Published by Silver Publishing Publisher of Erotic Romance Cover Artist: Reese Dante Editor: Monti Shalosky The Missions © 2012 Donna McIntosh ISBN # 9781614954187
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Lodewyk Deysel Publisher Silver Publishing http://www.spsilverpublishing.com DEDICATION
To Ed McIntosh who always encouraged my writing and taught me to never give up.
And to my kids who have put up with my foolishness for so many years.
TRADEMARKS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Cutty Sark: Edrington Distillers Limited
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PROLOGUE
LAPD Detective Sean Riker had one person he’d always tried to arrest and bring to justice—Mitchell Yates.
Yates had been in and out of trouble for years, always skating around the edges of the underground world of L.A. but nothing had ever been pinned on him.
One night after work, Riker entered his parking garage and spotted Yates’s car. Certain Yates had to be up to no good, Riker decided to take him in for questioning.
He exited his car, headed toward Yates and found himself under fire by unknown assailants. The next thing he knew, he hit the ground with a hole in his shoulder. Someone tugged him to his feet and out of the line of fire—Mitchell Yates.
Yates got him into his own car and took off as bullets continued to rain in their direction. The exit ramps were blocked and escape from those shooting at them impossible, so Yates transported the two of them to his HOME—a fabricated satellite high above Earth. Riker discovered a world he thought existed only in science fiction. A place where his wound could be immediately healed and people pulled their weight because they wanted to.
Riker, adjusting his attitude, has to let Yates, or Yana as he is known on HOME, become his guide, showing him around the facility and explaining the mission of the Peace Keepers, a secret group of ancient humans, known only to a select few government officials on Earth, seeking peace in the galaxy.
As understanding dawns on Riker, a slow friendship develops between the two of them. The relationship deepens despite an old boyfriend of Yates interfering. Riker accepted an offer, by the Peace Keepers who have been following his work on Earth and know him as ‘one of the good guys’ as Yana would put it, to join their group and spent a year undergoing rigid training. His lessons completed, he anxiously awaits his first assignment.
CHAPTER ONE
A year after Sean’s retirement from the LAPD and move up to HOME, he sat with two of the elders—one of his favorite things to do now that he had finished his training. He never tired of listening to them and always came with a list of questions.
“Think of all living beings as a pyramid. Humans— mankind—is the lowest level. Then you have altered humans, then the Elders. Above the Elders are the hybrids and at the very top, what are considered aliens—life forms so advanced their knowledge spans millennia; their powers endless and unimaginable.” Elder Mathew spoke.
“And these people—these beings—they all work together? What is their goal?” Sean asked, his curiosity endless.
“Intergalactic peace; and they have achieved it on hundreds of worlds. You will no doubt visit some on your journeys,” Elder Eli added.
“So even you, the Elders, have someone to answer to?” Sean asked.
“I wouldn’t exactly use the term ‘answer to’ but we do have those we report to and take direction from,” Elder Matthew responded.
“The Hybrids?” Sean asked, trying to understand how the system worked.
“Yes. They are a mixed breed of the higher evolved species. Their knowledge and experience is incalculable in our work,” Elder Daniel offered.
“If they are so powerful, why don’t they just come in and transform each world themselves?” Sean struggled hard to understand.
“Oh, my goodness, no! That would never do.
Mankind, in all its many forms, are creatures of free will.
They must be handled with great care, schooled in the ways of a peaceful existence,” Elder Robert explained patiently.
“It’s not an easy task they’ve taken on,” Sean said.
He wondered if such a thing would ever be possible on Earth.
“They will accomplish their goal when the time is right,” Elder Eli said with a confident smile.
“In our life time?” Sean asked hopefully.
“That is impossible to know. We, each of us, must simply do what we can to further the process,” Elder Matthew concluded.
Sean shook his head in agreement and stood as the Elders rose, signaling the end of their session.
“Thank you for your time.” Sean nodded to Elder Eli and the others.
“You are most welcome, Sean. We always enjoy counseling the young ones,” Elder Daniel said with a slight bow of his head.
Sean made his way from the Elder’s chambers down the ramp where Yana waited.
“What are you grinning about?” Yana asked.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been considered a ‘young one’,” Sean grinned.
“Well, you are. We all are compared to the Elders.”
“I’m starving. You ready for lunch?” Sean asked.
“Yes! I was just thinking about some chicken quesadillas. What do you feel like?” Yana asked as they walked down ramp to the eating area in the courtyard.
