by Kyle Pratt
“I’ve got to go,” Mara said. “I’m spinning up the FTL engines for the test hop.”
“Good luck,” he said with a grunt and slid deeper into the panel.
Moments later he heard Mara’s voice came over the comm system, “Sound general quarters. Emergency FTL initialization.”
“What?” Justin asked sliding out from under the workstation.
The computer voice of Surfeit declared, “Collision imminent.”
Jon ran onto the bridge, “Did I hear…?” He stared at the holoview.
Still on the deck, Justin followed his gaze. Filling the screen was a bulging sensor eye painted with the symbol of the Nephilim.
Chapter 24
Justin dashed to the captain’s chair and strapped himself in.
Jon did the same at a nearby workstation. “Why haven’t they shot at us?”
He silenced the collision alarm. “We’re less than thirty meters from the dome. I imagine we look like a big blur on their sensors. They’re probably wondering why they can’t see anything off the bow.”
“It won’t take them long to figure it out and start shooting at Exodus—and us.”
“Are we ready to jump?”
Jon shook his head. “I’d just started fueling the ship.”
Looking down at the sensor console, Justin saw Titan ships blinking away and guns on the Nephilim ship attempting to lock on them. The Exodus, with Naomi and Mara on it, was still there. He knew Mara would be working frantically to jump the ship. “If we can’t get away, maybe we can buy Exodus some time.” Initializing the sub-light engines he said, “Let’s ram this ship into the sensor array, okay?”
Jon took a slow, deep breath then nodded. He started to pull the seat harness tight then stopped. “I don’t want to be captured.”
Images of Titans burned at the stake flashed through Justin’s mind. “No. I don’t either.” The engines roared to life. “I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
Metal tore and screeched as Surfeit sliced through the thin dome, smashed the sensor dish, and continued through the hull below. The bridge contorted as Justin slammed into his harness.
Justin looked where Jon should have been. He never tightened his harness. Slowly his eyes swept forward along the ruined bridge. Crumpled at the forward end of the compartment he found Jon. Blood covered his face and much of his uniform. He’s dead. He reached for the gun in the compartment beside the chair. “I won’t be taken alive.”
The image of a jump point formed in his mind as Mara, Naomi and a multitude of other Titans reached out to him and said, “Thank you.”
Then Naomi’s voice embraced him. Be strong. I’ll come for you.
In his mind, Justin saw Exodus shoot across the event horizon and disappear.
A whoosh of air swept past. Darkness engulfed him.
* * *
Justin struggled against the black shadows. He fought toward consciousness, aware on an instinctual level that he needed to wake up. Gradually he became aware that his eyes were open. Light and dark mixed with sound in a confusing montage.
A booming, insincere, voice proclaimed, “One of our guests awakes. Our party shall soon begin.”
A murmur of excited voices reached Justin’s ears as two blurs moved against the hazy background of his vision. He squinted and moved his head from side to side. Slowly one blur resolved into a man—a handsome man, about his age, with pink hair and wearing a purple and scarlet robe.
“How do you feel? Are you comfortable?”
A woman with blue hair stepped in his view. “You said he was scary. He doesn’t look frightening. Handsome, yes, but not scary.”
“He is very dangerous. Go sit down, dear. The feast will begin in a moment.” He made a shooing motion.
The woman walked away in a huff as Justin looked about. He was lying on a couch in a large room. Behind the young man were about a dozen people dressed in wild colors and styles, reclining at couches arranged in a “U” shape before him. The clothing, make up, hair colors, and styles were so strange to him that it was hard to tell the men from the women. Both were more flamboyant than anything he had experienced. Beyond the colorful people the room extended into darkness.
Painfully Justin pushed himself to a seated position. It was then he noticed clothing had been changed and he now wore a white robe. “Who are you?” he asked while checking the many scrapes and bruises about his torso and limbs.
“I am Remee, First Consul to Lord Enki, Nephilim of this ship.
Weeks ago, the thought of falling into the hands of the Titans caused him dread. Now his greatest wish was to be back with them as fear of what the Nephilim would do mushroomed within him.
He licked his parched lips with a dry tongue. “How long have I been unconscious?”
“About a standard day.”
“Could I get some water?”
“Lord Enki has forbidden nourishment for both of you.”
Three thoughts raced through Justin’s mind. First, he was to be starved, probably before something worse was done to him. Next, he wondered where Jon was and lastly, could they get out of this place?
Slowly he looked over those in the room with him. None appeared to be soldiers or even armed. Most were young, about his age or a bit older, but they looked plump and pampered. Their bodies were soft with no tone to their muscles. If I have to fight my way out of here it shouldn’t be a problem. As he scanned those around him with his eyes, he noticed Jon, also wearing a white robe and lying on the next couch to his left.
Jon! Wake up!
His eyelids shot open and without moving his head, he looked about. Where are we?
“Ah, our other guest has awakened. Let the celebration begin!”
We’re on the Nephilim temple ship.
Becca? Did the Exodus get away?
“Yes.” Justin sent the mental images of the jump to his friend’s mind.
Jon smiled.
