The Purification: Book 3 of the Evaran Chronicles

by Adair Hart

  “Miles!” said John.

  Miles turned and screamed as he charged the exterminator. John waved to Dizz and Cantol to take the remaining guards. Miles ran headfirst into the exterminator, which held its ground. Its shoulder lasers were firing on Miles’s shield, and the exterminator’s visor began to glow. Miles head butted the visor, crimping it. The exterminator grabbed Miles’s arm and swung him into the wall, then the ground, and finally into the wall again. John rolled behind the exterminator and pulled out two glowing daggers. He searched for a weak point, and when he found a small crease in the neck armor, he stabbed it.

  The exterminator roared as Dizz, Cantol, and Shandra hurried over. Shandra reached out with her vines and grappled the exterminator’s arms, holding them out. Dizz and Cantol leaped forward, and each sliced an arm off. Miles smashed the exterminator’s helmet, knocking it away. With a quick pistol draw, John shot and hit the exterminator between the eyes. The exterminator crashed to the ground.

  Miles shook his head. “So much for them not knowing we’re here.”

  John looked down at the severed arms. “So they’re human. I believe you just lost a bet, Miles. Hermes has already shut off the alarm systems, so we should be okay.”

  “Afraid not,” said Hermes. “I’m seeing chatter independent of the station. Seems the exterminators use their own internal communication system. You need to get to the command center. Now.”

  John sighed. This was only one exterminator, and it took the whole group to take it down. There were probably seven or so more on the station. Things were not looking good. He waved forward. “Let’s go.”

  They handled the few guards on the way to the command center. Hermes informed them that the exterminator units were closing in on them. When they got to the command center, they burst into a room full of surprised Purifiers. They wore one-piece plastic-like suits and scattered to the ground. Shandra ran to the exit, turned into a tree, and pricked each one that Miles tossed at her. Ring Commander Sheel’s eyes popped open as he drew his pistol.

  One of the Purifiers morphed into a human male wearing a black trench coat and a bandanna mask over his mouth. He fired and hit Sheel point-blank in the face. Sheel slumped to the ground.

  “Brills!” said John.

  “Took you long enough,” said Brills. “What an uncomfortable form. I’ll have to shower for a week to get it out of my mind.”

  John looked around at the pile of unconscious Purifiers. “At least we spared the noncombatants.”

  “Yeah … but heard over the communication channel that you ran into an exterminator,” said Brills. “Sheel was alerted by his encrypted communicator and was starting to organize a retaliation. I created some confusion from my console, but that didn’t seem to help. Couldn’t really do much with Sheel around anyways. The exterminators know we’re here. Give me a moment to disable the lock on Evaran’s ship and the cells.” He sat down at a desk. His hands flew around the console. After a few moments, he nodded. “Good to go. We need to hurry and get them and ourselves outta here.”

  John sighed and gestured at the door across the room from them. “Let’s get outta here.”

  Dr. Snowden flinched when Emily gasped. The shielding on the cells had dropped, and the lights had dimmed. He rubbed his eyes and looked around.

  The anger flash from before still poked around in his head. It was the second time in a few days that his anger had slipped out of control, but this was the first time there was physical pain. What the heck was going on? Hopefully it was the nanobots and could be fixed. He knew he always had a short temper, but nothing that would cause him to fly into a blind rage. It was embarrassing for it to happen in front of Evaran, whose cool and calm demeanor he sought to emulate.

  He stood and waved his hand through the door. “What’s happening?”

  “I do not know, but we will take advantage of the situation. We need to go,” said Evaran.

  They exited the cell.

  “You know how to get back to the Torvatta?” asked Emily.

  “Yes, I memorized the path. Although it took us an hour to get here, I suspect we can do it in forty-five minutes. Set your PSDs to stun.”

  Dr. Snowden and Emily complied.

  Dr. Snowden had come to view his personal support device as an invaluable tool. His PSD had a slim pen-like shape and the ability to perform many functions, from augmented reality scans to the more powerful stun beam, which had proven its usefulness. His favorite aspect of it was the morphable metal that could extend and form a variety of handy tools. He was unsure of how the morphable metal was stored but suspected dimensional mechanics was involved.

