Balance of Power: The Blackened Prophecy Book 2

by Oganalp Canatan

Ray gave a half-smile. “We had our ups and downs.”

  “You looked like you had issues.”

  Ray nodded, turning the tin bottle in his hands. “For a while now, I feel uncomfortable.”

  “Uncomfortable?”

  “That thing, the woman you saw back at New Eden,” Ray winced, not too fond of the memory, “I’ve been expecting that to happen for some time.” He bit his lip, unaware. “I didn’t want Sarah around that confrontation. She wouldn’t understand—she’d try to stay beside me.”

  “That’s what friends, lovers, the family do, Dad. You always have an issue understanding this concept.”

  Ray looked at Elaine. “It’s a battle she can’t be part of. None of you can.”

  “Dad, those people dying out there were her friends too. She has every right to be there. You may very well be scattering lights from your eyes,” Elaine stopped as if to swallow what she just said, shaking her head. “Wow, I just said that. Anyway,” she sighed, “she can fight her battles too.”

  “How about you? Any boyfriends?”

  “Dad,” Elaine rolled her eyes.

  “What? I’m curious.”

  Elaine reached for the flask for a refill. “I had some at one time or another.”

  “Some?”

  “Yeah, what? I’m not fifteen, you know.” She really grew up, and I missed it all. “Don’t do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “That look. It’s not fair.”

  Ray knit his brows. “What?”

  “I know that look. That ‘I wasn’t there’ look. Don’t turn this into self-pity nonsense. The past is the past.”

  “I… have no idea how to respond to that.”

  Elaine stood up. “Then don’t,” she said, heading for the hallway. “I’ll take a shower and get some sleep. I’m guessing we have time for that?”

  Ray nodded. “We’ll have to lay low after the next jump to cool the drive core and do some repairs.”

  “I’m guessing ten hours or so.”

  “Fifteen even.”

  Elaine smiled. “I could surely use the time off,” she said and left the cargo bay.

  Ray watched the passageway after his daughter for a while, finishing his booze before leaving for the mess hall. “Nothing is the same,” he murmured. Nothing…

  ***

  “Are we there yet?” Brother Cavil asked, his face brightening as Ray entered the mess hall. “I felt that strange feeling of hyperspace jumping.”

  “Not yet, old man. We still have a day’s worth of distance to cover. We’ll have to stay some longer in this system. That feeling was Sarah testing the drive core.”

  “Are there any stations?” Captain Samir asked. He sat on a chair, his legs on the table, carving a bump off his rifle-stock with a pocketknife.

  “Don’t think so. We’ll just stay idle, lower our energy signature to the best of our ability, and continue doing maintenance. You,” he focused his attention on Sim’Ra. “What can you tell us about this place. Or any place for that matter. Where are you taking us, anyway?”

  Sim’Ra opened his mouth as if to reply, but his wicked smile took over. “You will see it shortly.”

  Ray narrowed his eyes, but Sarah’s voice over the intercom interrupted. “Ray, you better come up.”

  “On my way,” Ray let his stare linger on Sim’Ra a moment longer before turning away. “Keep an eye on him, Samir.”

  Captain Samir nodded, putting down his knife to reassemble his rifle. “I have many reasons to shoot you, and giving me one more may very well be the one to tie the knot, you devil.”

  Sim’Ra’s smile grew wider. “No need to be alarmed, Lohil. This has to happen for our journey to continue.”

  “What?” Ray asked, but Sarah’s voice interrupted him one more time, sounding much more distressed.

  “Ray, up here on the double!”

  Ray sighed, rushing for the bridge, Brother Cavil following.

  “The readings are off the charts,” Elaine said as the two entered the bridge. She looked refreshed and well-rested.

  “The signature looks like a warp build.” Sarah was fiddling with scanner controls.

  “Can it be Admiral Conway?” Brother Cavil asked.

  “No idea. We’re sitting ducks here with our jump drive still offline,” Sarah said with genuine fear in her voice.

  “Yrrha,” Ray opened his mind, connecting to the Arinar.

  “I will protect you, Lohil.”

  Ray nodded in confirmation. “The Arinar will protect us if need be.”

