Do or Die: Gateway to the Galaxy, #6

By Jonathan Yanez

Everyone he loves will gather...

To watch him die or to join in victory.

 

Frank's on a rampage for blood. After a man driven by hate has taken things beyond personal, it's time for a reckoning. Jarl Balder is out to eradicate Marine Space Corps-1 and the Arilion Knights.

 

Across the universe and reaching back in time, the team of Marines prepares to encounter an army of ancient robots led by a maniacal terrorist.

 

With Yur'l's life hanging on the edge, only one thing can overcome the insatiable hate of their enemy. Is Frank ready to offer himself as a sacrifice to save the woman he loves and his family of Marines?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonathan Yanez
• Release date: Dec 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224677603

Book preview

1

Frank stood in front of the stone pyramid rethinking for the hundredth time how crazy this plan seemed. He was tracking down a talking gorilla from an ancient magic knight order that had spoken to him in his dreams. If that didn’t qualify as a ticket to the looney bin, he didn’t know what did.

The pyramid in front of him was layers of ancient square stone, each level narrower than the last. The ancient individual layers stacked one on top of the other created a stone pyramid reminding Frank of those he had seen in Mayan pictures. Historical photos of the Mesoamerican pyramids from Central America flashed through his mind. Deep green vines serpentined their way down the steps of the ceremonial creation. Clinging to the stone with undetectable grips, leaves and tendrils sprouted off in new directions, trying to mislead a viewer’s gaze in the blue-green cloak. Alien plants formed roots as they nestled in deep cracks of the pyramid.

A thick rolling mist obscured the ground around the jungle. Echoes and cries of strange animals brought a chill to Frank’s skin despite the hot, sticky tropical air.

You sure you don’t want us to come through with you? Elly asked from the comm unit Frank wore. We can be through that gateway in a few minutes and to your position soon after.

No, thanks but no, Frank said, clenching his fists together tightly in determination. This is something I have to do as an Arilion Knight. Yurl’s checking out the opposite side of the pyramid now. We’ll call if we need backup.

Roger that, Elly said with a hesitant hitch in her voice. Be careful, Frank. I don’t have a good feeling about this one. If anything happened to you, Vega would kill me.

Roger that, Frank said with a grin. A flash of her playful smile and the vanilla and jasmine scent that carried in the long white hair of the woman he loved came to mind. The memories of Vega warmed him from the inside out.

The comm unit clicked, signaling Elly had ended her transmission.

Frank hadn’t lied to Elly. This mission was something he and his Arilion counterpart had to do. He didn’t suspect anything nefarious at play; even so, why did he feel so uncomfortable?

Frank looked over his left shoulder back into the shrouded jungle interior. The dense shrubbery coupled with the clouded haze made it impossible to see more than a few meters into the foliage.

A sensation as though someone were watching him tickled the back of his neck, leaving his short hair on end.

Easy, Wolffe, Frank coaxed himself. You’re here for a reason. Stay focused. Anything that wants a piece of you will have more than it can handle.

His confidence left little room for fear. Yet each time he ventured into another uncharted mission he knew his life and those of his team members were at stake.

Frank looked down at the vambraces he wore on either forearm. The dark, almost black purple glow comforted him the same way holding a weapon would have. The vambraces were in fact weapons, yet so much more.

Frank shifted and flexed within the dark tactical armor created for members of Marine Space Corp-1. His uniform was flat black and fitting to his athletic form. The dark purple edging matched the glow emanating from the powerful vambraces on his forearms.

As a final gesture of galvanization, his left fist met the emblem of their unit, an ancient helmet with wings on either side, emblazoned on the right side of his chest.

Without giving fear time to find a foothold in his mind, Frank began climbing the stone steps.

Not much to see on this side of the pyramid, Yur’l said over the comms. I’m circling back to you.

Understood, Frank said. I’m ascending the pyramid now.

I’ll be there in a few minutes, Yur’l said in a rush. Perhaps it would be prudent to wait till I arrive. We can ascend the pyramid together.

Right, Frank said, continuing his climb. I’ll do that.

Yur’l was quiet on the other end of the comms. You’re not waiting, are you?

Nope, Frank said. Just get here when you can. You run fast for an old guy.

I prefer to be called ‘seasoned,’ Yur’l said.

Right, a seasoned old guy, Frank responded as he continued up the pyramid.

He wasn’t trying to leave Yur’l behind to be rude. However, if it were possible for Frank to enter first and meet any unforeseen threat, he would. There was no way he would put his friend in harm’s way when this had been his vision and his mission to accomplish. The only reason Yur’l was there at all was because General Breaker insisted Frank take backup. Yur’l, as an Arilion Knight, was the obvious choice. The general had chided him about the balance and responsibilities of being the leader of a team versus taking the solo missions.

