Leesa walked in silence, mulling over the strange talk with the dragon king, angry with Allister for his deception. Especially after risking her life and career to rescue him from C20. “Why wouldn’t you tell me about Neight?” she finally asked.
“It’s not like you’re an open book.” Allister sighed, taking her hands before coming clean. “I discovered him locked in a secret part of the facility right before the C20 ambush. Your father’s had him hidden for over fifteen years.”
She took a hand away to cover her mouth and left his line of vision, shaking her head. “That’s impossible.”
“If Nicolas is lying about this, he could’ve lied about all the ‘crimes’ Neight committed. The whole file is probably…a lie.”
Leesa read it so many times, cursing Neight’s death because it was the key to understanding their mission and where to look. Nicolas kept her blind for years. She continuously failed, lost soldiers because of a perceived handicap. Allister re-ignited the courage and strength she had as a girl, their return to the Andromeda Project meant Leesa’s request for control of the program. She wanted to talk to Neight and learn everything he knew, apply the knowledge for real success in human advancement. Overwhelmed, she hugged Allister, touching his face and lips then leaned back to look into his tormented eyes. How could someone be so happy and so sad at the same time?
“You seem different. Free,” he said, watching her hair blow behind them.
“You sound as crazy as the dragon king.” Leesa took a deep breath but held their embrace. He didn’t know what she meant but decided not to ruin the moment with questions. “I’m enlightened.”
“You love this place,” Allister teased, lifting her chin, “I’ve rarely seen your beautiful smile.”
Neither was prepared for the emotional flood that came with a kiss. She ended the connection. “How long has it been since you’ve seen him?” Leesa asked the alien woman ahead of them.
Amora counted, “Been at least sixty years? Ya sixty years.” Her story was a window into Neight’s complicated history; Leesa pressed for more information. “I don’t remember what happened really, woke up here in time ta watch tha planet collapse.” Lying helped avoid subjects too painful to discuss. Nearing the end of their journey, she found closure on why it had been so important for Neight to make those sacrifices but the determination was set. “Find Neight upon ya return. Tis time he returned ta this system. And if ya don’t return him then I, as his only livin heir, will retrieve him myself.”
They reached the base of the giant cliff. She extended her hand in no particular direction and Leesa shook it. Their touch linked Amora to the magic pulsing within Leesa, partly due to a powerful spell, partly due to unused abilities. “I hope ya find tha heart ta release my father so he may return ta me.”
“I’ll do some investigating when we return,” Leesa promised.
Allister took Amora by the hand to kiss the top, she stumbled to her knees.
“What’d ya do?” she asked, looking to the sky intending to glare at him.
Allister grasped the sense of urgency at them leaving. They apologized for his inability to control the knowledge absorption but there was no time to waste.
“Tha portal is there,” Amora said.
He tugged at Leesa’s arm, “We gotta go. We’re not safe here and they aren’t safe as long as we’re here.”
Amora shooed them away while appearing to listen for sounds from the sky. “Royal Armada descends.” She moved her hands around sprinkling in words intermittently. Sparks flashed in increasing intensity.
“What’ll happen to you?” Allister asked with genuine concern.
“Go!”
Leesa levitated the two of them to the cliff’s edge. They took in the magnificent beauty of the planet stretching beneath them. Their hands found each other while the gems glowed. “I don’t know where it’ll take us but at least we’ll be together,” she said.
“Since you won’t let me do this when we step through there…” Allister wrapped one hand around her waist and brought her in for a passionate kiss. Numerous rings of white light exploded out and wrapped around their bodies, causing the portal to swallow them.
The Armada’s engines drowned out all other noises as their ships sped over the rain forest. Pyx stood upright and opened his wide mouth to roar. He flattened his red-orange wings, creating a gust of wind through the trees reminiscent of the hurricane winds found on Earth.
“I know, Pyx, we will return to tha Citadel,” Amora jumped on his back. They propelled out of the forest at frightening speed.
ANDROMEDA PROJECT MAIN HQ
Washington, DC, April 2026
“Dr. Belladonna won’t be returning to the project,” the US director said.
Rabia feigned frustration behind the podium. “A valuable asset lost.”
Expressions of confusion indistinguishable on the screen’s greyed silhouettes.
“I didn’t know about this decision,” the North Korean director said.
The UK director probed deeper, “Under whose authority did she leave?”
“She resigned for family reasons. We wrote an open exit clause for such emergencies.”
A less than convincing excuse for anyone who knew her family history, but they bought the story and moved on.
“Why haven’t we moved forward on bringing down C20?” the Brazilian Director shouted.
Two of the directors weren’t present at the meeting, the Chinese director and the Russian director. They couldn’t approve the infiltration without their votes and since Rabia’s interim leadership, taking down C20 hadn’t been a topic of discussion. Allister or Leesa’s possession of the gems became a bigger concern, as only one of them could be killed.
“Did their departure affect the lieutenant’s level of control over the Zosma energy?” the UK director asked.
“No, Lieutenant Delemar’s energy levels are not fluctuating like before.” Their questions bored him, no wonder Nicolas was such a nutcase. The doctor twiddled his thumbs. “Seems stable at medium-low access.”
