EarthRise
Page 41
Manning paused as he arrived on yet another level and took a look around. “Damn Franklin anyway . . . Does anyone have a clue as to where he was headed?”
“I heard him say something about Hak-Bin,” Wimba volunteered.
Hak-Bin! Of course! The bastard was here! Ra ‘Na intelligence had verified that . . . but where? Then it came to him. Knowing the Sauron social structure as he did, Franklin would naturally head for the top gallery. “Come on!” Manning shouted. “He’s on the top level!” Boots pounded as the security team continued to climb.
Meanwhile, a few levels higher, Franklin ran out of ramp. This was it, the highest gallery there was, and the place where Hak-Bin was certain to be. But in which chamber? Now, all alone, the politician regretted the haste with which he had sped to the top. Still, that’s where he was, and it was best to keep moving. That’s what he told himself anyway as he turned to the left. Slowly, the .9mm held straight out in front of him, the president eased his way down the corridor. There was less noise on the top level—as if the Zin nymphs had less to say. But they were aware of him, as he checked their cubicles, and he could feel their animosity.
Then, as if alerted by some sixth sense, Franklin knew he was close. He could feel it, or thought he could, and tried to extend his senses. That’s when Kat-Duu slipped out of a shadow, took one step forward, and wrapped a chitinous arm around the politician’s throat. The other grasper sought the gun, locked onto it, and jerked the weapon free. The .9mm went off, a bullet bounced off the opposite wall, and the gun fell. Kell heard the gunshot and ran toward the sound.
Franklin felt the arm tighten, rammed the Kan with his elbow, and hit the alien’s rock-hard exoskeleton. Desperate by then, the politician stomped on one of the Sauron’s podlike feet, felt the grip loosen, and stomped again. Then, sensing some give, the human threw himself forward as Kat-Duu attempted to pull the foot back. The hold broke, Franklin fell forward, and dived for the gun. There were two reports . . . quickly followed by a third.
The politician waited for the darts to strike, wondered how the Kan had missed, and flipped himself over. “Got the bastard,” Kell said happily. “That’s one less to worry about.”
Franklin was about to agree, about to thank Kell for saving his life, when the automatic weapon started to chatter. It belonged to Kat-Duu, and the jet-black nymph could barely control it. Struck from behind, the agent jerked like a puppet on a string as darts tore at his legs.
The politician did a desperate backstroke as he felt for the pistol, found it, and brought the weapon forward. He fired two shots. One missed entirely and the other blew one of the Sauron’s arms off. The nymph screeched pitifully, tried to jump, but fell as the last bullet took it in the head. Franklin fumbled for a fresh magazine, realized he was out, and let the wall support his shoulders.
Manning heard the rattle of automatic fire followed by the steady bang, bang, bang of a .9mm as he topped the ramp and made the turn. Mol knelt next to Kell as the security chief extended a hand to Franklin. “Not bad for a politician, sir, but the security team would appreciate it if you’d let us do some of the shooting.”
“Sorry,” Franklin said contritely, “I got carried away. This is where Hak-Bin should be—and I want to nail the bastard.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Manning said understandingly. “But it might help if we were a little more systematic. All we need to do is find the largest chamber—that’s where the bastard will be.”
What the security chief said made sense. Franklin nodded, bummed a fresh magazine from Ji-Hoon, and gestured to the larger body. “See the big one? I saw him with Hak-Bin. He’s here . . . I can feel it.”
“All right,” Manning said. “Wimba, Alaweed, get Kell to the aid station and give Dr. Sool my best. The rest of you check the cells. One person on point—the other two on backup. Understood?”
The security agents nodded, and Manning remained with Franklin as Mol, Ji-Hoon, and Orvin began to check the birth chambers. Less than a minute had passed when they met with success. “Over here!” Ji-Hoon shouted. “This cell is larger!”
Manning motioned for the team to close in, ordered the rest of the agents to take up positions facing outward, and approached the entrance.
Though not yet mature, the new Hak-Bin was aware of the overall situation and realized he had little choice but to deal with it. He heard noise, knew the slaves were going to enter, and called out, “President Franklin? Is that you?”
Manning heard the voice and peeked around the corner. The cell was larger than the rest. The coal-black nymph sat before an already rotting body. Flies, drawn from the outside, buzzed as they circled the corpse. “Ah,” the nymph said, “when the slave appears—the master will follow.”
“There are no slaves,” Franklin said, his shoulder brushing past Manning’s. “Not anymore.”
“And here he is,” Hak-Bin said sarcastically, “the collaborator turned conqueror! I enjoyed the way my progenitor toyed with you. Still, your race proved much more resilient than he thought it would. Please accept my congratulations . . . Victory is yours.”
