by S. E. Meyer
The group cautiously made their way back inside the building and barricaded all of the exits with anything they could find. Brandon led them up to the top floor. “There are a few nice places up here. That’s where I’ve been staying. There isn’t any food left in this place though.”
“That’s okay,” replied James. “It’ll be safe for now. Do you know how to get up on the roof?” he asked Brandon.
Brandon led them to a small doorway and an access stairwell. They all climbed up onto the roof and everyone found a place to sit in the sunshine. Brandon and Nathaniel placed their backs against the ledge that ran all the way around the edge of the roof, while Barb and Aurora sat next to them. James stood and kept watch, looking over the ledge as they shared a small meal. Once they were done eating and had a moment to rest, Barb walked over to where James was standing. She moved in and put her arm around him. “James,” she said softly.
James smiled and pulled her close. “Yes Barb? Is everything okay? How are your wounds doing?”
“Yes, everything is okay,” she replied and then buried her face in his chest as she began to sob quietly.
“Hey now, it’s okay. I took care of those guys, we’re safe,” soothed James as he hugged her.
“I know. It’s not just that. I-I just-“ Barb stammered. “ Has the entire world gone to hell James? I mean has everyone gone totally crazy? All I see everywhere is evil and terror,” she sobbed. Barb pulled away and looked into James’ eyes. “Do you think there is anyone left like us? People that survived who are kind and good? People who want to, not just make the world a better place than it is now, but maybe a better place than it was before this all started? You know what I mean James? A place to start over fresh with new rules and a simpler kind of life.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. They both looked out towards the eastern horizon and watched as Nibiru once again began to scale the clear blue sky. Barb looked back at James. “I guess what I’m trying to say James, is do you think there is any good left in the world?”
James pulled Barb close again. He kissed her softly on the cheek and then whispered into her ear. “I sure hope so hon. Otherwise, what are my brother and your sister even doing risking their lives down there for?”
A Sortie Of Souls
John held Jennifer close as he continued to rock her lifeless body back and forth. “I love you too my sweet woman, my little honey bunny,” he breathed as he silently wept into her neck.
“Aw, that was so sweet. I wuv you too honey bunny,” mocked Traedon. He let go of Braedon’s head and moved to face him. He noticed a tear rolling down Braedon’s cheek. “Aw, are you sad too brother?” he asked with a wicked smile. “Now it’s John’s turn.”
John got onto his knees and spread his arms wide. “Here I am. I won’t fight it. I have nothing left to live for!” John cried as the tears continued to flow down his face. He felt the hopelessness overwhelm his thoughts. The pain. The loss. Loneliness ripped and tore into the crimson flesh of his aching heart as the finality of Jenny’s death consumed his emotions. “The sooner you do it, the sooner I’ll be back with my Jenny,” he pleaded, giving up in despair.
Traedon smiled as he lifted his palms. “My pleasure,” he said as he sent a lethal shock of energy through John’s body. John fell onto his side and his body began to twitch. He could see a bright light and then slowly, a scene came into focus. It was the same one Jenny described to him earlier, except along with the puppy, white picket fence and two children on a swing, Jenny was there. She was happy and smiling at him as she waved from across the yard. The feelings of despair quickly transformed into elation. John felt the weight of the world lift from his shoulders and all his cares melt away as he ran towards her. His heart was pounding in his chest with the anticipation of holding her in his arms. He was finally free, liberated from the pain of the world. John’s body took its last breath as it lay next to Jenny’s lifeless frame.
Traedon turned around “Now brother,” he said, and then paused briefly. “How about a drum roll please?” Traedon laughed heartily. “Now it’s your turn.” Traedon placed his hand on Braedon’s head and began to mutter under his breath. His eyes rolled back into his head as a faint blue light transferred from Braedon’s body to his own. “There. Now I have stolen the birthright and the final task will be to finish you.” Traedon bent over and looked directly into Braedon’s eyes, but Braedon was focused on something behind him. A small blue sphere appeared above Jennifer. It slowly rose above her body, and then another, even smaller blue orb, joined it. They hovered there together for a moment. Braedon watched as a third blue orb appeared above John. It also rose into the air and then joined with the one above Jennifer. The two larger orbs connected together at their sides, becoming one, forming a single oval shape. They continued to float away, followed closely behind by the smaller one.
