Wraithkin (The Kin Wars Saga Book 1)

by Jason Cordova

  “Hmm,” Gan tapped his lips. “I would have said Catal Huyuk first, then Ptolemy, to cut off their supply lines. But my argument for is exactly the same. Unfortunately, it looks like the Navy has a hard-on for Ibliss–”

  “Ibliss?!” Andrew nearly shouted, interrupting his supervisor. He struggled to rein in his shock. “They haven’t budged on Ibliss in two years. Yeah, okay, it’s near Anvil, but Anvil is the anchor point for The Wall. There’s no way the Abassi are going to try to take on that again. What’d they lose, twenty-six hundred ships last time?”

  “Needless to say, I also voiced my displeasure,” Gan growled. “However, they’re gaming it now, and think with enough Wraiths they can easily take it.”

  “Maybe if they send two divisions,” Andrew rolled his eyes. “But that’d be insane. The Emperor would never let forty percent of his entire Wraith Corps deploy at one time, not without an emergency junction ordered by both Houses of Parliament. Which he would then deny.”

  “We’ll see,” Gan said. “In the meantime, you have some more information to gather. Keep your ears and eyes open. Laird Christophe taking his father’s seat was fortuitous, since it relegated the Laird to junior senator. But if he’s as dangerous as you think he is, it’s only a matter of time before that changes.”

  “Understood.”

  Andrew killed the comm link and sighed. He hoped he wasn’t overstating just how dangerous he thought the new Laird might be. The last thing he wanted was to spook Chief Gan and the entire DIB into doing something rash.

  He walked out of the closet and into the hall, where the vid recorders could see him once more. He dropped his trousers, grabbed a towel and stripped the rest of the way as he wandered into his shower. Hopefully his observers would get tired of seeing his bare ass every day and not watch him like a hawk.

  Plus, he had a date with a new tenant in his building, and he wanted to look presentable when he picked her up.

  Chapter Eight

  Gabriel shifted the heavy bag across his shoulders as he ran through the wet and slushy snow, struggling to find a comfortable place for the bulky sack. As he continued to follow the course which ran around the entire base, the bag banged into his shoulder then slipped sideways and punched him in the kidney as he made a turn. He mentally cursed and stopped for a moment, his breathing slow and steady despite the vigorous workout.

  He shook the bag off and stretched, his eyes wandering back along the path he had just traversed. The rest of his training group were well behind him, the majority unable to keep up with the pace he had set. Sergeant Griffon, once he had seen how easy the course had been for Gabriel, had forced the Sutillian to carry his unwieldy bag during all outdoor training exercises.

  Belleza Sutil was a dense world, heavy with iridium and osmium deep beneath the planet’s crust. The high metal concentration, which caused the planet to be far denser than any other human-inhabited world, led to a higher gravity over billions of years. When humans settled the planet the first thing noticed in the ensuing generations was Sutillians, while shorter than the average human, were stronger. Far, far stronger.

  Thinner oxygen levels also made for higher red blood cell counts, which raised stamina levels to an almost absurd amount. It gave people like Gabriel more energy while exercising, more endurance. The Wraiths simply loved Sutillian Imperfects, though they would never admit to that publicly; the status quo and various laws prevented them from acknowledging the positives of Sutillian Imperfects. However, Belleza Sutil, like the rest of the fringe planets of the Dominion, did not have many Imperfects.

  Growing up on the family farm, Gabriel had been used to working twelve-hour days to pay for school. His father had hired Imperfects to help around the farm, but Gabriel and his brothers were expected to work as well. They were paid far better than the Imperfects out in the fields, but it was still nothing that Gabriel had been able to brag about to Sophie or any of his other friends.

  Former friends, Gabriel corrected and sighed. He nudged the bag off his foot as he rubbed the back of his neck, studiously avoiding the metal hole in the back of his head. His neck had been bothering him for the past few days, and he was well aware it was the bulky and cumbersome bag which was causing him trouble.

  Still, Gabriel did not complain about his aches and pains. Farm boys did not complain when work needed to be done, and Gabriel knew until he was reunited with Sophie his work would not be complete. He still griped about it to himself at those rare times he found himself awake at night in his bunk, while everyone else was sound asleep or on fire watch.

