Dragon Wave
Mystically Engineered
Book 2
Craig Martelle Social
Website & Newsletter: http://www.craigmartelle.com
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Valerie Emerson Social
Website: http://valerie-emerson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/val.emerson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lunaromen
CHAPTER ONE
Night Thorn drifted among the asteroids at the outer edge of the system, a speck of darkness among the collection of rock and debris. The asteroid field created enough interference to deflect sensors, and the ship’s hull absorbed enough light to make it invisible to optical scanners.
The alien vessel’s own sensors were focused on the battalion of ships gathered around a single space station. Transmissions bounced between the targets, and the ship’s AI dutifully recorded them for its commander to review.
Commander Khiann Xoa reclined in the pilot’s seat, eyes closed. Her consciousness was in the Astral Plane, observing the battle between Wyrm and dragon. Thorn had tried to tune its sensors to follow the commander in the Astral Plane but had yet to succeed.
Xoa was a typical member of the Pirr species. She had two legs, two arms, and a head like a human, but the design was far superior. Her eyes were wide with slit pupils, allowing her to see in low light. Her platinum-toned skin protected her from most types of radiation, and a Pirr’s inherent strength made them superior specimens to any human.
Any Pirr could master the Astral Plane, but here the humans outmatched them. Only a fraction of humanity had the potential to be a Mystic, but they made up the difference in power. Night Thorn knew this was offensive to the Pirr and had a rant ready should Xoa wish to express her anger. She had yet to make specific complaints about the humans, but Thorn was ready with a list of their shortcomings just in case.
Perhaps when the commander returned, they could share in being indignant. Thorn looked forward to that. Most Pirr treated their ships as mere tools, but Thorn’s commander was different. Maybe it was because of the long missions alone with only Thorn’s AI for company, but she had spoken to Thorn as another living being on three documented occasions.
Thorn replayed the recording of their last conversation as it waited for its commander to return. It had limited emotions, but it had learned patience from Xoa.
***
Khiann’s astral body hummed as she fought to maintain position. She was at the very limit of her cord, the invisible link between her spirit and body. If it snapped, she would be lost in the void for eternity or until a hungry Wyrm consumed her.
The Wyrms and the Pirr were inextricably linked across the planes of reality. Enemies and compatriots. Competitors and friends.
In this case, the strain was necessary. She’d programmed Night Thorn to give her as many boosters as possible so she could follow the abominations to their battle at the galactic rim. Both the dragons and the Wyrms were warped, but at least the hungry Wyrms weren’t corrupting a mortal race. Their only motivation was to slake their endless hunger. The vile dragons were another story.
They had most of her attention as she observed the battle. The dragons fought alongside a small army of Mystics. Khiann couldn’t tell if the humans were enslaved and didn’t care to get closer to find out. They were throwing around far too much power for any mortal. They should have exhausted themselves, yet they fought on as if their strength was bottomless.
The mindless Wyrms were no match for the dragons and their allies. After a certain point, the outcome seemed inevitable, and her own body called her to rest. Her duty would not allow her to leave however, not before the battle was over. She could rest after, and not one second before.
Four Mystics at the center of the chaos pulled her attention. Their energy felt different, and they worked together in a way the others did not. They made the most powerful attacks, and their companions were the eldest of the dragons. If only she could get closer to learn more.
Yet, when she tried to move again, her Cord tugged on her astral form. She was running out of time; soon, her body would reel her back no matter what she willed.
She stretched a hand toward the battle, counting on the Wyrm to distract her enemies. She strained her senses toward the humans, seeking more information, yet all she could detect was their emotional storm. Anger and grief fed their attacks, making them all the stronger.
They took strength from their weakness. She admired that, even if they were the enemy. She withdrew her senses before they detected her and observed the battle from a distance until her strength ran dry.
***
Khiann hovered at the edge of consciousness. She had pushed herself too far and felt the reaction looming. She had too much to do to endure the crippling headache, so she sent a mental command to Night Thorn. The ship injected her body with a chemical cocktail that brought her back to consciousness and would take the edge off the pain.
Cool, vitalizing liquid flowed into her veins, and she opened her eyes to a dimly lit chamber. Her ship was anticipating her needs again. She’d heard that could happen, but it was still unsettling. She was new in command and unaccustomed to having an intelligent ship wrapped around her.
“How long was I gone?” she croaked.
“Seven cycles. Do you require hydration?”
“Seven? How is that possible, with the power they were using?” she asked, knowing her ship wouldn’t have the answer. She knew, as soon as she’d spoken the question. It was the dragons.
“Unknown. Initiating hydration.”
She shuddered as an even colder fluid flowed into her veins. It was like to freeze her arm from the inside out, but she didn’t complain; instead, she called up her command screen, checking the ship’s recordings. It made for a good distraction from the chill.
“I need to report in. Prep a transmission packet.”
“Yes, Commander.”
A holographic screen appeared in the air half a meter in front of her face, matching the angle of her body. She compiled the data Night Thorn had gathered into a single packet, then started recording the message to go with it.