Frank had lost enough friends in his time. If anything happened to any one of them now, including his Gleason comrade Yur’l, he didn’t know if he could handle it. Such a place of fear wasn’t a place he could live in. It could eat up a man inside and leave him in paralysis. Thankfully, Frank was crazy enough to push past it.

His next step crunched into a weak area of stone held together by the entangled vines. A sidestep led him up a sturdier section of the triadic structure.

The stone pyramid rose a quarter kilometer into the planet’s brisk morning air. He was thankful for the coolness in the alien environment. Sweat glistened on his forehead and the dark hair on the back of his tan neck was damp. So far on his climb, Frank hadn’t encountered any opening in the stone structure; door, window, keyhole, or other.

Frank’s eyes were set on the top of the pyramid where four stone pillars held a slab on top, creating four corners and a simple roof. The hard edges of the canopied top contrasted the pure blue sky overhead.

Just as Frank was about to reach the top of the pyramid, Yur’l made it to his side huffing with exertion. The Gleason’s appearance reminded Frank of a humanoid eagle. From the tip of his sharp beak to the talons on his bird-like feet, Yur’l wasn’t exactly the team member Frank envisioned when he had reenlisted into the Corp.

I should have never guessed that you’d wait for me given the opportunity, Yur’l said through his thick orange beak. I know you’ve been part of MSC-1 for longer than me–

By only a few months. Hasn’t even been a full year, Frank said, feigning innocence.

Right, but I’m not going to let you go in there alone, Yur’l said, looking to Frank with an arched eyebrow. We’re a team.

Although Yur’l wasn’t the typical soldier, he was everything Frank wouldn’t have thought to ask for. The Gleason was older in years, with wisdom that balanced out Frank’s impromptu nature. He had been through more than Frank could ever imagine after losing his wife and daughter. A steel will set Yur’l apart. It was the main reason he was chosen as his planet’s Arilion Knight.

Yur’l extended a closed fist for Frank to pound. It was an act Raj had taught him back at base. Now Yur’l was using the gesture every chance he got.

We’re a team, Frank answered back, lightly striking Yur’l’s fist with his own. Well, I think we’re here.

The two Arilion Knights had finally reached the top of the pyramid. The utmost top level was a meter wide by a meter long, more than enough room for the two knights to stand side by side. The four pillars holding up the limestone ceiling above them were aged and weather beaten like the rest of the pyramid.

Frank leaned in close. He ran a hand across the rough edifice. Under the cool, intertwining layer of vines and greenery covering the rocks were patterns cut into them.

It looks like someone took great care when constructing this pyramid, Yur’l said as he examined one of the other supporting pillars. He ran his own hand over the cragged surface. The designs and craftsmanship are extraordinary.

Is it—is it writing or hieroglyphics of some kind? Frank asked as he cleared his stone pillar of thin vines and small leaves. There were definite markings; only he couldn’t quite make them out.

I think both, Yur’l answered, leaning in to get a better look at the pillar nearest him. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, but I think it’s a pattern of symbols. Vambraces maybe… with a skull and—and another symbol I can’t quite discern.

A skull, huh? Frank asked, going to a knee. He caught sight of what Yur’l was talking about as he brushed away some spiraling vines. In the grooved crevice, a beetle bearing a black and blue spotted back emerged. The shape that was left did look like a skull, but one not of a human; rather of a gorilla. Its protruding brow, deep hollowed eye sockets, and long mandible with deadly fangs made the resemblance obvious in the shining day’s sun.

Why does it have to be a skull?

Excuse me? Yur’l asked.

I mean, why can’t there be a pair of crossed vambraces on the ruins and a steaming cup of coffee or a smiley face at least, Frank answered. Don’t you ever wonder that?

No, not really, Yur’l said as he moved from the pillar he had been studying to the one beside him. He cleared the vegetation. Ah, here we go. On this rock, we can see the third symbol clearly. It looks—it looks like an arrow.

Frank rose from his position and joined Yur’l. The Gleason was right. Midway down the stone, almost eye level, were a series of the repeating symbols Frank could read. Crossed vambraces, a gorilla skull, and an arrow pointing down.

Frank tore off the shrubbery concealing the place on the stone where the arrow pointed. To his surprise, there was a dark circular opening large enough to fit his arm.

Yur’l hurried to the other three stones, cleaning off the same spot on their surface. In a few seconds, four dark openings were revealed, one on each rock.

Vambraces, monkey skull, arrow, Frank repeated, peering into the dark circular hole on the stone closest to him. I think I’m going to regret this, but I’m guessing we’re supposed to put our vambraces in the circular openings on these rocks.

