Sisters of the Sands

by Villinger, James

  Neva paced. “I’m going to kill that girl. After this, I’ll head back there and end it all.”

  The screen remained blue for a while and nothing seemed to be happening.

  “Where is he?” I said under my breath.

  “How should I know?”

  “I wasn’t asking you!”

  The image on the screen changed in the corner of my eye. Overwatch General Tuloch sat down in his chair and leant forward. The middle-aged man had black, almost greying hair, and a wide moustache.

  “Yes? Oh, it’s you two. Report, Kalek.”

  “I … I …”

  Neva edged closer to the screen. “What he’s trying to say, sir, is that we’ve failed to contain the situation. We couldn’t stop her.”

  The General scowled. “You think I don’t already know that? Do you think we just sit here waiting for you to tell us what’s going on down there? I was addressing Kalek!”

  “Sir, I apologise,” she said.

  “That’s enough of that. Where are you anyway? And who have you lost?”

  I glanced at our surroundings. “We’ve crashed back on the surface in southern Citeer. One of our agents is still up there in orbit, and another burned up in the atmosphere.”

  Tuloch folded his arms. “We’ll collect them both shortly. Anyone else?”

  “Uhh, yes sir,” Neva interrupted. “Two others were teleported somewhere by her, but we’re not sure as to where.”

  “Yes, we’ve already picked up those two. If that’s all then …”

  “What about the situation in the FDC, sir?” Neva asked. “Do you want us to head back there? I promise you we won’t fail again. We still might be able to salvage this.”

  “No, you won’t, it’s well beyond that now. I’ve contacted home and they seem to think what’s happened here is a welcome change. So we’re going to see how it goes.”

  I shook my head, confused. “But sir, what trauma can we possibly bring her if she won’t fear death? They have resurrection now.”

  He laughed. “Then we’ll just have to take that away from them, won’t we?”

  “Sir?” Neva interrupted again. “What about us?”

  “You’re going to head back to MDC. Kalek, take her with you as … a prisoner, I guess.”

  Neva looked at me with shock, then back at the general. “But sir, my skills are needed in the field! I …”

  “NO! Your skills are needed where I tell you they’re needed! If I think of something more important for you to do, I’ll tell you myself. Until then, you agents all have a role to play … so make it believable. Head back there and await further orders!”

  “Uh, sir? About that?” I said and glanced at the sand dunes around me. “We’re going to need a lift.”

  Acknowledgements

  Gary Villinger, father and editor from Melton, Australia

  Clara Ng, editor from Rochester, United States

  Vladimir Shvachko, cover artist from Odessa, Ukraine

  I, of course, would like to start by thanking the myriad of family, friends, and well-wishers who have supported me over the years. Without their motivation my story would still be tumbling around in my head for yet another decade.

  In-fact the story was something very different when it first began. It has undergone years of edits, changing and evolving into something I barely recognise as the original. But each time it improves, little by little. It’s because stories are made up of many moving pieces. They are a mix of both strong and subtle past experiences and inspirations.

  For me, those inspirations came from similar stories, movies, and even videogames. My story has benefited from the dedication and imagination of all those amazingly talented people working on their own projects around the world, some even before I was born. The many homages I have made during this book were done so with love and care, not to ape the success of others, but rather to stir them together to make something new.

  In addition, to know someone is sitting in my audience, reading my story, makes it worth telling in the first place, so I thank you, dear reader. And even if only one person was sitting in that audience, in a stadium that could have sat millions, it still would have been worth it to me.

  So, what happens now? There were so many unanswered questions? Well, you’ll simply need to read on, because this series is only just getting started.