Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Earthman Jack Space Saga Book 2)

by Matthew Kadish

  “Always send the henchman to do the dirty work,” stated Heckubus as more sparks erupted from him. “That is, after all, what you’re around for.”

  “I see…” said Dan, looking at the sorry state Heckubus was in with a newfound concern. “Are you quite certain that is the lesson you wish to—”

  “Quiet,” Heckubus said. “Seething now. Leave, so that I may wallow in my sweet burning rage in peace.”

  Shanks studied Anna as Jack still held control over her. Anna was looking at him, but she could say or do nothing else without Jack’s permission. “Is the Princess harmed?” Shanks asked.

  “Not physically,” Jack said. “But I saw her when she touched the Great Seal’s access orb. A Deathlord had his claws in her. Literally.”

  “Was it the shadow?” Shanks asked.

  “No, but he was there, too,” Jack said. “It looks like he can move around and control the worms without having to physically be present.”

  “What was her state?” Shanks inquired. “How did she appear?”

  “Not good,” Jack replied. “It looked like she was trying to fight back, but she said that it was too strong for her.”

  “Then it is worse than I feared,” Shanks said gravely. “We must find a way to remove this thing from her, and soon, before she gives up her struggle.”

  “I agree,” said Jack. “But… how do we do that?”

  “We must learn everything we can about these creatures,” Shanks replied. “And their master.”

  A resolute look came over Jack’s face. “I think I know how to start,” he said. “Ship, give me a restraining chair.”

  A hatch in the floor of the bridge opened, and a chair rose up. Jack led Anna to it, sitting her down. Once her hands touched the armrests, restraints clasped over her wrists and around her torso, holding her in place. As soon as she was secure, Jack let go of the worm.

  Anna gasped as soon as Jack released her from his control. She looked around frightened as Jack stepped in front of her, wiping his hands on his pants as though holding onto that worm left something icky behind. “Jack!” she said, pleadingly, her eyes wide and frightened. “Great Observer! What have you done?”

  “Really?” asked Jack. “After all we just went through, you’re keeping up the act?”

  Anna looked at Shanks. “Brother Shanks,” she said desperately. “You must help me, please! Can’t you see? He wants me to marry him instead of Mourdock! He’s lost his mind!”

  “An odd thing to say, coming from one whose mind is being controlled by another,” Shanks replied.

  “You can’t honestly believe that!” cried Anna. “Look at me! Do you see a worm? Anywhere?” Jack reached behind her head and grabbed the worm. Anna instantly stiffened. “Oh, you mean this evil invisible worm that’s making me say this right now?” she said before Jack released it. Anna breathed heavily, looking at the group before her, obviously trying to think up an explanation as to what had just happened. “That… that was…” she sputtered.

  “A brain worm?” asked Scallywag.

  “Of the evil, invisible variety?” added the Professor.

  “You’re not fooling anyone anymore,” Jack said. “I saw what you did to the real Anna. I met the living shadow. You’re not hidden any longer. Not from us.”

  “Jack, this is madness,” Anna said, pleading. “You’ve gone too far! Just let me go. I promise, I won’t pursue charges. Take me back to the capitol, and I’ll pardon you all. You have my word!”

  Jack shook his head. “Enough with the ruse,” he said. “Let me talk to the guy in charge.”

  Anna looked at Jack helplessly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  “The shadow guy,” Jack said. “Let me talk to him.”

  “Jack, you don’t—”

  “Nothing you say is going to change your situation!” Jack snapped. “You know the truth. I know the truth. We all know the truth! So stop playing around, and let me talk to the shadow!” Anna glared at Jack, her jaw set stubbornly. Jack leaned forward, looking her in the eyes. “I know you’re in there,” he said. “I know you can hear me. You hear everything, don’t you? Our last chat was a bit short, wouldn’t you say? You and I still have a lot of things to talk about.”

  Anna gazed back at Jack, her stare cold and hard.

  “C’mon, dude,” said Jack with a smirk. “You know you wanna gloat.”

