The explosions would have been deafening if my ears weren’t already ringing from the weapon fire coming from the roof.
Our number had been halved from the beginning of the fight. Half the guards were blown backward or knocked unconscious by the energy blasts. More proof that Nemesis didn’t want us dead either.
The energy blasts felt like I was being hit by sledgehammer but weren’t lethal. Nor were they constructed of any kind of plasma that would eat through armor and flesh.
Cassie stood beside me with both forearms pointed forward. From the tops of her forearms, shallow cylinder like barrels opened. She let loose with a barrage of her own fire.
Explosive rounds, energy blasts, and all the weapon fire from the others struck Nemesis’ shield, forcing him up and away from us.
Our plan was working. Like music to my ears, the turrets lit up, finally finding him again over the top of the roof. All around the perimeter of Dragon Hold, defensive turrets were set into the ground. When a threat was detected, their housing structure would open up, lifting the weapon to take aim.
Every turret around Dragon Hold had Nemesis in their sights now. I wasn’t sure how long Nemesis could hold this barrier, but I had to imagine whatever fueled him had to be running low or weak at the very least.
Nemesis swayed there for a moment taking fire from all directions. Instead of leaving, he tried one last desperate attempt at X.
“Daniel!” X warned as Nemesis rushed me.
Time slowed as I witnessed the so-called man from the future dart for me. I rolled to my right as he came in, reaching out with his left hand for the data chip where X was housed in behind my right ear.
I chose correctly with the direction I rolled in.
Somehow the protective barrier around Nemesis allowed me inside. For the briefest of seconds as he passed, I was within his cocoon of protection. Goosebumps danced across my skin. My hair stood up on end.
Nemesis’ left hand tried to reach around my head to the spot behind my right ear.
I jerked my head further to the right, continuing on with my roll.
Nemesis passed by with a look of part anger, part frustration, and part remorse as he passed. His hand scraped against the front of my face. Just like that, he was gone. I was through his force field. He shot up into the night sky.
I would have been happier in that moment had my roll not taken me off the side of the roof. I overcompensated on the small space, thinking I would come to a halt before I hit the ledge. I was wrong.
The last thing I remembered was sliding down the roof. The sandy ground of the terrain around Dragon Hold welcomed me with unforgiving arms.
I struck the ground hard enough to give me a concussion. I knew that much when I stood up. I was knocked out in a dreamlike state. I was still inside the grounds of Dragon Hold but everything was blurry. The mansion behind me waved as if it were a mirage in the middle of the desert.
Everything was still, silent in an eerie way. I was reminded of a calm before a storm. That feeling touched the back of my neck and raced down my spine.
Ahead of me, waving in and out like the mansion was the back of a woman in a tight fitting synth suit. X.
I walked over to her. My boots crunched on the sand beneath me. She stood there just staring off into the darkness that surrounded the mansion we called home.
I stood next to her, not looking at her but ahead with her. We both stared into the darkness. I could sense the heaviness that weighed on her shoulders. The same feeling of dread pressed down on me, but I knew it was worse for her. She had been the one accused of killing humanity.
“He’s not lying,” X said finally. “I can’t believe I would ever do any of that, but I listened to his heartbeat, his voice inflection, and facial readout. All say he was telling the truth about all of it or he’s a world class liar.”
“He’s telling the truth or what he believes the truth to be,” I said, resting my hands on my hips. “There’s more to it. There has to be.”
“I can’t imagine any scenario where I’d turn against humanity and try to wipe all of them out,” X said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I’ve run though a million various options and I still can’t come up with an answer. I’m a logical being founded on data and fact, not emotion. I am trying to see things through the eyes of Nemesis, but I can’t figure it out.”
“That should be a good thing, though, right?” I asked. “I mean, you’re the smartest being I know. If you can’t figure out any reason why you would destroy humanity, then there can’t be one, right?”
