“If she were a bird I’d ask her to look after Grigon,” Dreka said.
Kivi smiled. “They’d make a great couple.” She looked at Dreka. “When we have some time I’d like us and our friends to gather and have a drink for Grig. I think he’d be happy knowing we cared.”
“He would be,” Dreka said. “The gods blessed him with a good life and much wealth.”
“Kali’s got a great bartender now,” Kivi said before the two went back to work.
* * *
Brian stood outside the main sickbay of the Freedom and watched the medical officers treat the wounded. He looked at Mira while she and Suv Gar were working on a Minan whose body had been half crushed in some rubble. Jesela came down the hallway and stood with him.
“This is the true battle for someone like her,” Brian said.
“Mira’s great at her job,” Jesela said. “I’d say she’s as good at putting people back together as I am with mobile suits.”
She watched as Brian’s left eye started glowing green for a second. As it did so his body faded from view for the same amount of time. He cringed and held his eye shut.
“Something’s wrong,” Brian said.
“I’d say so,” Jesela said. “You need to have Mira look you over.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Brian said.
“Then speak up,” Jesela said. “You’re starting to talk like Myden.”
Brian laughed. “That’s not good. No, what I mean by wrong can’t be defined by words. It’s just a bad feeling.”
“What do you want me to do?” Jesela asked.
“Prepare the Siren for launch,” Brian said. “But before that, take a look at my exoskeleton. I’ll need to use it soon.”
* * *
After giving orders Seles took a step outside of the Artemis. She felt the chill in the air as she led the search for survivors near Mya’s shop. After looking around she saw Mya standing outside her clothing store. The interior was dark and the back half of the building had been destroyed. Seles grabbed a spare thermal cloak from the supply shuttle and handed it to Mya.
“Oh, it’s you Seles,” Mya said.
“I’m glad to see you’re alright,” Seles said.
“I’m thankful Kali kept me on the stage,” Mya said.
“Your role is important,” Seles said. “Reality can’t function if everyone’s a soldier.”
“Thank you for saying so,” Mya said.
“Has anyone gone into your shop?” Seles asked.
“A pair of Minan officers went in there a few hours ago,” Mya said. “I’m getting worried since I haven’t seen them since.”
“I’ll check in a minute, but I have to do one thing first,” Seles said.
She pulled out a gold card and ran it over Mya’s wrist computer.
“What’s this for?” Mya asked as she looked at the numbers.
“Brian wanted to pay for his last visit,” Seles said.
Mya laughed. “I think he overpaid.”
Seles took a look at the numbers. “I’d say this is a rebuilding fund.”
Mya pulled the thermal cloak tight. “I will rebuild my shop. I have a simple dream Seles. There will come a day when more Terrans like Brian walk amongst us. I’d like to design clothes for them.”
“They’ll love your shop,” Seles said. “Not just for the clothes, but their lovely maker.”
“Thanks,” Mya said. “By the way, is there place I can stay for a while?”
“The troops near the shuttle will take you back to the Freedom for a few nights,” Seles said. “We’ll find you a place, and if we can’t I’ll let you stay in my apartment nearby.”
“I’m grateful,” Mya said before leaving.
Seles put her helmet on and turned the exoskeleton’s systems on. After entering the darkness of Mya’s shop she went to the back room. On the ground she found the body of a Minan soldier. She saw he’d been shot in the head by pulse fire. She turned and found another Minan soldier curled up in the corner. His body was alive according to Seles’s scanners, but he wasn’t moving. She checked him and found his higher brain functions weren’t working. She heard a noise and spun around with a rakna blade in hand. She stood down when she saw it was Commander Baeron with his zenti axe drawn.
“Commander Seles, do you know what’s going on?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “I entered the room and found them like this.”
“This is the tenth incident in this sector in the last two hours,” Baeron said.
“Are you the only one here?” Seles asked.
“No, I have thirty soldiers searching the buildings adjacent to this one,” Baeron said.
“I’ll take point because of this,” Seles said while pointing to her exoskeleton.
“I’ll back you up,” Baeron said.
The two descended the stairs in the next room until they were in the basement of Mya’s shop. Amongst the rubble and materials they noticed a number of footprints in the dust. When they reached the back of the storage area they noticed a hatch leading to the sublevels of Dega Jul was open. When Seles went to open it further she heard Baeron growl. She turned and saw him shining a light on a Grey soldier dressed in black body armor while holding a pulse rifle. The Minan charged and chopped the creature in half before it could fire. Seles looked around and saw a few more using the thermal vision in the exoskeleton. She quickly tossed a stun grenade at them and dove behind a metal crate. After the explosion she calmly walked over to the creatures with her rakna blade ready. She cut the throat of the first one and turned the second when it opened its black eyes and focused on her. She knelt in pain when something entered her mind.
“You must be the lady he cares for so much,” a voice said in her mind. “I’ll enjoy the look on his face when you’re dead.”
“Get out of my mind!” she screamed before chopping the Grey’s head off.
