Rebirth (Game of the Gods Book 1)

by L. Fergus

  “That makes him useful,” said Kamikaze. “I’m sorry ladies,” she said to Onyx, Zentix, and Cotton. “I’ll study your equations. When I return next, I might have something for you.” She looked at Defiance. “I’ve given you the ability to control water, to generate wind, expand your ice ability, and create it at a distance. Valor, your armor contains more weapons, and you can form it into different shapes. I added a small lightning charge for defense up close.” Kamikaze glared at Tina. “That is how Angels are made.”

  Kita stepped between them. “That’s enough, Kami. You more than made your point. Thank you for stepping in. I would have been devastated if something happened to them.”

  “I know, Mom. So, who’s your girl?”

  Kita waved Cotton over. “Kami this is Cotton. She’s one of the princesses in their empire.”

  “Nice to meet you, Cotton.” Kamikaze smiled showing off her fangs.

  “The pleasure is mine, child. Kita’s children do not disappoint.”

  “No, we don’t. We can’t wait for our mother to rejoin us.”

  “Why can’t she?”

  “Tina and her cohorts,” Kamikaze growled.

  “Kamikaze, you and I should go,” said Tina.

  “You’re allowed to break the rules and nearly kill two Angels, and I can’t talk to my mom and her girlfriend for a few minutes?” Hawke roared. “Think about being human,” said Kamikaze.

  Hawke returned to normal, still on his hands and knees. He looked around dazed as Zentix came over to help him up.

  “Humans, dumb as rocks,” said Kamikaze.

  “You can’t blame someone for something they don’t know,” said Tina.

  “I can blame all I want.”

  “Come, Kamikaze.”

  “What are you going to do? Go run to E’fil and Y’grene? You broke the rules first.”

  “You broke the rules by talking to Snowy,” said Tina, as the pair disappeared.

  Kamikaze and Tina appeared in a pocket dimension.

  “You’ve talked to my mother as well,” said Kamikaze. “I think we’re even, except I give a damn about my mom and care that she’s well. All you care about is your little experiment. Have you told them how you worked with the humans to lock her mind up? That you threatened us when we came for her? Why don’t you tell her the truth?”

  “Kita should be allowed to make her own choices,” said Tina.

  “If it’s the choices you want.”

  “I’m trying to keep her safe. I want my sister to be free to roam the equations and Infinity. There are plenty who want to lock her away or even delete her. If we do what you want, that’s what will happen.”

  “Let Mom regain her power and no one will challenge her or us. Do you think E’fil, Y’grene, and Ht’aed are going to stand up to So’ahc, Tg’hil, or Yti’varg? They can’t. So’ahc is older and more powerful than the three of them combined.”

  “She isn’t strong enough to defeat all of Infinity.”

  “Give us my mom and we are.”

  “That’s why I can’t. I won’t let you destroy Infinity. I’ll die before I let that happen.”

  “Why not join us?” said Kamikaze. “No one wants to destroy Infinity.”

  “The old Kita does and not even you, Kylee, or anyone else can stop her. This is the only way.”

  “You don’t know that’s what Mom wants.”

  “I won’t take that chance.”

  “At some point, you’re going to have no choice, and need her and us, and we’re going to tell you no.”

  “We’ll see,” said Tina. “Kami, it’s time to go.”

  “I get to say goodbye to my mom first.”

  Tina returned her and Kamikaze, with a bat of her eye time started again.

  “I’m sorry, Mom, I need to go,” Kamikaze said to Kita.

  “Are you sure you can’t stay?”

  “I’d like to, but I’ve left the group in Kylee’s control, and that never ends well. Last time they played billiards with several stars and set off a supernova chain reaction that destroyed a quarter of a galaxy.”

  Tina winced. “How many people were lost in your lunacy?”

  “None. It’s why we were there.”

  “Goodbye, big sister.” Tina gave Kita a hug.

  “Goodbye, Tina.”

  “Bye, Mom,” said Kamikaze, hugging Kita.

