The Shadow Order - Books 1 - 8 + 120 Seconds (The complete series): A Space Opera

by Michael Robertson

  Although he’d lowered his gun and the creatures in front of them seemed legitimate, Seb still said to the others, I think we’re going to be all right, but keep your wits. I don’t trust them.

  Chapter 26

  I’ll be glad when this is all over.

  Seb looked around to gauge the reaction of the others to SA’s comment. They all peered ahead into the darkness, following the creatures and their torches. Even if she had spoken to the rest of them, he chose to keep his response private. Me too. I’m tired.

  So much has happened in such a short time.

  A nod, Seb continued to look around at the metal-lined walls. A uniformity to them, it reminded him of the Shadow Order’s base. Like when Moses led him around the place, their current guides could be taking them anywhere. Hopefully this will all end with the fall of Enigma. I feel like we’ve had a lifetime’s worth of shit happen to us in just a few months.

  The slightest of glances his way, SA said, I never thought I’d say this, but I feel ready to settle down. I want to live a slower-paced life. I thought I’d be a soldier for a long time. You’ve changed that … I suppose that’s what love does to you.

  Robbed of a response, Seb reached across to her. She took his outstretched hand and squeezed it. Maybe he should have told her then that he’d also seen a vision of the pillar, but he didn’t understand it yet. He knew there to be more to it, and until he’d wrapped his head around what that was, he needed to keep it to himself.

  Their guides stopped in front of them and pointed down a dark tunnel that looked much like all of the others. Every time one of them moved their torch, the light sparkled off the zinconium-lined walls, floor, and ceiling. It made it much harder for Seb to keep his focus on their guides. Then he saw what they were showing them. A few metres along, the metal-lined walls gave way to concrete. The second they stepped out there, they’d become visible to scanners again.

  The hairy, thick-tailed leader said, “That’s the way to the Pillar of Peace. There’s a hatch up ahead. Go through it and you’ll be in an alley that runs directly to the square.”

  Before Seb could thank them, Sparks looked up from her computer. “Why did you take us the long way?”

  Aware of Reyes in his peripheral vision, Seb saw the twitch in her form. Because he had slow motion on his side, it gave him the time to dart across and stop her mid run. He caught her before she reached their guides and shoved her back, wrapping a tight grip around her upper body as he restrained her. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “I don’t trust them.” Her raised voice echoed down the tunnel.

  Seb made eye contact with Bruke and flicked his head to call him over. “I need you to restrain her. We’ll need her if we fight, but I’m still not convinced these creatures mean us any harm. And, Reyes, keep your voice down, yeah?”

  Once Bruke had taken Reyes’ gun from her grip and clipped it to his side, he wrapped his two strong arms around the feisty marine so Seb could step away.

  One last glance at her to be sure she’d at least calmed down enough to remain restrained, Seb turned to their guides. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into her.” He threw another glare in her direction.

  With a gracious nod, the large hairy brute spoke with a soft tone. “We’re living in tense times.”

  “That we are. Although”—Seb rested one hand on his gun at his hip—“I don’t mean any disrespect, but I have to insist you answer Sparks’ question. Why take us the long way?”

  Only subtle, but with so much reflected light in the space, Seb couldn’t help but notice the glint on the creatures’ blades from where they all held them. Sparks and SA must have seen it too, because when he turned to them, he saw the small Thrystian had her blaster raised to her shoulder, and SA had drawn her knives. Bruke continued to hold Reyes back; in her current state, she might end up their most effective weapon, but they could only let her go as a last resort.

  The tall leader stepped closer to Seb. It kept a tight grip on its knife. “I told you we have our loved ones down here with us.”

  Seb waited for it to continue.

  “Just like we’re strangers to you, you are to us. We don’t know you, and we don’t want to put those most dear to us in danger. We took you the long way around to bypass them. We’ve put our trust in you; I would ask you do the same.”

