by Amy DuBoff
CONTENTS
LMBPN Publishing
Dedication
Legal
Locations and Cast
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Thanks for reading
Author Notes - Amy DuBoff
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
Amy Duboff Series List
Amy Social Links
Michael Series List
Michael Social Links
DARK RIVALS
Uprise Saga: Book Four
By Amy DuBoff and Michael Anderle
A part of
The Kurtherian Gambit Universe
Written and Created
by Michael Anderle
DEDICATION
To all the explorers who travel the galaxy with their imagination.
The possibilities are endless.
— Amy
To Family, Friends and
Those Who Love
To Read.
May We All Enjoy Grace
To Live The Life We Are
Called.
— Michael
DARK RIVALS
Team Includes
BETA / EDITOR BOOK
Kurt Schulenburg
Curtis Johnson
Ron Gailey
JIT Beta Readers - From all of us, our deepest gratitude!
Kelly O’Donnell
John Ashmore
Sarah Weir
Larry Omans
Micky Cocker
Daniel Weigert
Peter Manis
James Caplan
John Findlay
Kelly Bowerman
If we missed anyone, please let us know!
Editor
Jen McDonnell
DARK RIVALS (this book) is a work of fiction.
All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.
Copyright © 2018 Amy DuBoff, Michael Anderle & Craig Martelle
Cover by Andrew Dobell, www.creativeedgestudios.co.uk
Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing
LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
LMBPN Publishing
PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89109
First US edition, February 2018
The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2015-2018 by Michael T. Anderle.
LOCATIONS
Force de Guerre headquarters – located in Dren Cluster
Alaxar Trinary (planets: Nezar, Coraxa, Alucia)
Gidyon System – adjacent to the Alaxar Trinary
CAST
Force de Guerre (FDG)
Core Team
Ava Landyn – Lieutenant, team leader
Edwin Caites – Private, Ava’s team
Nick Rixon – Private, Ava’s team
Samantha Matthews – Private, Ava’s team
Officers
Tyson Kurtz – Colonel (formerly possessed by the Dyon alien presence known as ‘Nox’)
Marcus Widmore – Major, Ava’s commanding officer
Marcie Walton – Colonel, Kurtz’s commanding officer
Support Personnel at Headquarters
Luke Carter – Geneticist/Scientist, Ava’s significant other
Tess – Lab tech on Luke’s science team
Jack – Lab tech on Luke’s science team
Denise Ortaga – FDG head of security
Doctor Dwyer – Lead medical doctor for FDG headquarters
Crew of the Raven
Rod – Captain
Aleya – First Officer
Sven – Support systems engineer
Gil – Mechanic
Alucian Alliance
(member world of Etheric Federation)
Alistair Connors – President
Karen Carter – Press Secretary, former Nezaran spy (sister of Luke Carter)
Leon – Assistant to President Connors
Nezaran Coalition
(independent world)
Trisha Mercer – Administrator in Nezaran government
Fiona Wyles – Former assistant to Chancellor Heizberg
Edgar – Government worker (formerly under direct alien influence)
Cynthia Heizberg – Chancellor (deceased, formerly possessed by the Dyon alien presence known as ‘Reya’)
NTech
(Research company based on Nezar)
Andrea Mason – Director of NTech’s lab on Coraxa (deceased, vampire)
Jared Frey – Andrea’s research assistant at the NTech lab (formerly possessed by the Dyon alien presence known as ‘Nox’)
Dyons
(Telepathic alien race with former base in the Gidyon System)
Nox (formerly infiltrated FDG headquarters)
Reya (formerly infiltrated Nezaran government)
CHAPTER ONE
Lieutenant Ava Landyn peeked out of the office door into the hallway. There was still no sign of security reinforcements.
“Sorry, Dave,” she said to the poor sap bound in stasis cuffs on the office’s floor. “Looks like your buddies are still out at lunch.”
He muttered something through his gag. Though the words were unintelligible, the profound displeasure in his tone came through just fine—not surprising, given that his taste buds were getting acquainted with the flavor of his own sock.
“I told you we wouldn’t do anything if you cooperated and kept your mouth shut,” Ava replied to his mutterings. “You had to keep talking.”
“Dude should be thanking you for not going all mind-control on him,” Nick said while he worked at the terminal next to Samantha.
