Triton: The Descendants War Book 1

by John Walker

  “Let’s say I’m adherent to my duty first and foremost,” Kivda said. “The church helps guide my men. It keeps them focused on the task at hand. But that sort of faith and zeal belongs in the heads of the young. As we grow older, we see the benefits of alternate interpretations. Ones we can use to make our lives and jobs easier.”

  “But that’s…”

  “Blasphemy?” Kivda interrupted. “I thought you might say so. Strict reading of the Word states that yes, I have committed a sin. But this is why my public opinion supports our religious leaders wholeheartedly and behind closed doors… with a good friend… I can be honest. You do it as well. All of us sin against the church. And we continue to win the wars.”

  Renz glared at him. He didn’t like this talk. Not necessarily because he had any love for the church. He hated some of the strict laws they lived by. Fortunately, he didn’t have to adhere to many of them due to status but such indiscretions were unspoken. Saying them aloud made him nervous. It gave voice to a serious crime.

  “Then…” Renz cleared his throat. “I suppose we will have to be cautious with how we proceed on this mission. And take your advice about studying the item.”

  “It’s the only way we can be certain of our own part in all this,” Kivda said. “And our best way to find an advantage when it comes time for you to rule our people.”

  “I’m not sure that day will ever come. My father knows about the others and their talk of assassination. He’s got a spy in our midst.”

  “Are you going to seek them out?”

  “Of course.” Renz rolled his eyes. “I need to know.”

  “Don’t. Your father told you about it. Let it go. Whoever the spy is will reveal themselves eventually and there’s nothing you can do with the knowledge anyway.”

  “I can drum them out.”

  “You’d defy your father like that?” Kivda asked. “And you know he’d put someone else in. If he doesn’t have more people now. No. Let him spy. Let them know things. We have nothing to hide yet. And the things we do, we discuss behind closed doors.”

  Renz leaned forward. “How do I know you’re not the spy?”

  “I wouldn’t get paranoid,” Kivda replied, “if I was you. But that’s your prerogative. Believe as you see fit. However, I’d rather have an ally than an enemy I’m keeping close. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Renz couldn’t argue the point. He doubted Kivda was the man, but he had to bring it up. Or did I? Why should I be so paranoid? He’s been nothing but loyal our entire lives. Always been at my side, always had my back. “I’m sorry for asking.” He gestured to the glasses. “Do you want a drink? I’ll make you one.”

  “No, I should prepare the troops for our assignment. We’ll talk again when we arrive, yes?”

  “Of course.” Renz walked him to the door. “Thank you for the conversation. I feel I have… a better understanding of what we’re dealing with.”

  “My pleasure.” Kivda shook his hand. “I trust you’ll make the right decision. You nearly always do.”

  Renz chuckled. “Alright, scoundrel. Off with you.” He watched his friend walk down the hall before returning to his suite for another drink. The ship would be ready to depart soon. In several hours, he’d have the chance to look upon what his father found so concerning… and then, they’d see whether they wasted their time… or found something worth worrying about.

  Chapter 7

  Niva Lon Tilas ducked instinctively as sparks showered over her. Some made contact with the back of her neck making her suck a quick breath through her teeth. She aimed her pistol behind her, laying down several quick shots. The weapon barked each time, high-pitched squeaks coupled with a vibration from the coils discharging.

  She ran along a circular corridor aboard a Kahl space station. Three guards pursued her, down from five. The first two were taken out of the equation before the chase began. The moment they discovered her in the computer closet, she opened fire. Apparently, they hadn’t expected to find anyone because they definitely had their guard down.

  Now I try to get back to the ship without being pinned down in a corridor or cut off.

  “Come on, Griel,” Niva said. She picked up the pace, ensuring the enemy didn’t have a clean shot on her by moving further along the curve, sticking close to the inner wall. “I had to leave the path we set earlier. Do you have an alternate route yet or what?” Doors lined the walls on either side but she had no idea where any of them led.

