by Larkin, Matt
“Be that as it may—she’ll follow where you lead. If you join us and convince her to do the same, the NER will have a real fighting chance.”
“Aye, maybe so. But the Angels are just as liable to strike down any kind of central government like this. While you’re building a symbol to unite mankind, they’ll be burning it down. How can I throw myself behind a venture that’s already doomed, like as not?”
“It’s not doomed,” Degana said. “We just have to make a stand and defend it.”
“You’re losing the whole bloody galaxy already. Four hundred systems are lost, as of this morning. And we want to help you, we truly do, but I’m not sure we’re prepared to stand up to the Ark. Much less a whole Angel fleet and the rest of the Sentinels.”
“So you’d have us continue to run and hide?” another captain asked. “Flee the Angels, flee Asherah, flee like cowards? We are Sentinels, McGregor.”
“Aye, and I’m not talking about courage, I’m talking about strategy.”
Rachel cleared her throat. “I guess the real question here is whether this republic will work. It sounds wonderful in theory, but we need to know it will grow into something we can support. These things so often become oligarchies of oppression.”
Like the damn Shadow Council. The few dictating to the many.
“So we elect a Synod,” Degana said. “Some independent worlds have already managed that. Maybe one representative for each system in the republic?”
Everyone at the table exchanged looks before it erupted into another stream of arguments. Some called for representation based on population. Others claimed the Sentinels should be placed in charge, considering the circumstances.
Something shimmered in the corner. A slight shifting of the light, a shadow that didn’t fall as it should have. Knight kept his eyes on the table, watching the spot from the corner of his eye. He couldn’t see anything, per se, but something was there. And now that he knew it, he could feel the creature watching. He reached out with his mind, feeling the shape of the room telekinetically. Humanoid shape, with a slight tail and an elongated snout. A Gog.
Knight twitched his hand and his pulse pistol popped from his thigh holster. Time slowed. A few heads turned toward him, catching the sound of his suit whirring. He jerked the pistol free and aimed at the creature. It started to move. Fast, but not fast enough. A series of pulses flew from his gun and tore into the chameleon thing. Blood exploded into the room, spattering those nearby.
In a heartbeat, several Sentinels had pulse pistols in hand, pointed at him. Others turned to see the now-dead Gog. Its chameleon effect faded, and the creature became visible. It was naked, covered in silvery scales now slick with blood.
Rachel clutched her chest, then shook her head. “Holy shit.”
“You know, lad,” David said, “it might have been useful to have it alive.”
David was wrong—better he acted with the element of surprise.
Another captain snorted. “A Gog would never give up its secrets. Even telepaths can’t usually pull anything. Damn things are too alien. Practically more animal than human.”
Rachel rose. “You’re all missing the point. The Gog are already on New Eden. That means the Angels could have intelligence on every decision you’ve ever made.”
A still silence filled the room.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE
April 30th
The answers Raziel gave me made too much sense. A war between Angels. Further evidence of their fallibility. They were just aliens, and aliens who made mistakes. Yet somehow, hearing him admit the sins of their pride makes me want to forgive them. Just a little. I keep thinking about what Raziel said about pride being the Angels’ greatest sin. I guess … maybe it was mine as well.
The Expanse of Nod was a realm of horror, a wasteland of lifeless worlds forbidden to mankind. Caleb had never intended to return, but sadly it had been the one place he could escape from the other Jericho ships. Apollo had turned Caleb’s whole damn company against him. He still couldn’t fathom how the void he’d let that happen.
This was the safest place he could find to meet Rebekah. Safe from Apollo and safe from Angels and their genocide. Of course, even here, Apollo had spies. But Caleb had confidence he could avoid the Sons of Cain. The Expanse was huge and they were few. They would never know where to look. And Rebekah would bring his family. Her transport should arrive in minutes.