Servants entered and set tables before every guest, but not for the two prisoners.
How did we get here? Why are we still alive? Jon asked.
I really thought you were dead. I’m not sure what happened, but I think the Surfeit bridge lost pressure. We passed out, but they got to us before we died.
Jon rubbed his side carefully, and then winced.
I’m sorry. I know we didn’t want to be captured. I guess I failed.
Failed to kill us both? Jon smiled. I know you tried.
The servants returned with dozens of plates, bowls and trays filled with, strange meat dishes, soups, fruits and salads of every description. Wines, and other drinks, in a wide variety of colors, were brought in. When the servants completed their task and departed, the tables were filled to overflowing.
Jon looked about. I take it the food and drink are not for us.
I think we’re going to have to fight them for it.
Jon looked at others in the room and smiled. Nice dinner they provided for us.
“You two are talking with one another?” Remee twirled his fingers beside his head. “That famed Titan psychic ability. Am I right?”
Justin stared at him.
“We are not fools. We know what you are.”
Justin remained silent.
Looking at both of them he said, “Do you deny it?”
Jon stayed still and mute, but Justin stood, stepped forward, and reached for a pitcher of water.
A blue flash lit the room accompanied by the sound of arcing electricity. Justin stumbled back and fell on the couch shaking his hand and cursing. He looked down where a blister had already formed.
Remee smiled. “Did I forget to mention the restraining field around each of you? I do apologize.”
Justin started to reach out with his mind to strangle Remee, as he had Ferren, but realized it would accomplish little. He could kill Remee, but he would still be inside the restraining field.
Remee turned, “Bring on the musicians and dancers.”
For what seemed like hour
s, the festivities continued. Justin and Jon were pointed at, stared at and talked about, but never addressed directly.
Someone clumsily spilled a drink on the table next to Jon. I’d fight them all for a glass of water.
Justin’s stomach grumbled. Or some food. The field prevented them from getting to the food, but not the smells, or the satisfied thoughts of the dinners, from reaching them.
What do you think they are doing?
Trying to weaken us with the smells and mental sensations from food and drink.
For what?
Justin shrugged. Perhaps for an interrogation.
Several hours later Remee stepped to the center of the room and announced, “Our party must now conclude.” Turning to Justin and Jon he said, “We bid you goodbye.”
Within minutes the two were alone, able to talk to each other, but unable to leave. Justin was about to fall asleep when a voice boomed from everywhere.
“I am Enki, Lord of the Earth. I will speak with you now.”
Jon shot to his feet, fists at the ready.
Justin rose and looked about.
Out of the darkness at the far end of the room emerged an old man in purple robes. He looked at them with haughty eyes.
Justin smirked in surprise. This is the Nephilim. Even as the thought crossed his mind, a cold breeze seemed to pass through him. He shivered and looked about, aware that other minds seemed to swim unseen in the air and linger close to the old man who called himself Enki.
“It has been many years since a Titan has stood before me.” Enki smiled. “Now I have two.” He walked past Justin, examining him like a trinket in the market. He stepped toward Jon, but paused and looked back at Justin. For a moment, a slight hint of confusion and concern crossed his face. Then he turned and proceeded to Jon.
“I have the power of life and death over you. You can die a slow lingering death within this restraining field or enjoy the favor of those who are willing to serve me.”
The spirit of the enemy fills this one. We cannot use him. Unless he renounces his faith.
Stabbing at the ground he announced, “Kneel before your master and live.”
Justin looked about the room. Whose voices am I hearing?
Jon looked at Justin. Fear filled his eyes. The Prophet warns us about them. We’re in the presence of fallen spirits. Beings that rebelled against God before the creation of the universe. Jon’s eyes swept the room. “I serve the God of the Prophet, not you.”
In unison the voice declared. Dispose of him.
In a matter-of-fact voice Enki said, “Then you shall die.”
Jon locked eyes with Justin. Be strong.
The floor seemed to turn to water under Jon and, like a rock, he disappeared into it.
Chapter 25
Waves of pain from Jon surged over Justin’s mind for a moment and then there was nothing. “What did you do to my friend?”
The unseen presence that clung close to Enki now dispersed around the room and declared with a thousand voices, He is dead.
Enki turned slowly toward him. “Your friend is dead.”
Justin was shocked at the callous words from both the man and the voices that echoed from every corner of the room. Dread and sorrow filled him as he stumbled back onto the couch. His head slumped.
Justin looked up as Enki stepped closer.
The unseen voices declared, We have fought this one long ago. How can it be? We watched him die.
The young man watched as the old man’s face turned from harsh to questioning.
A multitude of voices spoke, overlapped each other. There are rules in this universe that even the foe must obey. Kill him. Kill him now!
For just a moment alarm showed on Enki face.
No! A powerful new voice declared. Recall that other time and place where we plotted to kill the Messenger. Remember how that was used against us. I shall not be tricked again. Make him hear what we propose.
Enki stood before him, just beyond the restraining field. “Perhaps now you will listen to what we offer.”
Thirst. The voices declared.
“Are you thirsty?” The old man retrieved a glass of water from the nearby table.
