“I promise you I wasn’t. If you hadn’t stopped him she would have died.”
“She’s dead anyway!”
“I don’t remember pulling that trigger though,” said Argos, laughing out loud.
“You find that funny? As soon as Chase finds you, I can only imagine what he will do to you. We’ll see who gets the last laugh.”
“Perhaps. Let’s all go back to Earth and ask him.”
“What makes you think he’s on Earth? I can tell you he isn’t.”
“He will be. Whether he’s there when we arrive, or whether there’s much of it left when he comes back, is another story.”
“What? What is that supposed to mean?”
“I sent my strongest armada towards Earth. It should be there any minute now. Without Chase to protect it this time around, I’d love to see what your pathetic Earth Alliance will do.”
“You know full well our ships are now more powerful than yours.”
“Perhaps. Still, I have the greater numbers.”
“Ryonna, let’s go. This pathetic excuse for a Fury is too scared to kill us, so let’s get out of here and back to Earth.”
She nodded in agreement, but clearly uneasy about the whole situation.
“Easy there. Don’t misunderstand me. You either take me back to Earth with you or this building will become your grave.”
“And that’s what you call surrendering?”
“Semantics, Daniel. Make your choice, but may I suggest you make the right one, as well as making it fast.”
“Daniel, this is a trap. We can’t take him to Earth! That’s what he wants.”
“I think we have to. Chase will take care of him, I’m sure of it. And this time I will not only let him kill Argos, I’ll even encourage him.”
Argos smiled defiantly. “You two do realize that nothing stops me from going to Earth on my own?”
“Then why this stand-off?”
“Honestly, I was hoping my dear brother would be here with you, but since he isn’t that means he must be on his way back to Earth as we speak. So let’s not delay that nice family reunion and let’s go now.” Argos gestured toward the exit with his head. “Shall we?”
Daniel and Ryonna looked at each other, and then at Argos, already stepping out of the giant office. They followed him. With each corridor they passed, they saw more dead bodies and blood spattered over the otherwise pristine and high-tech building.
They arrived at the docking bay where they had left their shuttle. Argos stopped.
“Why are you stopping?” inquired Ryonna.
“To let you recover your weapons.”
With the situation so unreal, she had forgotten about that. She didn’t like this one bit. Argos had something up his sleeve. But she also knew very well that a direct confrontation here would only mean their deaths. One thing was clear, once on board the Iron Fire, they’d need to find a way to get rid of him. She cringed at the thought, though.
“Plot all you want, Ryonna, but please, let’s get going now.”
She realized he could read thoughts. That would make it almost impossible to get the jump on him. She holstered her blaster and other weaponry.
“Nice blade by the way,” said Argos.
She grunted.
“Perhaps one day you’ll have the opportunity to use it against me, but not today.”
“Don’t tempt me! I’d like nothing more than to slice you up.”
“I know,” said Argos with a smile.
He then levitated Daniel’s side arm and it flew into Daniel’s holster.
“Can we please go now?”
Daniel and Ryonna walked towards the shuttle. Sensing their arrival, the side door slid up and a ramp slid down. They all went on board and Daniel took the helm and fired the engines. They rose from the landing platform and vectored towards the Iron Fire in orbit around the planet.
Soon Tar’Lock opened a channel.
“Everything alright?”
That’s when Daniel had an idea.
“Tar’Lock, destroy the shuttle!”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“Argos is on board. Shoot us down, now!”
Argos lifted two fingers and said, “Sleep!” Both Daniel and Ryonna lost consciousness. He then used telekinesis to lift Daniel’s body from the pilot’s chair and lower it gently nearby.
“Guys! What’s going on? Please respond!” said Tar’Lock impatiently.
Argos sat in the pilot’s chair, looked over the controls and activated a video stream.
“Oh shit!” said Tar’Lock, seeing his face.
“Nice to see you too. Tar’Lock is it?”
