The Supremacy: The Wehtiko Influence

By Eric Peter Brown

In J'hanctum (ja hock tum), a galaxy twice removed from ours, a highly communicable contagion called the Wehtiko (weh tee co) has inexplicably escalated in its infection rate that is normally manageable by the unwavering vigilances of an alien military Corp. known as the Qi-Tahh (chi tahhh) Supremacy. The outbreak began thousands of years ago, b

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blueprint Press Internationale
• Release date: Oct 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781961117648

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EVIL IS A DISEASE

THEY ARE THE CURE

THE WEHTIKO INFLUENCE

ERIC PETER BROWN

The Supremacy, The Wehtiko Influence

Copyright © 2023 by Eric Peter Brown

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN

978-1-961117-63-1 (Paperback)

978-1-961117-64-8 (eBook)

978-1-961117-62-4 (Hardcover)

Table of Contents

Inspiration

Acknowledgment

Prelude

Chapter IQi-Tahh

Chapter IISupremacy

Chapter IIIStrange New Life

Chapter IVThe Wehtiko Influence

Chapter VAncient Evil

Chapter VIArgen

Chapter VIIBlindsided

Chapter VIIIFar From Home

Chapter IXAlternative Action

Chapter XWe Kill When We Must

Appendix:Lord Telus

Next Installment:The Supremacy Reign of the Sorcerer

Inspiration

To those who dare to dream to be anything they want to be and who has the courage to take the steps needed to make their dreams come true, go for it. Do not let anyone stop you from doing what you love. Do not listen when they speak negatively of your pursuits. The Dream Is Yours. The Power Is Yours. Make It happen.

Acknowledgment

I would first like to thank my mother, Peggy Ann Brown for her love, devotion, and willingness to let her children be who they were to be. To my grandfather, Oscar E. Hawkins and my uncle Edward O. Hawkins, who believed there was nothing I could not do, and who inspired me to use their surname. I am sorry they could not be here to see how their love and beliefs in me has resulted. May they all rest in peace. To my oldest brother, Kent D. Brown, who introduced me to all the cool genres in television and movies that he watched back when I was a kid, and that I still enjoy watching today. Genres like science-fiction, action, adventure, fantasy and the supernatural. Thank you very much, Bro. To my nephew, Rodney A. Sadberry, who was my sounding board even though he may not have known it, and a muse just by listening to ideas I was trying out. Also, I want to thank my family and friends for their support and lastly, but certainly not least, a sincere gratitude to my Agent Kim Anderson, Project Manager Janice Rei, and her Production Team at Blueprint Press Internationale for their hard work in bringing my story to market.

Prelude

Enter A Galaxy of Savagery, Superior Science And Sorcery,

Where Intractable, Monstrous Evils Desire To Rule, And of The Powerful Forces That Stand In Their Way…

The Supremacy

The Supremacy is an alien military Corp. made up of families. These families are called Prides and are comprised of creatures from all throughout J’hanctum (ja hock tum), in a galaxy twice removed from ours. These Prides are known across the star systems as the Qi-Tahh (chi tahhh), who are the first line of defense against whatever danger threatens the citizens and sovereignty in their section of the universe.

The narrative centers on two main subjects. The Zahnobein (za no be in) Qi-Tahh, who are the Wyld (wild) Kards (cards) of the Supremacy and are as good as the flagship, and Marc Hawkins, the latest human to be recruited, augmented, and placed with these unusual creatures. As the family educates the Betah (beta) Earther on what it means to belong to a Pride, his training teaches him what it means to be Qi-Tahh–a Life Protector.

The series begins two years after Marc reluctantly joins the Supremacy, and during his second term, he is arrested for murder, sabotage, and treason. Told from his viewpoint, Hawkins recounts the events which led to his recruitment, the beginning of his trials and tribulations, and of his first dealings with the Wehtiko (weh tee co), a diabolical disease that unleashes the most violent and hateful nature of those Influenced.

Prepare Yourself…You Are About To Experience The Heart-Pounding Dangers And Soul Freezing Terrors That Resides In The Galaxy of…

The Supremacy

QI-TAHH

I

Murder, sabotage, and treason were just a few of the crimes which I am guilty of and was told that the list of charges was much longer. De-augmented and under Habitat confinement, the Ohden-Council had assembled due to the three major offenses and must decide how to proceed. Though I was only a Betah and the lowest rank of the hierarchy, I broke their most sacred oath when I killed with intent and must now answer for it.

In my King-sized bed, I stretched out my arms and yawned deeply. In outer space, there was no night and day, so I programmed the lighting of my window display to mimic outdoors at their appropriate time and season and saw it was nearly five in the morning.

