by Larkin, Matt
And we cannot fail. I will not allow all of this to have been for nothing.
Rachel chased after Knight, occasionally firing a shot at the Sentinels beyond him. He tore through them with a rage and efficiency that still frightened her. He slammed a man’s head against the wall and shot another. He didn’t restrict his attacks to Sentinels in uniform. Anyone in the way went down before him.
Like any ship or station, the Tabernacle’s power came from a tiny black hole. The infinite gravity generated by the Singularity Drive allowed the station to run and even to move. And now, that same power would eat the station from the inside out. The Drive was located in the central sphere, deep beneath the Sanhedrin chamber.
“We can’t take the lift,” Knight said. “They might shut it down.”
Rachel glanced at the ladder, leading almost twenty meters down. Long climb. “Go on. I’ll be right behind you.”
And Knight jumped down the shaft.
Holy shit.
David must have given him a suit with a grav-net. Which was so cheating.
Rachel hopped onto the ladder and scurried down as fast as she was able. Her breath came in gasps by the end of it. This was not going to be an easy climb back with the station imploding around her. In fact, it would probably be impossible. They were all going to die in here. Phoebe might have been able to escape on the ship, but the Icie wouldn’t leave them behind. No. This would be the end of all of them.
At least it would be a good end. She had wanted to marry David. She had wanted to have children with him. She’d wanted it all, at long last. All a little too late. But if she had to give her life to help fix this horrible mess she had created, she would do so. She owed humanity that much, at the very least.
By the time she reached the bottom, a roomful of Sentinels were dead or unconscious, save a few moaning in pain from broken limbs.
Knight turned to her, then paused. Waiting for her to lead the way.
“That one,” she said, indicating the core room.
It was sealed, and it would take a lot of concentrated fire to blast through.
Knight reached both hands toward the metal door, and it shrieked. The seams shifted, and the plating bent like crumpled aluminum. Then the whole door flew off the hinges and crashed into a nearby wall.
Rachel shook her head. Well, that worked too.
“Do it,” Knight said. “I’ll keep watch.”
Rachel blew out a breath and nodded, then dashed past him into the core room. The Singularity Drive was much the same as one on a Sentinel battleship, only slightly larger. Phoebe knew more about this than Rachel did, and would have been better to weaken containment. Maybe she could have timed it well enough to escape, even.
Rachel could try to weaken the field, but if she did too much, too quickly, containment would breach and she’d be sucked in. Destroyed, body and soul. Maybe it was better that way. An instant death, rather than a futile flight up the ladder. But … Rachel wasn’t the kind to give up without a fight.
She yanked open the console and began tracing circuits, unhooking those she could without causing immediate catastrophic failure. If Phoebe were here she’d know which …
Well, why not? “Jordan to Dana. Come in Phoebe.”
“I’m here.”
“I can use the HUD in my helmet to transmit video, right?”
“Yup, yup. Making home movies?”
“Tell me how to send a signal to you.”
Phoebe did so, and Rachel programmed her suit as the woman said. “Can you see the display ahead of me?”
“Yup. You should probably put that blue wire back in.”
Pulse fire echoed from outside. The Shekhinah had to know what they were doing. It would send everything it had to stop her. She had to trust Knight was enough to hold them off.
“Walk me through this. We need to create a reaction that can’t be stopped, but gives us a couple minutes to escape.”
“All right. Start with the fusion backup cells. They’re probably under the floor panels near the console you’re working on.”
Step by step, Phoebe walked her through the process. Sweat dripped down Rachel’s face and stung her eyes, but she couldn’t remove her helmet or Phoebe wouldn’t be able to see.
A buzzing sounded, and a holographic face appeared in the air before her.
The feminine personification of the Shekhinah. It spoke, its hollow voice echoing throughout the core room. “Rachel Jordan.”
“Yeah,” she said, trying to keep her focus on the instructions Phoebe was giving through the comm. She pulled another circuit.
“Your actions will leave Mizraim in chaos.”
“True.”
“If you do not stop what you are doing, more people will die. It is your duty as a citizen of the Empire to submit to our authority.”
“Yeah, well, you betrayed us when you sided with the Angels.”
“Oh!” Phoebe said over the comm. “Tell her she shouldn’t have told my boyfriend to fuck anything with tits! Tell her that.”
“No,” Rachel said. She was not having that conversation with the computer.
“No what?” The Shekhinah said. “The Angels created us. You must submit. You are a citizen of Mizraim.”
Rachel pulled the last circuit Phoebe had indicated. “The Angels created you, Shekhinah. God created me. And now, you can go to hell.”
She rose and ran from the core. “Knight, we don’t have much time.”
They didn’t have enough time. No matter how well Phoebe had done her work, that twenty meter climb …
Knight stared up the shaft, as if thinking the same thing.
She should tell Phoebe to run. She should spare the girl, though she knew losing Knight would devastate the Icie. And David … Poor David. Rachel would give anything to spare him the loss.
Knight wrapped an arm around her. “Hold tight to me.”
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey!” Phoebe shouted over the comm, and Rachel realized the vid feed was still on.