“If you hurt my friends I’ll destroy your ship right now!”
“I haven’t hurt them. They’re here. They’re just sleeping at the moment, but unless you want them dead, I suggest you don’t try to shoot the shuttle down. It would only kill them, I can assure you.”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing. Let us board the ship; then we’ll be on our way to Earth.”
Tar’Lock hesitated, but ultimately he wasn’t ready to kill Ryonna or Daniel. No way would he make that decision.
“You’re clear to land,” said Tar’Lock reluctantly.
“Well thank you.”
Argos then proceeded towards the landing bay of the Iron Fire and woke his slumbering crew.
When Daniel came around he looked at the open doors of the shuttle, parked in the Iron Fire’s landing bay. Argos patiently waited outside with his arms crossed against his chest.
“Shit, we’re still alive,” he muttered, while shaking his head, trying to wake up more.
“Yes we are,” added Ryonna. “Perhaps we can sabotage the ship on our way back. Blow him up?”
“We can try, but we both know he knows everything we think. I don’t think he will let us.”
“We have to try and kill him somehow, even if we must sacrifice ourselves doing so.”
“I hear you, Ryonna, but . . .” Daniel looked towards Argos. “I don’t think we have the slightest chance.”
“Are you coming?” screamed Argos from outside the ship.
They followed him to the bridge. The second the doors slid open and Argos stepped out, a flurry of blaster fire ricocheted off his face.
Tar’Lock kept firing but the next waves of blaster fire disintegrated before reaching their target and the weapon was snatched from Tar’Lock’s grasp and thrown to the other side of the bridge, where it exploded upon landing.
“AINI, self destru—” But Tar’Lock couldn’t finish his sentence. An invisible force was crushing his windpipe. He struggled and couldn’t breathe, and soon collapsed to the floor.
“Please stop,” pleaded Ryonna. As much as she hated to admit it she had strong feelings for the little guy.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t kill him; but we can’t have the ship self-destruct now, can we? Let me explain something. I understand your feeble minds want nothing but to kill me, and perhaps one day you’ll get your chance, but today I’m in control. I run this show and we’re going to Earth. It’s a very long jump, so I’d like to short circuit your next attempt at blowing this ship, or any other dumb ideas your tiny brains will muster in an attempt to stop me. Even if you did manage to blow this ship, understand it wouldn’t kill me. My own ship is cloaked and tracking me in real time. Just as Chase did when I summoned him aboard the Damocles Station, I’m perfectly able to erect a force field to survive in space. You, however, will instantly die if this ship explodes. So let’s put your misguided hopes of heroism to rest right this moment, and let’s just try to enjoy this trip, okay?”
“Nice speech,” said Daniel, clearly annoyed but agreeing with everything Argos said.
Argos smiled. “See, that’s all I want, for us to get along for the day or so it will take to reach Earth; then you can get back to hating me and trying to kill me all you want.”
Ryonna slowly removed her blade from her back without making a
sound, her mind as blank as she could manage, and slashed at Argos from behind. Before the blade could slice through Argos’ neck it shattered in midair.
Argos turned around. “Have you been listening to anything I’ve just said?” He exhaled deeply in frustration.
But Ryonna wasn’t interested in listening. She reached for her blaster but before she could fire it was snatched from her hands.
“Droxians! Proud but stupid people.”
Argos lifted a finger and pointed it towards Ryonna’s left arm. Soon an intense pain brought her to her knees. Daniel was terrified as he saw the muscles in her arm atrophy and heard her bones crushed inside her arm as if they were brittle. She screeched in pain.
“Please stop,” Daniel pleaded.
Argos stopped. Ryonna fainted from the pain and hit the ground headfirst.
“Only because you asked nicely. Perhaps you should tend to her injuries,” said Argos, looking towards Tar’Lock who was regaining consciousness. “That way we won’t have to suffer each other’s company any more than we need.”
