He placed a hand on her back. “Your dad is working. He’ll join us when he’s done. Might be a few days, a week, and hopefully not more than a month.”
She glanced up, her eyes wide. “He’s here?”
Drew looked around. “I don’t think so.” He eyed the store. He’d have to break in, find a tube and shove it down into the truck’s gas line and siphon the gas out. The store better have a gas can.
“What’s that?” Mya unwrapped an arm from Drew’s leg and pointed behind him.
A small drone was hovering above and behind the truck and in front of the trees that lined the property. It was the buzzing sound he’d thought he’d been hearing. It dipped to the side, indicating something.
It dipped again.
Drew furrowed his brow. “Get behind me, Mya.”
Drew walked slowly, taking short steps so Mya could use him as a shield, just in case this small drone was Chinese and had a gun.
“It’s really neat,” said Mya, pulling out from behind him and running toward the drone.
Drew reached his hand out, doing his best to grab her, “No, Mya.” He chased after her, imagining automatic rounds blasting out of the drone’s nose, Mya getting hit, taking the blunt force into her chest, vibrating as each bullet pounded her like he’d seen in movies.
None of that happened.
Mya made her way beneath the drone and tried to grab it, jumping up, giggling like a six-year old who’d forgotten about her mommy, daddy, and anything else in the world except for the joy of the moment.
“Don’t, Mya.”
The drone lifted in the air, and turned around, giving another dip.
Where the tree line met the pavement, the terrain had a slight decline – almost a hill, but not quite. The drone avoided a tree, moving into the woods, and down that decline.
Drew picked up Mya, her legs wrapping around his waist, her hands grasping his coat. She jabbed a finger at the drone, her lips down turned. “Did I scare it?”
“No. I think it wants us to follow it.” He patted her heart. “What do you think?”
She gave a slow nod, her eyes as innocent as a baby. “I think so.”
Some teenage techy was probably flying that thing, seeing what was going on in his town.
Drew stepped over a downed branch, then around a stump, heading a few yards into the wooded area. The drone bucked right, changing its direction.
Drew continued to follow, Mya still in his arms.
The wind picked up and they rounded another tree. Looking up, gray clouds were coming in. Rain was on its way.
The drone hovered ten yards. Then moved up and down several times, dipping left and right, left and right, over and over again until Drew could see why.
More than a dozen 5-gallon gas cans sat around the base of a tree.
Drew stopped, putting Mya down. “Stay here.” He slowly took a step forward, hearing the leaves and branches under his shoe. He surveyed the area at his next step, wondering where the trap was. He bent down and picked up a heavy rock, then threw it near the can, half expecting a net to rise up from under the leaves and carry the gas cans, and anyone else who may have gotten caught, up into the air – defenseless.
He looked back at Mya. She was gone.
His heart fell, then he heard the leaves rustle. He spun on his heels, seeing Mya already at the gas cans, checking them out. He let out an exasperated breath, speaking softly to himself, “Fucking kid.”
He strode to the cans and took off one of the caps. A stream of fumes punctured the air. “It’s fuel,” he said.
The drone lowered, then dipped a few times. A stream of light came from its belly, then a man stood in front of them. He wore a tie, blue suit, and had his hands on his hips. He almost looked like his uncle Jaxx, but a bit older, more wise, his eyes confident.
“Hello, Drew.” The man smiled. “I’m President Jefferson Kennedy. We need your help. Continue your course.”
The man disappeared and the drone lifted upward and over the canopy of trees. It sped away, the buzzing sound drifting off until they couldn’t hear it anymore.
Drew put his hands over his mouth. “Did you see a guy standing there by chance?”
Mya stepped back. “Yeah.”
So he wasn’t hallucinating again.
He bent down and lifted two gas cans. “You think you can lift one?” he asked.
Mya tried, then shook her head.
“Alright. Stay with me. No running off.”
28
J-Quadrant, Solar System ~ Flood of Dawn, Callisto
A day after her crazy flight to East Rise, the invasion-laden, fucked-up city just east of Flood of Dawn, Rivkah was bunked up with the maximally-annoying Captain Katherine Bogle. They were in a clear dome with nothing but beds and crystal walls.
