Rebirth (Game of the Gods Book 1)

by L. Fergus

“Roger. Combat, status?”

  “Ninety-seven percent of sleds launched. Eighty-seven percent read good vital signs on the passengers. Seventy-nine percent of the force is actively engaging. Teams report the engine room, lower and middle hangars secure. Teams are moving on life support, communications, security, and magazine.”

  Kita converted percentages to soldiers. She had over two thousand. Not great, but with such a brutal delivery system it explained why Mauler carried so many soldiers.

  “Communications, keep trying to raise Princess Cotton. We’re going to find a way to Enterprise’s bridge.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  Kita waved at her team. “Let’s move out.”

  They picked their way through the litter of debris. Kita stopped a few times to help trapped humans. Her group moved the debris with ease. The challenge was to keep Onyx from squishing them.

  “That looks like an elevator over there,” said Defiance.

  The doors opened to a platoon of UEE Marines. Kita’s side reacted first. She phased into the middle and attacked everyone. Onyx roared and plowed into the elevator headfirst. Valor opened fire with her cannon while providing cover for Defiance.

  Bullets struck from a different direction. Defiance turned as a bullet struck her in the middle. She put her hand on the wound, and it came back covered in blood. She snarled in anger and froze over.

  More bullets struck Defiance but deflected off her rock hard form. She spotted the group of Marines taking cover behind a wrecked fighter. With a wave of her hand, a geyser of ice knocked the wreckage aside, revealing the surprised Marines. Spikes of ice grew from the floor and ceiling, creating a cage around them. A gale force wind banged them against the ice. She stopped when the last one was unconscious.

  “Are you ok?” said Valor, seeing Defiance’s handiwork.

  “I’m fine. I took one in the gut, but the ice is keeping it from bleeding,” Defiance said in a chilly voice.

  “Let’s go,” Kita yelled once the elevator was clear.

  The two Angels darted inside.

  “Any sign of Cotton or Hali?” Kita asked them.

  “No,” said Defiance, looking around the hangar. “Wait! There they are!” She pointed to a wrecked fighter elevator. Cotton had jumped up. Defiance put her fingers to her lips and whistled for them.

  “I never could master that,” said Kita.

  The two heard the whistle and ran for the elevator.

  “Look out!” Defiance yelled. A group of Marines entered through a door on their flank. She blew the Marines across the hangar into a pile of debris.

  The Angels pulled Cotton and Hali into the elevator. Kita stabbed the button for the top floor with her black nail.

  “Is your suit damaged?” Kita asked Cotton.

  “Yes. I think if I reboot I’ll be fine. I just needed a few moments when I wasn’t getting shot at.” The Verisom tapped the screen on her arm. Lights on her armor began to flash. “Ok, it’ll be a few moments.”

  “Mauler, Kita. Update.”

  “Magazine, life support, and communications are secure. Platoons are moving toward flight control. Casualties have been light so far, but human resistance is beginning to organize. Engineering reports minor hull damage from a pair of light guns firing at us.”

  “Roger. Send a team to take care of those guns. Kita, out.”

  The door opened onto the expansive bridge of Enterprise. The group was met by a firing line. Kita threw up her heat shield in time to stop the volley of gunfire.

  “Did we absolutely have to take this ship?” Valor said as her arms expanded into shields.

  “I thought Commodore Kita sounded pretty good,” Kita quipped.

  Onyx’s roar caused the Marines to stop shooting.

  “No one move or you’re going to make the big girl very happy,” said Kita, motioning to Onyx. “Put down your rifles and back away.”

  When none of the Marines moved, Onyx flinched. The entire line dropped their rifles and retreated.

  Kita marched into the room flanked by Cotton and Defiance. The others trailed behind, looking menacing. She stopped when she reached the large holotable in the middle of the room, showing the battle from the humans’ perspective. She drew Dusk and Dawn and glided up to stand in the center of the table.

  “Where are you, Sheppard?” Kita demanded. “Come out and face me, you traitorous coward.” Kita tapped her foot impatiently. “Come out!”

  A door opened to Kita’s left. Sheppard stepped out in full battle armor and with a rifle pointed at her.

