The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell

by Douglas Howell

  “You do realize that I can learn far more than just that… don’t you?”

  “Yes. But I figure that it would be the best way for you to trust me.” She smiled when she heard him say that.

  Mynik’ny’nuta then took off her nano-suit and did a mind meld with him. When she was finished she put the suit back on and then kissed him.

  “That’s for your honesty.” She said with a warm smile.

  “What would you have done if I wasn’t?”

  “I would have killed you.”

  Parker stood there, not as a man who was disturb by she just said, but as a man who truly does trust her. It’s hard to say how she feels about his trust. Is it her feelings? Or maybe it’s the symbiote in her giving her those feelings on a subconscious level. Or maybe it’s a little of both. Parker is kind of dumb in trusting her. What is her desire, with that symbiote in her? She can’t kill herself. But she can restart the Tylkuoply war. Instead of it affecting just one planet it could engulf the known universe. Yes he is indeed dumb… but if he was smarter she would have killed him.

  Mynik’ny’nuta spent the time reading the report while Parker served her lunch. What really touched her the most, is that she could tell how tired he is. She told him twice to take a nap but he said no. But his behavior reminded her she still has a heart. But it also reminded her that she is a monster.

  “I know the exact way to help you.” She said. “This report just gave me the idea. But I need you to get something to tie a person’s hands and feet down. I also need you to get Little John to come over to your house… alone.”

  Although Parker wanted to ask her why, he trusted her too much to ask. Perhaps the only reason why he trusts her was because of the way she treats him. Giving him the thought (or misleading him) that he can have her in bed. Or maybe it’s because she gives him value to the EOD. Or perhaps it’s both. But whatever the reason he trusts her, he wouldn’t be so trusting if he saw and experienced, what the hive did to her home planet. How would he feel if he saw what the hive could do to a planet or a moon like Roscadia? Or maybe that is why he trusts her.

  (8)

  “Ma’am… what’s wrong?” The Captain of New Horizon (the flagship of Admiral Lowenthal) asked her.

  “Commodore Parker just sent me a disturbing message that strongly suggested that the EOD is some how involved in a massive conspiracy in Roscadia.”

  “Beg your pardon ma’am… but given the trouble that Parker has gotten himself into how do you know he’s not lying?”

  “Because he knew things that he could not have possibly have known.”

  “Like what?”

  “Before Parker was assigned to guard the Vegas star system, Project 21 intelligence knew that Little John had connections within the EOD. After Parker arrived in Roscadia, the EOD broke off all contact with Little John. Parker mentioned that in his message.”

  “Maybe Little John told someone and Parker somehow learned it that way.”

  “Not likely. Little John never told his father. So why would he tell someone else?”

  “A girlfriend perhaps?”

  “Little John has a major problem in keeping a girlfriend.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “Lose women.”

  “Ma’am… how does Project 21 intelligence know all of that?”

  “Up until recently they had an informer inside the mafia on Roscadia. They put him in there after it was discovered that one of Roscadia mayors was a former mafia boss.”

  “Recently?”

  “Tragically he was discovered about six weeks ago.”

  “What else did Parker say ma’am?”

  “He said that he uncovered circumstantial evidence to suggest that Little John could be in the EOD Special Forces.”

  “Do you think that is plausible ma’am?”

  “It’s hard to say Allen. Our investigators never thought about researching Little John’s past. There’s more Allen.”

  “What is it ma’am?”

  “Parker mentioned that there is the possibility that there is a connection between Roscadia and Golden Hyperion. He also said that his life, mine and the mayor’s life is in danger.”

  “Ma’am… I wouldn’t worry too much about your safety. We’ll take good care of you.”

  “I know that you will Allen.”

  Lowenthal still worry about the possibility that her crew couldn’t protect her. Her experience thought her early on in her career not to underestimate the skill of the EOD. They’re not 300 years old because people are attracted to them. They have some of the most highly skill people in the universe under their belt. For her own protection, she decided to stay on board. She hoped that would deter any attempt on her life. But still… with the EOD, you’re never safe enough.