My mind raced, and I was unable to sleep and have not done much since my arrest five days ago. Tired of being in bed, I threw the covers off and got up. Naked as a newborn baby, I walked to the blue wingback chair in the corner and retrieved my grey shorts decorated with black claws.

I found it unnecessary to be properly dressed while awaiting word on my execution, but having visitors drop by unexpectedly at all hours was the norm so I forewent the nudity I was accustomed to in my Habitat.

I smiled at the thought of being nude around others. Anyone seeing me unclothed in my Habitat or in the corridors would speak to me as though I were fully dressed. Among my Pride, nakedness meant nothing as some of our Pridesmen were naked all the time. There were no hypocrisies around nudity or sex, and I found that refreshingly mature and open-minded. A shame so many humans practiced these opposites. I went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.

The automatic lighting provided the correct lumination. I made a fresh pot and retrieved my favorite mug. I studied it as I had done many times before. Covered with different designs, pictographs, and languages, flat and raised, the mug kept the temperature of the liquid placed inside while the outside remained room temperature. The mug and teas were gifts from U’kristu (u chris to)–my Ket-sho (ket show). It was a peace offering on her part after she fucked me on Volaris (vo lar is) Engrom (in grum), and not in a good way. Grinning, I unexpectantly chuckled and shook my head.

Volaris Engrom, there’s a nightmare I’ll never forget; fasbi Ket-sho, I said aloud.

The tea was ready, and I poured it into the mug. Steam rose as I sipped the hot beverage and scrunched my face. The taste of the tisane normally delicious had an opposite effect this morning, so I set the mug down and went into the living room.

Looking at the large black claws printed on my shorts, I shook my head and thought by now I would be used to having all my clothes look like some new-age design fashion. But in truth, they were symbols of honor…and the claw marks of my Elphah (alpha).

Passing the mirror, I stopped and admired my body. I loved that a minor benefit to being Augmented was being buffed…at least for us guys. My fit physique mirrored serious dedication in working out, while my average height of 5’8 remained the same. There was still much about my augmentations I did not know or understand.

Pacing, I thought about many things, one was finally adjusting to these thirty-six-hour days. I did not know why that thought crossed my mind, it was trivial compared to everything else I was facing. I thought of Father, who warned there were consequences for my actions, but at the time I could not hear him, and later I did not think…at least not clearly, and not when it came to Angela.

I scratched the claw marks crossing my heart and looked at the alien artifacts and artworks, bought and gifted by my new family. I ceased scratching and observed the painting of Lupines called Krankas (cran cas), I purchased while visiting Emiyku II (emmy ya coo 2) with Antonio, Torr, and Syn’nar (sin nar), during my first year in this galaxy.

The Krankas resembled the Alaskan Timber Wolves on Earth, except these dogs were twice their size, had dark grey fur with large white spots, six legs, five-toe paws, and their ears were pointy. They looked beautiful, and the pure whiteness of their eyes, matched their spots and six-inch fangs, which I also found absolutely enchanting. The pups were adorable, especially at play. Gathered under a large tree, the male sat sphinx-like near his mate, head raised high as he looked off protectively, while the mother watched one set of pups chase each other and allowed the two youngest to climb on her as though she were a rock for them to wrestle on. The oldest male sat sphinx-style next to his father and helped keep a watchful eye. The artist had captured the family well.

The large painting hung on the wall above the light grey sofa. I looked for a few more moments, before resuming and smiled recalling the fun we four had that trip. Passing the mirror on the wall again, I stopped, but this time backed up, and examined my claw marks. Gliding my fingertips lightly over them, my mind flashed to the day I was marked. The clawing was painful, but the emotional memory cut deeper than the Elphah’s claws ever could. I felt he was now my master and the marks were for all to see.

My direct ancestry to those who lived and died during Earth’s barbaric times of slavery, and a family history that went back a thousand years, added to my prejudicial viewpoint. The stories of my Ancestors’ struggles were passed down to every generation so that we never forgot our heritage or their enslavement.

As it happened, I was partially right but for the wrong reasons. I did not understand at the time that an Elphah’s clawing was not a marking of ownership, as much as symbols of integrity and respect. Yes, they were used to identify those within the Supremacy, but the true meaning behind being clawed was about family. It was about bearing the mark of the Inductee’s Pride. Thinking back, I had not realized it at the time, but the spray the Arjai-Jitsi (r jai-jit sai) used to ease my pain, also prevented my augmentations from healing the wounds completely so that I would always bear Joryd’s marks.

