Wildblood: The Inspector Dalton Files, #5

By Adair Hart

Chaos sometimes needs a guiding hand.

 

Wildblood, a new drug, has swept Los Angeles. The Earth Ward and local law enforcement have no idea where it came from or all of its impacts other than it makes Outsiders shift in public. The nonhuman masquerade can't be violated, and the growing Wildblood epidemic is getting out of control.  

 

Enter Earth Ward Inspector Dalton Kingston and his team. One problem is navigating LA, which is a hotbed of nonhuman activity. Another issue is that federal agencies aren't on good terms with the Imperium branch that runs LA. Although the Aztec pantheon controls that branch, they've been ostracized by human agencies.

 

At stake is revealing nonhumans to the world. The few humans who are exposed become wisened, but a massive breakdown in the masquerade would be chaos. Dalton must show why he continues to be sought after for his skills and power, even when the going gets tough, by showing one of his core traits—strength.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adair Hart
• Release date: Jul 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223040231

Book preview

Contents

Title

Copyright Page

The Team

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Note from the Author

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Books

Title

Copyright © 2023 Adair Hart

All rights are reserved to the author. No part of this e-book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Editing by Miranda Miller of Editing Realm

Cover by Tom Edwards

Proofreading by Alexa

Published by Quantum Edge Publishing

www.AdairHart.com

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Chapter One

Dalton Kingston

An evolved human who traveled through ten other alternate Earths before coming to this one. Most of his technology came from the first Earth he visited, where he was a Scoutspectre, or space inspector. He has fair skin, slicked black hair, and the sides of his head are shaved.

Technology

Nanosuit: He wears a nanosuit that has three modes: default, chameleon, and Scoutspectre. Default is his everyday casual wear, which is usually black boots, beige pants, and a dark-gray T-shirt. Default is also what spawns his official suit. Chameleon allows him to blend into his environment. Scoutspectre forms an armored suit and allows a nanoshield to be spawned. He can also vibrate the whole suit or parts of it.

Multipurpose handle (MH): A hilt-shaped device that carries an energy cell. It can extend morphable metal to form various weapons, such as a stun baton. The energy cell can carry one hundred charges. A light stun uses one charge, medium uses two, and heavy uses three.

Ranged Stun Gun (RSG): A ranged stun weapon that forms around his right hand. It carries twenty-five charges and can fire light, medium, and heavy stun beams with similar charge usage to the MH.

Augmented Reality Interface (ARI): An interface only he can see that overlays information on the environment. He can interact with it by using his hands.

Augmented Right Palm: He has a ring embedded in his palm that allows for scanning or pulsing bright lights.

Enhancements

Super cells: Biologically engineered cells that provide rapid cellular regeneration.

Cosmic energy: This allows him to use Evaran-sense and provides enhanced strength and speed as needed. While using his Evaran-sense, he can read life auras and has peripheral awareness of up to fifty feet. When he focuses, time slows down.

Torvatta-touch: An ability granted to him by Evaran’s ship, the Torvatta. He can open, close, or permanently seal any existing portal. His connection ability allows him to open a new portal to an existing one if he can sense it. His recall ability lets him open a portal back to this timeline if he is in another.

Evot

An artificial intelligence who resides inside Dalton as an augment. Evot has taken on a female persona and manages detachable secondary control units in Dalton’s upper arms. Each secondary unit controls a nanoswarm that allows her to morph into various forms. Her usual ones are a cat and a crow. She was an enhanced virtual intelligence until Dalton was infused with cosmic energy. Evaran and V stabilized her, and she evolved into an AI.

Brad Washington

A human with Wildborn energy that allows him to talk to technology. Although human in appearance, he is classified as nonhuman. He has dark skin, and his casual attire consists of black shoes, black pants, and a shirt with a metal or punk band on it. His head is usually shaved, and he has small tattoos on his arms.

He arrived from a cyberpunk alternate Earth and has only been on this Earth for a few years. Since joining the team, he has been gifted a prototype hunter drone he named Gizmo.

Valerie Simmons

An Outsider who came from another dimension. Her species is referred to as Zikarian, and on this Earth, she is classified as a vampire. She has pale skin and black, shoulder-length hair. Her casual outfit is combat boots, jeans, a comfortable shirt, and a tactical jacket.

She crossed over in AD 1906 and used to be an assassin. Due to a promise to Dalton, she is no longer one.

Todd Armani

A human who used to be a slayer in the Faith Militia. He is a second-generation Persian-American with light-tan skin and a shaved head, although he is letting it grow out some. His casual wear is made up of tactical boots, camouflage-patterned pants, and a shirt with camouflage-patterned sleeves and a solid-color middle.