  Maybe Reyes’ reaction had given him the jitters because Seb couldn’t think straight. SA clearly sensed that. She came through to him. It seems legit.

  While shuffling on the spot, the leader of their guides said, “We plan to stay put. If you plan to be on your way, we don’t have any reason to fall out.”

  Because none of the others offered anything to him, Seb looked at their guides, their frames more tense than they had been at any other time since they’d met them. “If you’ll stand aside and let us pass, we’ll be on our way.”

  The leader looked at Reyes.

  “We’ll keep her restrained until we’re away from you. Tell them, Reyes, you won’t come back here.” Then so his team could hear, Don’t put us in the line of fire because these things have triggered something in you. We don’t see the same threat you do, so you need to trust us.

  One of their guides shone their torch on Reyes. A mix of rage and grief swam in the glow of her brown eyes. She growled at it through clenched teeth. “Get that thing out of my face before I ram it up your—”

  “Reyes! Wind your neck in.” Since they’d accepted her into their team, Seb had only seen Reyes as an equal. It felt awkward to pull rank on her, but she’d been in the military, so he had to use her Pavlovian response to an order to keep her in line.

  Her reluctance to obey clear in her tight jaw, Reyes looked up and down the line of creatures. “It’s the wish of my team that we move on. I don’t trust you, and if I were on my own, I would have cut every one of your throats and left you to bleed out on your zinconium floor.”

  Three of their guides raised their blades in her direction.

  A pause to look from one to the other, she said, “But, you have my word that I won’t come back once we’ve passed. I won’t betray my team like that. That’s worth a lot more to me than anything.”

  To watch her complicate their situation lifted Seb’s body temperature, and he tugged on his collar. He looked at the lead creature, who flicked its head to the side as an order for its team to move over. They shuffled closer to one wall. The three who’d drawn their blades kept them drawn.

  Bruke took the lead and dragged Reyes past, the feisty marine glaring at them the entire time.

  While Sparks and SA followed, Seb bowed at the tall leader. “Please accept my sincerest apologies. I’m not sure what’s gotten into her. She’s normally one of the most level-headed beings I know.”

  “Tense times,” the lead guide said, repeating its sentiment from earlier.

  “That it is. Thank you for guiding us, and know we’ll do everything we can to put a stop to the insanity up on the streets.”

  The guides watched Seb, but none of them spoke. They were clearly impatient to get rid of them.

  As hard as he found it to not look back, Seb walked away from them, giving them his trust as he focused on his team up ahead. The small glow of Sparks’ torch looked pitiful compared to the combined glare of what had led them there. But other than losing their torchlight, he felt glad to be away from the creatures.

  Chapter 27

  Just in case any of them looked back, Seb waited until they walked around the bend in the tunnel before he said, Sparks, are they following us?

  No. They might not have remained where they were, but they definitely haven’t stepped out of the zinconium.

  Seb then turned to Reyes. What the hell were you playing at? You nearly got us into a fight we didn’t need to have. What’s wrong with you? Have you not killed enough beings yet?

  Although Bruke had let go of Reyes, he remained close so he could grab her again should he need to. A scowl at Seb, she said, It doesn�
�t matter. It won’t happen again.

  I think it does matter. If you need trigger warnings, I’d like to know. Then it hit him. It’s something to do with the Faradis, isn’t it?

  Reyes spun around with her gun raised and pointed it at Seb. Despite Bruke’s close proximity, SA got to Reyes first and pressed the tip of one of her knives to her throat.

  Even in the darkness, Seb saw the marine gulp and then lower her weapon. The point of SA’s knife forced her to keep her chin raised. Tears swelled in her eyes before running down her cheeks. A few tense seconds before she said, I’m sorry. You’re right, it’s all to do with what happened on the Faradis. But now isn’t the time to talk about it, so please don’t mention it again.