  Each could’ve been a dead end or the way back to the Brekka. Running meant she couldn’t create a map for herself. And so she had to rely on her commander… who seemed to be sitting on his hands for all the help he managed to provide. Maybe I should’ve brought someone with me.

  Niva preferred to perform infiltration missions alone. She disliked taking responsibility for the lives of others. The risks tended to be worth it and most of the time, she didn’t have such problems. This situation came down to bad luck. The patrol happened to come in when they hadn’t bothered for the last hour and a half.

  I know I was quiet too. Damn it!

  Another couple shots came her way. She glanced back this time, blasting one of the men in the face. No one wore armor on the station. The beam burnt half his jaw off before dropping him dead to the floor. A surge of hope was dashed a second later when she noticed they had picked up an additional three soldiers.

  Oh, fabulous. I love it.

  “Hey,” Griel said, “how’re you doing?”

  “You must be joking!” Niva shouted. “Come on, Griel!”

  “Settle down, I know you’re doing okay. You’ve only got…” He paused. “What, five guys on you now? They’re converging on the level above you. I’m thinking they’re taking the stairs so you’re going to want to take the first left coming up. That’ll lead you to a broken elevator shaft. I’m buzzing the door now.”

  “And what exactly am I doing with that?”

  “Go down to the floor below via the access ladder. Then run to the opposite side of the station where we are. Easy as can be.”

  “I love your definition of easy,” Niva muttered. She threw herself at the door. It opened as she approached. A series of blasts narrowly missed, cutting into the floor and frame as she passed through. She landed on the hard metal paneled floor, gritting her teeth against a shock of pain through her joint. “Ouch…”

  “You okay?” Griel asked. “Take a spill?”

  “I might have to punch you in the groin when I get back.” Niva groaned as she crawled to her feet. “Did you lock the door behind me?”

  “Yep. You’re good for at least one minute. Better get moving.”

  Yeah, just get moving!

  Niva shook her head as she picked up the pace, jogging toward the elevator at the far end of the corridor. As promised the doors were open. The dark shaft yawned ahead of her. A cool breeze came up from it from, life support blasting air all over the structure.

  And now climbing. My favorite.

  Niva glanced inside. She had to stretch to reach the ladder and even when her hand caught the rung, she could only barely get a good grip. Plunging her weapon back into its holster, she leaned out to get two points of contact with her way out. Her stomach did a flip as she pulled herself completely out of the corridor… a sense of vertigo washing over her.

  The darkness below her was absolute. However far it was… a hundred feet or five, she couldn’t tell. It went on forever, an abyss for all she knew. Clinging to the ladder, she struggled to catch her breath… to reclaim some sense of calm before attempting to descend. Partly, she knew she’d have to lean to get out… and if she was going to fall, that would be the moment.

  “You’d better get moving,” Griel said. “They’ll be through that door in a second. I’m closing the elevator now.”

  Niva bit her tongue from saying anything as the hiss of the doors plunged her into total darkness. She couldn’t see an inch in front of her face. Panic compelled her to move. Fear made her take the nex
t few rungs… moving ever downward toward the next level though she had no idea how far that would be.

  Above her, she heard people banging at the metal, shouts at one another that didn’t resemble language in her mind. She focused on escape, ignoring them as best she could. When Griel spoke again, his voice made her jump. She white knuckled the ladder for a moment before continuing.

  “You’re almost there. I’m opening your means out now.”

  Two doors opened less than five feet below her. That was the good part. The bad came down to her prediction that she’d be too far away to get out easily.

  I hate being short!

  Prytins were not tall people on average. She only stood a tiny bit shorter than Griel. Kahls, on the other hand, were practically giants by comparison. Which explained the distance from the ladder to the exit. They would’ve easily stepped off without a moment’s hesitation.

  Whereas I practically have to jump.

  “Why haven’t you left yet? You okay?”

  “Griel!” Niva rasped. “Just… be quiet, huh?”