  Sergeant Griffon has it out for me, he thought as he felt the muscles in his neck begin to ease under his administrations. He was far enough ahead of the others he was able to take such a break, though he knew the others would be catching up to him shortly. He had a physical advantage since arrival, due to his labor and farm work. The Wraiths had ensured the others caught up quickly, but even after their efforts to sabotage Gabriel, he had a distinct advantage of being from Belleza Sutil.

  He looked up as Joshua and his cronies jogged around the corner, their longer legs lending them an advantage over the others. Gabriel knew the foursome, from the core worlds, were runners before they had arrived at MITC. The Avalonian was a problem, but not nearly enough of one to warrant any action on Gabriel’s part. Not yet, at least, he amended as they slowed their pace as they closed. Gabriel felt an odd sense of foreboding as they approached. While Joshua was not a big problem by himself, the three with him could be, and Gabriel was not a person caught unawares very often.

  “Boys,” Gabriel greeted them as they slowed to a walk. Joshua stopped a few meters away, the other three flanking the taller man. Gabriel flexed his shoulders and sighed, wondering just how long this had been building up. So far as he could tell, he had been polite though distant to the other man. Gabriel could only guess why the other man had a problem with him.

  “So Griffon’s favorite little bitch can’t hack the course without stopping, huh?” Joshua said snidely, smirking at Gabriel. Gabe sighed and shook his head.

  “This bag is bulky,” Gabriel pointed out casually, wondering just what drove Joshua’s mind. “And I figured since I was so far ahead of you guys, I could stop and fix the extra weight I’m forced to carry because you aren’t as strong as us Sutillians.”

  “I could carry it and keep up,” Sandoval Malone growled and began to step forward, his hulking frame almost as big as Gabriel’s. Joshua stopped him and looked at Gabriel, his grin sly and calculating.

  “Careful,” Joshua warned casually. “Sandoval’s prone to violent outbursts. His test came back as total psycho, you know.”

  “All of our tests came back as psychos,” Gabriel reminded him. “Being stupid doesn’t make him any more dangerous to me, only to you.”

  “I’m not stupid!” Sandoval shouted angrily. He looked at Joshua. “Tell him I’m not stupid!”

  “You’re not stupid,” Joshua reassured him, his voice calm and soothing for the big man.

  “This is ridiculous,” Gabriel muttered under his breath.

  “So how you want this to go down, Sutillian?” Joshua asked, the cockiness back in his voice. “You want to just let us beat you down, or are you going to make Sandoval and Connor sweat a little?”

  “Josh, what the hell is you’re problem with me?” Gabriel snarled, unable to contain his frustration any longer. “You’ve tried to start shit with me since the day we got here. What, is it because I’m from Belleza Sutil?”

  Joshua rubbed his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  “Naw, I think it’s because you think you’re better than us, with your family and the money you have,” Joshua replied, his voice dripping with malice. He looked back at Connor, who was staring blankly at Gabriel. Joshua grinned sadistically. “Connor looks like he’s wanting to hurt someone bad, don’t he?”

  “Connor looks like he was born with no straw in his bricks.” Gabriel retorted and scowled at the four men. Conno
r frowned and started to move forward, but Joshua held up his hand. He cocked his head and gave Gabriel a sly smile.

  “You’re brave, considering it’s four on one,” Joshua reminded him. He looked Gabriel’s sweaty body up and down. “I don’t care how strong you are. We’ll take you down.”

  “Better get more friends, Joshua,” Gabriel said tiredly, his body relaxing as he prepared for the inevitable attack. “We fight for fun where I’m from.”

  “Bang any sheep before you left Belleza Sutil?” Joshua asked mockingly. Gabriel smiled thinly.

  “None that smelled as bad as your mom,” Gabriel countered. A flash of anger crossed Joshua’s face for a moment, and Gabriel knew he had scored a point.

  “So what happened with you and your girl, Gabriel?” Joshua muttered suddenly, his eyes hard. “What did little old Sophie leave you for?”

