Ouroboros Episode Three: Ouroboros - a Galactic Coalition Academy Series, #3

By Odette C. Bell

Carson wakes on Remus 12. He can't find Nida. Anywhere.
She... she can't be dead. He won't believe that. He's come too far to lose her now.
As the truth unravels, he's pitted against enemies deadlier than any who've come before.
….
Ouroboros follows a hero and a bumbling cadet fighting through time to save a dying civilization. If you love your space opera with action, heart, and a splash of romance, grab Ouroboros Episode Three today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.

Ouroboros is the 1st Galactic Coalition Academy series. A sprawling, epic, and exciting sci-fi world where cadets become heroes and hearts are always won, each series can be read separately, so plunge in today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odette C. Bell
• Release date: Apr 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781498936132

Book preview

1

Carson Blake

Everything around him was black. Just darkness and pain. It shot through him, owning his bones and skin and muscles.

He coughed, blood splattering over his lips and chin.

Then he remembered. In a snap, it came back to him.

He bolted upright. Despite the agony, he pushed forward with all the force his broken body could muster. Nida? he cried, his voice echoing around the dark room.

He remembered she wasn’t here.

Before he’d blacked out, he’d searched this room on his hands and knees. He’d looked everywhere for her, his bloodied palms trailing in the dust and dirt.

But she wasn’t here. Oh no, she wasn’t here….

Nida? he screamed again, his voice cloying as it shook through his damaged throat.

Using what strength he had, he forced himself to his feet. Yet he couldn’t stand. He pitched to the side, his hip cracking against the stone floor as he fell.

He swore loudly, his voice reverberating around the room.

Then he lay there, one arm over his face as he blinked back the blood and tears.

She wasn’t here.

Though he wanted to believe that somehow she had rematerialized in another room – that she was still somewhere nearby – a creeping worry told him she wasn’t.

No, he screamed. Come on, she has to be here, he begged.

Then he crawled, forcing himself onto his hands and knees, despite how weak he was.

Moving forward, his palms grating against the uneven floor, he whispered her name over and over again as he traversed through the pitch black rooms and corridors around him.

He had no idea where he was.

None.

But one thing was for sure – it was dark, and it was empty. He didn’t run into people, animals, plants, or objects of any kind. Just dust. Just stone. And just the hard rock of the floor below him and the occasional wall.

It took all of his determination to keep moving. He knew he had several broken ribs, internal damage, and an unknown number of cuts and abrasions across his flesh.

Those guards had given him a beating, and Cara had almost strangled him before Nida had intervened.

Still, despite everything, he kept going.

Because he couldn’t stop. And he kept whispering her name, calling out in the loudest voice he could manage, despite how much it hurt.

Nida, he asked the darkness. Nida?

He had no idea how long he shifted around in those dark rooms and hallways, but eventually he reached a set of stairs. He ran into them, his shoulder slamming into one as he stumbled forward, still on his hands and knees.

Tentatively, he pulled himself up them.

With each stair he took, fresh air began to buffet against his bruised and bloodied cheeks.

Fresh air.

He could smell it now too – something breaking through the musty scent of these tunnels.

He moved faster.

Nida? he called. Nida?

He crawled faster and faster. Faster and faster, until he reached the top. He pulled himself up off the top step and out into the night.

The stars were above him, glittering high and bright, casting their glorious glow onto the dust and stone and rock of this world.

A world that had been destroyed. A dust bowl of rubble without a hint of life. No plants, no animals, just disturbed earth tracking for kilometers and kilometers, as far as the eye could see.

It took him a moment, then he realized in a rush where he stood. He was still on Remus 12. But he was no longer in the past.

He’d made it back.

To the future.

He stood now. He didn’t really know how he managed it, but with that surge of realization, a surge of energy burst through his bones and muscles, lifting him up.

Though he wobbled, he didn’t fall. He stared above him, shaken by what he saw.

He was home.

Nida? he called one last time, now more desperate than ever to find her.

Carson? someone called back.

Nida? he screamed.

Relief washed through him. It owned him. It surged so brightly and powerfully it could have replaced the glory of the galaxy above. If every star had suddenly gone out, he wouldn’t have cared.

Because she was here.

He tried to run forward, and he managed it. Step by step, he thrust himself toward that voice.

Nida, he called one more time.

He’d never felt relief as powerful as this. If he’d paused to assess it, maybe he would have realized it meant something.

But he didn’t. He just had to get to her – see that she was okay.

He whimpered as he finally saw a small figure resolve out of the darkness.

There she was.

Standing.

Okay.

Fine.

Whole.

Alive.

She was alive.

Nida, he called one last time.

But it wasn’t her. Doubt slammed into him just as several other figures resolved out of the darkness.

Carson? You’re alive, someone said.

He recognized the voice. Travis.

What…?

Carson stumbled now, and finally the figures before him brought out lights.

He blinked over at them, his eyes straining at the sudden illumination.

Travis rushed forward. What happened to you? Carson? He grabbed hold of Carson’s arm just before Carson could fall.

