The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10

by Hudson, G. P.

  “You shot the Antikitheri?” Jon said.

  “No. The energy bolts went right through them. But I think it made them angry because they hit back. Hard. That was when I blacked out.”

  “I’m thankful that you are back, Anki,” Jon said. “But I have to ask, why do you think you’re alive? If they tried to kill Jamie, why didn’t they kill you?”

  “I don’t know,” Anki said.

  “Perhaps they did not consider her a threat,” Jamie said. “They gave me the distinct impression that I was a threat to them. They said I would disrupt the continuum, whatever that means. That was why they tried to kill me.”

  “I don’t know why they didn’t kill her, and I don’t care,” Breeah said. “My child lives. That is all that matters.”

  “Of course,” Jon said. “I’m just trying to figure out what these damn Antikitheri are doing. This thing you’re turning into, Jamie. It seems to have really pissed everyone off.”

  “I did not ask for any of this,” Jamie said.

  “I know, but I’m worried they’re going to take another crack at you. We need to be ready. Can you tell me how you fought them off?”

  “I saw my mother.”

  “What?”

  Jamie took a breath. “I believe I was dying. I don’t know what kind of weapon they used, but it completely incapacitated me. The pain was unbearable. I don’t know if I was hallucinating, but somehow my mother came to me. I felt her touch. Heard her voice. She told me that it would pass.”

  “Is that when you defeated them?” Jon said, fascinated by Jamie’s story.

  “Not quite. I had given up. I told her that I couldn’t bear it and she told me I could. But despair had taken hold, and I didn’t see how.” Jamie smiled. “That was when I saw her, and she spoke to me in that voice. You know, the one a mom uses with a disobedient child. She told me that I must resist and then she turned to dust. I can’t explain what happened next. Something caught fire deep inside me. That’s the only way I can describe it. The sensation grew in intensity and spread throughout my body. As it did, it drove out the lightning, or whatever they were using on me. Finally, it shot out form me at the Antikitheri. When it dissipated, the Antikitheri were gone.”

  “That’s quite a story, Jamie,” Jon said.

  “It is what happened.”

  “I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but you did say you were hallucinating. Could this not also have been a hallucination?”

  “Perhaps. But then what saved me?”

  “Good question. Okay, so let’s say that you really did fire some kind of weapon at them. Do you think you can reproduce it?”

  “No. I don’t know how it happened.”

  Jon received a comm request and answered it. “Go ahead.”

  “Admiral,” Captain Henderson said. “We’ve received word that the battle is over. The ground force has taken the base.”

  “Do we have the weapon?” Jon said.

  “Negative. The weapon has been destroyed.”

  “Damn it. Alright, go ahead and update the Dvorkans.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Pike out.” Jon terminated the connection. “Well, so much for that plan. Hopefully the rebels haven’t installed that weapon anywhere else.”

  Chapter 41

  “I do not like the direction this mission is heading,” General Tallos said through the split screen comm display in Jon’s ready room. “We lost many good Diakans on the surface, not to mention some valuable hardware. And for what?”

  “Many brave Chaanisar fell in battle as well,” Colonel Bast said.

  “I am eternally grateful for your efforts,” Emperor Kriss said.

  “I am not interested in spilling Diakan blood for gratitude, Emperor,” Tallos said.

  “We weren’t just doing this for the Emperor,” Jon said. “What happens if General Tok finds a way to add that weapon to his ships? We wouldn’t stand a chance against him. How long would it take before he invaded our space?”

  “Yes, that is not a favorable outcome,” Tallos said. “We must obtain this weapon.”

  “Forgive me for saying so,” Kriss said. “But had you shared your personal jump technology with us, my Taymati would have taken the base, and you would not have had any casualties.”

  “Let’s not get into any of that right now,” Jon said. “The point is, we defeated the rebels and took this system. That has to be a big blow to General Tok. What we need to do now is keep up the momentum by keeping the rebels off balance. Now, we’ve sent probes through the gate into the adjoining system and have received some preliminary data. There is a rebel fleet there, though it does not seem as large as what we faced in this system. That said, I don’t know how many cloaked vessels are waiting for us. Nonetheless, I think if we move fast, we can take that system too while delivering a crippling blow to General Tok.”

  “I agree,” Kriss said. “Speed is of paramount importance. Taking the adjoining system will put us within striking distance of Central Command. When we take Central Command, the rebellion will fall apart.”

  “What about the weapon?” Tallos said. “If they installed it on that planet, they will most certainly have installed it on the station.”

  “That’s a good point,” Jon said. “It presents some challenges, but also gives us another crack at taking it. In fact, the more I think about it, the more of a priority that is. One way or another, we need to get our hands on that weapon and reverse engineer it.”

  “Perhaps there is another option,” Kriss said. “We don’t need to take the physical weapon if we can capture the engineers responsible for building it. All we need is their know-how.”

  “Would those engineers be at Central Command?” Jon said.

  “Some would,” Kriss said. “The knowledge is too valuable, so I’m sure Tok would want to keep them close. If any are out in the field, I think Tok will call them back to Central Command once he learns of our invasion.”

