by Larkin, Matt
“So the Angels are aliens?”
“I don’t know. I mean, they look a lot like us.” The Amphie rose. “I can’t learn much more about them without opening a tube. And it’s your ship.”
Damn right it was.
“So I guess you should head back to the Logos.”
Leah hesitated, as if weighing something. “You’re a Psych who’s been on a living ship for weeks. Maybe I should examine you. We don’t know what effect prolonged contact with this alien being will have on you.”
It would have been easier to blow the Amphie off if Rachel couldn’t sense genuine concern layered underneath the other woman’s jealousy. Sometimes being an empath made life too complicated. It was hard to hate someone who cared about you despite her own heart. “Thanks, Leah. But I’m fine. Tell David I’m fine. I’m sure he’s the one who put you up to this, right?”
Leah sighed, and left, heading toward the hangar. Rachel trekked over to a cargo bay Knight had co-opted as a dojo. She couldn’t really pay him any more—her funds had run dry since her break with Galizur—but her Gehennan bodyguard had stuck around. He claimed he was going to collect big when she got paid. Of course, she could feel his intense loyalty to her, so his bravado was pointless. And he knew she was an empath, so he had to know she saw through him. He persisted anyway. Maybe his airs were all he had left of his old life.
She slipped into the dojo where she found Knight and David, both shirtless, sparring. Both had tight, hard bodies from a lifetime of combat. Nanobot regeneration had left David with smooth skin, whereas dozens of scars crisscrossed Knight’s chest and abdomen.
“So you’re saying Merkabah came from Eden?” Knight asked as she walked in.
Undoubtedly both men knew she was there. As a rank four Psych, David would feel her. And Knight … Knight just seemed to know. He was no Psych, but he had an uncanny sense of his surroundings, born from a lifetime of training.
“Not exactly,” David said, indicating a maneuver. “Merkabah was developed after the Exodus, but it evolved primarily from a fusion of two styles known back on Eden—Jujitsu and Krav Maga. The refugees, those who became the first Sentinels, developed it.”
Angels above, David was teaching Knight the Sentinel fighting style? That was supposed to be exclusive. People said it was the most efficient martial art in the universe. Fast and focused on brutal counterattacks, Merkabah was never taught to outsiders.
David had once claimed Knight’s training, while good, was inferior to Sentinel training. Knight had those preternatural reflexes, speed no one else could match, but David, with help from Phoebe, had taken him down. So why teach Knight to become even more dangerous?
Of course, the answer was obvious. David knew he’d have to leave. He wanted Rachel’s bodyguard to stand the best chance of protecting her against whatever came their way. And it would come. The universe would come after them.
Weeks of jumping through the Conduit had hidden them from Jericho Corp and anyone else so far, but it wouldn’t last. She had the Ark. The living Angel ship was a repository of all their knowledge and power. It could terraform planets in hours. God only knew what else this ship could do. The whole Conglomerate would be after it.
There was no way to keep something like that a secret. In a fit of grandeur, a self-important gesture, she’d terraformed the atmosphere of Gehenna to cleanse the toxic gasses. And in so doing, she’d created a story that could never be contained. The entire universe knew about the Ark, now. Which was good—the Redeemers could never keep such a secret buried. Except now, every faction from here to Triangulum was probably looking for her ship.
She’d promised it to Galizur at Quasar Industries, but refused to deliver. Refused his calls, even. Sooner or later, the Conglomerate—and maybe the Sentinels—would come for the Ark.
For three weeks she’d studied this place. She’d begun to rekindle her relationship with David. And she’d found peace. Just the calm before the storm.
They would come to take it away from her.
And she could never let them have this ship. Any megacorp, any government that got their hands on the Ark, would force the rest of the universe to bow to their whims. A team of scientists would tear through the database and pry away Angel secrets.
And that was what she wanted … to open the truth. But not just to a single company. The truth was the birthright of all humanity.
