Epoch (The Templar Future Book 1)

by Lowry, Chris

  Reanna started up, grabbing his torn lapels.

  “I came to kill Troops. There is no way I will wait in the car.”

  The Templar put his face up to hers, nose to nose.

  “This is the most dangerous part,” he growled. “Look out there. Patrols every five minutes, snipers on every wall. I need to know this vehicle will be here when I come out this way.”

  “Why can’t he do it?” she pointed to the back of Bruce’s head.

  “He doesn’t have the battle experience yet. I need you to do it.”

  “Don’t put that voice on me,” she warned him. She collapsed in the seat, her lower lip poking out.

  “I will kill someone,” she said.

  “I know,” he assured her.

  “Can we go?” Pip whispered. “We’re going to draw attention. All the other cars are around front.”

  He waved them in. Pip hit the wall with a laser torch, ripping an entrance hole barely big enough to dive through. Bruce followed her in. The Templar looked over his shoulder at Reanna. He winked.

  “Fly away. Come back for us.”

  “I might,” she smirked.

  He jumped in the hole.

  The Common gathering room for the Troops had been transformed into a glorious collection of soft pools of light, and simple strains of music lingered in the air form every corner. Formal suits and uniforms were surrounded by perfectly coifed women in flowing gowns, the fabrics bright as the plumage on exotic birds.

  Nova stopped at the entrance to the room. She took a deep breath.

  “It’ll be okay,” Bram said.

  She surveyed the sea of people in the room from the raised dais doorstep.

  “I think I’m glad I wore this,” she said.

  He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her down the stairs.

  “I thought you might be.”

  “Do you see the Council?”

  “Across the room,” he led her through the throng to a raised platform on the far wall.

  They greeted each person quickly when they were stopped, avoiding rudeness but intent on making the platform with minimal interference.

  Bram held a com link up to his mouth.

  “All stations, check in.”

  He listened intently to the chatter of each Suit reporting their status.

  “How is it?” she asked.

  “Good. Mob activity on the East perimeter. They came out again, but not this way.”

  “Did we locate the Trooper?”

  “We found him, but they got the Suit.”

  Nova stopped searching for the Council.

  “They left him alive?”

  “We were surprised.”

  “Did you issue a destruct call?”

  “Of course.”

  She looked relieved.

  “We can’t have a Suit in their hands. They might find a weakness.”

  He rapped his knuckles on the breastplate.

  “What weakness?”

  She smiled and turned for the Council.

  “Webster,” she growled.

  The slicked hair was back, but instead of a business suit, he wore an imitation uniform with imitation medals on the right breast. They clinked together as he ascended the stairs two at a time.

  “He’s going for a coup,” Bram warned.

  Nova didn’t wait for it. She hiked her dress up to free her legs and darted for the platform.

  Webster had a head start. He reached the first Council member, Talbot and pumped his hand up and down, whispering in his ear.

  Talbot tapped a floating microphone

  “Excuse me,” he said.

  Nova stopped at the bottom of the stairs, wishing she had her blaster.

  “What do you think you’re doing? This man is a prisoner of the Troops.”

  Talbot looked at her with sad eyes. He covered the microphone with one hand.

  “I’m only doing what I must. You had the chance to play along,” he moved his hand and spoke to the crowd. “Many of you have worried about the current trends in leadership of the Troops, because you cannot be sure of your own safety. That’s why we called this celebration. The Troops need your support, just as you need their protection. But you can’t be sure of their leadership when prisoners are allowed to escape and roam the city, when traitors are welcomed back into the organization and renegades offered positions in the Research Department. The Council has heard your concerns and we have taken actions to assure you of not only your safety, but the continued protection of the greatest fighting unit in history.”

  “I don’t like the way this looks,” Bram breathed in her ear from right behind her.

  “Did you bring a second gun?” she asked.

  A panel on the side of his Suit opened up. She reached in for a small pistol.

  “Trouble?” he asked.

  “Watch.”

  Talbot looked at Nova.

  “The Council has voted to replace Nova Laud with Jay Webster, effective immediately.”

  The crowd gasped as one. Nova felt the floor under her shift. Bram caught her by the waist, held her straight. His eyes moved everywhere.

  Webster took the microphone from Talbot.

  “Thank you, sir,” he glared at Nova. “My first action as Commander is to arrest Nova Laud and her Second for public endangerment.”

  Doors on all sides of the room slid open and Troops moved in. Nova and Bram pushed through the milling crowd, away from the platform.

  “I thought all stations checked in?” she snapped.

  “You heard them. It’s a double cross.”

  “Ju!” Webster screamed. “Capture them!”

  Ju moved from the main entrance, leaping across the Common room to land beside Nova. He looked at her with sad eyes.

  “I am sorry, Sir. I received a countermand from the Computer. My primary directive is to follow the Commander. You are no longer the Commander.”

  Bram tried to block him, but Ju picked each up in one hand. He shook their weapons free, and dangled them above the floor.

  “Bring in the traitor!” Webster called.

  Darwin and Robe were led into the room, shackled at the neck.

