Shadows of the Son

by E L Strife

“Yes,” Hyras replied. “Bennett reported in what he uncovered of the Linétens still on Earth, though I can’t speak to how he does what he does.”

  “What about Sergeant Bennett?” Krett canted toward Rio. “How is he holding up emotionally? He has a lot of pressure coming at him from us and his duty to follow his father’s path.”

  Rio leaned against a boulder, watching the shepherds below. “He’s stronger than his father was at this age.”

  “You have unreasonable faith in him,” Hyras remarked.

  Rio threw Hyras a glare. “The catalyst is Kios. The ancient bonds are of him, Atana, and Bennett. Azure has only an echo of her spark as I had of Sensei’s while he was alive. You need to be realistic about your expectations with Azure. He has never been in the Prophecy.”

  A rumble started in Hyras’s throat. “He is the reason Atana is still here.”

  “Are you certain?” Rio calmly asked. “Every story I’ve been told, Azure was a distraction and never necessary to balancing the universe. Atana saved him in Testing. She shared her spark with him so he wouldn’t die on Agutra.”

  Hyras’s nostrils flared below narrowing eyes.

  “Our faith must be in the universe first and foremost.” Krett casually cut in. “Whatever must be, will be. Same for who.”

  Hyras snorted then sighed in defeat. “My serum has stopped working. It is making it hard to bury instinct to defend my people.”

  “I know,” Rio said. “Why do you think I’m here?”

  Glancing over at him, Hyras nodded. “After this, then.”

  “Emoya!” Atana barked. E-rifles lifted in the arms of shepherds. They stood like a row of fire-blackened trees among elegantly waving grass. Still. Heartless. Waiting to snap.

  The three Linétens started to plead and beg for mercy. Atana stopped pacing the row and took her place in the center, lazily slinging the gun off her shoulder and into her arms.

  “Why did she say she wanted to do it this way again?” Hyras asked.

  Krett stayed focused on the traitors in the distance. “She believes in equal punishment. It is how our system was designed to operate. If you kill an innocent, you deserve to be killed.”

  “You must be enjoying this,” Hyras said under his breath.

  Krett’s face split with zigzags of green light when he glanced askance at him. “Shepherds of all species died.” He lifted a hand in the direction of the Linétens. “They killed without regard for who any of them were. Many were Xahu’ré.”

  “It’s one thing to shoot traitors in the head to stop them from hurting the masses in an instant, but this is demented, don’t you think?” Hyras asked. “Like we’re regressing in our judicial development.”

  “Not at all,” Krett uttered. “Killing those who have killed is not a crime; it is justice.”

  “She could slowly burn them to a pile of ashes,” Rio suggested. “That would be demented. Besides, she’s giving the shepherds left a chance at revenge for their fallen co-shepherds in a controlled situation. She wanted to alleviate any animosity which might creep in later, say, during battle.”

  Atana visibly drew in a deep breath, her face darkening. Her voice ripped through her throat with force. “Kye!”

  Thirty-three cracks joined in a thunderous roar, bouncing through the mountains above.

  The three Linétens stumbled backward, their bodies riddled with holes. They coughed and sputtered, gasping for air.

  The shepherds waited and watched, not one moving a muscle.

  Rio turned to Krett. “Was that—”

  “Linéten.” Krett dipped his head. “She requested three words they would clearly understand.”

  Claymor was the first to lose his footing and slip over the edge. The woman, Dieshi, fell to her knees, blood seeping from the sponge her body had become.

  Atana strolled through the standing shepherds, their rifles still aimed forward, igniters glowing, waiting, ready. She placed her boot on Dieshi’s shoulder.

  The woman shuddered and leaned her head toward Atana.

  “She’s begging,” Krett said low.

  Rio and Hyras looked over at him.

  Cocking his head as if listening to a whisper in the wind, Krett’s gaze fell with doting pride on Atana. “I always forgive. But they will never forget.”

  Atana shoved Dieshi over the cliff.

  Somehow, Reju still stood, blood draining from his body, nose, and grinning mouth.

  Atana circled to his front. “Sergeant Porter!”