He has previous military experience and became an ex-slayer after encountering Dalton. Rick Westmoreland helped Todd adjust to his new life.

Rick Westmoreland

An ex-slayer human who has been enhanced through experimentation. He has fair skin with a shaved head and a well-trimmed red beard. His casual attire consists of black boots, camouflage-patterned pants, and a tight black T-shirt.

He is known as Executioner by most and was considered a legendary slayer. After Blake Brown broke his mental conditioning, Rick left the Faith Militia to help nonhumans and those who also left the Faith Militia.

He has Special Forces training and served as an elite mercenary in his past. His executioner suit has multiple layers and armored fiberglass-like pads, with a tough undersuit. It supports dual blades and an assault weapon on the back, pistols on the thighs, and a helmet that has cutouts for the eyes and ears. The helmet also has a technological component to it.

Chapter One

Earth Ward Inspector Dalton Kingston did not usually make trips to other timelines, but he made exceptions when a murderous multi-timeline corporation like Dynkara was involved. It was December 14, 2013, 8:00 p.m. Earth time, and similar to the timeline he called home, this one had a day and night cycle. He stood on a hill that overlooked a lush valley, and in the center was a building that served as a hub for Dynkara on this parallel Earth.

The hub was highly visible due to its lighting being the only technology in the valley. Next to him were Dravell Zhage, a fair-skinned human; Sazrissa Mortalka, a tan-skinned human; CC, a cosmic cloth; and Syr, an artificial intelligence who hovered in an orb to Evot’s side.

Dravell and Sazrissa were Torvatta’s chosen, with Dravell’s Torvatta being a pocket dimension. Sazrissa had been selected in some future event, and she had been reassigned by the Torvatta to work with Dravell. She knew the future of those in Dalton’s timeline to some degree but kept it secret. He shared a strong bond with them.

CC was like a flying carpet who could morph, and although he did not talk, he could communicate with Dravell, Sazrissa, and Syr thanks to a recent gift from Evaran. CC had been created at the same time as Dravell’s transformation into a Torvatta’s chosen, and they were inseparable. Syr was built as a digital representation of the Torvatta, but she had gaps in her history. She could project a humanoid hologram over her orb, but she also had a powerful body back in their Torvatta.

Dynkara…they’re too eager, said Dravell, running his hand through his spiky blond hair.

Sazrissa gestured out with her arm. Always. This is the second time I’ve seen them, and I’ve only done eight summons so far.

Dalton smirked. Well, they aren’t messing with Earth anymore.

Dravell glanced at CC, who hovered. Oh, you think so?

What’s he saying? asked Dalton.

He said we are an overwhelming force and we should just storm the place, said Syr.

Dalton studied her. I like it. What do we know of the hub?

It’s a tier-eight structure. Four portals inside with a security AI and a robot defense force. This is what Dynkara uses when establishing a foothold.

Dravell circled a finger at Dalton. And that’s why your portal sealing ability will really come in handy.

Sounds good to me, he said.

Evot tilted her head. What about the security AI? Are we to destroy it?

We can move it to a robot body, then let it go through one of the portals before closing it, said Dalton.

We’ll convince it to do so, said Syr.

Both Syr’s and Evot’s lights grew brighter.

Sazrissa pointed at the ground. All right. Dravell and Dalton can ride on CC, while Syr, Evot, and I will fly. When we get there, we’ll break down their security entrance, shut down the portals and the AI, then disable the robots after allocating one for the AI to move to. Everyone good?

You’re a natural leader, said Dalton.

Hey! I can be one too, said Dravell.

Dalton grinned. I didn’t mean anything by it. Let’s go.

The recent deaths of Evaran, V, Dr. Albert Snowden, and Emily Snowden, collectively known as the gang, along with their significant others, Jelton Stallryn and Kess, ate at Dalton. There was nothing he could have done about it, but his heart hurt. Assisting Dravell, Sazrissa, CC, and Syr was helpful in that they knew the gang as well as he did. Dravell’s and Sazrissa’s intermittent frowns indicated they probably felt the same.

Evot had been a wreck over the last week. She had been granted enhanced sensitivity, and that overwhelmed her processing. She had a close brush with nonexistence, and she struggled with the concept of mortality.

After seeing Evaran and the gang one last time before they exited the plane, she had dealt with the loss of friends and the realization she would never see them again, at least not in their current forms. It had devastated her. She frowned more than she smiled, but visiting Dravell and the others had lifted her mood. Dalton wondered how her emotions were processed, and although she had given a technical answer, there were parts that she did not know the answer to.