Lost in a pool of memories and emotions, I realized I needed to talk about this, about everything. Perhaps in doing so, I would learn where it all went wrong. But so much has happened in the two years I have been here, and more so during my second term. My first encounter with those Influenced by the Wehtiko (weh tee co), my battle against the mad Sorcerer, Telus (tee lis), and then of course there were the incidents involving Angela, I mean Dana, which only added to the hot water I was already in. But where should I start?" I asked, myself.

Stopping abruptly, I raised my head as a voice inside said, From the beginning. It would most likely be my last entries before the Council decided on my punishment, so I cleared my throat.

Momja, Chronicle Entry 2-2-5-6; start record, I voiced, loudly.

A calming female voice replied. One moment Marc, and paused. Jamonaka (ja mon a ca) proceed.

I started to pace once more. Two years ago, an alien delegation visited my wife, Angela and me, and told us that I have been selectively chosen by the Ohdens (odens) to join their cause. Their leader Kerebrol (cerebral) was insistent all was explained, and that we understood exactly what would happen if I accepted. They would alter the timeline and erase my existence on Earth before taking me to their galaxy where I must submit to a medical procedure by Kerebrol. I would then be placed with a Pride, the family I would live with and fight alongside for the next eight Earth years, and if I survived my ‘Tour of Duty’ I would be returned home, and all would be as it was before I left. But, if I were killed, the new timeline would remain and on my Earth, it would be as though I never existed.

I was blown away, to say the least. Before they came, I was an entrepreneur and happily married to Angela who was pregnant in her third trimester with our first child. Enjoying the good life, we lived bi-coastally between New York and Los Angeles. I was no soldier. I was a nervous first-time dad. A Warrior? Who? Me? Are you kidding? The only battles for me, were diaper duty and my dedication to raising our child right.

I suddenly became joyfully tearful and smiled at the thoughts of being a dad. Shoot, I was busy trying to have everything ready by time Angela was due and had neither the time nor the desire to fly off to some unknown galaxy and play Flash Gordon. Why would I join some alien war that has been waging for thousands of years, had claimed countless lives, and which I had absolutely nothing to do with?

Kerebrol understood and told me that I was free to refuse, but in doing so, I must live with the possibility that one day the entire human race might suffer the consequences of this decision. That made me pause and think. How would I feel knowing I had the chance to stop a threat that could destroy the human race, and did not? The probability filled me with heartache and anger.

Some choice. Refuse to join their cause, and I might be sacrificing my wife, family, and friends, not to mention all of mankind. The more I thought about it, the more it sounded more like an ultimatum and less like a choice. Of course, I accepted the proposal, despite my being very much against it. What choice did I have? Which life would you have chosen?

Tired of pacing, I walked to the sofa and dropped on it. Moving about and looking for that comfortable spot, I found it and continued with my entry.

They called themselves Qi-Tahh (chi tahhh), the Qi-Tahh Supremacy, a military Corp that was a bit too audacious and arrogant for my taste, at least that was what I thought before serving with them. Afterwards however, it turned out to be a real eye-opener into who they were and why they were so badly needed in J’hanctum. The Supremacy were made up of families, Prides, who were the Life Protectors, the Peacekeepers, and the first line of defense against whatever danger threatened the citizens in their galaxy.

The Wehtiko (weh tee co) was not the only threat to J’hanctum (ja hock tum), however. There was the Linksys (link sys), sentient artificial lifeforms, whose Prime Directive was galactic genocide, and the Tukyli (two kai lee), a terrifying, intelligent, morphogenic plant species which did not tolerate any species except their own to share any planet they had seeded or wished to seed. The responsibilities of the Supremacy also required planetary wars intervention in order to maintain the sovereignty in their galaxy. For thousands of years, the Ohdens, the Governing Council Authority of J’hanctum had been selectively choosing and recruiting Humans to aid them in their ongoing war against the evils of their galaxy.

I lied there, chuckling. My voice was light because I knew what I just said sounded like a theme for an 80s Saturday morning cartoon, and I wished to God it were, but that simply was not the case. Despite the many differences between our worlds, life in J’hanctum was just as real as life was on Earth, only for me, it had become far more deadly. The Ohdens, after accidentally learning augmenting humans gave us powers and abilities as great as our potential, perfected the enhancement of Humans, solely, making human augmentation procedural. As sole authority of this galaxy, the Ohdens instilled Defense Directories throughout and created the Qi-Tahh Supremacy.

During my indoctrination, I learned that a Linksys Cleansing was the catalyst for my being recruited. Then I was taught what a Linksys was.