  The young shepherd broke formation, ran behind the row of shepherds, and filled the central space she’d vacated. Stepping aside, she lifted a hand in offering. Porter sent three rapid shots ringing out across the island, tearing apart Reju’s neck.

  His body knocked backward, Reju fell to join the others in the gray mist of the pounding waves below.

  Atana drew a loop in the air with a finger. Shepherds slung their e-rifles over their shoulders and headed up the trail. After she rested a hand to Porter’s shoulder, he turned with the rest.

  For a long moment, Atana stood facing the cliff’s edge, looking out at the sea.

  “Should we check on her?” Rio asked Krett as Hyras started down their secret path.

  Krett pointed to a high peak on the island. In the blue shadows of the mountainside, Bennett’s dark gold color was unmistakable. Only after Atana had joined the others for the hike back, did Bennett shoulder his rifle and disappear between the rocks. “He’ll always watch out for her. It’s in their blood.”

  —Unearthed—

  Chapter 35

  BENNETT SANK INTO the Coordinator’s seat at the head of Command’s conference table. It was an eerie feeling being on the other end looking at the doors where just weeks ago, he’d stood like an obedient sheepdog awaiting orders.

  Home Station felt empty. It set Bennett on edge.

  The Coordinator was on a mission to make one final statement to Earth. Most of Command’s members and UP’s forces were with doku, their collectors moving into position above. The few remaining loaded weapons into transports and helped coordinate young field troops for their first mission. If Amianna and Krett were right, the Suanoa would arrive in a matter of hours.

  Bennett had argued all the children be taken to the safe house near Rio’s home, but Glato had shut him down.

  “You ran your first mission at seventeen and spent how many years fighting in the knock-pits before?”

  Bennett hadn’t offered a reply. It was clear Command’s minds were made up. He didn’t have to approve.

  Miskaht, Glato, and Libesh were the only members left with Bennett now. The main screen behind Bennett flickered on, exposing Paramor’s silvery face.

  “We’ll make this fast,” Miskaht said. “We’ll be heading up soon for the final meeting. We want all of your leaders there. We will bring the ones we can.”

  Bennett looked expectantly at Paramor, hoping he would pick up the hint.

  His silvery eyebrows lifted. “Do you have any extra weapons? I’m afraid we haven’t been able to break the biologic locks on most of the Linoan storage lockers.”

  “We do have the training items we check out in the armory,” Libesh suggested. “Maybe we could send those?”

  Miskaht agreed. “We’ll have them loaded when we sign off here. Is there anything else we can bring you?”

  “No. The workers are anxious to have this fight over with, one way or another.” Paramor stood uncannily still today. It made Bennett wonder if something was wrong.

  “We’re leaving Libesh with you,” Bennett offered. “She is Yvinna. Do you need any extra shepherds to assist?”

  “Not at this time. We will have Atana’s requests waiting for her at her requested location. We shall expect you soon.” Paramor dipped his head, and the screen went black.

  Miskaht raised a brow in suspicion, which Bennett ignored.

  “I still don’t understand why you wanted me doing this and not Atana or Azure,” Bennett remarked.

&n
bsp; Glato’s large fingers knotted together on the desk. “Atana’s focus has always been narrow. She can’t handle responsibility for the lives of many without shutting down. She is an assassin, not a Team Leader like you.”

  “Azure’s mind is on his people and Atana,” Miskaht added. “He buries himself in work here only to prevent himself from breaking our rules and losing himself in emotion. You do not let your concern impede your job. Your priorities are straight. You have the tactical skills and people skills to do the best with both.”

  Bennett didn’t know if he agreed with the assessment.

  “Tell him the other truth,” Libesh said with a sigh.

  Cracking a knuckle, Glato added, “It would be disrespectful to the powers that be if we, knowingly, did not put a Prospector-in-training at the head of our force.”

  There it was. It wasn’t Bennett they wanted to lead, but the unbidden Prospector inside of him. It was one thing to obey orders as a willing shepherd. It was another to be placed as a leader because of what he was, something he had no control over. The impasse was maddening. “Well, I haven’t completed my transformation yet. And I’m not my father, so whatever he did may not be what I—”

  “Understood.” Miskaht cut him off with a wave of her hand.