She heard laughter in her mind before it faded from her thoughts. She snapped back to normal when Baeron shook her.
“Are you alright?” the bearman asked.
“I’m okay,” she answered. She looked at the Grey foot soldiers. “How did they get down here?”
“My guess would be the strange light from the planet killer we damaged,” Baeron said. “It probably gravity jumped a number of these soldiers everywhere.” He helped her up. “You should contact your ship immediately. Brian and Myden should be able to help us with this.”
“Let’s get back to the street first,” Seles said. “There are a few things in the Artemis I’m going to need.”
Chapter 26 - Grey Hunt
Brian stepped outside of the Freedom and found Myden looking things over.
“Something evil lurks down below,” Myden said as the human joined him.
“You can sense it too,” Brian said.
Brian’s com beeped.
“I have some bad news,” Seles said over the com.
“Let’s hear it,” Brian said.
“Commander Baeron and I were poking around under Mya’s shop when we encountered three Greys dressed for ground combat,” Seles said. “I don’t think they’re alone.”
“They aren’t,” Myden said.
“How many do you estimate are down here?” Baeron asked over the com.
“The ships you refer to as planet killers are normally reserved for large scale combat or exploration,” Myden said. “Before the machine god was activated a few were equipped with large scale gravity jump systems for transporting ground forces. If the power is the same as back then they could’ve moved a hundred thousand soldiers to the underground.”
“Are you saying there are a hundred thousand enemy soldiers down here?” Baeron asked.
“At least that many,” Myden said.
“We can’t use our mobile suits in the sewers and sublevels,” Brian said.
“Then grab some pulse grenades and get down here,” Seles said.
“I’ve called in every available soldier,” Baeron said. �
�What do you think they are after?”
Brian looked at one of the tallest metal spires on the surface. “They’ll go after the atmospheric processing centers.”
“I’ll reroute most of my soldiers there then,” Baeron said. “I’ll head down into the sublevels myself as well.”
“I’m going with him,” Seles said.
“I’ll take care of things up here first and then head down,” Brian said. He touched his com to connect with everyone nearby. “This is Captain Peterson speaking. We’ve discovered that during the last battle the Greys transported a large number of ground troops into the sublevels of Dega Jul. All civilians are to avoid the basements and sewers for the time being. All officers participating in the recovery operation are to arm themselves immediately.”
Kyli stepped out of her Phase Rakna and ran over. “Captain, what about the rest of us?”
“I want you, Jesela, and Grigon to stay with the ship for now,” Brian said. “Even though our enemies are foot soldiers they may attack the surface at any time.”
“I’ll keep a squadron of mobile suits on watch at all times,” Kyli said before leaving.
Brian locked the helmet of his exoskeleton into place. “So old man, are you interested in some hand to hand combat?”
Myden drew his telepathic staff and extended it to full length. A second later his black exoskeleton covered his body and head. Brian looked at the cover over Myden’s face.
“That looks intimidating, you know that?”
“I earned the rank of general through combat,” Myden said. “Let’s go.”
* * *
Seles and Baeron were in the first sublevel of Dega Jul that served as the storm sewer. Because of dust and ash from the surface the water was colored black. Seles used the night vision and heat sensors in the exoskeleton while Baeron opted for a shoulder light. The two trudged through the water and came to a split. On the other side were three Minan soldiers. They ran over to Baeron.
“This area is clear commander,” the first one said.
“But we lost contact with team thirty one in this sector,” the second one said.
“Continue sweeping the area as per your orders,” Baeron said.
“Yes sir,” the three said before heading down a different hallway.
“We could be down here for years and not find all of them,” Seles said.
Baeron laughed, “All too true.”
They went down another hallway and found a number of maintenance rooms. The doors were blasted off their hinges from what looked like explosives. Baeron shined his light into one of the rooms before signaling Seles.
“How many?” she asked.
“Five,” Baeron answered. “They seem busy with something.”
“I’ll go in shield first,” Seles said.
Baeron nodded in agreement as she extended the shield on her left arm. Before walking into the room she turned on the power system and covered her body with a glowing energy shield. With her rakna blade in hand Seles slowly made her way through the elongated chamber. Baeron stayed at the door with his axe in hand. As she crept in the five Greys turned and aimed their weapons. Flashes of purple light filled the room when she charged and slashed her sword. She quickly dispatched the first four while the last one hid behind a metal pillar.
“I can offer you a way out of this Lady Daevon,” a voice said in Seles’s mind. “Give Brian to me and I’ll spare all of your lives. All you need to do is submit and this can be over.”
“Shut up!” she shouted.
“I can’t be silenced by those who need me,” the voice said. “Unlike Kali I’m a real god. I can save you, I can save everyone.”
She rolled and put the tip of her blade at the last Grey soldier’s throat. “Why did they have to die?”
“They died because they resisted,” the voice said. “The path to peace is impossible the way your organization uses. Peace can only be obtained through absolute order. I can grant order to the universe.”
“The only order you seek is to control everyone,” Seles said.