  (9)

  “Who is it?” Commodore Parker asked. He heard a knock at the front door of his house.

  “It’s me you fuckin’ shithead.” It was Little John.

  “Come on in.” Parker said trying to be nice.

  “What do ya want you lil needle-dick?”

  “I just wanted to go over an idea about my plan with you.”

  Parker then went into the kitchen with Little John following him.

  “What’s your favorite poison?” Parker asked once again trying to be nice as possible.

  “Kickin’ that pussy ass of yours.” Little John said as he grabbed a bottle of brandy.

  “So what did you want to talk about?” Little John asked.

  Mynik’ny’nuta crept up behind Little John, and said. “This!” She spun around and kicked him in the head knocking him out.

  Both Mynik’ny’nuta and Parker then grabbed Little John’s body and brought it into the living room. Parker then tied Little John’s hands and feet to weights. Mynik’ny’nuta brought her hard drive, the jar that has Liquid Death in it, and a knife to where Little John was.

  “Why did you bring your hard drive?” Parker asked.

  “There is a reason why my hard drive can contain so much memory.”

  She then took off her nano-suit, put her index finger of her right hand in her mouth and then started to rub it around on her cheeks.

  “What are you doing?” Parker asked.

  “I need my DNA in order to open this.” She said as she touched a button on the hard drive. A port opened up and she placed her finger in it. She then put her nano-suit back on.

  “Why do you want to open it?”

  “You’ll see.” She said as she was putting in the code.

  When she was finished, the sides opened up revealing that the hard drive is also a container. She then opened the top revealing a dead symbiote in the hard drive.

  “Why is that dead symbiote in there?”

  “Because this one is special.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ll give you a clue. The Hau’rino scientists figured out a way to preserve it indefinitely. It meant a lot to them as it meant a lot to our people.”

  “That’s doesn’t help.”

  “Do you know who Zeno’y’lk is?”

  “Yes. He’s the Emperor of the Hau’rino Empire.”

  “This symbiote not only contains his DNA but it contains the DNA of the entire royal family. Not only does it contain their DNA but also them. And by ‘them,’ I mean everything but their soul. It also contains two-percent of the Hau’rino population – roughly three-point-eleven million people. Mostly government, military, scientists, artists, etc. Including their spouses and/or children.

  Whereas my symbiote is from Kase’hyn’nkk and does not include any memory of any particular person, this is the Hau’rino version of me. The very symbiote that symbolize the Hau’rino Empire. In effect it IS the Hau’rino Empire.”

  “You mean you want to bring back your Emperor?”

  “Don’t be so naïve. This particular symbiote was taken out of the Hau’rino Special Agent La’jyn’eu Ikkry’o, code name Double Shock. He was the last Hau’rino national to carry a symbiot
e. This IS the last Hau’rino symbiote.”

  “If Double Shock is supposed to have been the very best of the very best… then how was he captured and/or killed?”

  “Simple. After the royal family was consumed by the hive, Double Shock took it upon himself to destroy all Hau’rino cells. He single-handily planned everything, including his death and the extraction of the royal symbiote. For you see Parker… this IS the only true royal symbiote there is.”

  She then opened Little John’s mouth and placed a gag in it, then taped it shut. She then got Parker to help her in opening the Liquid Death jar. She then took a sharp wooden stick and dip the sharpen end of the stick in the black liquid, but not too deep. When she did, Little John woke up.

  “Now, now… this won’t take that much longer dear. When I’m done… you can go to sleep.” She said as she was looking down at Little John.

  “Watch this Parker.” She said as she took the stick and gab the dead symbiote with it. After a few moments, it started to twitch. After ten seconds, it started to twitch rapidly indicating that it was alive. After a few seconds it stopped.