  At that, a small smile grew on Anna’s face. Her eyes closed, and when they opened back up, they were completely white. Her entire demeanor suddenly changed, an aura of deadly menace suddenly emanating from her. Shanks gasped, as though Anna’s transformation physically hurt him. Anna smiled at Jack. “You’re right,” Anna said, her voice deep and queer. “I do think it’s time you and I had a meaningful conversation, face to proverbial face.”

  Jack glared at Anna. “Who are you?” he asked.

  “Oh, I have so many names,” Anna replied. “But you may call me… Verrutus.”

  Green gasped. “Verrutus?” he said.

  Jack turned and looked at the Professor. “You know of him?”

  “I heard the name when I was Zarrod’s captive,” Green said. “Verrutus is… he’s a Deathlord Supreme!”

  The members of the group shifted uneasily at that revelation. Anna chuckled at their discomfort, the sound emitted from her low and menacing. “Zarrod always did like to talk too much,” Anna commented.

  “You’re different than Zarrod, aren’t you?” Jack said.

  “Oh, yes,” said Anna. “Deathlords come in many forms, Earthman. Not all of us are what you might expect.”

  “So I’m learning,” Jack replied, bitterly. “You guys are just full of surprises, aren’t you?”

  “As are you,” Anna said. “I can see now how you were able to defeat Zarrod.”

  “Trust me, I’m just getting started.”

  “I’m not,” retorted Anna. “I’ve been doing this for a very, very long time. I do not only control the Princess, but many others as well. Beings of high office within the Empire. Soldiers. Bureaucrats. Aliens of all shapes and sizes. I have been building my secret army for quite a while, Earthman. And the full might of it is about to descend upon you.”

  “Is that meant to scare me?” asked Jack. “In case you didn’t notice, we just kicked the butts of the best fighters in the Empire.”

  “Barely,” replied Anna. “But you don’t yet understand the full weight of your situation, do you? You’ve kidnapped the most important person in the galaxy. Once Virtuoso and the others bring news of what you’ve done back to the capitol, your crime will be broadcast to every media outlet in existence. You’ll all be branded traitors. Outlaws. Enemies of the Empire. Entire fleets will mobilize, tasked with nothing but the sole purpose of finding you. Thousands upon thousands of ships, all dedicated to tracking you down. There will be no safe harbor for you to run to. Every planet will be on the lookout for you and your ship. Every colony, space station, and outpost will be on alert, just waiting for you to arrive so you can be arrested. And a price will be placed on all your heads. One so large, every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be gunning for you. You are to be hunted. Ruthlessly. Relentlessly. Without mercy. All the while, my secret army will continue to grow, and they will be hunting you as well, but you will never see them coming until it is too late. You will be able to trust no one. And it is only a matter of time before you, and all your friends, are annihilated. It is inevitable, Earthman. You are already dead. You just do not realize it yet. And I rejoice that I get to be the harbinger of your doom.”

  Jack felt his chest tighten at the Deathlord’s words. He hadn’t really thought about the bigger picture before then. To him, all that mattered was helping Anna. But now, he saw the consequences of his actions laid out before him. Jack had faced many scary situations lately… but none of them had frightened him as much as the one Verrutus had just presented.

  However, he certainly wasn’t going to let the Deathlord know that.

  �
��Sounds like fun,” said Jack. “Now, let me help you understand your situation…” Jack moved closer to Anna and looked her in her soulless white eyes. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” he said. “I’m gonna save Anna. I’m gonna expose you. I’m gonna beat you. You’re not the harbinger of doom, buddy. I am. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nothing is ever inevitable. We make our own fate. I choose my own destiny. And right now, the destiny I choose… involves kicking your ass.”

  Anna chuckled. “You really think you can win, Earthman?”

  “I do,” replied Jack. “If there’s one thing you should know about me, Verrutus, it’s that I hate to lose.”

  “Well then,” said Anna, licking her lips gleefully. “Trust me when I say… you’re really going to hate what I have in store for you.”

  Epilogue

  Jack’s image filled the screen. He was sitting in the captain’s chair of the Earthship, dressed in his finest Fabu-tailored uniform, looking solemnly into the camera.

