“That sounds like the most prudent course of action. Shall I launch the fighters now?” asked Chris.
The “prudent” remark made Sarah cringe. Was she playing it too safe?
That’s not what I meant, Mom, said Chris in her head. This is a highly volatile situation; we must be careful. I know Dad is used to bold maneuvers and that has worked well for him on many occasions, but one hit of this weapon and we’re done for. You’re right to approach this situation carefully.
Her son never failed to amaze her. Chase could also speak telepathically and sense her thoughts, and it seemed Chris had inherited most of his powers. Yet, she was both happy and scared about it.
“Very well. Chris, scramble the fighters. Daniel, you could pilot one as well but I’d rather you took care of scans and kept a visual on the general area from which the weapon fired at our StarFury earlier. We may only have a split second to get into hyperspace, since our scans didn’t seem to detect the blasts.”
“Roger that, Captain. I’ll try to adjust our scan frequencies as well. Perhaps they aren’t calibrated to detect this weapon’s type of power signature.”
A couple of plasma blasts rocked the ship.
“They’ve entered firing range,” said Sarah. “Battlestations.”
* * *
Chris brought a full squadron of StarFuries towards the Zarlack destroyer, which had already started firing upon the Hope. The Earth Alliance destroyer’s superior shields were holding. As soon as Chris’ squadron entered firing range, he unleashed heavy blaster fire as well as a full complement of missiles. It brought the Zarlack destroyer’s shield levels down but only marginally.
His squadron would never be able to bring down the ship that way. He could always sacrifice a couple of StarFuries by jumping them or overloading their engines, but for the time being his tactic was just sting and run, hoping he could draw the Zarlacks towards the ghost Star Alliance fleet and let the weapon protecting this place take care of the Zarlacks for them.
If that failed, his mother would open fire on the Zarlacks with the Hope’s main guns and destroy it. But right now it was risky appearing hostile to whomever could be watching and currently sitting at the trigger of that deadly weapon.
Chris made a second pass and taxed the Zarlack shields enough for them to take the bait. They changed vector and pursued his squadron.
“I wonder why they haven’t launched fighters,” Chris heard his mom say.
That was a good question. In previous engagements, they would deploy their own squadrons way before using their own main guns. Something didn’t add up. Chris also felt a weird presence. He expanded his consciousness towards the Zarlack destroyer and felt the presence of a Fury. He recognized the Fury’s energy signature too, even though he had been in his mother’s womb when Chase fought that particular Fury.
“Miseo is on board that ship.”
“Is that . . . ?” said Sarah, unsure she wanted to finish the sentence.
“The Fury Father lost against? Yeah.”
“What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know, but my guess is there must be a damn good reason. I think we’re onto something, and whatever that is, we have to get to it before Miseo does.”
“How’s your tactic going?” asked Sarah.
“Pretty well. They’re vectoring towards me now. I’m getting them into the theoretical firing range.”
Chris’ squadron was taking heavy fire now and it took all his concentration to engage evasive maneuvers for each and every one of the remote-controlled StarFuries. Two of them lost their shields and eventually succumbed to enemy fire. Then Chris saw the incoming yellow-energy weapon fire coming straight at his squadron. He veered his entire squadron hard to port, but another fighter was hit by one of the multiple streaks of yellow energy.
He swore.
Two of the five remaining shots hit the Zarlack ship. Their shields blinked bright white for a split second, but otherwise the ship didn’t seem affected.
“What the hell?”
“The Zarlacks are immune to this weapon!” exclaimed Daniel.
“This isn’t good,” said Sarah. “Chris, bring back the StarFuries. Time to shoot that Zarlack destroyer before it gets out of range and beats us to the Asgardian homeworld.”
Chris vectored his remaining fighters back towards the Hope.
C H A P T E R
XII
Zeus fired a massive thunderbolt at Chase who erected a shield around him to deflect the attack. It rebounded at a forty-degree angle, struck and destroyed one of the massive columns holding up the temple.
That seemed to anger Zeus even more. He unleashed a series of smaller lightning bolts towards Chase, who simply teleported out of the way of each of them, letting them destroy other parts of Zeus’ temple.
“This is not getting us anywhere,” said Chase.
And then, Zeus vanished.
Where did he go?
“Behind you!” shouted Argos.
Chase turned and saw three lightning bolts coming at him. He was too late to dodge them now, but then a powerful shockwave hit him and threw him to the side and out of the path of the bolts.
When he looked back towards where the shockwave came from, he saw Argos had one of his palms extended.
“Thanks, Argos.”
“Don’t mention it.”
But then another lightning bolt shot from the ceiling and hit Argos in the head.
“Argos!” shouted Chase.
It was too late. The damage had been done. Smaller bolts of lightning sizzled all over Argos’ body before he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Crap!
“This has gone on long enough, Zeus. We came here in peace, and you keep attacking us every time you disagree with what is being said.”
I’m afraid that’s how he deals with defiance, said Ares mentally. That’s how he always did.
