by M. R. Forbes
The building shook, a large thump sounding from somewhere outside. A second one followed almost immediately after.
“I think they’ve already reached that point,” Quark said. “Time to move.”
He pointed back the way they had come almost at the same time something hit the building, shaking it hard enough that Olus couldn’t keep his balance and fell forward onto his hands. Dust and debris poured out from behind them, filling the corridor with dust.
“Hayley?” he said, trying to see through the sudden fog.
“I’m here,” Hayley replied. “I’m not hurt.”
Olus looked behind them. “We aren’t getting out that way,” he said.
Another missile struck the complex nearby, shaking it again.
“Shithead, what the frag is going on out there?” Quark shouted. “Shithead? Damn it.”
He glanced at Pallimo. “I don’t suppose you have another way off this rock?”
8
“Where the hell is Planetary Defense in all of this?” Olus said, glancing back at Don Pallimo.
He was directly in front of the businessman, staggered behind one of Quark’s soldiers so that he had a clear line of fire. They were making their way through the Don’s compound, trying to reach the subterranean hangar where they would hopefully find a ship still intact and capable of getting them off the planet.
“Your guess is as good as mine, Captain,” Pallimo replied. “I was under the impression that my money was buying their fragging loyalty. Not only are they apparently leaving me to die, but somebody must have told Thraven who I was.”
Olus put his eyes forward as they neared a bend in the corridor. The Amazing Things factory had been light on opposition. Pallimo’s inner sanctum was another story. As near as he could tell, another Nephilim dropship had landed on the far side of the complex, using the surface entrance to launch their assault, maybe even with the help of PD.
It was hard to believe that Thraven had subverted the entire Planetary Defense, but then again, Olus had witnessed his influence on Earth firsthand. He wasn’t direct about his manipulation. He spread rumors and lies and whispers. He padded the right palms and used just the right amount of misinformation to bring the right individuals over to his side. And then he showed them the Gift. He made them believe he was special, and that his words had a ring of truth. And with all of that he had turned the galaxy against itself, convincing countless individuals to fight for him while keeping himself shadowed in mystery.
Olus could only imagine what this fight would be like if the Rejects hadn’t destroyed the fleet on Kell, or if Abbey hadn’t escaped from Azure, or even if Dilixix hadn’t given him the Gift. The galaxy was burning, but they still had a chance to prevent it from becoming ash. With Abbey in play and cured of the poison of the Nephilim’s Gift, there was a possibility they could stop Thraven from his slaughter and enslavement and put an end to the Gloritant’s quest for conquest and revenge.
Right now, they just needed to get off of fragging Gamlin.
“Watch the flank,” Quark shouted, spinning to his left to cover an adjoining corridor at the same time a squad of blacksuits appeared.
Olus followed his aim, squeezing off a few quick rounds and dropping two of the targets. Of course, they didn’t stay down. They started to rise again, their bodies convulsing as they were commandeered. Quark broke free of the group, approaching them without hesitation and quickly removing their heads.
“I hate these assholes,” he said.
“What about your ships in orbit?” Olus asked, turning to the Don again.
“Gone,” he replied. “I sent them away.”
“You did what?”
“They’re freighters, Captain. Haulers, not warships. The few armed vessels I had would have lasted five seconds against the battleship out there. I’ve heard what those ships can do.”
“You may have signed your own death certificate,” Olus replied. “And ours. I’m prepared to die, but if Hayley doesn’t make it-”
“She’ll make it,” Don Pallimo said. “We all will.”
“You sound certain.”
The Don shrugged. “I’ve been around a long time, Captain. I know how to outmaneuver a snake like Thraven, and I’m always prepared. Take the Atrium, for example. Or downtown Dent. I didn’t build those bots for war, but they did have their use when the time came.”
Olus didn’t respond. It didn’t matter, anyway. Either they would make it off the planet or they wouldn’t. His mission was to keep Hayley alive and get her somewhere safe. Abbey was depending on him, and he wasn’t going to let her down.
It took another ten minutes for them to reach the hangar, fighting their way through what seemed like an endless supply of blacksuits. They lost one of Quark’s soldiers along the way, after he was hit by a lucky shot that managed to puncture his visor and find its way into his brain.
Hayley stayed close by his side, adjusted to the lightsuit and moving smoothly, adding her firepower to the rest of their hastily assembled squad. It was easy to forget she was a child by the easy way she merged with the rest of the group, following Quark’s orders or reacting under pressure. He hoped she would have a chance to go back to being just a kid again, but he knew from other children in other warzones that was much easier said than done.
Quark guided them toward the edge of the open hangar bay doors, motioning for them to hug the walls as they neared.
“There’s about zero chance of there not being an ambush waiting in there,” he said. “Hell, I did the same thing to Queenie on Azure.” He smiled. “She had some nice tricks in her bag. What have we got?”
“I’ll draw their fire,” Olus said. He pointed at Quark’s remaining soldier, whose name he didn’t know. “You move in behind me and get their positions on tactical. Quark, once you’ve got a lock, you move in hard and fast.”