“That sounds great,” Sean agreed as they entered the small café, seated themselves and tapped in their choices on the automated menus embedded in the table top.
“I talked with Noel while you were in with the Elders. He’s got something going and he’s thinking of using us.”
“Really? What is it? I’ll take anything they offer.”
Sean came to full alert, anxious for his first assignment.
“But I thought you were retired? Not that I wouldn’t love working with you. I mean, this last year has been wonderful having you with me every step of the way during my training.”
“That’s all you’ve enjoyed about this last year?”
Yana asked with a lecherous grin. “Just the training?”
“I’ve enjoyed every single moment of our time together since I moved up here, Yana. Some more than others. We worked through our differences and I couldn’t be happier with the way things have turned out for us. You haven’t had an assignment this entire
year. I just assumed you were finished with them. So you’re not actually retired then?”
“I am. But all that means is that I won’t be given assignments on a regular basis. They’re still free to use me for any special job they think I’m particularly qualified for,”
Yana explained.
“I see. So it’s like you’re in the reserves?” Sean asked.
“Exactly.”
“Did he give you any idea what this job is?” Sean asked.
“He didn’t say. He asked if I thought you were ready and I assured him that you were but insisted that I go along on any assignment that you’re given.”
“I am! You don’t have any idea what this mission might be?” Sean fidgeted with his water glass.
“No, he didn’t say. He was deep in thought and we only spoke for a moment. He was headed for a meeting with Elder Daniel.”
“I wonder what it is.” Sean waited anxiously. “How long do you think before we’ll know something?”
“No telling. Whatever it is, I’m sure we’ll have time to finish our meal. Eat!” Yana grinned and encouraged Sean to finish his meal.
They had finished their meal and were just leaving the café when they heard their names over the PA system with instructions to join Noel in his office. They grinned at each other and took off for the nearest up-ramp.
“Please sit down. I have something I need to discuss with you,” Noel said as they hurried into his office. The three of them sat down and he began. “Something has come up that is most urgent. We hadn’t planned on using you this soon on an assignment quite so dangerous, Sean, but Yana assures us that you are ready.”
“I am! Whatever it is, I accept,” Sean said sitting on the edge of his chair.
“You’d better hear the details first,” Noel warned.
“What’s the mission?” Yana asked, not quite as eager as Sean.
“Very well. Please follow me.” Noel stood and headed out the door and towards the nearest up ramp. They walked in silence, each lost in his own thoughts, until they reached the Elder’s level. They made their way down the long corridor until they reached the double doors. Noel pushed them opened and the three of them went in.
All six Elders were at the table awaiting them. Elder Daniel waved a hand for the three men to join them.
“Yana, some information has come to us and there’s a job you’re better qualified for than any of our active members. With you, we have the greatest chance for success. Will you accept another mission?”
“Yes, of course. I accept,” Yana answered immediately.
“Very well.” Elder Daniel nodded to Elder Mathew who took over the briefing.
“We have recently received information of a most disturbing nature,” Elder Mathew began. “It is imperative that we take immediate action.”
Yana nodded in agreement.
“This is a difficult task and not one for a beginner but it must be handled immediately and other qualified members are currently unavailable. It is under these circumstances that we have decided Sean will accompany you on this mission.” Elder Mathew directed his attention to Sean. “You must be prepared to put yourself completely under Yana’s control and follow his instructions to the letter. Only by doing so, will the two of you be able to accomplish this mission.”
“I understand and accept.” Sean nodded leaning forward and resting both elbows on the table with his hands laced together.
The Elders nodded and spoke quietly for a moment before Elder Eli began to explain the mission.
“The Omega home world has developed, through stolen technology, a device, designated Two-Zero-Nine, which has allowed them to dominate every solar system in their galaxy. They have looted and destroyed countless worlds in their voracious appetite for more, more, more of everything.”
“You want us to bring back that device or destroy it?” Yana asked.
“Neither.” He held up a small leather pouch, loosened the draw string and poured the contents on the table top. Ten glistening metal chips, small and rectangular shaped, one inch wide and two inches long, a sixteenth of an inch thick.
“What are these?” Sean asked and picked one up to examine it.
“Information chips,” Yana answered.
“Correct,” Elder Robert said. “Each chip holds all the knowledge of the ten closest Galaxies to Omega. They will be the next logical targets.”
“Targets for what exactly?” Sean asked.
“Domination first, then decimation and finally destruction. First the Omegans drain all the knowledge, then the resources before they enslave the people. When they have no further use for a particular world, they destroy it so that it can never be used again.”