“Excellent,” the UK director said, “we don’t want to trigger any kind of awakening.”
“Of course not. I will let you know when they return,” Rabia said, bowing.
The lights flickered in Russell’s office as clicking heels invaded the room. Bridget stood with her hands on her hips in the doorway.
“Oh good,” he said without looking up. “You’re here.” Russell grabbed her hand and took off his glasses. His eyes darted to the floor and to the side, a few sentences slipped out of his mouth but none were coherent. She touched his cheek sympathetically. Russell knelt in front of her. “If this goes well, everyone will know like I do, how incredible you are. I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next few days but if we survive, will you marry me?”
“Mr. Ashur,” his junior engineer interrupted, “I’m sorry to interrupt but there’s something you should look at.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Bridget’s arms wrapped her own torso with uncertainty, watching him rise to eye level with the little box in his hand. Things she never dreamed about as a little girl, things she thought she didn’t deserve as an adult. Did psychopaths get married? Fall in love? The medicine helped, but it seemed unfair to say yes on hormone regulating drugs. Their relationship and happiness built on a subdued version of Bridget’s true self.
“Think about it.” Russell handed her the gift and followed the young woman out. The last kind words they’d ever speak.
NEIGHT CASTER
Washington, DC, April 2026
Rabia stood outside of Neight’s cell for a few minutes. “I know you’re awake.” He knocked on the glass.
Neight rolled himself up from his position and hunched forward with his legs in front of him. Opening his arms to stretch, he took off his cloak to reveal the Uragonian garments he’d been wearing for centuries. “What is it you require?” he asked viciously.
“What you know ab
out Private Adams going after gems?” Rabia inquired.
“I taught him how to pilot my ship,” Neight said with no feeling, “but once they were on the mission I had no influence.”
“You can influence anything you want,” he shot back.
They faced off like pieces on a chessboard, but one of them was a pawn. Neight moved away as if back up the invisible gaming arena to re-evaluate the next move. His hand twirled around itself in the air.
Rabia squinted. “I am best chance at getting you out of here and back where you want to be. I ask for simple answers.” The doctor frowned impatiently.
“I have been thinking about scattering your little atoms all over this room,” Neight said, pressing his clawed hand flat against the glass. “Allister and Leesa are where they are supposed to be, learning about themselves and their destiny.” After his outburst Neight sat down, fatigued from his unknown task.
Neight looked similar to how they found him after the incident in Cumberland, tapped out. “You’ve been using magic, haven’t you?” Rabia asked.
“You are playing a game,” he mumbled, back turned to the “earth geneticist.” “If you continue manipulating these people and this situation…”
While caught off guard by the discovery, neither Rabia’s tone nor delivery wavered. “You think they have any idea what I’m capable of?” he asked, laughing heartily. “I’ve been here two thousand Earth years.”
“You must be the last of your kind.” Neight ran his hand over the front of himself. “Offered protection in return for servitude.”
“I didn’t like being under Infinity Cluster’s thumb.”
“And even in exile you have not learned your lesson.” Neight’s motion stopped on a particular spot in the wall.
Silence followed their banter, their roles on the board changed, neither was a pawn anymore.
“This conversation is not over,” Rabia said, angrily removing his hands from the position behind his back.
“It would take one thought to reveal what you truly are, Rabia Giro,” Neight sneered.
“I don’t think you’re powerful as you pretend to be,” he said. Particles of mist, which seconds prior made up parts of his body, scattered away from each other. The false eastern European accent lingered. “As long as I’m here, you’ll never go back.”
Mist traveled between cracks in the floor, needling through keyholes, under doors, going up levels until finding the infirmary, specifically the general’s room.
Nicolas lay immobile, tucked underneath crisp white sheets. His head rested above two fluffy pillows and the IV extended directly from his forearm.
“I hope you came to put me out of my misery,” the general said in a strained whisper.
Molecular mist lined the floor like low fog, swirling up into a human figure, then materialized. Rabia sat in the chair next to the bed and observed his colleague. Russell entered shortly after, locked the door behind him, then remained standing guard near it without greeting anyone.
“You remind me of myself when I was young. Lost, scared. Weak,” Rabia said, reviewing his chart. “So I’ve decided to let you live because someone once extended me the same courtesy.” Alongside a few top specialists on site, they developed a temporary medicine to slow the rapid death rate of his cells. “It might even reverse process for a bit.”
Nicolas’s vitals were better. “What’s the catch?” he asked.
Rabia grinned, “For now let us say one associate helping another in time of foolishly self-inflicted need.”
The general covered his mouth with his wrist to cough. “Did Private Adams kidnap my daughter? Why aren’t they back yet?”
“I hate charades. She’s not your daughter and she’ll find out, unless you do, something for me.”
“You’re a bastard,” Nicolas yelled. There was always a catch. “This whole operation will implode if you awaken Zosma.”
