C.G. Standridge's New Earth Stories Volume II

By C.G. Standridge

Aided by alien allies and advanced technology, David sets out again to complete the most important mission--the survival of the human race. The plot thickens as he meets a former leader of the original Gray Faction. The true history behind the mysterious Queen and her intentions comes to light. But, will it have been too late? He quests to determine their fates and learn which side is truly their ally as he attempts to identify their actual foe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.G. Standridge
• Release date: Oct 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301153190

C.G. Standridge

I am from Hazen, Arkansas. I grew up in Prairie County, attending Hazen High School. I am inspired by real life, as much as by my own dreams. I hope to share my imagination with the world, and someday be a well-known author with numerous fans. I have written several stories, ranging from sci-fi/fantasy to fiction/suspense. I have yet to publish any of that work in print. I'm using Smashwords.com to establish myself as an author, and to share my short stories for your enjoyment. If drama isn't your thing,I have also been reformatting some of my original sci-fi tales for Smashwords. The futuristic, fantasy-type adventure 'New Earth Stories' will be available as a trilogy, soon. I hope you find these tales to be interesting, fresh and entertaining. Sincerely, C.G. Standridge

Book preview

New Earth Stories

Volume 2: Van’s Final Conquest

By C. G. Standridge

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 Chris Standridge

*****

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This ebook is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, situations, organizations, or locations are only intended to give the story a ‘sense’ of reality. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

*****

In loving memory of Terry Standridge.

1964-2012

Sportsman, mother, my sister and my friend.

For those who refuse to fail in the presence of impossible odds.

*****

Acknowledgements,

Cover concept by C.G. Standridge and Tina Weatherley. Story by C.G. Standridge.

Cover art, Lydonian ship L’Ahntiran leaving Planet Gavrul.

Special thanks to,

Tina Weatherley, for her patience and for helping this project come together. Mark Coker and Smashwords, for making this publication possible. My Dad, for the determination to see it through.

*****

Table of Contents

Chapter 1-A New MM

Chapter 2-Locating the Menace

Chapter 3-The Gray

Chapter 4-Other Worlds

Chapter 5-Gull Bane

Chapter 6-Custody

Chapter 7-Nebular Caste History

Chapter 8-Startling Reality

Chapter 9-Old Friends

Chapter 10-Wisdom of Ages

Chapter 11-Gavrul

Chapter 12-Bold Moves

Chapter 13-Absence of Grief

Chapter 14-Defiance

Chapter 15-Contact

Chapter 16-Gray Detail

Chapter 17-Clarification

Chapter 18-Commander Van

Chapter 19-Personal Time

Chapter 20-My Own Thoughts

Chapter 21-Van’s Vengeance

Chapter 22-Days on Gavrul

Chapter 23-Gull Maxis

Chapter 24-Finding Her

Chapter 25-Letting Her Go

Chapter 26-Myrra vs. Zeke

Chapter 27-Zeke vs. Fate

Chapter 28-Recognition

Chapter 29-The New Allied

Chapter 30-Shared Intelligence

Chapter 31-The Great War

Chapter 32-The New Me

Chapter 33-Kun Ashku

Chapter 34-Plans in Motion

Chapter 35-Alvian

Chapter 36-Battle Plan

Chapter 37-Lydonian Diplomacy

Chapter 38-Darla’s Return

Chapter 39-San Dower Rebellion

Chapter 40-Honor

Chapter 41-Special Moments

Chapter 42-Our Day

Chapter 43-The Gray Brief

Chapter 44-Connections

Chapter 45-The Greater Good

Chapter 46-Gray Gear

Chapter 47-A Night on Gavrul

Chapter 48-Lucian Templar

Chapter 49-Dead Man Talking

Chapter 50-The Gray Offensive

Chapter 51-Relics

Chapter 52-Shades of Gray

Chapter 53-Beneath the Surface

Chapter 54-Revolution

Chapter 55-Call to Arms

Chapter 56-Closure

Chapter 57-Salvation

About the Author

*****

Preface

Following Myrra’s escape, I had rejoined the Allied Guild. I soon found myself in the middle of a galactic blood feud, with the human forces striving for survival. Dwindling in numbers, and low on supplies, we were desperate for the next step toward fulfilling our mission.