Braedon stared at the orbs, deep in thought. Shishida. His eyes grew wider as he formulated a plan. “This isn’t over brother,” Braedon whispered.
“Oh really? In your current state, you’re too weak to do anything about it. I am going to kill you Braedon, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me,” Traedon said in a boisterous tone of confidence.
“We’ll see about that!” Braedon yelled out with a sudden burst of energy. Traedon watched in shock as a blue silhouette flew from Braedon’s body. It hung there in front of Traedon for a moment, a full sized wispy image of his brother, before it crashed into Jennifer’s frame. The two larger orbs still floating in the room separated. One of them flew back into Jennifer’s body followed by the third, smaller one. Jennifer took a deep breath as her body heaved. “Jennifer,” Braedon said inside her mind as he healed her wounds. “I am sorry for what I did to you and I’m sorry about John. I realize now that you are not my wife, but I still can’t stand the thought of you dying. I give you back your life in exchange for mine.” Traedon looked on as Braedon’s blue shadow jumped from Jennifer’s body and into John’s. The last floating blue orb flew back into John’s chest and he sat up taking in a deep breath. “John, my own family has betrayed me. I have been forsaken by my own kind, but I will not be made a fool,” said Braedon telepathically as he healed John and re-energized him with the last of his strength. “I have something to tell you.” John’s body twitched and writhed as Braedon continued to speak to him in his thoughts. John opened his eyes in time to see Braedon’s blue silhouette float over the railing and then disappear down the deep shaft.
“Finally!” Traedon yelled out. “Good riddance, I say.” Traedon looked at John. “So he thought he would use the last of his strength to bring you both back eh? Not much good that will do except maybe give me the satisfaction of killing you both twice.”
John glanced at the control panel and read the timer. Only five minutes left, he thought.
Traedon walked over and grabbed Jenny by the hair, lifting her off the ground, and then slammed her body against the railing that ran around the opening to the shaft. He tore up a few of the cables on the floor next to her and bound her tightly in a standing position. John took advantage of the few seconds he was given and stood up. He lunged to where Ben was lying. He grabbed Ben’s weapon and fired several rounds into Traedon's chest and arm just as he turned towards him. The bullets didn’t slow him down as he came at John with amazing speed and agility. He grabbed him with one hand on each side of his head pulling him up off the floor. The weapon fell from his hands as Traedon lifted John high enough for his feet to dangle below him.
“You are a fool John!” Traedon said as he pulled John to with an inch of his face. “Did you really think that would slow me down?” The pain caused by the pressure of his hands against John’s skull was unbearable. John felt like his head was about to implode, popping his brain into the air like the seed inside a grape when squeezed between two fingers. He fought the urge to black out. Traedon showed him a wicked smile and then landed a blow to his chest as he let go of his head, sending John to the other side of the room from Ben. Joh
n landed hard onto the floor as his forehead cracked against the wall. Traedon moved closer to Jenny. “And you. You were going to be a queen Jenny, more powerful than you could have ever imagined. Too late for that now I guess.” He looked over at John with an evil smile as he ran his long tongue along the back of Jenny’s neck. “On second thought maybe I won’t kill her, John. She can come with me to live out her days. Instead of a Queen, I’ll settle for a feisty member for my harem.” He smacked her backside and then placed his hand on her midsection as Jenny tried to squirm away. Traedon’s laughter echoed throughout the room.
Blood was running from John’s forehead and into his mouth as he got onto his hands and knees. “If you touch her again, I will kill you!” The words splattered blood onto the floor in front of him. Traedon moved closer. John came to his senses shaking his head and reached out for Traedon with his mind. He found an impenetrable wall blocking Traedon’s thoughts, and then felt Traedon rush into his head.