  As they turned into a hallway, two guards at the other end rushed around the corner.

  “Stop where you are!” said one of the guards.

  Evaran activated his shield and extended his utility handle into a baton. The end glowed light blue. “We do not have time for this foolishness.”

  The guards opened fire. Evaran angled his shield and redirected their weapon fire back at them, causing their weapons to explode. The guards crumpled to the ground.

  Dr. Snowden remembered the shield could reflect beams. He saw it on the Krotovore ship when Jay, another person Evaran had saved, had his arm blown off from a stray reflected beam. The accuracy and agility required to aim the beam back at a specific angle impressed him.

  They hustled through various hallways and, after thirty minutes, came upon a large, open room.

  Dr. Snowden tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Purifier guards were fighting another group. The group was what caught his attention. One member had black armor and was charging around the room like a bull, knocking guards left and right. Two others were dancing around the room with glowing swords, slicing and dicing any guard unlucky enough to be in their path. A tree stood in the center of the room with vines reaching everywhere and branches hitting away guards who got too close. Another was changing forms as he fought. One moment he was a human male, the next a bird, and the next a big cat. Finally, near the corner, an individual with black light armor over black leather was dual-wielding pistols and taking shots at various guards.

  “What in the world … ,” said Dr. Snowden.

  “That guy has changed shape like three times!” said Emily, pointing at the shape-shifter.

  Evaran nodded. “Yes. He is an Outsider.” He pointed to each individual in turn. “The person in the back and the two moving around with energy swords are Daedrould, vampire strain. The tree shifter is an Outsider, similar to the shape changer. The big guy running around is Wildborn. I believe his ability is brute strength and resiliency.”

  Dr. Snowden smiled. “Wish I could see energy signatures instead of just knowing they aren’t human.”

  “Me too,” said Emily.

  Evaran half smiled.

  Dr. Snowden had learned a lot about nonhumans and how they came to be from traveling with Evaran. The thought that exotic energy could alter a human into something so different still amazed him. He wondered if the process could be reversed. Another question to ask Evaran about later. He had learned about Daedrould energy, and how it was the source of their alteration. Wild energy created the Wildborn, who were unique one-off alterations. Those that came from other realities inside the universe were called Outsiders, like the pantheons and shifters. There were even more, with subdivisions among the big ones. It boggled his mind that there were so many. Although he could not see the energy signature auras like Evaran could, he had begun to understand the movement and abilities enough to determine what major energy group they came from. Usually, anyways.

  The group had mopped all but one guard that was barreling toward Evaran. The guard opened fire and fell when the reflected beam from Evaran’s shield hit him.

  The group approached Evaran. The dual-wielding pistol user stepped in front, with the others lining up behind him. The tree transformed into a woman with a tight-fitting brown suit, and the shape-shifter had turned into a human male with a black
trench coat and a bandanna over his mouth.

  The pistol user knelt before Evaran, causing the others in the group to follow suit. “I’m John Holington, and this is the Earth Guard.”

  Evaran bowed with his left hand across his stomach. “I am Evaran, and with me is Dr. Albert Snowden and his niece, Emily.”

  John stood. “Oh … we know who you are.” He pointed in sequence at the group. “The big guy is Miles O’Bannon. The tree shifter is Shandra Everoak. The two blade masters are Dizz and Cantol, and the shape-shifter is Brills. We’re here to extract you.”

  Evaran nodded. “It is good to meet you all, and your timing is excellent. We were just on our way to my ship.”

  “The Torvatta. Right,” said John. “We have freed the clamps on your ship and are responsible for shutting down the power to your cells. Once we leave here, we will need you to open a portal and let us fly through first. I can explain everything in detail once we’re safe.” He handed Evaran a small tablet-like device. “These are the coordinates.”

  Evaran scanned the device. “I have the coordinates. Outskirts of the Galvin Rim. Interesting. I have patched into your group communication channel.” He glanced at Dr. Snowden and Emily. “Your PSDs are tied in as well.”