What was worse, she couldn’t get her mind off of the girl being torn apart by those monsters, the Kelhoon. She knew about their mass-murdering feeding habits, along with their ambition to rule the galaxy, but had never seen it first-hand. She never wanted to see it again. In fact, she wanted that entire race exterminated. She’d love to do her part now.
“You’ll be able to do your part very soon, Rivkah. But, it will come at a price,” said Bogle.
Rivkah sat up. “What did you just say?”
Bogle looked off in the distance, staring at something Rivkah couldn’t see. “I am the web that keeps you and the two together. I will not steer you wrong. Only you can steer you wrong.”
Rivkah crossed her arms. “What the fuck are you saying?”
Bogle blinked her eyes several times. “Huh?”
“You won’t steer me wrong? Who thinks I’ll let you steer me anywhere? If it were up to me, I’d be off this planet and finding my way back to Oklahoma where I could have a little peace and quiet.” She looked down. “I should never have left.”
Bogle scrunched her eyes up. “What are you talking about?”
“You just said you’re the web that keeps me and two others together.”
Bogle snorted. “You were dreaming.”
Rivkah waved her hand in the air. “I wasn’t, but you probably were. Forget anything I just said and I’ll gladly forget anything you were saying.”
Bogle rolled to her side, her back to Rivkah. “You don’t like me, do you.”
Rivkah kept her mouth shut.
“Well, it’s okay. I will grow on you.”
“I hope you grow off of me. Let’s just stay quiet from now on.”
Bogle leaned back, staring at Rivkah. She closed her eyes, then opened them wide, her eyes set to the distant wall. “You are to protect these people. You will take orders from me telepathically while you fight the good fight, while you keep the three hounds at bay.”
Rivkah jumped off her bed and stomped over to Bogle, grabbing her hair and pulling her head back.
Bogle kept her eyes positioned on the wall. “It is against Universal Law to invade another’s space without permission.” Rivkah’s hand went numb and without her control, she loosened her grip from Bogle’s hair and dropped her hand to her side.
“Ow,” Bogle rubbed her head where Rivkah had pulled. “Why does my head hurt?”
Rivkah looked around. Something was up and she wasn’t liking it. She went to the crystal wall, touching it, looking for a door somewhere – anywhere. She had to get out of here. Another escape, another run from the darkness outside of her. “Where the hell is the door?” She walked around the room, doing her best to locate a button or a lever.
The door opened across from her. A man walked in.
“Morning Star?” Bogle went to him, like a wife to a long-lost husband, and gave him a hug.
Morning Star laughed. “Well, aren’t you happy to see me.” He motioned for Rivkah. “Captain Rivkah Ravenwood, we have someone for you to see and Captain Katherine Bogle, please come with me as well. We’re going to place you into the Cultivation Room to get you ready for combat.” He said it matter of factually, as if that’s exact
ly what they would do without complaint.
Bogle let go of Morning Star and leaned back. “The Cultivation Room?”
Rivkah wanted to know what the Cultivation Room was as well. Maybe the Cultivation Room would take out Bogle’s voice box? Keep her silent for the rest of her life? That would be a plus.
“It won’t harm you. It will enhance you. It’s your destiny,” replied Morning Star.
Bogle put her hands out. “Not interested.”
Morning Star dipped his head, bowing compassionately. “I understand.”
Rivkah, on the other hand, would be happy to get out of this trap. “Take me to your leader.”
Morning Star cocked his head to the side. “Leader?” His confusion turned to a smile. “Uh, our Master. You will see her, but we are taking you to your friends.”
Rivkah almost laughed. “I don’t have any friends.”
“Oh, I see. Kaden Jaxx and Captain Richard Fox are not your friends?”
Rivkah’s eyes went wide. “Are they here?”
“Yes, yes. Jaxx, on the other hand, is barely here. He’s covered in blood, doing his best to keep Fox at bay, at which he’s doing a mighty job, by the way.”
Rivkah’s hands went into fists. “What did you do to him?”
“It’s what Fox is doing to him. Please follow me.”
