by PJ McDermott
“For the greater good.”
“Your greater good—not mine,” said Gareth.
Gareth heard the rattle of falling stones and glanced over his enemy’s shoulder. Jess had almost caught up with him. Dust rose, and stones dislodged, rolling down the slope in front of her. He saw her lose her footing and skid along on her back over the sharp rocks. She came to an abrupt halt forty meters from the antagonists. “Gareth, no!” she shouted, as he reached behind and drew his sword.
Vogel launched himself at the lighter and younger human. He grabbed Gareth’s neck with one hand and smashed his other fist into Gareth’s face.
The sword fell from Gareth’s hand. His legs gave way and he staggered backward.
Vogel unbuttoned his jacket and took out a handgun. He glanced quickly at Gareth’s unmoving body, then spinning around, he turned the weapon on Jess. “Stay where you are. One more step and I’ll kill the boy.”
Gareth stirred. He felt light-headed from Vogel’s attack, but he lunged at the Bikashi’s arm and wrestled it away from Jess’s direction. The gun discharged and a burst of energy blasted the ground near her feet. Vogel pulled free, and his elbow connected Gareth’s temple with a sickening blow. The young man fell to the ground. He didn’t move.
“You foul pig,” said Jess. She advanced towards him, her fists clenched.
Vogel sneered. “You arrogant humans. You think you’re superior to every race in the galaxy.” He squeezed the trigger. Nothing happened. He squeezed again with the same result.
Jess breathed noisily through clenched teeth. “Despite everything, you couldn’t break him. He was too strong for you.” Her voice shook. “I thank God that Earth has no death penalty. You’re going to rot in an Alliance prison for the rest of your pathetic life.”
The Bikashi twisted his head to look over the sheer cliff face. He turned back and laughed bitterly at her. “I’d rather die—but I don’t think it will come to that.”
The Bikashi fighter-plane rose silently over the bluff. It hovered there, cannons trained on the cliff top. The pilot beneath the canopy gesticulated urgently.
Vogel whispered briefly into his comms, then spoke. “It seems the IA are no longer taking a passive role. I must leave you now.” He took a final look at Gareth, then spun around and moved quickly towards the waiting plane.
Gareth rose like a shade from the ground. He scooped up his knife and hurled it after Vogel. The weapon spun through the air and sliced through the Bikashi armor, impaling him in the back.
Vogel jerked forward then turned stiffly to face his nemesis. He reached behind him, sucked in a quick breath and drew out the knife. Staring disbelievingly at Gareth, he shook his head, then tossed the knife over the cliff edge.
The Bikashi staggered into the plane, the door shut, the engines whined, and it blasted off.
Hickory and Mack watched Vogel’s plane soar into the stratosphere. They released some air from the balloon and landed gently at the edge of the cliff.
Mack jumped out. He rushed to Jess and hugged and kissed her.
“Gareth, Jess. Thank God you’re alive,” said Hickory tethering the balloon to a large rock. She grasped Gareth by the shoulders and pulled him against her.
“Whoa,” said Gareth. “Does this mean we’re engaged?”
Hickory pushed him away. “Idiot boy. You’ll be lucky if I don’t court-martial you. What happened with Vogel?”
“He got away, but I winged him pretty bad, I reckon. Lost my sword, though.” He looked disconsolate, then raised his eyebrows and a smile lit up his face. “I’m sure Sabin can make me another.”
“You won’t need it. The war is over. Sequana’s gone, Vogel’s gone. The rebels have laid down their arms. There are only some stragglers left to mop up.”
Jess disengaged herself from Mack’s embrace. “And the Teacher? Is he all right?” she asked.
“Last time I saw him, he was attending to the wounded,” said Mack.
“Maybe it’s time for us to have a talk with him,” said Jess.
“Not before I have a bath and a good night’s sleep,” said Hickory. “Come on. All aboard. We have a bit of a trip back to the city.”