I don’t care. I’m getting tired of this immature attitude. The fate of the universe hangs in the balance here.
“Zeus! Show yourself!”
“Find me if you can,” said Zeus’ voice.
Very well. If that’s what it takes, so be it.
Chase closed his eyes and expanded his consciousness around the temple. He identified every life-energy source around him. Ares, Argos and someone else. It had to be Zeus. Without hesitation, he teleported to where he had felt the energy and delivered a powerful punch.
At first it looked as if he had hit nothing but air. But then something happened. Zeus reappeared, his face deformed by pain. He took two steps back as blood dripped from his mouth.
“We don’t have time for your games!” shouted Chase. “The more we quibble and fight like children here, the more the Furies are taking a hold on this universe.”
Zeus wiped some of the blood off his chin with his fingers and looked at it. “You’ve drawn first blood, Fury. In doing so you’ve assured open war with Olympus!”
Zeus teleported back to his throne and hit a button on one of the armrests. An alarm sounded and soon a large number of Olympians came into the temple.
“Kill him!” he said, pointing an accusing finger at Chase. “Kill them all.”
The warriors converged around Chase, Ares and Argos’ fallen body.
Argos was just regaining consciousness and struggled to get back up. He saw the Olympians approaching and creating a threatening circle around them.
“What have I missed?” he asked.
“Not much. Zeus is not man enough to deal with a single Fury, so he called for backup.”
“I told you this wouldn’t end well,” said Ares. “I’m gonna try to calm the crowd down before more blood is spilled needlessly.”
“Listen to me, brothers!” he shouted. “Zeus is our commander-in-chief. He has led our people for countless generations, but the time has come to set aside our differences with other races and realize that we need to unite or be destroyed.”
“Don’t listen to that traitor son
of mine. He’s been brainwashed by these Furies” said Zeus. “Kill them before they infect more of us.”
The warriors continued to approach the trio.
“So much for diplomacy,” spat Argos.
Argos intensified his aura to the maximum. Chase hesitated, but perhaps a show of force was needed. Chase pushed his aura to nearly the maximum but didn’t enter Ultra Fury mode. Not yet.
He unleashed a massive roar, accompanied by a powerful shockwave that swept through the entire temple. It cracked the marble floor, shattered a few columns and sent the approaching warriors flying backwards like leaves caught in a storm. Most of them lost consciousness when they hit the walls and floor of the temple. The others looked at Chase with fear.
“ENOUGH!” shouted Chase, his voice echoing inside the temple. “We mean you no harm. We didn’t come here to start another war. We came to discuss a potential alliance!”
“Lies!” spat Zeus.
He’s starting to get on my nerves.
Chase, I can feel your anger. Don’t let it overwhelm you. My father’s not worth it, said Ares. We can always try to get the help of more Olympians, one way or another, without his consent.
Ares was right. Chase had never imagined Zeus to be such an arrogant, immature and blind leader. The head of such an advanced civilization as the Olympians, no less. Chase used to be arrogant himself, so he could have let that one characteristic slide, but the rest was too much.
Argos looked straight at Chase. “Give me the word and I’ll take out this fool.”
Chase shook his head. As tempting as it was, he wasn’t ready to assassinate the head of the Olympians. He had hoped for an alliance, but while that looked less likely with each passing minute, he still had questions that needed answering. He would not leave Olympus empty-handed.
“We’ll leave here without fuss if you answer a few questions,” said Chase.
“Ask your questions and disappear from my sight.”
“You can’t lie, though. Answer them truthfully and we’ll leave in peace.”
“How many times do I have to repeat myself? Ask your questions, Fury.”
“Why are you trying to kill your own son?”
“He’s already dead.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.”
“He betrayed me. Because of his betrayal he got himself killed, and my daughter is now suffering inside a machine she had no business entering in the first place. I hold Ares responsible for that.”
Chase teleported in front of Zeus with a solemn look on his face.
“With your permission I’d like to show you something. It’s about your daughter, Aphroditis.”
* * *
Saroudis entered the emperor’s ready room aboard his flagship. It had been turned into a proper dining room. The table was nicely arranged, with two sets of plates and cutlery.
It made Saroudis a little uncomfortable.
“You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble, Emperor; and, truth be told, I should have been the one inviting you. Your help has been invaluable.”
The emperor bowed. “No, Commodore, I’m more than happy to have you tonight as my guest. And it’s about time we had a one-on-one in a nicer setting than the last time we were in the same room. Don’t you think?”
Saroudis remembered it well. It was when Chase had brought him aboard the Destiny. Everyone on the bridge wanted a piece of the emperor back then, Saroudis included. He had been fuming with rage at the simple fact that he was standing in his presence.
“Yes, we’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we, Emperor?”
“Please, Commodore, drop the ‘Emperor.’ I would be honored if you’d address me by my first name.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know your first name.”
“It’s Altair.”
“That’s going to take some getting used to, Altair, but then please call me Adonis.”
“Please, Adonis, sit.” The emperor gestured towards the nearest chair at the dining table.