  “I’m growing concerned, that’s all. I would’ve thought you’d have made it out of there by now. You know we’re going to be late to our other engagement if you don’t hurry.”

  “I’m pretty sure the humans will be fine without us for half an hour.” Niva looked at the exit, her salvation from the darkness. She tried to each it with her foot… she only barely touched the edge. Part of that came down to tentativeness. If she really committed, it might not be so bad.

  But then there was the threat of falling to infinity and that… that’s what gave her pause.

  I do not have time for this!

  Niva took several deep breaths before throwing herself off the ladder. Her right foot made the ledge. She grabbed the frame but her other foot hit the wall. Slipping, she fell to the floor, clinging to the wall with both hands. Eyes wide, heart pounding hard enough to make her dizzy, she bit her lip until she bled to avoid screaming.

  “What was that sound?” Griel asked. “Niva, report.”

  Oh, now you want to be all official, huh?

  Niva pulled herself onto the ledge, rolling on her back to shove away from the elevator with her feet. After taking a good ten seconds to catch her breath, she got back to her feet. Griel had been speaking to her the whole time but she ignored him.

  “I’m fine,” Niva muttered. “How many guards between me and you?”

  “Sixteen,” Griel replied. “I’m giving you a path to avoid the majority of them. Head straight then take an immediate left. Go through that door then take a hard right. One guard in that area.”

  “Thanks.”

  Niva picked up the pace, following his directions to the first door. She drew her weapon as she arrived, glancing in before making the commitment to pass through. The next passage appeared empty. She kept going. Footsteps to her left made her slow down. She aimed at the door…

  As it opened, she pulled the trigger. The shot went wide, missing the target by a few inches. Before he could fire back, she dove to the ground, drawing her legs up as she maintained constant aim at the area. Her opponent peeked into the area. She blasted him on the side of the head.

  He started screaming as he fell to the floor. Niva scrambled to her feet then moved over to finish him off. Her first shot blasted his ear clean off his head. Part of his face had been melted. She put a final shot in his head before returning to her course.

  “One down. Where do I go next?”

  “Keep going straight,” Griel said. “When you reach the T intersection, pause there and wait for my signal to take a left.”

  Niva complied, pressing herself against the wall at the corridor. She took a moment to draw several deep breaths, her brow with the sleeve of her jacket. It was hot in the base, enough so that all the running made her particularly miserable. The soldiers seemed to like it well enough. Their homeworld happened to be particularly warm so it made sense.

  Makes sense why they’re always so escalated, Niva thought. They’re always too hot.

  “Okay, the guards are investigating what you did so you’ve got a good… ninety seconds to buy some distance. Get moving again. When you can take a right, do so and head straight down the hall.”

  Niva rushed out, finding the first door. It was open before she arrived. Checking the room, she cleared the space before moving on. Another fifty yards led her to another door, this one closed… and it didn’t open as she drew near. She glanced over her shoulder. No one seemed to be on their way but if they happened down, she’d be in a dead end.

  “I’m at a door, Griel,” Niva said. “It won’t open for me. Tell me I didn’t take a wrong turn somehow.”

  “This is on us. I thought we could get it open before you arrived but it’s being a pain. Restricted area has heightened security.”

  “Wait. Why in the name of all the Divines did you attach to a restricted area?”

  “Fewer guards, believe it or not. I guess they figure no one would be stupid enough to try to get in there with all the soldiers protecting the outer areas. You know how that is. The Kahls like…”

  “Just… stop. Sincerely.” Niva shook her head, aiming the weapon down the hall. “I don’t suppose there’s another path to take?”

  “They all lead to more doors like that one. Relax. We’ve almost got it!”

  Relax, he says. Niva figured he needed to go on a couple solo missions to find out how calming they are, how easy it is to enjoy the moment while running for one’s life. She couldn’t complain too much given the fact she volunteered but at the same time, he could at least learn to watch his vocabulary. Maybe he’s genuinely stressed.

