“And all of the seythra just agreed to this plan?” Ret asked. “How the fuck is that possible?”
“It’s true, many fought against it,” Zane said. “Some we regretfully killed in the beginning. But now, we leave them to die if they cannot become worthy in the way you four have. Make no mistake, most of the seythra are in this willingly. Seventy-three percent of their species back us. They wish for a brighter future, nothing more. They do not kill without remorse.”
Seraph still wasn’t sold. “How the fuck did you convince them to do this?”
“It was them who came to us. Aven’s grandfather founded Trini 5010 to be a world of change, and the seythra had agreed to join him. I believe you know Lahen?” Zane smiled. “Yes, it was one of your beloved Confederate Chamber who started the seythra movement. He came to us, and then convinced most of his people to join. Lahen, along with Aven and myself, will lead the world to the salvation it so greatly needs. The seythra believe in this cause just as much as we do. Decades later, most stand by their initial promise. Nobody knew it would come to this, but your worlds are falling. The damage our seythra have done does not even begin to compare to the horrors your governments have committed.”
“So this is a world without poverty, without traditional government, without selfishness . . . but it's lead by you two and Lahen? You three hold supreme authority? How the fuck is that any different than our Confederate Chamber?” Seraph asked.
Zane's eyes grew tense. “Your Chamber failed on every front they tried to aid. The universe despises them, and Lahen saw this. Our rule is not that of supreme authority, only those who wish to guide the universe to salvation.”
Seraph shook his head. “You've convinced yourself you're not seizing power. You've blinded yourself to the fact that you're going to be dictators to inhabitants who fear you!”
“Zane, they clearly won't listen,” Aven shouted.
“Just a moment, Aven.” Zane turned back to the group, and motioned to the area behind them. “Ah, I believe you've already met our Titan.”
There was a loud thump behind them, and the entire group turned to see the large, white seythra that they’d encountered on the Baryon walking toward them.
Zane gestured to the seythra. “He is our latest, most advanced project. He is practically invincible. He isn’t self-aware, however. He’s entirely a machine, a fully capable AI. Created only for combat situations.” Zane nodded to Ret.
Ret moved forward. “What is the point of all of this? Kill to get people to fear you, rebuild society in your image, what’s different? The same fucking thing will happen!”
Zane shook his head. “Not quite. For one, our new universe won’t have the setup this one does. Lahen, Aven and I will make any and all decisions regarding major universe changes. But just because we hold ultimate authority does not mean we'll just make decisions based on our best interests.” Zane glared at Seraph. “Anything less is passed down to our advisors. Each of you could be an advisor for a different galaxy. We won’t have a numerous military, nor much of a political system. We and our advisors are the end all be all. We'll utilize individual skills to build cooperative societies on each world. We'll use the resources and create a self-sustaining living environment where we each contribute in whatever way we can. Look at what your group did on Jhalin. Your Commander was out, yet you hunted, you found water, you organized. You survived. We will all work together; there will be no individual agendas. And above all, we will take care of our fellow brother. We will lend a hand, and make sure everyone is taken care of.”
Drever scoffed. “You can’t just convince everyone to join you. You’ve murdered their families. They’ll never follow you just because you say you can promise a better world.”
“That is where we will offer them a choice,” Zane said. “Should they not want to join us-”
A gunshot exploded and a bullet ripped through Zane’s stomach. He looked down and saw blood blooming all over his white suit. He turned to see Aven standing behind him, pistol aimed. Zane fell forward and crumpled to the ground.
Aven shook his head and began walking down the stairs. Below him, Zane thrashed and cried out in pain.
Aven knelt down next to Zane and chuckled. “Zane, I truly appreciate all of your efforts, and you’re to be commended. But your work here is done. Lahen and I send our regards.”
Aven stared up at the group. He looked manic. “Now, where were we? Should they not want to join, they’ll be exiled to Earth. If they come back, we will kill them. Simple as that. They’re either with us or they’re not, and if they do not wish to see this universe saved, they do not deserve to live among us. I present the four of you with that very choice. What will it be?” Aven looked each of them over.
Ret chuckled. “You just killed your partner, and we’re supposed to trust you? We’re supposed to believe you’re advocating a world of peace?”
Aven shook his head. “Don’t mind that. Zane’s death has been a long time coming. I think you’ll find Lahen and I have a far better grasp of what this universe needs. Zane was far too optimistic, too hopeful. He could never do the dirty work. He was right about one thing, though. You four are capable. You say you want to save the universe. This is your chance. Are you willing to take it?
Vinnor stepped forward and nodded to Aven. “I am.”
Aven nodded back. “Very well. Good choice.” Aven ushered Vinnor closer. As Aven extended his arm for a handshake, Vinnor yanked his knife from its sheath and jammed it into Aven’s shoulder.
Aven shrieked and fell back. Seraph and Ret pulled their guns immediately and opened fire on the seythra. Drever charged the Titan and tackled it to the ground.