He and Dravell stepped onto CC, who hovered on the ground. It was like stepping on a flat sheet of metal. A moment later, they were in the air, with Sazrissa flying next to them via her jet boots. Syr and Evot had already flown ahead. It amazed Dalton that CC could carry him and Dravell with ease. Dravell’s black-and-blue tactical suit with gray pads weighed a lot, but it had no impact on CC.

Sazrissa wore light black armor, and Dalton was impressed by her rocket boots. She had taken to the air with grace and flew off to the side. While he had portal abilities due to being a Torvatta’s chosen, she had dimensional pockets in her that allowed for things like flight, shielding from her palms, and beams from her fingertips. Dravell had less cosmic energy than them, but he possessed Alkarin energy, which he could use to heal himself and others.

As they flew, Dalton focused on the mission ahead. Dynkara was ambitious, and he had experience with them now. The hub his team had taken down had more portals and a lot of defense. It boggled his mind that they were as spread out as they were, infecting many other parallel Earths.

Incoming! said Dravell, pulling out his dual energy pistols.

Four drones flew their way.

Not only could Dalton hear them, but their lights in the dark night gave away their position. He suspected they had already detected the group, but he did not recall Dynkara using drones before. Then again, he and his team had entered from a portal inside the facility, whereas here they were approaching from the outside. He morphed into Scoutspectre mode and spawned his energy shield and remote stun gun, or RSG.

Dravell hit one of the drones despite its chaotic evasive maneuvers.

Syr stunned another, but the drone only faltered for a moment, which was enough for Evot to dismantle it with her nanoswarm.

Sazrissa flew around and used the shields from her palms to deflect the beams back, but the two attackers on her kept trying to flank her.

Dalton took aim with his RSG and knocked out one of the drones when it tried to get behind her.

Sazrissa fired a stun beam that disabled the last assailant.

Well, that wasn’t a warm welcome, said Dravell.

Sure wasn’t, said Dalton, morphing back to his Earth Ward outfit. I didn’t know they had drones.

Sazrissa shrugged. Sometimes they do, but they’re only really a threat if they have numbers from a more powerful hub. That should be the last of them until we get there.

Works for me.

It impressed Dalton how easily they had handled the drones. Working against advanced technology was something he was used to, and for a brief moment, he thought about his old timeline. Dravell, Sazrissa, Syr, and CC were exceptional and would have fit in there.

CC’s keeping everything stable while dodging drone fire was commendable. Dravell’s accuracy with his pistols was what Dalton would have expected from a cosmic being, and Syr and Evot worked together effortlessly. Sazrissa had been an acrobat in the air when she flipped around everywhere and took down two drones without much hassle.

Dalton understood why the Torvatta had reassigned Sazrissa to Dravell’s group. It made his day that they had asked him for support with the portals, and this outing showed him what being a part of this team might be like. Nonetheless, he had his team and was where the Torvatta wanted him, but he would enjoy this grouping in the meantime. For now, there was a hub to remove.

Scene Break

Dalton surveyed the clearing before the rectangular, one-story hub. It had taken them ten minutes to get there after the fight with the drones, and before they landed, Syr and Evot had disabled a turret mounted on the roof. Now they all stood before a thick door with no side panels.

Dalton used his hand to scan it. No tech there. Looks like it’s manually opened from the inside.

I got this, said Sazrissa.

She moved in front.

Dravell stepped away. You don’t want to be in the splash range for this.

Dalton nodded and backed up.

Sazrissa aimed at the door and emitted a green liquid beam.

The effect was immediate, as the door began to melt when the acid hit it. It amazed Dalton how it did not impact the area around her fingertip. He could have used his vibrating armor approach to eat through, but it would have taken some energy to do so. This was more effective.

He narrowed his eyes. I sense there are robots gathering on the other side.

Dravell pulled out his two energy pistols. Yep. I do too. Sucks to be them.

Dalton appreciated his bravado. Not much fazed him.

Sazrissa stopped shooting her acid beam, then raised her palm. Okay. Enough of the door has been melted away that my shield can punch out what’s left. Once I do, I’ll angle my shielding to the left and Dalton, you can slip inside to the right with your shield out.

Got it, said Dalton as he moved to the side of the entrance.

He entered Scoutspectre mode, spawned his energy shield, and used his multipurpose handle, or MH, to form a stun baton.

Sazrissa projected a curved shield from her palm that knocked out the remaining portion of the door. Her shield lit up from a hail of beams.

She angled her palm slightly to the left, causing a small entryway to form on the right. Go!

