Eden's Ore: Judgment

By B.V. Bayly

An army of black ore users have destroyed most of the United Kingdom. They swept across the land and shattered The Church of Humanity. Now only the Spheres stand between TERA and their plans to enslave the world.

It’s been two years since the great assault. The Spheres have continued to fight, but their resolve is slipping. Constantly hunted by powerful black ore users, Gabriel has become a myth - a legend forced to hide in the warzones. He is accompanied by two new allies, twins, Talia and Thorne. Together they carry out extreme missions to try and keep TERA out of London, their last stronghold.

The commander, Nate Reinhart, devises a plan to deliver a blow to TERA that they won’t be able to recover from. With the plan, the Spheres openly engage TERA in a daring attack. They quickly realize their mistake as TERA’s true target is revealed. The Spheres don’t recover. Gabriel is left alone with only a rumor of a new ally - a black ore user gone rogue. Gabriel is forced back to North America, risking everything to find him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.V. Bayly
• Release date: Nov 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311864444

Book preview

Chapter One

Chunks of concrete hurled through the air and exploded against the old brick wall. Gabriel twisted his head as the explosion covered him in dust and rock chips. He didn’t dare move. Surprise was one of the best tactics against TERA. They liked to believe everyone ran away once they began to shell an area with artillery. Another blast erupted only twenty yards to the west of him. Their aim had improved. A huge cloud of dust and dark smoke funneled up into the sky. Gabriel’s shield wavered as the shockwave hit; a rush of dark energy was carried with it. That was what he had been waiting for. The air around him became thick. Every breath burned his lungs. He focused his mind. The ore power flowed across him to counteract the dark energy.

A whisper echoed in his ear. Sir! You alright? Looked a little close from here. It was Talia – a blue ore user and one of the twins Gabriel had freed from the black ore eight months ago. She and her brother, Thorne – a red ore user – had been ordered by the Horsemen to lead TERA’s attacks against the Church. Together they had slaughtered armies of humans and ore users, rolling across the British isles until they made a fateful error and split apart. Gabriel freed Talia first, then hunted down Thorne.

Keep your distance. You’ll know if I need you. Just keep your eyes open. Gabriel shook his head. Despite being a fierce fighter, Talia was a mother goose, always overly concerned about their situation. He had spent the last six months with her and Thorne. They had become his shadows. Every mission Nate gave him included those two. They were strong. Their connection to the ore rivaled most of the Sphere leaders. In time, as their abilities developed, Gabriel was certain few would be able to compete with them. When they fought together, they were an unstoppable combination.

The war had been going on for two years. Peace talks between TERA and the European Commons had failed, despite their offering of new ore–based technology and free energy. TERA was barred from entering Europe, The Church of Humanity maintaining all control of the ore in the region. It wasn’t long before TERA attacked. Warships fired from the ocean first, targeting all military operations across the UK. The attack crippled the European military. TERA then stormed the northern coastline. Thousands of soldiers and Mechs off loaded on to the shore, but they didn’t march. They waited.

No one saw it coming. An army of black ore users swept across the UK like a forest fire. They destroyed whole cities and annihilated any resistance the Church and European government had. Hundreds of thousands of people died; soldiers and innocents. The black ore users continued their domination until they clashed with the Spheres.

Both sides took heavy losses. Countless ore users died. Then the army of the black ore users vanished, and TERA was left to finish the job. It was a mystery not even Nate could figure out, but it had given them a chance to push back. However, TERA bombed and shelled every inch they gained. Even when they took back the ground, there was nothing left. This war wasn’t about conquest or the gain of territory. TERA wanted the Church dead, and the Sphere’s people in chains to be used to recharge the ore. And they were winning. The European government had withdrawn from the war six months ago, abandoning the Church and the Spheres. It sparked a mass exodus to mainland Europe as panic spread like wild fire across the British Isles. People did anything to get off the island and over to the mainland. Some made it. Some didn’t.

MOVE! The disc on the back of Gabriel’s ear vibrated as Thorne’s voice boomed.