Vinnor wrestled with Aven, but the othal got the better of the doctor and wound up on top of him. Aven sent a hard right into Vinnor's face and reached for his pistol. Seraph came from behind and smashed the stock of his rifle into Aven’s face. Several seythra filed into the room from the main door. Seraph took cover behind the stairs and fired round after round into the crowd.
Drever got to his feet and raised his rifle. He shot two seythra before turning back to the Titan. The Titan was faster. It rushed at Drever and slammed him into the wall. The gun fell from Drever’s hand.
“Seraph, Ret, get the fuck out of here! I’ve got these assholes!” Drever shoved the Titan off of him and slammed the butt of his rifle into the Titan's temple.
“He’s right, we have to get out of here!” Ret shouted as he emptied his magazine into a seythra.
Seraph didn’t want to admit it, but they were right. He popped out of cover and took down three more seythra. The mass of soldiers had thinned out and the main doorway was clear. Seraph knew this was their chance.
“We’ve got to move!” Seraph yelled. Ret and Vinnor jumped up and ran for the door on his command.
“Go, I’ll catch up!” Drever shouted. “Get the fuck out of here, Seraph!”
Seraph hesitated for a moment, then ran toward the exit behind Ret and Vinnor.
Drever smashed his fist into the Titan’s face and dragged him to the middle of the room. Two mangled seythra closed in on Drever. He spun around and fired two clean shots, one into each seythra’s forehead.
The Titan shot up and grabbed Drever. It smashed Drever’s head into the glass wall until blood poured from Drever’s nose. As the Titan went for another hit, Drever slammed his elbow into the Titan’s nose.
The Titan pulled a blade from its holster and made to stab Drever in the chest. Drever grabbed the Titan’s wrist and kicked the machine to the floor. Drever raised his gun and fired three shots into the Titan’s stomach. A moment later, a bullet ran straight through Drever’s right elbow and he fell to the ground. He rolled over and saw Aven advancing on him, revolver in hand.
Aven turned to the Titan. “That’s enough. Go get the others. Kill them all.”
The Titan rose to his feet and staggered out of the room.
Aven stood over Drever and smiled. “Got any last word
s?”
Drever waited until Aven was close enough, and then he lashed out with his knife. Aven dodged Drever by a hair. He grunted and slammed his foot into Drever’s injured elbow. Drever cried out and tried to get to his feet. Aven raised his gun and took out both of Drever’s kneecaps. Drever howled and fell back. Aven advanced, gun raised. Drever dragged himself across the floor, trying to move away. Aven kicked Drever over onto his stomach and pinned Drever's good arm to the floor. Aven pulled a dagger from his belt. He jammed it into Drever’s good eye. Drever unleashed an ear splitting scream. He thrashed under Aven’s grip, but he was too weak to break free.
“Listen,” Aven said. “You, and your little group, you never made any real progress. I don’t need the fucking Baryon. I never did. You’ll be the first lesson for them, for everyone who tries to fight. Do not fucking interfere with me.”
Aven pulled the dagger from Drever’s eye and slid it across Drever’s throat. Drever gagged as blood filled his mouth. He choked and twitched for a moment, then fell still. Aven stood up, satisfied with his work, and headed for the door.
**
Seraph, Vinnor, and Ret regrouped outside the room. “Okay. We have to hurry,” Seraph said. “We don’t have much time before another army comes marching down that hall. We need to get rid of Aven. It doesn’t matter how many seythra we kill; this won’t stop if Aven is still alive. I think I have a plan. Follow me.”
Aven wandered through the halls casually, revolver in one hand. That fucking doctor had cut him decently enough, and the pain annoyed him. He turned a corner and spotted a thin blood trail leading into one of the rooms.
He followed the trail into the mechanical room, then into a separate room which held the spare seythra chips. Inside, the Titan lay sprawled across the floor, wounded and still.
Aven moved through the room carefully. “I know you’re in here” he shouted. “You idiots left a trail.”
A door swung open across the hall and Seraph stood in the doorway, pointing his pistol at Aven’s back.
Aven whipped around. “This ends here,” Seraph yelled.
Ret and Vinnor appeared behind Seraph, guns at the ready. Seraph let loose a round of bullets just as Aven darted behind a door for cover. Aven was fumbling with his gun when he heard a rustling sound behind him. He turned to see the Titan stirring. It scrambled to its feet and bolted through the door into the room Seraph was shooting from. The Titan slammed into Seraph and knocked him to the ground. Seraph’s gun fell to the floor and the Titan seized it and fired a shot into Ret’s chest. Ret crumpled to the floor. Aven appeared behind the Titan. Vinnor was firing shots from behind the door, but all of his bullets went awry.
Aven grinned. “You’ve failed, you stupid son of a bitch.”
Just as Vinnor went to take another shot, a stray seythra from the other side of the room shot him in the side. He fell to his knees as blood soaked his shirt. He stared up at Aven. He winced as he tried to speak. “You son of a bitch.”