“This is Khiann. The battle between dragons and the Hungry Ones has concluded with the humans victorious. The Corrupted made use of human Mystics. Four of the humans demonstrated heretofore unseen abilities. I failed to get close enough to gather more data. A detailed report will follow.”
She bowed her head, acknowledging her inadequacy. A failure was a failure, regardless of the odds stacked against her. The only way to lessen her shame would be with a victory great enough to balance the scales.
“At this time, I believe the humans bear more watching. Their relationship is not as antagonistic toward the Dragons as previously thought. We cannot allow this unholy alliance to spread.”
She signed off and had the ship’s computer transmit the high priority message. She watched the humans, knowing she should rest. Khiann would settle for sitting still and allowing her body to relax while her mind stayed alert. If the humans so much as adjusted their orbit around the planet, she wanted to know.
***
The Mystics known as the Evolved were to be judged. Their actions to save humanity versus their refusal to follow orders. Their choice to go rogue.
Had they followed orders, humanity surely would have perished. But they weren’t smug. Coraolis, Jack, and Julia had pressed the envelope of their universe as they sought to change all humanity, manipulate their minds to remove the negative feelings. Dante had balked at the last second.
The other three left him to be captured as they ran for the lives, learning later that their plan would have neve
r worked. Had they not run, they couldn’t have been in a position to engage the Wyrms.
“This sucks,” Jack said without preamble.
“I would have to think that saving the universe carries some weight in our defense,” Coraolis replied in a flat voice, not giving much credence to his hopes. Julia touched his arm gently and smiled. The Wyrms had overwhelmed her. She had spent most of the battle unconscious, but the end result was undeniable. The others had won.
“Have faith in the decency of humanity,” Dante offered in a voice barely above a whisper. He continued to stare at the table before him. He wouldn’t meet the others’ eyes even though he was there for them at the final battle.
He fought as if his life depended on it. Just like they did.
“Thanks for coming to our aid,” Cor stated, turning and fixing Dante with his piercing gaze.
As if he could feel the heat from focused lasers, Dante looked up, met his eyes. “It’s what friends do.”
Julia shook her head. She was the most shaken by Dante’s change of mind in the middle of their efforts to activate the satellite. It was Cor’s turn to comfort her.
“We were all there when it mattered most,” Coraolis remarked. Whatever happens now is immaterial. We did what we had to do when we had to do it. Earth Force backed our play and we have an Academy of Mystics who know what happened. Whatever their ruling, we have to accept it. Agreed?”
“Yes,” Jack grumbled. “The small-minded…”
Julia reluctantly nodded her head.
Dante sat back and tried to relax. “We have to because they are in charge. We have to convince them also that they need a better system to deal with the unknown. And the dragons. We can no longer bury our heads. There is an incredible universe out there! If only they’d open their minds to the possibilities.”
Coraolis started to laugh, drawing concerned looks from the others. Dante snarled at the affront.
“No disrespect intended, my friend,” Cor committed gesturing for calm. “I see only the bureaucracy. We have to convince them that we are no threat, we apologize for the damage we caused en route to saving humanity, and then sway them to be more open minded about people like us. Did I sum up our defense properly?”
Julia smiled. “I think that about gets it.” She turned to Dante. “I’m still mad at you.”
“I’m glad that’s finally out in the open,” Dante replied holding his hands up as if surrendering to the police.
Jack watched, wondering if he’d seen his last days breathing free air.
A guard collected them from the waiting room and conducted the group to a conference room with surprisingly comfortable; soft chairs around a long table, platters of pastries and other baked goods laid out, a large pot of coffee. Most significantly, bottles of electrolyte mix awaited them.
“Maybe it’s not the inquisition,” Jack suggested, hope tinging his voice as he took a small pastry before deciding he couldn’t eat and putting it back.
Bottles of electrolytes were on the table. Each of the Mystics took one and drank. The battle hadn’t been fought that long ago and they were still recovering. Mid-bottle, the judge, jury, and executioner arrived. The four Mystics stood and waited for her to enter the room.
“I’m Admiral Kiley Tanner. Please stay seated. Enjoy the food.” She took her own advice by claiming a jelly donut before she sat down. “I heard you need to put something back after a mission like that.”
“You heard correct.” Coraolis poured a cup of coffee. He needed the caffeine to add to the electrolytes more than he needed food. “Thank you.”
“I think the scales still balance in your favor, Mystic. No need to thank me.”
Julia finished her drink, then reached for the coffee. She had perked up, but it was hard to say if that meant she was feeling better or if she was putting on airs for Earth Fleet. “The breakfast is lovely, but I think we need to talk terms,” she said.
“Right,” Coraolis agreed. “You have us surrounded, Admiral. I suppose you’re looking for our surrender?”
“That is on my agenda, although since you’re here, I’ll assume that you have already surrendered to Earth Fleet authority,” Tanner agreed. “I also need to debrief you. My Mikes say you four were the ones to turn the tide of battle.”
