VERITY (The Dead Planet Series Book 2)

by Drew Avera

  Harris drew out a map on a large sheet of paper. "Now, I'm not exactly sure if everything is laid out the way it was when I was there last, but this is how I remember it," "The main hangar is here, and if you follow the small road down about four hundred yards, you will see a building that has steps leading into an underground passage. I assume they used the ground as an insulator to keep the temperature down in there. That is where I found most of the nuclear power stuff when I was a teenager."

  I pointed at the structure on the map with my own pen. "Everything is limited to just this one building?"

  "As far as I know, yes," he answered.

  "How well was it guarded when you were there?" Laurel asked.

  "That's the thing. It wasn't guarded at all. I think my uncle was unaware of what it could be used for. The only thing that struck his interest was the weapons. Everything else was left alone."

  "We've got to get a closer look at this," Kara said. I could see the desperation in her eyes. The only thing she wanted was to save our home. She cared more about that than she did about killing the members of The Syndicate, though I'm sure that she would not admit to that.

  "We could go under cover of darkness," Harris said. "It will take a while to get there, so why don't we aim for tomorrow night?"

  "Do you think we can do this with just the four of us?" I asked.

  "I would suggest we take a few more men with us, just to be safe. But, yeah, we can get in and out with relative ease, I think." Harris held his chin between two fingers and looked at the detailed map he had drawn. I could see in his eyes he feared his uncle, but there was something in him that made him want to do this for us. I couldn't tell if it was revenge or something else.

  "Thank you so much," Kara said. "If we can find a way to save our planet, you will be a lifesaver." Kara reached her hand out to his and he took it. I watched as their eyes met and I realized that his determination stemmed from how he felt for Kara. I looked over at Laurel and knew that it was the same I felt for her. Laurel made eye contact with me and smiled.

  "Whatever it takes, I'm willing to see it through, Kara," Harris said as he ran his thumb over the top of her knuckles. "I promise."

  It wasn't a hard stretch of my imagination to see the sparkle in Kara's eyes when she was around Harris. I have to admit that denial might have been a factor in my recognizing it as such, at least until Laurel pointed it out to me. "Did you see the interaction between Harris and Kara?" She asked.

  "No," I lied.

  "There is definitely some interest there," she said with a slight poke at my ribs with her elbow.

  "I don't see it," I lied again. That's right, deny it until it doesn't exist, I thought.

  "Then you're dense, Serus Blackwell. How could you miss that? She was practically standing on her toes when he held her hand. And the way he said he would do whatever it takes to help us save Mars? It was something out of a romance novel." She giggled at her statement, but it was true. Harris was becoming a kind of romantic male figure in Kara's life. She was an adult. She could make her own decisions, but I just couldn't sit back and allow her to be hurt by someone.

  "You're right, Laurel. Maybe I should intervene. You know, put an end to it before it starts. We need to focus on the mission." There we go, the power play. The mission comes first.

  "I love you, Serus, but if you do that, then Kara is going to break your legs, and I'm going to sit and watch. How could you conceive of that notion? Kara has found someone she is interested in. Don't do anything to jeopardize that," Laurel said, with more conviction than I think she wanted to let on.

  "I know," I whispered as I put my hands on Laurel's arms and looked her in the eyes. "With everything that has happened, with the death of our parents, and my recruitment into The Agency, I just don't want to risk seeing her get hurt.” It was the truth. The idea of someone hurting my sister was an inner torment that had been awakened when I discovered the hit placed on her by Whelming. It was something I could not easily let go of, and it was driving me crazy. I honestly did not know if I could trust Harris, or if I even really wanted to, at least as far as Kara was concerned.

  Laurel looked up at me and smiled. She brought me into herself and kissed me passionately. "Beneath that rugged exterior is the heart of the man I fell in love with in high school. It's moments like this when I recognize the fact The Agency didn't strip you of who you really are," she said with a small tear in the corner of her left eye. I moved in for the next kiss when the door opened.

  "What's going on?" Kara asked as she stepped into the hallway with Harris following behind her. The map was folded under his arm.

  "Oh, nothing, just talking, you know," Laurel said, as she wiped the tear from her eye and smiled shyly.

  "Yeah," Harris said with a chuckle. I eyed him warily, but he gazed back, unmoved by my stare. "I've finalized the details on the map and our plans for entering the compound. Would you like to go over them now or tomorrow after a good night's rest?"

  "I think I could use some sleep after a day like today," I said. I was beat, and the activities we had endured were having its way with me. The mix of fear and excitement were at odds and it was draining. I had never seen anything like it in my life.

  "I understand. Let’s meet at breakfast tomorrow morning and go over the details."

  "All right, that sounds great.”

  "Well, you all have a good night," he said, as he put his free arm around Kara and brought his face to the side of her face and kissed her cheek.

  "Goodnight," Kara said with a smile stretched across her face. I looked at Laurel for help, but she was too busy smiling at my expense. She knew this was driving me crazy and was loving every second of it.