They would finally be safe. Caleb would hold Ayelet and James and Miriam in his arms and never let them go. What a horrid fool he’d been to let them face danger. In his arrogance he’d thought to justify his actions on their behalf. And in so doing, he’d put them at risk.
“Sir,” the mercenary captain said, “the transport just exited the Conduit Gate.”
“Good. Prepare for docking.”
Caleb hurried off the bridge, toward the hold. The ship whirred beneath his feet as the docking bridge extended. He tried not to run, tried to seem dignified. That didn’t last long. He took the steps to the lower level three at a time and dashed for the hold.
The airlock buzzed open and Rebekah stepped out.
Caleb looked past her to spot his family.
She was alone.
“Wh-what? Rebekah, where are they?”
“I couldn’t bring kids to a place like this, Caleb. Don’t worry, they’ve been taken care of.”
“You were supposed to bring them here.” Ayelet was supposed to be in his arms. James and Miriam should be here. They were old enough to not need sheltering. “What the void, Rebekah?”
He spun on his heel and ran toward the nearest Mazzaroth screen.
“Caleb! I missed you—”
He paid her no mind. He’d speak to her later. First he needed to know where his wife was. He called up his personal access. “Contact Ayelet Gavet.”
The Mazzaroth delayed a split second as it connected to relays so far out. “Ayelet Gavet has been reported deceased in an explosion on Sepharvaim.”
No.
That wasn’t possible. He’d sent Rebekah to make sure they were safe. He’d sent her to reach them before Apollo. He’d … No. It was a mistake.
“Contact Miriam Gavet.”
“Miriam Gavet has been reported deceased in an explosion on Sepharvaim.”
Caleb’s chest heaved and he slumped against the wall. This could not be happening. It wasn’t possible. “Con-contact James … Gavet.”
“James Gavet has been reported deceased in an—”
“Mazzaroth off!”
Caleb fell to his knees and vomited. His sides wouldn’t stop shaking. What had he done? What had he helped bring into this universe? Apollo was a monster, a servant of the Adversary. And Caleb had helped him. He’d allowed the fiend to put cybernetics into his own body. And he’d become a slave, complicit in the murder of his own family.
Rebekah had been too late … If only he’d sent her sooner instead of keeping her around for his own sake … if only he’d gone himself … Maybe …
She’d … she’d said they had been taken care of. Rebekah said his family had been taken care of.
His fists clenched, scraping against the metal grate beneath him. God in heaven. He’d thought she meant … Rebekah had allowed them to be murdered. It was the only explanation. She’d known. And she’d lied to him.
The woman herself slipped around the corner, her fiery hair swaying about her face in a way he’d once found too alluring. He felt his libido trying to kick in again, despite himself. But the feeling was alien, like it was being pressed in on him. He was nothing more than a disgusting animal.
Rebekah smiled at him and helped him to his feet.
Caleb slapped her.
She stumbled back, clutching her cheek.
“Why?” he shouted at her. “Why betray me?”
Rebekah rubbed her face, then sneered. “You chose her over me. Over me! After all I’ve done for you. You left me alone when you went to the Great Attractor. Then you sent me awa
y to find her. You abandoned me. Me, Caleb. What did you think would happen?”
Petty jealousy? She’d allowed Apollo to murder his wife over that? Or had she been working with the bastard all along?
Caleb’s fist clenched at his side. “You psychotic bitch.” He took a swing at her.
Rebekah caught his fist in her hand. She shoved him and he stumbled backward, slipping and falling on his own vomit. The impact stung his ass, and he sat there stunned. What the void?
Rebekah backed away, toward the hold. “We could have been something wonderful, Caleb. Something worthy of songs of old. And you betrayed me for … for what? You thought I would stop him. Stop him? Do you know who he is?”
Caleb’s comm clicked on. “Sir, we need you on the bridge. The Serpent has appeared from the Gate.”
Ezra Dana. The Sons of Cain. They were here. How the void had they found him so quickly?