The floor panel beneath them trembled, and she would have fallen if not for Knight’s arm around her. And then the panel shot upward, flinging them in a rapid ascent up the shaft.
Rachel shrieked clutching her arms around Knight’s ribs. The pane carried them like a lift and they shot free of the shaft. Instead of stepping off the panel, Knight spread his arms, and it took off horizontally like a hover carrier. They sped over the bridge so fast the shrieking wind threatened to strip her off Knight. He stood firm, arms stretched out to either side.
“Holy shit!” Phoebe said over the comm. “I have totally got to try that! Plus, just this once, I’ll forgive you for putting your arms around him.”
They slowed as they drew near the ship, then dropped to the floor. Knight swayed in her grasp and collapsed to his knees.
“No you don’t!” Rachel said. She yanked him to his feet, threw his arm over her shoulder, and pulled him into the ship.
Phoebe grabbed him and helped him into a seat, and Rachel strapped into the pilot’s chair. She overrode the airlock and shot from the station as fast as she was able.
Behind them, metal rent and tore, sucked into a massive implosion. As the ship sped away from the station, anything close by was caught in the gravity well and drawn in. And Rachel watched as the Tabernacle, symbol of Mizraim, vanished into nothingness.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT
March 25th
Today is the day.
In the wake of the Tabernacle’s destruction, David had ordered the fleet to withdraw and disband. Rachel supposed he thought it best not to let the Ark find them together until they planned their next step. With the Shekhinah gone, they could at last count on Hannah and their other allies.
Which meant she breathed with relief, and slept well that night. The Ark was still out there. The Angels were still bent on the conquest of mankind and the annihilation of Asherah. But mankind had won a victory this day, and word had come back from Lamport.
The Aluf had succeeded in taking out all targets, albeit at cost. Many lives had been lost on all fronts, but they had shown the Angels humans were no longer sheep to be dominated. And that was a victory, as far as she was concerned.
So, a day later, when they reached Rehobath, David contacted the governor—an old friend of Leah’s family named Ephraim Geum. And the perfect official for her wedding.
She sat in her quarters with Phoebe, who was braiding her hair.
“So are you really going to let your brother out of the brig for this?” Phoebe asked.
“He said he wants to be there. And considering there will be dozens of Sentinels, I don’t think he’d try anything.”
“Plus he’s probably scared of Knight.”
As well he should be. Knight had no love for her brother, who had tortured him with a stun baton the first time they’d met. And only a fool wanted to be on the Gehennan’s shit list.
Her Mazzaroth screen blinked with an incoming call. Caleb Gavet.
Rachel waved it off. It was her wedding day. She had neither the time nor the inclination to listen to the man right now. It was possible they might be on the same side at this point—she’d figure that out later.
“Thank you,” she said to Phoebe. “I mean for my hair, your friendship … everything.”
“Yup, yup. I’m a pal. I’m your gal pal.”
Rachel smiled and, a few minutes later, followed Phoebe into the ship’s atrium. Much of the crew had gathered to see their captain wed. Some in uniform, but many in dress suits. Her brother stood nearby, in a suit as well, hands studiously tucked at his side. And free of mag restraints. She was grateful for that.
And, at the front stood David, and beside him Knight. Both men wore suits, but only David wore it well. Knight looked about as comfortable as a tiger would, if pressed into such garb.
Leah stood in the audience, and even through the surge of joy permeating the atrium, Rachel could feel the other woman’s jealousy, though it intermingled with support and happiness for her friend. A hint of a tear clouded Leah’s eyes. But then, most would take it for tears of joy.
“Don’t look at her,” Phoebe whispered.
The Colder-worlder was right. It was hard enough for Leah without her knowing Rachel could feel her emotions. So Rachel locked her gaze on David, who beamed at her with that bright smile that looked like it belonged on a travel brochure for a paradise planet.
Rachel stepped up beside him and took his hand. And Phoebe stood in support of her, as Knight stood beside David.
Governor Geum bowed to them. “Stories tell of an ancient tradition from the days of Eden. When a couple were so in love they wished to pledge to spend the rest of their lives together, they would be publicly joined. Sadly, we do not know all the rituals of ancient marriage customs. But today we gather to celebrate its spirit. Do you, David McGregor, wish to declare an eternal monogamous relationship with this woman?”
“Aye. I do. Absolutely. Have for quite some time.”
A few Sentinels chuckled.
“And do you, Rachel Jordan, wish to declare the same relationship with this man?”
“Yes. I do.” Saying the words was like lifting a weight from her chest. Like she had been running a race all her life, and she could finally rest. Because she had won the race. And there might be others ahead of her, but for now, she’d finally reached her destination.
And tears built in her eyes. For once, it didn’t embarrass her. Even David’s eyes were moist.
“Very good,” Geum said, and presented a document on a tablet. “Sign here and your marriage will be proclaimed across the Mazzaroth, held as true on all worlds in the universe.”
Rachel signed her name and handed the pen to David. He signed as well.
“Then I declare you wed!” Geum said, raising the tablet high.
David grabbed her around the waist and kissed her deeply. He massaged her lips, and she fell away into him. Until, at last, Phoebe cleared her throat.