  Bennett closed his mouth and stifled a sigh. To not address vulnerabilities in a plan was to ignore Rules Three and Five of the Code. They existed for damn good reasons.

  As if sensing the tension, Libesh casually hooked a thumb at the door. “I’m—going to collect and load what we’ve got left in the armory.”

  “I’ll help.” Glato stood and joined her. Before he disappeared through the door, he tossed Bennett a look of warning.

  After they’d left, Miskaht cocked her head with a slight smirk. “I know Atana’s going to do something stupid. So tell me, Sergeant Bennett, what do you know about it?”

  “She has told me nothing of her plans,” he admitted, though he had an idea. “Only what she needed from Paramor.”

  Her tone cooled. “And what of yours?”

  They’d gone over offensive strategies, defensive patterns, for Hope, Agutra, and Earth. Sure, he had a few backup plans, but he hadn’t mentioned them to anyone but those involved. And they didn’t include anyone from Command.

  Miskaht patted his arm much the way his grandmother had when he was a small boy. “This is why I wanted you to lead.” Standing, she left him alone in the room.

  When the door shut behind her, Bennett spun in his seat. It didn’t matter if Miskaht had figured out he and Atana had made private plans, only that Command didn’t hinder them.

  Bennett tapped the glass tabletop, where the main screen functions glowed a soft blue. Paramor’s face appeared in the wall of pixels.

  “Were you able to rally the empty containers as requested?” Bennett asked.

  “We had one malfunction, but the others are ready. Everything else is in position.” Paramor dipped his head. “I think it is a good plan. I hope it works.”

  “As do I, for all of our sakes.”

  “Shanom kaloe.” Paramor smiled, and the transmission blinked off.

  Bennett leaned forward, burying his throbbing head in his hands. Shanom kaloe. The words were important, a key to something he couldn’t deal with through the stress of the hours ahead.

  Honor me this, Universe: if we fail, you take my life as the last and spare just one. I fear I will not be able to live with the grief this war will bring upon my heart.

  Chapter 36

  AZURE HELD KIOS CLOSE one last time while Rio and Atana talked beside them. Why he had to part ways with Atana for the trip into space, Azure didn’t understand. Kios had cried for the last hour, and no one could figure out why. Azure shifted his weight between his feet, hoping to rock the boy to sleep. But nothing was working.

  “I wish you would tell me what’s going on, Nakio,” Rio said, slinging a pack over his shoulders and picking up the one they’d filled for Kios.

  “I can’t. You know that. It’s too great a security risk.” Atana handed a hard black case to Nephma, who carried it into the restricted hangar door, the light above it blinking red.

  Seeing his opportunity, Azure boldly concurred with Rio. “We always tell each other everything. Why not this? Do you not trust us?”

  Shuttle engines thrummed to life, booming throughout the main hangar. Large doors telescoped open, letting in glimmers of dawn and salty ocean air.

  “Ready?” Bennett shouted from the ramp as Command and shepherds alike climbed onto a collector.

  Atana nodded. “Just need a moment with Kios. Then I’ll see you there.”

  “All right.” He turned and continued up with the others.

  “I wish it didn’t feel like—” Azure pulled her with strength against him. He couldn’t say it while Kios clung to his side, still in tears. Pulling her forehead to his, he shared his private thought with her. I don’t want to lose this because of anger or a rash mistake. I love this feeling too much.

  That’s why I must do this, she replied.

  Azure lingered in the sensation of her and their adopted son warm and safe between them, wishing he could hold on forever. I cannot lose you again.

  You survived before. Atana pulled back to wipe the tears from Kios’s face. “Sim verons ahna, iveron.”

  Kios looped his arms around their necks, and they shared one last embrace. “Vi sisano.”

  “We should go,” Atana said.

  Setting the boy’s feet on the ground, Azure led one of his small hands to Rio. Releasing Kios was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. It pained him in a way he’d never felt before. “Promise you keep him safe.”

