Essence: Book 1 - Septima

by Nick Braker

  Her eyes are amazing.

  “Dear, we need to tell you something,” Alta started, interrupting his thoughts.

  “He’s not going to like it,” Septima said.

  His emotions turned 180 degrees with Septima’s comment. What were they up to?

  “Spit it out,” Troy ordered.

  “When you arrived on Pira, Septima, Cienna and I agreed that, as a pure human being, you would be weak and ineffective in the effort to help us win this war against the Reptaurans. Granted, you are stronger here than on Earth but we needed more,” she said.

  Troy’s pulse was already racing from his thoughts of Alta earlier but now it surged at the realization of the nature of her comments. He didn’t like where she was going with this. If they had done something to him without asking, he knew his response could be summed up in one word... livid.

  “So, we placed a virus-like parasite inside you that has been working at making you more like Tohmas. I designed it myself to give you his memories and his abilities. I gather you’ve noticed you are aware of things now that you have no way of knowing. Your skill with a martial art style called Rohku is unparalleled. Cienna would likely be your only capable opponent, that is, when the change is complete. I have to say that it was dramatically more successful than I could have imagined.”

  “What the fuck are you telling me?” Troy said.

  Troy knew he was seconds from his anger getting the best of him and he would have no chance to contain it. He had to get out.

  “Bro,” Geoff jumped in. “I’m in agreement with them. Lakin agrees too. It was the best thing they could have done. You needed an edge and Tohmas’ memories gave you that. His abilities in fighting, tactics and strategy are yours now. Soon the parasite will be finished and you will be as good as he was before he died. Perhaps with Troy and Tohmas within you, together, you will be stronger, more capable.”

  So that was the source of all he had experienced. The pain was his but the memories were from someone else. How could he receive someone else’s memories? Was it Tohmas’ essence?

  A parasite can’t give someone memories. They are lying to me. No, they are not, don’t be silly. They did it for your own good.

  Troy’s face went flush. It was so strong, he could feel the intensity of it.

  “Septima was right...,” he whispered. “I don’t like it. I trusted each of you. I gave you my heart,” Troy said looking at Septima, his voice catching, “as friends. I believed in you and your cause, and from the very... fucking... beginning, you’ve all been lying to me? Geoff, you’re okay with this?”

  Troy’s hands trembled and he had to clench them to control the movement. He rolled out of bed, swatting Alta’s arm out of the way as she tried to gently keep him from getting up. Cienna stepped to Alta’s side, preparing to defend her.

  “You should rest,” Alta said. “Let the parasite finish.”

  “Kiss my ass,” Troy said.

  Cienna moved to step in front of him.

  “Cienna, you want to test my abilities right now? If not, you better get the fuck out of my way or I will snap your neck like a small twig.”

  “Think so? You little human piece--” she said.

  “Cienna, back off,” Alta ordered.

  “Troy,” Septima said. “Please listen to us. This was for your own good.”

  “Bullshit. You lied to me. Parasite is not the same as medicine,” he said, staring at Septima.

  Troy’s clenched fists shook now. He squeezed harder, trying to stop them. His fury grew stronger and he started shouting.

  “You lying shits,” he screamed.

  Troy was livid. He wanted, no, he needed to get out of this place, get away from them before he hurt them. He wanted to kill them. Tohmas was indeed inside him. He’d known it. Troy didn’t understand how, until now. They had intentionally changed him, fucking with his mind without asking. Somehow the parasite had suppressed his thoughts, making it possible for it to continue twisting him for so long. That explained the clouded thoughts and evil actions he had taken. Was it why his fears were gone?

  They did it for my own good? Liars. They did it for themselves and their fight against the lizards.

  “One question before I go,” he said. “Sep, did you whore yourself out to me for the cause?”

  Septima started to cry, shaking her head. He didn’t believe her. There were numerous times she could have confided in him, could have told him the truth... to show him her love. It was all bullshit, all an act. He wouldn’t tell her, but Septima’s betrayal hurt the most and it hurt the deepest. He enjoyed the pain his words caused her.

