A bullet nicked the exo-suit covering Tarsis’ leg just before he clenched his jaw and made his decision. He leapt into the pod, the entrance slamming shut right behind him. A powerful blow dented the metal door, but before a second one could land the ship was shot out into space.
Talon grabbed onto Tarsis and held on as tightly as he could. Through the rear viewport he could see a pair of unsettling red eyes receding into the distance as the pod accelerated, until they were too far to make out. Only then did he feel safe enough to gather his breath and help Tarsis into one of the other seats.
“I didn’t think you were going to come,” Talon exhaled and leaned back, relieved.
Tarsis was staring at the dark mass of the Solar-Ark, which eclipsed a cluster of stars even though they were already miles away. “Neither did I,” he said softly.
“Thank you,” Talon whispered to him.
Images of Elisha flashed through his mind. He wasn’t sure what was happening aboard the Amerigo, but all he could think about in that moment was how life had given him a second chance. He was going to find a way back to her, no matter the cost.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE—CASSIUS VALE
Gravitum
Cassius Vale sat in the command deck of the White Hand and looked out through the viewport. His ship hovered above the Solar-Ark known as Amerigo. A gash in its plated, metal exterior ran like brightly lit scars along the lower side of it, as if some giant creature had dragged its claws along the hull. The rest of the ship, by contrast, appeared only as a deeper blackness within the blackness of space.
The androids had already been dispatched and so all he could do was wait. Too anxious to stay still he got up and headed into corridors of his ship. He strolled through them at a leisurely pace until he reached the medical bay. Sage was lying on a table in the center of the white room. HOLO-screens along the wall were monitoring her as she remained unconscious, her chest slowly expanding and retracting as air flowed into her.
“Captain, the Executor has experienced no setbacks in her recovery,” Gaia announced.
A crimson sheet was draped over her to conceal most of her body, but he could see where her artificial arm latched onto her shoulder. He was careful not to move the blanket and reveal anything as he ran his fingers over the dark-metal of the limb he had created. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her in that position, her fragile life preserved within the confines of his ship. It was where he brought her after the fateful day when Earth murdered his son.
Cassius looked down and ran his hand through Sage’s trimmed, strangely, red hair. She looked so peaceful lying there, as if none of the Executor training had tainted her mind and turned her into a ruthless weapon. She was the only connection to Caleb he had left, beyond the message stored within a tiny, metal sphere. He reached into his pocket, just to make sure it was still there, but as he did he was interrupted by the voices speaking into a com-link in his unaccustomed left ear. Like ADIM’s, it was connected directly to the other six androids so that he could give them orders.
“Creator,” the group of androids aboard the Solar Ark addressed him. “These units have eliminated all resistance. As directed, the captain has been detained with the other survivors in the command deck.”
“I will be there shortly,” Cassius responded a little too loudly, as if he was stirred from a dream. “Gaia.”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Break open one of the Ark’s viewports so that we can dock. No reason to waste this suit after I took the time to put it on.” He walked over to a counter, picked up the oblong helmet and placed it over his head. Then he headed down the adjacent corridor, having to use the walls for support as the White Hand banked hard to the right.
When he reached the cargo bay, a sudden jolt almost knocked him off of his feet. It was followed by the muted sound of two explosions in quick succession.
“The Ark has been sufficiently breached, captain. Shall I deploy the bridge?” Gaia asked.
“Go ahead.”
“Please step back from the cargo bay.”
Cassius obliged, and once he was free of the space the entrance slammed shut to seal him out. He could hear a loud, whining sound on the other side as the pressure changed.
“Process complete,” Gaia announced, the cargo bay door re-opening simultaneously. The area of the exit ramp had extended a latticed structure out through the void that bridged the gap between the White Hand and the Solar Ark. After a few steps, his feet were lifted off the ground by zero gravity, forcing him to slowly pull himself across the link until the artificial gravity floors of the Solar Ark pulled him back down.
One of the androids was there to greet him, almost invisible inside the dark hall but for his glowing red eyes. “Creator,” it stated. “Two Keepers were able to reach an escape pod. Shall this unit pursue them?”
“No,” Cassius responded. “You have your orders. They are no threat to us now.”
“This unit will lead you to the command deck.”
Cassius nodded. He followed the android down the shadowy, silent corridors of the Solar Ark Amerigo. Blood began to lap at the soles of his boots, leaking out of the countless dead bodies in his path. He paused for a moment to look at them, and the ghastly, lifeless eyes gazed back at him from almost every direction. He welcomed their frozen judgment. Each diseased body was a member of the foundation for the future he could begin to taste on the tip of his tongue.
“This way, Creator.”
The android led him up an airy staircase with a mound of twisted limbs piled up along the base. At the top there was a massive door, the center of which had visibly been pried open. Cassius ducked through the low opening and into the Amerigo’s command deck.