Dalton burst through the gap between the shielding and the doorway. The humanoid stick-figure guards were not new to him, and he reflected a few shots that downed several robots. Once he had space, he hit another guard with his stun baton, then leapt to another one and took it down.

Come in! said Dalton.

Sazrissa barged in and covered the left side of the hallway. Dalton got the right, while Dravell moved between them with CC.

Let’s move as a group, said Dalton.

Lead on! said Sazrissa.

Dalton kept his energy shield forward as he advanced. The first portal was nearby, and with Dravell firing pinpoint shots, it did not take long to reach their destination. The room had an open portal in the middle with nothing else around it. He extended his forearm, which lit up in blue flames, and a moment later, the portal was sealed forever.

The next two portals were easy to remove. On the way, they fought a small army of robots. Dravell’s abilities were on display as his pistols chewed through the defenders’ shielding before downing them. He had also gone into close-quarters combat with his blunt, crescent-shaped fist weapons. The martial arts style employed was unknown to Dalton, but Dravell moved like a ninja as he flowed effortlessly between attackers. CC assisted him by ripping weapons out of the robots’ hands.

Sazrissa kept the rear covered and occasionally shot from her fingertips at enemies. She fired a mix of repulsion, acid, and stun shots. Syr hovered next to her and discharged stun beams as well, a feature of her newly upgraded orb, courtesy of Evaran. Evot also assisted by taking away the robots’ weapons.

The current hallway went around the facility, and opposite each portal room was a corridor that led to a central large room.

Dravell cried out as an energy beam knocked him down.

That triggered a memory of when Emily had been hit. Dalton’s nostrils flared as he surged forward and ripped apart the robot that struck Dravell. Dalton’s pulse quickened as he glared at six more attackers firing upon his shield. He charged the nearest robot. He channeled his anger at the loss of Dr. Snowden into a punch that knocked its head off.

Two others tackled him.

He thought of Evaran and V dying and vibrated his suit as hard as he could.

The assailants were shredded.

His eyes glowed as he hopped up and dashed to the last three defenders. He yelled as he poured all his pent-up emotion from losing the gang into a series of punches and kicks. He did not use his shield, and although he took a few blows, it only made him angrier. He put a hole through one robot’s chest, ripped the arms off another, and decapitated the last one.

He seethed as he concentrated on normalizing his breathing. There were only three robots left that he could detect in the hub, and they were in the central room, so he had a moment to relax.

Everyone assembled around him.

Dravell approached cautiously. Whoa…you all right there?

Dalton frowned. I wasn’t in the moment. Still dealing with…you know.

Ah, yeah. We all are, said Dravell. He placed a hand on Dalton’s shoulder. But you have a cosmic brother and sister still.

I’m honored, said Dalton.

CC hovered nearby.

Yes, yes, said Dravell. I’m sure Dalton knows you have his back as well.

CC high-fived Dalton.

And you have me, said Evot, hugging him from the side.

And me as well, said Syr, smiling.

I didn’t mean to lose control there. That’s pretty rare for me, said Dalton.

Sazrissa’s eyes misted. Trust me. You’ll never forget the gang. All you can do is live with it the best you can.

Dalton sighed. And you’ve seen multiple gangs.

She lowered her head. Yeah.

Her cosmic energy fluctuated. If he hurt this badly over the Evaran and gang that he knew, he could not fathom how much it pained her to see it happen more than once.

Dalton cleared his throat. Let’s get these last three robots. I’ll hold one for the security AI to inhabit, then we can move it through the last portal and shut that down.

Works for me, said Dravell.

Dalton took a moment to compose himself. It was unlike him to lose control even for a moment, but it showcased how he felt. There was a hole in his heart, but he needed to soldier on. He advanced to the central room with his shield forward.

The three robots there opened fire.

He reflected one beam, which downed an attacker.

Sazrissa used her shield to knock another down, which Dravell stunned.

The last one had its weapons removed by Evot, and Dalton rushed in and held it by the neck before lifting it off the ground.

Syr connected to the back of the robot’s head, and it stopped moving.

I think we can use this one, said Dalton, putting the robot down and laying it against the wall.

I agree, said Syr. She met Evot’s gaze. Let’s get this security AI out.

Of course, said Evot.

Syr plugged into a nearby workstation with her morphable tendril. Evot created a long wire and connected Syr to the back of the robot.

After a moment, it whirred to life.

Syr flew back and formed her humanoid form, as did Evot.

The robot faced Dalton. I thank you. However, this is an illogical action on your part.

Perhaps to you. You’ve been allowed a second chance, said Dalton.

The only available portal goes to another world with a similar hub.

Dalton directed the robot to go down one of the hallways. Then you should make the best of this opportunity.