  "Goodnight," I said, as I stalked off towards my quarters. Maybe after a good night's sleep I would be more equipped to handle Harris and the charm he was laying onto my sister. If not, then I had a long road ahead of me dealing with those two. I entered my quarters and fell in a heap onto the bed. The soft mattress welcomed me into a quick slumber.

  Chapter 13

  "Good morning, sleepyhead," Kara said, as I stepped into the kitchen where she and Harris sat with their bodies in close proximity. "Harris was just telling me that he had a great idea for our mission tonight."

  "I'm sure he has," I said, as noncommittal as possible.

  "What?" Kara asked with a scolding look on her face. Her brow wrinkled as she glared at me for my social misgivings. It was too early in the morning to start a fight, even if I was right in my thought that she and Harris weren't good for one another. I realized Laurel's opinion was a little off base when I awoke from a dream last night and could hear Kara in the other room with Harris. I could only speculate what disturbing activity proceeded, but that was for another time.

  "Nothing," I said with a reassuring smile. She didn't buy it for a second.

  "Harris, could you excuse us for a moment?" She asked, as she patted her hand on his thigh. I couldn't help but exhale in a manner that denoted my disdain for their display of affection. Harris kissed her on the temple and made eye contact with me during the process. It was a look of victory. He knew, no matter what, he had Kara's heart, and no amount of brotherly influence would halt his hold on her.

  "I'll be right outside," he whispered loud enough for me to hear. It was a taunt that crawled beneath my skin. I gripped my own coffee cup harder and resisted the urge to hurl it towards his face. He made eye contact with her one last time before stepping to the other side of the door.

  "What the hell is wrong with you, Serus?" She squeaked in an attempt to yell as quietly as possible. I found a bit of humor in the act personally, but she was fired up.

  "What's wrong with me? What are you doing, Kara? You don't know this guy," I said with a gesture pointing towards the door he had just left from. "You know nothing about him at all, yet here you are giggling like a flirtatious schoolgirl. What about the mission?"

  "Great question, Serus. What about the mission? Has it occurre
d to you that Harris is helping us with our mission? Or are you so hung up on the fact that your kid sister has found someone who cares about her, and who she cares for?"

  "What is that supposed to mean?" I asked.

  "It means you're not the only protector in my life, Serus. I know you feel like you have some kind of big brother responsibility, especially after what happened back home with the hit, but honestly I was fine on my own for the five years you were with The Agency. Life was hard after dad died and you were recruited, but I made it work. I'm not just a kid who needs to be looked after. I'm a grown woman, more than capable of making her own decisions.” It was apparent she was passionate about her argument.

  I felt ashamed that I hadn't recognized her independence and drive. She was more than capable of taking care of herself. She had proved it time and time again. She even killed a policeman who tried to kill her after I freed her from Sorell's men. "You're right," I said, as I looked down at my feet. I was glad that Laurel was still in bed to preserve me from having to listen to both of them chastise me for being jealous. Deep down I knew that was the root of my problem with Harris. It was jealousy.

  "I know," she replied as she walked up to me. "There's just a lot going on and we are all under a lot of stress. We have The Syndicate who we need to stop, we have the electromagnetic field on Mars that is failing that we need to save, and we have the constant threat of Treston coming in and attacking the town again. We've been through a lot, but I still love you like a brother," she said with a smile.

  "I certainly hope so considering I am your brother," I said, as I pulled her in for a hug. She had used that line to break me down hundreds of times growing up. I could still see my kid sister behind Kara's green eyes, the youthfulness that made growing up with her so exciting. She tightened her arms around me and pressed her head against my chest.

  "I really do like him, you know."

  "I know," I said, as I leaned my cheek down atop her head and patted her back. "I do think he's a good man, but after what happened with Thom, I'm just not sure I'm ready to trust my judgment in that area anymore."

  "Believe it or not, I feel the exact same way," she said, as she looked up at me. "You have every right as my brother to be protective. Just don't push him away, all right?"

  "All right," I agreed. She stood up straight and I let my arms drop back down to my sides.

  "So what is this great idea you were telling me about?"

  "I think it's better if Harris tells you." I nodded, and she walked over to the door and opened it. Harris stood there with his arms crossed over his chest and his ankles crossed as he leaned against the outer wall on the other side of the hallway.

  "We're good," Kara said with a smile.

  "Excellent," Harris replied. He made his way through the door and sat in a chair at the head of the table. "Are you ready to hear my plan?"

  I looked at Harris and decided to give him an honest chance without holding any resentment towards him about his feelings for Kara. I sat down across from him, propped my elbows upon the table and clasped my hands together. Resting my chin on my thumbs, I said, ”I’m all ears.”

  Chapter 14

  "So what do you think?" Harris asked.

  His plan could work. The idea of using our gauntlets to cut through some of the support beams and weaken their defenses wasn't something that had occurred to me. I sat back and thought about the ramifications for a moment.

  "Which buildings take priority?" I asked. "We're not going to have a lot of time to waste once we retrieve the information Kara needs to save the electromagnetic field on Mars."