A company with such findings could become tyrants ruling the universe—as bad as the Angels themselves. Rachel would not be responsible for ushering in a new oligarchy to subjugate mankind. Her mission was to free humanity from its chains, not forge new ones.
David twisted, flinging Knight to the mat. The Gehennan rolled with it, rising again in a single fluid motion.
A shudder ran through her. She could never let a single faction gain hold of this ship.
Never.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
November 12th
For the first time in my life I am part of something so much greater than myself. Finally, I begin to understand the connection David feels to the Sentinels. But my bond with the Ark is deeper than even he could understand. Our minds are always connected, always sharing with one another. I can almost see how the Angels cast themselves as gods before us.
The Logos’ bridge had become oppressive. When David was the second-in-command, the chair had been a place of comfort, of power. Now he ran the whole battleship, and every time he came up here he felt guilty. Dirty.
He’d betrayed his uniform.
At least, a part of him always felt that. Captain Waller had broken Mizraim law, so David had done what he had to. He’d led the mutiny against Waller, relieved him of command, and sent him off to the Tabernacle for judgment. But somehow, he still felt like a usurper. A criminal.
Maybe it was the utter silence of the Sanhedrin. He’d expected the fallout of his choices to be sudden. Instead, no one had so much as contacted him. A week ago he’d let Waller go. Command would know by now he’d mutinied—Sentinel captains had enough autonomy no one would have wondered before, but he’d expected to hear from them the moment he let Waller go.
Instead, he’d been leading the Ark through the Conduit, helping Rachel run from the Conglomerate, and awaiting his fate. And in the meantime, teaching Knight almost every trick he knew. Yet another crime on his conscience. But Knight would be able to protect Rachel in the days to come, and David might not.
And after all he’d done for Rachel, he’d be buggered if he let her fall now. The lass was his redemption. She was his hope. He had to believe, one day, she would be satisfied with her successes. One day, she would say enough, and settle down with him. He kept telling himself that, because deep down, he knew that wasn’t Rachel. Sometimes, he feared she’d be on a crusade until the day she died. And he would not let her face it alone—never again.
Rachel loved him—of that he had no doubt. He could see it in her eyes. He wasn’t much of an empath, but even he could feel it coming off her. And sometimes, in the Conduit, he could see the children they would have. A prescient vision of the things to come. A possible future he had to believe in.
He shut his eyes and bid the images to wash over him. A warm room, near the top of a high-rise, filled with the scent of fresh baking bread. A young lass and lad, chasing each other around an ottoman. The lass had Rachel’s ochre eyes. David tried to touch the child, and the vision vanished.
Ephemeral, as always. But this was the clearest it had ever been. Perhaps his psionics were really becoming stronger.
“Commander,” Lieutenant Blaise said, startling him from his reverie. “There’s a message for you from the Tabernacle.”
Aye, at last. Maybe all the time in the Conduit had given him prescient insight to the coming message. Or maybe it was just that he spent every moment thinking of it, so it would have to come at a moment when it was on his mind.
“Thank you, Mahlah. I’ll take it in the war room.”
David left the bridge, but he d
idn’t turn on the Mazzaroth the minute he entered the neighboring room. After so long waiting for this, the moment was here. Judgment for his crimes.
David scratched his head and sat at the table. A second later he stood. Face it on his feet.
“Mazzaroth personal access,” he said, at last. “David McGregor, code Duress 92G.”
The screen flashed on, revealing a recorded message. They didn’t even want to talk to him live.
“Commander David McGregor, you are hereby ordered to immediately report to the Tabernacle for court martial. Return to New Rome with all possible haste and turn over command of the Logos.”
The transmission cut.
David scratched his head. Aye, that was to the point, wasn’t it? He blew out a long breath.