We might not be as kind if we meet again, said Dravell.

I understand, said the robot. It turned toward Evot and Syr. You would have made excellent Dynkara operatives.

I like where I’m at, said Syr.

Evot’s eyes grew brighter. Me too.

Those are not logical views, said the robot.

It turned and marched to the last portal with the group in tow. The robot paused as it scanned them, then stepped through.

Dalton’s forearm burst into blue flames, then he sealed the portal. Well, that’s that.

Went as smooth as I figured it would, said Sazrissa.

"Yeah, three Torvatta’s chosen? Pfft. Easy pickings," said Dravell, grinning.

Dalton chuckled. What’s next?

I’ll melt the facility, said Sazrissa. CC can take you back to where your truck would be on this Earth, then you can portal home.

I’ll go with him, said Dravell.

Sazrissa and Syr hugged Dalton and Evot.

Stay safe, and know that we’re here for you, said Sazrissa.

Thank you, said Dalton.

Same, said Evot.

Sazrissa eyed him. We plan to visit your Earth from time to time.

You’re always welcome, said Dalton. Our base is big enough for everyone, and it’d be good for the rest of the team to get to know you all better.

Sounds like a party, said Dravell.

Evot frowned.

Syr gave her a hug. It’ll be okay. Your algorithms will adapt.

I believe so, but it’s resource intensive for the moment, said Evot.

Dalton felt what she did or imagined he did. She had been close to V, who was her mentor. Seeing Dravell and the others was a reminder of what was gone. She, Syr, Brad, and V had connected during a cookout, and it was the happiest he had ever seen her. However, as she was finding out, life could change fast.

Dalton waved goodbye to Sazrissa and Syr, then exited the compound and took to the air on CC with Dravell while Evot flew nearby.

As they flew, Dravell eyed him. I get what you felt back there. It still bothers me that the gang died and there’s nothing I could’ve done. It happened as it was meant to.

That’s what Evaran would say, said Dalton.

Yeah, said Dravell, looking out. He eyed Dalton. Have you met Evaran’s or V’s new forms yet?

Not yet. Maybe they won’t come back.

Evot flew closer to CC. The probability of that is low. They’d never abandon us.

I hope not, said Dalton.

They landed in a forest clearing.

Dalton stepped off. This was good. I think it was just what I needed.

Dravell smirked. I’m sure the robots would disagree with that.

Probably, said Dalton.

Well, I guess this is it.

CC rose up and perched on Dalton’s shoulders like a cape, then hovered in front of them with a cloth strip out for a high five to both Dalton and Evot.

He says he hopes you two stay safe, said Dravell. And remember, you’ve got cosmic friends over here. Hopefully our demise isn’t anytime soon, but until then, feel free to drop in.

Dalton cleared his throat and clasped Dravell’s forearm. You got it, brother.

That’s more like it. Now get on back to Earth, and solve some cases!

Dalton took a final look at Dravell and CC, then extended his forearm, which lit up in blue fire. A moment later, a portal to his Earth opened. He stepped through with Evot in tow, and once across, he closed the portal. A gust of cold, fresh air from the noisy dark forest hit him in the face. The team’s SUV was nearby at a rest stop, and he would make his way there.

He took a moment to stare at the stars. The Torvatta had saved him, which had allowed him to see his family before being incorporated into the life layer and brought to this Earth. It bothered him that the Torvatta had not interfered to assist Evaran and the gang. As one of the gang’s most powerful members, it could have made a difference. However, he was thankful the Torvatta existed.

Evot merged into his upper arms.

He suspected she did not want to deal with the heavy processing of the loss. Hopefully she could continue on in her happy state down the road. While others might not see that she was hurting or even realize that an AI could hurt, Evaran had upgraded her sensitivity algorithms so she could feel more. Unfortunately, she was getting a strong dose of grief. Dalton exhaled as he started walking. He had a new case alert, but he was tired. It could wait until morning.

Chapter Two

Tobias Krause puffed on a cigar in his SUV as he ran his hand through his blond hair. Although he appeared as a fair-skinned man in his mid-forties, he was actually over four hundred years old, a benefit to being a powerful Wildborn.

His ability to control everything around him in a six-foot area was rare, and he could even counter the effects of aging. He liked appearing as middle-aged, as it was not too old or young, and he could change his appearance if he focused long enough.

He was meeting Edward Jones, an old friend known as the Facilitator, as well as Miguel Ortiz, a drug runner. It was December 14, 2013, 9:00 p.m., and he had his window down to let out smoke and enjoy the crisp air. The empty area behind a strip mall was the perfect place to distribute Wildblood, a new drug that gave everyone a