  Seb reached out to SA and tugged her back. Although reluctant, SA lowered her knife and stared at Reyes as she stepped away. I’ve had no reason to doubt you until now, Seb said. I get that whatever happened on the Faradis has left a lasting impression, but please remember we’re in this together. We’re here for you, but don’t drag us down with your past trauma.

  I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. For real this time. I’m sorry. While Reyes spoke, tears ran down her face. A tough woman, her expression remained stoic despite her clear show of emotion.

  Come on, Seb said. Let’s get out of here and find that damned pillar.

  Chapter 28

  The bright neon glow of the city dazzled Seb as he stepped from the tunnel and held the cold metal doors open for the others to follow. Although he looked up and down the alley, blinking repeatedly as if it would somehow help him clear his vision, he could only see a wash of brightness.

  After a few seconds, Seb’s sight returned. By then, all of the others had already stepped out into the open. Because Sparks’ computer had told them the way was clear, he’d had to trust that.

  As the last one out, SA helped Seb close the hatch behind them. The hinges creaked like the ones on the doors at the other end of the tunnel, although they protested with slightly less enthusiasm. Too quiet for any being beyond the alley to hear.

  Now his vision had returned, Seb glanced up at the permanent night sky and shivered. It must be miserable to live in such a cold and dark place, and with the light pollution amped up to the max, the residents would have to leave the city to get a view of the stars. Such beauty taken away from them by retina-scorching advertising and the always open brothels, casinos, and hotels. Although, what else could they do in such a wretched place other than gamble and fuck?

  The others had been waiting for Seb, but it took for him to look at them again to realise that. Sorry, I got a bit lost in my thoughts.

  While pointing up the alley with one of her long and bony fingers, Sparks said, The main square and the pillar are that way.

  With a nod, Seb set off, passing through the middle of his friends so he could lead the way. None of the others seemed willing to take up the role. No time like the present. Let’s get this over with and then hopefully find our way off this cursed planet.

  Although Seb strode ahead, Sparks ran a couple of paces to catch up with him and walked at his side. They avoided the scatterings of mutilated bodies by either going around or stepping over them. The tight space made it comfortable for just those two, the others bringing up the rear.

  Seb felt Sparks looking at him, but he kept his focus on the square ahead while he spoke to her. What do you think the pillar will tell us?

  The glow of her screen added another light to his surroundings. I’m not sure, she said. I just hope we find whatever it is quickly. There doesn’t look to be any organisation to the chaos running around the city, which I think makes it much harder to deal with.

  How so?

  It’s hard to predict when they’ll find us again. It could take days, or it could take minutes. What I know for sure is it’s just a matter of time. Hopefully, we can find out what we need to and be out of here before our luck runs out.

  At least the square’s clear, Seb said, but before he could step out into it, Sparks grabbed his arm in a tight grip, her long fingers clamping around his bicep. Were it not for the panic in the way she clutched onto him, he might have yelled out at the sharp pain. Instead, he stifled his response and let her drag him back a few steps. As he focused on Sparks, he felt the others watching them.

  Several taps against her screen, Sparks then turned it around to show Seb eight blue dots out in the square.

  Huh?

  Stealth armour, she said, glancing at the others before she tilted the screen so they could see it. They’re wearing stealth armour. I can only guess they’re doing that to remain invisible to the slaves so they don’t get attacked.

  SA pointed at the mini computer. You think they’re protecting the pillar?

  I’m certain of it.

  That’s something at least. When the others looked at Seb, he elaborated, We must be on the right track if the thing’s being guarded.

  Bruke wore his usual frown of anxiety and shrugged. So what do we do? How do we fight something we can’t see?

  Silence followed as they all watched Sparks work on her computer. She manipulated the map, pulling it back to give them a wider view of Kajan. It showed the cluster of red dots that were the thousands of enraged slaves. They’re not close enough to be a problem, she said.

  Yet, Reyes said.

  After nodding her small head, Sparks agreed. Yet. As soon as we go out in that square, the noise of the fight will draw them straight to us.