I had witnessed the end of Myrra’s tyrannical reign of the world known as Hypythia. The promise of that world had become a thing of the past. Still needing a home, and struggling to adapt, mankind had become locked into a fight we simply could not afford to lose. Most of deep space was still at war.

The foul queen’s forces were an unnatural brood. The Lucian Empire was gaining ground against their nemesis, while the remaining humans were preparing for their next battle. Worlds had joined them, suffering many casualties along the way.

The only hope for their future lies somewhere within the genetic cocktail I now possess. Dro had succeeded in teaching me the importance of a valid sacrifice. But what had it cost me? With each passing day, I become less and less human.

Having been altered by the bio-shapers, my new abilities may hold the key to the future of mankind. But, how much of that future will belong to true humans? How much humanity is left within me? I feel it slipping away each day.

Will I bridge us into the future, or will they simply fade into the race of being I have become? I am David Carver. I used to be human. Now, I’m something else.

Something stronger, tougher, faster, and impervious to illness. I am David Carver. This is the next chapter in my life. The tale of human courage, perseverance and hope.

*****

Chapter 1, A New MM

Captain Hays shouted to his troops, Alright! The LZ is clear! Landing sequence has commenced! Gear-up! Remember your training! No beasts! No pets! It’s go-time, people!

No guts, no glory, they had excitedly replied. That was their new motto. No guts, no glory. Not what I’d expect from a race so dangerously close to extinction. Then again, why was I there? Right. To ensure they didn’t get slaughtered.

Following the raid on Privis, little was learned of my secret. I guess you’re wondering why I neglected to mention that assault. It was littered with bad results. In fact, the only good that came from it was that I had realized I am now immune to the Gauss spore.

Okay. I guess I do need to backtrack a little, get you up to speed. Long story short, the raid on Privis was a trap. We had been sent there to locate and destroy a facility, which housed the means of recreating the devastating Urgian weapon. Myrra’s planetary bomb.

Turned out that the planet was really a training facility for newly advanced Danjin troopers. During that battle, my armor had become compromised. The air filtration device had failed. Fighting without my helm, I managed to survive. Most of my Skull Brigade did not. Lots of good marines died, and I hadn’t known why.

Upon return to the Allied Guild command center, we were immediately debriefed by a Lucian General. Not Cable. I hadn’t seen or heard from him since being sent to that bloodbath. Then, we got a new assignment.

We were attacking a fleet repair station, which had allied itself with Myrra. It was run by the race that had blessed our galaxy with the likes of the fallen Dark Domain generals, Boon and Bott. I can’t pronounce their name, or that of their home planet.

The humanoid-insect race had been allied with Myrra for several years. It was no surprise that she had need of their advanced space travel technology. Unlike some races, however, those guys were in for the long haul. Even the Arvin people knew when to call it quits. Not those guys.

Their technical expertise had allowed Myrra to accomplish much along the path of her goals and intentions. Those two-legged grasshoppers were helping her fulfill her dream. The only foreseeable problem with assaulting them on their home turf was the fact that they already had so many advantages.

Their thick exoskeletons and advanced alien immune systems left little to chance in their everyday lives. Adding armor and heavy weaponry to them had made them more than formidable. Strategically, and physically, they had every conceivable advantage over us.

Well. Except for one. They weren’t part Urgian.

As the assault craft neared the ground, I shouted, Stay alert! To which, a few of the older MM’s had replied with an enthusiastic ‘stay alive’. I was pleased. They had still remembered.

We then began our charge. I led the remaining two hundred and seventy men and women into a battle on the planet of bipedal grasshoppers. Good MM’s, armed with new technology. They were my responsibility. I knew many of them. So very few knew anything about me. To them, I was just another alien.

Standing at six feet and eight inches, and weighing-in at 260 pounds, I was nothing like them. My body had completed its metamorphosis. So I had thought.

My skin had darkened slightly. My eyes were no longer like those of man. My senses, agility, and overall strength had gone off the charts. Whatever I had become, it wasn’t something that most of them could associate with their own.

I still hadn’t located Seike Vinya--the bio-shaper who had done this to me. All I knew was that I was still alive, and had a serious score to settle with several aliens. My mind needed to focus on the task at hand.

I shouted to my artillery squads, Heavy up! Big guns to the south! All mobile cannons set for interception! Get those plasma burners hot! Nothing gets through! You get me!?