But he wanted to fall. Because it wasn’t her.

He stared at the small figure before him, the one he’d assumed in a moment of pure relief to be Nida.

It was Cadet J’Etem….

Carson doubled back, all strength leaving him.

Travis tried to support him but guided him to the ground instead. Carson, what happened?

Travis shot question after question Carson’s way, but Carson couldn’t answer.

He just stared at J’Etem, his sorrow washing through him as if he’d jumped into an ocean of grief.

What’s going on? Travis asked one last time.

Again, Carson felt his fatigue catch up with him. It rose through his body with unstoppable speed. But he fought it long enough to blurt out one desperate plea, Look for Nida. She has to be around here. Find her.

Carson? Travis leaned down before him, bringing his arm around Carson’s back.

Carson blinked up into his friend’s immeasurably worried expression.

Travis, just find her. She has to be around here. I don’t understand how we were separated. Just look for her, he screamed, the move costing him what precious little energy he had left and sending him into a painful coughing fit.

The group around him shared an eerie silence.

Carson, Travis said once more, you’re confused. Something has happened to you. We’re going to get you back to the Orion. We’re going to get you to the med bay. You will be okay.

Carson just shook his head. He would not be placated – he would not be calmed. Not until someone told him where she was.

Just find her, Travis, Carson begged again.

A terrifying silence met his plea. Then Travis whispered three little words. She is dead.

And Carson lost it. He blacked out – back to the unconsciousness that beckoned him.

2

Carson Blake

When he awoke, he was no longer on the surface of Remus 12. He was in a bed in the med bay of the Academy Cruiser Orion. He knew this, because he could see the insignia of the Orion painted on the wall, and he could feel the bed beneath him.

A single moment of confusion crippled his mind before the memories came back. Thick and fast, it felt as though they crippled him.

He bolted upright, the move so strong, he threw off some medical device that had been attached to his head and arm.

There were several doctors on the other side of the room, and as one, they all rushed to his side.

Whoa, one of them said, steady. Take it slow. You had some serious injuries.

Where is she? Carson spat, ignoring them as he reached up and pulled the remaining devices from his arms, wrists, and chest. He just yanked them off with no care as to what they did, let alone how sophisticated and expensive they were.

He had to find her. Because she couldn’t… be dead.

He jumped up from the bed before anyone could stop him.

Nida? he called.

When no one answered, he screamed her name louder until his voice echoed off the surrounding walls.

He turned on the spot, his eyes wide and filled with desperation.

She wasn’t in the med bay.

So he ran forward.

He would search this whole ship if he had to. But he would find her.

Set up a medical field, he heard one of the doctors call from beside him.

Carson ignored her.

He’s delirious – stop him from leaving, someone else called.

They wouldn’t be able to.

Carson ran past everyone, heading out into the corridor. He had to duck past an enormous half-alien doctor on his way out, but Carson managed it.

Even if he’d had to scale the tallest of peaks, in that moment, he would have done it. Because he would do anything to find her.

She had to be here. He held onto that thought with all his mind and heart.

She’d come through the time gate with him. He remembered that bit. He could recall in perfect detail how she’d beckoned him forward. How she’d lifted off her feet, the power of the entity surging within her. Her skin had vibrated with all the power of a star, and she’d pulled him through time.

But she wasn’t here.

Yet he knew she couldn’t be dead. Because the stars were still in the sky. Reality was still whole around him.

If Nida had died, then the entity would corrupt.

So she couldn’t be dead.

He powered into the corridor, hope not so much filling his heart, as burning away at it.

He felt sick to his stomach as fear collided with reason.

He was only dressed in a pair of light pants, his chest bare from where the medical devices had been attached.

He didn’t care. He just ran forward. He didn’t know where he headed to – just anywhere, everywhere, somewhere.

She had to be somewhere.

He’s delirious, he heard one of the doctors call as she ran out into the corridor behind him. Stop him.

There were other crew members out in the wide corridor, and they all looked at Carson with open astonishment.

He ignored them.

He sprinted, his arms powering by his sides. Though there was a latent, heavy tingle in his legs and torso, he ignored it.

He was no longer covered in blood and injuries, thankfully. It appeared the doctors had fixed him up.

Yet it was never recommended to run full bore, half-naked down the corridor after extensive medical treatment. Still, that didn’t stop him. Honestly, it seemed nothing could apart from a glimpse of her face and that precious, awkward smile.

Without any plan, he barreled forward until finally he met security.

They came charging out of a doorway to his left, and though they were not carrying any guns, their stances were threatening. He recognized the man in the lead. He’d gone on a few missions with him before. John Smith. Well, right now John Smith put a hand up, spreading his armored fingers wide. Carson, you have to go back to the medical bay. You’ve been injured.

Carson just shook his head. A distant part of him was aware of how strange his behavior would seem to his comrades. But they had no idea what he had just been through over the past few weeks.