  After a look at his friends, none of them offering anything useful, Seb returned his attention to Sparks. So what do we do?

  Although she didn’t speak, Sparks brought up a screen on her tablet that made no sense to him. A mess of lines, it looked like a complex network of cables all running their own path to somewhere he couldn’t see. Her fingers blurred as they flew across the screen’s surface. He heard it before she said anything: a deep bass boom coming from what sounded to be monstrous speakers. It was far away.

  Sparks pulled her map up again so they could see the cluster of red dots. They were running towards the noise. They have a flagship casino that hosts a lot of events. Fights, concerts, sports matches … I’ve just turned the sound system up full. It should buy us some time. When she brought her screen back to the square, she showed them the blue dots hadn’t moved. They must have strict instructions to stay put.

  Seb still couldn’t see a way around their problem. So the slaves won’t bother us for a while, but that doesn’t suddenly make those guards visible.

  Sparks, Reyes said, can you orchestrate the battle from the alley? We can’t see the guards, but you can tell us where they are if we go out there.

  Seb joined the others in staring at Reyes. When she looked back at them, she raised her eyebrows. Unless you have any better ideas?

  Nothing.

  Reyes pointed out into the square. If we pretend we can’t see them, I reckon we could go out there and walk down another alley. We could get them to follow us. Once we’ve drawn them out of position and lured them into a tighter space, we could open fire. We can make the environment work for us.

  Bruke this time: You think that’ll work?

  It’s the best I’ve got, Reyes said.

  The others looked at Seb. He thought about it for a second before nodding. It’s the best we’ve got.

  Chapter 29

  Where the change from the dark tunnels to the brighter alley had momentarily blinded Seb, the square looked like it would do the same. It raised the brilliant glare another notch, and just peering into it made his eyes sting. Hopefully he wouldn’t fall over any of the scores of dead bodies littering the ground. Just before he stepped out with Reyes by his side, he looked back at Sparks. It took a second for her to lift her attention from her screen. You ready?

  No.

  Do you need more time?

  I need a better idea.

  Butterflies did backflips in Seb’s stomach as he stared at her. Really?

  Sparks then batted him away with a
wave of her long hand. Just get on with it, yeah? I know this is the best plan we’ve got. Wishing it wasn’t won’t change that. I’ll do my best.

  It took for Reyes to shove Seb out into the square to kick-start him into action. She quickened her pace to catch up with him, and they fell into stride, staring straight ahead at the alley they were heading for.

  Vulnerable in the glow of the main plaza, Seb imagined the eight guards watching them and resisted the urge to look across at the Pillar of Peace. If they blew their cover, they’d be filled with holes in seconds. Instead, he divided his attention between where they were heading and the ground, the finer details of the corpses’ mutilation hidden to him because of the dazzling lights around them.

  The disco Sparks had started sounded louder in the open space. A baseline boom called through the city. It unsettled the beat of Seb’s hammering heart. It sounded like the monotone thud could go on forever; hopefully it would hold the slaves for as long as they needed it to.

  They’d agreed they’d only speak if absolutely necessary. Sparks needed to have control of their communication. She came through to them, her tone soft as she clearly tried to help them keep their heads. They’re moving towards you slowly. I can’t be certain, but judging by their gradual approach, I’d say they still think they have the advantage. I don’t think you should stay out in the open for too long. All it will take is for one of those eight to lose their head and open fire. Just stick with the plan and you might have a chance of making it out of here.

  The closest alley still a couple of metres away, Seb did his best to centre himself as he walked. It probably looked unnatural for him and Reyes to be silent, so he said, “How are we going to get out of here?” Before Reyes could reply, he added, Just say anything. I want the guards to think we don’t know they’re there.

  “I’m not sure. Not with all those lunatics running through the streets. Do you think we can find a ship somewhere?” A wooden performance at best, hopefully the guards’ lack of familiarity with Reyes made it sound passable.