Rachel pulled away, and they both chuckled.
David shook his head, and took her by the hand to speak with the guests.
Her brother leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “Congratulations, Rach.”
“Thanks, Miah.” Maybe it was too much to hope for, but still, she allowed herself to believe Raziel had gotten through to him. To believe it … at least for today.
Music started, and she danced with David again and again. Others danced as well, and it seemed Phoebe had even convinced Knight to give it a try. He clearly didn’t know how, despite his natural grace. Rachel tried not to let him see her smirk.
An hour in, Leah approached. “Can I … Would you mind if I had a dance with him?”
Rachel looked deep into the other woman’s eyes, then smiled. “Of course, Leah. David, I’ll just grab a seat and catch my breath.” It was the gracious thing to do. Leah was a good friend to David … Void, Leah was a good friend to Rachel, despite her feelings. She was the kind of person who deserved better. And Rachel truly, truly hoped she would find someone.
Rachel sunk down at a table and ordered a drink, then waved over an ensign. “Do you have a tablet?”
The young ensign nodded, then fetched her one. Even listening to whatever Caleb had to say would be better than watching Leah and David together. She didn’t want to be the jealous wife who couldn’t share her husband. She was better than that.
She accessed her personal Mazzaroth, and saw Caleb had left her a message.
“Play.”
His face lit the screen, creased with worry. “Rachel … I …” He looked over his shoulder. “I was so wrong. About everything. Apollo—”
The transmission ended.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE
April 20th, 3097 EY
Nearly a month has passed since the fall of the Tabernacle. No one has seen the Angels, but I do not dare hope they have left us in peace for good. And though I wanted to enjoy my new marriage to David, political circumstances have left precious few moments to savor it.
To save the Sentinels, to save mankind, David had led an assault against the Tabernacle itself—the very symbol of his civilization. And in destroying it, his worst fears had manifested. The Sentinels, now free from Angel monitoring, had collapsed into civil war, rebuffing his attempts to mediate peace between them.
After all, why should they flock to the man who led them to this chaos?
“I know what you’re feeling,” Rachel said. She sat on the bed across from him in the quarters they now shared, her legs folded beneath her. Damn empath always knew what he was feeling. “And it’s not your fault. You’ve done the best you could with what we had.”
David grunted, pretending to look at the tablet with the thrice-damned report. Asheran Leviathans seizing control of Mizraim space. They had already taken half of the Pegasus Dwarf galaxy, and with the Sentinels too busy fighting each other, any attempt to stand up to the Asheran advance proved short-lived.
He tossed the tablet on the table and scratched his head. “How could they do this, lass?”
Rachel shrugged. “Did you expect the alliance to last once the Angels disappeared?”
David had bloody well hoped so. Working with the Asherans got him called a traitor by some, but it had represented an enormous stride toward greater peace in the universe. Or so he had thought. And the truth was—though his empathic abilities were weak—he knew Rachel felt just as betrayed.
He turned on the Mazzaroth and stood before the screen. “Contact Aluf Mishma Lamport.”
The screen flashed for a moment. “Call refused,” his personal Mazzaroth voice said. Again.
David sighed and leaned against the wall, head between his hands. He had helped the Asheran bugger take out Sentinel outposts to distract the Angels. And now … God, what a fool he’d been.
“If we hadn’t worked with them, we might not have brought down the Tabernacle,” Rachel said. “It at least stopped the Angel attacks.”
“For how long?
Right now, they’re just waiting for us to finish tearing ourselves apart. We’ve shown we can hurt them, aye, so now they sit back and let us solve the problem for them.”
Rachel rose slowly. He didn’t look at her, but he could feel her saunter over. She slipped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his back. He couldn’t feel her warmth through his uniform, but the pressure was enough. With all that had happened, at least she was here with him. There was one person in the universe he knew would always be on his side. His wife. It had taken some getting used to, thinking of her that way.
“I just hoped …” he said.
“You hoped it would be the first step to a united humanity,” Rachel said. “Yeah. I know, me too. I’m an expert in that sort of self-deluding optimism, Mac. We don’t have to do this anymore, you know. We could … just go. Somewhere. The Angels have given us a reprieve.”
Run away from the whole buggered-up mess. Escape to some world on the fringes and build a life. He was sorely tempted. But they both knew the Angels would be back, sooner or later. When humanity had worn itself out with civil wars, the Angels would return and resume subjugating mankind.
David turned around in her arms and led her back to the bed. He pulled her down to sit in his lap and held her without speaking for a long time. Rachel leaned against his chest, obviously picking up on his desire for a quiet moment. Time to think.
The Sentinels were divided because, with the loss of the Shekhinah and the Sanhedrin, they had no clear leader. Without a central authority, each captain had to make his or her own decisions about what was right. That had led to three factions he knew of, and a bunch of lone ships acting on their own. Some had sided with him. Friends, like Hannah Hertz, still worked to bring the Sentinels back together. But so many of the others blamed David for the chaos, he had thought it best he step aside and let Hannah take charge of reunification. She had more chance of swaying the Angel loyalists than he did.