  Griel never showed those kinds of emotions. He played everything close to the chest. She often wondered if his bravado wasn’t a cover for nerves. Most of his quips seemed like compensation but she couldn’t say for sure. His reputation called him out as arrogant but extremely capable.

  One fed the other and he didn’t mind letting others know about his many successes when the time and place called for such bragging.

  “Um… you might have a problem,” Griel said. “I think the guards have figured out where you are.”

  “Not through scans,” Niva replied. Her tactical suit covered her tracks. If they followed her at all, it would be through noise and she’d been quiet after killing the last guard. “So how would they have… oh, I know. Because you’re tampering with this door, they figure that’s where I am. Right?”

  “I… would rather not answer that on the grounds it would incriminate me,” Griel said, “but I’m also not saying you’re wrong.”

  Niva sighed. “You waste a lot of time talking!” She crouched. “How many are almost here?”

  “Like… sixteen.”

  “All of them!?”

  “Kinda.”

  “I… have no words.” Niva fell silent. The only bit of good news came from the fact the hallway was too narrow for so many men to fit simultaneously. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t matter. Four or five at a time would be more than sufficient to kill her. I guess I’ll take a few with me. “I hope you have the data. I don’t want my death to be wasted.”

  “No one said you’re going to die,” Griel replied. “And… I think this is it…” Footsteps pounded down the hallway around the corner. She figured they’d be on her within a minute, probably less. Whatever miracle he thought he might pull off, she didn’t believe in it. Not given his tentative comment. And the fact the door remained closed. “Almost.”

  Niva drew a long breath, letting it out. She tried to calm her nerves, settle her heartbeat… prepare for what might be the end. A man peeked his head around the corner. She shot him without hesitation, catching him right on his crown as he drew back. That set off a chain reaction of shouts down the way, men barking at one another.

  Though none of them seemed willing to be the next one out.

  So much for Kahl bravery, Niva thought. At least until one of their leaders starts throwing aroun
d some genuine threats.

  “If you want to be amazing,” Niva said, “now’s your chance, Griel.”

  Three beams belched from the doorway, each one striking high above her head. Niva hunched against another shower of sparks falling over her. Fortunately, the only one who knew her position didn’t have a head. That’ll buy me seconds. “Griel!” she shouted, returning fire as a means of suppressing them, making them draw their weapons back.

  The door opened behind her. Niva scampered backward as the enemy came charging. She fired wildly while sidestepping. As she took cover, their attacks hammered the wall opposite them, turning it red hot. The blasts abruptly stopped as the doors slammed shut, muffling the sound of metal responding to concussion hits.

  “Now what?” Niva shouted. “Come on! There’s no time!”

  “Left! No! Right! Right! Go right!”

  “I got it!” Niva hustled off, sprinting in the direction he’d said. She made her way around a curve, making for an airlock dead ahead. The Kahl writing said emergency, likely for maintenance people to get outside in a pinch. How Griel got the Brekka attached to that tiny thing, she couldn’t begin to guess.

  Maybe he deserves some of the praise. Heavy footsteps behind her reminded her that she was still being pursued.

  “I’m opening that door,” Griel said. “On my mark, dive for it.”

  “What?” Niva asked. “What do you mean?”

  “Just… trust me, huh?”

  “The Divines hate me so much right now.” Niva ran for the door. Griel shouted to dive. She complied, throwing herself at the door. It opened half a second after her feet left the ground. Suction yanked her in, throwing her through the small tunnel and into the Brekka where she slammed into two men waiting for her.

  The three tumbled to the floor. One of them called out, “She’s in!” Niva looked back at the passage, watching as two Kahl rounded the corner. The doors slammed shut but she watched through the porthole as the Brekka disconnected… opening the main passage into space.

  Both Kahl soldiers were sucked out before the emergency protocols closed it off, saving the rest of the deck. Niva crawled to her feet, helping the others. None of them were injured, just sore from her slamming into them.