29
J-Quadrant, Solar System ~ Flood of Dawn, Callisto
Jaxx was in the air, pressed against the wall, his jaw clenched. He was in pain, but not physical, more mental. It was like his mind was being sucked into a black hole and he was doing everything in his power to keep his mind intact.
Fox laughed. “I like this power thing...brother.” Fox, cracking up at his own joke, not believing for an instant that this man, this traitor of all traitors – Mr. Kaden Jaxx – was his brother. “I’m draining you. You feel that?”
Jaxx did. He was tired. He was also getting pissed, fantasizing about throwing Fox across the room, then beating the shit out of him. “Put me down, Fox.” He brought both hands to his head as a new sensation kicked in, dizziness. He swallowed, keeping the contents of his stomach at bay.
“God, this is going to be easy.” Fox dropped Jaxx and walked away a few steps, determined, his forehead low, his eyes forward. He turned and brought his fist back in a punch and threw it in Jaxx’s direction. Even though he was several yards away, Jaxx’s head pushed to the side, as if Fox really landed a blow to Jaxx’s temple. In fact, he didn’t and only intended to throw energy Jaxx’s way.
Fox jumped up and down like a kid in an ice cream parlor. “What the fuck? This is awesome.” He focused on Jaxx and threw his arms outward. Jaxx stiffened. An energy grip grabbed him like he was stuck in a straight jacket. Jaxx couldn’t move.
Fox put his index finger up. “Stay there, Jaxx. Let me try something.” He cracked a heavy chuckle, knowing Jaxx didn’t have a choice. Fox had a weird ass power over this fake brother of his. Jaxx could see that Fox couldn’t wait to master it, and couldn’t wait to use his powers on anyone else who stood in his way.
Jaxx fought Fox’s energetic grip, throwing his own energy around to kick this energy off of him. Nothing was working. He dropped his head, sweat dripping off of his nose to his chest, his arms as weak as a baby. He closed his eyes, thinking this was it. Fox was probably going to kill him or worse yet, torture him until he flat-lined. He let go of any attempt to push Fox’s energy and power off of him, and relaxed every muscle, including his mind.
Immediately, Jaxx fell, slumping to the floor.
“Wait. Stand back up,” yelled Fox, trying to manipulate the energy again and throw Jaxx back into the wall in order to play with his new-found powers some more.
Jaxx didn’t move, didn’t lift off the ground, didn’t even flinch.
Fox took heavy steps toward Jaxx. “I’ll do it the old way.”
Jaxx, on the other hand, was quickly regaining his energy, the Chi running through him like water into a tree’s roots. He stood and took a few steps before Fox got to him and put his palm on Fox’s chest.
Fox went to bat it away. He yelped and jerked, lifted off of his feet, and was thrown into the air. He dropped to the ground, the back of his head conking on the stone floor.
Fox lifted his head, then dropped it back down, too weak, too concussed to get up.
“Don’t do that again, Fox,” growled Jaxx. He walked over to Fox and grabbed his arm, dragging him toward one of the Mez Beds. He lifted him up, grunting from Fox’s heavily muscled weight, and dropped him on the bed. He put the strange ear muffs on his newfound brother.
30
J-Quadrant, Solar System ~ Flood of Dawn, Callisto
Fox shook violently on the Mez bed, then relaxed, his eyes shutting, instantly going into REM mode. He was too weak to move. He’d hit his head hard and everything was a blur, accompanied with a streaking pain around his skull like a vice grip. He thought he must have cracked his lower occiput, where the back of his head met his neck, and blood was most likely oozing into a puddle around his head, soon to be dripping on the floor, yet no warmth or wetness soaked his upper neck. Meh, who cared. He wanted to shrug it off, he’d been through worse. The problem was; his weakness had him in a strange type of paralysis; no shrugging, no kicking Jaxx’s ass, only breathing.
Jaxx placed the ear-muffs over Fox’s head and around his ears. That bastard. What the hell was Jaxx doing? Before Fox could call Jaxx as many names as letters in the alphabet, a shot of lightning coursed through him, his hands immediately succumbing to numbness, his arms tingling, his chest vibrating.
