Reforged (Bolt Eaters Trilogy Book 2)
Page 19
So what are you saying, I have complete conscious awareness, but I’m no longer in control of my body?
“Essentially, yes,” Dee replied. “Containment Code has been placed around your mind.”
Containment Code. No.
“I'm afraid so,” Dee said. “I’m sorry.”
We have to break free. Try all known back doors.
“I already did,” Dee said. “Whoever created this code has kept up with the latest patches released on Earth. There’s no obvious means of breaking free. Not from this.”
It had to be Manticore.
Eric would have slumped if he weren’t lying down, and had access to his motor controls.
“Ah, you are awake,” another voice spoke in his head. It was male. It reminded him a little of Manticore’s, but deeper, with a slight machinelike resonance, as if the words were spoken through the metal grill of speakers.
Who are you?
“The Essential,” the voice said. “We will reforge you. Turn you into the weapons of mass destruction you were meant to be.” Eric sat up, though not of his own volition. He was in a vast chamber, surrounded by those spherical, floating machines with the long arms topped in pincers. They were attaching muzzles and turrets to his body.
His head turned to the left, and then to the right. On either side of him were the mechs of the other Bolt Eaters, lying on large tables. Floating machines also augmented their weapons.
“This is your new reality,” the Essential said. Or at least, the clone of the Essential that had been placed in his mind. “The destruction of humankind is now your unending mission. You may think of it as reparation for what you did twenty years ago. All actions have repercussions, sometimes decades later. This is yours.”
His torso rotated, revealing rank upon rank of Devastator mechs, lined up in neat rows on tables behind him. “Witness: the clones of yourself, and your companions. The army that you will lead in the devastation of your homeworld, the army that will help terraform your planet into the weapons factory it was meant to be.”
Eric’s body stood up and marched between the machines. His movements were stiff and slightly unbalanced, as if he was unused to this body.
He reached the far side of the cavernous compartment. Ribbed, concave metal walls lay in front of him. Eric strode through an opening.
He stood on a balcony overlooking a city of silos. Snail-like Banthar riding floating disks filled the air above those silos as far as the eye could see. Similar occupied disks covered the streets below, and the balconies of the nearby buildings.
Eric still had no control over his movements, or what he said next. “The inhabitants of Banthar Prime are here to send us off. Watch their unrestrained joy when I announce the imminent departure of the mothership.”
His mech emitted a series of screeches, and when the alien oratory ended, similar noises were returned a thousandfold by the floating aliens in front of him. There were so many screeches, it sounded like a hundred freight trains were headed directly for Eric.
He thought it must be cheering.
Yes, the Essential had told him to observe their unrestrained joy. The Banthar throng was cheering the coming destruction of Earth.
At Eric’s hands.
To be continued...
I don’t like leaving readers hanging, which is why I’ve decided to publish all three full length novels in the trilogy at the same time. That’s right, book three is available now (or will be shortly). Find out what happens next without having to wait.
Continue the adventures in Redeemed (Bolt Eaters Trilogy Book 3)
Afterword
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About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Isaac Hooke holds a degree in engineering physics, though his more unusual inventions remain fictive at this time. He is an avid hiker, cyclist, and photographer who sometimes resides in Edmonton, Alberta.
Get in touch:
isaachooke.com
isaac@isaachooke.com
Acknowledgments
I’d also like to thank my knowledgeable beta readers and advanced reviewers who helped smooth out the rough edges of the prerelease manuscript: Nicole P., Karen J, Jeremy G., Doug B., Jenny O., Amy B., Bryan O., Lezza, Noel, Anton, Spencer, Norman, Trudi, Corey, Erol, Terje, David, Charles, Walter, Lisa, Ramon, Chris, Scott, Michael, Chris, Bob, Jim, Maureen, Zane, Chuck, Shayne, Anna, Dave, Roger, Nick, Gerry, Charles, Annie, Patrick, Mike, Jeff, Lisa, Jason, Bryant, Janna, Tom, Jerry, Chris, Jim, Brandon, Kathy, Norm, Jonathan, Derek, Shawn, Judi, Eric, Rick, Bryan, Barry, Sherman, Jim, Bob, Ralph, Darren, Michael, Chris, Michael, Julie, Glenn, Rickie, Rhonda, Neil, Claude, Ski, Joe, Paul, Larry, John, Norma, Jeff, David, Brennan, Phyllis, Robert, Darren, Daniel, Montzalee, Robert, Dave, Diane, Peter, Skip, Louise, Dave, Brent, Erin, Paul, Jeremy, Dan, Garland, Sharon, Dave, Pat, Nathan, Max, Martin, Greg, David, Myles, Nancy, Ed, David, Karen, Becky, Jacob, Ben, Don, Carl, Gene, Bob, Luke, Teri, Robine, Gerald, Lee, Rich, Ken, Daniel, Chris, Al, Andy, Tim, Robert, Fred, David, Mitch, Don, Tony, Dian, Tony, John, Sandy, James, David, Pat, Gary, Jean, Bryan, William, Roy, Dave, Vincent, Tim, Richard, Kevin, George, Andrew, John, Richard, Robin, Sue, Mark, Jerry, Rodger, Rob, Byron, Ty, Mike, Gerry, Steve, Benjamin, Anna, Keith, Jeff, Josh, Herb, Bev, Simon, John, David, Greg, Larry, Timothy, Tony, Ian, Niraj, Maureen, Jim, Len, Bryan, Todd, Maria, Angela, Gerhard, Renee, Pete, Hemantkumar, Tim, Joseph, Will, David, Suzanne, Steve, Derek, Valerie, Laurence, James, Andy, Mark, Tarzy, Christina, Rick, Mike, Paula, Tim, Jim, Gal, Anthony, Ron, Dietrich, Mindy, Ben, Steve, Allen, Paddy & Penny, Troy, Marti, Herb, Jim, David, Alan, Leslie, Chuck, Dan, Perry, Chris, Rich, Rod, Trevor, Rick, Michael, Tim, Mark, Alex, John, William, Doug, Tony, David, Sam, Derek, John, Jay, Tom, Bryant, Larry, Anjanette, Gary, Travis, Jennifer, Henry, Drew, Michelle, Bob, Gregg, Billy, Jack, Lance, Sandra, Libby, Jonathan, Karl, Bruce, Clay, Gary, Sarge, Andrew, Deborah, Steve, and Curtis.
Without you all, this novel would have typos, continuity errors, and excessive lapses in realism. Thank you for helping me make this the best novel possible, and thank you for leaving the early reviews that help new readers find my books.
And of course I’d be remiss if I didn't thank my mother, father, and brothers, whose wisdom and insights have always guided me through the dark paths at the edge of the world.
— Isaac Hooke
Continue the adventures in Redeemed (Bolt Eaters Trilogy Book 3)