  “Go fuck yourselves,” he said, reaching the doorway.

  “Cienna,” he said, without turning around. “If you ever get in my face again, I’ll kill you...”

  Troy stormed out the door, heading deeper into the complex.

  Chapter 18

  TOHMAS

  Pira - Late in the evening - 10:35pm

  Troy wiped away his tears several times as he moved quickly through the dark corridors of the complex. The muscles in his hands hurt badly from the white knuckled grip he could not seem to break. Their betrayal fed his anger and he struggled with every step he took trying not to punch someone or break something. They had lied to him and they had used him. From the moment Septima had supposedly saved his life, they had manipulated him. While unconscious from the projection to Pira, they had infected him with a parasite that had and was still slowly changing him to be more like Tohmas.

  But you are better than you were before, doesn’t that matter?

  The thought repulsed him. He was no longer the Troy he knew. He was a killer, a murderer. They thought this would be better? Troy had killed a man for beating his wife. Did the man deserve death? The Pirans were pacifists, yet they had taken his decision to murder the man with indifference, perhaps tolerance. His wife had spat upon her husband. Were they genetically different enough from humans that this was normal to them? It was more likely they were afraid of Troy, like they were of Brice. Brice had to be stopped and killing him was probably the only option he had at time but Troy had enjoyed it. In hindsight, Troy had really enjoyed it. Tohmas loved killing and now so did Troy. Was Brice infected too? Did Alta try to twist him into being more like Tohmas and it backfired? The man had tried to rape Septima after all. Brice had been bat shit crazy that day. Yenthar had been too. Would Troy eventually go insane?

  And what of Chance? Troy had wanted to kill him simply for his arrogance. He was a close friend who, while annoying, would put up with his phobias like a brother. It was Troy’s arrogance, not Chance’s. What of Alta? He would have broken her wrist simply to show her who was boss and then later he had slapped her. In hindsight, it was obvious he had changed and it was clear now that he hadn’t realized it. All the actions he had taken were not him but the influence of a fucking genetic parasite. Hell, was that even true?

  One corridor turned into another and then another. Troy no longer knew where he was within the facility and he really didn’t care. How much time had passed? He vaguely remembered walking by several Pirans who quickly realized they should avoid him. He was filled with rage he could not control. What else did they lie to him about? Was the resistance to the cold actually the food he ate or a result of the parasite? How could this thing change him?

  Troy knew things from the life of another being that wasn’t human, Tohmas’ memories, fighting skills, and leadership. Were the feelings he felt for Septima his own or were they Tohmas’? The thought of her sliced through him like a surgeon’s blade, cutting open his heart. He loved her and she had knowingly used him. Septima had whored herself to him, playing her part in the ruse. She was good at it. How could he be this stupid? Over and over again he fell for their ploy, listening to their lies. It was the parasite. Was it controlling him now? Was that how Alta controlled his friends, making them agreeable? He turned down another corridor. He could feel his face growing hot and his eyes burning from angry tears.


  “Fuck,” he yelled, slamming his fist into the corridor’s metallic wall.

  Troy punched it again, smashing his knuckles into the hard, unyielding metal.

  “Tohmas,” a voice said.

  Over and over again, he hit the wall, venting his fury into it. Shouldn’t his knuckles bleed? Shouldn’t his bones be broken? There should be pain. Damn it, he wanted to feel pain and even that desire eluded him. Troy was physically different. His hands should be broken by now.

  “Tohmas?” the voice repeated.

  What about his elbows or knees? He spun putting a knee into the wall, following it with an elbow strike. Troy used every bit of strength he possessed. The blows landed hard yet there was no damage to him or the wall. He struck again and again. He should be crippled by now. Exhaustion sapped him of his ability to stand. He dropped to his knees, sweating and heaving. He could barely catch his breath. How long had he been fighting a wall?