Force of habit. We each had a special name for every piece of gear at our disposal. The Arvin-made, plasma-powered particle cannons were our heavy hitters.

Delivering enough raw positively-charged plasma energy in one shot to level a large building, they were about our best at taking down enemy attack ships. We had called them names like heavies, plasma burners, and hell-punchers.

In those moments, I felt alive. Human. They listened. They followed my orders. They respected me in the field. In a strange, inexplicable way, we all seemed to live for battle. Ironic, if you think about it.

The armored grasshoppers had quickly reacted to our assault. Although we had managed to damage their operations and slow their efforts, we were taking a beating from their advanced weapons and ships.

I listened to incoming reports of deaths and equipment failures. Standard procedure required me to act within the scope of my command. I had to order a retreat. Turn tail and run. But, I hadn’t lost so many lives only to be shot in the ass on my way out. I had to act.

I ordered my marines to fall back. We had already lost three heavies, and the five-man crews that had manned them. Fifteen lives--in artillery alone, not to mention my light-gunners, which were being picked-off by the dozens.

The Lucian strike team, which was supposed to have aided us in that situation, had failed to show. That was the last straw. Something was wrong, and it wasn’t just a communications error. I drew my remaining forces back into our LZ and ordered the retreat.

Two heavy gun crews had opted to provide cover fire for the evac. Seeing no chance of a successful evacuation, I made a change in my own strategy. One that would surely get noticed by the Allied Guild’s high command.

At that point, I didn’t care. I couldn’t afford to lose any more human lives. I returned to the Dedlathe and prepared for lift-off. The Urgium armor was taking a beating, but the ship remained intact.

It was a major red flag. I had provided cover fire for the other ships, buying them just enough time to get clear. Once they were at a safe distance, I let Urgia speak her mind.

Targeting the center of the grasshopper swarm, I charged the Erizeti. The warning indicators crackled to life as the massive gun built its deadly storm of wrath. The final indicator flashed. I hit the trigger.

The entire Dedlathe went dark, dumping an additional amount of juice into the staggering burst of energy. I did my best to release the trigger in enough time to prevent a planetary disaster.

Quick, soft bursts from the Erizeti cannon had annihilated the oncoming swarm of attack ships and fighter vessels. Time to clear out. Once clear, I looked back. I had hoped that by quickly firing the weapon I could dilute its energy into small bursts, which wouldn’t be quite as devastating.

As I broke away to rejoin my retreating fleet, I noticed the glowing crack as it formed in the disabled planet. The bright orange glow crept across the continent. Then, a massive eruption seemed to trigger a chain reaction, which quickly consumed the entire planet.

My long-range scanners had registered the event. The surface had cracked. The sudden release of volcanic pressure had acted as a wedge, splitting the planet into two.

Soon after, another massive eruption seemed to shatter both halves, leaving a ball of rubble in the place of the grasshopper world. The abrupt cooling of the molten core had shattered it, not unlike the reaction of an ice cube that had been hit with lukewarm fluid.

Numerous calls had bombarded my com. Everyone wanted to know what I had done, how, and why I hadn’t done it sooner. For once, I was ‘the man’. The hero. Regardless of the fact that I could have gone there alone.

I could have destroyed the planet with the Erizeti, losing no lives of my own. Only Hays dared to bring that point to light. His angry voice came into my ear as unpleasantly as it ever had. What the hell, Carver!? Why didn’t you do that in the first place?

I replied, That wasn’t the plan, Captain. We weren’t sent there to destroy the place.

In his typically condescending tone he argued, "Well, General, I wouldn’t have sent my people there to die if I’d known you could do that. I’m reporting you to the fleet commander. Just because you’re married to some alien floozy doesn’t give you the right to sacrifice us! I’ll have your rank ripped off you so fast-"

That’s enough, Captain Hays. This pointless bickering between us has got to stop.

Oh, it’s going to stop. As soon as we reach the outpost. You just wait and see.

"If you wish to file a formal complaint, that’s fine. You are well within your right to do so. But, if you continue to demonstrate insubordination and disrespect, I will pull your rank. Do I make myself clear, Captain?"

I don’t have to take this crap from you, Carver! I’m in a fleet ship. It’s my ship! Do you know how easily I could blast your pathetic little relic out of the sky?

That was it. I alerted his staff supervisor of his little outburst and formally requested that his second-in-command take charge of the ship. I had Hays locked in the brig until we could arrive at the command post.