  “I’m still having issues about you talking to some—” Elaine stopped as space before Fox flickered as if someone was bending it, followed by a flash of light.

  “Crap!” Sarah spat. “Crap, crap!” she fiddled madly with the navigation controls. “That’s a corvette. I can’t outgun a corvette! That thing is almost ten times the size of us.”

  A ship like a small replica of a Consortium dreadnought appeared before them. It resembled the twentieth-century battleships, although much more rounded and balanced in size. The corvette had several cannon turrets positioned on its bow, and Ray was sure what he saw at the stern was a ship-to-ship missile battery. It was perhaps two hundred and fifty meters long. It dwarfed Fox.

  “I know that sign,” Brother Cavil said, raising his finger, showing the plating near the military corvette’s bridge windows. An upside-down crescent moon intersecting with a blade.

  “The Cosmon Brotherhood,” Sarah said as if the words themselves were poison. “That bald snake put us into the lap of fanatic maniacs.” Sarah hit the console before her with both her fists. “I’m so going to kill him.”

  “You do not have to be alarmed, Sarah Davis,” Sim’Ra’s voice made all of them jump.

  “What is he doing here?” Brother Cavil asked Ray, pointing at the bald Baeal. “He is not tied, and he is on the bridge.”

  “I can see that, Brother,” Ray said, raising his hand to calm everyone. Especially Sarah. “Samir?” he asked, leaning to his side to see the seasoned soldier’s face.

  Samir pushed Sim’Ra inside with his rifle. “He said he knows our guests.”

  “I bet he does, considering the Brotherhood harasses us at every turn.” Sarah stood up, pulling out her gun. “Please, let me shoot him.”

  “Meow!” Darty jumped off Sarah’s lap, agitated. Ray wasn’t sure if the cat agreed to shoot the Baeal. Animal instincts, you know…

  “No one will shoot anyone,” Ray said with a commanding voice, and Sarah stepped back, lowering her gun slowly. “Now, talk,” he looked at Sim’Ra.

  “The information we need,” Sim’Ra nodded at the corvette sitting right outside the bridge window, “we must go to Deneers, the home of Cosmon Brotherhood. I was hoping to bump into one of their patrols on this course. It is not that easy to find that planet.”

  “We jumped system to system just to be a dummy find us sign?” Samir asked from behind the tall alien.

  “If you consider us leaving jump signature behind us, then it is a logical definition of what has transpired, Captain Samir.”

  Samir sighed. “Maybe you should let Sarah have her way with him, Ray.”

  Ray didn’t say a thing, looking at Sim’Ra in silence.

  “Dad, they’re hailing us.”

  Ray motioned Elaine to patch it through.

  “You are in Brotherhood territory. You will be towed to our base. We will not tolerate aggressive behavior. Your fates will be decided when our Supreme Leader passes his judgment.” The connection cut as the smooth voice of the man at the other end of the line finished.

  “I suggest you drop your shield and do as they say, Mr. Harris. We need that information.”

  Ray licked his lips, letting go of Yrrha’s protection a moment later, which put another of those sick smiles on Sim’Ra’s face, followed by a greenish, cone-shaped beam emitting from the corvette’s nose, covering Fox and pulling her toward the Brotherhood craft. They all felt the twisted, familiar feeling of
their insides turning out as both the corvette and the gunship entered hyperspace.

  A ROYAL DRAMA

  “They live in caves,” Sarah pointed at the rocky mountain formation growing before them. “Like animals, they live in caves.”

  “Not a bad idea, Sarah. Dig deep enough, and it becomes hard for someone to find you unless they know what they are looking for. Their planet’s hidden deep inside a dense nebula. That makes it hard to detect the planet by sensors. Add that to the tons of rock they hid their base under. It’s admirable. There,” Samir nodded. “Looks like a hangar bay.”

  Ray watched the approach in silence, not saying a word. When he spoke, it literally surprised everyone. “If this goes south, I will tear this place apart, and it’ll be your tomb, Sim’Ra.”

  “Although Archibald Cosmon is a man of religious platitude, he will harm us. There is much to be learned about the Brotherhood, Lohil.”