  A hand touched his right shoulder. Troy reacted out of instinct, grabbing it with his left, twisting his body to reach out with his right hand. He wrapped it around the small neck of his attacker, squeezing. He knocked her legs out from beneath her. She would be dead when he smashed her head into the floor. She was already on her way.

  “Troy,” she screamed.

  Troy pulled back, his eyes going wide.

  “Joliza?” he hissed.

  He stopped his attack, keeping her skull from hitting the floor.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  Troy knew she wasn’t involved in all this. He dropped her, letting her fall to the floor on her back. He didn’t have the strength to help her any more than that. He looked at his hands as if they were a part of some other person’s body. They didn’t belong to him. Hell, his entire body didn’t belong to him.

  Joliza scooted backward, away from him, holding her neck. She stared back at him in fear, having reached the other side of the corridor, her back to the wall.

  “Joliza?” he asked. “I didn’t... it wasn’t... it wasn’t me.”

  “Tohmas, you tried to kill me,” she accused.

  Troy slumped against the wall, facing her. He buried his head into his hands.

  “I’m not Tohmas,” he said, his voice growing louder as his anger returned.

  Troy heard her running and suddenly he realized he was chasing her. He had jumped up to chase her down almost as soon as she had moved. She ran down the corridor, turning left into another one. A door on the right had opened for her automatically and she darted through it, smacking the close switch. He jumped toward the door, shifting sideways as it closed behind them both. His reflexes brought him to an instant stop, staring at her. She was nothing more than prey to him.

  “Tohmas, please,” she said backing up.

  This place was her quarters. Troy recognized them. No, Tohmas recognized them. He had been here before, many times. He stepped forward, stalking her as she tried to move away from him. She stopped, her back against the wall. She wasn’t going anywhere now. He stepped closer, pressing himself against her. He grabbed her hands, pulling her arms above her head.

  “Don’t... move,” Troy ordered.

  He reached down, pulling her shirt up, lifting it over her head. He left it there covering her arms, loosely binding them. He watched her fear build as he slid his hands slowly down her arms, then along the sides of her body and down to her hips. Her breathing had changed. Joliza’s raven black hair covered the straps of her bra, reaching down to her breasts. Her flashing sapphire eyes stared into his as he brought his hands up along her tight abdomen, lightly touching her skin. He placed his fingers inside the cups of her bra, easily ripping it off of her. She shivered but did not move her arms. Her eyes were closed now as her breasts lay exposed to him. A gentle sheen covered her body and her labored breathing caused her breasts to rise and fall. Her lithe, young body filled him with lust. He could see it in her face. She didn’t know what he would do to her. Both fear and desire filled it. She wondered whether he would kill her or take her physically. He knew her and he would use that knowledge to control her lust. He used her fear to fuel her desire for him.

  Troy undid her pants, kneeling to push them down to her feet, exposing the last of her clothing. Again, he slid his hands up, standing as he did. This time he caressed her along the inside of her exquisitely shaped legs. He slowed his touch around her upper thighs, then paused as he reached between them and began to rhythmically stroke her between them. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her passion exploded to its height as he slipped two fingers inside her.

  “Tohmas,” she screamed in pleasure.

  The passion in her voice was familiar to his ears. He had seen her like this many times before. He made it last for several minutes as he alternated between stroking her and then entering her with his fingers to control the ebb and flow of her orgasm. Her legs shook as she struggled to remain standing. He had told her not to move and she desperately tried to obey him... failing. Troy let her collapse into his arms, carrying her to the bedroom. Her breathing was fast and shallow. She tried to open her eyes but they rolled, shifting around uncontrollably. She was still overcome by the passion burning inside her. He threw her down on the bed.

  “Look at me,” Troy ordered.

  Joliza tried again, fear and lust motivating her to comply with his wishes. He ripped her panties off, forced her legs up and out with his strength, and thrust until his pelvis collided with her in a lust-fueled crash.