Threatening a General wasn’t something the Allied Guild took lightly. The new MM was still learning their equipment. I didn’t feel that adequate training time had been allowed. With more training, they would have been far more effective.

People like Hays had a way of exploiting such ideas by pointing out the overall ineffectiveness and labeling it as a command issue. It was, but not on my part. I didn’t mean to destroy their world.

It was a legitimate accident. Hays had seen it as a chance to have me bumped-down, thus opening the door to another promotion for himself. It saddened me to know--considering our actual mission--that he could be so self-serving in such a critical time as that.

The human population, as near as I could tell, was somewhere around two thousand. We needed time to replenish our numbers. We needed a home. We needed more help in fulfilling our goal of survival, and less fighting among ourselves.

Something else was eating at me. The new MM had been equipped with special armor. It was said to have been made from the Danjin suits Lynnesa had retrieved from Hypythia. That armor was supposed to be an alloy composed of Urgium-9.

The Dedlathe was made from Urgium-6, which was said to be significantly weaker. So, why did the Dedlathe get pummeled by enemy fire, but not destroyed? My marines had been shot down with ease. Enemy bursts had torn their armor to shreds. How could that be?

Upon arrival to the fleet mobile command outpost, I immediately apologized for my mistake. Not only that, but I had also demanded satisfaction. Hays had set a bad example for my marines. I didn’t want him, nor had I asked for him. How he had become a Captain in my own fleet was a concern.

Cable’s associate, a Lucian named Din, had led me into his office in the brigadier building of the command center. I awaited my friend, in hopes of his understanding and prompt remedy of the Hays situation.

I had no way of knowing how he would handle the circumstance, but I had assumed that the role of respect would help my side. Not the case at all. Cable had entered the office angry and unsympathetic.

He had voiced his concerns of how my changes may have been interfering with my judgment. I understood some of that, but not as the way he had made it sound.

I have heard both sides of this matter, he said grimly. I have no choice but to let the evidence speak for itself. You knowingly--and admittedly--destroyed a key planet in this war with no prior order or authorization to do so.

It was not my intention, Sir.

Still, it has been viewed as one of Myrra’s own tactics. I have no choice but to remove you from rank of General. If you wish, you may stay on as a colonel, but only if you can successfully pass our command testing. It is simply a requirement in this situation, you understand?

I knew what he was saying. I just needed to hear him say it. So, I’m done in command. Right?

I can’t have just anyone running around blowing up planets, Mr. Carver. No matter how vicious the opposition. It goes against the Neb-D’Ska Treaty, and violates the very fabric of our alliances. Perhaps irreparably.

I get it, Sir. I’ll take one for the team. All I ask is that you reprimand Hays. His belligerent display has set a poor example for other MM’s. His threat against me-

His threat against you seems perfectly valid, Cable barked. I hadn’t seen him that angry before. He continued, You destroyed a planet, Mr. Carver. One recognized by the Nebular Caste. There is no way to predict how they will handle your action.

Nebular cast?

The Nebular Caste--the enforcement branch of the Neb-D’Ska Treaty, he said. I have never known of such an act going completely ignored. Their job is to observe such things, investigate the occurrence, and act within their own right to rectify. You have gotten yourself into the boiling pot, my friend.

You have read the report, haven’t you? We were getting slaughtered back there! Even after my issuance of retreat, they kept blasting us-

He scoffed, That’s their prerogative, my friend. You had invaded their sovereign world.

My tone may have been a little suggestive when I said, We were following orders, Sir. Your orders. I knew he had reacted with a sense of strict judgment.

He then said, Well. I can see this is going to be quite difficult. I will seek you later to properly issue your reprimand. Spend some time with your wife while you can. You may be facing some serious charges and potential imprisonment. Dismissed, Mr. Carver.

I didn’t say another word. I executed the proper dismissal vacation of his office in the best fashion possible. I casually exited the building, choking-back my rage. The whole thing stunk!

A setup. Something to test my mettle, only so I could be removed. Take out the big man, so you can easily squish the little one. Right? That’s how it had worked out.

I knew that Hays might get his promotion, but he wasn’t as devoted to the humans as I was. In any event, their fate should be theirs to decide. Not that of some drunken Lucian!