Aven laughed and turned around to motion to the Titan. The moment he turned, Seraph slashed him across the face with a knife. Aven cried out. The Titan grabbed Seraph and twisted his arm until he dropped the knife. Aven screamed at the Titan to stand down.
“You’re a valuable asset, and even more, you could prove useful on the right side.” Aven threw him to the Titan. “Bring him.”
The Titan smashed its fist into Seraph’s face, knocking him out. It picked Seraph up and carried him out of the room.
Aven threw a glance at Ret as they left. The kid was bleeding heavily from the chest. He and the doctor would die soon; there was no question.
Aven closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Everything was taken care of.
Phase two could commence, and the Athena Operation carried on.
EPILOGUE
Every breath hurt. Ret opened his eyes to a bright light above him. He squinted and raised a hand to his face. The pain was devastating.
He struggled to reach into the back of his holster. He pulled out his aceso shot. He injected it into his chest, and the pain subsided a bit. He was going to need serious medical attention soon, but right now, he had to get out of here.
Ret wobbled to his feet and cringed when he saw Vinnor’s body, soaked in blood. He nudged the elder human, but he didn’t move. As far as Ret could tell, he was dead.
Ret stumbled back into the throne room and looked around at all the bodies. Tears filled his eyes as he saw Drever’s among them. His hope that there was someone left to save faded with every body he saw. He hadn’t seen Seraph’s yet, but he was sure it was coming. He forced himself to turn away.
He saw Zane Silver crawling just outside the room. The man was still alive. Ret reached down and helped Zane to his feet.
“T-Thank you,” Zane whispered.
Suddenly, Sadhis and Kyla entered the area, both armed with pistols. Sadhis gasped and moved toward Ret.
“B’yon . . . are you okay? Who is this man? Where’s Seraph?”
“I can’t explain now . . . b-but we need him,” Ret motioned to Zane. “Seraph is gone . . . I’m trying to f-find him . . . Where’s the ship?”
“The ship’s destroyed,” Kyla said. “Seythra destroyed it when we returned. We barely made it out.”
Zane pointed to a door on their right. “Escape pods . . . through t-there . . .”
Sadhis took the lead.
The group managed to make it to the security terminal that held the escape pods. Zane told Ret where to find the emergency medical kit, and Ret did his best to wrap everyone’s wounds. Sadhis fired up the escape pod, but Ret refused go before he could use the terminal to view the camera feeds around the ship.
“Kid, e-everyone’s dead . . . we have to g . . .” Zane closed his eyes.
“I have to know,” Ret scanned through all of the cameras throughout the entire building.
Ret went into the archived footage and set it back about fifteen minutes. On the holographic screen, Aven had taken the Titan and Seraph to an area of the ship that broke off from Trini 5010 and took off as its own ship. Lahen had joined them just before they took off.
They were long gone.
Seraph was still alive. Ret was going to find him.
He turned off the security feed and limped into the escape pod. Zane, Sadhis, and Kyla followed. Sadhis plugged in the coordinates for Danae Pilus and the pod escaped off into the universe.
The trip was long, and Ret couldn’t help but feel selfish that he was alive. Drever, Vinnor, Maxen, Diam, they were all dead. Kyla wouldn’t continue with the mission. All he had now was Sadhis, and hopefully Seraph. He would stop at nothing to find him. He was willing to use Zane however he had to in order to get Seraph back and destroy the operation once and for all.
He would make sure the Athena Operation crumbled. He’d deliver the bullets to Aven and Lahen personally.
They made it to Danae Pilus without a hitch. The bunker hadn't been hit, and Ret felt a flicker of hope. Zane collapsed mid-flight and was immediately treated by a medic when they reached the bunker. Lylo and Tameron were still alive, and the number of citizens had doubled since the crew was last there. Ret felt a wave of relief.
Sadhis almost collapsed when he saw his mother among the refugees. Ret watched as they embraced each other. He couldn’t help but smile.
Kyla came over and stood beside Ret. “I think I’ve changed my mind,” She said. “I want to help. Maybe not on the frontline, but I want to be part of this.”
Ret smiled. He’d always hoped she’d change her mind, but he’d never expected it.
He nodded and shook her hand. “We’d be honored to have you.”
Ret spoke with Lylo and described the events of the mission. Lylo agreed that locating Seraph was a priority, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that they had no resources for such a mission. Ret was disappointed, but he agreed to focus first on building a base of operations. Resource management was a primary issue, as was garnering enough support to launch a
resistance. Once they had a system in order, they could organize enough force to find Seraph. Ret would see to that.
Just like Seraph wanted, they would formulate a counter attack. Build up an army, train them, create a place for people to salvage hope and find refuge.
He only hoped Seraph would be fortunate enough to have time on his side.
Ret stared at the sky as it slowly turned to dusk. “Hang in there, Commander. We’re coming for you.”
Dalton Cortner is the author of “The Athena Operation,” a sci-fi novel. It is his first published work. He currently resides in Harrisburg, PA with his fiancée and their dog, Lacey.
The Athena Operation Page 16
