Bind (Metatron's Army, Book 9)

By Elizabeth Maxim

Creating a leader in 3 easy steps:

Introduce one hell of an identity crisis. Growing up on Earth has given Christine Baker an advantage in her efforts to defeat the bastard who wants to destroy everything and everyone she loves, but only letting go of who she thinks she is will give her what she needs to finish the job.

Inherit a mess. Being the Chosen One isn’t just getting old, it’s becoming a chain around her neck, propelling Christine toward a black hole that will imprison her soul in a way evil never could.

Use chaos to create order. With her resources scattered, a wounded Commander must draw from the very core of existence – love – to find the strength and the means to save those she cares for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elizabeth Maxim
• Release date: Feb 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463077740

Elizabeth Maxim

If Elizabeth were to map her life’s journey, it would resemble the chaos of a Pac-Man game but out of this chaos came the foundation for her stories. She draws from knowledge, personal experience, and imagination in creating strong independent characters who steer their own destiny... often with a little help from love.Elizabeth studied alternative medicine with an MD for several years before earning a doctorate of philosophy in that field. She also holds a bachelor's degree in holistic childcare. Currently living in the Pacific Northwest, she is the author of multiple books, fiction and nonfiction, as well as two blog sites.You can follow Elizabeth at elizabethmaxim.com.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

A bind is a hold on the opponent's position which stops him freeing it. Usually by means of pawns; a severe type of restraint.

2007

Catana, Vetria System

Vetrian High Court, Perm

Will the defendant rise?

Christine Baker, Commander of The EVS Phoenix stared impassively at the Administrative Official in charge of the hearing.

Nice to see you again, Elmer Fudd.

Elmer was originally dubbed Judge Wapner, but she didn’t want to insult the TV personality. He was a judge after all. The guy looking at her with a smug expression was a joke, as was the trial.

It was the third time she’d been hauled in front of the Catanan judicial administration for her supposed role in the destruction of The CVS Plurath and the loss of her crew.

The vessel, property of Catana of the Vetrian Star System, was sucked into a time gate where it exploded moments before she and the crew of the Eolighten vessel she commanded – the EVS Phoenix - destroyed it.

An administrative official came to stand near Elmer. Do you understand the charges?

How’s it hanging, Daffy?

It was impossible to take either of the clowns seriously.

"Yes." I’m being tried for something that was not my doing.

Please take your seat, Commander.

Christine glanced around. Just as with the previous trials, it was standing room only. Bored people with nothing better to do. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. They were gaining information and information was currency in Catana’s capital city. To be able to say you were a witness? A free dinner, at least.

There was, she supposed, a couple of differences from the previous trials. Strykus, the Energy Tracker Light Being who swapped places with Verix aka Godzilla, was with her. On the two previous occasions, she’d been without any Light Being escort. Not that she hadn’t had them on standby. And the first time, Godzilla had made a sudden and unexpected appearance, remanding the trial to the Court of the Council of Twelve. The second time, Dacan, an Auspex, had come to deliver the news that the judges had overstepped their authority in trying her for something that was not only Council business, it was classified.

There was another difference, and an annoying one at that. Senator Cushing of the Political Elite had decided to attend. Why, she couldn’t have said. The man resided on Eol, at the elite military Academy she’d attended, Dynamic. She could understand if her vessel was coming under fire; he’d footed most of the bill for its construction. Since her ship and crew were not on trial, however, she couldn’t imagine why he’d taken an interest. He certainly hadn’t on the previous two occasions.

Do you still refuse to explain what you were doing in the Kelios System?

I did explain. Twice. It’s a matter of Vetrian security and as such I am not at liberty to share the details with you.

The senator went to stand by the clowns. And if I authorize you to do so?

This is a novel approach.

Beside her, Strykus stiffened.

"I’m not afraid of him."

"I do not trust him."

"Neither do I. Just be patient. It’s my experience that fools love to talk so they can hear themselves speak – which he does. Such fools give away more than they intend. Trust me."

She was finding telepathic communication rather convenient, all things considered.

Princess? Or should I call you Commander?

Whatever you want, Senator.

The man’s eyes flashed at the casual response. Not enough ego stroke for you? Too bad. God, the arrogant man was tedious.

"I am instructing you to disclose the nature of your mission on the night The Plurath was lost. It was night, wasn’t it, and you were sleeping?"

Slimy bastard.