If he left now, Rachel would be defenseless. Knight could protect her, to some extent, but not from the entire universe. But he had no choice, really. He’d sworn an oath. He was a Sentinel, and the Sentinel command had ordered him back. And the truth was, even if he wanted to hide, he couldn’t do it on the Logos. No Sentinel ship could hide from the Shekhinah. He could possibly escape on the Ark, and there was a wee part of him that was tempted, but it was a part he would silence. Sentinels did as they were ordered to do.
And that time, he’d done what he had to do. Waller had tortured a Mizraim citizen—never mind it was Rachel—using Stigmata. It was a clear violation of the law and he was justified in removing Waller from command. He could only pray the Sanhedrin would see it that way.
But the moment the Logos left, Rachel would be on her own. The Ark was powerful, but the lass was in way over her head. And he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her.
“Computer,” he said, “where are Lieutenant Dana and Lieutenant Commander Suzuki?”
“Lieutenant Dana is in her quarters. Lieutenant Commander Suzuki is on the Ark.”
He tapped the comm on his suit. “McGregor to Dana.”
“Commander?” Phoebe asked.
“Meet me in the hangar. We’re going to the Ark.”
“Yup, yup.”
A few moments later, she joined him on a shuttle. David sat in the pilot’s seat, and Phoebe strapped herself in, watching him. “We’re taking another crack at blondie?” she asked. “I’m all revved up for it, sir.”
“No, lass. Can I trust you with a special mission?” He eased the shuttle out of the hangar.
Phoebe looked him dead in the eye. “That’s why they call us special forces. Sir. In fact, they could call us the extra special forces.”
“Lieutenant.”
“Yes, sir. Shutting up, sir. Right now, sir.”
“I’ve been ordered to bring the Logos back to the Tabernacle.”
Phoebe nodded. “So we’re heading to the Ark for a last bunk romp with Rachel before they lock us away? May I say, sir, I’m honored to be included for such a mission, but I don’t favor women.”
David sighed. “Have I warned you about that mouth, Phoebe?”
“Yes sir, you’ve shown special interest in my mouth in the past.”
“Aye, then shut it. I need you to watch over Rachel. Keep her from getting herself in too much trouble while I’m gone.” God only knew how long that would be. “She has a habit of it, you know.” And Phoebe, despite her mouth, was the best officer he had for this kind of thing.
“Sir. I helped with the mutiny. I’m culpable for my actions.”
David shook his head. Another reason to have Phoebe gone. “You were following my orders, based on the illegal actions of our captain. Any repercussions fall on my shoulders. Besides, I’m asking you for a favor, Phoebe.”
“I’m a Sentinel officer. I’m not backing away from that! You think I can’t handle the consequences of my own choices?”
She had leaned unnervingly close to his face, and David was in no mood for it. He pushed her back by the shoulder, clearing his vision so he could steer toward the Ark. “Are you refusing?”
Phoebe leaned back and sucked on her lip a moment. “No, sir. I’ll do whatever you need.”
She said nothing else when they landed, and took off on her own immediately afterward. Just as well. He needed to see Rachel alone.
He found her on the bridge, in the command chair. The one with the narrow back, designed for Angels. He’d seen the Angels in the cryo chamber—of course he’d had to see them for himself. The experience left him shaken. To see an emissary of God, frozen like that … Divinely perfect, with elegant features and glorious visage. It made him feel small, and guilty, like a young lad peeping at a lass through her window. Something not meant for his eyes.
And they were cyborgs … For certain, the First Commandment had been intended to regulate humans, not Angels. But … He’d never thought … Why would they do something like that to themselves? Their very wings were cybernetic—metal razors of too-perfect symmetry. Even frozen, their gaze left him lightheaded.
Maybe that was the point of the First Commandment. To keep humans from ever treading on ground meant for Angels. Could that mean cybernetics were not evil, but divine? That such things were forbidden to mankind for exactly the same reasons as genetic engineering was?
David shook his head. He had to focus on the problem at hand. Rachel would be the one who had to decide what to do about the Angels.