  “Oh my god.” Parker said as he couldn’t believe his eyes.

  “Sit on his legs.”

  “Why? They’re tied to a couple of, hundred pound weights.”

  “Never underestimate the strength of a dying man.”

  With that Parker did as she said and sat on Little John’s legs. Mynik’ny’nuta then brought her hard drive closer to Little John. She then sat down on his right side.

  “You’re gonna have to stay still dear. I don’t want to do more harm than what I wish.” She said to Little John. He then noticed the knife in her right hand. With a touch of fear and a great deal of anger in his eyes, Little John was trying to maintain a tough guy persona in front of them.

  “So be it dear.” She told Little John as she started to make her incision. She tried to make it from his diaphragm to his belly button. She stop when he started to struggle, then resumed when he stop.

  “You’re only prolonging the pain dear. You need to stop struggling.” She told Little John at one point.

  “There… now that wasn’t so bad now was it?” She asked Little John who was looking at her with deep hatred in his eyes.

  Mynik’ny’nuta then grabbed the symbiote out of her hard drive and showed Little John it.

  “You should bow before your Emperor.” She said causing Little John to say something that must have been some curse words.

  “Such insolence! In front of your Emperor! You wretched fiend! No matter.” She then placed the symbiote on top of the incision. The symbiote then started to go inside of Little John.

  “Untie his feet.” She ordered Parker.

  “Why?”

  “Just do it.” She snapped back.

  Parker then did as she asked and Little John kicked him in the face. Little John tried to laugh through the pain after he kicked Parker. Mynik’ny’nuta then took the gag out of his mouth.

  “OH GOD IT HURTS!” Little John screamed out in pain.

  Mynik’ny’nuta then untied Little John’s hands. He stood up both trembling and crying in pain and agony. He tired to grab the symbiote to pull it out, but he couldn’t. It was not because he didn’t want to. He just couldn’t.

  Parker was starting to become deeply disturbed by what he was seeing. He saw the incision close on Little John’s stomach with some type of yellow liquid forming over the incision. Parker then watched as Little John’s eyes rolled back into his head. Little John opened his mouth very wide and started to make a sound that showed that he was in pain. The veins in his face started to show. And the color in his face started to drain. The muscle on his face started to twitch and his eyes started to blink rapidly. The worst part for Parker was the Little John was, and wasn’t, looking at him.

  “God what a rush! Yes!” Little John said when it was all over. When he looked at Parker, it sent a chill down his spine. Little John had a wild, drunk off of power, insane look in his eyes. Little John loved having the symbiote in him. It made him felt like God.

  Little John was looking at Parker and was laughing in an insane guffaw way. As he approached Parker (still laughing), Parker became even more disturb and deathly afraid of him. Little John put his left hand on Parker’s right shoulder, then laugh in an drunk off of power guffaw way.

  “Parker… I can’t believe I was acting like you – a scared little bitch.” With that, Little John punch Parker in the stomach causing Parker to fall to his knees. Little John then laugh.

  “Parker. Parker! You better look at me you little shit or so help god...” Little John said. Little John had the look of deep hatred in his eyes which intensify Parker’s fear of him.

  “I can’t believe that you did this to me.” Little John said. He then pulled a gun and pointed it at him.

  “Do you know what the fuck you did to me? You make me want to…” Little John then pulled back the hammer on the gun and gave Parker the look that he was fixing to kill him. “…respect you! Aw, get a look at this guy. He’s all afraid of nuthin’.” Little John said laughing.

  “You know…” Little John continued on. “…to show you that there is no hard feelings. Here’s your money back.”

  Little John then gave Parker back the money that he took from him on Saturday. Parker didn’t know what to make of it all. Parker did, and he didn’t, understand why Little John was acting like that. And what he understood started to scare him.

  Mynik’ny’nuta then opened her mouth wide making some type of alien sound that no Apollinarian could make. She had a nosebleed and a black looking dendrite that came from her symbiote came out of her mouth.