Dave’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, that’s right, buddy,” Ava said, casting what she hoped was a menacing glare. “I could make you dance to whatever tune I wanted to play, if you force my hand. Just stay nice and quiet while we finish our work.”
The bound security officer remained motionless and silent in his place on the floor.
Ava nodded with satisfaction. “That’s more like it, thank you.”
>>My, you’re in a mood today!<< Ruby interjected in Ava’s mind.
You heard him! No one makes fun of my red hair, she replied to the AI.
>>I feel sorry for anyone who tries. You were across the room and had him on the floor faster than I’ve ever seen you move.<<
I’m finally getting the hang of these new nanocytes. May as well put them to good use.
Ruby made her equivalent of a sigh. >>Right, that’s the best possible us
e for those abilities.<<
Hey, gotta start somewhere!
Compared to some of their ops, the mission had thus far gone according to plan. Dressed in office attire with light armor underneath, her team was meant to blend in with the other workers, accomplish their task, and then leave before anyone was the wiser. Dave’s presence had been an unforeseen complication when they reached the datacenter control office deep within the facility, but one underpaid, untrained guard didn’t stand a chance against one of the FDG warriors, let alone Ava’s team of four.
While Ava recognized that Dave was just doing his job, and she’d likely been harder on him than necessary, she couldn’t help being on edge. It’d been calm in the month since the incident in Gidyon with the Dyons. When things seemed to be going well, it almost certainly meant a crisis was right around the corner.
“I’m almost in,” Nick reported, looking over the information displayed on the eight monitors arranged on brackets above a glass desk along the wall opposite the door.
“These encryptions are deceptively tricky,” Samantha commented from the terminal next to him. She tugged at the neck of the blouse under her pantsuit.
“One of these days, we’ll come across something that challenges you,” Ava said.
“Can’t wait.” Nick glanced over his shoulder at her. “And we’re in.”
“Good work.” Ava approached his computer station while Edwin took over covering the door. “So, what are we dealing with?” she asked.
“Shockingly, not all of the company’s dealings have been as above-board as they’d like us to believe.” Samantha scanned over the information displayed on the main screen.
It was exactly the information they’d come to retrieve—financial transaction records, cargo logs, personnel assignments. There was no way Protheon would be able to deny smuggling charges with the FDG having that information in hand.
Ava crossed her arms. “Are there any corporations that aren’t up to no good?”
Nick began transferring the data to an external drive. “Few and far between, that’s for sure.”
“We’ve got company,” Edwin whispered from the doorway. He readied his multi-handgun on the sonic stun setting.
“Of course we do.” Ava sighed.
Her team wasn’t supposed to be in the Protheon corporate headquarters, and it was critical that no one trace the infiltration back to the FDG. Dave could say whatever he wanted, but there was nothing to connect Ava’s team to the covert military arm of the Etheric Federation. If too many people showed up and started asking questions, though, it would become exponentially more difficult to hide the reason for the intrusion.
“Transfer is complete,” Nick stated from the terminal. He disconnected the external drive.
Ava pulled her multi-handgun from the satchel that was part of her professional-looking business disguise. She tucked the weapon in the back waistband of her pants, under her blazer. “Make sure your digital tracks are covered,” she told Nick and Samantha while moving toward to door. “I’ll see if I can get rid of the visitor.
Edwin stepped aside. “Good luck.”
Ava nodded, then peeked outside to see what they were up against.
A frazzled-looking businessman was marching down the hall in their direction, a frown painted on his face, and a tablet clutched in his hand.
Ruby, do you have anything on this guy?
>>Mark Elmer, middle manager in the Shipping division. I don’t see anything on his calendar to explain his presence in this part of the building,<< the AI replied.
Maybe he’ll go right past us, Ava suggested. If we close the door and are quiet—
“Who would be accessing those files?” Mark muttered while consulting his tablet.
Great, there goes that theory. Ava composed her face in a pleasant smile, then ducked out from the communications room and closed the door behind her.
“Oh, hey, Mark! Nice to see you again,” she greeted him with a wave.
The man stopped in his tracks. He gave her the once-over of someone trying to place a face with a name. “Uh, hi. Haven’t seen you for a while,” he replied after a pause. “Do you… work over here?”
“Just consulting on some projects,” Ava replied. How do I get rid of this guy? she asked Ruby.
>>I thought that’s what you were doing!<<
Well, fuck. She smiled. “I think I heard something about pizza in the lunch room.”