I returned to our momentary home. I told Dalia about the event. She didn’t seem surprised by it. I realized that we weren’t alone. Someone else was there. A female. Lucian. In the bathroom.

Dalia grabbed my arm and said, David. Listen to me. Before you get hysterical, you should know that things have happened for a reason. Tessa is here. She and I have been talking about these missions and other related events.

I hadn’t seen Tessa in weeks. I calmed a little and asked, Tessa? What is she doing here?

Relax, David. She’s on our side. She came to see us as soon as she heard about her brother. He didn’t return with the others, David.

What others?

Survivors, David, she said softly. She then whispered to me, Donavan Bosh is still missing. No one seems to know if he escaped or not. Most importantly, Cable doesn’t seem to be as concerned by this.

His grandson! The Vo-Danjin!

*****

Chapter 2, Locating the Menace

I’d expect that from Van or Hays, but from Cable!? We had known that someone on the inside had been helping Myrra. Van was always involved at some point. My attention had gone to him. For a moment, I had even suspected Grant--Lynnesa’s partner. But, Cable?

Tessa then entered the room. She seemed panicky, anxious. She had been crying. She ran to me, hugging me and crying on my shoulder. She said, Oh, David. I’m so sorry. I swear to you, I didn’t know. I thought he was in disguise. I thought it was a simple task. I didn’t know, David. I really didn’t know.

What are you saying, Tessa? What’s wrong?

She released me enough to look into my eyes. She apologized for her incompetence, which I had thought was a bit excessive. Then, she explained everything. It was difficult to follow, but made perfect sense.

Basically, she and her brother had lived with their parents for most of their lives. Typical stuff, visiting with Cable and all. One day, her parents’ home had been struck during a Domain raid on that Lucian planet.

Both of their parents had been killed. She and her brother were with Cable at the time. He had taken them in and groomed them for military function. Believing that he was all the family they had left, they had accepted him and willingly did whatever he had asked.

One day, he asked them to assist him in a spy operation. They had agreed. The two of them were then sent to board one of Myrra’s vessels, disguised as civilian supporters of her regime.

Both were accepted and allowed to join her faction. After having proven themselves to her, she had accepted them into her palace. Donavan--being as skilled as he was--had been accepted as a royal guard.

Lacking his level of skill, she had fallen beneath her brother. Tessa was taken as a type of personal assistant. A handmaiden to the queen. Tessa was then restricted to the palace interior--which had severed most of her ties to the outside world.

Her brother had played his role well enough to escape the trappings of such confining servitude. But, his service in the royal guard had come between them. He was free to venture out, as she remained in the palace.

The only contact she had had with Cable was his congratulations on penetrating Myrra’s ranks so deeply. It was two years later before she could actually see her grandfather again. Two years, on Hypythia, with nothing more than her memories and the infrequent intelligence communication.

When she did see her brother, he would be in uniform at Myrra’s side and unable to freely speak with her. Cable had assured her that their levels of infiltration was key to the Lucian victory. She had no idea that her brother actually was a Vo-Danjin.

She had presumed it to be a disguise, nothing more. They had used her to plant false information within the allies. She had unwittingly played as bait, set traps for the allies, and had issued false hopes to other factions as Myrra had prescribed.

Dro had tried to tell her. She cursed her stubborn personality and Lucian detachment for not hearing his words. Had she believed Dro, much would have changed. I tried to convince her that it wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t been the only one used.

No!, she argued. I should have listened to Dro! Curse my soul! I loved him! I helped you bring him to Myrra! I loved him and now he’s dead!

He may be, but his spirit isn’t.

David, why? Why must you say that?

You know why, Tessa. If he hadn’t done it, none of us would stand a chance.

But, he did, she retorted. She wiped a tear aside and said, Now, Myrra has what she needed. What makes you think that any of us stand a chance?

I replied, If he hadn’t, she would have acquired it by other means. Means that would not have changed me, so that I can protect the rest-

You have said that you don’t know what she has done to you, David. How can you be so pleased with yourself, when you don’t know how long you will live?

She had a good point. I had wondered about that myself. All I could say was, Because, Tessa, for as long as I am alive, I will fight to avenge him.

She then ran back to the bathroom. Dalia looked at me and smiled, but only briefly. On her way to speak with Tessa, she said to me, Nice try, but you’ll have to do better next time.

