Twilight of the Gods (Universe in Flames Book 8)

by Christian Kallias

  Tar’Lock extended an open palm and nodded, but Argos turned toward Ryonna.

  “Give me your word you won’t let him swallow that thing? And only give it to someone willing to test it.”

  “Hey, I could have given you my word,” protested Tar’Lock.

  Argos shot Tar’Lock an intense look that made the Gorgar nervously click a small symphony before returning his attention to Ryonna.

  “So?”

  “You have my word,” said Ryonna as she took the pill from Argos.

  “I have to get back to work on Spiros’ clone, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m sure you’ll find your way out of the lab.”

  ARAKAN DESCENDED to the lower levels of the underground prisons built under his palace. The place was moist, smelly and infested with rodents. For some reason his daughter Oryn really liked to play around this place when she was younger. Thinking of Oryn stung Arakan’s heart. Even though she wasn’t his biological progeny, he had always considered and treated her like his own child. In fact, he had even shown preference toward her over Miseo, his only blood child. And now he had none left. Perhaps Oryn would come back, but possibly she had been killed by Chase. Before the fleet he had sent to Droxia got defeated, they had relayed information that the traitor Chase and his friends had engaged the planet-bound Fury forces. A female Fury had been spotted. However, there was no confirmation that it was actually Oryn.

  Arakan felt a strange sensation in his old bones before the shadow appeared next to him and then walked backward to stand in front of him.

  He grimaced. “You again! What part of leave me alone didn’t you understand?”

  The shadow looked from side to side. His red eyes thinned into two crimson lines amidst the darkness. “What is this wretched place?”

  “This is where people who annoy me end up. Ironic that you appeared to me here.”

  “Is that sarcasm I detect in your voice? There, there, Arakan, we both know that you need my guidance.”

  “Your guidance has brought me nothing but trouble up until now. My foes are always a step ahead of me in every one of my moves.”

  “You’re not blaming me for this now, are you?”

  In fact, the supreme commander did blame the shadowy figure and regarded him as a jinx. Every time Arakan had discussed one of his plans with him, that plan had gone horribly wrong.

  “Who else is there to blame?”

  “The ineptitude of your warriors, for one.”

  Arakan stopped and lifted a finger. “Careful, now.”

  “I’m not really here, and you know it.”

  “So you are a figment of my imagination? A creation of my sick mind?”

  “That’s not what I said. And if it makes you feel better to think I’m only inside your head, then so be it. But you still need my help, no matter how you perceive me.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I don’t need anybody. As a matter of fact, it’s about time I started doing things by myself.”

  “Hence my remark about your troops’ ineptitude.”

  “The Furies have been near-frozen in time for too long. Some have forgotten who they are.”

  “Or perhaps they are not the race you thought they were. There is no doubt that you have some powerful warriors, yourself included. But, seems to me that Furies of old are no longer the force to be reckoned with as they once were. Perhaps we were wrong trusting in your ability to cleanse this universe.”

  “Who’s we?”

  “My people, of course.”

  Arakan shook his head.

  “You still don’t think I truly exist.”

  “My thoughts about you are of no consequence. Now leave me alone. I have things to do, and I don’t need you to distract me.”

  “I’m here to advise you.”

  “And I don’t want your advice right now, so take a hint for once, will you?”

  “Very well,” said the shadow before disappearing into thin air.

  If I didn’t need to stay clearheaded, I’d take my treatment. I’m about fed up with this hallucination.

  Arakan stopped in front of a heavily fortified door. Unlike any other on that level. Across it was written a message in Fury: “Any unauthorized entry will be punishable with instant death.”

  When the Fury supreme commander approached the door, a red line scanned him from head to toe and back up again.

  “Identity confirmed,” said a grave female voice.

  The door rose and light flowed inside the previously pitch-black room. Arakan stepped in and walked toward a force-field protected cell. On the uncomfortable looking bunk bed laid a Fury prisoner.

  “You must be really bored to come and visit me at this hour,” said the man, not caring to turn and face his visitor.

  “I need information.”

  “I’m afraid we’re closed outside of business hours,” said the Fury with a laugh.

  “I see incarceration hasn’t dimmed your sense of humor.”

  “It’s the last thing I have left. You’d better hope this force field of yours holds for as long as you live, or I’ll kill you the first chance I get. I hope you know that.”

  “I have no doubt you’d try, but we both know you don’t stand the shadow of a chance.”

  “If that’s true, then why don’t you drop the field now and prove me wrong?”

  “I didn’t come here for that.”

  “Why are you here then? Besides gloating.”

  “I’d like to ask you about an old friend of yours.”

  “I don’t have any friends anymore; you killed them all and then threw me in this dump.”

  “Treason is a serious offense, so be glad I have spared your life. I could have just as easily killed you.”

  The Fury released a long breath of frustration.

  “Why haven’t you?”

  “I would love to say that’s because I’m magnanimous, but the truth is death would have been a release for you, and I’d rather you suffered for as long as you shall live. A much more fitting punishment for betraying me.”

