aia shrugged. “If you say so.”

  The twins looked at K’aia like she was two Cokes short of a six-pack.

  K’aia shrugged again, deeper this time. “Your mom and dad know I can fight. If they say I can’t handle this, then my Yollin behind is remaining right here, where it gets to stay in one piece. ”

  Bethany Anne gave Alexis and Gabriel the Look. “If you want to fight once you’re ready, I won’t hold you back. But you’re not ready yet. What if anything happened to you because we let you go out there too soon? What would we do?”

  The twins nodded, unhappy but understanding.

  Michael nodded, satisfied that Alexis and Gabriel would cooperate. He looked down at his shipsuit, then back at Bethany Anne. “I think a short diversion to the armory before we leave would be apropos to the mission.”

  Bethany Anne grinned. “I was thinking the same thing.” She paused a beat for effect. “How do you feel about couples’ outfits?”

  Michael regarded his wife coolly. “I hope you did not actually have Jean make us matching sets of armor.”

  Bethany Anne’s mouth twitched. “Would I do a thing like that?”

  Alexis giggled, and Gabriel out and out cracked up at the barely repressed smirk on their mother’s face.

  Michael sighed and touched his fingers to his forehead. “Yes. Yes, you would.”

  Federation Deep Space Research Outpost, Ooken Ship

  Bethany Anne stepped out of the Etheric with her Jean Dukes’ at head height.

  It would be unfortunate for any Ooken who happened to be there since the height difference meant she would be aiming closer to their groins.

  The cargo bay Bethany Anne had chosen was empty, meaning that the absent guards' capacity to reproduce got a reprieve for the second.

  She lowered her weapons fractionally and waited for Michael.

  Michael emerged in the next moment, and Bethany Anne admired the view as he turned a slow circle to assess their surroundings. That armor looks good on you.

  Michael gave her a dry look. I didn't think we would be out here in matching armor.

  Bethany Anne smirked. I'd love to say it was my idea, but all the credit goes to Jean on this one.

  Michael made a noise of disapproval. Then I will be certain to thank her appropriately when we return to QT2.

  Bethany Anne rolled her eyes. It’s not so bad. If you quit being so moody, I’ll show you something cool.

  She fed a trickle of Etheric energy into her armor’s gauntlets, grinning at Michael’s expression when they shifted to form a hooded blade for each hand. Activate them just like your gauntlets.

  Michael did, and the blades came into being in his hands. I always liked katars, he told her, testing the oversize blades for balance. This is a nice take on them. Very effective.

  You know Jean. If she doesn't improve the deadliness of a design, it doesn't make it past the prototype stage. Bethany Anne sheathed her blades and reached out with her mind to scan the immediate area outside the cargo bay, which she found to be empty of life. We're clear to move.

  She pulled up short when the hatch swung inward and they got their first look at the interior of the ship. Holy…

  There were no corridors to link the levels. Instead, something resembling tree limbs grew horizontally, vertically, and diagonally from a series of wide trunks that linked the metal walkways that ran every which way across the impossibly large space.

  Bethany Anne and Michael peered over the edge of the walkway outside the bay, which dropped off with no warning onto a huge length of cargo netting that joined the gently glowing branches below, forming yet more links between levels.

  She hesitated to choose a direction. We need a map. There's nothing here to tell us where we are.

  The Ooken are telepathic, Michael supplied. I'm not sure they even have a written language.

  Bethany Anne raised her eyebrow. How would you know?

  He indicated the path to their left. I had TOM help me learn what we know of their spoken language from the seeker ADAM captured.

  Good, Bethany Anne replied. We should grab one and find out where we need to be to blow up this homage to the living rainforest. She shrugged at the look he gave her. What?

  Michael lifted his head. There’s an Ooken on the next walkway down. Almost directly below us.

  Bethany Anne grinned at him and dropped to a crouch. Oh, goody. That saves us the effort of going looking for one. She grabbed the edge of th
e walkway they were on and swung herself over the edge.

  Michael winced at the slight crunch as Bethany Anne landed feet-first on the Ooken’s bulging head and moved to join her on the walkway below.

  Bethany Anne came to her feet in a smooth roll and turned to catch the Ooken by the tentacles before it plummeted over the edge and alerted the rest of the crew.

  What is it with this species? She hoisted its awkward body back to the center of the branch and shook off the suckers that had attached themselves to her armor. I've seen some out-there evolutionary quirks, but these tentacles top the list. What fucked-up environment makes a species select for that?

  Michael dropped onto the branch beside her. Knowing as we do that the Kurtherians have had some involvement with this species, I think we can safely surmise that it was our old enemy who did the selecting.

  Bethany Anne grimaced. Mmhmm. We’ve got our Ooken, but I still don’t like how quiet it is. Where are the rest of the crew?

  They're around, Michael assured her. I’m sure we’ll be eyeballs-deep in the fun soon enough. This one will wake up at some point and alert the rest.

  Bethany Anne rolled her eyes. Well, that puts all of my concerns to rest. Now we can pretty much guarantee they’ll come pouring out of the woodwork at exactly the worst moment.

  The Ooken twitched, and she laid a boot into its temple to make sure it stayed asleep. Can you read its mind?

  I can. Michael frowned, kneeling to put a hand to the Ooken’s bleeding forehead. Surprising.

  Bethany Anne crossed her arms. What’s surprising? She started tapping her foot when Michael didn’t answer, falling somewhat short of patience. Well? Don't keep me in suspense.

  Michael got to his feet, wiping a spot of the unconscious Ooken’s blood off his hand onto his leg before motioning for Bethany Anne to follow him. You were lucky the Ooken did not see you. The surprising thing was that I was able to access its visual memories. I have our route, but also an insight we did not possess before.

  Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. This I have to hear. What insight? She swept a hand in front of her to indicate Michael lead the way.

  Michael looked over the edge of the walkway, which culminated in a short gap opposite a branch with a net fixed between the two.