  “We shall see,” Ray turned to leave the bridge for the docking ramp as the Brotherhood corvette slowly towed Fox into the hangar bay. “Old man, we may need your religious expertise, but I don’t want you to get into any philosophical debates with a crazy zealot.”

  “I understand, son,” Brother Cavil’s face was sullen.

  “Samir, Sarah, you keep an eye on Elaine. And you,” he pointed at Sim’Ra without looking, “cover yourself with your robe.”

  “That will not be necessary, Lohil.”

  “You know I’m standing right here, right?” Elaine said after Ray, but he was already in the hallway, ignoring the rest of her complaints.

  “Be ready,” Ray said over the bond to the Arinar.

  “We are always awake, Lohil.”

  Ray relaxed. The stones’ soothing touch and tone had become his best friends in the last few days. The power they had, the power they gave, was comforting. For the first time in his life, Ray felt strong against the odds. Considering the size of that bug lady, it’s a good sign.

  By the time the group was on the ground, they were surrounded by a dozen men and women, all wearing light yellow jackets and pants, with red hoods and chest belts crossing from left to right. They all had military boots and knives attached to their chest belts.

  “I’ve seen those knives before,” Samir said. “Back on Earth.”

  “It is a ceremonial carving,” Sim’Ra said softly in his layered voice. “The metals used are of this galaxy, though. Still, it is a good copy.”

  “The one I saw was stabbed in a friend’s back.”

  “Silence!” A guard with a rank insignia pointed his rifle at the group. “You, the bearded one, and you, the tall one,” he waved his rifle at Ray and Sim’Ra. “The Supreme One will see you immediately. Rest,” the guard signaled one of the women to take them away, “you will come with us.”

  “To where?” Elaine asked.

  “You will only speak when spoken to,” one of the female guards stepped forward and slapped Elaine. Before anyone could react, the guard was thrown from the hangar doors with tremendous force and speed, flying into the valley.

  Ray’s eyes glowed bright red. “Anyone else willing to test my patience or my love for my daughter?”

  The guards looked at each other in shock, and one by one, fell to their knees. “Lohil,” the guard captain whispered. “It is an honor to look at your face. We did not know it was you.”

  “So, you know who I am?”

  “Every follower knows the prophecy, Lohil,” the guard answered.

  “Not what I expected,” Brother Cavil murmured.

  “Figures. Blow up a few things, scatter some lights, and everyone becomes a follower,” Sarah sighed. “Now what?”

  “Stand up,” Ray let go of Serhmana’s power, and the glow vanished. “Take me to your leader. I want my people taken care of.”

  “Your words are holy, Lohil. They will be regaled.” The guard stood up, signaling the rest to accompany the guests. “You and the black one are expected at the throne room.”

  “Throne room?”

  “Archibald was never a man of subtlety, I am afraid,” Sim’Ra said. “He is too much connected to the ways of the Empire.”

  “Empire?”

  “You will see, Lohil. Just,” Sim’Ra smiled, “let me do the talking. Archibald gets… excited at times with his position.”

  Ray took a deep breath, turning to face Elaine. “Be safe. Ijjok will keep an eye on you, and I will be there in a flash if something goes wrong. Sarah and Samir will keep you company.”

  “Dad, I’m not twelve, you know.”

  Ray smiled. It was dry, but it was a smile.

  “Eh-em.”

  “All right, let the old man keep an eye on you at least.”

  Brother Cavil gave a broad smile, nodding. “That is better.”

  Ray smiled, leaning closer to Elaine, “Prevent him from having any of his crazy talks or getting into a religious debate.”

  “Sure, Dad.”

  Ray knit his brows. “Tell you what: don’t let him talk at all.”

  Brother Cavil snorted. “I heard that!”

  ***

  Brother Cavil was in ecstasy, inspecting the leather-bound books with profound care. He was provided with reading gloves and a comfortable seat, a rich fruit basket, and a hot black tea sitting on the table before him. “This is marvelous.”

  “Yeah? Tell me,” Sarah said, clearly not sharing the old man’s elation.

  “These here are the original Don Quixote. These books were written in the early sixteenth century!”