I’m not delirious, he snapped back, shifting his head from side to side, letting his sweeping gaze check the corridor from end to end, as if he expected Nida would simply be hiding behind one of the service panels.

He didn’t really know what he was doing. But powerful despair kept pushing him forward.

He had to find her. Wherever she was, she would need him.

That wasn’t anything to speak of the entity. He needed to get to them before it was too late.

All right, just calm down, John tried, his hand still held up stiffly before him, yet the look in that stern man’s gaze told Carson John wasn’t going to play nice forever.

You have no idea what’s going on, Carson began, surprise and frustration twisting through his tone until his words were barely recognizable.

Carson? somebody else called from the other side of the corridor.

It was Travis.

With quick, purposeful strides, and a face ashen with worry and surprise, Travis came rushing up to Carson’s side. What are you doing? Travis’ eyes darted from left to right as he searched out Carson’s own gaze. Get back to the medical bay. You’ve been injured.

I know, Carson shouted, his voice vibrating up and down as yet more emotion surged into it.

Just calm down, John said again, letting his hands drop, but it wasn’t a move of surrender. He brought his arm behind him, and there was a distinct clicking sound as he released his handgun from his holster.

Carson wasn’t so far gone that John was about to shoot him, Carson knew that. But if their roles had been reversed, Carson would have thought nothing of setting his handgun to stun to resolve the situation quickly and smoothly.

Carson, go back to the medical bay, Travis said slowly, his lips moving carefully over his words.

Carson shook his head, the move a bitter and desperate one. I have to get to her before it’s too late.

Again, a distant part of his mind was aware of how strange he would be sounding. But it didn’t matter.

Get to who? Travis shook his head, his usually confident expression twisted with indecision and surprise.

Carson could understand the surprise.

He was meant to be the leader of the Force – a capable, calm, and always collected leader. Yet right now he was standing in the middle of the corridor, in nothing more than a thin pair of pants, screaming about a woman while pacing back and forth wildly.

Nida, Carson barked through clenched teeth. A lot happened since we left the Coalition, too much to explain. But listen to me, you need to scan those tunnels. You have to find her. The entity—

She is dead, Travis said slowly and quietly, with a deceptive certainty to his tone.

Carson opened his mouth, ready to shout Travis down, ready to tell him that was impossible, but the words died on his lips.

Carson, you were injured. You need to go back to the medical bay. Everything will be explained to you eventually.

Explained to me eventually? Carson took a step backward. It was a powerful, almost violent move, and immediately John brought out his gun.

Travis made a motion with his arm, telling John to lower his weapon, but John did not. Let’s just get him back to the medical bay, John suggested through a snarl.

What is going on here? Carson asked through a wavering, tight tone. It pitched high in a loud scream, carrying and echoing through the entire corridor.

You’re confused, Travis said. And she is dead.

Carson took a snapped, frustrated step forward.

An instant later, John shot him.

Carson didn’t feel a thing as he lost consciousness and slammed into the cold floor of the Academy Cruiser Orion.

3

Carson Blake

This time when he woke he didn’t bolt upright. It was a slow return to consciousness, as if he was being shepherded forward. And as he finally awoke, he realized he was literally being guided awake. Glancing languidly to his left, he saw a robotic arm injecting something into his neck. There was a vial of red colored liquid in the syringe, and he watched it as it slowly disappeared, the contents entering his bloodstream.

You’re on board the Academy Cruiser Orion, a calm but firm voice said from his side.

He blinked his eyes open, then closed them heavily, enjoying the sensation of the skin pressing tightly together.

It was distracting.

And he needed distracting.

For his memory was a mess: snippets of sounds, scraps of sights, and one name tumbling and curling and twisting through his mind like a vortex.

Nida.

Though it took a great deal of effort to fight against whatever drug had just been pumped into his bloodstream, he forced his eyes open, then used all his energy to twist his head to the side. Where is she? he croaked.

He saw Admiral Lara Forest walk into view. She was dressed in her Academy uniform, the high collar cutting neatly against her trim neck. Her hands were held tightly behind her, and her stance was one of stiff composure. She looked down her nose at him, though it wasn’t an expression of superiority, just command. She is dead. She died approximately three weeks ago.

Carson’s brow crumpled. How long was I out? He could barely push his words out, not because his throat was closed off or injured in any way, but because he couldn’t form the thought. He didn’t want to. He didn’t want to comprehend what that statement could mean.

Approximately eight hours, the admiral answered smoothly.

Carson shook his head, the move jerking as his neck muscles twitched from fatigue. Still, he managed it. He could have jumped to his feet, grabbed the admiral by her shoulders, and shook her. She was right by my side eight hours ago, he said through clenched teeth. What’s going on?

You are delirious, Admiral Forest said. You clearly have not taken well to your medical treatment. When you were found by Travis and the rest of your team, you were in a bad way. Now calm down, she added, possibly sensing that Carson was about to jump to his feet again. Or we will sedate you.

He opened his eyes to stare at her now. The admiral was a hard woman, he knew that from experience – he also knew that she was the kind of person who should not be