Vanquish (The Pike Chronicles Book 6)

by G. P. Hudson

Jon’s visor calculated the coordinates of their position and he forwarded them to the Diakan armada in space. After that, there was nothing left to do but wait, and return fire.

  “What did I miss?” said Kevin, appearing beside him.

  “You’re just on time. We’re about to get a light show,” said Jon.

  “Great. I love light shows.”

  “Should be any minute now.” Jon waited for the orbital bombardment to commence, but as the minutes ticked by, nothing happened. He sent the coordinates up to the fleet again, but still nothing.

  “I don’t see any light show, Sir, and this building’s seen better days.”

  “Something’s wrong.” Jon opened a comm with the Diakan commander. “Sir, I sent a request for orbital bombardment, but nothing’s happened.”

  “Nothing is going to happen,” said the Diakan. “There will be no orbital bombardment while the fleet is still engaged with the enemy ships.”

  “But my men are pinned down over here. We need orbital support.”

  “You have heard my explanation, Lieutenant. I will not repeat myself. You and your men are ordered to storm the enemy positions.”

  “What? The enemy’s dug in. We’ll lose a lot of good soldiers.”

  “Are you saying you will not follow your orders, Lieutenant?”

  “No. That is not what I’m saying.”

  “Then I expect you to storm the Juttari positions immediately.” The Diakan commander closed the comm, leaving Jon stunned.

  “That didn’t sound like it went well,” said Kevin.

  “No, it didn’t.” Jon slammed a metal fist into the wall in front of him. It cracked. “Fucking Diakans.”

  The building buckled under more enemy bombardment. They were out of time.

  Jon opened a comm with the rest of his team. “Ok listen up. We’ve been ordered to storm that Juttari position, and that’s what we’re going to do. When I give the word, we break cover and attack. Understood?”

  Silence. His men were not stupid. They knew the orders were crazy. But orders were orders, even if they came from a goddamn Diakan.

  “I can’t hear you!”

  “Yes, Sir!” came the reply from his team.

  Jon checked his weapons, and braced himself for the assault. He glanced at Kevin who gave him a thumbs up. He thought of his wife and daughters, and prayed he would see them again.

  “Charge!”

  Chapter 18

  “You are not permitted to carry weapons in the city,” said the Diakan, to the four Marines. “You will surrender your weapons immediately,” persisted the Diakan.

  “I don’t think so,” said one of the Marines. “Although I might give you a close up view of mine.”

  “What’s going on here,” said Kevin, stepping up to the group, as Breeah, Seiben, Dr. Ellerbeck, and Jon emerged from their shuttle. He couldn’t believe that after making it all the way to Diakus without incident, their first obstacle was on Diakus itself.

  “You all must relinquish your weapons. It is the law.”

  Kevin looked past the Diakan to a group of waiting vehicles and a contingent of armed Diakans. “What is your name?”

  “I am Major Erdos, of Diakan Planetary Security.”

  “Why are they carrying weapons?” said Kevin, pointing to the Diakan contingent.

  “They are Diakan Security. Only Diakan Security is permitted to carry weapons on Diakus.”

  “Do you know who this man is, Major?” Kevin pointed to the hovering gurney where Jon lay.

  “Yes. That is Admiral Pike. He requires medical treatment. I have been briefed on the nature of your visit.”

  “So you are aware of his condition?”

  “Yes.”

  “Captain, we don’t have time for this,” said Dr. Ellerbeck. “The Admiral’s health is deteriorating rapidly.

  Kevin exhaled sharply, feeling the tension build in his neck and shoulders. “You are aware of his condition, and yet you insist on wasting our time? Do you realize you are putting his life at risk?”

  “I am performing my duty. Weapons are not permitted. By refusing to surrender your weapons, you are delaying the Admiral’s treatment.”

  “These men are tasked with protecting the Admiral,” said Kevin. “They will not relinquish their weapons, and neither will anyone else in this party. Or should I contact General Dathos and have him intervene?”

  “This is Diakus, not Earth, or one of your starships. General Dathos does not govern here, and neither does Admiral Pike. Diakan Security will protect your Admiral.”