  “I didn’t read that one, sorry,” Sarah shrugged.

  Brother Cavil snorted. “And they call us Bunarians ignorant, secluded, and distant.”

  “Well, it wasn’t me.”

  “Wait,” the old priest suddenly tensed. “You do not believe these bindings are made of human flesh, right?” He literally shivered. “Oh, Light…”

  “Relax, they’re just books. This isn’t the dark ages.”

  Elaine stood up, leaving Sarah and the old priest to debate the importance of preserving historical art. Elaine had to admit, the old man had a point. Though, it was probably because he didn’t let Sarah speak at all. She smiled. He reminded her of her grandfather. Well, a bit eccentric version, maybe. She took a pear from the fruit bowl, rubbing it idly against her shirt.

  The library was huge. Shelves made of dark wood—she had no idea from what tree—rose to the ceiling, connected with ladders and platforms. Each had thousands of books shelved in great care and respect that were protected by glass cases. Torches and big chandeliers illuminated the room. She took a bite from her pear and murmured, “There must be thousands of books here.”

  “The Supreme Leader has over seven million books in his collection showcased in several libraries like this one throughout the compound.”

  Elaine jumped in shock, dropping her pear but a young man, wearing the same clothes as the guards, except for the weapons, caught it before it hit the floor.

  “There,” he gave the fruit back to Elaine.

  “Thank you,” Elaine smiled timidly. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “It is easy to lose yourself within these books. The knowledge preserved here is invaluable.”

  “It is,” Elaine nodded, looking back at the shelves. “I didn’t think people still had paper books.”

  “When the lights are gone, these books will still be here. We are always reminded of that, not to be dependent on technology. It makes the mind lazier.”

  Elaine tilted her head to her right, “Interesting.”

  The young man blinked.

  “I thought your order was a barbaric terrorist group. Seeing you covered in books and philosophical ideals are…”

  “We are not what your people painted us like?”

  Elaine shook her head. “At least not all of you.”

  “Eras,” the man smiled, reaching forth. “I am named Eras.”

  “Elaine,” she took the young man’s hand softly.

  “You are th
e daughter of the Lohil. I am honored to be in your presence.”

  “Elaine is enough, thanks.”

  Eras smiled. He had dark brows and curly hair. A left-leaning nose complemented his small, dark eyes and tiny lips. He wasn’t handsome by Elaine’s standards, but the boy looked sincere.

  “The knowledge preserved here… it contradicts with what I know about your cult.”

  Eras nodded. “Some of our ways seem extreme to outsiders. I acknowledge that. However, we are not doing what we do to terrorize but to defend our own ways.”

  “By killing people?”

  “It is not terrorism, Elaine. It is war.”

  Elaine jutted. “Seems to me like you’re twisting words to justify the means.”

  Eras smiled sincerely. “I am sure the Consortium’s agenda dictates a rather singular perspective in their teachings about us. I am not saying our hands are clean of blood. That would be a lie.”

  “What is it you are saying, Eras?”

  “That the Consortium is in equal dirt, if not more.”

  “Elaine!” Sarah’s voice interrupted. “Back here, where I can see you, girl.”

  “Yes, mom.” She gave a long, low sigh. “It was nice talking to you, Eras.”

  “The pleasure was mine, Elaine.”

  ***

  Archibald Cosmon took a sip from his wooden goblet. “Would you like some wine? It is… intellectually satisfying.”

  “It is always good to see you, Archibald. I am content to see you did not lose any of your exquisite tastes in…” Sim’Ra scanned the throne room. Old tapestries showcasing various historical battles and religious moments in human history hung from the thirty-meter ceiling. Six giant columns, three on each side of the throne room, had carvings of various texts from different religions' teachings. “…decoration,” Sim’Ra finished.

  “I always had this thing for human history, you know,” Archibald Cosmon stood up with a theatrical gesture of his left hand, showing the tapestries, holding his wine with his right.

  Ray watched the exchange in silence. The leader of the Cosmon Brotherhood wore a simple black shirt and pants. He had a small face with short Van Dyke facial hair and an Adam haircut. His eyes were green, and his wrinkles were deep enough to suggest his age was in his late fifties.