It was a tall space ripe with HOLO-screens, exposed metal structures, and technology both old and new that served to keep the ship running smoothly. Through a semi-circular translucency at the far end, the glistening, golden solar sail was visible. It was lightly damaged, but remained impressive. It was a technology honed by the Ancients, and one he was eager to study firsthand if he ever got the chance.
“Who are you?” A defiant voice addressed him.
Cassius had hardly even noticed any other presence as he continued marveling at the sail. He looked down to see the captain of the Ark bound and kneeling. He appeared healthy, but the dozen similarly captive Keepers arrayed on either side of him had webs of unnaturally blue veins spreading across their temples. The mark of the Blue Death ready to claim it’s pray.
Poor bastards, Cassius thought as he let his eyes wander down the paths of their infected veins. It would be a service to end their suffering.
Standing in front of them with weapons drawn were the other six of Cassius’ newest creations, silent and still as red-eyed specters. The imposing sight of them had all of the Keepers, captain included, trying to hide the fact that they were trembling in fear.
“I could ask the same of you?” Cassius replied courteously. “The people of the Circuit rarely get a chance to thank those who help keep it running.” He positioned himself in front of the Keepers and bowed his head. “I thank you all.”
“This is how you thank us?” the captain groused as he gestured to the many dead bodies strewn throughout the room. “Do you command these monsters?”
“I do indeed…Stunning aren’t they?”
“Wait a minute,” one of the older Keepers spoke up suddenly. He was bearded, grimy looking and undoubtedly Ceresian. “I recognize you. You’re Cassius Vale aren’t you?”
Cassius bowed his head. “I am,” he said.
“I knew it.” The man’s face flushed with anger. “I was one of the few survivors at Lutetia after you slaughtered our entire colony!” He shuffled forward angrily on his knees, but was swiftly kicked onto his back by one of the androids. “Seems you haven’t changed a bit!” He spat in Cassius’ direction.
The captain placed a consoling hand on the rowdy Keeper’s shoulder to calm him, and then gazed back up at Cassius with
daggers in his eyes. “Since these ships were built by the Ancients more than five hundred years ago nobody has been so bold as to claim one for themselves. You’re a fool, Cassius Vale, to think you’ll get away with this!”
“The Tribune buys your loyalty with labor and promises of peace. Do not look me in the eyes and claim neutrality,” Cassius countered calmly. Much of his energy had been expended in his confrontation with Nora so he had no desire to argue. “It is no matter. This ship belongs to me now.”
The captain sneered. “Yet only we know how to run it.”
Cassius turned around patted the chest of one of his androids. “That is why you will help teach my creations how.”
“Teach them?” The captain glared at Cassius as though he had just heard a joke he didn’t quite understand. “You think we’d help a man who thinks he can own the Circuit? ‘We will serve here, and we will die here.’”
“I suspected as much, but I grow tired of words. I only need one of you.” He made eye contact with an android. “Disable any tracking systems that may be built into the Ark, then do whatever is necessary to get one of the Keepers to talk. If the extent of their valor lives up to reputation then tear these old computers apart until you find what you need to get this ship moving.”
“Yes, Creator,” the androids responded in unison. They slowly began to approach the terrified Keepers.
“I’ll be looking over the cargo.” Cassius said as he headed out of the command deck.
“Ancients damn you, Vale!” The captain shouted after him.
Cassius didn’t bother looking back. He never expected praise for doing what he knew had to be done—not until the end. War had made him the veteran of countless battles, but he knew there would be none harder than opening the eyes of an entire species. Voices cursing his name echoed as he made his way down the stairs. By the time he reached the bottom the shouting was drowned out by hair-raising screams.
He ignored them as he tried to decide which way the storage lift was. It was his first time with the occupied portion of a Solar-Ark so he only had the vaguest clue. He decided to follow the path littered with the most bodies, and as expected it led him to the comforting silence of cryo-chamber hall. The glass chambers lining the walls were all dim and empty, most of them still sparking from the firefight which had clearly taken place. Bullet holes littered the metal floor, most of them filled to the brim by freshly drawn blood. The pungent smell of death lingered on the stale air, but he was far too used to it to be affected.
Cassius traversed the dark hall and then a network of spacious corridors until he found a circular lift set into the floor. He stepped onto it and pressed a button built into the rail. It began to sink down through the floor, plunging into a vast, open space below.
Colossal mechanical arms and claws extended from the walls and ceiling, each of them holding massive storage containers and crates. Some were big enough to hold the entire White Hand. All of the room’s machinery was still, but one type of container stood out through the dim light. They were all around him, piled high, dwarfing him as he spread his arms out wide. The glow of a blue element shone through the ventilation slits cut into their side—Gravitum. More than he had ever seen in a single place. Enough to get started on half-a-dozen more bombs.
After so long he almost couldn’t believe that the plan he’d put together after leaving the Tribune behind was coming to fruition. The power to control the fate of the Circuit was right within his reach.
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The Circuit, Book 1 Page 28
