Worlds Without End: Aftermath (Book 2)

by Shaun Messick

  One of the guards saw him. The Gnol raised his arm, trying to catch Skip in an invisible grip. Skip began to feel the invisible force slow his charge, but he pushed his way through it. Realizing that he could not catch Skip with his telekinetic powers, the guard charged toward him. Knowing full well that the larger, more powerful Gnol would overtake him, Skip dropped to one knee just before the Gnol tackled him and somersaulted forward. Coming up to his other knee, he lunged the sword through the Gnol’s chest.

  He then spun away from the dead Gnol, onto his feet, pulling the sword from the dead Gnol’s chest. The three other Gnols stormed toward Skip. One guard launched a roundhouse kick, planting the sole of his boot directly across Skip’s face. Skip fell to the ground, dropped the sword, and caught himself with his right arm before his head collided with the ground.

  Jumping to his feet and spitting blood from his mouth, he looked at Ariauna and pointed to the shuttles that were beginning to land along with a single Wildcat on the landing pad about thirty yards away to his right. “Go now!”

  Ariauna and the slaves retreated to the safety of the shuttles; the Gnols ignoring them. One guard grabbed Skip from his back and held his arms at his side. Skip tried to break away, but the strength of the Gnol was too much. The Gnol that landed the roundhouse kick to Skip’s face reached down and grabbed the sword from the ground that was still abuzz with electrical energy. With a victorious grin, the Gnol swung the sword through the air as he walked toward Skip. He stopped within a few feet from Skip. His lips curled up as he clenched his teeth. With anger-filled eyes that reverberated fear throughout Skip’s body, the Gnol plunged the sword directly toward Skip’s heart.

  Just before the blade tore through his chest, he thought that he heard the shrill scream of Ariauna, but he wasn’t sure. “No! Skip!”

  * * * * *

  An earth-shattering explosion jerked Celeste’s body awake. The last thing she remembered was the plasma blast from the turret hitting the shuttle, causing it to spin out of control, and then nothing. But now she was not in the shuttle. Instead, she lay on the jungle floor surrounded by broken glass and twisted, burning metal. Her head was throbbing and sharp, stabbing pains resonated through her left forearm.

  Reaching up, she pulled her cracked flight helmet off, feeling for any gashes. There weren’t any, thankfully, but there were large cuts and bruises on her hands and parts of her face not protected from the visor of her helmet. Another sharp, unbearable pain shot through her left forearm again. She looked down and her eyes went wide now that she saw what was causing her so much pain. Her forearm was broken; a jagged edge of the bone was now exposed, having cut through her skin. Blood trickled down onto the green underbrush of the jungle.

  She knew what she had to do. But could she? She had never attempted to repair a broken bone with her telekinetic abilities. Even though she had become more powerful in the use of her powers, she was still skeptical.

  She found a small stick, big enough to fit her mouth, lying next to her. She placed it in her mouth, biting down hard. She then raised her good arm and held her hand with the fingers extended above the broken bone and wound. Using all of the mental energy she could summon, she telekinetically moved the broken bone back into place. She bit down harder onto the stick; her teeth sinking into the soft inner bark as the pain became unbearable.

  Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she fought unconsciousness. The broken bone sunk back into her forearm. In her mind, she could see the broken edges of the bones come together. She heard the popping sound as her bones snapped back into place. Shrieking in pain, she spit the stick out from her mouth. As she continued to writhe in pain, she tried to seal her skin back together, but she was only able to close the wound up through most of the muscle.

  She was now mentally exhausted, but she knew that she had to muster the energy needed to help the slaves escape. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her arm, she jumped to her feet. As she ran past the wreckage of the ship, she saw the lifeless body of the young pilot, hanging limp from the waist down halfway out of the shuttle front windshield.

  She jumped through the foliage out into the open, away from the canopy of jungle trees that protected her from most of the pelting rain and hail. Another flash of lightning erupted through the thick, dense cloud above, followed immediately by a gigantic clap of thunder.