Gabriel scrambled to his feet and blitzed through the old brick building. His shoulder smashed through the broken walls as he charged into the back of the ruin. He needed to find cover. The high–pitched squeal of an artillery shell sounded from over his head, and his feet dug in as he changed directions. The ceiling shredded. Strips of wood, plaster, and clay tiles rained down on top of him. He crossed his arms over his head and dropped to his knees. A glaze of white energy instantly covered him. The explosion of fire and shrapnel ripped through the old brick building and the ground shook underneath him as the roof came down. His shield flooded with energy as it protected him against the blast. Brick and mortar smashed into it, exploding into pebbles and dust.

He counted the seconds until it was over. He didn’t have much time now. The danger wasn’t the shell itself, but what was in it. The reason he was there. He dropped his shield and sprinted away from the initial hit. The shell was buried somewhere in the pile of rubble. He zeroed in on an old oak table, broken in the adjoining room. He had only seconds left. He slid across the rough floor, flipped it up, and braced himself behind it. His shield expanded around it just as the pile of rubble exploded. The shell shot up; designed to kill anything that had survived the initial blast. Gabriel’s heart pounded as the second blast tore through the house. Projectiles flew in every direction as the shell, spun in the air, and sprayed the house with its deadly contents. His shield shattered as streaks of black mist pierced it. He rolled his body into a ball behind the oak table. The high pitched buzz ended as the shell thumped on the ground, empty. Gabriel pushed the table over onto the broken floor. It split into pieces as it crashed down. He swallowed hard and rubbed his face. Too close. He stared at the pieces of heavy oak – they had barely stopped the projectiles. The pointed tips of  black ore stuck out of the old table.

I’m alright. Gabriel could feel their poison as he breathed out.

This was TERA’s newest technique to kill ore users. Gabriel shook his head and grunted as he tore the first black spike free from the old wood. The black ore burned to touch. The shard had been chipped down to a point. He turned it over and studied it. The shard wasn’t a real piece of black ore; it was a blue shard tainted with black ore. It had been almost a month since he had seen a piece of true black ore, hopefully TERA was running out of it. He closed his eyes and purified the shard. Its surface pulsed with blue light and became slick with moisture. He popped it into the pack strapped onto his back.

Let’s get what we can – Thorne, be quick. Gabriel still had one thing to do before they disappeared with TERA’s ore. Let me know if you spot anything, Talia.

Absolutely, Talia chimed in. Are you hurt?

I’m fine, Talia. Gabriel plucked the black spikes out of the pieces of wood. Thorne’s snicker was just loud enough to hear.

Gabriel dropped the black shards into his pack, all of it was derived from other colors of ore. The fog of dust had settled as he scanned the room for more. He hustled to scoop up the shards and toss them into his pack. This simple action was how they were going to win the war. TERA’s arrogance had proven useful as of late. The more ore they loaded the new artillery shells with, the more the Spheres would collect and Gabriel would purify. Slowly but surely, TERA would have to sacrifice more of their colored ore to change it to black for their weapons.

Gabriel would have to change them all later to their original color, something he needed to pace himself at. The taint of the black ore could drive him mad if he took in too much at once – a lesson he had learned painfully when he had lost control of his ore over a year ago. He now kept his sessions to a minimum. It was annoying, but better for everyone around him. Claire seemed to be the only one who could stand his anger if he changed too much ore. Or Nate would send him out on a tough mission – what he liked to call ‘burning it off’. Either way, it had become his routine for the last several months. Every couple of weeks, he would purify all the ore that everyone did their best to collect from TERA. The Spheres and the remnants of the Church had resorted to guerrilla warfare. They rarely chose to openly engage TERA’s troops anymore; everything was done in the shadows, chipping away at TERA’s weak spots until they broke through. That was Nate’s plan, at least for now, and so far it was going well. The last six months had been profitable.

Gabriel. Talia’s voice was hushed. We have movement, two hundred and fifty yards northwest from you. Looks like they are sending in a team.