  “Make room, ladies, gentlemen,” Webster squealed with glee. “You were concerned about safety, well have no fear. Under my leadership, acts of desertion and treason will be met with swift reprisal.”

  “He’s going to kill them here,” said Bram.

  A panel on his Suit opened up, he pulled another pistol out.

  “Not yet,” she whispered. “Time it.”

  “I’m going for Webster,” he said out of the side of his mouth.

  “The jets first. Then him..”

  “We’re going to die, you know,” he looked at her across the old model Suit holding his right arm.

  She winked at him.

  “It’s a good day,” she said.

  Darwin and Robe were led to the center of the room. The crowd spread into a large, tight closely packed circle, watching quietly, expectant.

  “There was once a custom of offering a condemned man a last request,” Webster grinned down at them from the platform. “But this is a new era we’re ushering in. Ready to die?”

  The Troopers abandoned the two shackled men in the center of the floor. A single laser turret descended from the ceiling. It was aimed at them both.

  “Ready,” Webster called out.

  “Ready,” Nova whispered to Bram.

  “Are you sure this is how it’s done?” Bruce asked Pip in the cramped underbelly of a utility passage.

  She held her laser torch up to the ceiling.

  “Pretty sure,” she said. “Ready?”

  The Templar nodded.

  “Fire!” screamed Webster.

  Bram fired. A plasma blast cracked the laser jet. A second bolt hit Webster on the chest, catapulting him off the platform.

  The floor under Darwin and Robe smoldered. A gaping hole opened up in front of their feet.

  “
Down here now!” a voice screamed.

  Ju shook the pistol out of Bram’s hand. He tightened his grip on them both.

  “The penalty for killing a Commander is death,” he said in a flat metallic voice. He dragged them towards the platform.

  The building rocked under an explosion. Ju stopped, listening to a voice no one else could hear.

  “We are under attack by the Mob,” he announced.

  The crowd panicked, crashed into each other as they stampeded.

  Webster dragged himself back to the edge of the platform.

  “Kill them!” he pointed at Nova.

  Troops milled about in confusion.

  “No guard posted,” grimaced Bram as the building shook again.

  “They have breached the perimeter,” announced Ju.

  “This is all your fault!” yelled Webster. He planted both feet on the platform and drew a bead on Nova.

  A blurring body flew through the air and kicked him in the chest with both beet. The Templar landed like a cat.

  His rifle seemed to grow out of his hand as he shot Trooper after Trooper, knocking them over easily.

  Bram kicked away from Ju and dove for a pistol. He scooped it up, rolled over and shot at the Templar. The blast rolled off his shoulder.

  The Templar somersaulted through the air, kicked Bram in the jaw, knocking him cold. The Second collapsed in a heap.

  “My directive is to destroy you,” said Ju. He grabbed the Templar by the arm and threw him across the room into a group of Troopers.

  They weren’t sure how to react. Their acting Commander was down, their former Commander was disgraced. The alarms in their helmets were shrieking, the crowd was screaming and the Mob was coming in the building.

  “The Mob has control of floors one through three,” Ju said, advancing on the Templar. “They will arrive in five minutes.”

  “Stop them!” Nova ordered the Troops.

  Conditioned by training, they moved at once.

  “They’re mine to order,” groaned Webster, pressing a pistol to her head. “You’re finished.”

  Robe hit him like a battering ram. The impact did little damage. Webster’s uniform had Suit components that protected him. Robe had on a thin jumper. They both crashed to the floor, Robe cradling his arm and shoulder.

  Webster recovered and rolled on top of him. His pistol was gone, knocked away by the tackle, but he still had his strength gloves on. He grabbed Robe’s skull between his hands and began squeezing. Robe screamed in agony.

  Pip shoved a rifle barrel into Webster’s open mouth.

  “I’ll blow your head off.”

  She pushed him over backwards off Robe.

  “Do you have him Commander?”

  Nova kneeled a few feet away her pistol aimed at Webster.

  “Dead to rights.”

  Ju tossed the Templar across the room again, still following. His Suit was ripped, with wires and parts hanging on by little more than slivers. The Templar was damaging him slowly, every encounter. But his strength was still superior, augmented by the Computer’s study of the Templar.

  Bruce kneeled by Robe.

  “Are you okay?”

  Robe nodded, holding his head with both hands.

  Darwin scooted out of the hole in the floor and sat beside his assistant.

  “Bruce, what are you doing here?”

  “Just a second, Doc. I’m working.”

  He set up a laptop computer and tied into a Main Terminal circuit.

  “I thought I told you to wait down there,” he admonished Darwin as he typed on the keyboard.

  “I am a part of this,” Darwin said.

  Pip stood guard over them, rifle held ready.

  “The Templar had me write a virus program,” he explained. “I’m dumping it into the memory core.”

  Nova guarded Webster close enough to hear.

  “You can’t do that. The Mob is attacking. We need the Computer to coordinate the battle.”

  “Sorry Commander,” said Bruce, not even looking at her. “My leader gave me an order.”