8
On board the EAD Destiny, Commodore Saroudis hailed an incoming ship of unknown origin. The craft was small but traveled at faster sub-light speed than anything the commodore had ever encountered.
“Unknown craft, this is Commodore Saroudis of the Earth Alliance Destroyer Destiny. Please identify yourself and your intentions. You’re entering restricted space.”
A woman with beautiful, flame-colored hair and stunning, deep-blue eyes appeared on the holo-screen.
“My name is Aphroditis.”
That sent a shiver down Saroudis’ spine.
“As in the Olympian goddess of love?”
She hesitated, but finally nodded.
“I’m truly sorry to say this, but how can you prove it?”
“I’ve been in contact with one of your crew, Chase Athanatos. I was the one who urged him to come and save Earth from the Zarlacks.”
“It is you,” said Saroudis, still not believing his eyes. “You’re the last person I expected to pick up this call.”
“I can imagine. I need your help.”
Saroudis’ expression changed.
“Our help? I find that difficult to believe.”
“Commodore, we may be powerful beings with a better understanding of the universe and an advanced technological edge, but we are beings of flesh and blood nonetheless.”
Saroudis recalled a past conversation with Chase in which he had explained to him the same thing: that they weren’t gods per se, just more advanced beings.
“What can we do for you?”
“I’m being hunted by a vicious individual called Argos Thanatos.”
“Chase’s brother?”
“His twin brother, yes. He just killed . . .” She stopped, and a tear ran down her face.
Fear and dread filled Saroudis’ heart. “Chase?” he said, his voice trembling.
“No, he killed my half-brother, Ares.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.”
“Thank you, Commodore. Ares sacrificed himself so I could escape, but I’m sure Argos will follow me. For the time being I have nowhere else to run to.” She lowered her eyes in shame.
“You came to the right place. We’ll gladly give you sanctuary here on Earth, for as long as you need it.”
“Just until I reunite with Chase. My staying here could put this planet in Argos’ crosshairs.”
“We’re already in his crosshairs, but we’re better equipped to fight his armadas now. You’ll be safe here.”
She paused and looked at Saroudis for a long time, as if deciding whether or not to believe him. “I . . . I hope you’re right.”
“Upon arrival in Earth’s orbit, you can come aboard my ship. It would be a pleasure to receive such an honored guest.”
“You’re very kind, Commodore. I should arrive in less than ten minutes.”
“You can land your ship in our landing bays. I’ll be there to meet you.”
“Thank you, Commodore.”
He nodded and the communication ended.
That was unexpected. Saroudis never thought he would one day meet an Olympian face to face. Until now he thought they were only interested in talking in visions, and to Chase only. Chase’s having left the Earth Alliance—a fact that saddened Saroudis more than he would ever admit—was probably why Aphroditis had decided to contact them directly. No doubt the impending threat from Argos was her reason for being here in the first place.
Saroudis tried to wrap his mind around the fact that Argos had killed an Olympian. He knew the Furies were powerful, but an Olympian? He didn’t even know they could be killed until now.
As much as he hated having to place the next call, he knew he had to. Or did he? Admiral Thassos had voiced her concerns and doubts regarding the Olympians before, and now that one was knocking at their door he wondered how he could spin this to her gently.
For a moment he considered whether it was necessary to inform her in the first place. She had given him jurisdiction over Earth’s defenses and her ship was currently in Droxian space.
It can wait until after my meeting with Aphroditis, he decided.
He rose from his chair, and gave Sergeant Major Boltris the bridge.
When he arrived in the landing bay, Aphroditis’ ship had just passed the force field separating cold, black space from the artificial atmosphere onboard the Destiny.
Her ship was magnificent, lean and shaped like an organic bullet, with wings that reminded Saroudis of shark fins. It had a chrome finish, and the way the light reflected from it was simply mesmerizing. A godly looking ship for a goddess, thought Saroudis.