I took a deep breath and exhaled hard, as I rubbed my hands over my brown face and felt its stubby roughness from days of not shaving.

In a galaxy twice removed from ours, in the Oria star system, on the fifth planet called Seregaia (sear re guy a), meaning tranquility in the inhabitants’ language, it was dawn. The planet’s twin suns and three moons were described as amazing. Its lavender skies and soft red clouds were breathtakingly beautiful, and the lush green landscape below was gorgeous. A setting as picturesque as it was peaceful. At least it used to be.

I sprung up from the sofa, planting my feet firmly, and clenching my fists tightly.

On the other side of the hill, death, as far as the eye could see. Gibbon-like creatures littered the ground…slaughtered. Bodies were ripped apart, disemboweled, and decapitated; these were only a few of the atrocities committed by the Linksys.

My pulse raced at the thought of those monsters, what they represented, and how I wished to repay them for their crimes. I clenched my fist even tighter, but then lessened. My current predicament made vengeance unrealistic, so I thought as my mind catapulted me back to the present. I fought against thinking about the Council and dwelling on an outcome I had no say in, and concentrated hard, though try as I did, it still was not easy.

Slowly, thoughts of the Linksys filled my mind once more. The stories my family shared with me about these mechanical monstrosities, their experiments, interrogation practices, and their insane Cleansing Prime Directive, all made my blood boil.

I took another deep breath, held it and then slowly let it out. The Linksys were sentient, highly evolved artificial life-forms. Geniuses, that possessed high regenerative capabilities and hated all biological sentient species, and would not stop Cleansing, until every man, woman, and child were dead, and they were the only remaining intelligence in J’hanctum. I took another deep breath, but this time I exhaled, hard.

The Gibbon-like creatures were called Seagues, a species still in its primitive stage of evolution. They walked predominantly hunched over and looked as though they were handicapped, while their primordial features reflected an unintelligible race. Regardless, they were self-aware, and why the Linksys had intruded upon their peaceful paradise.

Their face, hands, feet, and long tail had an olive complexion, and their bodies were covered in red fur. The young ones looked adorable, like stuffed toys. Thinking of them made me smile, but as my grin faded at the thought of them being hunted by the Linksys, my head dropped, my heart sank, and my pulse raced once more. I felt a deep sadness for them, and my rage flared again. I laid back down to calm myself.

I flashed back to two years ago, recalling what I had been told. The Linksys (link sis) were engaged in their Prime Directive…killing the Seagues. Those taken alive were subjected to the most heinous interrogation methods the Drones used to acquire information. Currently, they sought the whereabouts of the Seagues’ secret hiding place, so that they could exterminate the entire species.

A lone Seague had survived a massacre. Injured, his head wound leaked purple blood and he had deep lacerations across his chest and arms. Captive of four Drones, he gripped the metal whip wound about his throat and fought to free himself, but his efforts were in vain, for the whip was the arm of a Si (sai)-Drone, the Linksys version of an android. Silvery-grey with a black visor in place of eyes and no mouth. The Alpha was in the midst of interrogating the creature.

The Seague ceased his struggles. Why? he asked, in a raspy voice, in his native language. We have nothing anyone would want.

Incorrect, you have your lives. it replied, in the same idiom.

What do you want with our lives?

Nothing…it is your sentience which interest us. Your lives are a happenstance that matters not. Now tell us, where is your secret hideout? Its voice spiked, as its black visor intensified with anger. The place the Council built for your people, should we Linksys ever visit your planet.

If I say, you will kill them.

The armored-plated Alpha towering over the Seague at six-foot-four, tugged hard on the whip unexpectantly lurching the creature forward. The being nearly fell and the Drone constricted its arm/whip tightly around his neck and lifted him off his feet.

You should be more worried about what we will do to you if you do not speak.

The suspended Seague could not reply and gasped for breath. Soon his hands fell to his sides and he passed out. The Alpha paused, before lowering him back to the ground and allowed him to crumble. It lessened its hold and delivered a strong electrical charge that painfully revived him. The Alpha re-established its tight grip.

You do not die yet, Seague, you still possess information we require.

Your insurrection will fail, Linksys, he said, weakly.

The Alpha’s black visor intensified and again lifted him off his feet.

Who can stop us?

Qi-Tahh, he replied, the best he could.

Your Life Protectors are not here…We are.

All that means is, I will not be alive to see them destroy you, and free my people.

The Alpha’s visor flared with anger, and it grew a set of arms from its sides, held him firmly and ripped off one of his hands. He cried out as purple blood squirted from his splintered stump. Trashing about from the pain, he remained steadfast in its grip.

You assume we will kill you quickly…you are mistaken.