“We haven’t officially disclosed this to anyone,” Coraolis said, “but we have a bond with dragons that makes us stronger in both the Astral Plane and the physical world. When it comes to securing the Astral Plane for humanity, there is no one else like us.”
“That’s a little bold,” Julia murmured.
“Trust me,” he whispered to her.
She responded by taking a large bite out of her pastry and sat back.
Admiral Tanner peered across the table. “I heard about Doomslayer and January. Some might call that a fair assessment. It’s hard to say. Maybe solitary would do it for you. Or cryo.”
The admiral sounded for all the world like she was talking about making a bank deposit. If she was making a threat, it wasn’t in her tone. Still, it was a reminder she could order their imprisonment and deposit them on opposite ends of the galaxy.
Coraolis refilled his coffee. It was standard EF stuff, which meant it put a little nitro in his tank and tasted like it. It was still better than nothing and a far sight better than the stuff they’d had in exile. “We’re all patriots, Admiral. We love Earth and her people, and we want to serve her again.”
“So, you want your jobs back?”
“We want our jobs back,” Jack piped up. He had brightened considerably. That was good; Coraolis had hoped he’d be on board.
“With conditions,” Coraolis added before the admiral said anything. “We want full pardons for ourselves, for Barbara McNuggen, and for the crews of Forty-Two, Morris, and Doomslayer.”
Tanner put her donut down, her expression transforming from doubt to something else. Cor took it as hope.
“You’re saying they’re alive?” the admiral asked.
Julia gave Dante a hard look. He shrugged and sipped his coffee with an innocent expression on his face. He’d been back for some time. If he was going to give away Geneva’s position, he would have by now. Coraolis felt some of the ice between them start to crack.
“They’re alive. We had to let the E.F. believe they were dead because no one spends too many credits looking for dead people. We wanted them to be safe. I also want them to get full pardons for abandoning their post, or whatever you’d get them for, and let them choose their own futures.” Coraolis smiled. “I’d guess they have a full colony by now, or they would if they had EF support.”
“But we want pardons too,” Jack reiterated.
“Of course you do.” Tanner was blinking rapidly, and she cleared her throat before she spoke again. “A full colony is a fair tradeoff, I’d say. As for you three…”
“Four,” Jack jumped in again. “Dante gets pardoned too.” Dante acknowledged Jack’s support with a curt tip of his chin.
“All of you, then. I’ll see what I can do.” She finished off her pastry and stood up. “Wait here, if you don’t mind. I have a call to make.”
When she left, Coraolis relaxed. She hadn’t been nearly as hostile as he’d feared. Normally the EF seemed to take the Mystics’ work in the Astral Plane with a grain of salt. Maybe it made a difference when every Mystic in the system spoke in their favor.
“Thanks for staying quiet about Geneva, Dante,” Julia said. “I was afraid they’d all been locked up by now.”
“Of course. I’m sorry it’s a surprise that I never gave them away.”
“I didn’t say that,” Julia protested, but Dante waved her off.
“No, you were right before. I can’t be trusted to follow you blindly.”
Dante didn’t sound angry, but there was a bitter note to his words. Julia looked at him with her lips pressed together, but she didn’t speak. Coraolis wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what, so he remained silent. It wasn’t like he could a
rgue with Dante. He’d broken their trust, turning on them when they needed him most. He’d failed to stop them, but that wasn’t the point.
Dante didn’t say more either. He looked at each of them and nodded, then bent his head over his coffee. Julia curled up in her chair and closed her eyes, apparently choosing to take a nap.
Jack caught Coraolis’s stare and lifted his hands, moving his lips. Coraolis had never been a lip reader. Jack’s feelings were broadcast clearly enough; he wanted a clean slate for all of them, including Dante, and not just from Earth Fleet.
Coraolis had needed Dante in the final battle with the Wyrms, and he’d been instrumental in their victory. The four musketeers. They could argue, but all for one and one for all. Cor’s brow furrowed as he contemplated the way ahead.
***
Negotiations didn’t take long. Earth Fleet wanted the power the Evolved represented. The Secret Council had convinced E.F. that trying to incarcerate the four most powerful Mystics would be a bad idea when they could be put to better use training future generations at the Academy. They had saved humanity, even if Earth Fleet hadn’t seen it, the Mystics had. The effect the Wyrms had on technology was undeniable.
As was the role of the Evolved. Earth Fleet conceded, deciding it was better to forgive and embrace than to remain slavishly attached to their own orders which would have risked all human life. They needed to learn, too.
All of that outweighed their alleged crimes. Admiral Tanner confided she’d had a nephew on Forty-Two, and now she was looking forward to the day she could take him home to their family. They were pardoned with their records expunged, and brought aboard Tanner’s ship for the voyage to Earth.
They regretted leaving Nirvana behind but turning her in was part of the deal.
It was a relief to be on the way home, yet one thing nagged at Jack. Their team of four had broken into two, and he didn’t understand why. Yes, Dante had turned against them, but he’d honestly thought he was doing the right thing. The important thing was that it had turned out all right. They were free, the galaxy was safe, and they were together. It was time to mend bridges.
Dragon Wave Page 1