“I want to agree with you,” X said, turning for the first time to look at me. “I really do, but if everything he’s saying is a lie, then why do I feel this sense of terror bearing down on me like an invisible hand?”
I looked at X, shaking my head.
“I wish I had an answer for you,” I told her. “I really do. But I’m not going to put my faith in some lookalike who claims he’s from the future. I’m going to put my faith in you. I know you. I know you would never do anything like that. We’re going to figure this out. Whatever that means. Whatever it looks like. We’ll figure this out together.”
X swallowed hard then hung her head. Her shoulder-length hair fell in front of her face. I couldn’t tell if she was crying or not, but she just stood there.
There was more. She wasn’t done talking yet. I realized now she hung her head in shame not sorrow.
“What is it?” I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You can tell me. What is it, X?”
Her shoulder quivered. She took in a deep breath then looked up at me. There were tears in her eyes.
“I can’t imagine I would do anything to hurt humanity, but what if I wasn’t in control?” X asked as fear filled her eyes, swimming in her tears. “I was created by Immortal Corp. They must have access to me somehow, some way. If there’s a physical mainframe where I was created, then maybe they have a backdoor to get to me, to make me do things that I would never do on my own. What if that’s what happens to me in the future?”
“Immortal Corp is gone,” I said, shaking my head. “They were destroyed by the GG. You’re safe. You’re going to be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
“I hope you’re right.” X let tears spill down her cheeks. “Because if Nemesis is correct, then I killed his wife and son. I killed Cassie. I killed you, Daniel.”
Tears stung my eyes as I witnessed how much X cared. Even the thought she could be responsible for something like this tore her apart inside.
I reached out to her and brought her in for a hug.
X wasn’t exactly the emotional or crying type. It was strange to see her in such a vulnerable state. Maybe that was why pulling her in for a hug felt so natural.
“Don’t tell anyone I gave you a hug when I wake up,” I said to her. “I have a reputation to keep.”
X chuckled. “The mercenary with a heart of gold and the AI who might destroy the human race. We make quite a pair.”
Three
I woke up in my own bed in the chamber at Dragon Hold. I had been unconscious for the remainder of the night, it would seem. Sunlight streamed in through my windows. I winced at the brightness hitting my pupils before they were properly adjusted.
The events of the previous night struck me like a sledge hammer to the gut. Nemesis, what he said about Cassie and me, and of course, X.
I winced, rubbing my head. It felt like my brain was being torn in a dozen different directions at once.
You and Cassie? I thought to myself. You and Cassie, what? Get married? Have kids? Could that be real?
I knew the answer in my heart. The night we spent together on the roof was one I’d never forget and always hold close. If things continued to go well between us, I could see us having a future. That idea lone was enough to scare me more than a horde of Voy.
“X, you there?” I asked quietly.
“Always,” she answered just as soft.
“You still with me?” I asked. �
�Keeping that chin up?”
“I am,” X said, steeling her voice. “We’ll figure this out together.”
“That’s my X,” I said, swinging my legs out of bed and heading for the restroom. Whoever had taken me inside had cleaned my wounds and stripped me down to a pair of boxer briefs. I looked at my body, seeing what I already knew to be true. Not a single scratch. Thanks to my improved healing ability, I was as good as new from the fall.
I took the opportunity to study the tattoos across my torso and upper body. With various wounds inflicted and skin growing back what once was a tapestry of ink now carried empty sections that reminded me of recent injuries.
I made it halfway to the bathroom when something banged against my bedroom door hard. I stopped in my tracks. That was defiantly a strike and not some kind of knock.
The sound came again, this time so hard, I could see the heavy wooden door to my chamber rattle.
What the heck is going on now? I thought as I studied my room for a weapon.
The idea of a fight at my doorstep deteriorated as the sounds of whining and scratching at the door came next.
“Butch, is that you?” I asked, crossing the room.