  Kita laughed. “You know that peashooter is no good against me. I may be a shadow of my former self, but so are you, Sheppard. You were no match for me then, and you’re no match for me now.”

  Sheppard fired a three-round burst.

  Kita let them hit her. Flame crept up Kita’s swords. “Drop it, or I’ll cut it from your hands.”

  Sheppard fired a grenade. Kita extended her heat shield, detonating the grenade. She leaped at Sheppard and cut the Marine’s rifle into three pieces. With a flying roundhouse kick, Kita sent Sheppard across the bridge. The Marine flipped to her feet and put up her fists. Kita sneered and put away her swords. She performed a double handspring. As Kita came down to strike, Sheppard landed a high kick to Kita’s chest. The Angel backflipped and launched forward with a strike. Sheppard blocked and hit Kita in the nose. The Marine spun, and landed a hammer blow to Kita’s chin. Kita twisted and landed on the deck. Sheppard kicked Kita twice in the gut and brought her heel down on her jaw. Kita caught the second kick to the face and threw Sheppard’s leg aside. Kita windmilled her legs, taking out Sheppard’s legs and bringing Kita to hers. She kicked Sheppard in the chest, sending her into the holographic table. Kita leaped, Sheppard rolled away as Kita’s fist slammed into the deck. Sheppard tackled Kita from behind, wrapping her arms around Kita’s neck. Kita snarled, reached behind her and grabbed Sheppard by the collar, and flung her down on top of the holotable. Sheppard kicked both legs over the top of her, but Kita caught them. The Angel lifted Sheppard over her head and slammed her to the deck.

  “Get up,” Kita hissed. “I’ve got ten years, and a lifetime of memories I want back. If you can’t give them back, then I’m going to beat ten years and every memory out of you.”

  Sheppard got to her feet on shaky legs. “I’m sorry. I had no control over what Galina did to you.”

  “And betraying me was her idea?”

  Two lights glided through the windows and stopped in front of Kita. They expanded into Kamikaze and Tina.

  “Don’t play innocent, Rene. You can hide from my mom, but not from me,” yelled Kamikaze. “You killed my sisters. You ordered the orbital guns turned on them, and you vaporized them. How could you? Spike and Quill looked up to you as a teacher and a friend. You murdered them and the other Angels with a push of a button!”

  Sheppard refused to look at Kita. “I was just following orders,” she said meekly.

  Kita’s brow furrowed as her lip curled. “Don’t you dare hide behind that, don’t you dare. In a room full of sailors, Marines, and soldiers you’re going to tell me an admiral doesn’t know an illegal order when she hears one? Is that what you’ve become? A lackey? I should gut you like the traitorous coward you are. I’ll tie your body to the front of my ship to show the whole galaxy what you’ve done.”

  “Do what you want. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not haunted by their faces. I’d kill myself, but I won’t take the easy way out.”

  Kita roared as she drew Dusk and Dawn, but Defiance and Cotton caught her arms.

  “That’s what she wants, Kita,” said Cotton. “Let her live so she can suffer. Let her look you in the face every day and relive what she’s done.”

  Defiance floated upward. “I am Princess Casey Bush,” she yelled to the crew. She spoke a series of code words, and the onboard VI verified her identity.

  “What is your will, Princess?” said the VI.

  “This assault is over.
Recall all fighters, retract and seal all weapons, instruct the other ships to stand down and retreat to a distance of two thousand five hundred miles to await further orders from me and me alone.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “What…Who are you?” said Sheppard.

  “I’m your princess, but you may call me Defiance, Admiral. My grandmother would be most disappointed in your actions here and on Kita’s homeworld. I know we train our officers better than this. I would have you courts-martialed and strung up in Victory Square, but I think Angel justice will be swifter and far more damning.”

  “Mom,” Kamikaze said shoving her way between Valor and Cotton. “Calm down.”

  “Why did you betray me?” Kita yelled over everything.

  “Because she’s a weak-minded fool. There is no answer that will bring you any peace, Mom. I know, I’ve tried. I’ve searched, I’ve talked until there’s nothing left to say. The only thing I’ve come up with to bring closure is punishment. I’ve thought long and hard about what would punish her the most. With your blessing, I’ll do it.”