The answer was staring him in the face, framed by fiery orange hair. Rebekah shook her head and ran back into the hold. Toward to her own transport.
For a split second Caleb considered pursuing her and avenging Ayelet. Rebekah may not have killed his wife, but at the very least she’d allowed Apollo to do so. Maybe even informed him of Caleb’s plans. But he’d have to deal with her later. There was no time, and if he stayed here, Ezra would turn him over to Apollo as well.
He tapped his comm. “Captain, get us out of here. Lose them in the Conduit.”
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX
May 3rd
Degana informed me the motion to elect a Synod passed. The Synod’s location will be kept secret for now, and carefully monitored against further Gog infiltration. Joining them was the only choice, really. If we are to have any chance against the Angels, it will be through the NER. Sadly, we don’t know how much the Angels already learned of our plans.
The Balaam had spent too long in the Conduit. Caleb’s mercenaries looked the worse for wear, as he himself felt. And the more time he spent in there, the more he felt the alien presence in his mind. Maybe Apollo could feel him. Maybe the chip in his brain was more than a chance to read his thoughts … Maybe it allowed the bastard to track him. Which likely meant no matter where he went, the Sons of Cain would follow. There was nowhere safe left in the universe and this ship was not equipped to fight pirates.
Caleb had lost.
He had gambled everything for money and power. And he had lost it all.
Ayelet had burned away in an explosion that took out their entire floor. His children were … Caleb wiped a tear from his face. He sat in his quarters, staring at old vids of them, as he had done from the moment they jumped into this system.
There was nothing here, of course. No terraformed worlds. No signs of life. Caleb still felt something watching him. Rumors claimed aliens could be found in the Expanse. Caleb knew better. The only alien life in the universe was the Angels themselves. They were parasites who fed on mankind’s hopes and fears.
On the vid, James was only four, and he chased his sister through a sprinkler system in the park. Like most trees on Sepharvaim, the leaves were cerulean. They blew in the wind as James ran, laughing.
Caleb looked down at the MAG in his lap. If he … If he had the guts he could end the pain. Maybe he would be with them all again. Maybe in heaven … except he wasn’t destined for heaven. Not with all he’d done.
He tossed the gun on the floor. It wasn’t courage.
He had lost. But he couldn’t let Apollo win. The bastard would unmake the universe before he was done. Even Angels were better than that.
“Mazzaroth,” he said. “Contact Rachel Jordan.” Maybe Caleb couldn’t do anything more himself. And maybe it was sad he could think of no one else to stand up to Apollo. But she was his last hope.
After a few minutes, Rachel flashed onto the screen. “Caleb Gavet. I thought you … Well, after your last transmission cut off, I thought you were dead.”
“No, I—not yet. Soon, probably.”
“Where are you?”
“In the Expanse. That doesn’t matter now. Listen to me, Rachel. There are things you need to know about the Angels and the Adversary. I’m not sure how much time I have left. I’ve made some terrible mistakes. There’s a scientist who worked for Jericho. He’s taken over the company now, but he’s not a man at all.”
The ship lurched from a sudden impact and the screen cut off. An explosion rocked the hull and Caleb fell to the ground. Someone was shooting at them.
He tapped his comm, but the signal was dead. The ship had lost all communications in the first barrage. Caleb pushed himself up and ran for the bridge.
More explosions echoed down the corridor before he reached it. MAG rounds punched through the hull right behind Caleb. He looked over his shoulder at the multiple breaches. Jets of oxygen sucked out of the ship with stomach-turning hissing.
He kept running, but stumbled when he reached the bridge as another explosion shook the ship.
“It’s the Serpent,” the captain said. “They’ve launched docking cables. We’re being pulled in.”
So the pirates intended to board them rather than blow them away. Caleb wasn’t sure whether that was better or worse.
“Get your men to the hold with MAG rifles. When they try to come aboard, take them down.”