Do you really think you’re strong enough to engage in a mental battle with me John? John tried to stand up, but fell back to his knees from the crippling grip Traedon had on his mind. John put his hands to his head wincing as he slumped over from the pain rippling through his body. John could see Traedon’s face in his mind as he continued to force thoughts into his brain. You could have been a great leader in the new world John. You had so much potential. You were born to be a Sura and yet you threw it all away. And for what? To save the world? Is that what you thought you were going to do John? Traedon laughed heartily out loud again. “You can’t even save yourself. Or your wife!” Traedon said as he grabbed John again, this time by his arm and threw him against the wall, smashing his face against the nearest pillar and breaking his nose. Traedon dragged him across the room to where Jenny was bound and stood him up, securing him the same way to the rail next to her. “This will be fun!” Traedon continued. “You can stand there helplessly, while you watch this weapon fire on Eridu. This weapon is made to fire only once John, leaving no energy left to save your planet from Nibiru. Soon it will be too late.” John winced through his stinging, broken nose and looked at the timer. The display read two minutes.
Traedon continued to laugh as he walked to the center of the room and pulled up a large 3D image of the solar system on the control panel. He was so distracted that he didn’t notice Ben had regained consciousness behind him. Traedon continued to speak as he zoomed in the image of his home planet. “Soon you will witness the outcome of a plan several thousand years in the making,” Traedon proudly exclaimed.
There was a large pool of slippery blood encircling Ben. He barely had enough strength to crawl through the sticky mess to where John had dropped the gun. Ben managed to get a hold of the weapon and shakily aimed it in Traedon’s direction. Traedon raised an eyebrow and began to turn around, realizing something was wrong. Ben opened fire on him as Traedon turned, emptying a full clip into his neck and side, ripping away Traedon’s flesh. The force of the bullets pushed him sideways into the control panel. Traedon finished turning around, catching the last few projectiles in his face. He staggered towards Ben with a smile on his blood-spattered face. Part of his cheek was blown open and most of the skin on his lower jaw had been ripped away, exposing the bone. Ben’s eyes were wide with horror at the sight of Traedon coming closer. Half of his face was dangling by a few strands of tissue like stringy, melting cheese. Traedon reached the pool of Ben’s blood and slipped in the thick greasy fluid. He fell forward just as Ben pulled out his knife. John heard a wet crunching sound as Traedon landed on top of Ben and the knife he was holding. He stared at the bloody tip of Ben’s long blade, exposed just above Traedon’s spine.
John had been concentrating on the cords, trying to free his hands from the rail. He finally managed to loosen them enough to pull them free and then did the same with his feet. As soon as he was liberated, he ran to Jenny. “No, don’t worry about me, the weapon John. Hurry! We’re almost out of time!” she squeaked.
John turned around and ran to the column where the screen still showed a 3D image of Eridu. Jenny squirmed and tugged at the cords around her wrists as John touched the display. He noticed some small writing that was running along the borders of the large rectangular shape. It was hard for him to read through his blurry, watery eyes as the blood continued to flow from his head and broken nose. He wiped his eyes and focused on the writing. Everything suddenly made sense and he knew exactly what to do. A new rumbling sound began to reverberate through the room. It started in a low pitch and then became stronger. “Shit,” John said. I think it’s about to fire.”