  "I would start with the power plant located here," he said, pointing his pencil at the crude map he had drawn the night before. "The next target should be their water supply, which is maintained in two separate water towers. I think the best thing for us to do is for you and Laurel to post at the water towers. Once the power goes out, the two of you take out those water towers and evacuate."

  Strategically he had a well thought out plan, but I wasn't sold on it yet. "I really don't like the idea of splitting up," I said with a hesitant sigh, as I leaned my arms back onto the table. I could feel Kara's eyes looking at me, questioning my motives. "It's just that there will be only the four of us. Laurel and I will be alone, and the distance between us is an issue."

  Harris looked down for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. "You do realize that, once we strike the power grid and if we are discovered, the rest of the mission will have to be aborted?"

  "Yes, I understand that. I would suggest we take at least three more fighters with us; one to serve as a backup for Laurel and me, and two others for Kara and you. There's safety in numbers."

  "Consider it done," Harris said happily and smiled at Kara. "I have just the men in mind to make this happen."

  "Perfect," I replied. "When do we meet them?"

  "Meet who?" Laurel asked as she stepped into the kitchen with the rest of us. She had slept through the last half hour of planning and would need to be brought up to speed.

  "Harris has a plan that could slow down his uncle's ability to strike against the town," Kara said. "But in order to make it happen we will need to bring more fighters."

  "So the mission is getting a little more dangerous then, that's nice," she said with a smile, as she leaned against my back and wrapped her arms around me.

  "Yes, well, we are hoping to minimize the danger by including the extra fighters," Harris said.

  "Harris marked out three targets that need to be neutralized. The primary target is their power plant which is marked by the red circle on the map. The two blue circles are their primary water sources. He proposes we use our gauntlets to sever the support beams and bring the entire thing crashing down. Without power and water they will be thrust into a state of emergency. It would be foolish to continue strikes against Midican when their own city is devastated."

  "Where'd you get the idea?" Laurel asked.

  "From Kara," he said. "She was describing how the gauntlets destroy anything in its path as long as it's not too thick. I remembered the renovation period of Faracon when they built new supports to elevate the power plant because of the dangers of flooding in the area. I think they did the same with the water towers, if memory serves. I brought it up to Serus and he thought it would be a good idea, especially if my uncle is aligning himself with Abert and other members of The Syndicate."

  "Sounds like a good plan to me. When do we strike?" Laurel asked.

  "Midnight tonight," Harris answered. "Briefing will begin after dinner. If you'll excuse me, I need to go speak with the three men who will be accompanying us tonight. Kara, would you like to go with me?"

  "Of course I would, Harris," she replied, as she stood up next to him and grabbed his hand. "We'll see you two later," she said to Laurel and me.

  "See you, Kara," Laurel replied as Harris and Kara stepped out of the kitchen. Laurel sat down in the empty seat next to me and grasped my hand. "Wow, I can't believe we are finally going to strike against The Syndicate."

  "Yeah, well, I need you to look after yourself tonight," I said.

  "I will, don't worry," she replied.

  "I can't help but worry. This entire area is full of people who fight to survive. It's not like back home. That's why I asked for the extra fighters."

  "It will be all right," she said as comfortingly as possible. I wished I could be so sure. The truth was that as powerful as I felt on Mars, working for The Agency, I felt powerless here; my training meant little compared to the experiences gained by men like Harris and his men. I looked up into Laurel's eyes and I was sure she saw it for herself now. She gripped my hand tighter as she realized I was truly afraid.

  The burdens I carried back home were nothing compared to the burden I would carry if this mission failed. I paced along the tree line, thinking. I couldn't help but be terrified of the idea that something was going to go wrong. I could remember the days after my training with The Agency where I did not think i
n terms of personal ramifications. I knew my sister loved me, but that feeling was sealed up tight in my mind. As the five years passed, the barriers started to fall down around that compartment and I could feel again. The memories of what love actually felt like had been there all that time. I was afraid of those memories, and that fear drove me away from Kara. I chuckled at the thought that it's always been Kara in my mind, chipping away at the damage The Agency had done. It was Kara, or at least the thought of her being killed, that caused the final pieces of my programming to fall away and reveal the man I really was. Part of me would always be the brother she grew up with, but the darkest part of me had changed me from who I should have been. I was a killer. Programming or not, that was the truth.

  I flexed my right fist and looked down at the silver gauntlet wrapped around my wrist. I ran my left-hand fingers along the smooth metallic casing and across the touch screen that allowed me to adjust the settings. The dull blue targeting laser illuminated through the diffuser and I eyed a small tree that was being choked by the much larger trees, deprived of the sunlight it needed to survive. I squinted slightly and measured my breathing. I lifted my arm in a rapid, urgent manner and fired. The small tree was severed midway up its small trunk, and the top of it fell to the ground. The charred section where the laser blasted through it smoked slightly, and the smell of it wafted into the air. I smirked as I turned around to head back inside for the final briefing. This was why we were here. To bring down the bastards who wanted us dead. It was a notion every bit reciprocated in my own mind. Now was the time to make it happen.