Thorne, where are you? Gabriel dropped low in the room and crept over to one of the pieces of outside wall that was still standing.

Heading towards you now. Thorne was always eager for a fight.

Settle down. Gabriel needed to keep him leashed. Keep your distance until we know what we’re up against. TERA’s teams were always led by a black ore user.

We got three Mechs and eight commandos, Talia was quick to report.

What kinda Mechs? Gabriel didn’t worry about the commandos: soldiers in mechanized armor. They were TERA’s attempt to enhance their soldiers’ abilities against ore users. They were never a problem unless they were packing ore–tipped ammunition. He was more worried about the black ore user and the Mechs. The Mechs were twenty–foot–tall robots manned by a single pilot – they were fast, and packed heavy guns and rockets on each arm. They came in two distinct types: Lights and Heavies. The Lights were agile – like a giant bird, with two long legs that could traverse any terrain. They usually ran in packs, and were highly adaptive on the battlefield. They could cut down lines in seconds if they got behind you. The Heavies were updated tanks. Thick, stocky legs carried their increased arsenal. They were usually equipped with long–range artillery, but every now and then you would see them armored up with heavy cannons to fight on the front lines.

Heavy and two Lights. I’m in range, Thorne added.

Do either of you see the leader? Where’s the black ore user? Gabriel’s heart pounded.

None. Talia’s voice. I just see the Mechs and commandos.

Gabriel felt sick to his stomach. Talia – get to your brother, now. We need to leave.

It’s a bunch of toy soldiers and Mechs. Thorne was being cocky. I’ll toast them.

Wai – Gabriel dropped to one knee. A powerful kick sent his right knee forward, out of joint. He wrenched the joint back into place, ignoring the pain as the power of the white ore coursed through him.

Surprised you lived. The voice was jagged and high pitched. Gabriel guessed it was the black ore user by the strength of the attack. Look at this place. You must have found a hole to crawl into.

Gabriel kept calm. Nate had taught him that sometimes the best intel came from enemies with a big mouth. Gabriel flipped over to sit on the ground, holding his knee even though he had healed it. He kept his head down, his long hair masking his face. Hold, he whispered.

Don’t worry. I’m not here to kill you, the female black ore user taunted. We know you rats are picking up the ore after our artillery attacks. Gabriel followed her boots as she paced the dirty floor. They turned sharply, and one slammed into his shoulder, knocking him to the side. Where are you taking it?

Gabriel’s anger grew. I don’t know what you’re talking about. He stayed at the ready, his ribs absorbing another stiff boot.

There’s nothing left in London! Where are you hiding it? The black ore user kicked him repeatedly. She stopped and spit on him. It doesn’t matter. You will come back to my master and tell him everything. She grabbed Gabriel and hurled him through the open break in the outer wall.

Now! Gabriel grunted as he bounced against the broken brick wall.

Just outside, a ball of fire spun across the street. Inside was Thorne. He slammed through the enemy line, setting each one ablaze. The commandos’ alloyed construction was unable to withstand Thorne’s intense heat. They began to drop to the ground one at a time, their occupants screaming as Thorne bounced between them in a tight ball of fire. The Mechs fared better: their resistance to heat was much higher, but Thorne’s speed gave him the advantage. He slipped between them as they opened fire, and jumped around them as if they were a playground. The Mechs twisted around and clipped one another as they chased him.

The black ore user turned towards the chaos. Gabriel grabbed her arm. His other hand sparked with light as he summoned his spear. It grew from his hand in an instant. Its blade pressed against her neck.

You! She snarled at Gabriel.

Talk. Gabriel kept the blade to her neck.

She barred her teeth. Never. She didn’t care. She jerked forward; her neck sliced open across Gabriel’s glowing blade. She swung wildly at him, her strength fading. Gabriel easily deflected the attack with the blunt side of his spear. He spun the weapon and punched it against her chest. A visible echo of light knocked her backwards. She slammed up against the outer wall and slumped forward, toppling to the ground. Dead.