The Seague continued to cry out in agony as the Si-Alpha grabbed him by his red hair and yanking his head back hard, he forced him to look at his severed hand and damaged stump, before carelessly discarding the appendage. Again, its visor intensified.

Where are your people hiding?

Weeping over his lost appendage, he was kept from coddling his stump. His pain turned to anger, and he spat purple blood in its face, cursed it and its kind, and spat again.

The Alpha’s hand transformed into a serrated double-edged, snake-shaped dagger, which it showed to the Seague, before stabbing him. A horrible shrill echoed across the plains as he screamed in agony. Mercilessly, the Si (sai)-Drone twisted the knife, slowly, pulled it half out and penetrated him again, digging deeper into his stomach. Purple plasma poured onto the ground and saturated the once lush green lawn. Removing its dagger/hand, the Linksys-Android reinserted the knife and burrowed a new hole, digging slower, deeper, and making the torture as agonous as possible, while the Seague did all he could to endure. The Alpha suspended the torture.

Are you ready to talk?

The Seague remained strong and silent.

The silent treatment, huh?

The Alpha shoved its dagger/hand into the Seague’s side twisting it, and not caring what damage it caused and removed the knife with the same cavalier attitude. The Alpha transformed its purple blood-coated dagger/hand into a sword-size replica of the knife.

Its black visor flared a dark coldness. We do not do silence.

The swoosh of the sword unleashed a series of hollowing cries from the Seague, as he thrashed about in the grip of the Alpha. It showed him its blood-coated hand and extended its arm, picked up the severed leg, and showed it as well.

We will take a piece of you each time you refuse to cooperate, and tossed the leg as thoughtlessly as it did with his hand. Are you ready to talk?

The Seague’s body shook, his eyes fluttered, and he went into shock. The Alpha fired an energy pulse and curarized the limb, produced a long, thick syringe and injected him. His condition stabilized immediately, and he snapped to consciousness…screaming.

Slapped hard across the face, the Seague stopped his screaming, and the Linksys transformed its hand into a whip once more and held him tightly by the throat.

As we have told you, Seague, you do not die yet. Where do your people hide?

His mouth bloodied from the slap, he remained silent despite the tears of agony pouring down his face.

I’ll never tell you! He shouted. Never!

Never? The Alpha asked, in a careless manner.

Grasping his arm, the Linksys pulled hard and separated the creature’s arm from his elbow. The tortured being again cried out but said nothing. He knew there was no way to end his suffering without sacrificing the lives of all his people.

Where-are-they-hiding? The Alpha screamed, angrily.

Go to starros! he shouted. I’ll never betray my people, and spat in its face.

The Alpha’s anger faded. I believe you. It replied, even-toned.

Constricting the Seague’s neck until his eyes blew out of their sockets, it ripped off his head, tossing it as carelessly as it did with the Seague’s hand and leg. The Alpha reabsorbed the extra arms and the headless body crumpled into a pile of lifeless junk.

Then we will do it the hard way. It activated its com system. Omegus Pryme, 206SDA-332 progress report. It paused briefly. No change. We suggest not to interrogate any more Seagues, they will not divulge their secret location. They are not like the Marani (ma ran e) species we Cleansed on Zantlyn (zant lin) C. However, there may be the possibility of Qi-Tahh interference. We recommend we continue with our Cleansing and kill all who intervene with our Prime Directive.

"Agreed. Carry on and keep me informed. I want the Seague species eradicated by time the planet’s second moon raises.

It will be done–out.

Elsewhere on Seregaia (sear re guy a), the male Seagues unified themselves and fought back against the Orb-Drones, silvery-grey with a thick black visor encompassing their circumference and slowed them down long enough for others to escape. They lured the Linksys into traps already set in place as part of their defenses. They ensnared them in vines to bind them up, led them into wet quicksand that clogged their systems, and hit them with primitive traps which damaged them. The Seagues seemed to be holding their own, but the damage was not enough to completely shut down the giant Orbs, and eventually their efforts proved to be more of an annoyance than an actual threat. The Linksys quickly regenerated, divided their forces, and continued their killing spree. Five gave their lives so that a group of females–old to infant, could escape. Those males who survived, fled.

In the open fields some distance away, scared, scattered, and running for their lives, a group of females raced to the sanctity of the secret hiding place. With small children on their backs and babies in their arms, they yelled to the older children to keep up as they fled. One female clinging tightly to her baby, welled up with fear when she saw Orbs moving to cut them off.

The Seagues were fast, even on three limbs, but so were the Drones which eventually caught them. The color drained from the female’s olive complexion, and she