She appeared when a part of the ship, a door perhaps, vanished into thin air. There didn’t seem to be any mechanical parts involved. It was as if the part in front of which she now stood simply didn’t exist anymore. A ray of light radiated from her position towards the landing bay’s floor. It created a translucent light bridge. Such an elegant design for a ramp. Aphroditis stepped on it and was soon approaching him.
Commodore Saroudis was nervous, and his heart pounded, but the more steps she took in his direction, the less nervous he felt, as if she was emitting a calming aura. In fact, Saroudis felt more serene now than he had in years. She stopped in front of him, smiled and presented her hand.
“Thank you for having me on board the Destiny, Commodore Saroudis.”
He took her hand and kissed it.
“It’s my pleasure . . . Your . . . I’m sorry, how should I address you?”
She beamed a smile at him. His heart skipped a beat in admiration.
“Aphroditis is fine, Commodore.”
“My pleasure, Aphroditis,” he said, in a tone suggesting he was not yet completely comfortable.
She looked around. “Ah, the Destiny, the ship Chase was aboard when I first contacted him.”
“That’s right. She has been to hell and back, but she’s one tough ship. I’m very proud of her.”
“You should be, and of yourselves, all of you,” she said, extending her voice to everyone around.
A grease monkey passing by opened his mouth when he caught her gaze, dropping whatever tools he had in his hands.
She returned her gaze to the commodore. “You did a fine job protecting this world. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“I . . . Well, we couldn’t have done it without you and Chase. I mean, if you hadn’t convinced him when you did, I would not have attempted such a dire rescue.”
“I know. That’s what’s so curious about this universe. Sometimes it’s the little things, the actions of so few people at a particular point in time, that can make the difference between light and darkness.”
“Chase said something along those lines too, in fact. That all would be lost if we didn’t come here and repel the Zarlacks. You’ll have to tell me more about that. I’m really curious to understand how you know these things.”
; “Perhaps. It’s not something I usually talk about. My abilities, I mean.”
“I didn’t mean to intrude. Please forgive me.”
She smiled with a level of innocence and compassion Saroudis had never experienced.
“You don’t have to, really. I’m . . . I’m really sorry, but it’s been a long trip and I left in a hurry.”
“Absolutely. Would you like me to show you to your quarters so you can rest?”
“That would be lovely, but if I could eat something as well, that would be great.”
“We can definitely arrange that. Let me show you your quarters, and then if you want we can have dinner. Unless you’d rather dine alone?”
“No, I would really enjoy some company. Thank you, Commodore.”
“Please, call me Adonis.”
“Very well. Thank you, Adonis.”
“Is the food to your liking, Aphroditis?”
She took one more bite.
“It’s unusual but quite tasty, thank you.”
“It’s Earth’s food. They have amazing dishes, millions of them.”
“This isn’t flesh though, is it? I . . . I’m starving but I would hate to think I’m eating something that once lived.”
“No, it’s a replica, so it’s pretty much how flesh would taste, but this was never living.”
“Alright. You’ll find me silly, but that still disturbs me a little.”
“I know how you feel, and to tell you the truth I’ve tasted real flesh. I thought before I passed judgment I should at least know about it.”
She grimaced. “And?”
“Well, it was delicious too; probably slightly better than the replicated stuff; but we’ve asked the humans to reduce their consumption of meat for the greater good of the planet.”
“Besides the obvious objections to eating once-living beings, what was the problem exactly?”
“The way they were raised and treated. In some cases it was humane but most of the time it was . . .” He paused. “Barbaric at worst, cruel at best.”
“I see,” said Aphroditis with clear sadness.
“But wouldn’t you already know all that?”
“We are not all knowing. When we decided to let Earth take its own path, so long ago, we didn’t really look back. In fact, it wasn’t until I started having strong visions of this planet’s destruction that I decided to intervene.”
Universe in Flames – Ultimate 10 Book Box Set: An Epic Space Opera Adventure Page 98
