Playing God (A Game of War, Part Three)

By Michael Cairns

Free at last, Ally and Stem have reached the war, but nothing is as it seems.

In part three of A Game of War, Ally discovers just how big the universe is; makes a friend who helps her discover the true extent of the power that she has locked within; and is introduced to The Master.

The Master is in a league of his own when it comes to power, and runs his own game, one that pits races from all over the universe against one another.

The prize? Knowledge, power, or simply pride. For Ally and Stem it is the chance to free the human race, and one they cannot pass up. But the stakes are high. This games ends not with a long walk, but with death.

With a choice that is no choice, they must once more step into the arena.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Cairns
• Release date: May 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781909699052

Michael Cairns

Michael Cairns was born at a young age and could write even before he could play the drums, but that was long ago, in the glory days - when he actually had hair. He loves chocolate, pineapple, playing gigs and outwitting his young daughter (the scores are about level but she's getting smarter every day). Michael is currently working hard on writing, getting enough sleep and keeping his hair. The first is going well, the other two...not so much. His current novels include: > Young adult, science fiction adventure series, 'A Game of War' 1. Childhood dreams 2. The end of innocence 3. Playing God 4. Breathing in space 5. Escape 6. Gateway to earth > Urban fantasy super-hero series, 'The Planets' 1. The spirit room 2. The story of Erie 3. The long way home >Paranormal horror post apocalyptic zombie series, 'Thirteen Roses' 1. Before (Books 2-6 due for release in spring)

Book preview

Playing God

A Game of War

Part three

by

Michael Cairns

Publishing

Published by Cairns Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Michael Cairns

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

1st Edition

Find out about future releases by Michael Cairns at http://cairnswrites.com

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Table of Contents

Intro

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Outro

Thanks

Intro

She awoke, prying apart gummy eyes. The room was dark, only a faint glow emanating from the walls. She rolled over, seeing Stem lying next to her. The surface she lay on was comfortable and giving, and the sheet she lay beneath was soft and smooth on her skin.

Her brain slowly caught up with her body as she realised she was lying in a bed. She had seen them on the canteen TV. She stretched, letting each limb brush across the warm sheets and mattress, reveling in the sensations.

Pictures from the last four weeks began to flash through her mind; discovering her powers, her and Stem waking up, the forming of the army and the terrible way it ended, then the second wave and the eventual death of the Lord, and finally, leaving the Homeship, leaving their shipmates to suffer in their stead; every moment of joy and wonder eclipsed by a memory of pain, or sorrow. She reached out a hand, laying it gently on his shoulder.

She rolled back to stare at the ceiling. The entire room was glowing, a pale muted light that seemed to be part of the walls, as if the very substance itself glowed.

She glanced at the digital readout that sat next to the bed and gasped, sitting upright abruptly. She had slept for 17 hours. She hadn't done that ever, not as far as she remembered, and couldn't imagine ever being relaxed enough to. She shook her head, then lay back down, pulling the sheets up to re-cover Stem's shoulder and stretching again, luxuriating in the unlikely warmth and safety.

She wasn't sure that she did feel safe, not entirely, not after last night and what they had discovered. The booming voice had invited them to dock and enter, to feel safe under his protection. With little other choice they had done so, finding a space on one of the long walkways that thrust out of the tunnel wall.

Chapter 1

She shifted the sticks, taking them as close as she dared. A force began to pull at the ship, gently dragging it toward the walkway until she felt the slightest of bumps.

Huh.

She looked across at Stem, eyebrows raised and he shrugged in return.

Guess we may as well go and have a look, see where we are.

She nodded, un-clipping from her flight seat and stretching her tense limbs. The voice had assured them they were safe, and the Vale told them the air was suitable, but even so she found herself holding her breath as she cracked the hatch. The lack of sudden asphyxiation was enough for her to let it out and take a shallow, hesitant gulp of the air. She looked back at Stem, her face once again painted in doubt, then turned back and stepped onto the nose of the Vale and down onto the walkway.

She stood and gaped, amazed by it all. The scale was incredible, which was a big deal coming from the Homeship, where everything was already twice her size, and the engine room alone stretched for miles. She was standing on a long, thin strip of the same pale material that made up the walls and ceiling. Docked here were maybe thirty or forty ships, all sorts and sizes and of both familiar and unfamiliar makes. This dock was the size of the main hanger back on the Homeship, yet around them the tunnel soared, identical docks to their own springing out at regular intervals. Most of them were full, or nearly full of ships and without any serious calculation she could guess there were thousands in this one entrance tunnel alone.

Stem dropped down next to her, gazing around in wonder.

Pretty impressive, huh?

She nodded, still reeling from the view, despite the thought that was going round and round her head.

So where's the war?

They looked at one another as the silence played out. They’d been asking that since they came through the Veil, and still had no answer. As one they turned and began to walk towards the doorway at the end of the dock.

Guess we should find out.

Yeah. Also, what's the Atrile sacrifice? And what the hell is the thing that spoke to us? He called himself a deity right?

Yep.

That mean what I think it does?

Yep.

Huh.

She was met once more with silence.

The door slid open as they approached, a thick slab of translucence that whispered into the wall. Beyond it lay a corridor driving straight into the planet. As they walked, they became aware of a low, murmuring sound, a sound that got gradually louder. Coming to the end of the corridor, another doorway slid apart and the noise went from a murmur to a roar.

Stepping through she tried, and failed, to avoid once again gaping and