  Kita nodded as fury blazed in her eyes.

  Kamikaze nudged in next to Defiance. “It’s time she gets what’s coming to her.”

  “She’s all yours,” said Defiance.

  Kamikaze snarled and roared at Sheppard. “You took my sisters and friends from the flock and me. I’ve thought about a fitting punishment for you. I want my mom’s Advanced Research Wing. It’s a pity she no longer has it. So, you’re getting the next best thing.” Kamikaze touched Sheppard on the nose. “You’re no longer Sheppard the human, but Sheppard the Angel. Every day I want you to look into my mom’s face, and I want you to see my sisters staring back at you.”

  “No,” cried Sheppard.

  Kamikaze rolled the Marine over as her wings smashed through her body armor. Her black, green, and brown camouflaged patterned wings stretched toward the ceiling.

  “Not again,” said Sheppard when it was over.

  Kamikaze smiled. “Don’t lament, Sheppard. I’m sure this punishment is better than actually living with Galina.”

  Kita approved. Punishment had brought peace, for now. Her focus returned to the situation. “What’s it look like, cottontail?”

  “They’re pulling back, and our ships are forming a protective perimeter. It looks like the humans are complying with Case’s orders.” She threw her arms around Kita. “Thank you.”

  “I, ah, no problem, love. I’m glad there was something I could do.” Kita looked at Defiance. “Your Highness, with your permission I’d like to keep this ship.”

  Defiance laughed. “Don’t call me that. It sounds weird, Commodore. I don’t think the humans will mind having one of their own following me around to protect me. At least, until trouble breaks out on Earth, but by then it’ll be too late.”

  “I think I just prefer Kita. Commodore sounds so stuffy.” Kita looked at Zentix. “How’s the boarding going?”

  “The human soldiers are standing down, mostly. There are some pockets of resistance. All checkpoints have been captured and secured. We’re rounding up the surrendering humans and taking them to the hangars. Teams are beginning to clear the wreckage.”

  Kita groaned. “I wonder what it’ll cost to fix this thing. I doubt the Diamock government will pay for it.” She thought for a moment. “Hali.”

  “Yes, Kita?”

  “I don’t suppose anyone owes you a favor big enough to get this tub repaired, do you?”

  “That depends on what I get in return.”

  Kita sighed. “What do you want?”

  “Can you get me a date with Valor? She’s incredibly cute.”

  Kita raised an eyebrow. “I’ll try.”

  “I don’t think I can get enough money to make all the needed repairs, but I know some people.”

  Kita looked around and spotted her girlfriend. She smiled with an idea. “Excuse me.”

  “Are things still holding?” Kita asked Cotton.

  “Yes. My ships are retiring to dock and assess the damage.”

  “What’s the damage?”

  “Nine will be total losses, fifteen are heavily damaged, and the rest just mostly damaged.”

  Kita winced. “Sorry, cottontail. I’ve got something to make it up to you.”

  “Oh, what’s that?” said Cotton, shutting down her display.

  “Well, I, ah, have no money to go out and buy the rarest things in the galaxy, and this necklace is amazing by the way.” Kita smiled as Cotton’s ears flushed. “But I seem to have come into the most prized ship in the human fleet. There’s several that look like her, but there is only one Enterprise.”

  Cotton gasped. “You…You’re giving me the ship?”

  “It needs a little TLC. I kind of broke some of it, but, yeah. I don’t know what else to get a girl who’s got everything, besides a rare piece of history.”

  Cotton looked around the ship and hopped up and down, letting out a long, happy sound. “It’s wonderful, pretty bird. It’s something no other Verisom princess has. Thank you.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” Kita kissed the Verisom several times on both cheeks. Cotton giggled in response.

  Behind them, Sheppard was making a scene.

  “Sorry, love. It looks like duty calls. Talk to Zen. Engineers from Mauler are already mapping the damage.”

  Cotton bobbed her head as her display lit up. Kita left her to it. She also had to talk to Defiance about the ship’s ownership. She was pretty sure the Angel wouldn’t care.

  “What’s wrong over here?” said Kita. Sheppard was being blocked by Defiance and Tina, and Onyx held her wings together, while she tried to get at Kamikaze.