“No,” Franklin said, “not yet.” Somewhere, on the levels below, weapons were being fired. The president jerked his thumb back over his shoulder. “Hear that, Hak-Bin? Notice how regular those shots are? That’s because the battle is over . . . That’s because ex-slaves are going chamber to chamber killing every nymph they find. Thousands of them. Later, when all of them are dead, that’s the moment when the allies will be victorious.”
The nymph hung his head. His voice was low, and Franklin was forced to move closer in order to hear. “The previous Hak-Bin named your planet Haven. Did you know that? A somewhat ironic choice, wouldn’t you agree? Even now his ancestors berate him. The entire race . . . brought to its knees by slaves! They can hardly believe it. But, just before I die, I have a message for you. . . .”
Franklin took an unconscious step forward, Manning shouted a warning, and the nymph’s elongated head shot up and out. The politician felt hundreds of tiny needle-sharp teeth sink into his throat, staggered under the unexpected impact, and struggled to breathe.
Then, determined to fight back, Franklin wrapped his hands around the long, sinuous neck. The Sauron tightened his jaws, the human started to squeeze, and a bullet broke the impasse. Manning shot the nymphling in the thorax, waited for its jaws to open, and shot it again.
That’s when Franklin rubbed his throat, realized that it was still in one piece, and wiped the blood off on his shirt. “I don’t know about you,” he said, looking around the room, “but I’m thirsty. Who’d like a drink?”
“Sounds good,” Manning said, “but the nearest drink is back in Bellingham.”
“And that’s where you’re wrong,” Franklin proclaimed. “The nearest drink is on Lifter Two! We have something to celebrate, and the president is buying!”
EPILOG
The Ra ‘Na remained in the vicinity of Earth long enough to remove the debris from orbit, repair their ships, and provide medical treatment to thousands upon thousands of humans. Among those so served were First Lieutenant Darby . . . and a group known as The Crips. Then, eager to return to Balwur, the Ra ‘Na left for the long journey home. Among them, still recovering from his wounds, was an initiate named Pas Pol, who, with Shu at his side, would found a new navy.
Some of the Saurons who had hidden themselves away in caves, subways, and basements managed to give birth. Most of their nymphs were located and killed. Some, no more than a thousand, were able to survive. Surprisingly enough, it was a group of ex-slaves who sought to protect the aliens from genocide and eventually succeeded in doing so. A reservation was established in the American Southwest, where the Saurons were imprisoned.
Elections were held, Alexander Franklin was confirmed as president, married an anthropologist named Maria Sanchez-Jones, and served two full terms. He, along with successor Boyer Blue, worked long and hard to help other countries recover from the invasion. Full reconstruction
would take a long time, but there was plenty of time to work with.
Jack Manning resigned his position as security chief to teach geology, married Dr. Seeko Sool, and for reasons neither could fully explain, settled near Bellingham, Washington.
Others, extraordinary people like Deac Smith, the man named Patience, and the nurse known as Dixie, went back to where they came from: the streets of America.
And it was there, safe within the embrace of a small town, that Ella Howther Ivory secured a small frame house, married a man named Joseph Mack, and raised her daughter Rose.
Ace Books by William C. Dietz
GALACTIC BOUNTY
FREEHOLD
PRISON PLANET
IMPERIAL BOUNTY
ALIEN BOUNTY
McCADE’S BOUNTY
DRIFTER
DRIFTER’S RUN
DRIFTER’S WAR
LEGION OF THE DAMNED
BODYGUARD
THE FINAL BATTLE
WHERE THE SHIPS DIE
STEELHEART
BY BLOOD ALONE
BY FORCE OF ARMS
DEATHDAY
EARTHRISE
FOR MORE THAN GLORY
FOR THOSE WHO FELL
RUNNER
LOGOS RUN
WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST
WHEN DUTY CALLS
AT EMPIRE’S EDGE
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1 - DEATH DAY MINUS 80
Chapter 2 - DEATH DAY MINUS 79
Chapter 3 - DEATH DAY MINUS 65
Chapter 4 - DEATH DAY MINUS 54
Chapter 5 - DEATH DAY MINUS 41
Chapter 6 - DEATH DAY MINUS 20
Chapter 7 - DEATH DAY MINUS 7
EPILOG
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1 - DEATH DAY MINUS 80
Chapter 2 - DEATH DAY MINUS 79
Chapter 3 - DEATH DAY MINUS 65
Chapter 4 - DEATH DAY MINUS 54
Chapter 5 - DEATH DAY MINUS 41
Chapter 6 - DEATH DAY MINUS 20
Chapter 7 - DEATH DAY MINUS 7
EPILOG