They were both right. Everything to that point was just a try. I hadn’t truly embraced the gift. I’d even wondered if it actually was a gift. I had made no effort to demonstrate my new ability on behalf of anyone.

Letting Hays push my buttons only proved how little I actually had learned. I sat on the sofa, pondering my own actions. I had promised to win. But, I sat there with nothing. So much rage and anger, but nothing to do with any of it.

No more command, no more authority. Then, I realized something. I still had the Dedlathe. It was mine, not Cable’s. Screw him! I had all I needed. My own team, composed of my tech crew, Dalia, Pichi, my Kun-Vish and maybe Tessa.

The Dedlathe could house almost all of us. That’s when I remembered Kun-Asuru. The last time I had seen him was nearly two weeks earlier. He and his Kun-Vish offspring were safe on a small planetoid several light-years from Cable’s outpost.

They had gone there for the sunlight and savory soil the young ones needed for growth and development. Just the six of us could fit in the Dedlathe with no problem. Cable didn’t know where the vish had been hidden.

The Dedlathe was capable of deep-space flight, as well as long periods of time without docking. We could take the Dedlathe and escape. Then, again, what about the MM’s? I couldn’t fit them all on the old ship.

They were on the chopping block for sure if they stayed with Cable. My rage began to cloud my thoughts. Cable! What a jerk! It all made sense, then. His perpetual inebriation had kept Dalia from seeing his thoughts, which would have surely given him away.

It also explained why he had always managed to escape. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more obvious it seemed to be. After all, he was the man who had personally assassinated Myrra’s father.

What kind of friend does that? One with ulterior motives. Just how far back did the thing go? If Cable and Myrra were together back then, he had to have been one of her top allies. His position in the Allied Guild had granted him access to private information.

He could attend a sit-in, learn our plans, and relay them to Myrra almost immediately. What a double-cross! Play the bitter old man, ruined by his own devotion, only to act as the best spy of all time. The absolute last person anyone would ever suspect.

But, where would that leave Tessa? Other than crying in the bathroom, I mean. She had been used in a similar manner. Only, she really had no idea. She was just as convinced as the rest of us that Cable was on the level. But, why did he seem to be so close to her?

That part didn’t make sense at all. He had trusted her enough to inform her of his escape plans and routes, and had kept in touch with her almost every step of the way. It was possible that all of his devotion to her had been to fortify his secret alliance with Myrra. Of course, it probably was.

Donavan knew his part in the plan. He really was a Vo-Danjin. So, why wasn’t Tessa briefed all of the same? Why trick her? Only to add to his own cover. It seemed likely, but hardly worth the effort.

I was about to get the women when I heard people approaching. Judging from the number of footsteps, it was three. Booze had identified Cable, while the scent of silver indicated that the other two were guards.

I answered the door to see that my new senses hadn’t failed me. Cable entered the house with two Allied Guild guards--their equivalent to MP’s (military police). They calmly entered and shut the door. The guards seemed serious as they stood near Cable.

He said to me, Mr. Carver, it pains me to say this to you-

Am I being arrested?

He sighed heavily before answering, Yes. I’m afraid you are.

I nodded. I understand.

Do you, he asked. I hadn’t expected you to come so willingly. Is this a trick?

I held my hands out, in anticipation of binders. I replied, No, Cable. It’s no trick. I’ve thought about it, and I realize that you and Hays are right. I do belong in prison. All I’ve done, and nothing of anything has saved my own race. I have become a monster.

Very well, my friend. I’m glad you see it my way. Come along, then.

As he signaled my surrender to the guards, they lowered their guard. He turned his back to me in an attempt to escort me along. As the guards turned to face us, flanking our exit, I saw my chance. I quickly grabbed them both by the head.

Slamming their heads together, I brought them both down as Cable reached for the door. I quickly swept him off his feet and pinned him to the floor. With both guards unconscious, I had the upper hand that time.

He shouted, What are you doing!? It was a trick!

I placed my left hand over his mouth to silence him. I then asked him why he had betrayed so many. I really wanted to hear his response, but that wasn’t going to be easy. His shouting had alerted Tessa and Dalia of his presence. They ran into the room, seeing only the pile of us on the floor.

What’s happening, David, Dalia asked. What have you done?

They came to arrest me. We need to go, as soon as I can get some answers.

Tessa asked, I know he has used us all, but you aren’t going to kill him, are you?