“They’ve summoned me for court martial,” he told Rachel.
She groaned, then rose from the chair. “What the void did you expect to happen, Mac? I told you not to let Waller go! But you had to go and play soldier, like always.”
“I am a soldier, lass.”
She thumped him on the chest. “Yeah. Great. Now they’re going to string you up for it. Go play hero, fine!”
“Bloody void, Rachel! I don’t have a choice.”
She snickered, shaking her head. “Of course you do, Mac. Just don’t go.”
Maybe she could feel his emotions. Sense that wee part of him which had considered doing just that. If so, he hoped she could feel how much of him felt it was wrong. “I am a Sentinel.”
“Blah, blah. Orders, duty, blah, blah.” She stormed away and sat back in the chair. “You’re just like everyone else. Blindly following whatever you’re told to do. But one day, you’re going to have to learn to think for yourself.”
David folded his arms. “You can be a brat sometimes, you know that?”
“I don’t want you to go!” She spread her arms wide, as if daring him to step in and hold her. And what he wouldn’t give to do so—to take her in his arms and never let her go.
But that wasn’t the reality they lived in, much as he wanted it. He stalked closer and knelt in front of her, taking her hand. “I don’t want it either, Rach. But I’ve got to, and you know that.”
“I just got you back …” Her voice was a whisper.
Rather than answer, he tried to project a psionic sensation of warmth to her. The way she rocked back and closed her eyes, she must have felt it. “My heart goes with you. You know that. And I’m going to send Phoebe and Leah with you, too. They’ll be able to help with whatever buggered up shite you find yourself in.”
She snorted. “I’ll bet Leah’s going to love being left here.”
“Course she will, lass. This living ship is a biologist’s dream.”
Rachel shook her head, laughing at some private joke, then leaned in and kissed him. “Come back to me.”
“Aye.”
David rose. He needed to see Leah, and then he’d have to take the Logos to New Rome.
Angels watch over Rachel while he was away.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
November 14th
I thought I would be lost without David. But the Ark occupies so much of my mind, so much of my time, I am able to push him away. I must remain focused on the task at hand. I do not know how much time I have before someone comes to take this ship away from me. And yet, given even a slight moment alone, he creeps back into my thoughts. And I wonder if I should have tried harder to stop him from lea
ving.
From the control chair, Rachel’s mind reached into the depths of the Ark. Its databases seemed endless and her mind could only process so much information at once. Every time she thought she got close to her goal it slipped through her fingers. Part of her wondered if the ship itself was testing her—or teasing her—dangling the secret before her then yanking it away when she tried to open the files.
A holographic display swarmed around her in full three-sixty view, almost filling the entire bridge. A map of the known universe. The ship mapped out the entire Virgo Supercluster and beyond, farther than humanity had spread. With no known Conduit lines running outside the Local Group, anything beyond was denied to humanity.
But the Ark knew the way. Hidden paths to leave the thirty or so inhabited galaxies. Was that where their salvation was? Out there in the deep, beyond known space? Was that why she hadn’t found it yet? She brushed her hair from her face, the motion spinning the hologram so fast it made her dizzy. With a sigh of frustration she dismissed the whole display and rose.
It would just take time. All the secrets were here. Everything humanity needed to stand on its own feet, away from Angel doctrine. Finally free.
She left the bridge and wandered the halls. The Ark was massive, twelve kilometers long, and since Knight, Leah, and Phoebe were the only other people on board, it was very quiet. The emptiness seemed to set the others on edge, but not her. She could feel the ship’s heartbeat, feel its mind always at the edge of her own. How could she be lonely with such a constant companion? It was there when she woke and there when she slept. In her dreams it took her to wonders beyond known space.
None of the others were Psychs. They couldn’t feel the ship. David could, when he was aboard, but even he didn’t feel it as deeply. The Ark was her ship. She had made herself the captain when she entered the code and sat in the chair. It was bonded to her.