  “Is there a problem, Captain St. Clair?” said Colonel Bast, who approached with two other Chaanisar. Just behind him was Jonas Vicken, with two Reivers. Bast and Jonas had each taken shuttles down to the surface to accompany Jon. They were all armed to the teeth.

  “Your weapons pose a risk to the populace,” said the Diakan. “Relinquish them or you will not be permitted entry into the city.”

  “I want to see you try and take our weapons,” said Jonas, advancing on the Diakan, who took several steps backward.

  The group of armed Diakans raised their weapons. The Marines, Chaanisar, and Reivers responded in kind.

  “Stand down!” ordered Kevin. “Major, order your men to do the same.

  Major Erdos turned nodding to his men, who lowered their weapons. “All this is unnecessary, Captain. We are not your enemy.”

  Goddamn Diakans, thought Kevin. They needed to get the Admiral treated, and they were wasting precious time with these imbeciles. As much as he hated doing it, he didn’t see that he had much choice. “Hand over the weapons.”

  “Sir?” said one of the Marines, with a look of disbelief.

  “You heard me, Marine. The Doctor’s right. We don’t have time for this. Saving the Admiral is our top priority.”

  The Marines dropped their weapons to the ground, followed by the rest. Jonas and the Reivers, however, did not.

  “Jonas?” said Kevin expectantly.

  “You want me to walk naked through this alien world?” said Jonas with a mix of anger and disgust.

  “No, you just need to do so unarmed.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “Father, please,” pleaded Breeah. “These aliens are the only ones who can help Jon. We need them.”

  “Only because you ask it, child,” said Jonas, conceding his weapon.

  “I will need all your weapons,” said Major Erdos.

  Jonas grumbled, and then threw several more weapons to the ground. “There, are you happy now?”

  “I do not understand why you believe this gives me pleasure. I am performing my duty. Nothing more.”

  Jonas shook his head, grumbling some more.

  “We appreciate your compliance,” said Erdos. “Please board the waiting vehicles and we will take you to the Symbiont Medical Center.”

  Chapter 19

  “As you can see, Captain St. Clair, Diakan Security has taken all necessary precautions,” said Major Erdos, as the convoy of vehicles came to a stop.

  Looking around Kevin spotted the Diakan Security uniform everywhere. There were no civilians, just security personnel in a perimeter around the building. “I assume this is the Symbiont Medical Center.”

  “That is correct.”

  “Then can we speed this up so the Admiral can be treated?”

  “Of course, Captain. Right this way.”

  They followed Erdos and two other Diakans into the building where they encountered more Diakan Security. Major Erdos was thorough, Kevin had to give him that much. Still, there was something about him that Kevin didn’t like, but he couldn’t put a finger on it.

  It wasn’t just because he was Diakan. Unlike Jon, Kevin was much more open minded when it came to the Diakans. They had liberated Earth from the Juttari, and now they fought alongside each other. They even accepted Jon’s leadership, which was a pretty extreme thing for a Diakan to do. No, Kevin had a lot of respect for the Diakans.

  But there was
something about this one in particular that irritated him. He dismissed the feeling as nothing more than remnant anger over Erdos confiscating their weapons.

  After climbing several floors, they reached a set of doors which slid open. The group followed Erdos inside, while the two other Diakans stood guard.

  Inside was a large room filled with Diakan medical equipment. What caught Kevin’s attention, however, were the rows of what looked like aquariums. Each was filled with a translucent substance that resembled water, only it seemed much thicker. Within the substance were small, squid-like creatures that wiggled around inside the tank.

  Symbionts.

  “Greetings,” said a hissing voice. Kevin turned toward a Diakan wearing a medical uniform. “I am Doctor Vrakos. I assume this is Admiral Pike,” said Vrakos, bypassing everyone to get to Jon.

  “Yes. I am Doctor Ellerbeck. I’ve done what I can for him, but my resources were not sufficient to deal with the poison.”

  “Bring him here,” said Vrakos, pointing to a medical bay. “I will need to take a closer look.”

