Final Game Book Four: Final Game, #4

By Odette C. Bell

There's no more waiting. The war has begun.
Chris and Stellaxia are together. For now. They must sacrifice everything to stay in each other's arms. Even then, destiny calls. They'll travel to the heart of the Game to save everyone and each other.

….

Final Game follows a punchy princess and her prison guard fighting through real games to save their galaxy. If you love your space operas with action, heart, and a splash of romance, grab Final Game Book Four today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odette C. Bell
• Release date: Jan 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393886990

Book preview

1

Stellaxia

I had no clue what struck the ship, but whatever it was, it meant business. As I transported with Chris, we arrived on the security deck. Something told me that if this was the prelude to an attack, they would head straight for the largest assets first. And Falas was being kept here. Sure enough, as there was another massive bang, I looked around to see something strike the wall beside me.

Jerking my head over my shoulder, I saw that it was some kind of battering ram. It looked like the sharp point of an anchor. I’d never paid too much attention to old ship designs, but I was sure I was right.

Chris was still holding onto my hand. As soon as he saw that glistening chunk of metal protruding from the side of the ship, he grabbed me back. It didn’t matter that, with a blaring alarm, security shields flickered into place and blocked the battering ram off from us. His grip on my hand was as tight as a chain as he pulled me back. That’s a penetration tool. It’s a prelude— he began.

I didn’t need him to tell me what would happen next. It became apparent as the massive anchor-like contraption suddenly expanded. It opened like a hand. Within it, I saw black armored soldiers getting ready to deploy.

Chris hadn’t put his helmet on yet. Now, with a snap, it jerked into place over his face. He opened his hand, and a strange cannon I’d never seen before started to glow. He began firing wildly.

I could deal with this on my own. Thrusting forward, rather than go after the soldiers, I shoved them back with a well-placed kick. Then I slashed with my sword, obliterating the penetration device. Sparks cascaded everywhere. All the while, Chris kept hold of my hand. It meant I had to jerk him around like a doll, but he clearly didn’t want to let go.

You can’t do that for the entire ship. They’ll be invading everywhere. We should… he began, but whatever he was about to suggest died on his lips. Screw it, he said, his voice snapping out. I won’t leave you alone. Let’s do this together. No matter what happens, he added through a harsh breath as he opened his fingers wider and got ready to use his glowing hand cannon on the next unlucky target.

… He didn’t want to leave me alone? That meant something, didn’t it? Yes, it frigging did, and I needed to stop pussyfooting around. Of course it meant something. Maybe to begin with I’d denied our connection, but I just didn’t have the time anymore. As I saw another penetration device smash into place just to our left, about 20 meters down from where the first one had struck the station, I hauled Chris with me.

Watch out, he said, directing my attention to the right as, out of nowhere, a drone appeared.

I hadn’t seen it. Worse, I’d never seen anything like it. It somewhat resembled the metal-eating drones I’d seen earlier, but it was much wider. There were also lights playing across it. They blinked on and off in this eerie green-blue dance.

What the hell is that? I managed.

Something slammed into me. It was an energetic wave.

At first it affected me, but then my unparalleled defensive points in the Game kicked into gear. Chris wasn’t that lucky. He became a jerking mess on the floor.

Chris, I screamed. I wanted to get down on a knee beside him and check that he was okay, but I knew that if I didn’t deal with the threat, there’d be no point. Roaring, letting my anger blast out – knowing full well that if I’d displayed this kind of rage when I’d been a princess, they would’ve found some way of beating it out of me – I went on the offensive. I shoved in close to strike that drone, but as soon as my sword slashed down, it moved. It broke apart seamlessly, and it formed 100 other drones that shot further down the corridor.

I wasn’t about to let them go so quickly. With another roar, I backed up, sliced my sword to the right, and tried to catch one of the drones, but as soon as I tried to slice into it, it too just broke apart. Now there were 200 drones in here. I couldn’t begin to wonder what was happening, but I knew that if I didn’t put a stop to it, there’d be nothing to save Chris. He was still a jerking mess on the floor. It was horror incarnate watching him be injured like this.

You’ll pay, I roared at the drones as I went after them once more.