  Rio picked Kios up with his free arm and a grim smile. “Like a shepherd always guards: with my life. You two be cautious up there. He’s been left once. Don’t let it happen again.” He carted Kios off, descending the stairs toward the private transport hangar.

  Azure watched in contemplation. “I’ve never known him to be harsh.”

  “He’s lost many people he’s cared about. I don’t think he wants to deal with it again. It’s why he buries himself in work.” Atana picked up a tall, chrome canister from the floor and slung it over her shoulder with ease. “I’ll see you on Agutra.”

  “Why can’t I come with you?” Azure asked desperately, reaching for her. He paused when she looked back at him.

  “You need to focus on Semilath. I have my own project. It’s time to separate.” Her words were cold, almost mechanical.

  Heart pounding in his chest, Azure spluttered as she walked away. “W-what does that mean?”

  “Our jobs are different in this war.” She waved her free hand at the shuttle, the engines warm and humming behind him. “They’re waiting on you. You better go.”

  Azure staggered back to the lifting ramp, snatched his bag from the floor, and hopped on the deck. He watched Atana walk to the restricted door and slip inside.

  “Get in here, the ramp’s closing,” Bennett shouted, patting the empty seat beside him.

  Azure begrudgingly wove his way through the packed shuttle and rested on the hard seat next to Bennett.

  “Why didn’t you go with her?” Bennett asked.

  He shrugged, trying to hide his disappointment.

  They hovered out of the bay, morning sunlight shining in through the fuselage in bright beams. Azure connected the straps of his harness in front of him, tucking his bag between his knees, and looked one last time at their beautiful blue planet. He didn’t want to return to the chilled darkness of space.

  “Can’t be terribly reckless if she has three Command members with her.” Bennett tightened a strap across his chest. “I’m honestly too busy hoping these hypotheticals and estimates aren’t too far off. The Kyra schematics feel more like wandering an unlabeled maze. They send just enough you can see it’s a warship, look at its general plan. But it doesn’t give much for kinds of munitions or crew numbers or—”

  Noticing others lookin
g at them, Azure lowered his voice. “Probably to intimidate the rebellious Suanoa without giving away their capabilities.” All he could think about was Sahara’s fading trust in him. He didn’t know what he’d done to push her away.

  “Hey.” Bennett leaned closer, summoning Azure’s attention.

  The man’s irises swirled with gold so deep they looked like portals to another realm altogether. Staring at them was unnerving. Having them look back at him was unnerving and made Azure feel as if the universe watched him.

  “If we keep our heads in the game now and do what we must,” Bennett said, “we have a chance to keep what we care about around a little longer. Get lost in what we don’t have, and we won’t see the need to fight for what we do.”

  Azure licked his lips as a numbing fog of insecurity swept through him. It was hard to not worry about all the rushed modifications they’d made on the collectors, Kios’s incessant crying, and the fact they were walking into a battle like a band of children with sticks for swords against a fully armored Linoan—guns, blades, skin-whips, and Gamazets.

  A firm pat to his shoulder, followed by a squeeze, made Azure look over at Bennett.

  “As Tanner says, ‘Clear head—’”

  “Clean shot,” Azure finished. But they were about to be scythed like Hatoga grains and left to rot because Suanoa feared nothing and planned for everything. Earth and Agutra would fight and lose. He could feel it.

  Chapter 37

  THE IMPERIAL RING OF AGUTRA had a room fit to hold hundreds of life-forms. It felt achingly empty as Atana stood against the wall, watching Miskaht shake Paramor’s hand for the first time. Only twenty-nine Agutra survivors had joined the meeting. Earth had sent fifteen, including her team and five members of Command. Azure stood beyond them, eyes on her. Atana knew he felt betrayed, but this was how things needed to be. She couldn’t risk anyone making irrational decisions.

  “Most of our shepherds are taking positions in the skies and on the surface.” Miskaht bowed before Paramor.

  He mirrored her and released their shake to slide his hands inside the cuffs of his cloak. Paramor pinpointed Atana without searching. He always knew where she was.