“Sir. Even if we could defeat the boarding party, we cannot escape.”
“We can if we turn the tables and take their ship. Get down there now!”
The captain nodded, then ordered his men down.
Caleb followed behind them, stopping only to grab a MAG himself. He was no expert shot, but he’d go down fighting.
His men had formed up behind crates and doorways only seconds before the airlock blew. Pirates streamed from the breach, MAGs in hand. Caleb stayed low, peering around a corner into the hold. Best leave the fighting to the professionals for as long as possible.
Shots rang out all around. A pirate vaulted over a crate and shot one of Caleb’s men. Caleb tried to shoot the bastard, but his shots went wide. The pirate dove behind cover, and Caleb heard a man scream.
Shit.
It was so hard to tell what was going on in the chaos, but it didn’t look good.
“Fall back!” he shouted.
A handful of his soldiers did, slipping back into the hall with him. Caleb didn’t have enough men to do this. He retreated further and further, but the Sons of Cain just kept coming. The man beside Caleb fell to a MAG round through his chest.
Rebekah stepped around the corner. She wore a nanomesh vest like the pirates, and carried a MAG.
Caleb leveled his MAG at her chest. From this range, even he could hit her. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done, bitch.”
She twisted her hand and his MAG jerked out of his grasp as if she’d reached five meters and grabbed it.
Caleb’s jaw fell. She was … telekinetic? She was a Psych?
“I’m much more than that, Caleb,” she said.
She opened her vest and let it fall to the floor, then slipped out of her shirt. Did she think to seduce him still? Did she think he would …
Rebekah arched her back and wings erupted from it.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN
May 6th
I thought I could single-handedly save the holy universe from itself. I thought I could open mankind’s eyes to the blindness they’d embraced. And even Knight—of all people, Knight!—accused me of arrogance. I didn’t see it. But I was as blind as any Angel.
All his life Knight had lived on the edge of the Expanse. He’d heard the stories. It was filled with pirates and monsters and aliens and the Adversary itself. It was the end of civilization and the beginning of the void. Appropriate enough, considering the nature of Gehenna, though he’d never put too much stock in such stories.
Still, he’d not thought to visit the place himself. It was forbidden.
In a way, that was reason enough to do it. Never be where the enemy expected. The first principle
of any Gibborim.
Besides, Rachel had insisted. And, to Knight’s surprise, David had agreed to bring the Sephirot here, looking for Gavet.
Knight walked the halls as they jumped from system to system, searching. The crew said almost nothing, but Knight caught the looks they gave each other. Fear. Even Sentinels were afraid to tread here. They were the ones who walked the black of space to protect mankind from any threat. And they were scared of the Expanse. Was that superstition, or did they know something he didn’t?
Rachel had tried to help him develop empathic abilities. She seemed to think as Nephilim he’d have those. Knight wasn’t sure he wanted to share the emotions of those around him.
He slipped onto the bridge, and a few crewmen turned to look at him, as if startled by even the sound of the doors. Phoebe blew him a covert kiss and he smiled back at her. She was the strangest person he’d ever met. And amazing.
Despite his rank, Knight was always a bit out of place on the bridge. He was most at home with a sword—or gun—in his hand, in the midst of a firefight. He’d learned the operations of the ship, but he had no specific role up here, and David had made no move to assign him one. Even the captain seemed to realize Knight was most useful leading a strike force, not running any ship systems.
“I’ve picked up a scanner shadow darting around the asteroid field,” Rachel said. “Other scanners might not even read it.”
“Aye, then let’s have a closer look,” David said.
Whatever Gavet had to tell Rachel, Knight hoped it was worth the trip, and the endless scouring of this desolate place.
Knight folded his arms and leaned against the back wall. Best to just stay out of the way until he was needed. It would be soon.
The asteroid field came into view on the screen as David flew closer.
“That’s definitely a ship,” Rachel said. “Flexible segments joined together. Unusual design.”