  Dr. Snowden nodded. He was not sure what to make of all this.

  “Hermes, what’s the status?” asked John.

  “Exterminators are closing in on your position. Some have taken up position outside the entrance to the ships,” said Hermes over the communication channel.

  “The Greek god Hermes?” asked Evaran.

  “Hah! Evaran … you old bastard. It’s been over four thousand years! Where the hell you been?”

  Evaran tilted his head. “It is apparent I have a lot to catch up on.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Dr. Snowden’s eyes sparkled at the thought of meeting Hermes. He remembered Evaran had mentioned him in the past and said Hermes had issues. Maybe now he would find out what Evaran was referring to.

  John sighed. “Those exterminators are tough to deal with. We better get going.”

  “I concur,” said Evaran.

  After twenty minutes and dealing with several guards along the way, they reached the last room. Three exterminators and a small group of guards stood fanned out around the exit to the ships.

  John glanced at Evaran. “Thoughts?”

  Evaran studied the exterminators. One moved toward them. “Miles and I will clear a path. Shandra, if you can provide support behind us, that should allow Dizz and Cantol to escort Dr. Snowden and Emily along the sides past them. John, you can provide long-range support, with Brills helping protect Shandra.”

  Miles jerked his head back. “Damn … you just came up with that?”

  Evaran nodded. “I observed you in battle and noted your combat skills.”

  John nodded. “Doesn’t surprise me at all. We’re good to go.” He slapped Miles’s chest. “Do your thing.”

  “Always.” Miles bobbed his head at Evaran. “Ready?”

  “Ready.”

  With a scream, Miles charged ahead with Evaran at his side. Shandra and Brills followed behind them. Dizz and Cantol moved to the side of the room with Dr. Snowden and Emily and inched forward. John took up a position in the back of the room.

  Miles bowled into the exterminator that had moved forward, sending it flying back. The other two rushed forward and fired on Miles. Evaran grabbed the exterminator coming from the left side of Miles and tossed it against the wall. Shandra changed into a tree behind them and, with her vines, began wrapping up the third exterminator. Brills transformed into a large bearlike creature and attacked the nearby guards. John hung back and fired at the guards, thinning them out.

  Dr. Snowden and Emily kept moving along the left wall with Dizz and Cantol. They reached the corner and began moving toward the exit. Several guards broke loose from the group melee, headed toward them, and began firing. Dr. Snowden and Emily ducked into a storefront foyer area. They popped out and fired back with their PSDs, causing the guards to fall. Dizz and Cantol took advantage of the situation and rushed forward. Within a few seconds, the headless guards lay still.

  Brills let out a cry as a volley of fire smashed into him. He slumped to the ground. Shandra turned her attention to a new group of four exterminators and guards that came in from where they had initially entered the room. Miles spun around and charged toward them. John was firing sporadically as he ran forward to the exit where Brills had fallen. Shandra moved toward the new threat behind Miles’s charge.

  Evaran zipped through the remaining guards at the exit, hitting them with his baton and knocking some against the wall. With the rest of the guards at the exit down, Dizz, Cantol, Dr. Snowden, and Emily rushed forward and through the doorway. Once through, Dizz and Cantol ran out to help fight the new group. Dr. Snowden and Emily peered out to watch.

  John reached Brills and dragged him through the exit and out of sight.

  Evaran scanned Brills. He tapped at his ARI. “He is alive. Stay here! V will be here shortly to administer aid.”

  At the back of the room, Shandra shrieked as her branches caught on fire and she got slammed from both sides by the exterminators. She shimmered for a moment, then changed back to human form and crumpled to the ground. An exterminator raised a foot to stomp her head. Miles looked back after bowling into the new group and yelled when he saw Shandra. He grabbed the exterminator about to stomp her and threw it into the air. With a quick jump over Shandra, he charged the other exterminator. He tapped his chest, causing his armor to glow.

  “Oh shit … Miles! No! Everyone, to the exit now!” said John.

  “What is he doing?” asked Evaran.

  “He’s activated his final burn. We have one minute before this place blows.”

  “There is no need for that. Wait here.”