  She could see a Wildcat hovering just above the landing pad as she sprinted forward. She saw a Gnol, armed with a plasma rifle, to her left. He quickly took aim. Continuing to run, she flung her injured arm out. The invisible force took hold of the Gnol. He hurtled through the air with a tremendous amount of speed, hitting headlong into the electrified barbed wire fence. His body thrashed about as the electrical energy surged through him, killing him instantly.

  She made her way to the front gate and took notice that very few Gnols were left; most lay dead or injured on the jungle ground. In fact, the slaves that had survived the battle were now gathering at the landing pads where the three remaining shuttles were now landing. She saw the pilot from the Wildcat jump from the aircraft. She recognized him; it was Jake. He saw her as well, his face lighting up with relief as he began sprinting toward her. He was still over a hundred yards away, but she skidded to a stop when she saw another man that she recognized to her right twenty yards ahead. “No! Skip!” she yelled.

  Swerving to her right and sprinting harder now, she flung her arms forward, telekinetically catching the Gnol with the sword just before he pierced Skip’s heart. She thrust her arms up, sending the Gnol flying through the air back over her. She looked back and saw the Gnol hit one of the guard towers just as a missile strike from one of the Wildcats sent the structure exploding into pieces.

  The Gnol holding Skip threw him to the ground and charged toward Celeste. She caught him in mid-stride just before he tackled her to the ground. She then drove her right hand into the Gnol’s chest, his sternum cracking under the pressure. He flew backwards in the air, landing with a bone-crushing crash to the ground.

  Out of the corner of her left eye, she saw the remaining Gnol pick up a plasma rifle from the ground. She spun to her left and held her right hand up to telekinetically stop him. But she was too late. The Gnol fired, sending the plasma blast her way. The red-hot plasma ripped through her hand. Screaming in pain, she dropped to her knees, holding her smoldering hand to her chest – a charred black hole now where the flesh of the middle of her palm had been. She heard another blast from the rifle and quickly rolled to her left. The bolt hit the ground where she had been.

  She hurriedly tried to rise to her feet, but the Gnol pinned her to the ground, stepping on her injured hand. She wailed in pain. Looking up, the barrel of the rifle caught her right between the eyes. She tried to pull her injured hand from the Gnol’s boot, but she was too injured, as well as mentally and physically spent.

  Just before the Gnol pulled the trigger, she heard two plasma blasts. The Gnol’s eyes went wide. He dropped to his knees and fell dead over the top of her.

  “Celeste!” Jake screeched as he skidded to a halt and rolled the dead Gnol off her. “You’re alive,” he said, grabbing her in a tight hug.

  Ignoring the unbearable pain pulsating through her body, she hugged him back. “Of course I am. Do you think I would let something like a shuttle crash take me out?”

  Jake smiled at her, pushing strands of dark hair away from her face, dripping with sweat and spattered with blood. “No. Something like a shuttle crashing nose first into the ground definitely could not take you out.”

  She returned his smile and pulled him in, grateful that they were both alive.

  “Ahem. I don’t want to disturb you two lovebirds, but don’t you think we should help get those slaves safely into the shuttles?”

  Jake helped Celeste to her feet, then turned and grabbed Skip in a tight bear hug. “It’s good to see you, Skip.”

  “You too, Jake. I just hoped and prayed that you got the message that I sent.”

 
Jake pulled away, and Celeste moved in for a hug with her free, now repaired broken arm.

  “Thanks, Celeste.”

  Celeste kissed him on the cheek. “Hey, I can’t let the best man of my future husband get killed. If he won’t protect you, I certainly will.”

  “Husband, huh?” Skip questioned as he looked past Celeste toward Jake.

  Jake stepped forward, placing his arm around Celeste for support. She was beginning to feel weak from her wounds, as well as from her physical and mental exhaustion. “Yeah, but we don’t have time to discuss it. Come on, we’ve got to help get these slaves organized.”

  Skip reached down and picked up the sword, sliding it into the sheath at his side, and the three of them made their way over to the landing pad where the slaves were now gathering into the three transport shuttles. The other two Wildcats circled overhead for protection just in case there were any Gnols left.

  When they got to the landing pad, Nichelle, Sean, Bantyr, and Ariauna met them. Ariauna ran past them and leapt into Skip’s arms, planting a kiss directly on his lips.