  “These are what’s wrong,” Sheppard yelled, pointing at her wings.

  Kita smiled. “They seem a fitting reward.”

  “There’s no way I’m working for you.”

  “How quickly we go from a meek mass to a fighting tiger,” Kita cooed. “What’s wrong with me? Am I that much worse than Galina?”

  “It’s different,” Sheppard snarled.

  “Why are you helping her?” said Valor. “She seemed to have her panties so far up her butt she was turning them into diamonds when we saw her.”

  “She feels she owed it to Galina,” said Kamikaze.

  “You owe me,” said Kita. “So, calm down. I’m not going to torture you with it. You seem to be doing fine on your own. You can stay here on the ship, I think. I’ll have to talk to my exclusive girlfriend. I kind of gave it to her as an exclusivity present.”

  “You gave away my ship?” said Sheppard.

  “I think it’s more the Princess’ ship than yours, Marine,” said Tina.

  “I hope you don’t mind.” Kita smiled at Defiance. “I kind of figured she was the only one with enough cash to actually own it.”

  “And what happens when you break up?”

  “I hope she’ll trade my necklace for your ship.”

  Defiance rolled her eyes. “I really don’t care.”

  “Can it be our new home?” said Onyx. “It’s much roomier.”

  Kita gulped. “Yeah, we’ll figure that stuff out at some point.” She looked back at Sheppard. “I’m sure Cotton will let you stay on to command it.”

  “You’re dating that thing?”

  Kita frowned. “Cotton is not a thing. Neither is Zen, Onyx, or Hali. And yes, I am. Why is that so strange? I partnered with Snowy for years, and we had a wonderful daughter together. Thankfully she got Snowy’s looks and brains.”

  “And your attitude,” said Valor.

  “It’s my best quality. Sheppard, why don’t you do something useful, like regaining command of this ship. Talk to Zen. She’s coordinating my forces.”

  Shaking free of Onyx Sheppard huffed but left without a word. Kita smiled after her.

  “So, now what?” said Valor.

  Kita looked between the Angel and the Aurorian, remembering her promise. “Jess, come talk to me.” Kita led he
r over to a quiet corner.

  “What’s up?”

  “Someone wanted me to ask you a question. You don’t have to answer right away, but don’t say no right away, either.”

  “Ok…”

  “I know you haven’t had a lot of friends and no boyfriends, but someone’s taken an interest in you.”

  “Who? Hawke’s way too old. Raph’s too young. I might have given Cross a chance, you know.”

  Kita chuckled. “You’re kind of on the right track.”

  “Who?”

  “Hali would like to take you on a date.”

  “What? But…But…She’s a girl and…and not even human.”

  “Yes and yes, but she’s humanoid, almost human, she’s just not a human color and has no hair. And it’s true she’s female, but I’m a girl, and you wanted me. She’s nice and sweet. She really likes you.”

  “But…I’m not you…I don’t date alien girls.”

  “So, if it were an alien boy it would be ok?”

  “Well, depends on the alien.”

  “If Hali looked like a boy then would you try?”

  “I…I…Maybe…”

  “Why does it make a difference? What’s the difference between me and her? Angels have only one sex, so do the Aurori. You’re going to have to get used to that. Angels usually pair with Angels. It doesn’t matter what sex someone is as long as you enjoy their company.”

  “Would you date a man?”

  Kita sighed. “I’ve never met a man I would consider attractive. I’ve met some very handsome men, but it’s what goes on behind the face that matters. I’m also biologically different. I’m programmed to only find women attractive. We’re a small part of the population. I’ve only ever met a handful of women like me. Most people are like you. They get a choice of which sex to choose from. Give Hali a chance. Just go as friends and see if you like her.”

  “I thought you didn’t like her.”

  “I’m giving her a chance.”

  “If I don’t like her?”

  “Then you can go your separate ways. That’s how dating works.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “I know you’re not comfortable, so do something you’re comfortable doing. I’m sure the ship’s got a complete library of movies and a big rec space. There’s always the restaurants aboard Mauler. You know them well. Or just go to the bar. You’re in and out in half an hour.”