by A. R. Knight
Looks like this is it. I get to my feet, brace against the wall to stand, the metal bar in my left hand. T’Oli gets to me and, without a word, slithers up and brings a sword to my right.
“We’re not giving up!” I muster a broken shout. “You will not win!”
“No,” Ferrolite responds, synthed voice tight with pain. “But neither will you.”
The mirror Oratus echoes its master’s words with a deep hiss. I’m ready to accept the end, and give one last look of what I hope is determination to those green lights. Let them see what I’m dying for, what I’m fighting for. We will fall, but we will fall free.
Ferrolite bids its lackey to attack first, and the Oratus is happy to oblige. It reads my new weapon though, and takes a cautious approach. Its talons step near one at a time while I circle towards the center. Try to give myself enough space. Ferrolite could shoot me, but it seems content to watch as its Oratus rends me to pieces. Or maybe the collisions with the wall damaged its miners. Either way, it’s me against a giant lizard.
“C’mon.” I spit at the beast. “I’ve faced worse.”
“Don’t think that’s true,” T’Oli patters quietly.
I’m as surprised as anyone when I laugh at the words. One last joke from the Ooblot. And as I wipe away a sudden set of tears, the Oratus makes its move.
Its tail comes first, snaking around my right and driving me back a step, and while I’m retreating, the Oratus cuts its strike short and jumps at me. I try to stop, try to reset my feet to stab forward, but I’m off-balance and the swing comes to slow. The Oratus clubs me with its fore- and midclaws, sending me flying back to the ground in front of the lifts. Before I can move, the Oratus jumps again, this time landing with its talons near my legs, their claws putting pressure into my ankles.
I’m trapped. I’m dead.
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Also by A.R. Knight
The Mercenaries Trilogy
The Metal Man
Wild Nines
Dark Ice
One Shot
The Riven Trilogy
Riven
The Cycle
Spirit’s End
The Rakers Saga
Rakers
The Skyward Saga
The Spear
Oratus
Starshot
Mind’s Eye
Clarity’s Dawn
Creator’s End
Humanity Rising
The Last Cycle
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Acknowledgments
This novel is the product of my family and friends refusing to let a dream die. My wife Nicole, for letting me write in the early mornings and making sure I didn’t starve. My brothers and parents for their continual comments, support, and enthusiasm.
And, of course, you, the reader, for giving me a reason to write.
About the Author
A.R. Knight spins stories in a frosty house in Madison, WI, primarily owned by a pair of cats. After getting sucked into the working grind in the economic crash of the 2008, he found himself spending boring meetings soaring through space and going on grand adventures.
Eventually, spending time with podcasting, screenplays, short stories and other novels, he found a story he could fall into and a cast of characters both entertaining and full of heart.
A.R. Knight plans on jumping through to other worlds and finding new stories to tell in the limitless borders of our imagination.
Thanks, as always, for reading!
For more information:
www.adamrknight.com