  “Goodbye, sweetheart. Be safe. Exploding stars don’t sound like a place any of you should be.”

  Kamikaze smiled and kissed Kita on the cheek. “That’s from everyone. We all miss you.” She waved as she collapsed into a point of light and sped out the window.

  Tina did the same.

  “Wow,” said Defiance, “that’s all I can say.”

  “Was I really a bear?” said Hawke. He transformed again.

  “I like that furry squishy. She had real spunk,” said Onyx. “You new Angels do have pretty feathers. Do you think I can have some to make a necklace?”

  “You’ll have to wait until they molt,” said Kita.

  “We molt?” said Valor.

  “Once a year or so. You’ll look like you tried to sneeze all of your feathers off.”

  Hawke’s roar shook the room.

  “What do we do?” called Zentix.

  “Tell him to think human,” said Kita remembering Kamikaze’s instruction.

  “I liked her, too,” said Raph with a heavy sigh.

  “Sorry, kid. She’s taken. But, Snowy’s available.”

  Raph cringed.

  “Are you girls ok?” Kita asked Valor and Defiance.

  They looked at each other. “We’re fine,” said Defiance.

  “I will remind everyone we are scheduled to continue the interview in an hour,” said Cotton.

  “They’re going to be in for a shock,” said Valor.

  “Especially if you show up as a golden statuette,” Defiance said, pointing to Valor’s armor.

  “Oh, yeah.” Valor retracted her armor.

  “Come, eat,” Cotton called. “We have a long day ahead.”

  “Oh, goodie,” Kita groaned.

  “You’ll do fine,” Cotton said, kissing Kita on the cheek.

  “Just be glad I, ah, like you.”

  Kita frowned into the camera to show displeasure over her circumstances. She watched the arena from the pirated feed Raph was shunting to her. Her face, along with the others, was displayed on the various holographic displays around the giant room.

  In the empty overflow dining room, Cotton and Hali sat on the far side talking with the rest of the Grand Panel. Beside her, Valor and Defiance echoed her look of displeasure. Kita had spent the precious time between breakfast and the start of the interview teaching the new Angels how to be Angels.

  “Are you ready, Vicereine?” said Cotton. “We’re ready to start.”

  “No,” Kita snarled. “But, this isn’t my show so I’m not calling the shots.”

  “I suggest you check your attitude, Vicereine. We do not wish a repeat of yesterday. Your relationship with Princess Cotton will not be able to save you this time,” said Grand Marshal Tetarax.

  Cotton’s fist clenched off camera. She kept her emotion out of her face, but Kita knew she was furious. Under the table, Hali reached out and touched Cotton’s hand.

  “Well, I’ll just have to let our relationship save me this time,” Kita cooed.

  “Vicereine, we request you keep a professional demeanor throughout the proceedings,” said Lord Falix.

  “I should let the bear eat you,” Kita muttered, causing the others with her to chuckle. Hawke had successfully brought his new case of lycanthropy under control.

  Each member of the Grand Panel made a series of opening remarks. Halfway through, Kita walked off the set and disappeared from the room. She returned with a platter of food and a carafe of juice. She offered it to the others.

  “Is there a problem, Vicereine?” said Hali.

  “I figured if you were going to ignore us, I’d ignore you
, and go do something useful. Breakfast was more eventful than normal.”

  King Lear huffed. “Vicereine, we must warn you—”

  “Stuff it, Your Majesty. This entire show is a farce, and you know it. If you were really interested in humanity, you wouldn’t be holding a kangaroo court, but studying them systematically like a real military and government would. I guarantee you, the humans are pouring over every scrap of data from the two encounters you’ve had. You’re underestimating them, and they are going to bury you.”

  “I find that hard to believe, Vicereine,” said Grand Marshal Tetarax. “We’ve destroyed them during both engagements.”

  “You destroyed the UEE heavy attack cruisers Paris and Moscow, and the missile cruiser Venus. You lost two attack boats, and two ships suffered light damage. What saved you was your technical superiority. Enjoy it while you have it. It won’t last. That gap is the only reason you won. While you sit here like fat cats, the humans are developing new weapons and tactics to counter your technology.”