“I like the way you think, Captain,” Quark said. “Are you sure you want to be the rabbit?”
“No, but I’m the only one here that’s relatively bulletproof.”
“Good point. Check your magazines, all of you. You don’t want to run out of ammo in the middle of this shitstorm.”
“Roger,” Hayley said, ejecting her magazine. “Anyone have a spare?”
“I do,” Coxie said, reaching into a tightpack and retrieving it. He handed it to her, and she snapped it in. “We’re getting out of here.”
Hayley nodded. “Affirmative.”
“You ready, Captain?” Quark said.
Olus wasn’t, but he nodded anyway, feeling the Gift churning below his skin. He pushed it out around himself, preparing to absorb the assault.
Don Pallimo lifted his cane. “Nobody asked me if I had any tricks. I’m an old man, but as I said, I’m always prepared. Get the targets on tactical; I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Roger,” Olus said as the compound shook again, dust and debris dislodging from the walls around them and signaling them to hurry.
He could feel the energy of the naniates surrounding him. He glanced over at Hayley, about to offer up the “if I don’t make it back” speech.
Frag that. He was Killshot. He was going to make it back.
“Here we go,” he said to Quark’s soldier.
Then he bounced out from their position, pushing off with the Gift and approaching the hangar at an inhuman speed. He skipped through the opening, barely touching the ground before bouncing again, arcing high in the air.
He could hear the rounds whipping past him. He could sense it every time one got caught by the naniate shield. He flipped in the air, turning back and seeking out the source of the attack, nearly stumbling in the sky as he made not only a heavy contingent of blacksuits but a pair of mechs as well.
The launch doors on the far side of the space were wide open. He could see the Nephilim dropship waiting beyond. It had found a space to nestle amidst the sharp black crags of the mountains and had unloaded everything it had into the compound. Smoke was rising from the remains
of the Don’s defenses, which seemed way too light given the circumstances.
His head caught up to him as he dropped toward the floor of the hangar, his mind finally piecing together the signs that he had missed before. The Atrium. The bots in Dent. The light resistance they had run into on the top side of the compound. The bombardment that always seemed to be a few meters behind them.
He hit the ground, bullets smacking against the Gift but unable to reach him. He turned, not toward the source of the fire but back to the entrance of the hangar.
Don Pallimo was walking out, leading the others. The end of his cane was missing, removed to reveal a laser cutter which he was holding up to Hayley’s throat. Quark and his soldier were behind him, hands up in submission.
Coxie wasn’t with them.
Fragging traitor son of a bitch.
“Cease fire,” Pallimo shouted. “Cease fire.”
Olus’ whole body shook, his anger overwhelming him. He couldn’t believe he had been duped like this. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t figured it out sooner. He was getting old. Old and slow and stupid.
“Don’t even think about it,” the Don said, looking at him. “Calm yourself, Captain.”
Olus took a step toward the Don. He moved the cutter closer to Hayley’s throat.
“You know you need her alive,” Pallimo said. “Stop moving.”
Olus stopped. What else could he do?
There was motion near the bay doors. A man in a gray uniform flanked by a pair of blacksuits. He walked with an air of importance, head high, expression smug. He barely glanced at Olus as he approached, passing him to stand in front of the Don.
“I held up my end, Honorant Freich,” Pallimo said.
“I’m a man of my word,” Freich replied. “The attacks on your assets will cease immediately.” He looked at Hayley. “And you.” He reached out to touch her face. She turned it away. “The Gloritant will be very pleased with me for retrieving you. Very pleased.” He turned back to Olus. “If you want her to die, by all means, try to resist.”
A squad of blacksuits closed in on him. He didn’t fight back as they bound his hands. Then one of them jabbed a needle into his arm, and he immediately started to feel dizzy.
“What?” he said.
“Poison, Captain,” Freich said. “To control your Gift.”
“How could you, Pallimo?” Olus said. “You sold your soul to the devil.”
“It’s the difference between men like you and men like me, Captain,” Pallimo said. “The soldiers who attacked my crew on the Devastator would be dead by now if Cage hadn’t killed them already. That part was personal. This?” He waved his finger between himself and Freich. “This is business.”
“You said you owed Abbey a favor,” Olus said. “This is how you make good on it?”
“I have the Gloritant’s word that Hayley won’t be harmed. That’s the best I can do. I’m sorry, Captain, but I have my own interests to protect.”
“You aren’t worth the air you’re breathing, you piece of shit,” Olus said.
He was getting lightheaded, his body chilled by whatever they had injected him with. He could feel the Gift fighting against it, working to keep him alive.
“Hayley, I’ll get you out of this. I promise.”
Hayley looked at him. She had tears in her eyes. She was scared. She deserved her fragging innocence, not to be here. Not to be a pawn in this bullshit game.
“Always be prepared, Captain,” Pallimo said. “That’s how you get where I am. Always be prepared.”
Olus’ lips moved as he tried to tell the Don to go frag himself.
He blacked out before he had the chance.
9
“My question is why?” Abbey said.