  “People of the Empire,” he said. “You know me. You’ve heard what I’ve done. But you have not heard the full story. I’m speaking to you now not to justify my actions… but to warn you. For years, it was believed the Deathlord menace was limited to their fleet of Planetkiller motherships. But the threat they pose is far greater and more serious than anyone ever imagined. The Deathlords have built a secret army within the Empire, using their mysterious death magic to take over people’s minds. This army has built up its ranks, disguised as normal, loyal, unsuspected Imperial citizens. But they work to destroy the Empire from the inside while other Deathlords attack it from without. This army is being led by a Deathlord Supreme named Verrutus, and he is being assisted by Director Uleeg Casgor and Armonto Virtuoso, the CEO of the Maguffyn Corporation. Together, they’ve infected Princess Glorianna, giving the Deathlords control over her mind. Now, I am searching for a way to free the Princess from the hold the Deathlords have on her. But I cannot do this alone. If we are going to survive, we need to stand together and stay strong. The Deathlords fear the Empire because it is the only thing powerful enough to unite against them. Do not believe those who speak of rebellion. Do not support those who seek independence. And most importantly, do not trust Director Casgor or Armonto Virtuoso. You did me the honor of naming me a hero of your Empire. Now I’m asking all of you to help me save it.”

  Jack’s image faded to that of Less Flatfoot, looking somber and serious.

  “That was the shock-shock-shocking statement, exclusive to the Less Flatfoot show, released by the wanted fugitive and former Hero of the Em-Em-Empire, Earthman Jack Finnegan. A galactic manhunt is currently underway for him and his companions for the kidnapping of Princess Glorianna. But if what he says is true, then perhaps we should be hunt-hunt-hunting for the Deathlords hidden among us instead. Has their secret army truly infiltrated the very halls of power within the Empire? Have all the Empire’s woes been the result of Death-Death-Deathlord sabotage efforts? And are two of the most powerful men in the Empire – Uleeg Casgor and Armonto Virtuoso – behind it all? The real-real-real question here is, who do you believe? Those who run the Empire? Or those who claim to be saving it? Tune in all this week as we investigate…”

  Less Flatfoot’s serious visage suddenly changed back to his bright, light-hearted, usual self.

  “And that’s it for our show tonight! Apologies to Tam Lameon, we ran out of time. Tune in tomorrow night when we take a goo-goo-good, hard look at Director Uleeg Casgor – is he a Deathlord sympathizer, or just a truly incompetent leader? Be here for that, stupid Scollum tricks, and more! See you then.”

  The screen was suddenly shattered by a chair being flung into it. “CURSE HIM!” shouted Casgor angrily. “Curse him and his filthy lying mouth! How dare he make such blatantly false accusations!!!”

  The men in the Director’s office gave him a wide berth as he paced back and forth, his face red with anger. Hasatan tried not to smile at Casgor’s irritated reaction to the Earthman’s recording, but he couldn’t help allowing himself a bit of enjoyment at seeing the man squirm.

  Hasatan glanced at the others in the room to try and gage their reactions. Armonto Virtuoso looked cool and collected as usual. Phineas Alabaster was impossible to read. Gebhard Skyborn looked dour. And Mourdock hadn’t taken his eyes off his own feet.

  “We need to get ahead of this,” Casgor said. “Go full court press. Reveal every bit of dirty laundry we have about the Earthman and put our surrogates on every holonet outlet there is denying these accusations!”

  “Are they true?” asked Mourdock, finally looking up.

  All eyes in the room turned to him. Casgor’s face looked so shocked it was comical. Gebhard appeared mortified. “Mourdock!” Gebhard bellowed. “How could you even ask such a thing?”

  “Because I know Jack,” Mourdock replied.

  “The Earthman is a liar, a terrorist, and a kidnapper!” shrieked Casgor.

  “The Earthman is my friend, Director,” said Mourdock, getting to his feet. “And I know him well enough not to believe half the things I’m hearing. Especially the things that seem to be coming from you.”

  “That is enough!” said Gebhard, getting to his feet, as well. “Whatever you believe, you cannot deny the facts. And the facts are the Earthman not only sided with the Evenstars against us but also kidnapped the Princess of the Empire – your bride to be! He is not the man you thought he was, son!”