  When Jon was in place, Vrakos pulled down a device that was attached to a much larger piece of machinery. From what Kevin could tell it was some sort of medical scanner. The doctor placed the device against Jon’s belly and focused on the information being displayed.

  “Interesting,” said Vrakos. “You’re diagnosis is correct, Doctor. The symbiont has been poisoned with a very powerful toxin. It is a wonder that symbiont and host still live. A true wonder.”

  “Can you heal him?” said Breeah, her face lined with worry.

  “I do not know,” said Vrakos, without turning from his display. “But I am hopeful. It is truly remarkable that they are still alive.”

  “You said that already,” said Kevin. “What can you do for him?”

  Vrakos looked up from his display to study Kevin only briefly. “The symbiont must expel the toxin from the body. It is trying, but failing. I can assist.”

  “How?” said Kevin, after Vrakos went silent for a few moments.

  “The symbiont is in a weakened state. I can attempt to strengthen it, which will allow it to expel the remaining toxin.”

  “And if it can’t get rid of the toxin?”

  “Then we have only one option. Remove the symbiont.”

  “But won’t that kill the Admiral?”

  “Yes. It was an unforeseen complication with this union. Diakans can remove their symbionts without problem, you see, but in your Admiral’s case, things have not been so simple. This toxin has changed things. The symbiont’s hold has been weakened, there could be a chance that the Admiral will survive.”

  “How much of a chance?”

  “Oh, I would say a little better than sixty percent.”

  “Those aren’t good odds, Doctor.”

  “They are better than the odds the Admiral faced before. If you’ll excuse me for a moment, the medication should be ready now.”

  Vrakos walked to another machine, opened a compartment, and pulled out a tiny sphere. He placed the sphere into a handheld medical device akin to a syringe, but without the needle. He returned and pressed the device against Jon’s carotid artery. There was a distinct popping sound, and Vrakos removed the device.

  “The biobots I have administered are programmed to travel directly to the symbiont. They will administer the necessary medication, which should revitalize it.”

  “How long will it take to work?”

  “Oh it should work quickly. The biobots will reach the symbiont in a matter of seconds. I anticipate that we will start seeing results within minutes.”

  The group waited in silence as the minutes ticked away. But there was no visible change.

  “It’s not working,” said Kevin.

  The doctor had returned to his display and remained focused on the vital statistics. “Actually, it is. The symbiont is gaining strength by the second.” On the gurney, Jon began to stir, and Breeah reached for his hand. “Your Admiral is regaining consciousness.”

  Jon’s eyes remained closed and he mumbled something.

  “What is he saying?” said Kevin.

  The Diakan lowered his head to listen. “He seems to be calling for someone. Tess? Who is Tess?”

  Kevin’s eyes momentarily caught Breeah’s. “His dead wife.”

  Chapter 20

  Jon felt the creature stir, regain its strength, and awaken. He was groggy. His head felt like it had an anvil strapped to it. His eyelids were glued shut. He heard voices, but didn’t know who they belonged to, or where he was.

  As the creature stirred it flooded Jon with adrenalin. He slowly reasserted control over his body, and, with great effort, opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a Diakan, and for a moment he thought he might be on a Diakan battleship, except that there were human faces around him as well.

  He studied the faces, attaching names, history, and emotions to each. Kevin, Seiben, Colonel Bast, Jonas, Doctor Ellerbeck. Finally, his eyes rested on Breeah.

  “What happened? Where are we?” said Jon.

  “We are on Diakus,” said Breeah. “You were poisoned.”

  “Technically, your symbiont was poisoned,” said the Diakan, who leaned in a little too close for Jon’s liking.

  “What?” Jon looked to Doctor Ellerbeck, waiting for an explanation.

  “I couldn’t treat you back on Earth,” said Ellerbeck. “So we brought you to Diakus, to the Symbiont Medical Center. This is Doctor Vrakos, one of Diakus’s foremost experts on symbiont medicine.”

  “I see. I can feel the symbiont regaining its strength. Does that mean you have healed it?”

  “I have helped it, so that it can treat itself,” said Vrakos. “The symbiont must find a way to cleanse itself of the toxins.”