  “I didn’t, I just listened to my heart, but I don’t suppose it’s something you can ever understand.”

  Arakan growled.

  “I shouldn’t have come here.”

  “On that we can agree, now, if you’d please turn off the lights on your way out.”

  “Not before you tell me a few things about Zeus.”

  The Fury turned his head, and for the first time since Arakan entered the cell, they locked eyes. There was nothing but defiance in the Fury’s look.

  “What makes you think I know anything about the head of the Olympians?”

  “Because we both know he asked for your help to try and steal Zalara away from me.”

  Arakan didn’t realize his current exacerbated anger was so intense that he was digging through the skin of his clenched fists and drops of blood dripped onto the floor. He unclenched his fists and looked briefly at his bloody palms.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Still having anger issues, I see.”

  “You’re one to talk. Don’t you owe your stay in my best cell thanks to your own anger issues?”

  Arakan thought he saw the beginning of tears form in the eyes of the Fury before the Fury turned back into the musty-smelling bunk bed.

  “I will get rid of them all, you know.” continued Arakan. “Zeus, Odin, anyone who stands in my way shall be destroyed, even your own progeny.”

  There was a small pause.

  “Good luck with that; don’t let the door kick your overinflated and disillusioned ego on your way out.”

  WHEN ARAKAN LEFT THE ROOM, the Fury sat up on his bed, a look of pure hatred burning in his eyes.

  “You owe me an explanation!” he shouted.

  A grey-skinned Aphroditis projection appeared not far from him.

  “I don’t owe you anything. You should feel lucky I have enough energy to sometimes visit you so you don’t lose the little that’s left of your sanity.”


  “How dare you! I’m here because I listened to you in the first place. How many others have you sent to their doom because of your so-called precog ability? If you’re so good at seeing the future, how come you didn’t see any of this happen?”

  “The future isn’t fixed and is always in motion. I can only see possibilities and act on the ones I think need my attention.”

  The Fury spat on the ground, right in front of Aphroditis.

  “Bullshit! I think you thrive on your ability and it makes you think you’re superior to the rest of us. But you obviously don’t always bet on the right horse or I wouldn’t be rotting down here.”

  “For all our sakes, you’d better pray I do choose the right people from time to time.”

  “Our sakes? My life is over; it was over the moment Arakan threw me in this cell. At least I take some small consolation in knowing that one day this will end. I’m an old man, another few decades and I’ll return to the dust from which I came.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure, in fact if you were serious earlier about killing Arakan, then I believe you’ll get your shot, and sooner than you can imagine.”

  The Fury cracked his neck. It provided him instant relief.

  “And why exactly should I care about another of your failed predictions?”

  “That’s up to you. Though Arakan was right about one thing he said: in your current state he would have no problem putting you into the grave.”

  The Fury snorted. “What makes you think I wouldn’t embrace that outcome?”

  “Because you would have ended your own life a long time ago if you did; if there wasn’t a thin sliver of hope still buried deep inside your darkened soul. That’s why.”

  The Fury got up from his bed and came within a few inches of Aphroditis. He stared into her eyes for a long time.

  “You do seem serious about this.”

  “I may sometimes not properly foresee all the ripples of my decisions once I intervene to change the future, but I’m always serious about such things.”

  “For the sake of argument, let’s say I believe you. What would you have me do from this cell? It’s not like I can train here.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I’ll let you figure that one out on your own. But sooner than you think, you’ll have that one shot at redemption that kept eating at your soul for oh so many years. It’s up to you what you do with it. And I won’t see you again until that day happens. I’m not even sure I’ll ever see you again, in fact. So— goodbye and good luck.”

  Aphroditis’ projection disappeared into thin air.

  “Wait!” screamed the Fury, extending his clawed hand forward.

  But she was gone. The Fury clenched his fists and gazed at them as he reflected upon her words.

  Can it be true? Will I finally get the chance to fight Arakan again soon?

  A long time passed, minutes, hours, the Fury didn’t know. His mind had lost perception of time ever since Aphroditis had planted a new seed of hope in his psyche. At one point he started throwing punches toward the force field to release his frustration. He kept hitting it until his hands bled and his bones began to show. He stopped for a minute, closed his eyes and healed his wounds before starting to punch the invisible wall over and over again.

  14

  With a grin on his face, Argos grabbed the chair in front of Chase in the Hope’s ready room.

  “What’s with that stupid grin of yours?” said Chase.

  “‘Admiral Athanatos’ has a ring to it, doesn’t it?”

  Chase tried to suppress his smile but couldn’t and buried his face in his hands instead.

  “Are you alright, Admiral?” said Argos, unable to contain his laughter.

  “Put a cork in it, Argos.”

  “Whatever you say, Admiral.”

  Chase wanted to get angry at Argos but instead they both burst into laughter. Chase wiped the tears from his eyes and tried recomposing himself.

  “We— we actually have to talk about something serious.”

  Argos frowned. “Aphroditis?”

  Chase nodded. “Yeah, we need to get her out of there.”