Return to Earth
The Jabberwocky carried a full complement of passengers and crew. Mackie took leave from the Agency and traveled with Hickory’s team. Admiral Lace was also on his way to Earth, and James Brandt accompanied him. Gareth renewed his acquaintance with Jenny, and Hickory saw a difference in how the two were relating. They tended to keep to themselves most of the time. Gareth was gradually recovering his full health, thanks to Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth’s ministrations, but some of the mental scars remained, and he was less playful, more introspective, than when the two had previously met. Jenny seemed to appreciate the new, more mature Gareth.
Hickory, Jess, and Mackie were sitting around the table in the conference room, being debriefed by Admiral Lace.
“It’s a pity you let the Bikashi get away,” the admiral told Jess.
“We’re lucky to be alive, sir,” she said. “He only left because he feared the IA were on their way.”
George Lace massaged his temples with his fingers. “A little bit of subterfuge there. I thought it might help if the Bikashi believed we were entering the arena. We put some chatter over the air to that effect. It seems to have worked.”
“He might be dead anyway, sir—” began Mack.
The admiral shook his head. “I don’t expect that parting pinprick he received from Gareth will have done him any permanent damage. No, he’s probably being interrogated by the Bikashi high command right now. Can’t say I feel sorry for him.”
Hickory frowned. She took a sip of coffee before asking her question. “Surely, it doesn’t matter any longer? The Bikashi threat has been nullified, hasn’t it?”
“For the moment, yes. But if Vogel’s survived, he could still be a dangerous foe in the future. We’ve put a security net in place around the planet. That will give us warning of any future infiltration. It will be safer when all the Bikashi are on the space side of the net. Our people are rounding up the stragglers now.”
“The Prosperine government has agreed to this?” said Hickory. She expressed mild surprise, but knowing her father, realized there was likely more to it.
“The government has made some very sensible decisions in the best interests of their people,” said the admiral.
“You’ve managed to negotiate an agreement with the government to trade for crynidium.” It was a statement, not a question. Hickory sensed the truth of it. She shook her head. “What else have you agreed to?”
“We’re going to provide the Avanauri people with schools and universities specializing in the sciences and engineering. We’ll start off slowly, but we think they will learn quickly. Improving their education should have a positive effect on their society and culture.”
“Plus their religion?” said Jess.
“Perhaps,” said the admiral, “but the Teacher is the wildcard there. What’s your assessment of him, commander?”
Hickory lowered her eyes. Should she tell him what she really thought? In truth, she wasn’t one hundred percent sure and she really wanted to talk through her findings with the Prefect before coming to a complete decision. “You mean, do I believe he is another Jesus, a Son of God? I really can’t comment on that yet, but he is surely a very unique individual with some skills and talents I haven’t come across before now. His ability to heal defies explanation and he often knows what is going to happen before it happens; he seems to have an inexhaustible supply of energy, and he’s incredibly wise and sensitive.”
She paused and looked into her father’s eyes.
She and Jess had talked with the Teacher about his beliefs and his talents. He had been forthright, answering all their questions. He told them everything they wanted to know, and a bit more. When it was time for them to go, they had been loath to leave the peaceful healing power his presence brought them. “Remember my words,” he h
ad said. “You are knight commanders of Balor. Your work here is finished for the present, but we may meet again.” He smiled enigmatically.
How would her father react if she said Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth was the Son of God? She decided to spare him. “Do I believe all that adds up to him being the Messiah? I think it adds up to him being a very advanced Avanauri—far ahead of his contemporaries. And I think that’s what the blood tests and the results of the brain scans will show us. We know that the Avanauri race is close to a flashpoint where they will undergo massive growth in their brain cells. I would guess that Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth is the first of the new society. I hope that’s true because it means that the future of this race is bright indeed.”
Hickory reported to Cortherien first, then met the admiral for lunch at the reconstructed Fortunato al Pantheon. They ordered taglioni with white truffles, fresh fungi porcini and a flask of house white. The admiral waited until they’d eaten, then told her the secret he had kept from her for almost twenty years.