  Jake then hugged his little brother. “Anyta will be so glad to know you’re alive.”

  “Thanks to you,” Bantyr said. “What about Dad?”

  Celeste watched as Jake’s face went ashen. Bantyr was captured by the Gnols prior to them entering the wormhole on their journey to Earth and had no idea what happened to their father.

  “D-Dad didn’t make it,” Jake responded.

  Bantyr stumbled backwards and could not control the tears that began to flow from his eyes.

  Sean, overhearing the conversation while helping the slaves move onto the transports, reacted as well. “What? How?”

  “He crashed on one of the moons when we were trying to prevent the Gnols from going to Earth.”

  “Earth?” Sean retorted. “The Gnols attacked Earth?”

  Jake nodded his head.

  Looking down, Sean shook his head. “This isn’t good.” He looked back up at Jake. “If the Gnols have successfully conquered Earth, then there’s no hope.”

  Celeste, who was now getting her hand wrapped and treated by Nichelle, spoke up before Jake could. “I wouldn’t say that there isn’t any hope, Sean.”

  Sean’s eyes bored into hers. She could tell from his experience as a slave and the recent news that he did not believe her. “How, Celeste? Adrian’s gone. And you should know better than anyone else that the Gnols are too powerful.”

  Nichelle finished wrapping Celeste’s hand. “Thanks,” Celeste said to her. She then turned and met Sean’s apprehensive gaze. “Sean … we know where the source of my father’s power is on Gnolom. If we can find out what that is, we may just be able to defeat him.”

  “Gnolom? But I thought Gnolom was a dead planet? Besides, how are you going to get there?”

  Jake chimed in. “We’ve already got a plan in place, and a ship is being prepped right now to get us there.”

  Sean still didn’t look convinced. “But what are you expecting to find on Gnolom?”

  Jake and Celeste looked at one another and smiled. Celeste knew the answer would pique Sean’s curiosity. She looked at Sean and said, “You remember Maggie?”

  Sean’s eyes sparkled for a moment. “Mars I crashed on Gnolom, didn’t it?”

  Celeste and Jake both nodded. Celeste then went on to explain how she had discovered Maggie, posing as the goddess of light, and transmitted as a hologram on the top floor of her father’s palace.

  Sean just stared at her in disbelief. “But I still don’t understand how a computer program could enhance your father’s telepathic and telekinetic abilities?”

  “That’s why when we go, you’re coming with us to find out how,” Jake added.

  “I’m in,” Sean replied without hesitation.

  CHAPTER 10

  Earth Time: 1 day later, July 14, 2042 – Onboard the Raqel. Near the wormhole of Mars . . .

  “My Lord, we have an incoming message from Terrest.”

  Koroan, lost in his thoughts, just stared out of the viewscreen as he sat in his command chair on the bridge of the Raqel. He continued to stare at the wormhole that his scientists had now successfully figured out how to keep open. It was now a continual open window from the solar system of Terrest to Earth’s solar system. The wormhole rippled back and forth, a stunning scene just above the red planet the humans called “Mars.”

  “My Lord?”

  Koroan turned his gaze from the viewscreen and looked at his communications officer. “Who is it?”

  “It’s secure. For your eyes and ears only, my Lord.”

  “I will take it in my quarters.”

  Koroan stood up, took one last look at the beauty of the wormhole before him, and made his way to his quarters. Once inside, he ordered the lights and viewscreen off. He stepped onto the metal plate and the holographic image of his high priest, Vlamer Kreuk, appeared.

  Vlamer, hovering in his hover chair, bowed his head in reverence. “Koroan, my Lord. It is good to see you.”

  Koroan’s lips curved into a rare smile. He loved the fact that his best friend revered him as a god. “Vlamer, what is the news from Terrest?”

  “The golden tablet that had been prophesied is in my possession.”

  Koroan did his best to hide the surprise on his face. The goddess had told him of three gold plates that would reveal the secrets of the galaxy, and one would be found in a temple on Terrest. She had revealed to him when he first arrived on Earth that Terrest’s golden tablet had been discovered. “Well done, Vlamer.”