  “Or we might get lucky,” Jon said. “Either way, we need to keep up the pressure. I want to invade the next system as soon as possible.”

  “We need to conduct some urgent repairs,” Tallos said. “But once those are complete, we will be ready for the next battle.”

  “The Chaanisar will be ready to fight when required,” Bast said.

  “Emperor?” Jon said.

  “I will check with my Taymati but can assure you that they will be ready.”

  “Good,” Jon said, pondering the coming battle. General Tok would surely know about their fleet before then. The only question remaining was what Tok would do about it. Would he send reinforcements to the target system, or pull back to Central Command and make a stand there? “How far is Central Command from this system?”

  “Roughly two thousand light years,” Kriss said.

  “I think we should alter our plans and bypass the adjoining system,” Jon said. “I suggest we avoid the jump gates entirely and use our jump systems to go straight to Central Command. That way we can hit them with our full force. If we avoid the jump gate, we can enter the system with cloaks on and stage a surprise attack. Once Central Command has fallen, I expect any other rebel systems will surrender.”

  “As I have said before, the penalty for rebellion is execution,” Kriss said. “Why would these men surrender?”

  “Because you will offer them amnesty,” Jon said.

  “I will do no such thing.”

  “Hear me out, Emperor. You do not offer amnesty for the commanders and explain that you understand that most of the Dvorkans were merely following orders. You offer them full amnesty provided they turn in their commanding officers. I imagine most will jump at that offer.”

  “Never underestimate a Dvorkan’s self-interest,” Kriss said almost to himself.

  “It will take eight days to reach Central Command with the jump system. We can conduct repairs along the way.”

  “I concur with your reasoning, Admiral,” Tallos said. “If we decapitate the leadership, t
he rebellion will fall apart. Especially if there is an offer of amnesty.”

  “Emperor?” Jon said. “Are you on board with the change?” So far, they had been supporting the Emperor, which meant following his battle plan. Would he stubbornly stick to his own strategy, or would he accept Jon’s changes?

  Kriss stayed quiet for some time. “Very well,” he said finally. “Your plan is logical. I will support it.”

  “Good. Now, we will have to board the Central Command station to take it, and I know you will want to include your Taymati. Your Taymati are fine warriors, and the extra numbers will be an asset. I am proposing that we include them in the boarding operations.”

  “You will share the technology with us?” Kriss said.

  “No, but I think I have a workaround. I’ll send teams to your ships which will open jump portals for your troops. That will allow them to board the station. What do you think?”

  “I think it is a reasonable compromise.”

  “Excellent. Let’s prepare to get underway. The sooner we can reach Central Command, the better.”

  Chapter 42

  Jamie wandered the Freedom’s corridors in an uncharacteristically restless state. The fleet was five days into their journey to Central Command and had stopped in an empty region of space after the most recent cycle of jumps. They would stay here for twenty-four hours to recharge the jump systems and would continue the ongoing repairs during that time.

  Jamie did not know why, but he had not slept a wink the entire five days since they had gotten underway. Chaanisar were often required to go without sleep for extended periods and his implants compensated, preventing the inevitable exhaustion from setting in. While that kept him alert, he could not go without sleep indefinitely.

  Chaanisar normally did not have a problem getting to sleep, yet here he was, wandering aimlessly through the ship, as he did not want to wake Anki. He had walked almost every deck of the great carrier over the past five days, receiving many questioning looks from the crew.

  Generally, everyone left him alone though. Most knew who he was by now. Dating the Admiral’s stepdaughter meant that most had heard about him, plus his long red hair and beard were hard to miss.

  Recent events had left him feeling troubled, however. He did not understand any of it. Why were the Erinyie and the Antikitheri so interested in him, of all people? What did the Antikitheri mean when they said that he was an anomaly and would disrupt the continuum? For that matter, what was the continuum?

  Jamie shook his head. He had been asking these questions night after night since his encounter with the Antikitheri but had not gotten anywhere near an answer. He had so many unanswered questions. Was this why he managed to escape the Juttari? If so, why hadn’t it happened sooner? Why was he forced to endure the Juttari whip for so long?

  Was he like the Diakan See’er? Perhaps he had her gift of sight, but that did not explain his heightened combat capabilities. Did that have something to do with his implants? His training?

  Of all his questions, he wanted an answer to one above all else. When the Antikitheri tried to kill him, did his mother actually come to him? Or was she a hallucination? Any rational person would call the experience a hallucination, but to him, it felt incredibly real. He knew it was impossible, but what if it wasn’t? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Would that make her a ghost? If not, then what?

  He turned a corner and froze. The Freedom was gone, as was the fleet, and Jamie found himself floating in space, alone. He realized he was not wearing any type of environmental suit and started to panic. He thrashed about and looked around for any sign of help, but there was none. To his surprise, he realized that he could breathe. How? “I’m having a vision,” he said out loud.

  This was the first time that he became aware of the vision while experiencing it. In the previous visions, he thought the events taking place were real. This time, however, he knew it couldn’t possibly be real. That he was still on the Freedom, even though it did not feel that way.