  Gabriel growled, a dangerous glint in his eye. The seething anger and rage he had barely controlled since he heard the news about Sophie’s ship threatened to burst from the iron casing he had wrapped his emotions deep within. He swallowed and struggled to contain the sudden surge of fury. “Don’t talk about her.”

  “So why did she run from you?” Joshua pressed in a low, mocking voice. He knew he had scored a hit and was determined to push it. Gabriel stared at him, anger and rage growing beyond control. His hands began to shake as he balled them into fists to control his anger. Joshua continued mercilessly. “Why did she leave you, alone, on your planet? Was she trying to get away from you? Or...did she just want to try it out. Slum it, you know. Fuck an Imperfect, just to see what it was like. Did Sophie let you do her just to see what it was like to bang a lower-class life-form? She kinky like that? Likes to fuck beasts? Was that why she left your planet so quickly? If she loved you like you said, like you claim, why’d she run? Did the thought of being around you, that broken, worthless boyfriend, drive her away? Or did she actually feel ashamed after banging some Imperfect scum? Regret, I think they call it. Is that why she left so quickly after your failed test?”

  Gabriel screamed in fury and charged the taller man, his large and meaty hands reaching for Joshua’s throat. Two pairs of arms grabbed him, stopping him from reaching the skinnier man from Avalon a second before he could throttle him. He roared and pivoted on his feet, a small part of his consciousness identifying Sandoval as he shoved the man aside. He felt a forearm come across his throat from behind, trying to strangle him.

  Gabriel flexed his shoulders and mule kicked, driving his heel directly into Connor’s knee, who screamed in pain. Freed from the chokehold, Gabriel turned and drove his fist solidly into Connor’s face. The other man staggered under the punch but did not fall down. Gabriel reached back and threw his entire body weight into the next punch.

  Connor’s face collapsed under the full force of Gabriel’s punch, bone turning to mush in a sickening display of violence. The man collapsed to the ground like a sack of potatoes, unconscious. Gabriel stomped on the side of his head twice, ensuring that his attacker stayed down. He felt someone moving behind him and whirled, aiming a vicious kick square at Sandoval’s groin. Gabriel felt something inside the other man disintegrate the moment his steel-toed boot drove upwards into the other’s manhood. Sandoval made a sickened sound and fell down, clutching his privates with both hands. He made a horrible retching sound and, somewhere deep in the back of his mind, Gabriel knew the man was done.

  Then there were two. Fueled by rage and driven by a determination to hurt something, Gabriel moved towards his remaining attackers. Lashing out like a snake, he grabbed Maurice, Joshua’s other crony, and slammed him to the ground. Using brute strength, Gabriel pinned Maurice down and covered his nose and mouth with his free hand for a second before he lifted Maurice’s head off the ground. The other Imperfect struggled to defend himself against the attack but Gabriel simply drove the man’s head repeatedly into the ground until he stopped moving. There was no light in Maurice’s eyes, but the enraged Sutillian simply did not care. He casually let go of the fallen man’s head and wiped the blood and gore from his hands. A small piece of bone shard stuck into his palm but he barely noticed the pain. Gabriel looked up at Joshua, his eyes cold and hate-filled. Joshua stepped away from the psychotic rage of the other man, fear filling his face. Anger radiated from Gabriel in an intense wave, almost as effective as a physical blow. Joshua took another step backwards.

  “You’re going to die,” Gabriel hissed through clenched teeth. He could faintly taste blood in his mouth but was unconcerned. Hatred was his mistress and pain his weapon. His eyes bore into Joshua’s. “And you’re going to die slowly.”

  Joshua turned to flee but Gabriel was on him rapidly. Two quick punches to Joshua’s kidneys dropped the lean man to his knees, crying out in pain. Gabriel let the other man’s feeble punches fall harmlessly on his legs as he moved around him, Gabriel’s eyes never leaving Joshua. He kicked Joshua in the small of the back, knocking the taller man onto his stomach. Joshua moaned as Gabriel stepped on one of his outstretched hands.