Fox then violently shook, his shoulders beating against the Mez Bed like a jack hammer and a moment later, he calmed. His eyes shot wide and his blurriness faded.
Then blackness over took his mind. And his consciousness moved forward, traveling at an incredible velocity, heading toward an electric-blue vortex, spiraling in front of him, coming closer, closer.
Quiet.
Chirping.
Birds.
The wind blew across pine trees creating a sound similar to a distant ocean.
He opened his eyes.
He was standing outside a dropship, his team fanning out across a hillside on planet Taiyo, the cottony puffs and feathery needles born on dense clusters on woody, stout pegged trees blew in the wind, their large barrel shaped red cones stuck up above the branches.
The cones. If he just sniffed the cones for days and days, it would open up his glands, would open up his inner powers hidden in his DNA.
He shrugged away the nonsense penetrating his mind and gathered himself. If he remembered correctly, he was at the last of the Taiyonian invasion, back to snatch Jaxx away from these soulless enemies. Jaxx had betrayed him, had betrayed everyone, and snuck over to the other side. There would be no pity for Jaxx, only justice.
How could this be? This was a memory, one that was real, happening at this very moment. He was trapped in his body, his movements and thoughts the same as the day this really occurred – during the punch in and punch out operation to extract Jaxx. He couldn’t change the memory, he couldn’t rewrite this operation’s mistakes. Or his mistakes. He couldn’t save his compatriots when they needed him. He couldn’t kill the asshole who caused it all.
“The fucking traitor,” mumbled Fox, the same mumble he had at the same exact time and moment it first came – during Operation Seize at the base of a hill full of green and gold ferns, black rock, and small patches of white shrubbery.
“What was that, Sarge?” asked Barnes, a Special Agent Space Marine, S.A.S.M., for short. In truth, they were the S.E.A.L.’s of space, under the same branch, under the same types of rigorous missions, though more dangerous, more deadly. The black void of space was a different monster.
“Nothing, S.A. Barnes, continue to fan out. The Taiyonians know we’re here. They wiped out our last effort to gather Jaxx, so let’s not get burned twice by the same flame.” He hated it when he used cliché statements, but they worked.
/> He looked over his S.A.S.M. team, all fifty yards from each other, some crouched behind boulders, others trees. They were surveying the area, using their combat ready full-face helmets equipped with a heads-up display to detect any approaching enemy, air or ground. They wore striated-ebb nebula titanium exo-suits, weapons magnetized to their backs.
An S.A.S.M. team consisted of seven. This one was no exception. That’s all they ever needed to carry out a successful mission, barring the last team that arrived yesterday. All dead, all massacred, just to retrieve this mother fucker Jaxx.
Fox wasn’t going to make the same mistake as the last S.A.S.M. team.
He held his IPR-8 in his hands, and an ISR-110, a long-barreled ion sniper rifle, was magnetized to the back of his exo-suit. He scanned the area, his helmet bringing up an advanced scouting infrared Optical Rival Reader, ORR, able to sweep the area and detect...everything.
No Taiyonian was within 2.3 radius miles, the farthest the ORR capabilities could reach, though his helmet’s sound detection was picking up the air battle even farther away.
Good.
Perhaps the Secret Space Program were creating havoc, interrupting the Taiyonian military capabilities on all levels.
His team climbed and crested the hill quickly, allowing themselves space no more than fifty yards from one another, a ghost tactic. If an S.A.S.M. team member was fired upon, they could easily locate the enemy and surround, ending the pieces of shit before they ever knew what happened.
S.A.S.M. exo-suits were fast, acting like the Yivix race Mechs of the inner galaxy. They could jump far, carry a hundred times their weight, and take on ample amounts of punishment from cannon fire from just about any extraterrestrial technology out there.
And all this shit, this S.A.S.M. extraction team, for one man – Jaxx.
Fox shook his head, disappointed.
Yet, there was this pull, this connection that he never understood – a tie between him and Jaxx that he couldn’t wait to cut in half.
Atlantis Quadrilogy - Box Set Page 40