Justin’s throat was parched, but he shook his head.
“Water is such a simple, easy gift to give.” Enki drank the water slowly then tossed the glass aside. “I can give you water, but I offer you so much more. Anything you can imagine I can give you.”
Justin smiled inwardly. A ticket out of here.
“I offer what most people only dream of. Do you know what that is?”
Your defeat? Justin shook his head again.
A thousand voices from around the room shouted in unison, Power.
“Power.”Enki smiled. “I can give you that.”
Dread, bordering on panic, filled Justin. All he wanted was to get away from Enki and the unseen voices, but he was sure that the offer of power did not include the power to leave.
“I offer you worlds. They are mine to give.” Out of the darkness at the far end of the room came thousands of yellow, red, blue, and white points of light formed into a giant, floating, star map.
These are our worlds. We are strong. We are legion. A single thought came from the voices,Choose a world. Worship us. Obey.
“These are my worlds.” Enki turned and walked toward the display. “My power grows stronger every day.” Turning toward Justin he declared, “Choose what you desire and I will give it to you in return for your obedience and worship.”
Justin slumped. He was hungry and desperate for water and his friend was dead. Silently he cursed the monster before him.
“Look at the worlds that could be yours. Which of these do you choose?”
Justin looked at Enki as an epiphany burst upon his mind. What was that question again?
The old man stared at him.
Justin smiled. You can’t hear my thoughts!
A thousand voices demanded, Answer us, human.
“My patience is not endless. What is your answer?” Enki demanded.
Justin realized that while the audible voice came from Enki, he was merely a human puppet. The thoughts came from dark presence that he both felt and heard. However, neither the spirits nor the old wretch everyone called Nephilim could hear his thoughts.
Enki continued to speak, but Justin focused on the dark minds that floated about the room like ghosts. I hear them, but I don’t believe in ghosts.
The Nephilim stepped closer. “If you will not agree to my terms, I can take your life just as I did your friend’s but,” the old man smiled, “I can take more than that from you.”
The presence that had swirled around Enki passed effortlessly through the restraining field. Justin jumped to his feet as it enveloped him. He couldn’t see it, but he felt like he was standing in a crowd. Many minds surrounded him. The demonic presence reached out and violated his every sense. Retched, rank and putrid it crawled into every pore of his body. Cold sweat covered him. No light illuminated the dark minds digging into his being. The bitter ache seeping into his bones reminded him of frigid Lepanto. His heart raced. The smell of death and decay permeated the air. He gagged. He tasted the rot as it leeched into his body.
I don’t believe in ghosts, but I do believe in evil. As the malevolent presence burned into him he shouted, “God help me!”
The rancid spirits hurdled back.
As the world collapsed into darkness, Justin fell to the floor. When he awoke, sometime later, evil swirled around and over, but did not touch him.
Enki stepped closer. “Do you really believe in a god? Do you think he watches over you now?”
Justin ignored the questions. Through cracked lips he asked, “Why do you care?”
He does not know the prophecy! He is a fool. How can he be so ignorant? His friends have abandoned him. He is ours to destroy. Kill him!
“Fool! Are you so ignorant?” An ancient twisted face leapt from the darkness and stopped just short of his own. “How
can you not know your own words?”
“What words?”
“The words of the prophecy.”Enki walked along the edge of the restraining field. “Your friends and your god have abandoned you. Obey me and you shall have more than you ever dreamed.”
Justin scowled at the ugly creature that stood before him. He now held a fledgling belief in the God of the Titans. He didn’t know what he believed about demons, but he knew evil when he saw it and he rejected it now and forever. “No. Never.”
“So be it.”
Justin fell through the floor into darkness.
He landed on the metal floor with a bone-crushing thud and screamed in agony. His vision was blurred, but even in the darkness, he saw his abnormally twisted leg and the bone sticking out from it. Crying in pain, he pulled the useless leg from beneath him and tore the pant leg to fashion a makeshift tourniquet. The leg throbbed with each beat of his heart as it swelled to an abnormal size. He rested his head against the cold metal wall and tried not to look at the growing puddles of blood from a half dozen wounds of various magnitudes to his legs, chest and head.
Meager light entered the cell through a slit in the door. Justin couldn’t see much, but what he could see was cold, gray, metal. Inches from him stood a simple bench and table fashioned from the same material as the walls and floor. If he had hit them on the way down he might be already dead. He was certain Jon had fallen into a similar dark dungeon.
His blood ran to a drain at the center of the cell. He tried to ignore the message of doom that it foreshadowed. He didn’t regret crashing Surfeit into the sensor array. Naomi, Mara, Becca and thousands of others were safe because of it. Do you agree Jon? Did we do the right thing?
There is no greater love…
Jon!
…than to lay down one's life for a friend.
His mind reached out, but no answer came back. He shook his head. The mind that touched him was not Jon’s. Perhaps it was just shock playing tricks on him.
As the minutes passed he slid from a sitting position into a less painful resting position on the floor. He felt little pain and knew that he was slipping deeper into shock. A weak smile spread across his face as Naomi and Mara came to mind. Weariness engulfed him and he closed his eyes.