  “Pain is a weapon, Wraith,” Gabriel snarled as he ground his heel into Joshua’s hand. Joshua screamed feebly in pain and terror as bones in his hand broke. He took a deep breath and pushed the murderous rage away. Gabriel ignored Joshua’s cries as he continued to grind the bones into pieces, his earlier anger replaced now with cold hatred. “Remember this pain, you little bitch. Because the next time, I’m going to kill you.”

  Whimpering, Joshua curled into a ball. Gabriel exhaled and felt the last vestiges of rage bleed off, leaving him weak and exhausted. Numb, he picked up his bag and started to walk to the end of the course but his legs, wobbly, refused to carry him. He stopped and looked down at them stupidly for a moment, his brain not working properly.

  He swayed but stayed upright, a queasy feeling roiling his stomach. It was disconcerting, the unease which permeated his midsection. He looked down at the ground before he shook his head, ridding himself of the sick feeling. I am stronger than this, he told himself as he took one step, then another, towards the barracks.

  I’m better than this.

  His mind began to clear. He looked at the men on the ground.

  Fuck. They’re going to flog my ass hard for this.

  #

  Gabriel stood braced at attention, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as Griffon stared at him. Rather, stared through him. The training sergeant was not pleased.

  “This is an interesting dilemma you’ve left me, recruit,” Griffon muttered as he paced back and forth in front of the terrified Gabriel. “On the one hand, I should kill you and dump you out back with the rest of the garbage. You put three potential Wraiths out of commission for good, and Recruit Wigen might get full use of his hand back eventually. Those losses cost money, something we have but don’t like to spend.

  “On the other hand, if I punish you, I’m putting value onto us Imperfects, which goes against everything I love and hold dear. You reminded the other recruits we are worthless in the eyes of the Dominion, which is something I shall treasure for the rest of my life. If I don’t punish you, then you’ve done more to help me drive the point home than anything I’ve done yet, and that includes ridding myself of some scum that thought it was good enough to be here. I’m grateful, if you can’t tell. This is my happy face. See?” Griffon’s face was a mask of cold rage. “Happy.”

  “However, if I don’t do anything at all, the other pieces of shit will think it’s okay to attack each other. I’ll lose control of my barracks, and it could turn into a war zone. While I encourage such behavior when directed at the enemies of the Emperor, I don’t approve of things like this going on in my school. So, this is me waiting, wondering...about you, recruit. What the hell do I do with you? Well, speak up. What should I do to you?”

  “I...don’t know, sir,” Gabriel admitted quietly, his eyes staring at the massive chest of the training commander. “I screwed up, sir.”

  “Not really,” Griffon muttered softly after
a moment, his eyes staring past Gabriel. “At ease, recruit. We need to talk.”

  “Sir?” Gabriel asked, confused.

  “This program is designed to cause what you did, just at a later date,” Griffon explained carefully as he pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers. “I’m going to explain this to you once, and that should be the end of it. What you did was what we’re training you to do.”

  “I...don’t understand, sir,” Gabriel said after a moment of reflection.

  “You are a killer, Gabriel,” Griffon reminded him. “Your brainwaves indicate you are a killer, a naturally-born one. You are suited for the Wraiths better than almost any other human in the Dominion. However, you don’t have the typical linear waves we look for.”

  “Sir?” Gabriel cocked his head slightly. He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, sir?”

  “You were a borderline recruit because you feel remorse,” Griffon told him. “The techs weren’t sure you would be a good fit, but the Commandant himself got involved and pushed you through.”

  “Why?” Gabriel asked. He blushed and quickly added, “Sir.”

  “Because you have the potential to be a damned fine Wraith, recruit,” Griffon repeated, his voice firm. “You’ve handled everything well, considering what you’re dealing with. Most of these worms had been living their lives in squalor before they joined. You didn’t come from luxury, but your family loved you. Still do, if the maddened queries of your father tell us anything.”

  “My dad?” Gabriel asked, shocked. He had completely forgotten, in the chaotic aftermath of losing Sophie, to warn his family of his change. How did my dad figure out where I’m at? He wondered. “So what...should my punishment be, sir?”