Whines and more scratches followed. The door shook violently again, I thought it was a few seconds away from breaking. I reached the door just in time to open it and be enveloped by a mass of greyish fur.
Butch hit me so hard, I fell backward under an onslaught of sniffs and licks.
“Easy.” I couldn’t help but laugh, even in this desperate hour. “Easy, easy, girl. I’m all right.”
Butch’s wet snout tickled my bare skin as she searched to make sure I was okay.
Mary Cripps and her family had resurrected the formally extinct giant breed of wolves. On all fours, Butch stood with her head at my chest. On her two back feet, she was taller than I was.
To most, she’d seem like some intimidating beast out of fiction, but to me, she was just a furry puppy that shed everywhere she went.
“What the heck is going on in here?” Cryx walked in with wide eyes as she saw me on the ground still in my underwear wrestling with Butch. “Why in the Lord of the Way’s name don’t you have clothes on!?”
“Better question is why don’t you knock?” I asked with a good natured grin as I rose to my feet. I reached into a dresser drawer for cargo pants and a black shirt.
“Your door was open.” Cryx gave me that lifted eyebrow look she was so good at. “Anyway, I need you to sign something for me.”
I looked over at the teenager. When I first met her she was a drug addict high on stem, now she was a part of Dragon Hold. I’d always do my best to keep her out of harm’s way but there was no denying she was making herself valuable to the team, and if she did leave, I’d miss her.
Cryx handed me a flat square data pad.
“What’s this for?” I asked, scanning the document. “Some kind of waiver?”
“Something like that,” Cryx answered. “It’s just a document telling my parents that I’m working on an internship with a goodwill company bringing life back to Earth.”
I kept my head down toward the data pad but lifted my eyes at her.
“Oh come on.” Cryx threw her hands up in the air. “It’s close enough. I’ll keep up with regular school work online when I’m not training with Preacher and the new Pack.”
“New Pack?” I asked. “How long was I out? What happened to Nemesis after I fell off the roof?”
“You mean your freaking son from the future!” Cryx said, shaking her head in disbelief. She went over to my bed and flopped down. “He took off after you fell from the roof but, man, that must be a head trip. I mean, you were on your very first date then this time traveler comes in and tells you Cassie is going to be your baby’s momma in the future? That’s enough to send anyone to the loony bin.”
“How do you know all of that?” I asked, somewhat amused, somewhat dismayed. “Does everyone know?”
“Word travels quick,” Cryx answered. “You were only out for the night, but that was enough time for everyone to know. I mean, all the turrets were going off last night. Everyone in Dragon Hold was woken with the noise. Sooooo—”
I could tell with the mischievous glint in her eyes where she wanted to take the conversation. “Don’t ask.”
“You and Cassie, huh?” Cryx nodded with approval. “She’s good for you. If she ever hurts you, I’ll kill her, but I don’t think she will.”
The idea of the teenager going up against the Cyber Hunter was laughable, but Cryx’s heart was in the right place.
“Thanks,” I said, signing the document with my finger.
“Yes, thank you!” Cryx sprang from the bed, reaching for the data pad.
I held it just out of her reach.
“Not yet.” I looked at her seriously. “I need you to promise me that no matter what, you do what I, Preacher, or whoever is with you at the time says. Earth is a dangerous place with Aleron forming the Grimm Reapers, Nemesis flying around, and not to mention, all the mutated animals here.”
“I will, I will.” Cryx broke out into a huge smile. “I promise.”
“No matter what,” I repeated.
“No matter what,” Cryx said, beaming.
“Okay,” I relented, handing her back the data pad. There was so much going on, I had almost forgotten to ask about the Pack Cryx mentioned. “Did you say Preacher was bringing back the Pack Protocol?”
“Kind of he’s just calling it the Pack,” Cryx said standing up as straight as she could. “I’m in it too. He’s been teaching me how to use a sword. I don’t want to brag but—well, yeah, actually, I do want to brag. I’m pretty good.”