“We should have told you when you were young, but your mother wanted to wait until you were a bit older. Did you never guess? Never wonder why you were the first in the family to have your astounding empathic ability?” He tilted his head, his eyes searching hers. Hickory gave a small shake of her head, and he sighed.
“Your father was my best friend. We went to University together, we drank together, we did everything together. And then I joined the Agency and met your mother and fell in love. We were happy, I truly believe we were, and if it hadn’t been for Johnny she would have been content to be with me. We spent six wonderful months traveling the Galaxy for the IA. I wanted it to go on forever. My world was perfect. I had Angela, I had a great job, and I had a brilliant future. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. We went home to meet our respective families, and I introduced her to Johnny.” He shook his head slowly.
The truth set Hickory’s heartbeat racing. She felt dizzy as his meaning sank in.
She recalled the Teacher’s last words. “When the time comes, remember that this father who is not your father loves you. Forgive him for any wrong he may have done to you, and your heart will be healed.”
Only now, did they make sense. She tightened the grip on her father’s hand while he told his tale. His revelations came as a shock, but she needed to know everything.
He continued. “Nothing was the same after that. Johnny was an empath, you see, and he and Angela—well, they fell hard for each other. While I offered her stability and a predictable, planned future, Johnny promised excitement, adventure and the thrill of the unknown. She was hopelessly in love with him. I tried to warn her Johnny was no good for her—yes I was jealous, but I also knew him. I told her it would be a brief tempestuous affair, and then Johnny would grow tired of her, and she would be sorry.”
Hickory could sense the mixture of sadness and regret that swept through him. She knew she should feel sorry, but it wasn’t possible to contain the rapture building in her heart nor the bright tears in her eyes. She held her breath, willing him to continue.
“She didn’t listen, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. They were mad for each other and married six months later. I was devastated. I immersed myself in my work and tried to make myself forget them. I became a dedicated officer—fast-tracked as a future star, one of the whiz-kids.” Absentmindedly, he drew his fork along the tablecloth creating a series of parallel lines on the white surface. He paused then shook his head as though he still couldn’t believe what he was about to tell her. “Two years afterward, I heard that Johnny had been killed in a car accident.” He placed the fork beside his knife. “I went home immediately for the funeral and stayed. I still loved Angela, and she now had a one-year-old baby to care for. We saw a lot of each other. We shared our memories of Johnny, and she talked to me about their life together. It was the most natural thing in the world when I went back to my post four months later and she came with me.” He raised his head and smiled at Hickory.
“You can guess the rest. We married, and I like to think she came to love me—at least a little. I know we were happy. I even loved you, Hickory.”
The sparkle in his eyes fled and he pressed his lips together “After she died, you became a constant reminder of how much I’d lost. Your memories of her on her deathbed didn’t leave you for years. You relived them every night. I couldn’t bear it.” He leaned over the table and grasped her hand. “But you and Mike are all that’s left of her. I don’t want to lose either of you. I guess I always thought I would when you knew I wasn’t your father.”
It was a lot for Hickory to take in. Who was this Johnny, the man who was her biological father? And how was it possible he could die in a traffic accident? Did he have the same power to call animals that she had? She hoped in time she would find out.
She left the admiral, still unsure about her feelings for him. But he had told her the truth and that was worth something. It was at least a start.
She strolled across the sand towards the group of adults playing volleyball.
Jess saw her first and let out a cry. “Hick—you’re here!” The other players turned and ran to meet her. Jess’s twins outsprinted everyone and embraced her enthusiastically.
Hickory staggered under their combined weight. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ve arrived. Happy to see you too.” She laughed, then greeted Jess and Mack. Gareth came up, hand in hand with Jenny Morrison.