>>Ava, is this seriously your plan?<< Ruby did not sound amused or the least bit confident.
Food is a great motivator! If I can distract him…
“I’m vegan,” Mark replied.
Shit. Is there vegan pizza?
>>Ava! This isn’t working.<<
It was time for a different tactic.
“Are you here about the security notice?” Ava asked, shifting gears.
Mark frowned. “Yes. You got it, too?”
She took a step toward him and dropped her voice. “Look, I’m not even ‘officially’ working on this project, but I said I’d keep an eye on this while—”
Ruby, who’s a higher-up mentioned in those files we just pulled? Someone who may be busy with other things.
>>Darlene is on vacation until the end of the week, according to the Out of Office notice on her email.<<
“—Darlene is out of town,” Ava continued out loud. “I was hoping to take care of this quietly. I don’t want her to lose faith in me, I really need this job.” She bit her lip and tried to look meek.
>>You don’t do ‘helpless’ well,<< Ruby commented.
Yeah, well, if it works to get rid of this guy without me having to mind-control him or bash his face in, it’s worth a shot.
Mark’s scowl deepened. “What did you say your name was? I can’t recall if we’ve met.”
That was a fail. Ava slipped her right hand behind her back. “Shelly. I’m new.” Internally, she continued her conversation with Ruby. Is it possible for you to trigger the facility’s fire alarm?
>>Yes, I’m connected to the system. But I feel the need to remind you that our instructions were to keep a low profile.<<
It’s a little late for that. Our best chance is a major distraction.
“I’d like to see your credentials,” Mark requested.
Ava patted her chest and hip with her left hand. “Darn, I think I left my badge at my desk.”
>>Would you like that alarm now?<<
Yes, please!
A blaring siren erupted in the hall, causing Mark to jump.
“What the…?” He looked up at the flashing red light.
“Oh shit!” Ava exclaimed. “Are they here? Darlene warned me…”
“Who?” Mark asked, clearly perplexed.
“She didn’t tell you?” Ava swore under her breath. “Look, there’s no time to explain. You have to check on the backups. We can’t be found here.”
Mark glanced in the direction he’d come from. “Shit. All right.”
“Good luck.” Ava acted like she was going to hurry away in the other direction. She took several steps, then glanced over her shoulder to make sure Mark was leaving.
When he turned a corner, Ava headed back to the room where her team was hiding out.
>>Huh. That was either some smooth talking, or that guy isn’t the brightest,<< Ruby said.
Ava smirked. Generic phrases let people autocomplete the thoughts with their worst fears. In the absence of food motivators, it’s an old standby.
>>Except with this alarm, security is going to be on high alert. I don’t think you’ll be able to talk us out of the rest of this.<<
Don’t worry, I have a plan.
Ava was certain Ruby wasn’t going to like that plan, so she decided to keep the details to herself for the time being.
As soon as she opened the door, she was greeted by three handguns pointed in her direction.
Her team lowered the weapons when they saw it was her.
“What the fuck did you do?” Edwin asked in
a low voice.
“I improvised.” Ava turned her attention to Dave on the floor. “Sorry, buddy, looks like we’re going to have to shoot you after all.” She readied her multi-handgun. Her team quickly cleared the blast cone.
She fired a sonic blast, and Dave’s head lolled to the side as he fell unconscious.
Samantha raised an eyebrow. “Care to explain?”
“No easier way to clear a path than by posing as the heroes trying to help the injured guy,” Ava replied with a mischievous grin.
Edwin sighed. “I’ll get his arms.”
Nick groaned. “Widmore is going to give us so much shit about this.”
“Relax, everything is under control.” Ava returned her handgun to the back of her waistband. “Follow my lead.”
She stepped back into the hall. What’s our optimized route to get out of here?
>>One hundred meters to the left, then take a right, go down the ‘D’ stairwell to the ground floor. You should be able to slip out with the other evacuees,<< Ruby replied.
Perfect. She nodded. “This way,” she told her team.
Edwin and Samantha followed behind her, carrying the unconscious Dave, with Nick bringing up the rear.
As they took the first turn in Ruby’s directions, they encountered a group of seven Protheon workers, headed for the same stairwell.
“Stars! What happened to him?” one of the women exclaimed when she saw Dave being carried.
“The alarm must have spooked him,” Ava replied. “Must have tripped and hit his head. We found him on the floor like this.”