“If they stay true to their established pattern,” Elder Eli spoke quietly, “they will continue until there are no galaxies left. Uncountable lives are at stake here.”
“Not just lives but worlds,” Elder Mathew added.
“You want us to somehow feed these chips into this device? How will giving them more information stop them?” Sean asked.
Elder Daniel smiled broadly. “I said the chips contained all the information about these ten galaxies. This is true. However each chip also contains… a little something extra.”
“A self-destruction code?” Yana asked.
“Perhaps a more accurate description would be additional instructions—instructions that will bring about the machine’s own demise,” Elder Eli said.
“If this device is as intelligent as we have reason to believe it is, then it will see that its current course of action can only lead to self-destruction. We are assuming that it’s programmed with self-protective initiatives and will not let that happen and thus, shut itself down—permanently.”
“Brilliant!” Sean grinned, eager to accept this first assignment.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to just plant the misinformation on the different worlds and let the device gather it that way rather than feeding it to the device itself?” Yana asked.
“We don’t have time for that. Their initial gathering has already begun.”
“Do you have the plans for this device?” Sean asked. “How will we know what it looks like and how to feed it this information?” The possible difficulties began to sink into Sean’s thinking.
“We do not have plans but we do have its exact location. Chips of this precise dimension have been seen being inserted into the device,” Elder Mathew said.
“You have someone already on the inside? Why not use them for this mission?” Noel asked.
“Her only access was temporary and while others were in the room. She has left the Omega System and is attending to other information gathering,” Elder Eli explained.
“You’ve only just prepared these chips?” Yana asked.
“We have.”
“And has any thought been given as to how we can enter the facility without being seen?”
“I’m afraid that is going to be up to you, Yana. It’s precisely why you were chosen for this assignment. There has never been a facility yet, that you haven’t been able to… shall we say… access,” Elder Mathew said.
“I’ll need a Winston,” Yana said.
“There is one waiting for you. Can you leave immediately?” Elder Mathew replaced the chips in the leather pouch, drew the string and handed it to Yana.
“Yes, of course.” Yana took the pouch and slid it into his jeans pocket.
“There is one more… complication,” Elder Eli said.
“I thought there might be,” Yana sighed.
“Another group has learned of the device and is on its way to the Omega system with plans to retrieve it for their own use. You must beat them there and get the job done before they arrive. This device cannot leave the Omega system!” Elder Daniel spoke.
“This other group?” Yana asked.
“The Krill.”
Yana leaned back in his chair with a grimace.
“You are the only member of our group who has dealt wi
th them and survived to tell about it,” Elder Robert said somberly.
“Who are they? Who are the Krill?” Sean asked, first the elders and then Yana.
“I’ll do it but I don’t want Sean in on this. Find someone else,” Yana said.
“This matter has been discussed and it was decided that you and Sean have a special personal connection that can only be advantageous. We have every faith in him and his abilities,” Elder Eli said and stood up; effectively ending the meeting.
Yana exited the room angrily followed closely by Sean.
“Why don’t you want me to go? I thought you said I was ready?” Sean said as the old adrenalin began to flow.
He rubbed his hands together as they walked down ramp after ramp.
“You’ve never been exposed to aliens before. The Omegans will be bad enough. I don’t want you anywhere near the Krill,” Yana said with gritted teeth.
Appraising the difficulty of the mission, Yana would do whatever it took to accomplish it. Definitely not the kind of first assignment for Sean he’d hoped for. The Krill being involved put an entirely different light on the situation. He only hoped he had enough strength to get the job done and get them both back alive.
CHAPTER TWO
Sean followed Yana and entered through the doors to the lowest level of the complex; a level Sean had never been on before. The large open bay was filled with vehicles of various shapes and sizes. Sean was stunned for a moment, then trailed Yana out among them.
Yana stopped at an open bay that appeared empty.
“Winston,” he called out.
“Good evening, Yana.” The electronic voice intoned as the area before them shimmered a second then materialized into a large circular ship. A panel on the side of the ship opened and a ramp extended down toward Yana’s feet.
“Oh my God!” Sean stared as his jaw dropped.
“C’mon,” Yana said and started up the ramp.
Once Sean got his senses about him again, he followed. In moments they were inside and seated in front of a large window section.
“You have your instructions, Winston?” Yana asked.
“I do. Since Mr Riker is present, I assume he will be along on this mission?” The metallic voice questioned.
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