  “Before I left to defend the Rim, Jack came to me asking for my help,” responded Mourdock. “And he told me then that no matter what happens between us, no matter what differences we have, and no matter what I might hear about him, that he’s my friend and he would never betray me.”

  “This seems like a mighty big betrayal, if you ask me,” Armonto Virtuoso said.

  “I did not ask you,” growled Mourdock. “Frankly, I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know for sure are two things. The first is that there is more going on here than meets the eye. And the second is that the woman I love needs help. Believe me when I say, I will not rest until the truth is exposed and Anna is safe!”

  “Mourdock, you cannot go chasing after the Earthman,” Gebhard warned. “We have every resource in the galaxy looking for him. You are needed at the Rim to help protect our holdings.”

  “Wil and Fred can handle things in the Rim,” Mourdock replied. “If you think I’m going to sit idly by while Anna is out there… you’re clearly not thinking, father. I leave in the morning to join the hunt, and I will not be back until it is over and Anna is safe.”

  Mourdock then stormed out of the office. Gebhard frowned. “I should go talk to him,” Gebhard said. “He hasn’t been thinking clearly since he heard the news. My apologies Uleeg.”

  “He’s upset. We all are,” replied Casgor. “It’s understandable.”

  “Still, my son can be stubborn and hard-headed at times,” Gebhard said. “I’d like to blame his mother for that, but I fear it’s a Skyborn genetic trait. Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me…”

  Gebhard left the office. Casgor hunched over his desk, suddenly looking very tired. “Phineas,” he muttered. “Please tell me you have news.”

  “I always have news, Director,” Alabaster replied. “Just none concerning the Earthman at the moment.”

  “I want him found, Phineas,” ordered Casgor. “And quickly, before he can cause any more damage than he already has.”

  “Fear not, Director,” said Alabaster. “I have every asset at my disposal from the Border to the Rim on the lookout for the Earthman. I’m making it my personal mission to be the first one to find him.”

  “I’m sure you are,” replied Casgor, eyeing Alabaster warily. “If you do find him, you are to report to me immediately, understood?”

  Alabaster bowed. “Of course, Director,” he said, before taking his leave.

  Hasatan eyed the Chief of Imperial Intelligence as he left. “He suspects something,” Hasatan said after Alabaster had
gone.

  “Of course he suspects something. It’s his blasted job,” grumbled Casgor. “And that detestable Less Flatfoot exclusive didn’t help put him off the trail! If only slythrus were able to take root in those with Paragon training, I wouldn’t have to worry about Alabaster so much.”

  “Not that we have any slythrus at our disposal,” muttered Armonto. “We lost our entire crop when the Visini took out the queen. And now that the word is out about them, it will be even more difficult to conceal our efforts. With the microscope the corporation and I are under now, it will be almost impossible for me to set up another incubator.”

  “Has Verrutus been in contact with you as to how we should proceed?” Hasatan asked.

  “Our shadowy friend has made his orders regarding this matter quite clear,” Casgor said. “Despite our little setback regarding the portgates, the Empire is continuing to fracture. With the Evenstar offensive measure neutralized, the fleets will be staying right where they should be. All we must do is continue to foster rebellion and let the Empire crumble under its own weight.”

  “That is if the Earthman’s message doesn’t gain traction,” said Armonto. “His call for unity was a strong one. What kind of a man kidnaps the leader of an Empire and then makes the case for it to stay united? If people really start to believe in him, the tide could easily turn against us.”

  “That is why it is all the more important that we find him and dispose of him,” Casgor said.

  “And what about me?” asked Hasatan. “What are my orders?”

  “Verrutus says you are to continue preparing young Lord Skyborn for his eventual corruption,” Armonto replied.

  “That will be difficult,” Hasatan said. “His focus is entirely on finding the Princess. He will not be interested in his studies, and it will be hard for me to continue manifesting the corruption within him if he chooses not to partake in his training.”

  “That is your problem, Paragon,” replied Casgor. “I have enough of my own to deal with now that this blasted Earthman has gone public with what he knows. I was already fending off enough criticism for taking over the Directory. Now, I can practically hear Phenberg, Jamerones, Zersee, and Ridsco latching onto this proclamation and shouting it from the rooftops to anyone who will listen.”