  “Where are you suggesting they’re getting this technology, Vicereine?” said Lord Falix.

  “Knowing it can be done is ninety percent of the battle. I don’t suppose you cleaned up those battle sites or at least posted a guard?”

  Everyone looked at Grand Marshal Tetarax. “It’s not considered normal protocol.”

  “I’d bet my left wing the humans have returned to those battlefields and picked the wreckage clean looking for your technology and their records. Unlike Diamock ships, the human ships have computers that record everything the ship does. They can replay the entire battle from the perspective of the ship, its crew, and all the cameras pointed out into space.

  “Humans take war seriously. It is their oldest profession. They are masters of killing each other. War is something they live for, and they are very good at it. I’ve led tens of thousands of them into battle. They’re brave and tenacious. I’ve seen battlefields littered with bodies and destroyed machines as far as the eye can see, and it just makes them fight harder.

  “You are not facing a race that will submit. Humans are like insects. You can kill as many as you can, and they’ll just disappear into the darkness. When you least expect it, they’ll come back stronger.

  “If you underestimate them, you’re dead. Your fleets are not ready for what’s about to come from the Sol system and its frontier. It’s not coming tomorrow, it’s not coming next year, it’s coming when you least expect it. And I know who will be leading the charge—Admiral Sheppard. She will give you no quarter, she’ll sweep aside all in her path, and she will do whatever it takes to win.

  “That’s what you face, Grand Marshal. My ship will be ready, what of the rest of the fleets?”

  The silence was deafening in the dining room and arena.

  “I believe you are overstating the humans’ abilities,” said Grand Marshal Tetarax. “They’re not our opponent. They attacked us out of fear. Once we establish proper contact, they will fall in line—”

  “Let me clue you in on a piece of human history,” said Defiance. “I am the Angel Defiance, and I am the Princess of the ruling family of the United Earth Empire. When my family and countrymen fought a war over resources and lost, we did not submit to the other countries. Instead, we retreated into space to hide in the darkness. As we withdrew, we launched chemical and biological attacks to cripple their populations. Then we destroyed as many communications, space monitoring, and space launch facilities as we could. We blinded our enemy, and they never saw us coming when we attacked a few generations later. We did not just fight to regain what we’d lost. We fought to punish and conquer the entire planet. Hundreds of millions died in the fighting.

  “Our Empire was forged on mountains of dead and is in an era of prosperity unlike any before us. But we still maintain a massive military machine, and we’re not afraid to turn it onto those who revolt against the Empire. If we’re willing to do that to our own people, imagine what we’ll do to you. My grandmother will only negotiate peace from a position of strength or we’ll die trying. Humanity will only be ruled by humans.”

  “If I may ask a question, Princess Defiance,” said Hali.

  “Go ahead, Grand Ambassador.”

  “Why do you think your government thinks it needs to be so harsh and brutal? Isn’t that what drives revolt?”

  Defiance smiled. “Humans maintain a level of freedom only given to rich countries before the UEE. Most citizens will barely have any contact with the Empire, but we are always watching. Our Political Bureau establishes just enough fear to keep citizens on the right side of the law. The Empire is only interested in maintaining order. If you follow the rules, you may never encounter law enforcement or the military. Our heavy military force is kept out of the public eye and only appears if there’s a problem the Legion and Political Bureau can’t handle. When a colony does revolt, we do try and meet their demands. Often it’s a lack of supply or a problem with management. It is unfortunate when it becomes necessary to destroy a colony, but they serve as a warning to others that cooperation is better than revolt.”

  “I will add that the Vicereine’s own government was based on these principles,” said Snowy, “and for more than a decade gave the world more stability than it had had since the collapse of the Empire there.”

  “What happened?” Cotton’s question received unhappy looks from King Leer and Grand Marshal Tetarax.

  “War, of course. We were cut off from the Empire and left to our own devices.”

  “Can I ask what started the war?” said Hali.

  “My ex-husband,” Snowy said flatly.