“Simply because you and the directors can’t fathom the importance of the zosma energy, doesn’t mean no one can. I swear if it’s not Romans, it’s Phoenicians, or Egyptians…this planet and its people need guidance or human race will be destroyed by stronger, faster…” Rabia’s rant slowed until he stopped speaking completely. For the first time Nicolas looked him over. “You know nothing and you have nothing, Nicolas Delemar. You are puppet.” Rabia rubbed his now pointed ear and flicked away a piece of skin.
“What are you? Who are you?” Nicolas asked, noticing his large feet and hands.
Rabia smoothed the sides of his oval shaped head. “You will know. Our friend in basement is hard at work trying to unveil me.”
“If anyone can stop you, it’s Neight.”
“Exactly.” To kill a shark, all you had to do was take it out of water. Rabia turned off the respirator, Nicolas gasped for breath. Arms flailing upwards and both legs kicking out. Russell didn’t move from the door but both eyes twitched nervously. An external sign that his brain screamed stop, commanding his legs to run, his arms to shove Rabia out of the way. All he could do was watch Nicolas grasp for the machines; Rabia had taken control over Russell’s body. Next was his mind.
CHAPTER NINE
Zosma
ALLISTER ADAMS
Middle East, May 2026
Allister and Leesa appeared in the middle of the desert, lingering in their embrace until full materialization. She jerked away from him as if they’d get caught. Allister rolled his eyes, Leesa’s scowl returned. It wasn’t quite the robot he met so many weeks ago but an in between he didn’t understand.
“How long do you think we’ve been gone?” she asked, ignoring his reaction. The grueling mid-afternoon sun enhanced the beautiful sheen of her newly tanned skin. Allister raised a sweaty eyebrow. His mind calculated the travel distance and the amount of time they spent on Dragozium to determine they’d been missing a little over two days; the faint outline of the C20 watchtower hung in the distance.
“What about Dr. Belladonna?”
Leesa kept her distance. “She was after the gems for herself.”
It’s always difficult to discover someone isn’t as benevolent as they portray, but no one was perfect anyway. If he could forgive his mother, then Florence deserved a fair chance as well. “There must’ve been a mistake.”
“I heard everything,” Leesa argued.
“I’d rather hear it from her,” he said, ending the conversation.
Neight’s repaired craft shimmered out of stealth mode next to them. Allister settled into the pilot’s seat aggressively and established power. He gripped the sides of his chair crunching the metal fixtures in on themselves while waiting for the ship to take off. Leesa refused to ask what bothered him.
Communication had been set up during their absence and the Andromeda Project was alerted when the ship went online. The control room achieved first contact.
“We’re on—” Allister began.
“I have Private Adams,” Leesa said over him. “He believes the Andromeda Project is home and wants to amend his mistakes in the eyes of the directors.”
“Which one of you bonded with gems?” Rabia asked.
Leesa didn’t want to answer.
“I did,” he said. “You can’t kill me so might as well deal with it.”
“We discuss upon safe arrival,” Rabia commanded. “Dr. Belladonna is no longer with us.”
“Sad to hear it,” she said and gave him the I told you so look.
“Preparing for take off,” the computer announced.
The engines roared to life and Allister placed his hands over the navigation dashboard. Physical movements unveiled his angst and they took off abruptly, causing the craft to jerk.
“You’re distracted. I should be flying.” Leesa braced using the pilot’s seat.
Allister turned sharply to the left as they ascended, then accelerated hard; she flew back into her seat. “No,” he replied, “you don’t know how. Neight taught me.”
They flew in stillness until the outburst boiling beneath his
skin reached the surface. “You think this is okay, don’t you? After what we shared, to shut down like this. Go back to being whatever you think you’re supposed to be. I can’t heal my feelings. I lost my mother and I thought I’d gained a friend, but no, it’s okay. I’m fine on my own.”
Leesa winced behind him in the craft, thinking through what an appropriate response would be. Heavy breaths filled the silence. “The old me would’ve killed you,” she said quietly. “I’ve been following my heart instead of my mind.”
“Why’d you come after me, if you let me live this long?”
“I wanted you to know I was there for you. You have what I’ve spent years trying to find. Direction. Purpose.” There was no purpose in pain, in death. The thought of hurting him emotionally or physically, she touched her heart to slow the beating. It was incomprehensible.
“Your father spent his whole life looking for these stupid gems.” Allister caressed his hair. “And fucked over God knows who in the process. That’s not you.”
Leesa crossed her arms. “Maybe not but they will permanently change the direction of—”
“Do you know what Nicolas did to my family?”
“My father sacrificed every—” she raised her voice.
“Body!” Allister screamed. “He sacrificed everybody and everything: your childhood, my childhood, my father, my mother. We’ve been miserable for too long. Stop pretending, Leesa. He calls you Lieutenant.”
His comment sent her into silence; through the clouds she saw Italy. “I’d like to believe he’s trying to do the right thing.” Leesa pulled all of her hair to one side.
Allister sniffled, then wiped snot from his lip. “You’ll wake up one day.”
She was awake but she wasn’t ready to accept what her father was and let go of what she wanted him to be. “I’m sorry,” Leesa said, gazing out the window, “about earlier. You deserve better. Considering all you’ve done for me.”
The Andromeda Project (The Cluster Chronicles Book 1) Page 27