It was my shift to sleep. My first officer woke me. I was on the bridge within minutes. And confused as hell as to why another vessel was anywhere in the vicinity given she’d sent out orders for all vessels to keep away from the section of space they were working in.

When an artificial time gate collapsed, the sonic energy wave was destructive to anything within close range. There was also the danger of being sucked into the dying gate as it imploded. Exactly what happened to Carthana’s ship.

I am instructing you to -.

Out of patience, she cut him off. Senator, you know damn well I’m not going to divulge the nature of the mission. It’s a matter of Vetrian security and I have every right to keep my mouth shut about it since it’s classified. And you know this, you little turd.

"I am an officer of the Academy and as such I can authorize you to reveal matters of security when I deem it appropriate to do so.

She smiled. You don’t even have the information yourself, Senator. The mission was authorized by the Council. Only Councilor Vetria can authorize me to release the information. And you know that too, you slimy bastard.

For years, she’d suspected the politician was a bad apple but hadn’t been able to prove it without accepting his offer to lead a special team in the offensive against the Iconoclast. To that end, she selected a small group of people, most of whom were Dynamic grads, and all of whom she called friend, to join her team. Named for the archangel who was the divider and fixer of boundaries, Metatron’s Army used The Phoenix to research the artificial time gates the bastard created before destroying them. It was the only known way to ensure innocents weren't sucked into dimensions not their own.

The unfortunate part was– with the destruction of the gates - anyone trapped on the other side would lose any chance to return and anyone caught in the gate would die. A tough price to pay, but a necessary one. To date, of the gates located, only two had yet to be destroyed.

There was a gate near the planet Azlaan at the far edge of the Vetrian System where it bordered the Balen System. That gate appeared to be inactive. It was believed to be a prototype, so in leaving it, she could do more research. The second gate, located on Catana, was a bit more controversial. A year earlier, Corus Argai, Tactical Instructor at Dynamic and the love of her life, was sucked through it. She couldn’t bring herself to destroy the gate, and not only because it would eliminate any possibility of her fiancée’s return.

Norgal, an Energy Tracker who was intimately familiar with how the gates worked, had gone through it, to search for Corus. His efforts would provide invaluable information about the gate and the artificial dimensions attached to it.

It was something only a Light Being could do. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She could travel between dimensions without acquiring Time Distortion Sickness, but only because she had Light Being DNA spliced in when she was an infant. There were others - certain Azlaans - who had the ability to do so under limited conditions. Everyone else suffered from TDS.

She spent a great deal of energy avoiding thinking about the fact the man she loved was going to be facing that awful truth when he returned.

What I do have, Commander, is the authority to ground you and take your vessel.

Glad to be distracted from depressing thoughts, she replayed the question. Or was it a comment? It was so hard to pay attention to the ninny.

"I suggest you do so, Princess. The senator is not a man to anger."

That got her attention.

"Do you know something I don’t?"

"I know that he is a dangerous man and you should be cautious."

Do what you’ve got to do, Senator. It certainly wouldn’t slow her down. She’d find a way around the weasel, just as she had others like him for most of her life.

Aren’t you interested in why I would be taking such extreme action?

This was novel. Sure. Lay it on me.

Snickers and gasps traveled like a wave throughout the spectators.

Silence! Elmer demanded, or I will clear this courtroom!

Oh, she mumbled not entirely beneath her breath, is that what this is? I thought it was a circus tent. When the senator opened his mouth, presumably to chastise or threaten, she cut him off.

Senator Cushing, you, like me, are an employee of Dynamic Academy. As such, you work for the Light Beings who opened the school per the mandate of the Council of Twelve. Since the Academy is located in the Vetria System, Councilor Vetria has ultimate authority over everything that goes on here. You may be higher in the pecking order but at the end of the day, you have no real authority over me at all. Councilor Vetria does and since he has already heard my report, along with Councilor Kelios and the rest of the crew, and not thrown me in the Council Prison for it, I can only surmise he doesn’t share your opinions on my guilt. Now, you are wasting my time. Either get on with it or let me go.

Chaos erupted and for the next several minutes she listened to shouts and a gavel slamming repeatedly – to no effect. Finally, things simmered down.

I am in charge of the program you and your little army work under, the senator replied, his tone making it clear he was furious. I will simply dissolve the program.

That could be dicey since it would make things more challenging. More time wasted. Under what grounds? We’ve been successful to date. Even exceeded expectations.