Damn. Their blind devotion to the Dark Spheres infuriated him. Gabriel could have freed her, but instead she had chosen. Gabriel huffed as he marched out into the street. Thorne was toying with the Heavy Mech. The two Light Mechs smoldered on the ground. Thorne knew exactly where to press his hands through their armor to ignite the fuel packs and spark an explosion.

Gabriel charged and leapt high into the air, clearing the twenty–foot–tall Heavy Mech. He twisted in the air and drove his spear down the spine of the unit. The blade gutted the main wiring harness. It dragged along the steel and punched out of the bottom. Gabriel’s feet hit the ground, and he jerked his weapon free from the shredded steel. The battery packs on the underside of the Heavy Mech popped and drained all over the ground. The Heavy Mech collapsed to the ground with a thundering clatter.

Thorne stood just beyond it, his arms crossed. I was fine.

Gabriel pointed at him. You were playing. His spear dissolved back into his hand. Thorne was young and cocky. He was built like a gymnast, his long, wiry limbs carried incredible strength. His head was shaved, a collage of tattoos ran across most of his skin. He liked to show off, even though Gabriel had tried to teach him some restraint over the last several months of fighting together. Get the kill and move on to the next target. Don’t waste time.

Thorne finished his ritual palm print on the outer armor of each of the downed Mechs. He’s not dead. He motioned to the operator still inside the sealed hatch on the front of the Mech.

Leave him. Gabriel turned and walked away. We clear here?

If you got your ore, I got mine. Thorne ran up beside him to match his pace.

Good. Gabriel playfully shoved him. Nice work there.

How did the blacky go? Thorne jumped back and smacked Gabriel in the stomach.

Gabriel shook his head and said nothing. What a waste.

Talia rushed down to meet them. She was the polar opposite of her brother. Her long blonde hair was tied up into a bun on top of her head, and her tactical gear was adjusted perfectly to fit her, as if she were a model. Her face was pretty, even covered with dark smears of camouflage paint. The large survival pack bounced up and down on her back as she ran. Nate said she was the perfect soldier.

Sir. She stopped in front of them. A message came in from the commander.

Nate? Gabriel wondered why he would break radio silence. What’s going on?

"Commander Reinhart says we have more TERA troops heading this way. She looked worried. We need to fall back."

Thorne stepped close to his sister. You might need to fall back. Gabriel and I will be just fine.

Talia didn’t answer, just slugged Thorne in the arm. Sorry, sir. Commander says we need to retreat.

Gabriel couldn’t help but laugh. Thorne deserved that. How many did Nate say were coming?

A full battalion. Talia sighed.

Thorne rubbed his arm. They know you’re here.

Gabriel studied Thorne. He was right. The battalion would no doubt be travelling with a hunter – skilled black ore users whose sole purpose was to capture powerful ore users to convert them. Gabriel had avoided them up to this point. They were dangerous. Hunters. We need to disappear.

Thorne nodded and poked his sister. You’re in charge.

As it should be. She grinned. This way to the river.

Chapter Two

Gabriel placed his hand against the blackened trunk of an old, burnt-out tree as they paused for a moment. Talia surveyed the area before moving forward. Her lead was slow, but always safe – something Gabriel had learned to appreciate, despite Thorne’s complaints. They were in Welwyn, thirty miles north of the heart of London. It had once been called a garden city with beautifully crafted landscapes and sprawling garden paths. The stone pathways that connected the city together were lined with massive, tall trees. Everything was built of brick; hues of orange and brown stone contrasted with the unending green. At least, that’s how it was before the war. Now, everything was black. No trace of green was left. The whole area had been burned to the ground.

As the war raged on, TERA’s passion for destruction only grew. They leveled entire cities as they pushed south from the top of the isle. Most of greater London had been bombed by drones or artillery. The Spheres survived in the old underground tunnels. It was a maze under London. Most of their force had spread out in hidden camps across Greater London, some as far as eighty miles from the main base.