Saroudis didn’t know what to think of all this. The emperor was nothing like he remembered him, and he wondered if this wasn’t an impostor of sorts. Argos had replaced both Sarah and Admiral Thassos with clones before. It was a nice change of pace to actually have a civilized conversation with him, but something in Saroudis’ head told him not to trust the man. Not yet anyway.
“It must not be easy for you to be here, Adonis,” said the emperor.
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. We’ve been deadly enemies for generations. Now we’re breaking bread and having dinner. Truth be told, I would be suspicious if I were in your shoes.”
“Since we’re being honest, the thought has crossed my mind, Emp—” Saroudis corrected himself. “Altair.”
The emperor smiled.
“I can’t blame you. We’ve done horrible things in the past. War is a terrible thing that changes people. I realize that now.”
Where is he going with this?
“But that part of our history is over. At least, I hope so,” said Saroudis, almost pleadingly.
“It is. There isn’t a day I don’t regret making that deal with the Zarlacks and Argos. We became nothing more than slaves, doing their bidding. During that time we killed so many of your people. Sometimes at night when sleep eludes me, I think of what would have happened if the Zarlacks had come to you instead, or to any other race. Most of my people would be dead right now. I don’t expect you to ever forgive us for what we’ve done, but I wanted to look you in the eye and apologize for that terrible error in judgment on my part.”
Saroudis thought his jaw would drop. But his instinct didn’t let go of the thought that this could all be a ruse, a long-term plan to have them lower their guard and embrace the Obsidians as true friends.
Yet, right this moment, he couldn’t detect any deception from the emperor. Of course, Saroudis had all the reasons in the world to doubt him. He also had good reasons to hate him on a personal level. This war had cost him the life of two children. His two sons, who were taken way before their time. There was no bigger tragedy for a parent than to outlive their own children.
“I . . . I don’t know what to say, Altair. I wasn’t expecting you to say these words.”
“Words are easy, Adonis. Actions, on the other hand, matter so much more. Which reminds me, I have to apologize again.”
Saroudis raised an eyebrow. “What about?”
“I’m not proud of the blackmail tactic I used to get access to your technology. Part of me wanted to give you whatever help you require, but the old me, the survivor in me, if you will . . . Well, let’s just say old habits die hard.”
“In that regard we’re not very different. I am also still suspicious. This teaming and true exchange we’re doing these days, it seems too good to be true. Not to mention the timing. The Earth Alliance has never been this weak before. If we don’t make more allies soon, the Furies will have no trouble wiping us out.”
“I agree, Adonis. That’s why I’m sorry for requiring something in exchange for our help in that dire moment. Please know that I would have given you our help anyhow, but I still fear for the safety of my people. And I’m not only talking about the Furies. Hopefully we can continue the work we’ve started and build a stronger, more unified Earth Alliance and rid ourselves of the Furies. But who knows what will come next?
“I’m weary and tired of war, Adonis. It’s all I’ve ever known, but I wonder if there is something better, or if it’s not simply our destiny, as conscious beings, to repeat the cycle of violence over and over again. In a way, I’m thankful for the situation we’re in, though, as it has made me think. Upon losing almost everything at the heel of Argos and the Zarlacks, it made me realize that power isn’t everything.”
Saroudis smiled. It looked as though the emperor had done some genuine thinking these past few months.
“I’ll drink to that,” said Saroudis, raising his glass.
After taking a sip of the delicious alcoholic beverage, Saroudis made an agreeable noise. “This drink is delicious. What is it?”
“It’s made from a fermented flower from my homeworld. It’s quite rare and takes years to achieve the right maturity and taste. I have a few bottles on board. I’ll be more than happy to give you some.”
“That’s very generous of you. I have a question, though. You mentioned something about protecting your people after the Fury war. I would think if we survive this war, we’ll continue to be allies”
“Oh, believe me, Adonis, if I’m still alive and have anything to say about it, we’ll stay allies until the end of time. But, as I said before, I wonder if it’s not our fate to always be in conflict with one another.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Look at history, in any world. Conflict seems to always be present. Like a curse linked to a civilization’s development cycle. War pushes men and women to their last limits, and most civilizations are forced to evolve technologically. And during these times, whatever spiritual development we achieve in peacetime seems to be lost or, at the very least, to regress.”
The emperor was making a good point, even though Saroudis had a less pessimistic outlook on things.
“I think a civilization can still evolve in peacetime. Before our own war with you, we had no trouble evolving along the technology path. Though I’ll concede that once the war started, spiritual evolution had to be placed on the back burner. But, at the end of the day, I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive.”
“And yet in times of war, we do anything we have to in order to weather the storm, in order to survive. Answer me this, Adonis. How much of the technology you’re now so generously sharing with us has been created in the last few months, in that period where your survival was paramount?”
And then it hit Saroudis. All of their best upgrades, all of their advanced weaponry, the creation of the StarFuries as well as the stronger shields; all of these had been invented because their very lives, their very survival, was on the line.
Shadows of Olympus (Universe in Flames Book 6) Page 16