Though without a ship she would no longer be forced to ferry the political idiots who thought they were more important than they were throughout the star systems. Tedious, truly, if necessary. Had to pay the piper somehow.

On the grounds that your army is no longer in existence. I refuse to fund a program that has no participants.

Hell.

What, no pithy comeback my dear?

Fucking bastard. He had her on that one. In the weeks after Corus’ capture, which coincided with her being grievously injured while blowing up a time gate near the planet Indar, her team scattered to the corners of the systems, presumably to nurse their wounds, though she couldn’t have said that about Godzilla. His flight to the Menton System had been, in her estimation, pure cowardice. He couldn’t face her. Why, she couldn’t have said exactly, but ever since he delivered the horrific news to her on the ARS where she’d been receiving treatment from a brilliant DNA scientist, he’d kept his distance.

I see that you are in agreement. I have no choice but to -.

The door opened and a familiar figure stalked in. She mentally sighed. Wonderful. Beside her, Strykus shifted.

Verix, your presence is not needed here, Daffy said. To her amusement, the toad nodded at a guard – as if he could actually have the Light Being removed from the proceedings. Her jaw dropped as the Energy Shifter pulled a thermionic emitter on the poor stooge.

I suggest you reconsider before I incinerate you where you stand. I have the weapon on maximum.

Verix? Seriously?

"He is angry, Princess."

She could see that clearly enough, but the question was why.

"He does not like how you are being treated."

"It isn’t an emitter worthy offense, trust me."

She was saving that for the bastard when she saw him. Fucking Iconoclast. To her utter shock, Verix turned the emitter on the senator.

Verix, what are you doing threatening a member of the political elite?

Yeah, I’d like to know that myself.

"I think the Protector has been pushed too far, Princess."

Christine watched the senator and Verix face off in quite the stare down. The sleazy politician must have a spine of steel to appear so unaffected. Given the Energy Shifter’s expression, it was clear he was all too ready to kill the dweeb. She wondered if she should intervene.

"I wouldn’t."

"But he -."

"Princess, the Protector never does anything without purpose. Trust him."

Trust someone who swore to protect her then bailed when the going got tough?

"Princess, I am sorry he hurt you but again, trust that he had his reasons for transferring to the Menton System. I am sorry to be such a disappointment."

"Oh, give me a break, Strykus. You know damned well guilt doesn’t work with me and in any event, you guys aren’t interchangeable parts. I value you for who you are. I never looked at you as some sort of substitute for the overprotective Godzilla who’s about to blow the dweeb’s head off."

What is the meaning of this, Verix?

She was amazed how calm the senator sounded. The guy must have ice for blood.

The Commander’s team is intact. You cannot dissolve the program.

I know for a fact that Kara is on Isolar, Roddial is on Ladhra 2, -.

The Light Being team under the Commander’s authority, he cut in, along with the Azlaan warriors, all of whom are part of Metatron’s Army, are in full service.

That would be correct, Senator Cushing, said another familiar figure, walking over to stand next to Verix.

Ryn, she breathed, and felt a bit of the tension ease. She hadn’t seen him in months. She knew he, too, was hurting because of Corus’ capture. He’d been there, hadn’t been able to stop it. She knew he felt tremendous guilt over it in spite of the fact she told him she didn’t hold him responsible.

For several moments, the senator remained silent. I see, he said finally. Very well. I will not press charges. At this time, he added.

Elmer Fudd looked ready to rip the senator. Daffy Duck kept his eyes on the emitter. She could see the coward trembling from where she sat on the opposite side of the room.

"It is not cowardice to recognize a lethal threat, Princess."

She wasn’t going to touch that one with a ten-foot pole.

When the three idiots who thought to bully her glared, she smirked. Game on, dweebs!

The fury that briefly flashed in the senator’s eyes made her wonder if he’d read her mind. She pursed her lips. He wasn’t equipped, so to speak, with that talent, so far as she knew. She’d think about it later.

Ballia, clear the courtroom.

Verix shoved the bailiff out of the way before following Ryn into the hallway.

Christine let out a long breath. That was not a man to anger.

"He is not a man, Princess."

She didn’t bother to respond.

* * *

Christine wasn’t surprised to find the hallway full of busybodies with no Azlaan warrior and no overprotective Light Being in sight. Cowards.

Where would you like to go, Princess?