  “What do you mean, ‘find a way’? Can it heal itself, or not?”

  “That remains to be seen,” said Vrakos. “For the short term, my treatment will strengthen it, and you. The longer term is dependent on the Symbiont.”

  With each moment Jon felt the symbiont gain strength, and as it did, Jon’s abilities returned. He felt stronger by the second, and his enhanced senses came back.

  Something was off.

  It was difficult to pinpoint at first, because he was far from one hundred percent. But as lucidity returned, the symbiont noticed it too, and he felt it growl inside him, sounding its silent alarm. There was a threat. It was close. Inside the room.

  The scent tipped Jon off. It reeked of aggression, and ill will. Jon scanned the room, trying to identify its source. He spotted a Diakan standing behind the group, near the back wall. An armed Diakan, wearing a Diakan Security uniform.

  Their eyes met. Jon saw understanding in those unblinking eyes. He had discovered its secret, and it knew it.

  In a flash, the Diakan raised its weapon and fired. Multiple blasts hit the gurney, but Jon had already moved, lunging for cover. The Diakan let loose a couple more shots, but missed. Enough of Jon’s speed had returned, making him a difficult target to hit.

  Chaos ensued.

  Colonel Bast and his Chaanisar were on the Diakan first, their aim precise, their strikes unforgiving. The edge of Bast’s hand found the Diakan’s throat. Jon heard the unmistakable sound of a windpipe snapping, and watched Bast wrench the weapon from the Diakan’s hands, before it crumpled to the floor.

  “Behind you,” Jon shouted, as the door to the room slid open.

  When the two armed Diakans saw their superior on the floor, and Bast with its weapon, they opened fire.

  Bast dove for cover, while shooting back. As he hit one, the Diakan let loose a wild volley as he fell. A stray shot hit a Marine and the man spun like a top before hitting the floor. The remaining Diakans fired indiscriminately into the group, and Jon winced as the smell of seared flesh filled his nostrils. He looked for Breeah, relieved to see she had taken cover behind some medical equipment, pulling Seiben down with her.

  The Diakan moved sideways, denying Bast a clear
shot. It had adapted quickly and largely ignored Colonel Bast, instead trying to get a bead on Jon. The Diakans were trying to kill him. There was little doubt. But why? And how many more would die trying to protect him?

  As if in answer to his question, three blades hit the Diakan, one piercing its left eye, the others his neck and chest. The Diakan flew backward, dropping its weapon as it hit the floor. Jon instantly recognized the knives’ hilts. They were Reiver blades.

  “Admiral, are you harmed?” said Colonel Bast, turning toward Jon.

  “No. I’m fine,” said Jon. “How are our people?”

  “Reynolds is dead,” said Kevin, crouching over the body of the fallen Marine.

  “I am injured,” said one of the Chaanisar, his uniform covered in blood from a shoulder wound.

  “Are your implants still functioning?” said Bast.

  “Yes, they have stopped the bleeding and have numbed the wound. I remain combat ready.”

  Jonas and the two other Reivers pulled their bloodied blades out of the dead Diakan.

  “How the hell did you get those knives past Diakan security?” said Kevin.

  “We are Reivers,” said Jonas, brushing his long gray hair out of his face.

  “That’s it?” said Kevin, incredulously. “That’s your answer?”

  “It explains all,” said Jonas.

  “Admiral, Doctor Vrakos has been hit,” said Ellerbeck, crouching over the prone Diakan.

  “Is he still alive?” said Jon.

  “Barely. I need help getting him up onto the bed.”

  Bast and his men quickly moved the Diakan doctor up onto Jon’s gurney. Ellerbeck immediately went to work, expertly using the Diakan technology to keep Vrakos alive. Still conscious his eyes found Jon.

  “Admiral,” said Vrakos, almost in a whisper.

  Jon leaned in closer to Vrakos. “Save your strength. You’re going to need it.”

  “Admiral, you must listen. If the symbiont cannot heal itself-”

  “I know. I’ll die.”

  “No. You do not have to.”

  “What? What are you talking about, Doctor?”

  “You can remove the symbiont.”