  Any trace of playfulness on Argos’ face was instantly gone.

  “We absolutely have to. You have no idea how I feel about this. I put her in that infernal machine. I blackmailed you to get the Furies back, thinking—”

  “Thinking you’d lead them. Things haven’t exactly turned out according to plan.”

  “When do they ever? But thanks to your compassion and, hopefully, one day your forgiveness, I now feel more centered than I ever did in my entire existence.”

  Argos’ statement not only surprised Chase but it also sent a shiver down his spine. Chase believed that Argos had just taken a wrong turn. Part of him really wanted to know what had separated the two of them before. But whatever it was, it must have been a very difficult and painful thing, and right now they had to stay focused. Chase felt strongly that they weren’t that far from the end of their journey and that soon the final battle against the Furies was drawing near.

  “I—” Chase paused. “I forgive you…brother.”

  Whatever wave of emotion filled Argos’ soul at the mention of Chase calling him brother it radiated beyond him and engulfed Chase as well.

  They both looked into each other’s eyes and slightly nodded to one another.

  “Now,” said Chase. “As much as I’d love to enjoy this moment some more, we need to come up with a plan to rescue Aphroditis.”

  “I think I have an idea about that.”

  “That’s great, do tell.”

  “I have studied the machine as much as I could. It’s part Asgardian, so I asked for Kvasir’s help. We arrived at the conclusion that we may need to do a body swap.”

  “Can’t we just extirpate her from it? Won’t that just send Erevos back into its dimensional prison?”

  “We’re not sure that it would, and even if it did, do we really want to leave that ticking bomb as a gift to the next generations?”

  Chase’s eyes flashed. “No, we end them this time!”

  “So for now let’s do a body swap. The machine will only accept an Olympian, though. I don’t know about hybrids. Perhaps I could—”

  “No, Argos. As much as I see what you’re trying to do, I’ll need you to defeat Arakan, so you taking her place is out of the question.”

  “Yes, but when you think about it, it would be fitting.”

  “I don’t care. We need to come up with another plan.”

  “Well, working on Spiros’ cloned body gave me another idea. I could clone an Olympian but it will need a soul. So that’s not exactly going to work.”

  “Unless—”

  “You can’t be serious? Ares?”

  “We’ve had that talk enough times that I can tell you he’ll jump at the opportunity to replace her in the machine.”

  “But won’t we also need him to bring Arakan down?”

  “Ares’ main ability is teleportation over large distances. Since I can do that on my own now, hopefully we can prevail without him when the time comes. Plus, make no mistake, we’ll do whatever is within our power to get him out of there too the first chance we get. But I’ve seen what Aphroditis is going through; we can’t let her stay in there for one more minute than is required. As soon as we’re done in Asgard, we have to go to Erevos.”

  “Agreed. However, we’re not ready for a full-scale assault.”

  “We won’t have to mount one for this particular rescue. It will be just you, me and Ares.”

  Argos thought it over and nodded. “Alright. Was there anything else we needed to discuss?”

  “How is Spiros coming along?”

  “His clone will be ready in a couple of hours.”

  “Is that something that requires your full attention?”

  “No, my machines are doing all the work. Why?”

  “Then, let’s go say hi to our…Mother.”

  “I— I don’t know what to tell
her.”

  “You and me both, but in these troubled times, with one battle after another and the next one awaiting us on Asgard, we may not get another chance.”

  “I’m nervous.”

  Chase chuckled. “Tell me about it.”

  RYONNA SAT next to Keera in the cockpit of her ship en route to the Gorgar home world.

  “You look on edge. Are you okay?” inquired Keera.

  “Tar’Lock has been insufferable ever since Argos gave us that prototype pill that should vastly improve his memory. He keeps asking for it every chance he gets.”

  “I see. Can you blame him?”

  “No, I can’t, but patience isn’t my best virtue.”

  “What did you do, then?”

  “Let’s just say Tar’Lock is taking a much-needed nap,” said Ryonna, curling the edge of her lips into a smile.

  “You didn’t? Not again!”

  “Oh yeah, I did.”

  “Being your friend can be an occupational hazard, you do realize that, right?”

  “Only when those friends don’t listen to me.”

  Keera chuckled. “Glad I don’t fall into that category of friends.”

  “So am I, as I wouldn’t take any pleasure punching your lights out.”

  “Jokes aside, are we expecting any Fury presence on Tar’Lock’s home world?”

  “Not according to Argos, but his intelligence regarding the enemy is outdated at best. It’s been a while, now that he defected and rejoined our side. Since the mind control the Gorgar are under is so efficient, there’s really no need to protect the place.”

  “Except that if this resource location is as important as Argos said it is, it makes no sense not to protect it. If I were Arakan, I wouldn’t trust the fate of my main resource-producing planet on a tech developed by someone who later betrayed me.”

  “As much as it pains me to admit it, you may be right. We’ll have to proceed carefully then. If there’s too much resistance, we can always scrap the mission and request a stronger force to free the planet by other means.”

  “Or we could try the stealthy approach?”