She turned to the Energy Tracker who worked the Vetria System with Dacan. Can we make a calm exit then find somewhere we won’t be seen and open an energetic doorway? She was in no mood for a dog and pony show.

She wanted to laugh at his indignant expression. She could almost read his thoughts. Me? With the commoners?

I’m a commoner, she said before turning and searching for a way through the crowd.

You are anything but common, Princess.

The day I believe that, she shot back, is the day I no longer deserve the title of Commander.

CHAPTER TWO

2007

Zaconis, Minelda System

Mining District – Firestone Mine

Light Being Verix Sterling followed the mining master on the inspection tour, listening as he pointed out various safety improvements made after a recent cave-in; a cave-in in which he’d been trapped. He knew where the work had been done, of course, having periodically dropped in to check on progress. It made paying attention a challenge.

Cowards!

He heard the accusation as he was set to open an energetic doorway. So had his temperamental companion. He’d barely kept Ryn from going after Christine, just managed to haul him through the doorway before he could.

"If you ever do that again, Shifter, I’ll -."

"Do nothing I haven’t already done to myself."

Apparently the Azlaan understood for he simply raised an eyebrow before stalking off.

Dragging attention back to the present, he focused on his guide. He wanted to hear the mining master’s comments. When it came to calling out any shortcomings of the miners’ working environment, Gorph didn’t mince words, which Verix appreciated, especially given their shared history.

Decades earlier, as a junior Light Being assigned to Councilor Menton, Verix was sent to subdue an uprising at the Firestone Mine. He’d been fully prepared to use force to put down the insurrection. When he arrived, Gorph put himself protectively before the picketing miners and demanded working conditions be improved.

"Then we will return to work."

Verix had never been able to determine whether or not Councilor Menton was aware of the poor working conditions and lack of safety equipment in case of a cave-in. The mine's owners claimed they had the mine independently inspected and that the mine complied with safety standards.

"Lies!"

The small Zaconan had glared out of eyes that seemed to dart everywhere at once, as if waiting for an imminent attack, and demanded Verix see for himself.

"If you dare."

The mineral content of the mountain meant once a Light Being descended into the mine, the ability to communicate telepathically would be lost. The communication system installed was faulty and therefore, unreliable, so once he went into the mine, he was at the mercy of the mining master.

"I will make my report to the Council."

Gorph had spit at his feet.

"Then nothing will change. We are prepared to die at your hand, Light Being, for we either die by your hand now or in the unsafe mine later."

Brave or foolish, the statement resonated with Verix’s emotional nature, a nature that got him sentenced to death by the Council of Twelve.

"He is a good soldier."

Only intervention by Alexander, an Energy Seer, kept him from being executed.

"Assign him to me. I will help him overcome his flawed nature."

He’d been prepared to dislike the Energy Seer, as his comment suggested he agreed with the Council’s conclusions. He learned his partner not only disagreed with them, he would do what he could to provide Verix the freedom to live with his emotions.

"To suppress your nature will cost valuable energy and we need that energy if you are to become stronger. We will learn to turn your emotional nature to an advantage."

When the Council refused to overturn the previous decision, citing Verix’s judgment questionable due to his flaw, he’d taken the first of many independent actions, and saw to the matter himself. To his surprise, Alexander assisted.

"This is Dacan. He is new. I would like you to mentor him. Your first assignment is to work with him on seeing to any safety improvements you deem necessary."

An Auspex, Dacan had been eager to prove himself. Since his energetic ability enabled him to see into the future, he was able to point out several additional safety deficits that were missed. Gorph had been impressed.

"Not even I, with my forty years in a mine, could have foreseen that."

The three Light Beings worked in stealth to keep the Council from discovering what they were up to. Disobedience was punishable by death. In the end, the mine was safer, and the Light Beings had the loyalty of the miners. Word spread, quietly leading to more cooperative efforts and more loyalty.

Verix had taken Christine, newly graduated from Dynamic Academy, into the mine as a graduation gift.

"Where are we going?"

"To the place Xavier called home."

He was Xavier, though Christine, heir to the Ivaran throne and hope for the salvation of his race, was unaware. He’d been surgically altered to resemble Xavier Casteel, a soldier who was the best friend of Princess’ father. The subterfuge was necessary to get Ryal’s agreement to let him take the Princess – an infant – to Earth. The drastic measure had been necessary as there’d been multiple attacks on her life before she was a week old.

On Earth,