We’re almost at the Mimram. Talia continued to scan the area ahead of them.

Good. I’m getting bored following you. A dip in the river will at least be fun. Thorne picked up a small branch from the ground and torched it in his hand.

Pick up the pace, Talia. Gabriel didn’t like the next part of their trip, but the river was the most effective way to travel. Most of the rivers around London had widened as the oceans rose. Even creeks like the Mimram were now over ten feet deep.

Yes, sir. The Mimram will take us into the Lea, then down to the Thames. Her navigation skills had always impressed Gabriel. Talia knew all the river ways by heart, and she knew them even better under the water. A feat he found impossible. She was the best ‘river runner’ in the entire Sphere – except, perhaps, for Desmond.

Gabriel kept careful watch as they scouted through the old brick homes. Thorne had taken over the lead, showcasing his athleticism as he leapt his way through the broken walls as if they were an obstacle course. They reached the old river without any sign of TERA. Gabriel was surprised that they had slipped away so easily, with so many drones silently scouting the skies.

When they hit the river’s edge, Talia and Thorne dove into the water. As they surfaced, Talia smacked her brother in the face with a small wave.

Thorne splashed her back – a useless gesture against a blue ore user. The splash twisted in the air and hit him in the face. Let’s go, Gabriel! He loved his sister’s rides.

I’m coming. Gabriel laughed as he climbed down into the water. As it crept past his waist, the shock of the water temperature hit him. Damn, that’s cold. You could have heated it up. The ore in his chest quickly warmed him.

How are you such a wimp about water? Thorne laughed.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and pulled the thin mask from his vest. Let’s get this over with. He took a final breath of air and placed his mask over his face, then stepped forward and sank into the dark water. All his tactical gear dragged him down, and his butt hit the muddy bottom of the river. The river was dark and cold, and the water breather in Gabriel’s mouth always tasted horrible. Still, at least he could breathe. Talia glided down to him. She wrapped an arm around Gabriel; he slipped his arm up under her oversized pack, with Thorne on the other side. In an instant, they accelerated. The slick, algae-covered rocks zipped by just beneath them.

It was like a tunnel water slide, just without air. Gabriel remembered them as a child – dark and twisted, each turn pulling against your body. This was pretty much the same. Talia navigated the river bottom with the precision of a race car driver. Half the time Gabriel didn’t know whether to feel sick or scared. All he focused on was how soon it would be over. His stomach rolled constantly. They did this almost every day, and his body still never got used to it.

They reached the shore of the River Thames in London in less than an hour. Gabriel clambered out of the water, his body woozy and his balance completely lost. He hauled himself up the iron rails onto the concrete edge. Talia and Thorne followed as he ran for a nearby warehouse along the river.. Gabriel’s arm flared with energy as he punched out the steel lock on the door, opened it for them, and surveyed the skies.

The inside of the warehouse glowed blue as Thorne tossed snap lights at the ground all around him.

Let’s get you dry. Talia squinted at Gabriel with pity. I know you hate these trips.

I really do. He shut the door behind him and stretched his arms out so she could pull the water gently from his clothing. He glanced over at Thorne, whose skin was so pink that he glowed. Try not to catch your gear on fire again.

Thorne shook his head, annoyed. One time it happens, and I get to hear about it every time we get out of the river.

Gabriel chuckled, his clothes warm against his skin again as the water disappeared. Let’s get moving.

 Where to? Thorne handed his canteen to his sister. Please and thank you. He smiled at her.

We’ll check in on the zoo before we head to Nate. Gabriel wanted to make sure their defenses were still strong.

Thorne’s face lit up. Good, Thaddeus still owes me a match. Fire users tested their strength against one another by melting a tempered alloy bar held between them. It was like a tug of war, to see who melted up to the line first. And Thorne liked to compete.

Gabriel rolled his eyes. Just keep it fair; he caught you cheating last time.

Thorne shrugged. I was just being more effective than the rules allowed. Cheating? I think that’s a stretch.