Jess took Hickory’s arm and led her to a table laid with tropical fruits and bottles of cold wine. She poured champagne for all and raised her glass for a toast. “Here’s to the completion of a successful mission.” They clinked glasses and drank, then Jess filled them up again. “And here’s to the engagement of Gareth and Jenny. We all wish you great happiness.”
Jenny blushed, and Gareth looked sheepishly at Hickory and shrugged. “What can I say? She’s the first girl I’ve met who’s interested in intra-dimensional fifth-tier catalytics.” Jenny put her finger on his lips, and Hickory noticed the diamond ring she wore.
It was good to see everyone having fun, she thought. Gareth certainly looked as though the holiday and his love life were helping him to get better. Jess and Mack were obviously enjoying each other’s company too. She felt a small stab of jealousy but pushed it aside.
“What happened with the Prefect? How did he take your report?” said Jess.
“Pretty well. A little disappointed I wasn’t able to be more definitive about Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth. But he’s decided to travel to Prosperine and meet him for himself. I don’t think he’s entirely given up on him yet.”
“That I can understand. The Teacher is a remarkable person and as close to divinity as I will ever see,” said Gareth.
“Don’t be so sure,” said Hickory. “Cortherien has confirmed my return to permanent active duty. He’s given me another assignment. Apparently, there’s an amphibian race on a planet called Atlantis, a few hundred light years from Earth. He wants me to go take a look. I’ll need to put together a team. We leave in three weeks.”
Gareth and Jess grinned at each other. “We’d better get in some practice then,” said Gareth. “Time for a swim, Mother. Race you to the water!”
PART2
RISE OF THE ERLACHI
“The Son is co-existent with the Father, which means Jesus was not merely a man. He took the form of a man to fulfill God’s purposes. It is reasonable to assume He took other forms in far-off worlds as well.”
Pope Innocent XIV on the opening of
The Saint Philip Research Academy, 2099
The Sword
The wails of the dying joined with the triumphant shouts of the city’s defenders and the Whump! Whump! of war catapults in a chorus of horror and madness.
A piercing screech penetrated the secret room. Thurle crouched and covered his ears. He had seen firsthand the savagery of the Charakai attack; had endured the terrified screams of the Bikashi soldiers as the bird-reptiles feasted on their still living flesh. When his master had signal
ed the retreat, he had been almost giddy with relief.
“This battle is lost,” Sequana had acknowledged as his lieutenants urged their steeds to haste, “but the war will go on.”
The leader of the Pharlaxian rebels, intent on returning the country to its fundamentalist past, had charged Thurle with bringing him the sword. Thurle considered the honor well deserved. After all, he had revealed the plans for the city defenses that had almost led to their victory—would have led to victory if it hadn’t been for the Earthling female. The one named Hickory Lace, who had used her dark magic to call the Charakai down upon them. Balor curse her name. The memory of the trust his leader had placed in him fortified Thurle, and he thrust his fears aside.
A few days before defecting to the rebels, Thurle had scouted the maze of tunnels leading under the mountain into the Temple of Balor, and he was confident he had taken the right turns. He examined the rock wall blocking his path. Four small depressions scarred the otherwise smooth surface. He placed his fingers in the cavities and pushed. The rock face swung gently away from him, and a shaft of light greeted him from the other side. Thurle peered through the crack. Seeing no one, he slipped inside.
He had come to the temple many times, and normally there were supplicants and priests aplenty, but not today. The priests were on the city ramparts, encouraging the city militia to greater efforts, distributing amulets and giving blessings and absolution to the troops.
The eternal flame on the altar flickered red, sending dancing shadows across the four faces of Balor that had been sculpted from the mountainside. They formed one of the temple’s walls. Thurle’s heartbeat slowed at the sight of his God. He was, after all, about Balor’s business.
Quickly, the revolutionary padded over to the grotto where the legendary heroine Connat-sèra-Haagar was immortalized in stone. The statue held a double-edged sword aloft. At her feet, lay the enemy dead along with the dying in various postures of terror.