“Are you?” I asked, trying to figure out how I felt about Cryx training to fight. Training was one thing; what she was training for was something entirely different. Taking life was something I had become numb too. I wasn’t sure if I wanted that for Cryx.
“Anyway, you should put some shoes and socks on and come down to see us train. You might learn a thing or two.”
“Riiiiiiight,” I answered. “I am going to put on my shoes and socks but not because you told me.”
“Riiiiiight,” Cryx said, going over to scratch Butch on either side of her jaw. The wolf was so large, Cryx hardly had to reach down at all. “Good girl, good Lady Butch.”
“So who’s in this new Pack?” I asked. “Preacher, you, and…?”
“You and Cassie and Butch,” Cryx answered. “Preacher’s scouting out other members, but we’re it for now. Say, what do you think of, you know, maybe approving a program to recreate some of that super soldier serum you were injected with. I could use some cool new ability…”
Cryx caught the deadpan stare I wore on my face.
“Or not.” Cryx shrugged. “Jeesh, I just thought I’d try.”
I finished lacing my boots and stood up. There were a dozen things to do at the moment, but at the top was talking to Cassie. As awkward as the discussion might go now with the appearance of Nemesis, I had to see how she felt about the whole thing.
My stomach grumbled in protest, reminding me that I had yet to eat that morning.
Butch caught the sound and cocked her head to the side, looking at my stomach as if she thought some kind of goblin monster would burst from my gut.
“We can stop by the kitchen on our way out,” Cryx said, waving me forward. “Training is about to begin and Preacher and Bapz have something cool to show you.”
Four
The training area Preacher set up outside was nothing more than a bag of training equipment and sparing tools outside the back door of Dragon Hold. In front of us, the man-made forest where Butch’s kind lived greeted us, and to the left, the sandy cemetery ground where the Cripps family and now Echo rested.
Preacher and Bapz were already there talking about something they clearly didn’t want me to hear. As soon as they heard us exit the rear of the mansion, they both quieted and turned to look in our direction.
> I had a breakfast sandwich in one hand and cup of high octane caf in the other. I studied the bag of training gear Preacher brought with him. Inside were gloves, towels, water, and sparring sticks used for sword training.
It wasn’t a stretch of the imagination that Preacher would train Cryx to use a sword like his own. The man was a legend with the weapon and the high tech blade that heated with energy was something to be respected.
“Good to see you up and around,” Bapz greeted us. “I’m working on the system around Dragon Hold to send out drones should Nemesis come back. Where the turrets weren’t able to see him the drones will be. He won’t catch us off guard like that again.”
“Good to hear,” I said as Cryx moved to the back to pick up not one but two of the long sword length training sticks. I looked at Preacher. “The Pack, huh?”
“It’s something the Earth needs,” Preacher answered, examining me with his one good eye. “It’s something that has to endure.”
I was torn. Preacher could see that. On one had the Pack Protocol was everything I hated. They used us, manipulated us, and we killed for them on command. On the other hand, it was because of the Pack Protocol that we stood a chance against the Voy.
Preacher read me like a book. Instead of trying to argue anything, he gave me a stiff nod and moved toward Cryx to start her lesson.
“She’s too young,” I said just loud enough for Preacher to hear.
“You were younger,” Preacher answered. “And that’s her decision.”
I wanted to argue more but realized that was going to do little good. Instead, I bit my tongue so hard, it hurt.
“She’ll do well under his guidance,” Bapz said in a reassuring tone. “And before I forget, here you go.”
I looked over at my silver-skinned robotic friend. In his open palm, he held what looked like a collar. A thick leather strap and in the middle a metallic circular lock that held the emblem of the Pack Protocol, a snarling wolf.
Bapz wore a wide smile on his face like I was supposed to not only know what this was but be impressed by it.
Nemesis: A Near Future Thriller (Forsaken Mercenary Book 6) Page 2