  “God,” she screamed, arching her back and throwing her arms wide. She clawed her nails into the bed, clinging to the sheets as she once again screamed his name.

  “Tohmas,” she cried out.

  The name pleased him and he smiled as he forced himself deeper into her. He looked forward to doing the same to Alta again. Troy had lost and Tohmas would have complete control very soon.

  ____

  Pira - Early in the morning.

  Several Piran segments later, Tohmas rolled off Joliza, getting dressed. He watched her tremble and shake as the last of her passion began to burn out. Joliza was semi-conscious and he knew she would drift off to sleep soon, she always did. He, on the other hand, was finished with her and had work to do. Troy was weakest when he let Tohmas unwittingly have control during their time with a female. Tohmas’ control was growing stronger and soon Troy would be nothing more than memories. Memories he hoped to purge at some point.

  Disgusting human.

  Tohmas put his shoes on and grabbed a spare comm-device from Joliza’s desk. He reset it and signed in with his own credentials. Alta might be watching for such a move from Tohmas but he doubted it. She probably didn’t know the parasite could convert the weakling human over so quickly, at least that was his theory, one that was confirmed by Alta’s comments to Troy yesterday.

  Their Rohku DNA was strong but Alta didn’t have any frame of reference to compare it to. Tohmas considered contacting her but he knew Troy would gain control again several times over the next few days and he couldn’t risk Alta talking to Troy thinking Tohmas was in control. She was smart as hell but why risk it? Besides, he didn’t need to let Alta know anything yet. Tohmas would contact her when the parasite had completed its work. Troy couldn’t do anything anyway and would remember nothing as he had over the last few days. His headaches would grow worse and finally Troy would be nothing more than pathetic memories.

  Only Septima knew that Tohmas had returned. He had told her the first night Troy and Septima had made love to each other. At the time, Troy was completely unaware that Tohmas was now a part of him. Troy suspected something was wrong but Tohmas worked to suppress any thoughts that might be his undoing. He intentionally triggered severe headaches, confusion and memory loss when needed to control Troy.

  Tohmas controlled Septima and though she was rightfully afraid of Alta, that fear paled in comparison. She would keep her mouth shut because her love for him and his control over her were more powerful than anything Alta could threaten her with, something
Alta would never fully understand.

  Time was nearly up. Tohmas had to get the five of them off the planet soon but not without the Imagium. He laughed. Whoever had named the material certainly had a sense of humor. The universe’s most amazing power source had been dubbed Imagium. It was as if the scientist who discovered the material couldn’t believe his own eyes.

  Of course, its location would have to be dropped in Alta’s lap and made to look like Troy discovered it. Tohmas had been monitoring the Reptauran’s progress and their systematic searching algorithm would close in on them within the next two weeks. His solo reconnaissance, two nights ago had gone badly and he had to kill several Reptaurans on their own patrol, one that would have taken them near the liquid Imagium supply. He couldn’t risk them discovering the hidden rocky path that led to the liquid Imagium veins, so he killed them, burying their bodies into the lava-like liquid. The missing patrol would be noticed inside a week and would force them to start a search. Tohmas had two weeks, tops. Borit’un had very few troops left on Pira since he considered the planet his anyway and, as such, they were spread thin. They had conquered his planet, Rohku, first and then had taken this shit planet for its Imagium. Right now, they were mining the precious power source and shipping it off to their fleet in space.

  Imagium was the most powerful energy source in the known universe and liquid Imagium was a thousand times stronger. It was Tohmas’ ticket to riches, luxury and, more importantly, power. It didn’t exist naturally anywhere else. The solid form was the power source used by all races that could get their hands on the rare material. The liquid form was completely unstable and uncontrollable but here, on Pira, it flowed in river-like veins within the mountains of this planet, stable. Tohmas had nearly blown his hand off testing a tiny drop of the material. He had discovered the rare form a few weeks before that lucky lizard bastard had killed him. Borit’un wouldn’t get lucky again. Tohmas wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating the lizard leader a second time.