  “Is this the same war you fought in, Vicereine?” said Cotton.

  “No. Mine came thousands of cycles later. Coincidently, it was started by the same man,” Kita said with a chuckle.

  “Regardless of what you say, our fleets will be ready,” Grand Marshal Tetarax announced to the quiet arena.

  “I hope so,” said Kita. “Otherwise, you’re going to find a human sitting in that seat.”

  “And how do we know you won’t join the humans?” said King Lear.

  “That is true. You say Defiance is a member of their royalty,” said Hali.

  Kita shrugged. “I have my own scores to settle with members of the human government. I trust Case to make the right decision for her.”

  “I have no desire to sit on my grandmother’s throne,” said Defiance. “But I am your only chance at a peaceful negotiation.”

  “Oh, yes, I nearly forgot,” mused Kita. “Case’s bodyguard sent a message back to Earth telling them where she is. You might have humans here sooner than stated.”

  The arena burst into an uproar. The Grand Panel looked at each other, mouth’s open.

  “You did that on purpose,” said Snowy to Kita.

  “Why not? If I said it earlier, I wouldn’t have gotten them to listen to the rest.”

  “How soon, kitten?”

  “I have no idea. I’ve been under house arrest, and I haven’t had time to talk to the spy.”

  “You’re not talking to him without me,” said Defiance.

  “Oh, I plan on having you and Jess there. I can’t think of a better trio of interrogators.”

  “How soon?” said Lord Falix over the noise.

  “I don’t know. You locked me up before I could find out. I need to get to Dallas and confront him.”

  “This spy needs to be turned over to us,” said Grand Marshal Tetarax.

  “Grand Marshal, I am a trained assassin. Spy hunting is what I do. Let me do my job, and I’ll wring out every drop of information he contains. But I can’t do it if you interfere or stop me.”

  “You’re not going anywhere.”

  Kita reached into her thigh pads and pulled out a pair of stars. She flash-heated them and flicked them at the cameras.

  “Come on,” Kita said to the other Angels. “Let’s go do what we do. Sorry, pretty kitty. I wish you could come.”

  “I’m sure I’
m going to be highly entertained here, kitten.” Snowy smiled. “Go get what we need to know.”

  Kita and the others marched for the door.

  “Kita, wait! Where are you going?” said Cotton, getting up from her seat.

  “To get the information we need to make a decision. Tetarax is just going to screw it up.”

  “I agree with you and you’re not leaving without me.”

  “You might want more protection than a sheet of cloth.”

  “Give me five minutes to grab my armor. I’ll meet you downstairs in the garage.”

  Kita looked at Hali, who’d stood up with Cotton.

  “I don’t need you.”

  “Give her a gun, and you won’t regret it,” said Cotton.

  “How about giving me a gun,” Hawke growled.

  “You come with one, teddy bear,” Valor teased.

  “Raph,” Kita called. “You’re going to be our communication center. Keep us connected and to the arena. Can you do that?”

  “Yeah, sure. I can get into the public wireless network.”

  “Good.”

  Kita pushed out the door and called for Zentix and Cross. The two appeared from a side door.

  “Where’s Onyx?” said Kita.

  “Outside,” said Zentix.

  “Go get her and meet us in the garage.”

  “There,” Cotton pointed to a medium-sized cargo truck. “We’ll take that.” She bounded up to the cab and opened the door.

  “You’re driving?” said Defiance.

  “Unless someone else knows how to drive a Verisom truck.”

  “Hali, Zentix, Raff, you’re in the cab. Everyone else, get in the back,” said Kita.

  “We’re not going to fit four, Kita.”

  Kita waved for Raph to follow her. She pushed her way aboard and glided to the back of the cargo area. Placing her fist against the metal wall, she melted her way through to the cab and cut out a hole, tossing the excess aside. “There,” she said into the cab. “Raph, this is your post. Zentix, contact the ship and let them know we’re on the move. Hali, try to talk some sense into Tetarax.” Kita counted everyone was aboard. “We’re loaded, let’s go.”