I attacked one of the smallest drones, hoping – no knowing – that this time I would finally blast through. But once more, I attacked it, and it split into 100 minuscule drones I could only barely count.

What the hell is happening here? I stammered. The drones continued to affect Chris, and there was nothing I could do. Even in his armor, there was a limit to how much he could be jerked around like this. He could be doing major damage to his muscles.

Just hold on, Chris, I said desperately. I went to attack again. I was standing right by Chris’ side. He suddenly thrust a hand out. He caught my leg. He inclined his head up toward me. I knew he was trying to say something. Chris, what is it? I stammered.

He pointed toward the drones, then up. If he was trying to communicate a way to defeat them, I had no clue what he meant.

The drones came at him. They swarmed around him. They picked up his armor. Though I screamed and tried to thrust them back, I couldn’t. Now Chris was jerking around like a puppet on a string. As he floated through the air, his head was twisted at a painful angle.

Chris, I screamed until my throat went raw. Let him go, bastards.

I went to thrust forward, but somehow, Chris inclined his head my way, despite the fact it looked as if it was one of the most painful things he’d ever done. I could tell that under his armor, he was trying to talk to me, but he couldn’t find the breath.

Just hold on— I tried.

Somehow, laboriously, he pointed. It was upward again. No, he wasn’t just indicating the silver plating that constituted the ceiling. There was something up there, wasn’t there?

Despite what had happened to me over the past few hours – hell, over the past few days – I hadn’t forgotten my strange ability to be able to detect sensors. It had started with Bates, but it had deepened ever since. I… I knew when someone was scanning me. Now I understood that ability extended to being able to detect other electronic signatures. There was some kind of important device up in the ceiling just above the drones.

I wasted no more time. I had no clue what Chris was trying to communicate precisely. Maybe he wanted me to open the ceiling panel and do something specific with the device within, but I didn’t have the time for that, so I opted for the direct approach – and the destructive one. With a scream, I leaped up, floated, and smashed my sword into the panel. As soon as I did, this shock wave of total power blasted out. It was almost enough that it knocked me off my feet. It smashed into the drones. They were still swarming around Chris, trying to do as much damage to him and trying to rip through his armor as easily as someone smashing through a ripe apple.

Whatever that device was, when it exploded, it was no mere eruption. This strange energetic pulse blasted through the room. It collected the drones, plucking them right out of the air as if I’d just poisoned flies.

What the hell? I stammered.

One by one, they came to rest by my feet. So did Chris. I jerked forward. I grabbed his shoulder just as he brought a shaking hand up.

He pointed at the panel again. You didn’t have to destroy it completely. I thought you could connect with it and force it to send out a disruptive blast. But oh well. That was effective too.

I jerked my head up and frowned at the now destroyed device. What the hell was that, anyway?

It was a special conduit for phase particles. We’re in an area that feeds directly to one of our quantum scanners. That conduit carried charged particles to the generator, which is located just below our feet about a deck away.

How did you know it would affect those drones?

I didn’t. It was an educated guess. And I guess it was a good one. Now— He didn’t have time to finish. There was another massive explosion from behind us. Another penetration device pushed through the ship.

I left Chris. I transported, slashed at it, then returned to him. This will be happening all around the ship, won’t it?

I didn’t need him to answer that. It was apparent. There was only so much I could fight.

Out there, the resistance would be hurting. We needed a miracle, and we needed one now. What the hell should I do? I helped Chris to his feet until he stood steady.

I don’t want to say this, but maybe we should—

I don’t want you to say it, either, I snapped, knowing full well that he was about to suggest splitting up. I really don’t think it’s the best plan. We’re better when we’re together, I concluded. That was probably admitting to too much. Or hell, maybe it wasn’t admitting to enough. It was now freely apparent that we had no normal relationship, and it was time for me to simply accept that.

Chris looked at me as I snapped at him that we weren’t going to split up. Slowly, he nodded.

Take your helmet off, I said suddenly – way too suddenly.

He jerked his head over his shoulder, looking for a new threat, but there wasn’t one there. What are you detecting?

Nothing I just…. Never mind.

What is it? he asked, his voice changing.

God, this was stupid, wasn’t it? I hadn’t intended for this to be a touching moment, but I’d accidentally stumbled my way into one anyway. All I wanted was for him to take his helmet off so I could see his expression.