“Control is what mortals need, lest chaos reigns,” the voice said.
Seles thrust the blade forward and cut the Grey’s throat. “Then let it.”
After she was finished she checked the console the Greys were accessing and found they were turning off the security systems throughout the underground areas.
“Who were you talking to?” Baeron asked as he turned the security systems back on.
“They’re messing with me using telepathy,” Seles said. “It’s infuriating.”
“Keep your cool and we’ll live,” Baeron said. He stepped back from the console on the wall. “There, it’s done.”
The lights in the area turned on and the security system went on with it. From numerous points automated pulse rifles emerged from the ceiling. In a number of spots groups of Grey soldiers came under attack. The Greys countered by using explosives to destroy the security measures.
“Looks like it’s still a mess out there,” Baeron said. “Do you want me to take point?”
“No, this armor gives me the advantage,” Seles said.
“I’ll have to ask the Confederation for armor like it,” Baeron said.
“It’ll cost them a fortune,” Seles said.
“Money is the least of their concerns at the moment,” he said as they resumed their search.
* * *
Both Brian and Myden found themselves going deeper and deeper under Dega Jul. After a few hours of searching they came across an area filled with Greys. Myden used his power to cover their presence.
“What are they doing down here?” Brian asked.
“In the upper levels they’re shutting down the security systems monitoring the underground,” Myden answered. “Down here the focus seems to be on the power systems.”
“Are they trying to shut down the power?” Brian asked.
“No, they’re rerouting it,” Myden said. “There’s something down below they don’t want us to find.”
“Should we strike or continue?” Brian asked.
“Call in ten teams and direct them to this chamber,” Myden said. “We should continue going down.”
“Alright,” Brian said before turning on his com. “Teams eleven to twenty, this is Captain Peterson speaking. We’ve found a chamber with a high concentration of Grey activity. I’m sending over the coordinates now. Please deal with it as soon as possible.”
“We’ll be there shortly captain,” one of the Minan soldiers responded.
Brian and Myden used a service shaft to head down another level. When Brian looked at the numbers he noticed they were five levels under the surface. Both of them felt something pulse through their minds as they walked down an ancient hallway.
“This area doesn’t look like it’s maintained very well,” Brian said.
“These levels were built back when the Confederation had only five members,” Myden said. “Look there.”
Brian saw what Myden was pointing at. Near the door were some hieroglyphs of the Grey language.
“Two thousand years ago the atmospheric processing plants were activated,” Myden said. “Dega Jul was like the planet you call Venus. It was the triumph of our races in that day to turn a barren globe into a paradise.”
“I hope someday Venus will look like Dega Jul,” Brian said. “But for now I hope Earth stays alive.”
“The Mylor would sacrifice their home before letting Earth be destroyed,” Myden said.
“What makes you say that?” Brian asked.
“The incident at Geluke Don is the sin the Mylor will never find forgiveness for,” Myden said. “In the blink of an eye two worlds died. They didn’t pull the trigger, but they gave the Don the weapons. It was inevitable really, because the Gelukes and Don never would see eye to eye. One was the master and the other the slave. To say it was tragic doesn’t give it justice. Two planets like Earth locked together in an eternal dance. The chance of life emerging on both near w
as nearly zero, and intelligent life even more rare. Alden may never see anything like it again.”
“You’re pretty open these days,” Brian said.
“Yes, but the real tragedy isn’t what the Mylor did, it’s what my people are doing,” Myden said. “The Mylor did what they did with good intentions. The machine god has no good intentions. What I fear is hidden under here is an interface of that being.”
“I can feel it,” Brian said.
“If it is the machine will control all functions on Dega Jul,” Myden said. “Brian, I know you don’t want to, but you may have to use your power.”
“I’m ready when you need me,” Brian said.
The two continued moving downward; as they did so the hallways were better maintained with more Grey hieroglyphs on the walls.
* * *
Both Seles and Baeron threw a pair of pulse grenades into a larger chamber on the fourth sublevel. Once the explosions cleared they found over twenty Grey soldiers dead in the room. Seles scanned the area and found nothing was left alive in the room.
“They’re getting more numerous by the moment,” Baeron said.
Above them the sound of pulse grenades and rifle fire could be heard.
“Sounds like teams eleven to twenty found their quarry,” Seles said.
“Indeed,” Baeron said.
After he was done fixing the power settings he and Seles leaned against the wall for a break. She removed her helmet and took a drink of water from a container on her belt. As she sipped she noticed Baeron was shaking a little. He quickly took an injector out and hit himself in the neck with it. After a moment he sighed with relief and put the injector back into his side bag.
“What was that?” Seles asked.
“It was a dose of anti-rut,” Baeron answered.
“I forgot your species has that issue,” Seles said.
“We do as well with the medicine,” Baeron said. “But without it, I’d be reduced to a mindless creature.” He looked at his reflection in his axe. “When we’re normal, Minans are people of great wisdom, courage, and honor. When the rut comes our minds are clouded and the darker side emerges.”
Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence Page 15