  “One of your colonels, Sage Merrok, discovered it along with several other ancient scrolls and texts in the basement of the temple.”

  Koroan knew who Colonel Merrok was. He had appointed Merrok himself as a colonel in his military. He was a young Gnol with great leadership potential within his own inner-circle. “Tell Colonel Merrok that he will be rewarded for helping to discover this prized treasure.”

  Vlamer paused before he spoke, a look of concern growing on his face.

  “What is it, Vlamer?”

  “My Lord, I have had Colonel Merrok arrested for blasphemy.”

  “Blasphemy?”

  Vlamer hesitated again. Koroan could tell that he was trying to choose his words carefully. “I had him arrested because he mentioned the name of the false God that the goddess mother warned us about.”

  Anger flashed through Koroan’s face. He knew the name that Vlamer referred to and it enraged him. The anger and hate for that name was insufferable. He knew who the God was. He knew Him well. This name referenced a God that prevented the goddess’ master – and now his own master – from obtaining the glory that was rightfully his. But this God had not been seen or heard from for over 2,000 years.

  With rage flowing through his entire being, he looked directly at Vlamer. “I want that temple and the remaining texts destroyed.”

  “I will see to it, myself,” answered Vlamer.

  “Take Colonel Merrok with you to see its destruction as a demonstration of who his true god is.”

  “Yes, my Lord. Thy will be done. But I also have other news, good news to be precise.”

  The mention of good news eased Koroan’s current vexation. “Good news?”

  “Yes. I just received a report that the slave revolt at Zikf was a success.”

  This was good news, indeed. A contemptuous smile formed around the corners of Koroan’s mouth. “And what of the spies within the slave ranks of the camp?”

  “By all reports, the spies have survived the revolt and are en route to the rebel base as we speak.”

  “This is precisely the report I wanted to hear, Vlamer. Well done.”

  “Thank you, my Lord.”

  “And what of Commander Schaal? Has he reported to Chast yet?”

  “No, my Lord. Commander Schaal was killed in the revolt.”

  Pausing for a moment for this unforeseen event, Koroan replied, “A sacrifice for the greater good that will not go unno
ticed.”

  “Yes, my Lord. Vlamer Kreuk, out.”

  Koroan watched as the holographic image of his high priest disappeared. He stood motionless in the pitch black of his quarters for a few minutes, reveling in the good fortune he had just received. “Viewscreen on.”

  The viewscreen behind him flashed on with the images of the wormhole and Mars. He turned and looked at the scene and whispered to his dark master on Earth, “Soon. Very soon, my Master. The galaxy will be yours, and I – your most valiant warrior and servant along with our goddess mother – will stand by your side, relishing in the glory that is rightfully ours.”

  * * * * *

  Temple site near Talead, Terrest . . .

  Colonel Sage Merrok had not been treated as a Gnol officer should be treated since his arrest. He was starving and his throat was parched from very little to drink. He had no idea that the name of Jehovah would spark so much outrage from Vlamer Kreuk. Whatever the reason was, he was now sure that maybe his doubts about Koroan Chast being the savior of Terrest and Gnolom were true.

  Still lost in his thoughts as his stomach grumbled, a hot wind blew into his face as he stared at the temple just outside of Talead. His hands were bound with plastic cords behind his back, preventing him from even using his telekinetic abilities. Not that his powers would do him any good anyway, because two large guards that he had never seen before were standing right next to him. Moreover, Vlamer stood just five paces away to his right.

  “How soon before we are ready to detonate?” Vlamer asked another guard who stood next to him on his right.

  “Thirty minutes, your Eminence.”

  Vlamer turned and scowled at Sage. “Good, and soon this abomination before us, along with its history, will be no more.”

  Sage met Vlamer’s scowl with one of his own. “And I suppose the golden plate that we found will be destroyed as well.”

  Vlamer’s glare turned into an amusing smile, and he hovered his way over to Sage. “You are ignorant, Sage. I was prophesied by the goddess herself to be the keeper of the relic. Honestly, do you think I would have such a treasure trove of knowledge destroyed?”