That’s up to him, Tessa. If he cooperates, I will let him go.

I removed my hand so he could respond. He immediately shouted for help. I muzzled him again. I told the others to go to the Dedlathe and wait for me there. Tessa refused, while Dalia and Pichi ran out the door.

Tessa, I promise you I have no intention of killing him. Go! Get to the Dedlathe. We won’t have much time once I let him go.

You promise on your own life that you won’t kill him?

Yes. Go. Please.

Alright, she said as she ran for the door. She stopped. She stood in the doorway and asked, You really won’t harm him? At all?

I won’t kill him, Tessa. I give you my word. Anything else, however, is his decision.

She closed the door and ran to the ship. I released him, again. That time, he managed to keep quiet. He whispered, Carver, you have no idea of what you have just done.

I scoffed, You’re wrong, Cable.

If you and those girls escape, that won’t do much for your Mobile Marine friends.

What did you say?

They will still be here. You have just sealed their fate. Give up, now. You won’t be imprisoned for long. Myrra just wants to run some tests. You should be cooperating.

I replied, I was, until you blew it by sending us to die.

You don’t understand, he insisted. She is everywhere! You might escape this planet and its patrols, but you will never escape Queen Myrra. The human race will perish!

No, Cable. You have that all wrong. We will escape. Here’s why. The weapon that destroyed that planet, it’s still on my ship. I’m not planning on leaving as quickly as possible. I’m giving you your life, and ten minutes, to get every last human off this rock. Do you understand? If I’m not satisfied, I’m using that weapon on this world. You--and your whole damn guild--will die with it. I’m quite serious, Cable. All I want from you is the answer to why, and the rest of my people set free.

He smiled and said, You called me friend, once. You won’t do it!

Are you really willing to take that chance?

He laughed and said, You won’t! Tessa will stop you!

Yeah. There’s something else to think about. I’ve got your granddaughter, Cable. She’s with my crew right now. If you won’t help me for yourself, help me for her.

Some sobriety surfaced. He said, No! She can handle her own! If not, we’re better off without her! Something in his voice had said he didn’t mean that. He cared for his granddaughter, perhaps more than anything else.

Realizing his determination, I called his bluff. I said, Either we escape and everyone lives, or you piss me off and everyone dies. I could always come back and destroy this world at any given time. Just remember, Tessa is already on my ship. The choice is yours.

He decided. He ordered an MM formation, issuing orders for only my own allies to board a single ship and prepare for departure. Clever. Leaving the ball in my court like that, knowing I wouldn’t fire on my own kind.

After issuing the order, he smiled and said, There. Take your friends and go. But, know this. I will be right behind you.

I replied, Fair enough. But know this. My ship can blast yours out of existence.

You won’t be in that ship forever. No matter what you do or where you go, I’ll be lying in wait. You belong to Myrra. She made you what you are. Let your gift be shared among your kind. Life under Lucian rule isn’t that bad, Carver. Especially, when it is a long life. The rewards are limitless.

No thanks. I punched him in the face. He was out cold.

I then ran to the Dedlathe and began the take-off sequence. The fleet ship that Molina had been assigned to had already launched. I confirmed his safety prior to leaving. Convinced that my friends were alright, I launched.

Allied Guild strike formations had tried to pursue the Dedlathe. Multiple other vessels fled the planet. Clearly, I had underestimated that old drunk Lucian’s resilience. I won’t make that mistake again, either.

The fleet ship and the Dedlathe entered hyperspace. Destination, relatively unknown. All I had said was to get as far from there as possible. After the jump, we arranged to meet near an oceanic planet that had appeared on our charts.

That territory was outside of the local factions’ reach. We would be safe there.

*****

Chapter 3, The Gray

Pull and Gipp had searched the Dedlathe for tracking devices, bombs and that sort of thing. Tessa had entered the cockpit and sat in the navigator seat. She sighed and closed her eyes, still fighting with herself over the realization of what she had done.

Alright, Carver, she said softly. We know that my grandfather is working with the Dark Domain. For what it’s worth, I think we should consider other options.

I asked, What do you mean?

"Part of the Allied Guild is nothing more than associated spies and soldiers from the old governments. Relics of our military past. The old wars. I know he had allies in the Tan Faction. I know one of his older friends was connected to the Gray Faction. I can’t understand how he has managed for so long, working between the Lucian Empire and