I went to turn, so he just grabbed my arm. What did you want to say, Stellaxia?

I just wanted to see you – your face, that’s all. It’s not fair that I can’t. You get to see my expressions, but I have to imagine yours.

Is that it? His voice was frigging toneless. I knew the only reason for that was that he’d ordered his armor not to display his emotions. He had a distinct advantage over me.

I went to move away again, but he kept his hand on my arm. Stellaxia—

There was a massive explosion. I had absolutely no idea where it came from. It pitched up through the deck. It shook as if the whole world was about to come crumbling down. And even if the world wouldn’t come crumbling down, something else did. The deck above us groaned.

Quick, I snapped at him as I grabbed him around the middle and transported.

We appeared on the deck above.

It was chaos here. That meant it would be chaos everywhere. This fight had only just begun, and I hadn’t had a chance to assess my chances yet, but right here and now I realized one thing. There would be no getting out of here. If the Empire was willing to throw this many resources at us, then there was no—

I couldn’t finish that thought. I felt a hand reaching out to me once more. This wasn’t just the Game. This was Chris. He’d already been holding my arm. He let his fingers travel up until they held my fingers. We’re in this together. Now come on. I’ll take my helmet off for you later.

My stomach kicked. That’s not what I’d meant.… I could point that out, but I didn’t bother to. I let Chris pull me along.

As he tugged me along the deck, he inclined his head back and stared down in the direction of the security level below. We need to get back there at some point, he hissed. I know they’ll be going after Falas.

I concluded that too. He’s probably the most important target we have here.

He looked at me seriously. That would be you, Stellaxia.

I’d seen Chris stare at me many times directly, but there was something far more intense about it this time. I swallowed strangely for some reason. I would’ve looked like an idiot.

I would’ve thought you were used to it by now, he said.

Used to what?

Used to people staring at you like you’re— He started off strong. But he stopped abruptly. He swallowed, and regardless of how much he tried to hide it, it was nervous.

You thought I would be used to people staring at me like what, Chris?

Like you need to duck, he roared. He shoved into me and pulled me to the side. Several Army soldiers in armor the likes of which I’d never seen appeared. They must’ve transported. But this was seamless. It was unlike any transportation I’d ever seen. And it was far more graceful even than my own. They had electro blades in their hands. They thrust forward. One of them would’ve caught me on the shoulder had Chris not suddenly shoved him out of the way.

I’ve got this, I began.

No, I have. He shoved backward. He opened his hands. He started firing. These white-hot blasts exploded out everywhere, making the air singe and anything they touched buckle.

Let’s head to Falas.

What? Chris said. He was still halfway through shooting those soldiers.

I knew we didn’t have time to waste. I grabbed him by his arm. Then we transported. I was getting used to transporting blindly. I’d done it in the past several hours more than I had in the rest of my life combined. But the fact of the matter had not changed. It was dangerous as all hell to transport to a place you hadn’t seen and you weren’t in direct line of sight of. But right now I had no other choice. I could just tell that time was slipping through our fingers faster with every second.

Fortunately we reappeared back on the security level, further down from where the deck had collapsed, and we survived the ordeal without ending up headfirst in a bulkhead.

We were not alone. There were several Celestian Army soldiers setting up some kind of strange portable cannon. We appeared right beside them. They obviously hadn’t been expecting any enemy combatants to transport in. The one closest to me jerked back as if I was a snake.

Stop them, Chris said. He lurched to the side and started firing, not on the soldiers, but on the gun.

I’d never seen its like. That didn’t mean a great deal. It was becoming rapidly apparent that while I thought I’d known about the Celestian arsenal, I’d been grossly mistaken.

Though Chris kept firing, light suddenly spilled over the portable cannon. It reached high. It formed some kind of connection with the ceiling. Then I saw it squirm right through the floor. I had never encountered a shield anything like this. It seemed to be half matter, half light.

What the hell is that thing? I demanded as several soldiers came at me, but I managed to thrust to the side and deal with them quickly.

It’s a phase cannon. Don’t you dare let yourself be struck by it, he spat so quickly, I could only just understand him.

What’s a phase cannon?

It disrupts matter on the quantum level. It’s a galactic-wide banned weapon, he