It’s a good thing I came along, Yur’l said, eyeing the four openings. It seems two knights are needed to enter the pyramid.

Let’s find out, Frank said, turning to the two pillars closest to him. He swallowed hard.

The thoughts of flesh-eating alien bugs or weird small creatures in the shadowed openings played with his imagination. The simple truth was that he wouldn’t know what was in there or whether this was even the proper way to enter the pyramid until they tried.

On three? Yur’l asked from behind Frank.

Three! Frank said. He balled up his fists, extending his arms to either side, and thrust them into the stone pillars.

Oh, well, I thought we were going to do a countdown, but okay, Yur’l said from behind Frank.

As soon as Frank placed his forearms in the stone pillars, he knew it had been the right move. Bright purple light radiated from the openings. A series of heavy thuds from deep within the pyramid soon followed.

I think something’s happening, Yur’l said over the noise.

More sounds reverberated up to them; heavy pounding and clinking gears turning.

The next instant, the ground beneath their feet shuddered as if an earthquake had struck. Slowly the platform began to descend, sending pebbles and broken fragments of foliage tumbling.

Frank removed his forearms from the circles in front of him. He stood back ready to tackle whatever the strange pyramid had in store next for them. Yur’l did the same beside him.

The stone platform on which they stood descended into the belly of the pyramid. Blackness greeted their eyes as they traveled below the surface. Frank channeled his Will through his vambraces, bringing to life a purple torch he constructed in his right hand.

Yur’l constructed a glowing purple baton in each of his feathered hands. The light from his weapons was enough to act as a flare illuminating the space around them. The two knights lowered into the inside of the alien pyramid for what felt like an eternity. On all four sides, nothing but stone walls enclosed them in the dank and dusty air.

Finally, the stone elevator touched down in a billow of dust and dirt. In front of them, a room opened up, lost to darkness.

Frank stood side by side with the Gleason as they stared into the dark room. At this vantage point and based on the echoing of the fallen debris, all Frank could tell was that the room was massive. His torchlight only reached a few meters into the cavernous chamber.

We did it, Yur’l said, offering his left knuckled hand for Frank to hit.

Yeah, we did something, all right. Frank tapped the Gleason’s offered fist with his own. Oh, hey, you need to really cut back on the fist pounds. Save them for special occasions, you know?

Oh, right, Yur’l said, retracting his fist. I just wanted to celebrate our discovery into the pyramid.

Oh, I get it, Frank said, stepping from the platform into the chamber. It just kind of loses its appeal the one hundredth ti—

Frank’s next words were cut off by the whooshing sounds of torches flaring to life and igniting the air around them. Along each side of the room, a row of torches lit themselves into existence revealing a massive square space. A giant coffin lay alone at the furthest end of the chamber.

2

Before you ask, Yur’l volunteered, I didn’t touch anything.

I didn’t either, Frank said, looking around the room at the walls, floor, and ceiling. It must have sensed us, maybe a pressure-sensitive floor underneath our feet or set to go off once the platform lowered to the ground.

I have a bad feeling about this, Yur’l said as he joined Frank. A remote planet, in a distant galaxy, ancient ruins with intricate carving and a floor that reacts to our touch. It doesn’t feel right.

I’m not going to argue with you there, Frank said, studying the room now that there was enough light to do so.

The massive chamber ran the length of the base of the pyramid, although it didn’t seem quite as wide. There were no decorations on the grey stone walls or furniture besides the coffin on the far end of the room.

If the floor is pressure-sensitive, perhaps we should avoid the floor altogether and make our way to the coffin through the air, Yur’l suggested.

Or we can send out a test dummy, Frank said. He channeled his willpower, which was hampered only by the limits of his imagination. The next moment, a purple toy remote-controlled monster truck appeared at their feet. Frank held a purple translucent remote control in his hands.

Yur’l remained content to wait and watch as Frank pressed the joysticks on his remote-controlled vehicle and moved it forward. With a whir of its small engine, the monster truck took off down the stone path in front of them.

The little monster truck knew no fear as it continued forward, crossing the chamber’s floor brick by brick.

Maybe I’m just being paranoid, Frank thought to himself. Maybe there’s nothing here to fear. The torches along the wall were just on a timer.

These thoughts were immediately erased as the toy monster truck crossed the center of the room. A skeletal hand erupted from the ground like a zombie rising from the grave. The hand clenched the truck, holding it firmly in its hand as it rose from the stone floor.

Chips of stone and mortar broke and fell away as a robotic figure made itself known. What Frank had mistaken for a skeleton was actually some kind of humanoid robot. It stood on two feet with two