  Evaran passed Dizz and Cantol as they rushed to the entrance. He reached Shandra and scanned her. He looked up at Miles, who had just been slammed into the wall by an exterminator. “Miles, come over here.”

  Miles stood up and charged through the exterminator and several guards to get to Evaran.

  Evaran placed his UIC on Miles’s chest panel. He tapped at his ARI, and Miles’s armor stopped glowing. “Take Shandra to the exit. She is hurt, but alive.”

  Miles looked at the three remaining exterminators and small group of guards that were regrouping. Their weapon fire lit up Miles’s shielding as he stood between them and Evaran and Shandra. He shook his head. “You can’t hold them, and our mission is to extract you.”

  Evaran half grinned. “Trust me. I can handle this. Go.”

  Miles picked up Shandra and ran to the exit.

  Dr. Snowden thought he saw Evaran’s eyes flash a glowing fire for a moment when Evaran turned to see Miles run back to the exit. He chalked it up to maybe a random reflection or his own eyes playing tricks on him.

  John directed V, who had arrived from the Torvatta, to Shandra and Brills.

  V pulled out a syringe and injected Brills and Shandra with it.

  “What’d you inject them with?” asked John.

  “Healing nanobots. It will stabilize them.”

  “Okay … after you’re done, they need to get on the ship,” said John. He glanced at Miles. “Why’s Evaran not coming?”

  “He said to go and he would handle it,” said Miles.

  “What?” asked John as he turned to look out at Evaran.

  Evaran rushed forward with his shield raised. He punched the first exterminator in the chest, cracking its armor. The exterminator flew backward, taking several guards with it. The other two charged, with weapons ablaze. Evaran stepped back and kneeled, reflecting fire back onto them. One exterminator burst into flames as it crashed to the ground. Several guards were caught in the reflected fire.

  The remaining exterminator charged forward and reached out. Evaran grabbed it by the wrists and with a spinning motion sent it flying back at the guards. Its ar
mor cracked when it hit the wall, and it stopped moving.

  The remaining five guards dropped their weapons and pushed forward with glowing swords. Evaran dodged the first slash and turned sideways to kick the guard against the wall. He ducked as another sword swept across above him. He spun around doing a leg sweep, knocking the second guard down. He then tapped the guard’s chest with his baton. The guard stopped moving.

  The third guard lunged forward and struck out at Evaran’s midsection. Evaran stepped back and placed his foot on the blade. With a downward motion of his leg, the blade was pulled out of the surprised guard’s hand. Evaran stepped forward and tapped the guard on the head with his baton. The guard crumpled to the ground. The remaining two attacked him simultaneously, one from each side. Evaran placed his hand on the right guard’s shoulder and somersaulted over him. Upon landing, he tapped the back of the guard’s head with his baton, then he kicked him in the back. The guard went flying forward and crashed into the last guard. The last guard struggled to get up as Evaran approached him.

  “Leave,” said Evaran.

  The guard nodded and got to his feet. He ran out of the room.

  “Holy shit,” said Miles.

  “Thankfully, they weren’t as strong as Seeros,” said Dr. Snowden.

  John snapped his head toward Dr. Snowden. “You know Seeros?”

  Before Dr. Snowden could reply, Evaran ran over to the group.

  “We can go. Brills and Shandra would be better served in my medical lab,” said Evaran.

  “No … no temporal shielding effect for us. Hermes said there are more on the way, and ships are beginning to close in. We need to get the hell out of here!” said John.

  The Earth Guard boarded their ship while Evaran, Dr. Snowden, Emily, and V rushed into the Torvatta.

  Evaran ran into the command area. He punched around his ARI. “V, take us out and open a portal to the coordinates I am relaying.”

  “Acknowledged,” said V as he rushed to the front console.

  Dr. Snowden and Emily sat in the U-shaped seating area to the right of the front console as Evaran sat in his command chair. The Torvatta pulled away from the station. After flying a bit, it held position and shot out a gold beam, opening a silver-ringed portal with a light-blue rippled surface. John’s ship appeared in front of them and flew through the portal. The Torvatta followed them in.