She stared at the still liquid of the pool in front of her, her eyes crossing over the collection of crystals submerged within. In the center of the pool was a spot for another, larger crystal, but it was empty.
“Why what?” Keeper replied.
“Why try to contact another Shard? Why build this in the first place? Charmeine knew it would bring the Asura, but she did it anyway.”
“To save this universe from the Nephilim, Queenie. I believe that purpose was obvious.”
“Don’t get pissy with me,” Abbey said. “She had already made one of these things on Azure. Why another one here? Or did this one come first?”
“This Transversal was created first. The Archchancellors were using it to try to reach back to Elysium and speak directly to the One. Yes, they knew it would bring the Asura, but they prepared a containment field. They were ready for the creatures. They knew the risk, and if they had succeeded the One might have sent aid. Perhaps even another Shard.”
“If they had succeeded,” Abbey said. “The One didn’t answer.”
“No one answered,” Keeper said.
“You knew they wouldn’t.”
“I did not.”
“Yes, you did. You’re the Keeper of the Covenant.”
“I am the caretaker of this starship.”
“That’s not the Covenant I’m talking about. I don’t understand why you’re playing coy with me? I’ve spoken to another Shard. I’ve been chosen by the Light. I purified the Focus. I know what’s happening here.”
“Do you?” Keeper said. “Perhaps you think you know. And perhaps that is why I’m playing coy, as you put it.”
Abbey laughed. “You’re supposed to be my servant.”
“And your guide. And protector of the Covenant. I am serving you, even if it isn’t in the way you wish to be served.”
“You didn’t warn Charmeine that it wasn’t going to work. You let the Asura gain control of the Shardship.”
“I had no power to stop her, or them. I’m an advanced artificial intelligence, Queenie, but still artificial. A machine. Unlike you, I do not have the freedom to act as I desire. I have rules that I must follow, for my safety and the safety of those I was made to care for.”
“And those rules don’t include protecting the Seraphim from themselves?”
“No. Children must learn to stand or fall on their own.”
“But the One swore to protect the Seraphim as part of the Covenant. You’re contradicting yourself.”
“Why did you want to come down here, Queenie? I told you that the Transversal was inoperable. The Asura consumed all of the Darkstone on the ship. It won’t function without it.”
“Believe me; I don’t want it to function. I’ve had enough of those assholes. I wanted to see the Transversal, but I also brought you down here because I want the truth. The whole truth that you won’t give me in front of the others.”
“Why do you believe I’m withholding information?”
“Aren’t you?”
Keeper didn’t answer.
“Damn it,” Abbey said. “Tell me what you know.”
Keeper looked at her. It was still hesitant.
“What are you afraid of?” Abbey asked.
“The Covenant isn’t what they think, Queenie,” Keeper said. “The Seraphim believe in it. They believe it has power that it doesn’t have.”
“You aren’t talking about this ship.”
“No. The true Covenant. I’m sure you’ve realized it’s more than a contract. More than a promise.”
“The Nephilim Covenant contains instructions on how to build weapons,” Abbey replied. “I know that much. I’ve been under the assumption that the One’s Covenant has something useful in it? Charmeine seemed to think whoever controlled it could change the vector of the war, and even the Shard I spoke with thought it was worth recovering.”
The Keeper was shaking its head as she talked. “No, Queenie,” it said. “The Covenant contains instructions on how to build incredibly complex tools. But as you know, the One prefers to steer away from conflict.”
“Which is at least part of the reason this is happening in the first place,” Abbey said.
“Be that as it may, the designs contained in the Covenant a
ren’t weapons. There was one you may already be familiar with. It was stolen by Lucifer long ago.”
“The Elysium Gate?” Abbey guessed.
“Yes. A means for the Seraphim to return to the place of their creation. It didn’t suit Lucifer’s belief that the Seraphim were slaves when the One had provided the very thing he wanted in the Covenant. A way home.”
“You mean he lied to the Nephilim?”
“Yes. The first of many.”
“Do the others know this? Does Charmeine?”
“Of course. But what good is the truth when there’s no way to prove it? Lucifer took the pages from the Covenant. He erased them from my databanks in secret. The Nephilim believe what they choose to believe, right or wrong.”
“Why didn’t you tell them what he did?”
“All the Seraphim knew of my loyalty to the Shard. It would only have fed into Lucifer’s untruths.”
“Lucifer’s a real bastard, isn’t he?” Abbey said. “Okay. What else is in there?”
“Instructions on how to build the Transversal. The One believed that if the Shards were in communication with one another, then none of them would be isolated. We didn’t know about the Asura when we built the first, many centuries ago. We learned through desperate warnings from distant places. Turn it off. Shut it down. One Shard learned to contain them, and passed the message to the others.”
“But you’re saying the Asura have been drawn to this universe before?”
“They don’t have the technology to build starships. They’re parasites, and would need a host to spread.”
Abbey shook her head. “There are worlds out there with Asura already on them?”
“A few. They are distant from the settled galaxies. It is not a concern.”
“That’s easy for you to say. So, how could the One not know about them ahead of time? Isn’t he a god?”