  He looked around again and noted a nearby planet and a giant red star in the distance. Movement caught his eye, and he noticed a moon breaking orbit around the planet. He blinked a few times and looked again. The moon had indeed left orbit and was heading straight for him. How?

  The only explanation was that it was a spaceship of some sort disguised as a moon. That in and of itself was extremely impressive. Whatever it was, it bridged the distance between them with unbelievable speed, and Jamie soon found himself floating in space before the giant object.

  You seek answers, child of darkness? a voice said inside his head.

  “Do you speak to me, moon?” Jamie said out loud.

  Is that logical?

  “No, but this is a vision. Who can tell what is real?”

  Reality? Do you believe you know the difference?

  Jamie was about to say yes, but stopped short, wondering how much he understood.

  Is this real?

  “No, it is a vision. I am still on the Freedom.”

  Yet you have come before me. How do you explain this?

  “Easily. You are not here. This is all happening inside my mind.”

  You have much to learn, child of darkness.

  “Why do you all keep calling me that?”

  It is who you are. The darkness surrounds you. It runs deep. Clings to you. As it clings to your brethren. You all bear the mark of darkness. Oceans of blood drip from your hands.

  “And you’re a damn moon. What makes you think you can judge me?”

  I do not condemn, nor do I absolve. Can you say the same?

  Suddenly, Jamie’s victims flashed through his mind in rapid succession. If the moon looked for remorse, he would find none here. “I know what I am, moon.”

  Then why are you here?

  “This is a vision. How the hell should I know?”

  To seek answers, one must first know questions. Until we meet again, child of darkness.

  The moon moved away from Jamie and headed back toward its original location.

  “Wait, where are you going?” Jamie said, but the moon didn’t answer. “What the-”

  Jamie found himself back on the Freedom with several crewmembers looking at him.

  “Are you okay?” said a worried-looking ensign. “You were just standing there, frozen.”

  “I’m fine,” Jamie said, regaining his bearings. Remembering that he needed to be more cognizant of common human customs, he thanked the ensign for her concern and hastily walked away.

  ***

  “I had another vision,” Jamie said after Anki had woken up.

  “While you were sleeping?” Anki said, rubbing her eyes.

  “No, I didn’t sleep.”

  “Again? That’s five days now.”

  “I know, Anki. Don’t worry. My implants can handle much more than that.”

  “I still don’t like it.”

  “So, this vision was odd.”

  “Because the other ones were normal?” Anki said sarcastically.

  “I was floating in space somewhere. I didn’t know where I was, but I knew it was a vision.”

  “What else would it be? Do you normally find yourself inexplicably floating in space?”

  “The other visions were different. In this one, I knew from the start what was happening.”

  “Could you control it, like some people can do with dreams?”

  “No, although it was very much like a dream. A moon came and talked to me. It was the strangest thing.”

  “A moon?” Anki said in surprise. “You mean you spoke with the Guardian?”

  “Who is the Guardian?”

  “You mean what is the Guardian. I don’t know, but I think his full title is Guardian of the Gate. We encountered him when we traveled to the Andromeda galaxy to find the Antikitheri years ago. We needed his permission to use a kind of super jump gate that connects the two galaxies. He came to us as a moon.”

  “I did not know that.”


  “Well, it isn’t common knowledge. What did he say to you?”

  “Nothing that made any sense. He asked me a lot of odd questions.”

  “That sounds like the Guardian. When we encountered him, he did the same thing. We were traveling in a battle group, and he basically disabled all our ships and wouldn’t let us pass until Jon answered his questions.”

  “I think I need to see him,” Jamie said.

  “The Guardian? What makes you say that?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just another one of those feelings. It said that we would meet again.”

  “It sounds like we have another adventure waiting for us.”

  “No. You saw what happened the last time. If I go looking for this Guardian, I’m going alone.”

  “Are you telling me what I can and can’t do?”

  “No, of course not. I’m just worried about your safety.”

  “I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself. If you are going to go find the Guardian, then I am coming with you. Got it?”

  Jamie smiled knowing he would never tire of Anki’s spirit. “Got it.”

  Chapter 43

  The fleet jumped into the Central Command star system with cloaks enabled. They were careful to land far enough away from the gate to avoid any anti-cloaking measures.

  Jon studied his tactical display, surveying the system’s defenses. The rebels were clustered around the jump gate and the Central Command space station. That did not consider any cloaked assets, nor did it account for the various patrols. The latter was what Jon sought.

  His display identified all such patrols and pinpointed their locations on the screen. One stood out as the ideal target. It consisted of two cruisers located a considerable distance from the rebel base and fleet.

  Jon confirmed that all his ships were in system and sent the patrol’s coordinates to the Chaanisar.

  A squadron of cloaked Chaanisar battleships blinked off Jon’s display and reappeared alongside the rebel patrol. Still cloaked, they opened fire on one of the rebel cruisers, hitting it with a massive barrage of energy bolts, missiles, and projectiles.