  “I obey.” Little John said in a trance like voice.

  He then walked over to Mynik’ny’nuta with his mouth opened. And like her, his nose was bleeding and his symbiote dendrite was coming from his mouth. Little John got close enough to her so that their dendrites was touching each other. Their eyes then rolled back into their heads and they started to make a sound like they could hardly breathe.

  Parker finally understands what he has gotten himself into. He finally understands the hive. And what he understands is just how evil the hive is. To bad he didn’t realize that sooner.

  “Oh… my… God. What have I done?” Parker said under his breath. He then covered his mouth with his right hand.

  “I will sleep now.” Little John said in a trance like voice.

  Little John stood there with his mouth open and his eyes staring blankly into space. Mynik’ny’nuta then looked at Parker. Parker could see the evil in her eyes. It created guilt within him about what he is doing, but it also created confusion about what he should do next.

  “Little John must sleep deep within the darkness so that La’jyn’eu Ikkry’o can awaken within the light.” She said in the right ear of Little John in the voice that came from her symbiote.

  She then looked at Parker with an evil cold look. It was a look that told Parker that he doesn’t even exist to her. At that moment, he finally understood what is meant when it stated that the hive consumes people – it treats them like food.

  “I obey.” Little John said in that trance like voice. “La’jyn’eu Ikkry’o is now awaken.” Little John said after a little more than a minute.

  Mynik’ny’nuta then took the sharp stick that she used earlier and re-dipped it into the jar of Liquid Death. She then touched Little John’s tongue with it. When she did, he fell over dead. She then squat down over Little John’s dead body.

  “Why do you do that for!?” Parker asked being confused by her actions.

  “Do you seriously believe that I would allow this fool to walk around with my beloved Emperor in him? You’re not a Hau’rino national so you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Then what are you doing?”

  “When I mentioned that Little John must ‘sleep deep within the darkness,’ that told his symbiote that he was no longer needed. Meaning: his knowledge, his memory, talent, s
kills, etc. is no longer needed. That in effect, he is being prepared for the afterlife. When I said that La’jyn’eu Ikkry’o must ‘awaken within the light,’ it told the symbiote to do the reverse. However… Little John’s soul is in the way, but not anymore.”

  She then took the stick and once again, she re-dipped it into the jar of Liquid Death. Then she touched Little John’s tongue with the stick. After she put the lid back on, she went outside and burned the stick. After several moments passed by, Little John’s body started to twitch. Then after a minute-and-a-half, Little John woke up and took a very deep breath.

  Little John just sat there looking confused. He looked like a person who never saw Parker before. Let alone knew what Parker is.

  “Where are my manners?” Mynik’ny’nuta said in English. “Ryan Parker… this is La’jyn’eu Ikkry’o. La’jyn’eu Ikkry’o… this is Ryan Parker.”

  Both of them were looking deeply confused at her for two different reasons. Parker for the obvious reason. And Little John because he didn’t understand how he knew the language that she was speaking. For Little John, it was as if he was someone else.

  “Do you know what this is La’jyn’eu?” She said to Little John, showing him the jar of Liquid Death in it. Both his mouth, and he’s eyes opened wide in shocked. Little John then looked at his hands with a confused worried look on his face.

  “What have you done to me Mynik’ny’nuta? Why did you bring me back? I… I…” Little John said.

  Little John then looked down at his stomach then up at her with the look of fear in his eyes. He then rapidly stood up and both of them started to argue in her native tongue. Parker finally realized who, or what is standing before him in the form of Little John.

  “Oh my God… you’re Double Shock.” Parker said.

  “Yeah. And who in the hell are you?” Little John/Double Shock said.

  “He’s the one who is responsible for us being here.” Mynik’ny’nuta said.

  Double Shock turned to Parker with deep hatred in his eyes, grabbed Parker’s throat and said. “What would possess you to unleash the hive upon this world!?”