“Hurry,” Jenny said as she continued to work on the cords holding her captive. John nervously glanced over at Traedon, who had still not moved. He turned his attention back to the screen and began to manipulate the images in front of him. He pulled Nibiru into view and continued to read what the highly advanced technology was telling him. “I’m not sure how to aim it! Damn It!” John’s frustration continued to grow along with the rumbling sound as he methodically worked it over in his head. “I got it!” he finally said to Jenny, over his shoulder. “I don’t have to point it I just have to tell it what coordinates I want Nibiru to end up at!” John focused intently as he used his hands to plot a new course for Nibiru. Then he tapped several 3D controls on the screen. The images changed and a new target sequence flashed across the screen. Nibiru was now outlined in red and had several white points of light across one half of its globe. John read the timer again. The display read one minute. “There! I got it!” John said as he turned to go back and untie Jenny, who was still working frantically to get her hands free. He glanced at Traedon who was still not moving, but John felt him with his mind. He could tell Traedon was still conscious, although weaker than before, and John felt panic creep in, knowing he had to hurry. John ran the last few steps toward Jenny when he dropped to the floor in excruciating pain. John looked down to see Ben’s long knife buried deep in his thigh. He looked over at Traedon, eyes wide, and saw him slowly getting to his feet. John used his mind to block the pain and pulled himself with his hands toward Jenny. He tried to ignore the panic in his chest as he feverishly worked to free her. Traedon slowly staggered towards them, but stopped at the control panel. He reversed the changes John had made before stumbling towards the rail. Just as John was about to untie the final knot in the cables around Jenny’s wrist, Traedon kicked him hard in the ribs, sliding him several feet away. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping John from passing out under the intense pain ripping through his side and coursing through his thigh.
“Why won’t you just die!” John spat through his blood-soaked lips as Jenny continued to fight her bonds. John watched the timer in panic. The display showed forty seconds.
Traedon spoke through his mangled jaw and the gaping hole where his mouth had once been. “Die?” he laughed as blood dripped from his swaying chin. “No John, I’m not going to die. My healers can fix me up as good as new.” Traedon moved closer to Jenny and pushed himself up against her. He tightly squeezed her against the rail with his hips. “The only person going to die today John, is you. Did you really think you could win, John? Really?” Traedon cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow. He paused a moment while Jenny continued to struggle. “No John, by the end of the day you will be dead and I will be safe and sound on Eridu, exploring every square inch of your lovely wife.” Jenny managed to free one hand and fished a small grenade from the pocket of her army jacket. Traedon extended his bloody tongue through the hole in his face as he nestled into Jenny’s neck. The gory piece of meat left a trail of clotted blood as he ran it along Jenny’s neck and up her left cheek. He stopped and grabbed a small piece of her flesh with his exposed bony jaw. “John, I’m going to enjoy every second of this. I’ll make sure I think of you as I lick and suck each and every pore on her body.”
“Suck this!” Jenny screamed as she jammed the grenade she was holding deep into the hole in his face with her free hand and then twis
ted her body around. Using the hand still tied to the rail to pivot, she swung both her legs up and into the top of Traedon’s chest as hard as she could throwing him off balance towards the shaft behind him. The back of his knees slammed against the rail and he toppled backward over the edge. He tried to grab Jenny’s leg to catch his balance as he fell into the shaft, pulling her over the rail with him. He held onto her ankle as they both dangled dangerously from Jenny’s bound hand. John focused hard; mustering all of the energy he had left as he rose. He slowly pulled the long blade from his thigh, wincing in pain.
“I told you, if you touch her again, I will kill you,” yelled John. Then with one powerful stroke, he sliced through Traedon’s wrist. John smiled as he watched Traedon plummet down the shaft. The grenade exploded, leaving his headless body to fall through the darkness alone as John helped Jenny back over the rail.
“Ew,” said Jenny as she kicked Traedon’s bloody hand loose from her ankle. It bounced against the rail and fell into the pit, chasing the stump it belonged to below. John freed Jenny with the knife then glanced at the timer. “Shit Jen, I’ve only got fifteen seconds to change it back!” He staggered back over to the control console. John could feel his heart pounding in his chest and throbbing in his temples as he watched the timer count down from ten seconds. Jenny helped to steady him as he reset the parameters. “Shit, shit,” John muttered in frustration as he ran through the firing sequence. The timer hit two seconds as he executed the final command to initiate. The countdown reset to twenty seconds and John flopped to the floor. He leaned his back against the column as he let out a long sigh. Jenny sat down next to him, rubbing her wrist. “Are you okay Jen?”
Jenny looked deep into John’s eyes. “Yes, I think so.”