You were cheating, my dear brother. Talia gave him back his canteen full of clean water. How’s your water? She turned to Gabriel.

Fine. I think I get enough water for a week every time we go in the river. Gabriel made a face.

Well, I hope you’re ready for another trip. The zoo isn’t too far. Talia was smug.

Actually, I thought we would walk. Gabriel wanted to see what TERA was up to in the area.

Sweet. We hitting patrols? Thorne grinned.

The commander won’t like that … only authorized attacks, remember? Talia pointed out.

Always by the rules. Gabriel sighed. Relax. We’ll keep our distance. Just some intel work.

Thorne stomped towards the door. Where’s the fun in that?

London was blanketed with TERA drones: quad–copters and motor–gliders endlessly patrolled the skies, with no need to ever stop. Their solar discs ran them for years. Sphere soldiers used to shoot them down, but it only gave away their positions to TERA. Now, they simply hid from them. Their tactical suits masked their heat signatures. As long as they were out of sight from the sky, TERA didn’t see them.

They kept to the old abandoned buildings as they travelled, staying out of sight as much as possible. Gabriel led the way. The trip would take hours on foot, but he wanted to check in with each outpost – small lookouts that tracked TERA’s troop movement through the city.

London was a no–go zone for TERA troops. They had stopped shelling it after all the ore they’d lost. And no convoys came close. The odd brave battalion of Mechs and commandos still ventured in, but Nate was pretty fierce about dealing with them. Once they crossed any of the sensors or a lookout point, a team of ore users was sent to wipe them out, usually Thaddeus’s group. Gabriel rarely handled anything close to the city. He and the twins were always sent further out into more dangerous areas, usually back behind TERA lines, or near the front to help slow their advance.

TERA’s main force was stationed in the north, at Aberdeen, where ships continually brought in more supplies and more troops. They advanced south from there – fortifying everything they could behind them. Every day they got closer. Despite Nate’s confidence, Gabriel was afraid that they had already lost. With no military support and the Church deploying most of its force back to guard the Vatican, only the Spheres remained to fight. And they were getting weary.

Every building along the way was the same. Doors shattered, broken windows. Everything of value carried out. Only the furniture and broken trinkets remained. Memories littered the floors, lost in inches of dust. The entire city was without power. TERA had turned off the grid ages ago. Even in the daytime, the darkness seemed to linger. An eerie silence swept throughout the dead city. It was a graveyard. The public had crossed the channel to mainland Europe or stayed in the humanitarian zones set up by TERA. The five main zones were more like propaganda camps, where nonstop messages bombarded the citizens inside, promising hope and a future for anyone with information about the Sphere or the Church. It was nonsense. The largest camp was north of London, surrounded by TERA’s army. They controlled the gates, deciding who was welcome and who wasn’t. That was where Claire was, hidden inside, safe with some of the last few Church members. It kept her alive, but Gabriel rarely got to see her. It was hard on him – seeing her in his dreams, but waking up each day without her.

As they climbed the dusty, metal stairs to the eighth floor of the abandoned apartment building, Gabriel felt the ground underneath his feet shift. He paused and stared at the twins. Their faces were as surprised as he was at the strange shake. The other outposts had all been quiet. What was happening here? He twisted around the next bend in the stairs, and the ground shook again. Gabriel took off in a blast of light, his legs pumping as he blitzed up the staircase. The eighth floor door was open. He left the metal stairs, zigzagging down the halls until he reached the heavy, reinforced alloy door. His eyes darted around the frame, looking for the key. There, near the bottom, a steel fork poked out from the wall.

Talia! He called back down the hall as the twins ran to catch up. It’s a water lock – can you see the key?

Talia began to scan the walls all around them. These were specialized locks, designed as puzzles for a specific ore user to solve. In this case, a channel of water needed to be created to bridge the connection and open the outer door. I got it, she shouted back. An orb of water formed in her glowing hands, and she threw it down the hall to him. A trail of liquid stayed in the air as the orb unraveled like a ball of a yarn. The ground shook once again, the strand of water on the verge