  She moved her pistol from Webster to Bruce.

  “I can’t let you do that.”

  Pip pressed her rifle against Nova’s head.

  “We will do it, Sir. We’re not on your team anymore.”

  Bruce hit the last key and the laptop fed a series of equations into the Main Terminal.

  “It’s done.”

  “You’ve killed us,” said Nova.

  She turned her pistol on Webster. He was gone.

  The Templar raised Ju over his head and threw him into the platform. It crumpled under the weight of the Suit and the cowering Council members.

  “Templar!” Bruce yelled.

  The Templar shook off his battle lust and looked at him.

  “Done!”

  “Everyone out!” he commanded.

  Bruce and Pip helped Robe up, carrying him to the hole in the floor. Darwin followed.

  Nova stood in front of the Templar, her gown soiled and torn.

  “I’m supposed to kill you,” she dropped her pistol to the floor.

  He looked at her.

  “There is no place for you here,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Come with me.”

  She looked at Bram’s limp body across the room.

  “I have a responsibility here,” she said.

  Webster jumped from behind the rubble of the platform.

  “Not anymore!”

  He shot the Templar in the chest, knocking him over backwards.

  “I killed him!” he advanced on her, pistol raised.

  She shook her head.

  “Plasma blast won’t do it,” she said.

  He laughed.

  “I studied the vids. I know his weakness.”

  She stood transfixed as he raised the pistol to her head.

  “Now for you,” he smiled.

  A plasma blast slammed into his back, sending him sprawling.

  Harry stood at the door, a smoking rifle at his side.

  “The Computer’s declared you outlaw,” he said.

  “What about the Mob?” she asked.

  “We’re holding them. It’s just mop up now. They’re acting different. I don’t know how. Things are crazy, ever since he came.”

  He pointed to the inert form of the Templar.

  “He wants me to go with him,” she said.

  “You have to go. All orders are to kill you on sight. You’re branded traitor.”

  “Why didn’t you shoot me?”

  The grizzled veteran smiled at her. He scooped Bram up on his shoulder and passed him over to her. She sagged under the weight.

  “I knew better,” he said.

  Darren ran into the room.

  “They’re coming. More Troops! We have to move.”

  “You’re coming with me?” she asked.

  “Get the other end of this,” he ordered Darren to help pick up the Templar.

  “We don’t have much choice. I’m not staying here under him,” he spit at Webster.

  “I can’t follow lies,” echoed Darren.

  They moved as a Unit to the hole in the floor.

  Pip popped up, rifle trained on them.

  “We’re coming with you,” Nova said.

  “Who shot the Templar?” Pip didn’t lower her rifle.

  “Webster got him.”

  “He’s alive,” said Harry.

  “And heavy,” Darren grunted.

  Pip studied them for a moment.

  “Come on,” she decided.

  They followed her through the labyrinth of pipes and passageways, turning left and right on a seemingly random path. It finally ended at a small opening in the wall.

  A hover car with on open canopy floated outside of the hole. It was a micro-bus variety, customized for hauling cargo. The Troops squeezed in the back with the Templar.

  “Is that a Corsair?” Harry hissed as he clambered aboard.

  Robe sat by Reanna in the f
ront, holding a rifle over the back of the seat.

  “You act under my orders,” he said. “You will do nothing.”

  Harry snickered.

  “My Commander is still here,” he nodded to Nova.

  “And we are guests,” she said. “We will do what he says.”

  Harry smirked and leaned against the back of the car. Darren squatted beside him. They held their rifles in their laps and watched.

  Nova cradled Bram on her shoulder.

  “How is the Templar?” Reanna asked as she bolted into the sky.

  A surface rocket exploded off to the right.

  “The Mob’s got rockets. Take us higher,” he stared out of the window.

  Reanna acted wordlessly, diving for the street.

  “What are you doing?” Robe screamed.

  Pip leaned up between them.

  “She knows what she’s doing.”

  Reanna concentrated on weaving between the buildings, straining with the tight turns.

  “Too low for rockets to arm,” she said out of the side of her mouth.

  Robe nodded. They raced for the harbor.

  “So they’re going to come with us?” Bruce said to Reanna and Pip.

  “The Commander said Templar offered,” Pip answered.

  “We’ll keep them under watch,” Reanna pointed to the Corsairs sitting on the deck, rifles on their knees.

  “They’ve got Suits,” said Bruce.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Robe walked up. “They gave their word to behave.”

  “And you believe them?”

  “They don’t want to be put off,” he said. “Looks like our group is growing.”

  He sat beside Pip and threw his arm across the bulky shoulders of her Suit. Bruce frowned, but said nothing.

  “I wish we could have recovered my Suit,” Robe groaned.

  “You will learn to fight without it,” said Reanna. “I will teach you.”

  “And Templar,” added Bruce.

  Darwin stepped out of the deck cabin and made his way to the group.

  “How is he?” asked Robe.

  Darwin sat on a crate and sighed.

  “He is sleeping.”

  They laughed quietly as the ship chugged West to the Corsair island of Channel.

  THE END